History TearJerker / Temeraire

* The Incan population has been decimated by disease the Europeans brought with them. Now, there are less than 3 million people in an empire at least two times the size of England (population: 10 million). Cue the dragons feverishly holding on to 'their' humans.

* Jane Roland's backstory as seen in ''Dawn of Battle'', or rather that of her mother Sarah. It was bad enough that a timid seventeen year old horribly ill-suited by inclination to military life was guilt-tripped into taking over for her perfectly hale mother so the Admiralty could leave actual military matters to a male nominal 2IC, but one of the "five rotters to one decent man" Jane witnessed growing up took matters to the level of outright Emotional and FinancialAbuse that only ended when he was killed in action (while the guy who tried encouraging Sarah to actually command was transferred out after six months).

* The sudden news of Laurence's father's death, particularly since it comes out of absolutely nowhere.

* Though there have been many deaths throughout the series, the death of [[spoiler:Levitas]] was particularly heartbreaking. A thoroughly neglected and mistreated dragon, [[spoiler:Levitas]] nonetheless showed UndyingLoyalty for his captain, no matter how abusive he was. Laurence, having managed to keep his calm with [[spoiler:Levitas's]] captain so far, finally loses it when [[spoiler:Levitas is dying of his wounds and Captain Rankin is drinking wine in the officers' club]]. He storms in, grabs [[spoiler:Rankin]], and forcefully drags him to [[spoiler:Levitas's]] side. [[spoiler:Rankin]] stutters a few reassuring words, although obviously forced, and [[spoiler:Levitas]] dies with a smile on his face.
-->'''Laurence:''' "[[spoiler:Levitas]], come along now; look who's come."\\
'''[[spoiler:Levitas]]:''' "My captain?"\\
'''[[spoiler:Rankin]]:''' "Yes, I am here. You...have been very brave."\\
'''[[spoiler:Levitas]]:''' "You came."

--->'''Laurence:''' ''(shortly after [[spoiler:Levitas dies, to Rankin]])'' "Go. We who valued him will make the arrangements, not you."

* Lien's reaction to [[spoiler:Yongxing's death - the only person who cared for her and showed her any true regard.]] Laurence, remembering Praecursoris's reaction to being separated from Choiseul, is afraid she'll scream, but she's totally silent as she nudges at his body, picks detritus off it and then picks it up and flies away. Just about ''everything'' she does afterwards is for revenge.

* [[spoiler:Digby's]] death, where he falls from Temeraire's back in a failed attempt to save a dragon egg (which shatters in the process). Poor creatures.

* Laurence [[spoiler:personally delivers the cure to France after the Admiralty deliberately infects them in a long-range plot to decimate the ''whole'' world dragon population so England will rule the air]]. His disillusionment with the nation he's been so loyal to is the start of an unhappy pattern that will continue for the rest of the series, and he takes the action [[spoiler:knowing full well that he's condemning himself to hang, but he still insists on returning to England to face the music]]. He tries to persuade Temeraire to return to China or do what he will, but Temeraire quickly deduces what Laurence is going back to and insists on accompanying him, and even sharing his fate if possible.

* Laurence is deeply depressed all through the book, and makes no attempt to defend himself from the hatred coming at him. Though he assures Temeraire that [[spoiler:their act of treason]] was the right thing to do, he experiences the consequences in ways Temeraire doesn't: [[spoiler:he's under a death sentence, and utterly disgraced. France, enraged by the attempt at germ warfare but not at all weakened thanks to the cure Laurence brought them, have invaded Britain. Half Laurence's former crew despise him, and his blameless first lieutenant has been kicked out of the service. Even his former love interest/boss yells at him for [[StupidGood doing a moral thing in the stupidest possible way]]. He finds out that [[WellDoneSonGuy his father]] is literally sick with shame. And then he meets a paranoid, delusional old man out in the rain and realises with horror that it's his king, George III.]] He's so shattered that when General Wellesley orders him to start a guerilla campaign on the French that will force him to put aside all notion of chivalry, mercy, and honourable combat, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness he accepts without protest.]]

* The sinking of the ''Allegiance'', in which Laurence's longtime friend Riley is lost. Temeraire remembers how he was one of the only people brave enough to feed him when he was just hatched, and Laurence never gets over it. Worse, after Laurence is [[spoiler:hit with amnesia in ''Blood of Tyrants'', he thinks that Riley is still alive and has to be told otherwise]].

* The reveal that [[spoiler: Temeraire's brother Chuan was murdered in a failed attempt to unseat Prince Mianning as Crown Prince]].

* At the end of the book, there are several 100 word "drabbles," some of which are in continuity, and of of which clearly aren't. Among them is a snapshot of a future Temeraire watching the procession of the Queen, implied to take after Laurence's death.