Ask Saving CB Teddy: The First Steps

[Srucayr]

Maldo Kries
Almost One Week After Spit Fire
​

Maldo Kries. A frigid ball of ice that wasn't worthy of the covert that called it home. He glanced over to his crew, one injured Reiel, who was still bothered by her current.. condition and some ba-10 astromech that he had begun to call Osik'cirnr. Following the coordinates provided by Reiel, he would guide the Nakadr through the various canyons that dotted the planet. He knew she didn't want to face her buir in her current condition, but this was a trip that was long overdue. And per his offer for them to join the Orar'da'yadr on the Yaim, his Alor asked him to meet with Clan Crowholde.

His visor would scan the cliffsides for the hidden entrance to the covert and Osik would run scans for detecting life. That's when he saw it, the unnatural cleft in the ice wall that exposed a modified cave entrance. "Before we land, Rei'ika, is there a hidden landing pad I should know about? Or an encrypted comm frequency I can call so they know we're friendlies."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Her injuries – more so her arm – still hurt, and the missing vambrace only served to remind Reiel of her failures in Coruscant.

As much as she wanted to avoid returning home and, subsequently, facing her buir, the small Mandalorian eventually gave in to Srucayr's prodding. It wouldn't do her good to remain brooding in that hotel room for days. And while her utter incompetence and uselessness during Teddy's kidnap felt like a knife between her ribs, Reiel had finally decided that letting her pride remain broken like shards of glass would only give the leader of her assailants' the pleasure of assuming correctly that they had managed to break her.

"You lack creativity and the understanding of my people."

Her mind, oftentimes, was clearer when she's angry. And as she fanned the flames of her rage on Coruscant, the clearer her memory of the words the voice spoke came.

My people.

A Mandalorian had sought to shatter her pride and state of being. Reiel would not give them the satisfaction of reveling in their success. She would pick up the shattered pieces and bind them all together with determination. She would mend and temper the cracks with her rage. They had abducted a child under her care – even if said care would only be temporary – and she would take him back, even if she would have to leave corpses in her wake.

Silently, Reiel rose to her feet and strode towards the ship's comms. She tuned in to the encrypted comm frequency Clan Crowholde used and contacted those who were guarding the landing pad.

"Reiel, daughter of Wulfric, son of the Alor," she said in a voice that brooked no further inquiries. The Mandalorian on the other hand welcomed her return before directing Srucayr to the same unnatural cleft he saw earlier. Below the modified cave entrance was an empty landing pad, currently devoid of ships so Reiel assumed that all transports were docked in the hangar that served as the main entrance to the covert.

It was the clan's Alor who found this place. And with the help of his former tribe, they had transformed this particular series of caves and caverns in the canyon into a place the Crowholdes now call their covert – their home, until Mandalore was her children's once more.

Reiel would wait for Srucayr to land the ship before making her way out of the craft with her ori'vod. There was no wind today, almost as if the weather was trying to sympathize with the injured Mandalorian. Snow crunched under her booted feet and soon her visor would meet another Mandalorian's, this one clad in blue medium armor crafted from durasteel.

"I see the loth-cat's got herself a pretty sweet ride," joked the other Mando until he saw her injury and the missing vambrace. "What the..." in a few quick strides, his gloved hands hovering worriedly over her. "Mal, what happened to you? Are you okay, are you–"

Despite her apprehension in returning to the covert, Reiel couldn't help but smile gratefully at the much taller Mando. Her left hand found his chestplate and gave it two quick but gentle pats, as if saying that she was alright.

"Nothing to worry about too much, ba'vodu Dell," she lied, glad that her helmet hid her face. "Ship's not mine, by the way. Ba'vodu," Reiel gestured towards Srucayr, "meet Srucayr of the Orar'da'yadr. Ori'vod, ba'vodu Dell."

"Hail and well met, vod," Dell greeted the War Priest, giving the latter a half bow to show respect. Now wrapping an arm carefully around Reiel's shoulders, Dell would lead the two inside the caves. They would pass by three freighters and two starfighters on the way before Dell would stop a few steps away from another group of Mandalorians who stood beside a scout ship. Their arrival caught this group's attention, and the tallest who wore grey beskar'gam immediately focused on the injured among the three.

"Ad'ika," Wulfric Crowholde breathed, stepping past his companions (who quickly made way for him) to carefully sweep his daughter in a bear hug. Reiel relented, left hand coming up to return her father's embrace. Her vision blurred with unshed tears as she felt his concern for her, feeling one of his hands gently laid atop her injured arm. For their part, the other Mandalorians (except Dell) respectfully turned away from the exchange, but Reiel could still see the worried glances they stole her way.

"Your daughter came with a fellow Mandalorian, Wulfric," said Dell after allowing both father and daughter a moment of their own. "A vod from another clan."

With that, Dell gestured for Srucayr to come forth.

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

The Nakadr would land in the pad and would Srucayr would shut down all the systems. "Osik, keep your metal shebs in the ship."

The droid would begin to beep back to the Mandalorian and despite not knowing what the little osik was saying, he could tell it wasn't good. If he didn't need the droid to optimize the flight of his ship, he would have cracked that metal husk open with his warpick. Despite the droid knowing it too, it didn't mean a sideways glance from the Mandalorian didn't all but silence the droid.

Descending the ramp beside Reiel, his hand would rest on the head of the warpick, visor scanning their surroundings. He seldom travelled to other Coverts as some were are less reliable then others. Once she engaged with the man in blue, her uncle Dell, Srucayr would offer a bow of his head at Dell's greeting. "Well met, brother."

When the trio would begin to walk deeper amongst the grounds of Clan Crowholde, Srucayr's gaze would shift over each member they passed or saw. His beskar was far more ancient then any of those present and he knew it was sure to garner with it some looks. Even in the low light, the sigils of Kad and the history of their people displayed proudly, upon his cuirass. Unlike the others, however, he didn't look away at Wulfric checking on Reiel. Family was important to their people and that importance was a big part of their identity. He would wait for the gesture to approach, hand more resting on the head of the warpick out of habit then a need for self-defense.

What they had here was unbefitting of them. The children of Mandalore, belonged on Mandalore, and hopefully when they left it would be to reunite them with their longlost home.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Still in her father's embrace, Reiel stepped back to raise her uninjured arm towards Srucayr. The older Mandalorian shifted his focus on the newcomer and nodded at him once.

"You must be Srucayr," said Wulfric in greeting, voice gruff but respectful. "My daughter speaks highly of you."

Her ori'vod might not see it because of the helmet but Reiel turned to give him a grateful smile. She spoke wryly with much self-deprecation, "If it weren't for him, criminals might have gutted me already on Coruscant."

Her clanmates shared worried looks beneath their helms at the youngest's claim. One of them, a woman, tilted her helmeted head to gaze at Srucayr rather critically but without disdain. Clan Crowholde welcomed their brothers and sisters from another clan, and while they were a stern and strict group they respected how other Mandalorians chose to follow the Creed. The alor had been a part of the Death Watch and most of the clan's elders were raised in the Way of the Mandalore, but having learned from their history they chose not to raise children and foundlings to be zealots.

The woman took her helmet off, revealing a youthful face that belied her age. "Well met, vod. The name's Kiva," she said. "What brought you here with our clanmate? And what caused this injury?" she added, gesturing at Reiel's injured arm.

Wulfric, knowing her daughter well, kept his steely gaze on Srucayr. "Reiel did not bother contacting me about this. Mayhap you could enlighten us how she came to be this injured over simple fayre?"

True to her buir's words, Reiel chose to keep her mouth shut about the topic while the small group of Mandalorians led Srucayr to one of the many chambers built into the caves. They passed by some members of the clan, and a foundling waved at Srucayr and offered him a friendly "Hello!"

The common room the group entered was spartan in setting and perhaps the most eye-catching sight in the room was a large fireplace, the flames crackling and chasing away the chill inside the caves. Dell disappeared into the kitchens while the female Mandalorian and Wulfric gestured for Srucayr to take a seat.

"Make yourself at home, brother," Wulfric told the War Priest with an air of someone who wasn't clearly used to entertaining guests. There was no awkwardness in his tone or movements, however. And when Dell returned, carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming tiingilar and a canteen of water and placed it on the table for the War Priest to partake in if he wished, Reiel's buir regarded Srucayr seriously, expecting for him to answer his earlier question.

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

"And obviously, you are Wulfric, a man whose praises she sings endlessly, and with good merit." At Reiel's words, he'd lift a hand to quiet her praise at the rescue. "She overexaggerates my part. I was merely where Kad decided I need be. She did all the hard work and survived."

To show respect at her gesture, Srucayr's hands would rise to remove the helm from his head, one hand clipping the helm to his belt while the other straightened out his dreds. He was surprised by the secret youthfulness of Kiva, though his face would show no sign of that. "Well met, Kiva." he'd add with a bow of his head. Even with the helm off, any nearby could see the carvings at the base of his neck. "The story should probably be shared in private."

As the group walked through the covert, he'd bow his head in greeting to those that acknowledged him and when the foundling waved, he pause, waving them over. Kneeling down, he'd remove a carved wooden symbol, the symbol of Kad. "It;s brave to greet those you don't know, young one. Kad rewards bravery, and so do I." he'd set the wooden symbol into the foundlings hand. "You will do great things some day, for Kad has shown me this." Patting the Foundling on the cheek, he'd push himself back to his feet before following the others.

Srucayr would follow them into the common room, his eyes gazing around the room. Now this, was familiar. Sitting close to the fireplace to chase away the cold, cold worlds were expressly and normally avoided. "My thanks, brother." he'd say to Wulfric. "We were on Coruscant when it was attacked by terrorists.." he'd pause when Dell returned. "My thanks." before he shifted back to Wulfric. "She found a child in need of aid, and helped him. Somewhere along the way, she was set upon by thieves or other scum. They took the boy and left her broken. Though she is stronger than they imagined and all they did was temper her through Kad's flames. She believes the leader to have been Mandalorian."


@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Kiva's intent gaze on the newcomer did not go unnoticed by her clanmates, nor the impressed glint in her green eyes as she looked upon the War Priest's bare face. The three older members of Clan Crowholde listened to Srucayr's tale with much interest, and to say that their anger at Reiel's belief on the identity of her assailants was an understatement – the ire, of course, was not directed at the young Crowholde but at the presumed Mandalorian traitor who would hurt their vod.

"A Mandalorian..." muttered Dell, fists clenched, helmeted head tilting to look at Reiel. "How sure are you about this, Mal?"

"How many outsiders know dadita?" the youngest Mandalorian in the room asked in return, expression grim underneath her helmet. At her ba'vodu's lack of response, she sighed and turned to look at her father. "I'm sure that the leader is one of our people. Believe me, I'm not lying–"

Wulfric gently squeezed Reiel's uninjured hand, gaze earnest as he looked at his daughter. "No one is calling you a liar, ad'ika. But this is no mere accusations. Tell us what made you so sure of your assailant's identity?"

Reiel shifted her gaze to Srucayr, as if asking for help. However, he didn't see who her attackers and Teddy's kidnappers were. She'd have to repeat to her father and clanmates what she told him, no matter how much it hurt her pride to relive the humiliating breaking she received from that cowardly group of scum.

"They– He–" the small Mandalorian spoke in a quiet voice, glove creaking as her left hand clenched into a fist. "The leader could've ordered their– his– men to kill me, but they... he... didn't. When one of the scum suggested to kill me, the leader said, and this is their– his– own words: You lack creativity and the understanding of my people. My people. They– ah, kark it, he said he knew how to destroy Mandalorians. Not by killing us, no. He–"

Reiel tightly shut her eyes, drawing on her anger as she delved deeper into the memory. Relived the physical and mental pain she'd felt until she could hear that damned modulated voice, cursing the amused tone it held. Her hands shook with barely suppressed rage, and that disgrace of a Mandalorian's words came clearer the more Reiel fed her wrath.

"He said Mandalorians are destroyed by squeezing the life from their soul, by shattering our confidence, our–"

"State of being," Kiva finished, emerald eyes narrowing with contempt at the ordeal Reiel had gone through. "That bastard, preying on his fellow Mandalorian... I name him dar'manda!"

Under normal circumstances, Wulfric would already be wreaking havoc in the common room out of rage for the pain and humiliation his daughter have been subjected into. But his kin were already doing the work for him, albeit in words and not through actions. He was glad to let them have at it.

"The child in question," Wulfric commented, curious gaze shifting from Reiel and her newfound ori'vod. "Is he a foundling? Why did your assailants take him?"

The memory of Teddy getting hit by the stun ring and then being carried away was what stung Reiel the most. The kid trusted her to keep him safe, and she'd wasted that trust by being completely useless and not being able to put up a fight to get him back. She shook her head, shoulders drooping as her failure washed her anger away.

"He's not. He told me he's under the care of a certain Captain Hawksby," she muttered. "As for why he was kidnapped, I have no clue. Teradius... Teddy, he's– he may be a Togorian, but he's just a kid. And I failed him..."

The older Crowholdes looked at Reiel in surprise.

"A Togorian?"

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

Srucayr would also catch the intent gaze of Kiva and he responded with a grin of his own. She sure was a sight, and so far a highlight of the frigid rock they were on.

At Reiel's questioning, he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Even if he never said 'my people', they knew precisely where to strike and where not to. It takes intimate knowledge of beskar to know how to best cause damage. That, and he stripped a piece of actual beskar." He shared their outrage at the damage done to Reiel, but he also knew the dangers of some things.

"Dar'manda is no term to throw around lightly. We can call him one all day, but it takes Mand'alor to make the title stick. Besides, this wouldn't be the first time out people have fought each other. Wars yet wage on Dawn, Concordia, and the Yaim. I have contacts searching for traces of the boy, but we came here for something besides the young Togorian.. Something far more important."


@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Dell let out a quiet curse at the confirmation, one comforting hand finding Reiel's shoulder. Wulfric nodded at Srucayr's words, more so the War Priest's light rebuke of Kiva's words. The Mandalorian clad in gold-colored armor, for her part, sent Srucayr an apologetic nod at her outburst.

"Srucayr is right, Kiva," agreed the oldest Mandalorian in the room. "And as for Reiel's assailant, I thank you and your contacts for their search for the child. He may not be a foundling but we cannot leave him in the hands of those vile predators."

"And what of this other matter?" asked the blonde, green eyes shining with curiosity as she gazed at Reiel then back at the Akaan Salyr. "Is this about the call to return to Mandalore?"

Reiel got up from her seat and approached Srucayr, standing by her ori'vod's side. She picked up where he left off with a nod. "Yes, and it yielded news both good and bad. As you can see, I've made companions during my brief stay there," she tipped her helmeted head respectfully towards Srucayr, "loyal ones who would see our homeworld restored. Well, truth be told there had been... disagreements from other Mandalorians at first, but there have been few who are loyal to the cause.

"You remember Gett'se, buir? He was present during the summons, and I was with him and other vode when we were waylaid by Nagai pirates in the palace at Sundari. They were pillaging and desecrating the sacred halls of our people, wearing the armor of our dead kin. We met Srucayr in the midst of the battle. With the joint efforts of other Mandalorians, namely Minerva, Dregg, Casany, and Kyp (I believe he's called), and an outsider and her droid, we made short work of killing the pirates. However, the bad news didn't end there. We discovered that the pirates have a base on Concordia, and that they were ultimately working for a bigger fish."

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

"The boy was lost while in -our- charge." Srucayr would say, more for Reiels benefit as he looked over at her, one hand resting on her shoulder.

At Kiva's question, his intense gaze would shift back to her. "Like I said earlier.. wars have been waging on the Yaim, Concordia, and Dawn for almost the last two decades. A warlord named Malinkar, has the Mask of Mand'alor but rules our people like a villain. My Covert has been fighting them for decades on the Yaim, while the Iron Skin Resistance is fighting them on Concordia and Concord Dawn. We are going to aid the Resistance." He would give Reiel's shoulder a final squeeze before lowering his hand to cross his arms.

His gaze would then start to shift over the other elders of the Clan. "But.. I am also here at the behest of my Clan and Coalition. We invite Clan Crowholde to join us at our base on the Yaim, and offer them a position within the Orar'da'yadr."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

The news of a Mandalorian claiming to be Mand'alor and ruling their people unjustly and with much villainy plunged the room into a brooding silence. Wulfric, Dell, and Kiva didn't need to say anything to express their anger and displeasure at the information. Wulfric and Dell, whose features were hidden by their helmets, squared their shoulders and clenched their fists – telltale signs of their rage at the news. Kiva, on the other hand, settled for turning away from Srucayr and Reiel's gazes, burning emerald eyes glaring at the hearth behind her.

Reiel knew that the three were already gunning for signing up to give their aid, both to Srucayr's clan and the Iron Skin Resistance. But the word of the Alor was law, and while they knew that the leader of Clan Crowholde would offer his help for the cause they still needed to hear his confimation.

They wouldn't have survived this long if it weren't for old Crowholde's words and leadership.

"Where is ba'buir, by the way?" Reiel asked. The alor would've been in the common room with them by now, having been alerted of Reiel's arrival with the War Priest.

"Helping our healers tend to the injured and the foundlings who fell ill," Kiva replied. "Our armorer has been afflicted as well, and the Alor has taken it upon himself to shoulder the work for now. Two of our clan members have passed their verd'goten, and he is currently overseeing them work on their armor."

Being the eldest among the Crowholdes in the room, Wulfric nodded respectfully at Srucayr's proposal. "Yours and your clan's is a generous offer, vod. We long to return to Mandalore, to live alongside our vode. I will discuss this with our Alor – I am sure he will be most delighted with this offer."

"Now, please tell us what you know of Malinkar. An estimate or the exact number of his followers, weaponry, any stronghold he possesses. Clan Crowholde will send our best fighters to provide aid where we are needed. And maybe then we may prove ourselves worthy into having a position within the Orar'da'yadr."

At Wulfric's words, Kiva would look at Srucayr over her shoulder, giving the War Priest a smile that spoke of battles she had fought in and won. There was pride in her eyes, balanced by her humility. And if Reiel ever noticed how the two have been eyeing each other?

Well, the small Mandalorian would just have to keep her mouth shut for now, right? No need to jinx a possible match made in heaven right before her eyes.

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

Srucayr would listen to them speak, he knew that the proposal was just that, until voiced on by the Alor. "I know my way around a forge." he'd say, his armor the very proof to his claim. "If it alleviates the strain on the Alor, I can step in and help at the forge." his gaze would wash over the elders, briefly pausing on Kiva before Wulfric spoke.

"Malinkar.. his numbers are beyond counting. Our people follow him because they believe in what the Mask represents. And like some of the lost within our Culture, they believe ownership alone dictates worthiness to wear the mask. They would be mistaken. He employs pirates, mercs, our own people.. If I had to guess, maybe around eighty thousand fighters on Dawn and Concordia. Maybe half that on Manda'yaim. He has several bases on Concordia, one or two on Dawn, and he owns Keldabe as his seat of power on the Yaim. Small outpost near Sundari. As we take his bases, I'm sure our people will bolster our numbers, then.. then we'll outnumber them. But.. It is going to be quite the uphill battle." Once more that gaze would wash over those gathered, before resting on Kivas. "Many of us will not see our goals fulfilled.. I cannot make promises or guarantees. But what I can promise.." he would pause as a smile entered. "..is that by the end of this, our people will have their home back. We will be victorious and once more the Mandalorians will be backed by the favor of Kad. And our young will know our home, as we all should have."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

"I'm sure that the Alor will appreciate your offer of aid, Srucayr," Kiva would gratefully tell the War Priest before making her way over to one of the chairs across Srucayr's. She settled down, helmet on her lap, and would listen intently as he relayed the information Wulfric had asked for.

Reiel gazed at her buir and clanmates as her ori'vod spoke. When she first learned of the state Mandalore and her people were in under Malinkar's rule, never had she thought that the hatred and rage she felt for witnessing the death of one of her vode on the assault at the Nagai pirates' corvette would never grow. However, the emotions only burned fiercer at the knowledge that the battle to overthrow the tyrant had been going on years – that he refused to back down and continued to lord over their people with an iron hand. And their vode who followed that despicable man's rule?

Had her clan been living on the Yaim, she knew that what was left of them would be forced to follow Malinkar after having their best fighters executed for voicing out a challenge against that bastard's rule.

"That's quite a number," Dell muttered, shaking his helmeted head at the information. "And if we are to have our vode on the Yaim to help us? It's going to take a lot of convincing to make them see that the ownership of the Mask alone doesn't give Malinkar the right to rule our homeworld."

Wulfric nodded in agreement, fists clenching and unclenching as he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Truly, many of us will ascend to Manda without having to witness our homeworld reclaimed... but it is a battle worth fighting for, and a great honor to die fighting a worthy cause." The oldest Mandalorian in the room tipped his head respectfully to Srucayr's promise, one he was intent to see for himself – for his daughter and for his clan.

"This is the Way," he proclaimed solemnly.

Dell respectfully bowed his head and answered, "This is the Way."

"This is the Way," Kiva intoned, emerald eyes shining with pride and determination at the heir of the Alor's proclamation.

"This is the Way," replied Reiel, turning to look at Srucayr with a proud smile on her face. Clan Crowholde might have been born from the Watch, and some of them might have been strong adherents of the Way of the Mandalore, but they were also a clan who persevered and learned from the mistakes of the past. She couldn't be prouder of them all.

With one final nod at Srucayr, Wulfric would rise from his seat and smiled at the War Priest beneath his helmet. "I must discuss the information you have given us with the Alor, vod, as well as your proposal. Kiva," here, he shifted his gaze to the blonde Mandalorian, "see to it that Srucayr knows the way to the forge. You and Reiel will accompany him during his stay in our covert."

Wulfric then crossed the distance between him and the War Priest, clapping a gloved hand on the latter's shoulder gratefully before making his leave with Dell. Kiva rose from her seat, her gaze locked on Srucayr before flashing him an amiable smile.

"Well, you heard him," she said, voice filled with mirth. "Follow me." She would then proceed to walk out of the room, clearly expecting that the other two would follow. Reiel, for her part, gave Srucayr a nudge with her uninjured arm.

"Kiva's the gem of our clan when it comes to physical beauty. She's hella strong, too," said the younger Mandalorian, a subtle hint of teasing in her voice as she shot her ori'vod a grin. "I noticed the looks you're giving her, brother. And I think she's seen a gem of her own, huh?"

Reiel was no matchmaker, but she would gladly play the part for those two.

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

As Children of the Watch, Srucayr would have to bite his tongue, at least for now. In the days of old, the Orar'da'yadr had warred with the Death Watch for their extremist views, traditionalists that had resorted to terrorism. The Children of the Watch and the followers of the Way of the Mandalore were young views on the Culture, views that had personally led to the destruction of their kind. He hoped while amongst his people they would find their way again.

As Wulfric prepared to find his father the Alor, Srucayr would rise to his feet, his own hand resting on Wulfrics shoulder to return the squeeze. "Kad guide you, brother."

As Kiva rose to her feet and smiled and beckoned for him to follow. "Lead on, I'm sure I'll enjoy the sights on the way to the forge." He mused back with a grin.

Then Reiel rose, nudging him, and his arm would go around her shoulder. "I've no idea what you're talking about." He clipped his helm to his belt and led the young Mando with him. "So, you have that talk?" He mused quietly to Rei. As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the woman leading the way.


@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

The way to the Foundry was lit with lamps hanging on the cave's ceiling. The three passed by a few members of the clan, all clad in full Mando gear, with one or two without their helmets on. These Crowholdes would tip their head in greeting to the three, but their interested gazes were understandably drawn to Srucayr. Rarely did another Mandalorian visit the covert and most of those who had wandered to Maldo Kreis never even found out that said covert existed on the icy planet.

Reiel grinned up at Srucayr despite the helmet covering her face. She willingly went with him, her grin turning into a soft smile at the feeling of his arm around her shoulders. The smaller Mandalorian was beginning to understand and feel more of what it was like to have an older brother and to say that it made her happy was an understatement.

"Alriiiight, if you say so," she replied teasingly. "Then I guess I'll just root for someone in the clan who might be planning to court Kiva."

Well, there was someone who really was considering, but too bad for them. It seemed to Reiel that her fellow Crowholde was keenly interested with Srucayr, after all. At the War Priest's question, she already knew what he was asking about and it sent a fierce blush on her face as Carrick's smiling face floated in the forefront of her mind.

"I have–"

Kiva stopping at the entrance to the Foundry stopped Reiel from replying, the blonde's gaze finding the War Priest's once more. Unlike the other rooms were traces of the caverns were largely evident, the Foundry looked to be the most modified area within the caves. It was, after all, the most sacred place for any tribe that was blessed enough to have one of their own. The Foundry was where Reiel learned that it also symbolized the Resol'nare. This was where she first received her beskar'gam, and like her ba'buir she viewed the Foundry as the spiritual birthplace of their people, of those who chose to swore and live by the Creed.

True to Kiva's report, two Mandalorians were hard at work in creating and modifying their sets of beskar'gam. The two paused in their work at the blonde's quiet command.

"Malik, Bren, congratulations again on passing your verd'goten," said Kiva in greeting before her gaze swept the room. "Has Wulfric and Dell seen the Alor already?"

"Yes," one of them replied. "They're gone off to meet with the other elders. Heard Wulfric tell the Alor that it's a matter of upmost importance."

Kiva nodded before gesturing for Srucayr to step forward. "Very well. I would like you two to meet our fellow vod from the Orar'da'yadr. This is Srucayr, and he will oversee your progress with your armor and offer help or advice with regards to your craft while the Alor tends to his other duties."

"Hi, Malik, Bren," Reiel offered with a wave, smiling at the younger Mandalorians when they simply gazed at Srucayr through their visors, clearly in awe at what they saw.

"So, Srucayr," Kiva said, eyeing the War Priest with great interest, "What is your position within your clan?"

It was a harmless question, but the blonde Mandalorian was known for disliking small talk nor seemingly mundane questions. Reiel smirked. Kiva was indeed interested, huh?

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

He laughed at Reiel, swatting her helm at the remark about rooting for another. "She strikes me as one that would choose for herself and not have need for any rooting. Besides, what's your support compared to that of Kad'harangir's?" he asked, his tone teasing and in alignment with his grin. When they reached the Foundry, Reiel seemed to think that bought her an end to the discussion. "To be continued. I have not, nor will I forget this talk." he promised.

His gaze would shift back to Kiva and the other two verde. As they talked, he'd watch their attentions divert from their work to Kiva and when their gazes fell to him his arms would cross, his tone gruff. "Congratulations indeed. Any more misplaced concentration and you'll ruin what you're working on." As he spoke, it would become apparent he was used to commanding others into battle. "If you need to speak while you work, do so with your eyes down. Beskar is fickle to work, lose your concentration on her and she will repay your hard work with an imperfect mold. Imperfections in beskar, are not tolerated in the culture. They are a weakness and in battle, can be the cause of your death. So focus."

There was the most faint of smirks to Reiel as he looked at her before his gaze drifted to Kiva at her question. "I am a War Priest of Kad'harangir.. the Cabur of the Order. The Command structure is very militant in my Clan, in every day functions, I answer to the Ver'alor or above.. In battle, I take my orders only from the Sol'yc or the Alor. We War Priests are separate from the Clan, yet not."

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Reiel laughed good-naturedly at Srucayr's teasing and nodded at his reminder. She knew that their discussion was far from over, but the sight of the Foundry always sidetracked her, having so many good memories with her father and grandfather in this spacious room. Whatever conversation she was having with any other Mandalorian would always be cut off while they were within close range of the Foundry, more so when she could hear her ba'buir hard at work inside.

Still, she tipped her head respectfully to her ori'vod and shot him a reassuring smile even if he could not see it. "I know, brother," she assured him. "I won't forget this either."

She watched as Malik and Bren immediately followed the command, gazes dropping to the metal they were crafting. It was evident that they did not take offense nor were they disheartened by the War Priest's gruffness – for all ot was worth the two younger Mandalorians only found the command as a source of focus and advice as they resumed with their work. They were years younger than her but the way they respected the older Mandalorian – even if said Mandalorian was not a part of their clan – made Reiel proud of the two. Kiva's smile of approval showed that the blonde shared Reiel's thoughts.

Turning to glance at Srucayr, Reiel grinned at the faintest of smirks on her ori'vod's lips before his gaze locked on back to Kiva. It was only the two older Mandalorians' first meeting and yet Reiel could already tell that there was a spark between the two. Kiva was as much of a warrior as Srucayr was, and Reiel wouldn't be surprised if her clanmate would find her ori'vod's fighting prowess he'd shown back in Mandalore interesting and appealing.

"I see," Kiva replied, taking a seat on one of the work stools. "But I am curious about your title. War Priest. Does that have something to do with the..." she gestured at her own neck, referring to the carvings that peeked up at the base of his neck. Squinting so she could make it out from the distance, Kiva's eyes soon widened with realization, her emerald eyes shining with heavy interest. "Mando'a?"

"I was just as surprised as you are now, Kiv," Reiel chimed helpfully, nodding towards Srucayr's direction. "I saw the carvings on the backs of his hands as well. And if you'll look closely to his armor? Yep, more Mando'a."

Filled with an overwhelming curiosity, Kiva stood up from her seat and would approach Srucayr and would only step closer if she was given permission. Should he do so, the blonde Mandalorian would lift a gloved hand and let it hover over his left pauldron.

"Curious," Kiva would mutter, openly fascinated. Her eyes lit up at what she read. "Very curious, indeed."

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

"And if you should try to forget, I will remind you." he mused. His gaze shifted back to the young vode now working the iron with a renewed focus, and he would take several steps towards them, now standing at the forge, a test to see if their gaze was drawn from their work. "This is your life now, and this path will be the hardest you ever choose to walk. Take heart, even in this tundra, you've known comforts. As our kind move forward, those will slip away, but you will never forget why you took this path. This is a life-long commitment. As the War Priests told me after my blooding, and I passed onto those that came after me, I will now pass onto you. We do not stray, we do not falter. If you betray the Clan, the last face you will ever see in this galaxy will be mine. Now then, recite the Resol'nare, and not the poem your mother told you in the wee hours of your childhood."

When Kiva spoke, his attention would once more shift back to her. "Many in my Clan do the carvings, but only the War Priests carry the history of our people on their bodies, as well as the history of the Clan." At her realization of the Mando'a he would nod. "Aye, the language of our people, so that only our kind will know."

He would cast a side eye at Reiel, boy was she trying to throw Kiva at him, and he would offer the young Mandalorian a smile before glancing back at Kiva. "Touching the pauldron will not break it, it is beskar after all." he teased her, clearly gesturing for her to come closer to inspect.

@Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Reiel Mal Crowholde]

Malik and Bren, for their part, seemed to have their vigor renewed at Srucayr's words. They toiled on their armor with a focus that belied their age, taking into heart their vod's reminder and the hardships they have faced and triumphed during their training and rite of passage.

"Yes, sir," both muttered, reverent, and in time with their craft, with every fall of the hammer on iron, the Resol'nare was recited quietly but with solemn respect. "Ke’juri beskar’gam. Ke’jorhaa’i Mando’a. K’ara’novo aliit. Ke’gaa’tayli aliit bralir. Ke’ba’juri sa Mando’ade. Ke’shekemi haar Mand’alor."

Kiva smiled when Srucayr gave her permission, taking a step forward towards him and pressing a gentle hand to his pauldron. Her fingers traced the letters carved into the beskar, her smile widening as she closed her eyes.

"There have been a new addition to the clan when you were away, Reiel," said the blonde Mando, her focus still on the words she could make out on Srucayr's pauldron. "The young one is blind, and he will very much appreciate it if he meets you, Srucayr. I've been teaching him to speak our language, and he told me that he would like to read as well."

Emerald green eyes opened and they would meet the War Priest's gaze. "Perhaps he can practice by reading the history carved on your armor."

News of a foundling, regardless of his limitations, brought a smile on Reiel's face. Clan Crowholde would not let the child down, and while others might view his blindness as a crutch she knew that the warrior teachers of their clan would find a way to teach him how to fight, to see where he would excel even if it wouldn't be in combat.

The small Mandalorian shrugged innocently at the side eye her ori'vod gave her, but the grin hidden by her buy'ce was anything but. Srucayr was strong, and an outstanding warrior through and through. If there was someone who would be a perfect match for a huntress as efficient and deadly as Kiva, it would be him. Reiel wasn't really the type to purposefully match two people together, but the looks Srucayr and Kiva have been giving each other since their arrival were the only ammo Reiel needed to play matchmaker between the two.

"And I'm sure the foundling and the rest of the kids would be enthused to hear how Srucayr literally waded through the flames of a wrecked ship to rescue the relics stolen by those Nagai pirates back in Mandalore," Reiel mentioned in passing, keeping a close eye on how the other female Mando would react. "'Through the fires of Kad are we forged.' I didn't see that with my own eyes, but I heard the flames loud and clear through the comms. It was–"

"Badass," supplied Bren, voice loud enough to be heard in the forge. "That was pretty badass."

"Exactly!" Reiel exclaimed with a snap of her fingers, then making a grand, sweeping gesture with her uninjured hand towards Srucayr.

"Yep," Malik added, and like Bren his gaze was still solely focused on the armor before him.

Kiva hid her admiration well, but it flashed briefly in her emerald gaze.

@Rhogar

 

[Srucayr]

Srucayr would take a more relaxed stance as Kiva began to investigate the carvings. He would mutter along with the Resol'nare as the two youngins spoke. "Again, this time with more fervor. As if the Aruetii themselves, were demanding you to convert to their ways or die."

When Kiva spoke, his gaze shifted back to her. "Blind? We discovered long ago that carved Mando'a was too hard to read by touch. Too many of the characters feel the same. We found a way to convert our characters into something raised and easier to read. One of the leaders in my Clan is blind, once your Clan gets to the Yaim, they can provide great help in assisting his training. He can try to read the history on the armor, but I don't want him to get disheartened if he gets it wrong."

There was a half-laugh when Reiel mentioned the flaming ship. "The Akaan Salyr need to find ways to spur their kin into action. We lead by example. I may have walked through the flames, but the Destroyer God saw fit to guide me through them. Trust in Kad, and you will do great things." his arms would re-cross.

@Forsythe Crowholde