Ever since my expedition to Demonsgate a few years ago, Clan Rekali has been a small but noticeable presence in the Kathol Outback. Clan Rekali is formally a Mandalorian clan; formally, it's also a Witch clan, as well as a Vahla clan. This intermixing happened step by step over the past couple of decades. The modern Clan Rekali draws from Mandalorian, Dathomiri, and Vahla heritages.
Clan Rekali follows the six tenets of the resol’nare:
Although some Rekalis draw insight from the six hundred tenets of the Supercommando Codex, and many agree with the spirit of the document, Clan Rekali in general does not consider itself bound by the Codex.
The fastest way to get a Rekali to laugh at you is to start an argument about whether someone is or is not a ‘true Mandalorian.’ Rekalis, by and large, think that debate is idiotic. In reference to the great 60BBY debates (pacifist New Mandalorians versus Mereel/Codex/warrior ethics versus Viszla/Death Watch/historical conquerors), the Rekalis generally fall somewhere between Mereel and Viszla. The Rekalis in general, and the Clan as a whole, don’t often take sides in such disputes.
Rekalis don't consider private military contracting, merc work, or bounty hunting to be innately dishonourable, unless conducted dishonourably. The resol'nare -- provide for your family and your clan; hone the skills that let you defend them -- takes priority. Thus, you generally get less obsession with honour in Clan Rekali than you might find elsewhere. Clan Rekali has been known to conquer and pillage people that earned it, and the Clan has made a stupid amount of money stealing very large things from its enemies by guile and strategy. The priority here is to provide for the people of the Clan, and strengthen the Clan's strategic position.
Rekalis aren't overly obsessed with holding territory long-term; many have never been to Manda'yaim. They're more nomadic than anything. Don't mistake this attitude for unwillingness to defend the Clan's current territory, whatever that might be. (Currently, that's the Gordian Reach, and to a much lesser extent the Kathol Outback.)
In terms of the afterlife, many Rekalis believe in some blend of the manda, the Dathomiri spirit plane, and Vahla tradition. Many see parallels between Vahl, Dathomir’s Vitality, and the Dathomiri elemental spirits. Rekalis often believe in Vahl but don't worship her. They reject most sacrificial rites.
In terms of Mandalorian thought, Rekalis uniformly consider the Force a tool to be used like any other. I'm the current Aliit'buir, and I'm not a Force-user. Due to the clan’s large Witch and Vahla demographic, and due to Ember Rekali’s extended efforts to teach them with Jedi holocrons, Clan Rekali is intimately familiar with the Force through a superstitious lens. Many Rekalis have a small degree of ‘magic.’ Most Rekalis consider themselves ‘alignment-agnostic,’ the result of a loose agreement and extended cohabitation between the Witches and the Vahla. Rekali Lightsiders are common, Rekali Darksiders are probably more common, and your average Jedi would consider the Clan to be pervasively tainted by the Dark Side -- especially since the fall of former Clan Father Ember Rekali, a longstanding Jedi Master.
To add to the mix, many of the Clan’s Vahla are from Tash-Taral, an isolated and intensely superstitious world that’s dotted with ancient Sith temples. Tashai talismans and folklore have caught on throughout the Clan, and Rekali spoken creole contains a few mangled words of ancient High Kissai.
In short, Clan Rekali has been around long enough that no Rekalis are pure Mandalorian, Dathomiri, or Vahla. It wouldn’t be unusual to see a Rekali wearing rune-carved beskar’gam and bone charms, chanting a curse to open a can of beans.
Clan Rekali follows the six tenets of the resol’nare:
- Rekalis wear Mandalorian armor, though many Rekali suits of beskar’gam are almost unrecognizable due to Witch and Vahla aesthetic influences.
- Rekalis speak mando’a, though they also speak a creole comprised of mando’a, Dathomiri Paecean, and Vahla ceremonial language.
- Rekalis are trained to defend themselves and their family by whatever means necessary. For most Rekalis, that includes the Force, with a greater or lesser degree of superstition attached.
- Rekalis raise their children according to the principles of Clan Rekali. Since Clan Rekali comes from such a disparate background -- pick any ten Rekalis, and maybe two of them will be blood relatives in any degree -- this tenet of the resol’nare is often applied to adoption.
- Rekalis contribute to the clan’s welfare. Specifically, Clan Rekali, Inc., is one of the galaxy’s largest corporations, and functions much like an organized crime family. Most Rekalis work for or with the clan in some respect.
- When called upon by Mand’alor, the Rekalis respond. However, Clan Rekali has ongoing internal debates over recognizing a claimant, and reserves the right to accept or reject a claimant according to the Clan’s own criteria.
Although some Rekalis draw insight from the six hundred tenets of the Supercommando Codex, and many agree with the spirit of the document, Clan Rekali in general does not consider itself bound by the Codex.
The fastest way to get a Rekali to laugh at you is to start an argument about whether someone is or is not a ‘true Mandalorian.’ Rekalis, by and large, think that debate is idiotic. In reference to the great 60BBY debates (pacifist New Mandalorians versus Mereel/Codex/warrior ethics versus Viszla/Death Watch/historical conquerors), the Rekalis generally fall somewhere between Mereel and Viszla. The Rekalis in general, and the Clan as a whole, don’t often take sides in such disputes.
Rekalis don't consider private military contracting, merc work, or bounty hunting to be innately dishonourable, unless conducted dishonourably. The resol'nare -- provide for your family and your clan; hone the skills that let you defend them -- takes priority. Thus, you generally get less obsession with honour in Clan Rekali than you might find elsewhere. Clan Rekali has been known to conquer and pillage people that earned it, and the Clan has made a stupid amount of money stealing very large things from its enemies by guile and strategy. The priority here is to provide for the people of the Clan, and strengthen the Clan's strategic position.
Rekalis aren't overly obsessed with holding territory long-term; many have never been to Manda'yaim. They're more nomadic than anything. Don't mistake this attitude for unwillingness to defend the Clan's current territory, whatever that might be. (Currently, that's the Gordian Reach, and to a much lesser extent the Kathol Outback.)
In terms of the afterlife, many Rekalis believe in some blend of the manda, the Dathomiri spirit plane, and Vahla tradition. Many see parallels between Vahl, Dathomir’s Vitality, and the Dathomiri elemental spirits. Rekalis often believe in Vahl but don't worship her. They reject most sacrificial rites.
In terms of Mandalorian thought, Rekalis uniformly consider the Force a tool to be used like any other. I'm the current Aliit'buir, and I'm not a Force-user. Due to the clan’s large Witch and Vahla demographic, and due to Ember Rekali’s extended efforts to teach them with Jedi holocrons, Clan Rekali is intimately familiar with the Force through a superstitious lens. Many Rekalis have a small degree of ‘magic.’ Most Rekalis consider themselves ‘alignment-agnostic,’ the result of a loose agreement and extended cohabitation between the Witches and the Vahla. Rekali Lightsiders are common, Rekali Darksiders are probably more common, and your average Jedi would consider the Clan to be pervasively tainted by the Dark Side -- especially since the fall of former Clan Father Ember Rekali, a longstanding Jedi Master.
To add to the mix, many of the Clan’s Vahla are from Tash-Taral, an isolated and intensely superstitious world that’s dotted with ancient Sith temples. Tashai talismans and folklore have caught on throughout the Clan, and Rekali spoken creole contains a few mangled words of ancient High Kissai.
In short, Clan Rekali has been around long enough that no Rekalis are pure Mandalorian, Dathomiri, or Vahla. It wouldn’t be unusual to see a Rekali wearing rune-carved beskar’gam and bone charms, chanting a curse to open a can of beans.
