M A N D A L O R E
EXODUS CRASH
"When winter crowns the steadfast, the future learns its name."
ESHAN, INNER RIM TERRITORIES
Winter had come early to Eshan, settling across the white stone spires of Estin like a held breath drawn too long. Snow clung to banners and balustrades alike, softening the hard geometry of a world built for discipline and war. The streets below the Capitol Tower stirred with anticipation that was neither chaos nor celebration, but preparation. Eshan stood on the edge of bloodshed, and everyone knew it.
The disappearance of Queen Noelle of House Varanin had left the world leaderless at the worst possible moment. With the collapse of the Galactic Alliance, the old protections vanished overnight, and when Mandalorian scouts were sighted testing Eshan’s airspace, the Echani matriarchy prepared for the only outcome history had ever taught them to expect. The last time Mandalorians held stewardship over Eshan, their rule had been heavy-handed and brutal, marked by unnecessary Echani bloodshed that still lived in collective memory. Martial halls filled. Defenses were readied. Eshan would not be taken quietly.
It was
Quinn Varanin
who stayed the blade.
Stepping forward as kin to the vanished Queen and bearer of an undisputed Echani claim, Quinn revealed what few on Eshan knew. The Mand’alor who now looked upon their homeworld was Aether of House Verd, heir to the lineage whose founder had liberated Eshan from Mandalorian abuses a generation prior. Where fear had ruled, doubt took hold. Where doubt lingered, Quinn offered certainty. She brokered an accord that reframed conquest into covenant. Eshan would enter the Mandalorian Empire not as a subjugated world, but with the same self-governance afforded to Dathomir and Thule. The planet would rule itself, untouched by unnecessary occupation, so long as it did not act against the Empire and would provide its training, expertise, and warriors when called. Mandalorian presence would be minimal, deliberate, and functional. Eshan listened. Eshan obeyed.
The agreement would be sealed not by ink alone, but by crown and recognition. Eshan would name Quinn Varanin its Queen; for when the world needed guidance and protection the most, she arrived. When the world cried out to the absent Noelle, they found solace in Quinn. Moreover, Mandalore would recognize her as Warden of Eshan, the voice of her world to the Mand’alor and the guarantor of its autonomy. Quinn’s position as the newest member of the Sith Order’s Dark Council ensured the Sith took notice. Many dark ones arrived in her wake for a multitude of reasons. Some came in support of a fellow leader as she prepared to receive the crown of her people. Others came out of curiosity, to see how her rule of Eshan might influence Quinn’s authority within the Order. Still others saw opportunity in a world unsettled by loss and descended to make their own ambitions a reality.
The Mandalorian Empire arrived in force and formation, trusting the Mand’alor’s vision even as unease lingered. There was no formal relationship between the Empire and the Sith Order as a whole, and old wounds had not faded with time. Many Mandalorians still remembered the devastation wrought upon Mandalore and would have welcomed the chance to answer it in kind. Yet the Empire’s contract with the Sith Empress stood, and the Mand’alor’s ambition to forge the galaxy’s mercenary superpower demanded discipline beyond grievance. For now, grudges were set aside, even as watchful eyes followed red blades through Echani halls.
Now, beneath falling snow and converging banners, Eshan waits. The coronation has not yet begun. The crown remains untouched. While dignitaries gather within the Palace of the Matron, the city beyond stirs with Solstice celebration, private negotiations, and sanctioned displays of martial prowess, offering space for rival powers to observe, test, and measure one another beneath Echani law. War has been averted, empires have been bound, and the future of Eshan stands ready to be claimed, not through fire, but through oath.
The disappearance of Queen Noelle of House Varanin had left the world leaderless at the worst possible moment. With the collapse of the Galactic Alliance, the old protections vanished overnight, and when Mandalorian scouts were sighted testing Eshan’s airspace, the Echani matriarchy prepared for the only outcome history had ever taught them to expect. The last time Mandalorians held stewardship over Eshan, their rule had been heavy-handed and brutal, marked by unnecessary Echani bloodshed that still lived in collective memory. Martial halls filled. Defenses were readied. Eshan would not be taken quietly.
It was
Quinn Varanin
who stayed the blade.Stepping forward as kin to the vanished Queen and bearer of an undisputed Echani claim, Quinn revealed what few on Eshan knew. The Mand’alor who now looked upon their homeworld was Aether of House Verd, heir to the lineage whose founder had liberated Eshan from Mandalorian abuses a generation prior. Where fear had ruled, doubt took hold. Where doubt lingered, Quinn offered certainty. She brokered an accord that reframed conquest into covenant. Eshan would enter the Mandalorian Empire not as a subjugated world, but with the same self-governance afforded to Dathomir and Thule. The planet would rule itself, untouched by unnecessary occupation, so long as it did not act against the Empire and would provide its training, expertise, and warriors when called. Mandalorian presence would be minimal, deliberate, and functional. Eshan listened. Eshan obeyed.
The agreement would be sealed not by ink alone, but by crown and recognition. Eshan would name Quinn Varanin its Queen; for when the world needed guidance and protection the most, she arrived. When the world cried out to the absent Noelle, they found solace in Quinn. Moreover, Mandalore would recognize her as Warden of Eshan, the voice of her world to the Mand’alor and the guarantor of its autonomy. Quinn’s position as the newest member of the Sith Order’s Dark Council ensured the Sith took notice. Many dark ones arrived in her wake for a multitude of reasons. Some came in support of a fellow leader as she prepared to receive the crown of her people. Others came out of curiosity, to see how her rule of Eshan might influence Quinn’s authority within the Order. Still others saw opportunity in a world unsettled by loss and descended to make their own ambitions a reality.
The Mandalorian Empire arrived in force and formation, trusting the Mand’alor’s vision even as unease lingered. There was no formal relationship between the Empire and the Sith Order as a whole, and old wounds had not faded with time. Many Mandalorians still remembered the devastation wrought upon Mandalore and would have welcomed the chance to answer it in kind. Yet the Empire’s contract with the Sith Empress stood, and the Mand’alor’s ambition to forge the galaxy’s mercenary superpower demanded discipline beyond grievance. For now, grudges were set aside, even as watchful eyes followed red blades through Echani halls.
Now, beneath falling snow and converging banners, Eshan waits. The coronation has not yet begun. The crown remains untouched. While dignitaries gather within the Palace of the Matron, the city beyond stirs with Solstice celebration, private negotiations, and sanctioned displays of martial prowess, offering space for rival powers to observe, test, and measure one another beneath Echani law. War has been averted, empires have been bound, and the future of Eshan stands ready to be claimed, not through fire, but through oath.
THE CORONATION
(Politics & Ceremony – A space for characters inclined toward negotiation, quiet maneuvering, subtle schemes, or simply bearing witness as the future of Eshan begins to take shape.)
At the heart of Estin, the Palace of the Matron stands ready to receive history, its soaring spires and flowing arches of pale stone and crystal rising above the city in silvers and deep winter blues that catch torchlight and falling snow alike. Banners of House Varanin and House Talon hang in solemn prominence beside the sigils of the Mandalorian Empire, their arrangement intentional and impossible to mistake. The Mandalorian arrival unfolds with ceremonial precision rather than conquest, armor polished, formations exact, and movement restrained, a visible declaration of respect for Echani sovereignty even as imperial presence settles into the halls through discipline and scale alone.
Though the coronation has yet to begin, the palace hums with anticipation and calculation. Members of the Echani matriarchy gather beneath ancestral banners, attendants rehearse rites older than Estin itself, and honor guards stand motionless along marble corridors and open courtyards. Beyond the formal procession, quiet conversations unfold in galleries and side chambers where influence is tested rather than declared. Noble houses unsettled by Queen Noelle’s disappearance weigh security against autonomy, Sith dignitaries lend visible support to Quinn Varanin’s claim while seeding their reach beyond familiar borders, and Mandalorian envoys observe, listen, and position themselves with care. While the crown of Eshan rests untouched, the future of the world begins to take shape in murmured agreements and measured glances, long before the first oath is spoken.
(Politics & Ceremony – A space for characters inclined toward negotiation, quiet maneuvering, subtle schemes, or simply bearing witness as the future of Eshan begins to take shape.)
At the heart of Estin, the Palace of the Matron stands ready to receive history, its soaring spires and flowing arches of pale stone and crystal rising above the city in silvers and deep winter blues that catch torchlight and falling snow alike. Banners of House Varanin and House Talon hang in solemn prominence beside the sigils of the Mandalorian Empire, their arrangement intentional and impossible to mistake. The Mandalorian arrival unfolds with ceremonial precision rather than conquest, armor polished, formations exact, and movement restrained, a visible declaration of respect for Echani sovereignty even as imperial presence settles into the halls through discipline and scale alone.
Though the coronation has yet to begin, the palace hums with anticipation and calculation. Members of the Echani matriarchy gather beneath ancestral banners, attendants rehearse rites older than Estin itself, and honor guards stand motionless along marble corridors and open courtyards. Beyond the formal procession, quiet conversations unfold in galleries and side chambers where influence is tested rather than declared. Noble houses unsettled by Queen Noelle’s disappearance weigh security against autonomy, Sith dignitaries lend visible support to Quinn Varanin’s claim while seeding their reach beyond familiar borders, and Mandalorian envoys observe, listen, and position themselves with care. While the crown of Eshan rests untouched, the future of the world begins to take shape in murmured agreements and measured glances, long before the first oath is spoken.
DISTRICT OF LIGHT
(Social & Celebration – A space for merriment, gift-giving, debate, and informal encounters amid the Solstice festivities of Estin.)
As Solstice settles over Estin, the Echani capital comes alive beneath falling snow and lanternlight, its silver-blue spires and sweeping avenues transformed into a city in celebration. Markets spill into the streets, the District of Light burns well past dusk with music and drink, and the promenades fill with laughter, debate, and the steady rhythm of a world welcoming its guests. Gift-giving lies at the heart of Echani Solstice custom, not as indulgence, but as expression. Offerings are chosen with care, whether finely crafted blades, art, rare materials, or shared experiences, each one a statement of respect, curiosity, or intent. Public exchanges draw crowds, private ones draw attention of a different sort, and even lighthearted gestures carry meaning in a culture that prizes clarity of purpose.
For the Sith, Solstice offers a rare season of access that will not exist once the Queen is crowned, when formality gives way to defined rule. The Empress’s presence draws gravity, but the city’s celebrations invite conversation, rivalry, and indulgence alongside influence, from noble salons to crowded halls alive with music and argument. For Mandalorians, Estin becomes both welcome and proving ground, a chance to experience the world entering their fold not through conquest, but through its people, craftsmanship, and customs. Feasts are shared, contests of wit and philosophy unfold beside cups raised in challenge, and wary glances slowly give way to measured camaraderie. Beneath the merriment, everyone understands the moment is fleeting. When Solstice fades and the Queen is crowned, the city will change. Until then, Estin opens itself fully, offering warmth, spectacle, and the rare freedom to meet one another without armor fully raised.
(Social & Celebration – A space for merriment, gift-giving, debate, and informal encounters amid the Solstice festivities of Estin.)
As Solstice settles over Estin, the Echani capital comes alive beneath falling snow and lanternlight, its silver-blue spires and sweeping avenues transformed into a city in celebration. Markets spill into the streets, the District of Light burns well past dusk with music and drink, and the promenades fill with laughter, debate, and the steady rhythm of a world welcoming its guests. Gift-giving lies at the heart of Echani Solstice custom, not as indulgence, but as expression. Offerings are chosen with care, whether finely crafted blades, art, rare materials, or shared experiences, each one a statement of respect, curiosity, or intent. Public exchanges draw crowds, private ones draw attention of a different sort, and even lighthearted gestures carry meaning in a culture that prizes clarity of purpose.
For the Sith, Solstice offers a rare season of access that will not exist once the Queen is crowned, when formality gives way to defined rule. The Empress’s presence draws gravity, but the city’s celebrations invite conversation, rivalry, and indulgence alongside influence, from noble salons to crowded halls alive with music and argument. For Mandalorians, Estin becomes both welcome and proving ground, a chance to experience the world entering their fold not through conquest, but through its people, craftsmanship, and customs. Feasts are shared, contests of wit and philosophy unfold beside cups raised in challenge, and wary glances slowly give way to measured camaraderie. Beneath the merriment, everyone understands the moment is fleeting. When Solstice fades and the Queen is crowned, the city will change. Until then, Estin opens itself fully, offering warmth, spectacle, and the rare freedom to meet one another without armor fully raised.
WINTER EXHIBITIONS
(Martial Exhibition – A space for characters inclined toward contests of skill, rivalry, and displays of might, or for those who bear witness as ancient adversaries study one another at bladepoint.)
In keeping with Echani tradition, the days surrounding Solstice see the Center of the Saber opened to public exhibition, its great halls and open courts prepared for sanctioned contests of skill. These are not battles of conquest, but deliberate tests overseen by Echani masters who enforce one rule above all others: the taking of life is forbidden. Beyond that boundary, warriors are expected to demonstrate the full extent of their discipline, power, and doctrine. Armor is worn by choice rather than mandate, blades are prepared to wound rather than kill, and abilities are brought to bear without apology, so long as intent remains clear and combat remains standing. Within these limits, participants do not fight for territory, but for reputation, insight, and the unspoken measure of worth.
For Mandalorians and Sith alike, the exhibitions offer a rare chance to face ancient adversaries without the chaos of war obscuring form or philosophy. Each exchange becomes a study, each clash a conversation carried through movement and force. Techniques are tested openly, reactions scrutinized, and strengths revealed beneath pressure as the galleries watch in deliberate silence or hard-won applause. Old animosities are neither softened nor denied, only focused, sharpened into understanding rather than bloodshed. When Solstice ends and the new Queen is crowned, what is learned at bladepoint will endure, carried forward into the future.
(Martial Exhibition – A space for characters inclined toward contests of skill, rivalry, and displays of might, or for those who bear witness as ancient adversaries study one another at bladepoint.)
In keeping with Echani tradition, the days surrounding Solstice see the Center of the Saber opened to public exhibition, its great halls and open courts prepared for sanctioned contests of skill. These are not battles of conquest, but deliberate tests overseen by Echani masters who enforce one rule above all others: the taking of life is forbidden. Beyond that boundary, warriors are expected to demonstrate the full extent of their discipline, power, and doctrine. Armor is worn by choice rather than mandate, blades are prepared to wound rather than kill, and abilities are brought to bear without apology, so long as intent remains clear and combat remains standing. Within these limits, participants do not fight for territory, but for reputation, insight, and the unspoken measure of worth.
For Mandalorians and Sith alike, the exhibitions offer a rare chance to face ancient adversaries without the chaos of war obscuring form or philosophy. Each exchange becomes a study, each clash a conversation carried through movement and force. Techniques are tested openly, reactions scrutinized, and strengths revealed beneath pressure as the galleries watch in deliberate silence or hard-won applause. Old animosities are neither softened nor denied, only focused, sharpened into understanding rather than bloodshed. When Solstice ends and the new Queen is crowned, what is learned at bladepoint will endure, carried forward into the future.
WALK THE WORLD OF ESHAN
(BYOO – Eshan is yours to explore!)
Eshan stretches far beyond Estin and the pageantry of coronation, a disciplined world of academies, noble estates, training halls, industrial centers, and ancestral sites shaped by centuries of martial tradition. Mandalorians may move through these places to better understand the world entering their Empire, while Sith may seek influence, knowledge, or philosophical kinship among Echani houses drawn to power and legacy. Across the planet, divided nobility, unresolved questions surrounding Queen Noelle’s disappearance, and the quiet consequences of Eshan’s new future offer fertile ground for stories that unfold away from the spotlight.
(BYOO – Eshan is yours to explore!)
Eshan stretches far beyond Estin and the pageantry of coronation, a disciplined world of academies, noble estates, training halls, industrial centers, and ancestral sites shaped by centuries of martial tradition. Mandalorians may move through these places to better understand the world entering their Empire, while Sith may seek influence, knowledge, or philosophical kinship among Echani houses drawn to power and legacy. Across the planet, divided nobility, unresolved questions surrounding Queen Noelle’s disappearance, and the quiet consequences of Eshan’s new future offer fertile ground for stories that unfold away from the spotlight.
