Lengthy-ass post about Arbiter's worldbuilding. Should a fic need a whole other post to explain it? Not if you're a good writer. But I'm not one, so. Whole other post it is.
***"The Nightmare Judges". Since Trahearne in this universe is the founder of what is the counterpart to the Nightmare Court in canon, I felt I couldn't simply just copy-paste it. After all, the grandeur of the Court, with its name and titles and noble hierarchy is founded in Cadeyrn's desire to be something important, borne of his desire to have everyone look up to him instead of being looked down upon.
Since Trahearne's group is more actually founded in 'correcting' the perception of Ventari's Tablet as less a pacifist guidebook but rather one with moral ambiguity in its teachings, I brainstormed with @/eparch (thank u always) and came away with the concept of them being referred to as 'Judges'. Initially I had considered them also being Wardens, but scrapped it for it being too confusing even if both factions had Nightmare/Dream as a prefix.
As ones who view it within their moral right, or rather, duty, to excise violent and murderous people from society with the same methods, 'Judge' felt very fitting.
Although I wrote him very 'agreeable' in the story, the methods of Trahearne's faction is still supposed to fall on the more 'extreme' side of things. They are Cadeyrn's initial values, but taken further over the passing of time. Caithe is not actually wrong in her feelings towards her brother.
***Trahearne himself. In contrast to Faolain, who became the Nightmare Court's leader and perverted it into a sadistic and bloody affair, Trahearne is actually a more 'innocent' leader, who is somewhat unaware of the ill acts that are brewing amongst his people under his nose.
He genuinely believes in their cause, and he refuses to personally execute or allow the execution of someone he does not believe to have crossed the core value of the Judges; acts of extreme violence or murder. It is this reason that he exiled Faolain from the Judges, after realising she had begun initiating or causing actions which were antithetical to this core value.
Unfortunately, Faolain's actions had caused the widespread belief that the Judges were unjust and bloodthirsty, a reputation that follows them to the present day. While there are other Judges that do secretly partake of more aggressive acts of violence, the majority prefer to withhold aggression until either provoked, or given reason to believe it is in their best interest for survival.
***Cadeyrn. Having had his feelings validated, this Cadeyrn is considerably less messed up than his canon counterpart. Due to the recognition he receives, he is much less focused on his self-importance and need for validation, making him leagues more fearsome when needed. He has a genuine respect for Trahearne (he is not a Starscream) and his hatred for Caithe lingers from his canon counterpart, but this time due to believing her as the root cause for their poor reputation.
***Faolain. Just like in canon, she grew weary and angered by the supposed 'real' way to interpret the Tablet, and left in hopes of joining the Nightmare Judges, breaking Caithe's heart. As noted above, she brought considerable levels of violence to the ranks that had not been there previous; instigating attacks unprovoked and killing those that Trahearne would deem innocent. This reached a breaking point when Trahearne and Cadeyrn both agreed to have her removed from the Judges, leaving her to wander on her own, having no place to go between the Grove or the Judges. While she hasn't been since, there have been rumours that she has started her own faction following in her own, darker views.
***Caithe. Very tired and worn down, Caithe is deeply attached to the Valiant, finding a sense of responsibility in guiding them. She grieves the loss of her brother, and her lover, and deeply resents the Nightmare Judges for this reason. While not all tales she tells of the Judges are accurate or factual, they fully represent her perception of events. She has been captured several times by the Judges, but has escaped on her own each time. She has little interest in discussing anything with Trahearne or hearing him out.
