Ian confronts Alydon’s grief over Temmosus
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Ian encounters Alydon in the aftermath of the Dalek ambush and confirms his identity as the one who warned them. Alydon reveals that Temmosus is dead.
Alydon questions the Daleks' motives for killing Temmosus, seeking understanding in the face of senseless violence. Ian urges Alydon to focus on survival, insisting they must leave to save the remaining Thals.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
A storm of grief and fury, with a flicker of hope for justice beneath the surface. His anger is not just at the Daleks, but at the senselessness of Temmosus’ death—a man who represented the last shred of stability for his people.
Alydon stands in the Gateway, his body tense and his voice trembling with barely contained rage and grief. He identifies himself to Ian, confirming his role as the Thal leader’s successor, and immediately confronts the failure of the warning with a gut-wrenching question: Why kill Temmosus? His physical presence is one of a man unraveling—clenched fists, a voice that cracks under the weight of loss—but his demand for answers is sharp, accusatory, and laced with the desperation of someone who has just lost everything.
- • To understand the reason behind Temmosus’ execution, as if knowing *why* could somehow make the loss bearable.
- • To hold someone accountable for the failure of the warning, even if that someone is Ian, an ally.
- • That the Daleks’ violence is arbitrary and without cause, making it all the more infuriating.
- • That Ian, as the warning bearer, shares some responsibility for the tragedy, even if unintentionally.
A mix of guilt for his failure to prevent the ambush and steely resolve to ensure no more lives are lost. His urgency masks a deeper frustration—with the Daleks, with the situation, and perhaps with himself—but he channels it into action, not recrimination.
Ian stands in the Gateway, his posture urgent and his tone clipped with the weight of guilt and the press of time. He identifies himself to Alydon, acknowledging his failure to arrive in time with a simple, heavy I'm sorry. His response to Alydon’s grief is not defensive but pragmatic—he confirms Temmosus’ death with grim finality (I know. I saw it.) before cutting through the emotional storm with a command: Get your men and flee. His focus is on survival, not mourning, and his urgency is palpable, as if he can already hear the Daleks closing in.
- • To extract Alydon and the remaining Thals from the immediate danger, even if it means overriding Alydon’s grief with brute urgency.
- • To prevent further deaths by ensuring the Thals do not linger in the Gateway, where the Daleks’ next ambush could be moments away.
- • That dwelling on Temmosus’ death will only get more people killed, and that survival must take precedence over grief—at least for now.
- • That Alydon, as the new de facto leader of the Thals, is the key to rallying the survivors and ensuring their escape.
N/A (deceased, but his absence is felt as a void of leadership and a well of grief).
Temmosus is not physically present in the Gateway during this event, but his absence is the driving force behind the confrontation. His death is the catalyst for Alydon’s grief and Ian’s urgency. Alydon invokes him directly (our leader Temmosus is dead), and Ian acknowledges his execution with a heavy I know. I saw it. Temmosus’ memory looms over the exchange, a silent but overwhelming presence that shapes every word and action in the scene.
- • N/A (deceased, but his legacy drives Alydon’s desire for answers and Ian’s determination to honor the Thals’ survival).
- • N/A (deceased, but his belief in diplomacy and alliance with outsiders is implicitly challenged by his death).
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Gateway serves as a claustrophobic, tension-filled stage for Ian and Alydon’s collision. Its narrow confines amplify the urgency of their exchange, forcing them into close proximity where every word feels like a physical blow. The dust-choked air and the echoes of shouts off the stone walls create an atmosphere of chaos and desperation, mirroring the emotional state of the characters. The Gateway is not just a physical space but a metaphor for the crossroads the Thals and Ian now face: a choice between vengeance and survival, between mourning and action.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Thals are represented in this event through Alydon, who speaks for the survivors and embodies their grief, loss, and fragile hope. His confrontation with Ian reflects the Thals’ broader struggle: a people on the brink of extinction, clinging to leadership and alliances that may no longer be tenable. The organization’s survival is literally in Alydon’s hands, and his emotional state—raw, accusatory, and desperate—mirrors the Thals’ collective trauma.
The Daleks are the unseen but ever-present antagonists in this event, their influence manifesting through the devastation they’ve wrought—Temmosus’ execution and the broader ambush that has left the Thals scattered and grieving. Their actions are the catalyst for Alydon’s rage and Ian’s urgency, driving the entire exchange in the Gateway. The Daleks’ brutality is not just a backstory element but an active force shaping the characters’ decisions in real time.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Ian helps the Thal escape, this leads to a meeting and the confirmation of Temmosus' death."
Thals enter Dalek ambush with peace offering"Ian helps the Thal escape, this leads to a meeting and the confirmation of Temmosus' death."
Daleks ambush Thals after false peace offer"Ian helps the Thal escape, this leads to a meeting and the confirmation of Temmosus' death."
Ian’s warning fails as Daleks ambush ThalsPart of Larger Arcs
Key Dialogue
"IAN: Who are you?"
"ALYDON: I am Alydon. You are the man who warned us?"
"IAN: Yes. I'm sorry I was late."
"ALYDON: Yes, our leader Temmosus is dead."
"IAN: I know. I saw it."
"ALYDON: Why? Why kill him? They didn't even know him."
"IAN: We can't stand here discussing it. Get yourself and your men away from here. Come on."