Mand'alor's Mask: Knowing Is Half The Battle

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

Journey to the archives in Keldabe, there is your best chance at finding even a thread of evidence the mask still remains on Mandalore. I dread to say it, but you may learn the mask does not even exist anymore; you know how the Sith can be when it comes to punishing their subjects.

Wyatt stepped out from the promenade walkway and onto one of the connecting foot traffic causeways; he was to meet with Diocletian and Ary'del in the archives here in Keldabe. The cause of his return to the archives was with the intention to glean any information he could about the possible location of Mand'alor The First's mask, the object a mandalorian could call the peoples most sacred artifact. Wyatt's goal was to make sure it was recovered if it could be, the people had suffered enough under the rule of the Sith over the last half millennia and it was time they had something to rally behind again and this time for themselves not some lording power.

He was adorned in his armor that sported a fresh cleaning and polish, it did not shine but it was well maintained. He carried his quickdraw in a shoulder holster and the lightsaber in his bandoleer; he walked with the electroripper staff fully extended and powered off through the crowded causeway. Passing by armored and unarmored men and women, his jaig eyes showing prominently on his helmet as he approached the entrance of the archives, it's exterior was deceptively simple as was much of mandalorian architecture. The real 'wow' factor came when you entered as it retained the elegant simplicity but was adorned in a regal fashion without being gaudy, he was happy to return and with a pair of people he deemed most important to him and his task.

Dio, a friend who was more like a real brother beyond just being called Vod. He and Wyatt had fought side by side and led men into battle together more times that Wyatt could remember at this point and he knew having the insightful man with him would serve to make this trip a success. He also asked Ary'del along, as one of the few other surviving mandalorians from Medriaas it only seemed fitting to have her on this journey. He knew how much it would mean to her to recover something of their shared past, a past shared with all mandalorians who could rally when the time and right person called on them to do so.

Wyatt made past the crowd finally, and stopped at the steps of the building as he looked up the thirty or so old and elegant steps to the set of large double doors that would lead him inside the building. He cast a glance around at the passers by, trying to see if his partners for the task had beat him here.

@Critas @Fey Aadedai​

 

[Arydel Solus]

Ary'del's eyes were hooded slightly behind her helmet, staring placidly around at the clumps of people going about their business. The young woman had arrived just a few minutes ago to the elegant stairs in which lead up to the doors where her task resided behind. But upon her early arrival, and not finding either of her companions yet present, Ary had settled to take to the right of the stairs and lean against one of the tall pillars which lived on either side of the stair.

In waiting more than five minutes, Ary had lifted her chronology to observe the time. She had been instructed to be here, and meet with Wyatt and Diocletian at the entrance of the archives of Keldabe. An unfamiliar place, as most places were to Ary. She had not seem much. Wyatt's reason for calling herself here had been shared prior to their meeting, where Ary had accepted with little hesitation. Her people, her home, had seen enough destruction and deceit. The warrior was more than committed to the expelling of the Sith who so adamantly banned the Mandalore existence.

Upon spotting Wyatt make his way through the crowd, Ary moved to remove her helmet, and make herself known to her companion. Her dark hair spilled past her shoulders with the action, and she simultaneously made her way towards him, his back to her. Slipping her helmet under her right arm, she tapped his shoulder light-heartedly and moved to face him with a small smile. Ary had come to consider Wyatt one of the people closest to her, and with their shared history and some mutual feelings, made Ary feel ever stronger about their purpose here. She looked on Wyatt with admiration for his initiative and drive for the revival of their shared home-world, it was the same fire she held.

"Ary'del, reporting for duty." The younger girl gave a mirthful greeting, and looked around for the arrival of their third and final companion.

 

[Burkhart Kelborn]

____________

THEME​

Mandalore was the homeland of the mandalorian people and Burkhart felt it to be like a home that certainly belonged to his greater family. His greater family being other mandalorians. However he always felt closest to those of his own clan. The Kelborn clan was small but it certainly made up for it by their tight nit relations and the resolute presence. They were steady, reliable, and Burkhart was ambitious. He was the Alor of his clan and a known Rally Master among the mandalorians but he had no desire to have Kelborn become a house or to take the mantle of Mand'alor.

The Morling was here for personal reward and to hold up his family's relation with the next possible Mand'alor. Among other thjings Kelborn clan members held a high regard for symbols and sigils. That extended to tattoos, jaig eyes, painted armor colors and especially the mask of Mand'alor. Even if it was not to be used or held as some claim, it would certainly symbolize that the origins of the mandalorians had survived the Imperial oppression and would continue to do so.

Burkhart had worked with Wyatt once or twice before they both had earned their respective promotions. Dio had first met Burk when he had come to the Charred Arch, his family's bar on Concord Dawn. That night Burkhart had also won a bare knuckle boxing match against Leandros. That man was hard headed for sure. Now Kelborn was supporting the rise of clan Solus to a house status.

He wore his usual dark armor and it lacked a T visor but had two pointed ears for his unique physique. The last time he had moved through a crowded street on an outer rim world he had ended up fighting three sith. But today he doubted there would be any sith presence. The two lightsabers taken from his defeated enemy hung underneath his black bantha leather jacket. The vambraces he had earned were also underneath the sleeves of his armor though one of them hid the partially damaged right arm that had been reconstructed with limited cybernetics. As a reminder he had his red gloved hand colored red and the cybernetics underneath painted to match the color of blood. It was a reminded of a close call and sacrifice but also ultimately victory.

The Alor's approach was able to easily pick out the man he was here to meet. His own P.E.A. customized with personal skin trailed behind him slightly looking from side to side to not bonk any passing mandalorians on the head. But it was at shoulder level of Burkhart who was already two meters tall. He pulled of his helmet as he stood before the man and his clan mate who he had yet to meet though he now knew her name. Even so he gave them both a nod. "Nice day we're aven aye?" His ears twitched as they got used to being outside his helmet. He reached into his jacket and pulled out rolled cigara that in his hand looked more like a small tabac stick. Placing it in his lips he brought his hand back into the pocket of his jacket and lit the vice before stowing the lighter.

@Critas @Rimrald @Fey Aadedai ​

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

With the greetings from his compatriots Wyatt turned his helmet to break the seal and reached back allowing it to magnetize to his backpack/jetpack combo and nodded in approval of their presence. "Glad to have you along, Diocletian may join us inside or he might show up later; but in the meantime Ary'del this is Burkhart, Burk this is Ary." He introduced the two who he'd worked with on separate occasions and would wait if they decided to exchange pleasantries before beginning the ascent up the stairs for the doors, taking in the view from the top step as he completed the climb with his staffs pommel clicking on each step. Reaching into a small pouch on his bandoleer he produced a small metallic stick and inhaled as he put it to his mouth, frenching the smoke into his nose as he returned it to the pouch. A slight fruity aroma filling the immediate area as he exhaled, his dirty little secret for dealing with smoking traditional cigarettes that he knew many laughed and mocked at but he didn't care much as the fruity flavors were enjoyable.

"There is an archivist who Dio and I met with on our last visit, she was knowledgeable beyond her years and she may know where to direct us on the activities of the Sith during their reign on Mandalore. If either of you have any other avenues to look through this will be the place to find any lore or tales, we just need a solid lead if we can get one." Wyatt said before heading to open the large door, the interior had several story tall ceilings and a large reception desk in the center, the building was a dull din as people conversed and worked with archivists and droids alike to hunt down information in the halls. The group would be greeted by a young mandalorian man in robes that draped over his beskar'gam "Welcome to the Keldabe Archives, I am Archivist Suul'an Ordo, is there anything in particular I can guide you to today?" His tone changing as he assessed the group, taking a more formal and respectful tone than he already had.

"Is the Head Archivist Myira Wren available, I am Wyatt Kebiin-Solus myself and Diocletian we're here on business to return the Bskar'gam of a fallen Wren warrior. Cale Wren she was of great help identifying his clan and we require her expertise in a pressing matter." Wyatt said with staff in hand as he awaited the man's response, he hurriedly digested the information and took a very serious look before responding. "Yes, I remember you two coming a month or so ago... Please follow me I will get her at once I am sure this is important if an entire entourage has been dispatched." The Ordo said as he turned and ushered the group towards the archivists reception desk, Wyatt turned to the others saying "If you have any other ideas please feel free to explore them, or help me navigate the information we are to receive if any in the matter of the mask."

@Darasuum @Critas @Fey Aadedai​

 

[Arydel Solus]

With the joining of Burkhart along with his introduction conducted by Wyatt, Ary would offer a pleasant nod towards him outside of the building they were to enter. The general tone of this mission was beginning to dawn on the younger girl as the three began into the archives, and she began to go over the implications of their being here in her mind.

Upon entering, Ary's eyes flicked over the place with interest. The large shelves of information gleamed in the dim lighting of the building, but they were vast enough for the young woman to need to tip her head up to see the top. The reception desk was where they were headed, only to be stopped by a younger archivist along the way.

Listening with intent, Ary remained quiet as the archivist and Wyatt conversed, and watched him leave to retrieve a superior with more expertise on their purpose for being here. In the meantime, the pale girl nodded at Wyatt's direction of helping him retrieve the data they would be provided with. She wasn't exactly sure what sort of lore she would search for beyond their present mission, but this place seemed like too good an opportunity to not explore while they were there.

While they waited, Ary would observe a few of the archives, tapping her bottom lip with her hand in thought but staying within range of Wyatt and Burkhart so she would know when to return hence the arrival of their information.

 

[Burkhart Kelborn]

____________

The Morling would turn to the young female and nod his head to her. She was one of the few non humans in clan Solus it would seem but he was glad to see more diversity in the clan that lead the house. It seemed this would perhaps be a bit of an egg hunt but far from what would normally be looked for. In this case it would not be colored nuna eggs but rather Mand'alor's mask. He walked behind Wyatt and kept his head high, scanning upwards and taking in the sights.

As he waited nearby he pondered some of the information that he had stored in his mind. He tried thinking back of what he knew when the Empire first started to oppress the Mandalorian people. Burkhart was only past his third decade in the galaxy and only half of that had really been with the mandalorian life style. Before that he had been with his own species. Back then he had not paid a great deal to what was going on with the Imperial politics and even if he had the young Burkhart would not have understood much.

With all of that in mind he did know someone who maybe did. Taking a few steps off to the side he pulled out his commlink. He typed in the connection to his father, Dral'ede. The man was probably working on his brew of netragal right about now or serving people in the Charred Arch. All the same he picked up. "Hello" he said.

"Buir, ow are ya now?"
"Good 'n you?"
"mmnotsobad. I gotta job an I'm wonderin if ya can provide some a yer expert knowledge."
"Aye, whatcha need?"
"You were active when the first Impies came round an started pushin into mando space yeah?"
"Yea, they cracked down on errythin. They took contrrol a most thangs but wot they culdn't take they destrayed."

Well that was not good news. He hoped the mask was not destroyed. "Whdt'd they doo about smooggler stashes and caches?" He asked after a pause. He could hear his step mother in the background asking for his father to get back to work. "There are a few out there they prolly kept like erythin else. Soome were bralliant playces I thaink. I know nobody went back there tho, nobody sain at least. Prolly booby trapped or outright full of bull. Too risky back then and foolish now." Burkhart nodded on the other side of the commlink. "send me as mooch info as ya can. Thanks Buir." Dral'ede just chuckled, probably shaking his head. "Sure thing Burk'ika. Be careful."

@Rimrald @Fey Aadedai​

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

Ary stayed close and Burkhart began making a call, likely in an attempt to work his own avenue towards the goal, one Wyatt appreciated the support in immensely. He then refocused on the task at hand and followed the young archivist to the main desk where he moved around it and began working on a terminal for a moment before raising his head to speak. "I've requested the head archivist, she will be with you momentarily and I must return to my work, please excuse me." He said stepping away and after a few moments of waiting Myria appeared from around a large case with a tilted head, recognizing Wyatt and offering a slight nod before speaking as she approached the same side of the desk as the pair. "Back so soon Wyatt, and with some new status I can see..." She trailed off looking his armor over seeing his rank and warriors marking, her armor was simple and bore the colors of Clan Wren that newly found itself under House Solus as she was sure to be abreast of.

"Yes, and for a pressing matter ma'am. I am in search of something that few believe still remains on mandalore if it even survived the rule of the sith all those years ago... I am looking for any information I can get on Mand'alor The First's Mask. It's location or status or records of its movements if it was collected by the sith during the persecution of our culture." Wyatt finished and her brows rose as she gave him a hard and long look over before she mustered a response, and it was in the form of help as she moved around the large desk and began logging into the terminal and typing as she spoke. "You are not the first to come looking for it, but you are the first in many years who I believe may have the ability to use what information we have. I have done my best to collect any information I could while dodging imperials who would have had me killed for the files I dove into during their reign here."

She finished with a chuckle, she was older but not grey in her years yet and displayed how fearless she was in the face of the persecution like a true mandalorian daughter. She continued typing for a moment before retrieving a datachip and began downloading what she had onto it and then removed it from the terminal and offered it forward saying a few words. "The last thing I could find mentioning the mask was transport records of confiscated items of religious value being moved to a holding site. It doesn't mention a location or what was to happen to it after it arrived, but the files mention it still exists and if you know any other people with information on the mask they may be of more help. I can tell you the stories throughout the ages of the mask but not of its whereabouts... I am sorry."

She finished with a frown and Wyatt returned the sentiment with a nod and a thank you as he inserted the chip into his datapad and fired it up, moving to a table with four chairs and sitting down. Looking up to see if Ary had followed, he would offer the pad to the center of the table for any of the others to try to decipher the many files on the tablet.

@Darasuum @Critas @Fey Aadedai​

 

[Diocletian Solus]

Diocletian was a little late to the party, but it was to be expected. They were on Mandalor and that meant the requisite side trip to meet the family had happened prior to the conducting of any business. The meeting had been too short but Dio was here to try and support Wyatt in his search for the Mask of Mandalor. Dio was not entirely sure that it even existed, he had heard stories, but it was a situation where he would need to see it to believe it. He took Wyatt at his word, they had spilled blood on a dozen worlds together and that tends to bond men. He knew Wyatt and he felt Wyatt knew him.

As he walked into the archives once more, he could not help but recall their last trip here. The return of the helmet of the downed warrior of House Wren had been an emotional roller coaster. It was certainly not the sort of thing you simply forgot. Dio paused to look around at the house banners on display and could not help but swell with pride at the new House Solus banner hanging proudly with the others. It had been a long road but one that they had, as a clan, traveled. They had gone from clan to House and they had done it together.

Dio sighted Burkhart’s tall frame above the crowd as the small group spoke with an archivist. Dio made his way through the crowd and came up behind the group just as the pretty young archivist started explaining how sorry she was that there was no tales about the location of the mask. Dio waiting for the woman to finish speaking and just stood silently waiting to hear what the groups next step might be before interrupting them at all.

@Darasuum
@Rimrald
@Fey Meraska

 

[Arydel Solus]

Ary was still staring with semi-glazed eyes at the what seemed like endless amounts of information when she heard Wyatt speaking behind her. The young woman made back by his side, and listened in quietly as the lead archivist spoke, and began working on a terminal near them.

Ary soaked up everything with keen ears, and her mind began racing with the possibilities this new information had provided them with. So the mask had been on the move... which was better than nothing. Actually, way better than nothing. The raven-haired woman followed Wyatt and took the seat beside him, her eyes still resting on his datapad that he had set in the center of the table.

"This is good, it exists," Ary's tone was upbeat but slightly hushed, in case any wandering ears were about the archives. "Maybe...can we find the date the transport was recorded under? Or the sector? That may give us an idea on where to start looking.." She trailed off as someone approached behind them, but turned to see Dio standing quietly. Ary gave a pleasant nod to the man she had met before, and turned back to look at the datapad.

 

[Burkhart Kelborn]

____________

A few moments would pass after Burkhart hung up the call with his father and waited for the information to arrive. After his data pad chirped he opened it up. There were cordinates, some dates and the man had even seen fit to send some public news articles on the crack down of criminal activity back then. Some confescation actions run by the Empire seemed to have been pretty brutal.

Walking over to Wyatt the Morling reached forward with the datapad extended. "Think thas is where it might be. Only one wahy ta find out though." He Looked at the others to see what they thought. Best case scinario it was laying in wait in some forgotten stash. Worst case it was destroyed and in pieces or not there at all and they were back to square one. But the Kelborn Alor had a feeling that it was somewhere in the middle.

@Rimrald @Fey Aadedai​

 

[Wyatt Kebiin-Solus]

Wyatt spun the pad around to himself and looked on at the company assorted and present, turning his attention to Burkhart and picking up the datapad to offer forward "Good, if you have some knowledge take this and see what you can glean, connect the dots if you can. We can reconvene on the matter once we have a solid starting location." Wyatt said as he looked around the group and motioned he would return in a moment as he moved back to the desk and thanked the head archivist for her assistance and offered a smile before taking his seat again.

"Thank you all for coming with me here today, I trust you will help me retrieve the mask if it exists still. For you are all capable warriors and I do not know what we may face, but with you all at my back I know we will not fail. Our people depend on a leader bringing us together and with this task I think you know I intend to do so... But we can talk about that at another time!" Wyatt said with a smile rising from the chair and clapping Burkhart on the back "We have some information to go through and see if we can pin down at least a couple kilometer area it may be in. I'll see you at your families bar tonight and we can dig in." He said before turning to Dio "I'll be sure to stop by your workshop tomorrow and finish up that beskad, I've gotta get the blade sharpened I've just been so busy.."

He trailed off looking to Ary and grabbed her hand "We've got dinner reservations tomorrow so we need to get you something to wear before then. But it's almost time for whatever Daniel was calling the clans together for and it's getting late, so let's all get over there before the rain starts and see what that goof is on about." Wyatt finished releasing Ary's hand and heading for the exit with staff in hand.

//Thread @Fey Aadedai @Critas @Darasuum