Open Mandalore Mission to Mandalore: Homecoming

[Ars Dagon]

"You're going to say to them 'Hey! Were going to restore our government want to join in?!' cause all they're going to do is laugh you all out of their villages." one of the many Mandalorians speaking chimed in. Dagon shook his head, his hand moving to his jetpack control on his vambrace. "You lack vision." he said, the jetpack whirring into life "We must lead by example, by actions not by words." Dagon switched to Mando'a "Vim nah ch'urci cavesah non.

With that, Dagon took to the air, his jetpack whooshing him off toward the city at some speed. The journey did not take long, and he was soon to touch down at the entrance to Sindari with the rest of the advance party.

Switching off his pack as he landed, he removed his carbine from its holster and looked around. The city was far from its glory days, the wealth and power of the Mandalorians clearly far behind it. Evidence of the purge lay all about him as he walked through the City, catching up with the advance party. One of the party, Minerva mumbled to herself as Dagon approached. "We have much to do.” he heard, responding as he drew closer "And we will do it together," Dagon drew level with her, scanning the surrounding area "Nothing in the life of the Mandalorian is easy, but that is what makes it worth living."

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

"This is the Way," Reiel agreed with a firm nod.

Between the two of them, she would not be ashamed to admit that it was Gett'se who held much wisdom close to his heart. Where Reiel was fueled by emotion, she trusted her vod to be the source of reason, as evidenced by their fateful encounter in Ord Radama. He was wise beyond his years, and she would do well to learn from him.

His words deepened her appreciation for his presence. Earlier, Reiel had resigned herself to making her way towards Sundari by foot. And while it did not bother her as much, she had to admit that taking the path that lay before her in the presence of strangers – despite the fact that they all followed the Creed – felt a little sad and daunting for her. With Gett'se, it had become more than endurable.

And his offer made her laugh – not in a bad way, nor at his expense. It was that of amusement and relief, one that seemed to say, 'where would I be without you'. Reiel beamed at him despite the helmet covering her face.

"Vor entye!" she chirped at him gratefully. Then, playfully, she followed with "I believe in your strength, brother. Carry me if you must. I'll be a good and well-behaved passenger, trust me."

At the Mandalorian whose armor was lined with the color that represented a lust for life, Reiel looked at him over her shoulder with a bright grin. "Explore our heritage first, then plan for a government later, vod. We will have time for the latter! Because the way I see things going on right now with the discussion? Seems to me that some of us are close to raising fists against one another. I did not come here to witness my vode tear at each other's throats over disagreements."

Shifting her focus back at Gett'se, the young Mandalorian quipped like an excitable foundling, "Beam us up, Gett'se ner vod!"

@Arclight @Kenico

 

[Ja’yr Ordo]

Ja’yr felt a little defeated as Mandalorians left one by one to the Sindari, He looked to Dolworth's and let a sighed “Looks to me this meeting is over. Vod maybe when we meet again we can have a discussion the future of Mandalore. For now I will see what this path follows. Even if there are aruetii among them.“ He hands a comms link to Dolworth and jesters for him to take it. “If you ever need me use this to contact me, I’ll make sure our Vods won’t end up getting themselves killed.”

 

[Jester]

Once she had stopped speaking she had half expected to get a bunch of blasters pointed at her, but the most she got were words thrown at her in the same language that she could not understand. And when one of them started to sing she really started to wonder if she should have brought some means of translation with her.

Thankfully the one who sang did revert to basic, and oddly enough seemed to be agreeing with her. As she fell in step with another and started walking towards the city, Jester looked around at the rest of the gathering before moving behind the duo. Others were moving as well, some on foot others soaring through the air. She noticed some lag behind, shouting at the retreating crowd, and again wishing she could understand whatever he was screaming.

"Hey," she called out as she caught up to the duo, jogging up to them and falling in step besides them, "wait up! What city?"

@Forsythe Crowholde @Arclight

 

[C’kol Rodarch]

”Though I do not know her, the girl speaks true. If we wish to discuss this, however, I demand that leadership from our respective clans meet to decide our course of action!!”

This had gotten entirely out of hand. Whether the girl belonged in this specific conversation or not did not remove the logic in her words. He had mulled them over in his mind and found much wisdom in them, obviously sprouted by one who was either young and eager to be heard or impatient and brash. Neither were bad qualities, though the former reminded him much of himself in his younger years.

“It is not our place to decide the fate of others - they must have the strength to act, or the wisdom to ask.

Nor do we have the authority to declare our actions against the elders of our clans. Unless, of course, you would disrespect the Way of our people...”

 

[Casany Praxor]

Music OOC

Spoiler

Casany’s fire propelled her forward through the air as she tore through it, wind rushing against her armor with all the resistance of weighted words. Speech, however, had not been enough to sway her toward one speaker or the other among those who might still linger behind her, and neither would she yield in her coming. The city before her, somehow it invited and dismissed her all at once, as if this was her best idea and worst. The closer she flew, the greater the dome revealed itself; like a cracked shell whose egg had long since been sucked out. Though there’s life in you yet…

That thought took on a new meaning as her jetpack died and her boots touched down. There were two figures standing off by an alley, then three—a man and a woman and their daughter, huddled and hungry, watching the latest arrival as warily as they might have watched a Stormtrooper. Cass turned her helmed head and marched on, catching up with the other Mandalorian who had flown first, Minerva Fhirdiad, before the two were joined by a third: Ars Dagon.

"And we will do it together," Dagon drew level with her, scanning the surrounding area "Nothing in the life of the Mandalorian is easy, but that is what makes it worth living."

“And dying for,” Cass added while gazing around at the ruins of the capital city that once was. As so many others before us have. That truth was a grim one, the corpses of Mandalore all but faded away into dust or buried beneath her very feet. How many skeletons in the rubble even now? How many souls still screaming toward the skies, shouting for justice? Whatever their number, their names would not be forgotten; even while she may not know them to speak them, she could feel them, hear their calls and their cries as surely as the naked wind.

“Sundari…” Cass called between her party as much as to the wind. “Welcome home, Mando’ad.” Welcome back.


@Minuteman75 @Nor'baal

 

[Talon Vizsla]

They brushed him off, one by one, flying towards the city like fools. Dol was correct, and yet the man said he lacked vision? Of course he seemed to have passion, but wisdom...that was evidently not one of Dagon's strong points. They needed discussion, they needed collaboration; they had the group and they had the will to actually do something. The question was, what would they do?

Evidently, the answer was enter the ghost town of a capital, mourn over the loss of power, greatness--and hope something happens. They weren't even on the same page, they didn't agree at all; without discussion, they'd merely be another group of fanatics who are laughed at as they beg people to take up arms for their lonely cause. That, or they would argue themselves to death. This was exactly the issue, people like Dagon using short quips to settle an argument in the hopes they somehow make sense. Then they proceed to wave a blaster around until someone blows their head off.

Talon eyed the one called C'kol and sighed. "There is no leadership, no unity, not even within clans. Furthermore, not everyone here honors the Way, and we cannot use this as a common ground to provide that unity..." He turned towards the man, dismayed. "Some even accept random outsiders with open arms, not even calling to attention the two who are in our midst. This is how Pre Vizsla fell, how our people fell...and they could care less." Nothing was working out the way it logically should. "They have passion, pride, hope, and honor...and I respect that. Wisdom, however, I think not. I admire your caution, and your care for the people of Mandalore, yet I also feel as if some action needs to set things into motion..."

Talon rolled his eyes and stalked after the group towards the city, shaking his head, grateful that most of those his words had targeted left before they could hear. He did not seem to agree with many of those present; THEY were the ones with no vision. They merely flew on towards their capital, hoping it could provide them with some sort of direction. If that was their choice, Talon would go along merely to ensure they did themselves no harm--just maybe this would go somewhere. It was worth a shot...maybe Talon could offer some of that wisdom he so dearly held on to, despite what courage he lacked.

@Kenico @Nor'baal @Aurius

 

[C’kol Rodarch]

“You aren’t wrong, Vizsla. Nothing you have said has been incorrect. I want you to know, brother... I did not come to stir up trouble. But what I do now, I do for those of us who are of the same mind.”

This was the Mandalorian Capitol. And one here had called them to gather. If other clans lacked formal leadership, then it was inevitably that this Ars Dagon has taken it upon himself to claim the title of Manda’lor and ascend to her throne. That was not a position one so young, ill tempered and rash should fill. And Dane would see to it such a lofty ideal was stricken from his mind here and now. Raising his gauntleted hand to his helmet to amplify his voice and release it on all frequencies. Distance would be no cause of ignorance. Only dishonor.

“Ars Dagon. I have spoken to you, and I demand an answer to my request. Either that, or you will test your strength against mine this day. Here and now - by the weapon of your choosing, under our own skies.”

@Nor'baal @Kenico @DarkSaber

 

[Ars Dagon]

”Though I do not know her, the girl speaks true. If we wish to discuss this, however, I demand that leadership from our respective clans meet to decide our course of action!!” Dagon rolled his eyes as the other Mandalorian spoke, and continued walking through the nigh-on abandoned township. “It is not our place to decide the fate of others - they must have the strength to act, or the wisdom to ask. Nor do we have the authority to declare our actions against the elders of our clans. Unless, of course, you would disrespect the Way of our people...” he ignored the Mandalorian, as was often best when one considered a person to be speaking an awful lot of nothing. At last, they focus their chatter on someone else, Dagon thought to himself as the Mandalorian spoke again “You aren’t wrong, Vizsla. Nothing you have said has been incorrect. I want you to know, brother... I did not come to stir up trouble. But what I do now, I do for those of us who are of the same mind.”

Now deep within the Mandalorian City, the small group came to a stop - or at least Dagon did, as before him stood two statues, clearly built at different times. One of a Mandalorian adorned in the armour of the Deathwatch, and the second adorned in the armour of a Mandalorian Protector. He approached, to take a closer look before being stopped by the prattling of one of the group. “Ars Dagon. I have spoken to you, and I demand an answer to my request. Either that, or you will test your strength against mine this day. Here and now - by the weapon of your choosing, under our own skies.”

He turned to face the speaker.

"Are you done?[" he looked the Mandalorian up and down, and was not impressed with what he saw "Nobody forced you to be here, and nobody is forcing you to stay." he fell silent, not giving the antagonist the time of day, and refocused his attention onto the statues. "Deathwatch," he wiped his gauntlet over the sigil on one of the statues "Protectors." Dagon looked up at the two statues now and addressed the others with him "I was not aware these two still existed?"

OOC: Can we slow down the posting, or respect some sort of posting order please? I cannot reply to things characters have directed at me, if I am not given an opportunity to post.

 

[Minerva Wren]

Hearing Arys Dragon she nodded, wanting to believe it. Whatever it takes. Once the many of the others arrived they made their way further into Sundari. Such a host of newcomers would not go unnoticed by the ruined city’s inhabitants. For the time being the Sundari dwellers kept their distance but observed with caution.

As for Minerva, the more she saw of the city, a sense of pride and sadness danced with each other in her soul. Then like Arys she beheld the two statues symbolizing Deathwatch and the Protectors. Both groups were part of their heritage regardless of how they’re thought of now.

Hearing the challenge and Dragon’s reply, Minerva sighed. Normally she would get excited about a fight but not now. Yet the former foundling was still sobered about her surroundings.

Turning to the others the mercenary said. “Do you what you must Vode, I won’t get in the way. However, I must go and pay my respects to our forebears.”

She walked away from the group and anyone watching would note the silver planted Mandalorian was heading directly...to the former palace of Sundari!

(OOC: Exiting the thread. I‘ll be roleplaying a related thread at former Sundari palace if anyone is interested in joining in.)

 

[C’kol Rodarch]

“You didn’t answer my question. If this little charade is meant to signify that you’re worthy of leadership you’re proving the exact opposite.”

Dane had his arms crossed by this point. Though this one could not see his face beneath the visor, it was a crumpled mess with eyebrows raised. He wanted to be a leader but he couldn’t accept criticism. What in dank farrick did he hope to accomplish here?! Wanton bloodshed? There were a number of considerable difference between Deathwatch Dar’manda, their honorable children, and the neutral space of the Protectors and Supercommandos. Namely they each followed a different creed, some similar and others quite loose in nature. To say the cultures where compatible as is, right out of the box so to speak - was incredibly shortsighted.

“Whatever happened to actions instead of words? Or are you electing to ignore me again?”

 

[Dolworth]

Dolworth watched as they all left one by one for a broken city. Did they genuinely think that simply telling the people and then try to organize a government was going to work? It had been done before many times...all fell. Dolworth couldn't help but feel a swell of pity as he watched the group leave. The ones who stayed he turned and faced them, his Helmet masking his disappointed look at how few were left who actually heeded his warning.

"They say I lacked Vision." he chortled under his breath as he looked at them, "What I have is a healthy dose of Reality. Vision and Reality must always be in balance, especially when the dream of a unified government for our people is on the line." he stated, "I've been around long enough to know that Vision without Reality is a pipe dream. But Reality without Vision is just depression. There will be a future for our people..." he said, not with sadness...but with surety, "...But not until we define a common cause for unification once more." he stated with caution as he turned to leave. He would not squabble with them, If they did manage to unite and become a faction then good for them and thank the Manda he was wrong. But he knew the most likely outcome: They would be told that everyone was tired and did not want any more trouble from people like them...and to get the hell out.

"I'll be on the Raza" He said to Talon over his comms if he wasn't close to Dol, "I'll wait for you to take you back to your ship unless you catch a ride with someone else. Out" And With that Dolworth began a long and tiresome trek back to the Raza...

/Exit Thread

 

[Dregg Starr]

Dregg Starr​

By the time Dregg had landed his ship and left he had missed half of what his fellow Mandalorians were saying. He stayed in the backlines listening to what they had to say. Some of them didn't have a clue what they were talking about he had thought. He had arrived soon enough to hear talk of people worrying what the clans would think about joining and being pushed to join. He shook his head at these ideas and thought quietly to himself that the clans could decide whether they joined the reformed Mandalorians and these thoughts shouldn't stop the Mandalorians here on this day from retaking their homeworld. Some of these men and women were on the cusp of glory. The threshold of retaking their ancestral home. Some of these men and women were squandering the opportunity given to them here today.

After some time some of the braver Mandalorians marched on the city and others left. Dregg had thought he'd put his gunslinging and killing days behind him; evidently not. He watched as his brothers and sisters jetpacked towards the dome. He followed suite and shot off after them using his jetpack, he hadn't used this in years. It was quite freeing wearing his armour again, it was freeing not being behind a store counter or forging some weapon for some halfwit who thought they would be the next big bounty hunter only for him to see the news that they had been killed doing some stupid thing. He landed outside the dome, his A280C blaster rifle in hand. He saw is fellow Mandalorians walking in quite carefree. Idiots. He analysed the surroundings he found himself in. Looked for recent footmarks in the ground or anything of the sort. Nothing. He nodded as he crept into the city, looking around the corners making sure there was no one there. The place seemed to be deserted and having been for some time. He heard no blaster fire anywhere near him in the city. He caught up with the rest of the group here, he saw a woman enter the Sindari palace and nodded. Perhaps he should follow her inside the palace, she may need backup after all. He looked around and laid his eyes upon Dane who was arguing with Dagon or at least trying to argue with him. "We're not gonna get any where with you arguing an' askin' for a fight" He said bluntly staring the man down through his helmet. "We're supposed to be brothers and sisters in arms. Not at eachothers throats, so if I were you I'd pipe down sunshine.". His voice was quite gravelly, harsh and stern. You could tell from the tone of his voice that he had no time for infighting or arguments among his fellow Mandalorians. "Anyways..." He pointed at the palace "We should enter the palace, it's protected from the outside and it'll be a good base of operations for us to plan the reclamation of our home planet". Dregg begun to approach the palace, looking around to see if he could see any lens glare from a scope or anyone in the distance before entering the palace.

(OOC: probs gonna move to Minerva's thread inside the palace, we should go into there and plan some stuff)

 

[Gett'se Vizsla]

Gett'se nodde to Reiel as she responded an affirmative, a small silent smile behind the mask of his visor. "Trust me on my word that I will not let you fall."

Coming up behind her, he would grab her to take flight. An awkward prospect as he had to take a mental second to figure out just where to grab before settling on a strong hug around her abdomen.

"Up we go." With that final warning he triggered his jetpack and they blasted up into the air. Soaring towards the city, he made sure to grip her tightly. He had promised that she would make her destination safely and wanted to be sure of it. After a few moments of flight they came down on the platform that led into the city and he released her.

"I deliver you, to the gates of Sundari." He said with a small amount of mirth in his face, reminding himself of a royal herald who might declare something like that. He might have seen something similar in a holodrama.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

An amused chuckle was Reiel's response to Gett'se's assurance. She had trusted him with her life back in Ord Radama – surely he would not fail her with this one.

She allowed herself to be carried whichever way he preferred. Placing her hands over the arms around her, Reiel patted them reassuringly, the action speaking of her confidence in his words. The young Mandalorian did nothing to supress the excited laughter that bubbled up her throat the moment her feet left the ground. She had been trained in the Rising Phoenix, yes, but was yet to gain possession of a jetpack of her own. And while she was just a passenger on the trip, Reiel still relished in the feeling of taking off to the skies to reach their destination.

As expected, the way to the domed city of Sundari was short. Gett'se released her from his hold but Reiel remained close, suddenly feeling overwhelmed as she gazed up at what once have been the great gates. This was, after all, her first time seeing the capital. Signs of the Great Purge were visible wherever she looked, and the sight saddened her more than it ever should.

She looked back up at her vod with a bittersweet smile on her face. "Thank you, Gett'se. And, uh... welcome home, I guess," she said, excitement toned down and replaced with reverence as she swept a hand towards the great gate.

A tentative step forward, followed by another. Her apprehension was visible, comparable to a shy foundling on their first lesson in Mandalorian history. She wished her buir was with her as she finally gazed upon the city of their people.

"Have... Have you been here before, ner vod?" she would ask Gett'se as she made her way inside the city with him. They would soon catch sight of their fellow Mandalorians, and Reiel's shoulders would droop upon hearing that some of them were still arguing – with one of them intent on fighting Dagon, it seemed.

She would turn away from the sight, agreeing on another Mandalorian's words – he spoke bluntly, but the words held truth. He had already approached the palace before Reiel could offer a greeting, however. She would shift her focus back at Gett'se instead.

"To be honest, I expected for this gathering to start seeking our heritage with our own eyes as we explore the city, not one brother challenging another to a fight," Reiel would mutter quietly – a little disconsolate – only for the Mandalorian beside her to hear. She would then turn to Dagon before speaking out loud, "Admittedly, I am not aware as well, vod. This is one of the reasons why I heeded your call to return to our homeworld – to learn of my heritage by seeing firsthand what the city holds in store for us."

She was speaking in Basic for the benefit of the aruetiise in the group. The other Mandalorians might be too critical on their inclusion, but Reiel was far from dismissing their presence here.

"I have only been a Mandalorian for eight years – I assume that most of you were taken into our fold as foundlings. I am already an adult when I was taken by my buir. And, yes, I may have already received education about our people's history, but nothing beats a tour to the homeworld as well, huh? Seemed like the best place to really start unearthing our heritage."

@Arclight @Nor'baal

 

[Gett'se Vizsla]

Gett'se watched Reiel as she took in the gates of Sundari, she stayed close to him and he was glad for her presence. "Not home, but perhaps one day." He replied stoically. His home was the berth on his Y-wing as he travelled the stars, or perhaps a bedroll under them in the wilds of some backwater planet. The road was his home and he wasn't sure if he wanted it any other way.

"Not here in Sundari, but my buir brought me to Mandalore when I was a young Foundling, he wanted me to see the results of our people's actions, to see the desolation, to know the consequences of our pride." He spoke quietly. The time spent there had made quite the impact on the younger Gett'se, and he had taken his buir's words to heart, as evidenced by his passion in speaking out against needless conflict earlier.

As they moved deeper into the city he could see and hear that same pride rearing its head as his vod continued their war of words, though it seemed close to coming to blows. He had raged against the fool Dagon earlier, but even he knew well that the man made no claim to the title of Mandalor, supreme leader of their people. If he had he was a fool and Gett'se would be the first to raise his blade against his claim. The screeching of the so called Protector had begun to grate on his nerves and he yearned to be free of its noise.

"Perhaps we should join the others inside the palace?" He said to Reiel, nodding towards the older Mandalorian who had begun his departure from the arguing pair, seemingly tired of the conflict as well. "Seems like a good place to learn more of our heritage." If Reiel was in agreement, he would follow Dregg towards the palace. If not, he would stand by his familiar vod, whether that be to watch, fight, or otherwise explore the lost capital of their homeworld.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Pride – the negative aspect of it, rather – was something Reiel never really approved of. And she agreed with Gett'se. Their people's history had been so convoluted, so full of this sin called pride that ultimately led to their downfall.

She would love to see Mandalore restored, yes. But if this restoration would only fall back to the cycle of pride that led to war, she would rather stay away and keep her clan from such disaster. She would rather have Mandalore remain as it was – a home that was so close yet so painfully far away, free from the mistakes of the current generation who learned nothing from the past.

The reflection brought Reiel back to her meeting with Jedi Knight Fiach Dubh, and the discussion they shared about their people. May the mistakes of the past be a guide for our people to do better... it is a hope I will always hold on to.

But conflict remained, slightly fracturing that very same hope she held close to her heart. She was grateful for Gett'se's suggestion, nodding her head and would walk beside him as he followed the older Mandalorian.

She would hate to see her vode raise up arms against each other and not against a common enemy. She would then look at the group over her shoulder, and could only pray that their anger would only remain in their words.

@Arclight
[Exit thread. Next destination: The Palace]