Mand'alor

[Daniel Solus (old)]

OOC: Thread is open to Mando PCs only. PvP/Death/Fuckery disabled. If there is a challenge to combat it will take place in a separate thread.

Daniel stood on a raised platform before the assembled Mandalorian people. His back was straight and proud and his armor gleamed in the sun. He had called them here for a summit, a great meeting of their people which would decide their path forward. Today would be the day that a leader finally rose from their ranks. With House Solus officially cemented as one of the great houses and the Empires all but unified following Darth Vrael's defeat of Empress Lyanna, the time for action and decisiveness was now.

They had accomplished many great things as a divided people but events in the galaxy had come to a point where they could go no further without someone at the helm. They needed direction, a mission and today, that would all come to a close. The whispers of Mand'alor, Mand'alor would end and change to cries of battle. He looked at the many who were assembled, his heart alive with pride and dedication. They had all done so much, given so much, they deserved to be here. It was their right.

"Mandalorians!" He called out, his voice echoing across the plain, sure and confident. There was no hint of who he had once been in his call. War had shaped him, given him reason and cause. He would lead the people forward. "We stand here as one today. We have started the galaxy on a path of redemption! The Sith have shown weakness and their Empires struggle to maintain themselves as they fight from within. It is time we took the fight to them, united and strong!

"The Sith must pay for their crimes against us! For their crimes against their own people! For their centuries of oppression and tyranny against the galaxy as a whole!" He spread his arms as he looked over the assembled group. They were the generation that would carry the galaxy into a new era.

"We are strong!" he cried. "Alliances have been forged and worlds cry out for liberty. They cry out for the freedom to lead themselves and we must answer! We must answer that call as a united people. We have dealt major blows to the Empire at Kuat, at Bilbringi and again at Fondor. We have captured their royalty and marked her as ours; her life the cement that holds our friendship with the Galactic fast. What happened at Corellia was only the beginning. More must follow."

Daniel paused and took a breath, about to say something that only a few months ago he would never had dreamed was possible. "With you behind me, I will lead us forward. I will be the Mand'alor we have sought for so long. Together we will bring our people to a new era. Worlds will be freed and given the option to stand with us as their own people. We do not seek to govern, that is not what we are. To move forward we must liberate and give the people of the galaxy the strength and support they need to stand with us and fight.

"Do you stand with me?!"

With that it was done. Daniel Solus, the most unlikely person to take the stage had said his piece. They all know of his achievements and what he had done to bring their people so far. They knew of his plans too, to expand their borders and take the fight to the Empire. It was their decision now. If challenge came, he would accept it and prove his strength, his ability and his resolve. He knew beyond all else, that this was what the Mandalorian people needed.

@Rimrald @Sreeya @Critas @Painus @Darasuum @Phoenix @GABA @Arclight and @ many others.

 

[Solone Wren]

Solone had to check this out, this Daniel Solus was only a slight whisper to her and someone would still need to point him out in a crowd in order for her to recognize him. However, she had an irking feeling she understood what this gathering was going to be about and just wanted to see if this was some sort of dare he had gotten himself into in order to prove his ego. The Wren woman rolled her eyes beneath her helmet with a scoff, thinking how stupid men can be.

She watched as the Solus Field Marshall took his ground, she stood with others in her full armor, while Daniel called out to the Mandalorians in a typical rallying fashion; something that Solone has heard all too well and wished people would come up with something new. They all knew what was oppressing them and what the problem was, yet no one has demonstrated a clear solution. Eventually the Empire will come back for them and knowing how much larger and how much more untable their government system ran things, Mandalore and its sister systems were going to be in dire trouble. Not to mention after the latest fiasco on Corellia where the Solus A'lor was fighting along side a Jedi, what a target to have on one's back. Speaking of which, while Daniel continued to go on, Solone glanced around, trying to see if she was here.

At last, he would shout, do you stand with me?

Solone shook her head, "No? I mean, where is Raz Solus (@Sreeya)?" she asked, "She should be up there where you are, she should be Manda'lor." the Wren woman shouted loud enough over the growing mumbles.

 

[Narir Solus]

Narir Solus had made his way back from Nar Shaddaa riding high on battle. He and Raz had ridden into the jaws of death and out again. He hadn't ever felt so alive, but there was something else afoot today. He didn't know what it was, but Daniel had urged that many of the Mandalorians and the Badgers return with speed.

Narir had done just that, heeding the warning of his fellow Al'Verde. Arriving to the assembly with his black armor beaten and still dirty from battle, it was a stark contrast to the many others who stood with their armor polished and ceremonially prepared. Narir took pride in the scrapes, dents, and dirt that covered his armor. It was what made him Mando'ad.

Daniel began his speech before the crowd had even finished hushing, listening to what he had to say, but no one daring to interrupt. As he listened, though, what Narir felt more than anything was... surprise. He knew that there were people vying for the title of Mand'alor, but something just didn't seem right.

And then a woman he didn't know - Wren by the marks on her armor - shouted out asking about Raz. It was very typically Mandalorian of her... they couldn't abide those who didn't speak their mind. Plus it was the logical question. She was the Alor of House Solus, and she had brought them through the worst times that Narir could remember. He had been half-Solus, half-Veren, but he had followed Raz into being a badger. He loved his fellow brothers as family, but there was only one Solus that Narir had ever followed into combat.

You'll forgive me for this someday, he said before shoving Raz in the back (@Sreeya) and out of the crowd. It would go unnoticed by everyone else as anything more than a traditional slap on the back if it was even noticed as that. She would hate him for it, but she would forgive him sooner than he would forgive himself if he let her stand by. Her confidence had taken a moment's hit when she'd lost her arm, but that was no reason to keep herself from the title.

Alor Solus, what say you?! he shouted loudly enough to have actually garnered attention now. Shouts for her had already been heard elsewhere. Until he heard her decline - or saw her defeated - he couldn't swear to anyone but his Alor.

 

[Dax Vizsla]

Dax, as was the norm with the young man, had been late to arrive to the gathering. Unlike Narir though, he hadn't been delayed because he had returned from conflict, he had fallen asleep after having pulled the short straw for sentry duty, and lost track of time in his sleep.

Arriving just in time to hear Dan's speech, along with the others that followed, he felt like he was obligated to support his claim, better him than some fool who wasn't Solus. But part of his reasoning was his own relative newness to the Mandalorian ways. As much as his parents had taught him when he was growing up, at the time he had no idea that he was being given a mandalorian education. It was only after their death, when he made his way to Mandalore and was taken in by Raz that he began to understand what it meant to be Mandalorian.

He liked Dan, respected him, and would support him no matter what, but there was still some hesitation within him when he heard him speak. His eyes wandered through the crowd till he spotted the ones he was looking for, Raz, Narir. Those two were still the gold standard he tried to hold himself to, what he imagined when he imagined mandalore. And they were the reason behind his hesitation. Some part of him still expected them to lead, and if they did he would follow.

Thankfully for him, things became a lot easier for him when he saw Narir push Raz ahead. Smiling under his helmet, he stepped through the crowd till he was in the front of the pack shouted out before Raz had an opportunity to react to what Narir had done.

"Mand'alor!" He shouted as eyes were on Raz, "Casserole Mand'alor!!"

@Phoenix @Sreeya

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros was curious; the boy, Dan, had summoned the clans together for some highly-important meeting. Leandros presumed that he was getting the people together to make a fool of himself and offer cookies or something to everyone while wasting their time. He returned from battle as well, his armor scratched and scarred, but otherwise clean. The metal-rending gouge left in his visor from his first skirmish on Kashyyyk months ago still appeared faintly in the repaired helmet, even. He was genuinely curious why the young’un wanted everyone here.

Standing amongst the assembled Mandalorians, he noted members from a myriad of clans. With a listless turn of his head, Leandros looked at Dan as he began to speak. It started off rather cliché – fight against their oppressors, the Empire is weak, et cetera, et cetera. So far, the dour Mandalorian was not particularly impressed. Dan spoke of forged alliances, of their attacks on Kuat and elsewhere. Leandros shook his head and turned to leave, unimpressed with the generic newsfeed of a speech, when the boy said a particular string of words.

I will be the Mand’alor we have sought for so long.

Leandros balked, halting immediately in the crowd and turning around. He will what? This boy, barely yet a man, would be their Mand’alor? The very boy who had denied Leandros’ advice to grow closer to the very gods who would pick their supreme ruler? The same boy who wandered around in his underwear, who lacked respect and diplomatic skill? The same boy who, when confronted by three Sith, offered them a peaceful solution to leave, rather than deliver the mortal blows that their Empire has dealt the Mandalorian people for five centuries? Leandros stared onward, focusing on Dan, his mouth a scowl.

Others voiced their concern; Solone was the first to be vocal about it, challenging his claim. Next came Narir, then Dax, all of them offering up his Alor, Raz, in Dan’s stead. Leandros, when the murmurs of the crowd began to grow, shouted over the din, ”You?” he began, gesturing to Dan, ”How can you, a boy not chosen by the gods, be our ruler? What would our enemies think of us being led by a fool who prances and dances about in his childhood underwear? We need a warrior to lead us!”

The crowd’s murmurs grew and Leandros continued, pointing at the woman Narir shoved forward, ”She is a warrior. She has sacrificed everything for our people! What have you sacrificed?” He knew Dan’s feelings would likely be hurt by the accusations of the crowd, but they would not allow someone to become their ruler just because they had the temerity to stand up first. They needed to embody every aspect of Mandalorian culture. They needed to be willing to die for their people. They needed strong.

 

[Raz Solus]

She knew Dan had ambitions, but she didn’t know exactly how far they went. She had always only wanted a Solus to take up the helm of Mand’alor, and it didn’t matter to her who did it. She had been standing in the crowd, quietly watching the proceedings. Raz was adorned in her beskar’gam, wearing all of her weapons along with her traditional beskad. It wasn’t often that the Mandalorians all gathered like this, and it was certainly never to discuss the possibility of a new Mand’alor. There had been whispers and chants, but nothing as overt as this had happened in hundreds of years.

Right after Dan’s speech, Mandalorians began to voice their displeasure at the thought of him leading their people. On top of that, they began to drag her name into it. Raz was in the middle of the crowd, and suddenly there were eyes on her. Before she could say anything, Narir had pushed her towards the front. She couldn’t even say anything as she was awkwardly nudged forward. She couldn’t bear to look at Dan, and she couldn’t bear to look at Leandros or Narir. She bit her lip beneath her helmet, and she knew what had to be done.

Raz had been running from her true calling for a long time now. She had raised Solus from nothing and formed it into a House. She had led the attacks into the Core and had inspired others to follow her to take the fight to the Sith. Why did she run from this so much? Raz breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly, considering her options. At long last, she stepped up to the front, looking over at the multitude of Mandalorians facing her.

“I’m not one for speeches,” She said simply, “I have led my people for a long time now. I have pulled them out of obscurity. I have made Solus a force to be reckoned with once again. With your support, I will happily take up the mantle of Mand’alor….” She paused as she looked down, “But I will not simply walk into it. I will rightfully earn it by the rites of Aurek’Kesh should anyone wish to challenge me. Even if that means someone from my own House,” The last part was difficult for her to choke out. In the end, however, Raz was Mandalorian through and through and she would prove to everyone present that she deserved this.

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Daniel knew, the moment the name Raz Solus had been brought into the mix that he was done. He had believed in himself in what he had sacrificed to bring himself to a point where he could even stand and say such things. It had been a long journey and he thought that maybe he had been ready. He was not. He didn't feel ashamed for trying, if anything, he felt pride that he had been able to bring the topic up. He had been taken just seriously enough for someone better suited to the role to come forward.

Maybe one day he would be able to lead his people, but it was a long way off from that.

As Raz began to speak, opening the challenge to Aurek'Kesh he walked from where he was standing and into the crowd, towards Leandros. Never for a second did he think of challenging Raz for the title. It would have been unthinkable. They were too close; he would never willingly do her harm and he knew the same was true for her. It was a position he would never want either of them in. As he walked over to Leandros, he felt as though a weight had lifted from his shoulders.

He had been pushing himself towards this moment, thinking that nobody else would shoulder the responsibility. He was grateful that someone had. Coming up next to his big friend, Daniel called over the crowd: "It is enough that we finally have a name," he called. "It may have been foolish for me to take the stand but at least it pushed us forward. I will not contest your claim, Raz. It would not be right."

He turned away and said quietly to Leandros, "I didn't mean to bring shame to us," not everything the big warrior had said had gone in one ear and out the other. "I just didn't want us to be weak." He had no idea how the big Mando would take his comments but they were the truth and there was something in that.

@Sreeya @Painus

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

Wyatt was among the crowd gathered, those from the many clans under the great houses gathered here today as well at the request of Daniel. He listened as the young man gave his speech and followed it with his bid, the one in which he was their leader which apparently quickly did not sit well with anyone as a number of familiar sets of armor and voices rose out of the crowd to express the displeasure with the idea. Followed by calls for many of the present mandalorians Alor to come forth and she did, giving a few words and stating her case to the crowd who seemed enough in her favor for the claim, but Wyatt knew in his heart he should be the one to lead his people, he who has lost all but the desire to fight, taken from those he cannot bare to think of who oppressed the planet he stands on for many a century.

Wyatt stepped forwards from his group of men, clad in identical armor to him and sporting red shoulder armor for House Solus adorned with a black mythosaur skull; the only thing distinguishing Wyatt were the jaig eyes on his grey helmet. He stood clad in his armor and carried a beskad and vibroripper staff along with the engraved lightsaber trophy on his bandoleer, turning to the nearest man he handed over the extended staff and walked forward drawing his beskad. Stepping from the front of the crowd into the small clearing around the elevated surface Daniel spoke from and now challenging the space from Raz. His culture allowed the old way, the ability to claim what is your leaders title by way of power and it was his chance to show those gathered who he had become from the simple life he lived on Medriaas to the tireless warrior he now was.

"Aurek'kesh"​

 

[Diocletian Solus]

Diocletian stood off to one side of the raised dais where the statements and announcements were being made. He had his family with him, he wanted them all to bear witness to this significant event. His wife stood beside him in her beskar’gam, she had decided against wearing her Planetary Defense force uniform for this occasion. His son stood beside his wife on the opposite side from Dio and his daughter stood on the other side of Dio from his wife. Dio held his daughter’s hand, making it seem very small in his armored gauntlet.

Dio’s daughter saw Dan up on the stage and started to clap excitedly. Dio, who had his helmet hanging from his belt, looked down at his daughter as she cheered for her second favorite badger. Daddy would always be number one. Dio stood proudly as Dan gave his speech. He could feel the patriotism flow through the crowd with his words and he found that he too was moved. A meaningful look was exchanged between Dio and his wife. They knew that to spite their friend and clan mate’s good intentions, he would not be Mand’alor this day. That was not Daniel’s destiny, not as the couple saw it.

A Wren stepped forward to shout back at Daniel. Dio recognized this Wren from the stories he had heard from his clan. She was just as eloquent as he expected her to be. What kind of Mandalorian stole another’s armor, an honor less one is the answer. As if on cue, she shouted what Dio knew would be the rallying cry taken up by an event such as this. It had happened before, in the halls of the Houses when Clan Solus was becoming House Solus. It would happen again here today. It made sense that it would be one of the House’s Al’Verde that called out Raz in front of the crowd.

Another meaningful look occurred between Dio and his wife, they had expected this. Quickly Dio started looking for a face that he knew would be moving through the crowd. He knew Wyatt also coveted this position. Soldiers have a way of talking when they are between battles. What would you do if you had a million credits? Who would you take with you on a deserted planet? That sort of thing. You also share your dreams and aspirations. Wyatt wanted to be Mand’alor and had said so. Dio wanted to be a good father and make a better world for his children.

A Vizsla stepped forward and spoke his support for Raz. Dio knew Dax, had fought with him before and respected him. In true Vizsla fashion, he followed along with the crowd. No, the support of the Vizsla would not win this fight this day. Dio shook his head at his wife, seeing the question in her eyes. He had not seen Wyatt yet but knew he was somewhere in the crowd.

Leandros stepped forward and gave Daniel a dressing down. He expressed every doubt that the crowd had in Daniel. Then at the end he did something that made Dio’s hackles raise. He took away any chance that Daniel would ever be taken seriously. He took away the title of warrior from Daniel. There was no official announcement. There was no removing of rank, but the words he used to place Raz on a pedestal, ground Daniel under foot. Dio’s face became impassive as he dropped the façade into place. It was a skill he had learned on the streets of Keldabe as a boy. Hide your emotion and let them wonder. His wife saw the façade drop and knew it for what it was. A look of sadness crossed her face for a moment as she knew her husband was not angry as much as ashamed.

Raz spoke and Dio heard her words. She said the right ones and stood present for Aurek’Kesh as he knew she would. She was a proud warrior just like Leandros said and would be a find Mand’alor should she win. Dio had followed her into battle and killed in her name, he would not do so for just anyone.

Dio watched as the crowd started to part and he could see the familiar helmet of his House and Clan brother Wyatt. He stood tall as he knew what was about to happen. Tradition. Honor. Sacrifice. These were the tenants that the Mandalorian people were built upon. They would sacrifice one leader in battle to have a Mand’alor named. It was their way and it made Dio proud to witness it. He knew what Wyatt would say before he said it. He had heard his friend rehearse this speech a million times, but never with Raz as the other party. As Wyatt said the ritualistic words of “Aurek’Kesh” Dio looked at his wife and smiled. There was hope now, hope for them all.

 

[Vala Solus]

Vala didn’t know Daniel apart from the things she’d heard from Dio and her sister-in-law. It wasn’t enough to form a solid opinion of the man she now saw before her standing on the dais. It left her only the words he now spoke before the gathered Mando’ade to form a judgement, and his words were a strong enough rallying cry that were she more confident, she would have joined.

And then began the cries for Raz, the Alor of her Clan, her House, and the one Vala had always thought would be the one to make this call. If nothing else, she judged Daniel to be brave for igniting this fire, one that was long overdue.

The young Mandalorian continued to listen, to the murmurs around her and the commotion on the dais as Leandros stepped forward. She didn’t know this man either, but it only took the first few of his words to make her wrinkle her nose in disgust. Boy, he says. How kriffing insulting. What kind of osik is that, to stand up there and insinuate your Clan Brother is a child. He’s young, so am I, but so kriffing what. I’d punch him in the…

Her thoughts trailed off when Raz was pushed forward onto the dais. So there it is then. We’ll have a Mand’alor again.

But wait...

There was Wyatt, another Solus, issuing a challenge.

Vala glanced over to where Dio stood with his family with both brows raised. She wondered what her brother was thinking for a moment, but his smile really said it all. Her eyes trailed back over to Daniel. She did not pity him, he did not need anyone’s pity. She felt angry that his honor was insulted, even if the offender was Clan Brother to them both.

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz gazed directly ahead at Wyatt as he stepped up to the challenge. There was a pang in her chest as this all became reality, but there was nothing to be done. This was going to happen one day or another, whether it was between others in her clan or a fight she herself would have to participate in. Behind the T-visor, there was no way to read her expression, and she paused for a moment. She watched Wyatt hand his weapons over, and she did the same.

Her sabers, her guns, all of it came off save for her beskad. Her disruptor landed with a thud on the ground, along with her numerous lightsabers. She reached back and detached her jetpack, removing it from her person and setting it aside. In addition to that, she took each gauntlet off, tossing them both aside to remove the wrist mounted weapons. Her arms were vulnerable, her left one cybernetic but not offering any additional protection whatsoever. Her grenades were also off her.

Raz drew out her beskad and stood her ground, gazing ahead at Wyatt. She wanted to avoid looking at anyone else. This would end in death for one of them, and that was something they were both silently aware of. She held her head up high and gripped the blade in her right hand, nodding for Wyatt to begin the duel.

“Kad Ha’rangir bless me,” She whispered quietly.

@Rimrald

 

[Corrine Solus]

It was happening. Mandalor was going to chance forever. A meeting had been called, one that had not been done in....Corrine didn't even know. For the first time in months she had been able to finally see her family again because of today. For that she'd be ever grateful. Her mother was a proud Mandalorian just as the rest of the people here. Corrine's two eldest sisters were there too. Unlike Corrine though, none of them had Beskar'gam armor. There had ever only been one set in the family and it belonged to their late father. Corrine wished she'd inherited the iron skin under better circumstances, and not the embarrassingly weak and pathetic suicide their father had committed. It brought shame to the Eldar family name. And here she was surrounded by clan Solus. She felt more unwanted than ever....

The man that had called them up would stand tall on the raised platform giving them all a spectacle to see. He called to his people, acknowledging they have all been brought together as one. It was their choice and their uprising that started the path to redemption. Well, Corrine didn't know how she felt about that. For the past two years she and her friends -coincidentally all from clan Solus as well- had been mercenaries just trying to get by. They never asked for a war. But Corrine was happy to partake. It was what she was raised for. It was what her father would have wanted for her...

Corrine took a good look at her comrade beside her (@Critas ). She saw his wife and kids. Looking down at her own hand she wondered if she would ever have kids. Once upon a time it had been a dream. But now that dream had ended. She'd only just received word that her husband had been killed in battle. He was missing in action after a clash with Imperial agents and presumed dead. They'd....found an arm. Corrine started to choke up just thinking about it. Now more than ever she was in full support of this war. They'd killed Malagith; she'd kill them all in sweet fiery revenge.

This man then drew her thoughts back to reality and claimed a title that had not been heard in some time either. The Mand'alor. The greatest warrior of them all. The one true leader of the Mandalorian people. Now, Corrine had heard rumors of Daniel Solus. She knew he was a strong fighter and his blade proved it. But did that make him leadership material? Was he truly the best?

Apparently Corrine wasn't the only one to have doubts. Someone to her left would call out for someone named Raz Solus. And now Corrine knew what would happen. They would bicker. They would argue. And then they would draw blades. There was no point in listening any more. As much as she wanted to support her people and her nation...she wasn't about to get drawn up in pointless speeches. There were other things to do.

Still choked up about the thought of her late husband Corrine would lean in to her mother and simply say, "Come get me when they've chosen," then start to walk off. Her mother was confused at Corrine's sudden disinterest and tried to call her back, but Corrine would already be vanishing into the crowd of armored Mandalorians. She would raise up her helmet she'd been holding tucked in the crook of her arm and place it to the top of her suit. A hiss signified the seal was tight and the H.U.D came online. Corrine let the familiar sound of her armor drown away any other sound as she cried for the loss she felt in her heart.

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros watched Dan be ridiculed off the stage as Raz took his place as the favored leader. They were brutal in their handling of him; callous, uncaring, ensuring that whomever stood atop that dais was the right fit to lead their people. If a few scathing words were enough to make him back down, what would happen when he was face-to-face with a Sith more powerful than a mere acolyte? Leandros did not hate Dan in the slightest; no, he merely wanted to ensure that their people were led only by the most fit. To ensure that they would never again be subjugated by the Sith was paramount to all other ambitions. If anyone had stood up there before their people and proclaimed themselves the Mand’alor, it was the sublime duty of those they stood before to criticize and question their ability to lead.

Dan (@Lucid) pushed through the crowd and approached Leandros. Instinctively, the older Mandalorian let a hand float by his beskad. Tempers often flared when one was publically humiliated and often rash decisions followed, so he would rather have been safe than sorry. Instead, the boy simply spoke to him, his voice quiet and hurt. ”Shamed us?” he asked, giving an almost-imperceptible cant of the head, his expression bemused. ”No, the only shame you brought is upon you. We have never been weak.” He shook his head lightly, then relaxed his hand. These talks were always awkward.

”You should’ve known better,” he continued, eying Dan. He was still young, but not too young to not know when things were inappropriate. ”Let this be a lesson to you.” He placed a hand on Dan’s shoulder, gripping it loosely as he looked into his helmet, ”Only fools can be brave in isolation. Remind the gods why they spent the time creating you.” With that, he shoved the boy back lightly and turned away from Dan without waiting for his response, his attention now solely focused on the one word that stood out above the din of the crowd – the invocation of the Old Ways. Leandros shoved his way through the crowd to the forming battle circle around the challenger.

Wyatt stepped forth to challenge Raz’s claim to Mand’alor, his pride overtaking his sensibilities. Still, it was a warrior’s right to choose the time and manner of someone’s death – whether that be their own or their enemy’s. Today, one of the Soluses would die with their honor intact, and the other?

They would be their Mand’alor.

Raz did not shy away from the challenge. It would be dishonorable to do so. Instead, she matched Wyatt with only beskad and beskar’gam, as the gods intended. Beneath his breath, Leandros uttered a prayer to the gods for the deliverance of the Mandalorian people, for on this day, their supreme ruler would be chosen.

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

Wyatt had finished removing his equipment as Raz did, having handed off his jetpack, unholstering his weapons and unslinging his bandoleer, his armor was bare beyond its normal stature and in his left hand his drawn beskad. Wyatt felt no malice towards his Alor she was one who had given him the chance to even stand as he did today and not be taken for a rouser, the chance to rediscover the true meaning of being a mandalorian. Wyatt raised the curved sword and held it at mid waist as his mind flashed to his mother, father, fiance and child all gone and he left to watch from space as the bombardment assured none survived on the surface; that scene would fuel him today. His focus was purely on survival as he began to circle to the left moving closer to melee range with his Alor and uttering a short few words under his breath

"Guide me on this task as you have so far." He would continue to circle counter clockwise awaiting a strike from his alor

@Sreeya​

 

[Raz Solus]

Raz had to smile as she realized he wasn’t going to strike first despite him putting out the challenge and her inviting him. He wanted to put her at a disadvantage, and she found it humorous. She wasn’t new to duels, and she kept her calm and cool, observing his movements. She was perfectly still as he stepped closer and began to circle her. However, she wouldn’t let him complete the circle.

He was barely beginning to come towards her left before she turned to face towards him. Raz didn’t hesitate, dashing forward in the blink of an eye. She did a very basic move to swing her blade from her own left to right horizontally, and it would aimed at his chest level. Raz expected him to block it, and her next set of actions would follow rapidly through depending on what he did. She was stable in her stature, her left arm curled into a fist and prepared to come into play if needed. Her goal was to engage him and truly begin the fight.

@Rimrald

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

As Wyatt proceeded around her left side Raz turned to face him and in almost the same motion lunged into his guard delivering a horizontal strike. Inverting his blade and grabbing the blunt side with his right hand Wyatt would catch the strike and deflect it aiming to send her sword arm back across her body and towards the ground, preparing himself for her next strike as he noticed her balled fist. His stance and lack of medium or heavy armor kept him nimble and mentally sure of his ability to counter what she may have in store for him in such close proximity.

The fight had truly begun and Raz was doing just as he'd hoped.

@Sreeya​

 

[Raz Solus]

As nimble as he may have been, applying pressure like that would limit his mobility from one direction to another. She knew he was applying his weight behind forcing her blade back towards herself. His efforts were working, and he was overpowering her. She let him continue with it, allowing him to push down very briefly. Raz went with the motion and abruptly shifted to her own right and slightly adjacent to his left flank, immediately withdrawing her blade from the trajectory. As he was pressing down, this meant he would suddenly find himself stumbling forth without any friction in his path.

In concert with her movement, Raz’s left foot would come up to sweep his left to capitalize on his slight stumble. With his upper body already pressing forward and her foot sweeping him at the same time, he would be catapulted forward and possibly on his face. If he attempted to swing his blade back towards her, hers would be there to catch it and he would be even further disbalanced. He had no armor on his legs, so the sweep would involve a slam that would be quite unpleasant.

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

He hadn't been pressing down with great force so much as he had delivered a counter strike made to send her blade back and across her body from where it came in order to subdue free use of her left arm. It had worked and she had retracted expecting him to still be pressuring her. But when she retracted the metal of the blades scrapping against each other making the rasp of clashing iron and she began to shift her weight and come around his left and brought her leg in to sweep his. Wyatt would release his right hand that was gripping the bottom of the blade inverted leaving only his left hand around the grip to drive it downwards from its position at his chest with a plunging motion and intending to go into her thigh or knee. As she had committed extending her leg to smash shins and ankles with his own and that put her within inches of Wyatt who was keeping his right hand up at chest level intending to catch or cushion an incoming blow although unlikely as he would reach to grab onto her forearm or elbow area as it would likely be the closest to subdue her sword arm while he believed he had her attention on his attack.

@Sreeya​

 

[Raz Solus]

Part of withdrawing her blade to herself meant that her grip was close to the right side of her body, her elbow extended out laterally. This would be the only way for her to logically pull her blade from his path. She had misjudged how he had defended, and he didn’t really budge from where he stood. Nevertheless, she was committed to her sweep attempt, and she knew she had only the blink of an eye to react before he moved.

His blade plunged down and all she could do was continue the shift she started to minimize the injury. The side of his blade cut down side of her own leg, neatly slicing right through her skin and into her flesh. It would go from the side of her thigh and below. However, Raz winced through this pain for one simple fact: The downward plunge was something he had committed to and couldn’t withdraw from fast enough. Another fun fact? Traditional beskad were not nearly as long as he was overestimating them to be.

Thus his plunge down to the leg put his blade entirely out of range. This also meant she had no issues with being close to him and slamming the curved tip of her own beskad directly upwards to jam into the underside of his neck and drive into his carotid. Even if he tried to defend with his free hand, it wouldn't be quick enough. And even if it were, the blade would simply pierce through the flesh and continue to drive into his neck.

Regardless of the outcome of her fatal attack, she would withdraw her leg to avoid further injury. There was little for him to do to defend against a blade that was specifically made for close range combat.

@Rimrald

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

Wyatt had indeed committed to his downward plunge but when his sword had not found purchase in her thigh but instead ran along her leg cutting the skin, he saw her attack coming. His eyes already low as he had to be looking where he was stabbing and as he moved his free hand to try and grab hers he felt the blade plunge into his neck, and the pain radiated through his body as his right hand grabbed onto her wrist. Clutching tightly his grasp on his own beskad was lost as it clattered to the ground, fighting to stay on his feet he was ashamed in his final moments, so much unfinished and so many questions unanswered as he coughed in his helmet.

The death gargle audible but no words came from his mouth as his vision filled with his fiancé and child, soon they would be reunited as he closed his eyes and stopped fighting to stay on his feet and released his grip as his vision clouded.
@Sreeya