[D10 EM] Back to the Beginning

[J-Richo Toboga]

''As the new Mand'alor, Fett led the Mandalorians much as Jaster Mereel had done before him. Twenty-two years before the Battle of Geonosis, Fett and his Mandalorians were hired to put down an insurrection on the planet Galidraan. When the fighting was over and the rebels defeated, Fett ordered his men to return to their camp while he met with Galidraan's governor to collect their payment. I was told that, in addition to their pay, Fett demanded the whereabouts of Tor Vizla. Apparently the Governor of Galidraan was not only harboring, but funding him in his attempts to rebuild the Death Watch. Vizla revealed himself in the governor's castle and attacked Fett with a small cadre of Death Watch soldiers, forcing him to flee the building through a large window. Unfortunately, Vizla and the governor had already put a plot into motion...claiming that Mandalorians were murdering "political activists", along with women and children, the governor got to beg the Jedi Council to step in and put a stop to them. The body count had been, of course, provided by Vizsla's own forces.''

''The Jedi order agreed and sent a force of jedi to support the governor's men. The Jedi took the governor at his word and demanded the Mandalorians surrender on suspected murder charges adding that should they resist, they'd be killed...'' he paused ''and they were cut down almost to the last men. only a handful survived: Jango Fett who apparently manage to kill six jedi bare handed and a handful of other who had been acting as look out in more remote areas and were hunted down later. They were all brought to the governor and promptly sold to slavery after being despoiled of everything they had.''

[The SCaT Droid]

"Do you know the names of the surviving Jedi from the battle? "

[J-Richo Toboga]

''No...but they are likely dead by now anyway.'' he looked between the two of them ''Learned anything from this?''

[Solork Tan]

"That it sounds uncomfortably close." Solork steeples his fingers. "In a number of ways. It was arrogance that brought ruin to the True Mandolorians, and arrogance in many forms. Arrogance by Montross, in that he would not take a loss to the record for his pride, and in doing so put others in danger, and then hoping to take reward for that arrogance. In the Jedi for being so sure that they were in the right, and that they had such authority, that they would not bother investigating on their own. And yes...I can be arrogant. I don't know if it increased as a result of my time with the Jedi, but that training certainly did not cure it."

[The SCaT Droid]

"That lack of investigation is the result of an important lesson not being learned. You can't just do the first thing that comes to mind, but instead you need take in the information around you and come up with the bigger picture first."

[J-Richo Toboga]

He nods

''There is no such thing as an easy job''

[Solork Tan]

Solork finally straightens your back.

"There is another lesson I believe that it is to be learned. Once a mistake is made, it remains a mistake. But doubling down on that mistake, trying to justify it, or refusing to change turns that into lingering scar. Brother, you adopted me into your clan. I ask for your continued guidance and help in holding steady. You both" Sol nods to SCaT as well "Saw what happens when someone who bears such a weapon is consumed. If I am doing things that take me on that path, please, I beg of you, tell me. I will not be offended. Confused, perhaps, but I will take such warning."

"As for my lack of preparation of Beskar'gam, I can say that I do not believe I would have it in time for our fight today. But let me not put that off any longer." Sol clears his workspace and picks up a datapad to begin logging measurements.

Before he gets too deep, he clears his throat. "Brother...I was asked the other day about your position on the Manda. I would like to hear your stance, without me leading you in any direction"

[J-Richo Toboga]

''The Manda?'' he tilted his visor ''The Manda means may things...from what I was told by my father it is a concept that changed over time. It is not something easily summarized but I will try...''

He paused, circuits firing

''The Manda comes from our oldest ancestors who inherited their culture and identity from the ancient Taung. At that time they worshipped war in all it's forms, believing that struggle made you stronger and that war was the purest best form of it. By following our ways the people would be granted a place in some sort of heaven after their death: The Manda. Over the centuries this faith secularized somewhat and the Manda became more of an oversoul. On death, one who follows the Resol'nare would have their spirits join all who came before...just like the old religion but without the wars gods and such''

He crossed his arms

''In the last few centuries the Manda became more of a metaphor, representing the collective identity of the Mando'ade through culture, tradition, deeds and so on. I subscribe to this later version''

[Solork Tan]

"For me, literal interpretation is less difficult. I was taught by the Guardians that upon death we become one with the Force. I do not have difficulty imagining a more direct form of afterlife."

Sol rolls back his shoulders. "I ask because I was on the receiving end of some prostletization on the subject. One that encouraged me to... well, encourage you on the subject. And I believe I have now fulfilled every part of that which was requested of me. "

Sol chuckles. "I believe the code is fairly clear that the way one resolves a task is yours to choose. If the requestor failed to be more specific, that is on them. They did also not specify that I should not reveal this to you"

[J-Richo Toboga]

''It is thought that the genocides our people committed were a direct result in the belief in the more literal interpretations of the Manda'' he added ''While a mandalorian might have a soul, all those who were not did'nt. To the believers of the old faiths anyone not mando'ade was worthless...only good for slavery or entertainment.''

He looked at Solork intentely when he revealed someone else had wanted to bring the subject

''Who?''

[Solork Tan]

"Raven Cadera. She asked me to stay late after the planning meeting yesterday." The Gank looks a bit sheepish. "I don't think she intended it as such, but she came off as quite insulting. I held my tongue because I did not want to stir trouble"

[J-Richo Toboga]

''It was an insult...to you but mostly to me.'' he grunted ''I do not know the reason why this stuck up woman decided to antagonize me but there we are''

he crossed his arms

''What else did she have to say?''

[Solork Tan]

"She had a very specific word to describe you: dar'manda. She seemed to indicate that my own status as a Mando'ade could be questioned over it. It came off as a threat, and I treated it as such. I do not think she would make a move on her own, but I do not think that she considers us true Mando'ade either."

[J-Richo Toboga]

At that word Richo jolted up, fist clenched

''SHE CALLED ME WHAT?''

[Solork Tan]

"Dar'manda." Solork repeats. "I asked to clarify, because with a literal definition supplied of "empty soul", and I was told that you would not be one of the people. I asked if there was a greater insult she could place on us, or threaten us with. She did not clarify the question. She seemed to think that she was answering questions when she did not, thus I did not have absolute certainty. Just, you know, every bit of body language and condescension."

"My response was along the lines that if someone wished to contest my own status, that they should back up their own words in steel. I did not extend that to you, my assumption being that you did not want me to speak on your behalf."

[J-Richo Toboga]

There was unspoken restrained violence in Richo's movements as he paced the room

''There is no greater insult...or accusation amongst our people.'' he replied ''Dar'Manda is the term reserved to those who fail, or refuse to, uphold and respect the Resol'nare.''

He stops staring at a wall

''It is a state worst then death...and that bloody tight-assed coward labelled me as one after barely fifteen minutes of conversation? Bloody hell, such a thing is answerable in steel.''

[The SCaT Droid]

"If you've only talked with her for 15 minutes, something you said must have stuck out to her. Does she put the thought of a literal afterlife as that important to being a mandalorian?"

[J-Richo Toboga]

He paused, reflecting on what Scat said

''Maybe but to call someone Dar'Manda is not something to do lightly and is not directly linked to a variation on a belief. I told her that I not religious, for obvious reason, that might have been the trigger.''

He shakes his fist

''Still she has no right to claim anything about me.''

[Solork Tan]

"If you've only talked with her for 15 minutes, something you said must have stuck out to her. Does she put the thought of a literal afterlife as that important to being a mandalorian?"

"At the risk of sounding reductive...I think so. I attempted to satisfy her by saying that I would adhere so you wouldn't need to. That only seemed to agitate her further"

There was unspoken restrained violence in Richo's movements as he paced the room

''There is no greater insult...or accusation amongst our people.'' he replied ''Dar'Manda is the term reserved to those who fail, or refuse to, uphold and respect the Resol'nare.''

He stops staring at a wall

''It is a state worst then death...and that bloody tight-assed coward labelled me as one after barely fifteen minutes of conversation? Bloody hell, such a thing is answerable in steel.''

"Alright. I feel better then. I was chided for "boasting", in that I would dare challenge a lifelong Mandolorian for saying that I was a soulless being and not one of the people" The Gank replies drily. "And that I needed to "behave". So if you can imagine the effect that had on me, I hope you see my capacity for restraint for when I brought up this topic"

[J-Richo Toboga]

''Yes, I am not sure I could have shown that kind of restraint myself...her callousness is simply unforgivable. She is an hypocrite and a coward: we must be wary of her''''