Private Calming Fears

[Mig Gred]

Mig watched through the cockpit as Echo's Light slipped into Kestri's atmosphere. What exactly was one of the main Mandalorian critics of the Enclave doing on their capital world? Well, he wanted answers. Some recent event on Panatha had him more than a bit worried. And so the scyth-like ship was cutting through the sky to Resa, hoping to find the answers to the questions plaguing his mind since jumping with what refugees they could. He wasn't quite sure who he'd be meeting either, but he just had to hope this would go well. For Manda's sake he didn't want to see more Mandalorian blood run for their own long memories. To an extent as he got older, he more just wanted his clan to be settled again, which was mostly true now on Tanaab, but at the same time it felt like war had its way of finding him. The life on an Alor he guessed.

Either way, once the ship landed he'd exit, followed by a V-1 Series Astromech, so creatively named V1, and looked around for this Clan Saxon member he was supposed to meet.

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E

Resa | Kestri
​

The day was beginning to draw to a close, and in the Cin’ciri mountains of Kestri, nightfall brought with it an inhospitable chill. To be caught in the mountains after sunset ill-prepared spelled certain doom; that was, in any other place but Resa.

The mountain fastness was one of the smallest settlements on Kestri, dwarfed by the port of Reaver’s Bay and the capital city of Tor Valum. Yet Reva had not been founded to be a bustling metropolis — it was a spiritual holdfast, a safehaven, and the headquarters of the Mandokarla, the shaman order dedicated to guiding, advising and protecting the Mando’ade.

Tytos Saxon had trained as. Part of the order since he had been a young child, when his connection to the Living Force had first been discovered. Now he was the elder shaman amongst his clan, who gave trusted counsel free from personal ambition to Clan Saxon and any faithful Mandalorian who would lend an ear. But for as much time as he spent abroad on his mission to guide his people along the sacred path, he spent at the winter home of the Mandokarla, meditating and fasting so that he might be able to commune with the Manda to see the way.

The Manda provides, he often reminded himself. And just as much as he sought out its wisdom, others came to Resa to seek him. Such was the mysterious way of the Manda, but those who trusted in its providence were rewarded.

The evening caught Tytos Saxon descending the steps from the Briiruud, the headquarters of the Mandokarla order. Though it was only three stories tall, with a slopes roof and constructed of primarily wood and stone, it was the grandest building within the small village. He wore a large fur cloak over his beskar’gam to ward off the chill, but his head remained uncovered with his helmet held loosely at his side. As snow light drifted down, it blended into his mane of white dreadlocks and short beard, and his breath steamed in the twilight chill.

As the shaman reached the bottom step, he stopped suddenly as an urgent feeling overcame him, a disturbance among the tightly woven web of the living Force. He could feel the doubt and worry of a traveler, a seeker, that washed over him like the waves of Manaan. He cast his eyes towards the sky, where a moment later a small ship rocketed close overhead towards the landing fields on the outskirts of the village.

The Manda Provides. Tytos Saxon set off at once to meet the traveler.

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig looked around, taking a deep breath before noticing the vod up. Fur was a part of his armor, which honestly made sense with the cold. He looked at the man and tilted his head a bit.

“I’m guessing you’re in charge here? You seem to be quite strong in the Force.” While not great at sensing other Force Sensitives directly, he could tell one was there, and he had his guesses.

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E
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Tag: Mig Gred

Resa was no large city, and crossing the village to the landing fields on the outskirts took very little time. Despite that, he did not even make it halfway before he and the visitor crossed paths. The Mandokarla community of Resa was tight-knit, but despite Tytos's intimate knowledge of the other shamans here the visitor clearly stood out. Particularly, the clan crest emblazoned on the older man's armor was one that was not seen on Kestri, but one that Tytos knew well; Clan Gred, while very large and well respected, had for the most part only loosely associated with the Enclave, more independent than other Mandalorian clans who now called Kestri home.

Tytos gave a respectful bow, though it was not too deep nor prolonged to be overtly deferential, merely to show that he meant nothing but amicable feelings towards this stranger. "Your words honor me, but I must humbly submit that I am but one of many here. Welcome to Resa, Kestri, a place of rest and a beacon of guidance for those who feel lost. But forgive me, for I do not know your name, though I do recognize your heraldry."

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig smiled under his helmet, giving a respectful half bow half nod back the man. It was a bit more common in his clan nowadays since being ready had been such a massive part of their lives for years. It was interesting to hear the vod talk about not being the leader really, but made sense. A beacon for those that felt lost seemed about right too, and a bit fitting for the reason behind his trip. Mig would then speak up calmly.

"Not sure if I should be happy or worried my clan's recognizable. I'm Mig, clan Gred, and this here is V1. Would help to know who you are too, vod." After getting an answer on the name, he'd speak again, a bit more seriously. "Funny you mention a beacon for the lost, cause I'm looing for answers about something I heard while handling an evac."

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E
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Tag: Mig Gred

"I am Tytos, scion of Clan Saxon and mystic of the Mando'karla. If it is answers you seek, then you have come to the right place." He indicated a pair of seat and table outside the local tavern only a couple meters from them -- though Resa was a more spiritual village than most Mandalorian settlements, it was still Mandalorian after all -- and invited Mig to take a seat as well.

Taking his seat, he turned to call over his shoulder. "Two mugs of Tihaar," Binary chirps of a droid acknowledged the order. "If you have not tried Resa's Tihaar then you are in for a treat, cousin." He said smiling, turning back to Mig. "They crush local mountain berries when brewing to make it almost sweet, if Tihaar could ever be."

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig nodded a bit, following Tytos to the table while V1 let out a few strings of Binary.

"Hey! Easy bud. No need to talk like that." As he sat at the table, he'd laugh a bit at the question on if tihaar could be sweet. The Alor gave a nod, thinking a bit.

"Well, back when we were running in space the crew running hydroponics on the Dawn Star managed to come up with something they called tihaar at least. It was pretty good, especially considering supplies were scarce."

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E
​

Tag: Mig Gred

Tytos's brow furrowed, and he gave a sympathetic nod. "In times of hardship, we all must make do with what we can. Which makes unexpected blessings all the more sweeter." He was interrupted by a rickety serving droid carrying a platter with two deep tankards; proportionality and alcohol were two concepts that did not mix well in Mandalorian culture. The droid set the platter on the table between them, and Tytos thanked it with a simple but respectful nod. As it wordlessly shambled off, Tytos lifted both tankards from the platter, setting one in front of Mig, raising the other to his lips, and drinking deeply.

When he was finished from his long draught, he set the tankard on the table with a satisfied thud and wiped the wetness from his mouth with the undersleeve of his gauntlet. "So, Vod," he began, his lips curved in a soft smile but his light, grey eyes startling piercing, "you say you seek answers. I can provide them, but first I must know your questions."

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig nodded a bit, taking a bit of a slower drink, but still enjoying the it before hearing Tytos note that he had to know what the alor's questions were before he could help. Mig would nod, tapping V-1 so the droid could show a few images as Mig talked.

"I don't think it's a secret my clan's involvement with the Enclave fell a lot in recent years. I was running part of the Evac on Panatha. A Mawite tried to convince me I should agree with them wanting to wipe out the planet, and destroy an evacuation port because of 'No Sith. No exceptions.' Sound familiar?" Mig looked at the man, checking for his reaction as V-1 showed the helmet footage before continuing to speak a bit. "My riduur (spouse) is Epicanthix, my boys half that. Hearing that used as a reason to destroy her homeworld...." Mig couldn't really hide it. While he could definitely keep his anger in check, that wasn't the same as not feeling it. It still mad his blood boil after all this time. He wasn't even sure if Tytos would know about this, but he needed to know. "Is there something going on, I don't know about? Word tends to get around when it comes to our people, but is there something someone's managed to keep hidden?"

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E
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Tag: Mig Gred

The Mandalorian Shaman listened intently and sincerely as Gred laid out his troubles. That his Clan had fallen from favor with the Enclave was of little personal importance to Tytos; after all, he was a spiritual guide, not a political one. He knew the mantra of "No Sith, No Exceptions" all too well, and that some softer brothers and sisters had qualms with such a hardline approach. But that did not mean he didn't sympathize with those who felt differently. Mandalore's volatile history affected everyone differently, which birthed a large variety of opinions and beliefs.

He could feel the anger simmering from Mig as he continued to speak and as such, tread carefully in his own words. "It is true that the absolutist approach to the Sith, and by extension populations affiliated with them, held by many Mandalorians in the Enclave is not universally agreed upon by the Mando'ade," Tytos replied in a soothing, empathetic voice. "Although it can not be said that their feelings are without cause. Even now, a generation later, the scars of the Mandalorian genocide are bitterly felt. It has bred caution in those who remember it; but it has also led to a festering, a hunger, in the newer generation who wishes to rise above their parent's past."

The shaman paused for a moment, considering his words and what he might say, before continuing. "Allow me to ask," he said slowly, "What do you know of the Manda Ha'rud?"

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig would take a breath, calming himself a bit. He listened to what Tytos had to say, thinking on somethings.

"Guess my clan may just be use to caution. Never that big, survived Mandalore Ra by laying low. But... why does it always seem to be the strong-willed ones that drag me into trouble?" Mig said this in a half joking manner, but there was a grain of truth to this. It did feel like a lot of times he just had back look with allies when it came to his own people, outside his house at least. He was then asked if he knew what Manda Ha'rud was. The younger Mandalorian tilted his head a bit.

"Can't say I do."

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E
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Tag: Mig Gred

Tytos chuckled at the mention of Ra the Undying. "That we share, vod." He'd been forced to flee his home and clan, living abroad with other Mandalorians who possessed the Force. Though it had led to unexpected blessings; it had brought him into the Mandokarla, and shown him the Manda Ha'rud. It had kickstarted the journey that had brought him to where he was today.

"The Manda Ha'rud," Tytos began, pausing as he searched for the exact words to say. "It is the way of the fathers of our fathers, outlined by Mand'alor the First that has bound Mandalorians to each other and to the Manda for a thousand generations. The sacred way, but one that has been lost, preserved only by a few." He leaned his weight on the table slightly, drawing in closer to Mig. "Many of your brothers and sisters are lost. But the way will guide you out from the darkness. It will set your soul free."

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig raised a brow as he listened. This was definitely something to say the least. He looked at Tytos, trying to understand what he meant. He took a breath, thinking before he responded.

"Many claim to follow the old ways Tytos. Hate to say it but I'll need more than vague explanations." The way Mig said it wasn't rude, or dismissive, but more questioning. He wasn't exactly sure what this fellow Mandalorian was getting at. Maybe it was him being stuck in hyperspace lanes for so long, but he just wanted to know what the man was getting at.

Tytos Saxon

 

[Tytos Saxon]

G U I D E
​

Tag: Mig Gred

"Many claim to follow the old ways Tytos. Hate to say it but I'll need more than vague explanations."

Tytos raised his hands placatingly, not wanting to upset the other Mandalorian. "Of course," he agreed. "It's quite simple. We are all born into this life in a weak state. Through our trials, we grow stronger. Think of you as a babe compared to now. You have faced much adversity, but you are much stronger because of it yes?"

He paused, collecting his thoughts, before proceeding. "When we die honorably, we return to the collective of all Mandalorian ancestors. That is where the word dar'manda comes from, because when we forsake our Mandalorian heritage we forsake that privilege in the next life. The belief of the Manda Ha'rud, what was anciently taught, was that each Mandalorian must strive to strengthen themselves because doing so collectively strengthens the Mando'ade. After all, what are we but continuations of our forefather's legacy?"

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig took a careful breath as he listened to the Tytos. He looked at the older Mandalorian, taking in the explanation. It really made sense to him. He'd give a nod, looking out a bit.

"That's definitely something I can agree with.... You know, my clan's seemed to get dragged into more and more trouble since I became Alor. A war with the CIS and jetii, someone I trusted at the time giving a weapon that decimated a large part of the fleet at the time, running in space for years trying to keep ahead of the Sith. Watching my own people seem ready to wipe out worlds like crusaders of the Old Republic's time in the galaxy hasn't exactly left me at ease, and if it comes to it.... I won't be afraid to consider joining folks who act against them. Fought Maw and Bryn. Can't be worse than that. It was a bit hard to say out loud, but it was also thinking he tended to more keep to himself. If anything, one of the good things about not having just Mandalorians around him was sometimes he was more open about stuff with those outside his clan, but he knew a fight might be close at hand sooner rather than later, as much as he hoped it wouldn't.

Tytos Saxon