Victory. Victory? That was what it was called, Oron thought. Words and the definitions behind them became endlessly hard to grasp these days. The Mandalorians as a nation, a culture, were one thing but House Verd was different. Unlike most of the other clans, or maybe them all, they'd triumphed, conquered, torn asunder worlds and rebuilt them anew- Then years later, under a new name offered new unions, new appeasements, new propositions and terms for alignment and yet, refused to bend the knee to anyone that required such acts. Had much changed since their days of Crusading?
Their new alignment under the banner of the Mando'ade didn't feel like victory to Oron. It felt like a sentence. He, who was immersed with a myriad of factions and alliances he despised, and yet where else could he turn? What else did he have, he who'd fallen so far, so fast, who built ice around his heart and encased all vulnerable emotion there except for that one, single fissure, the weak spot that ran like a crystalline vein and if pulled by the root would be his undoing. House Verd was the root. Where his family went, he followed. Whether they were immediate, or even an affiliate- it was close enough for the red-eyed dragon. He would die in the name of House Verd and likewise protect those under it, no matter the atrocity committed.
They were not a kind people, per se. Perhaps to their own, but to those outside of the culture? Of all the virtues, kindness was not something that could be offered so easily. For what, he questioned, had been done to deserve it? Where were the Jedi under House Verd? There are none. Too much neutrality, independence, darkness and rot was riddled through their DNA. With his hands painted with a sanguine palette, Oron didn't deserve kindness no more than those who'd bled at his hands deserved their demise. Yet his family provided it to him regardless. Had he acted upon orders in the past? Yes. But since, he'd hardened himself to cruelty and perchance. Had he tried to make amends, sure. But now? Now he knew that he and the House had waded so far in the mire of misdeeds there would be no turning back. Oron acknowledged long ago that he'd sink into the fathomless depravity that enticed the members of the House as they grew and progressed. And he loved them all still.
The dark clouds that swirled over the estate put Oron at ease somehow. He sensed a darkness, besides the familiar presence of [member="Keira Ticon"] and [member="Darth Metus"]' aura that drew him inside the building. Slashed in sapphire and obsidian beskar'gam, Oron's inky black cloak billowed in the wind behind him as he entered the building. He drew a breath and exhaled. Removing his helmet, he gripped it in his clutch as it fell to his side. Crimson orbs looked ahead as the fluorescent lighting highlighted his discolored mocha skin with a pale yellow hue.
Moving down the halls, he rounded a corner and pushed the doors open leading into the lobby. Dozens of people were congregating. Hanging his helmet on a rack next to everyone else's, he looked to the tables, seeing family with heads tilted back as they laughed and enjoyed the company of one another. He spotted [member="Seraya Whisperwind"] with red eyes and a alcohol-induced smile welcoming those who entered with a chalice in her hand. A Cheshire grin softened Oron's chiseled gaze as he met eyes with her.
"Somebody feelin' good!" He started as he moved to extend his gloved hand for a high five over the table. "I'll be back in 10, and I'm gonna see if I can feel as good as you for the rest of the day. Try not to drink all the ale before I get back." Oron said with a promising smile and a few genuine chuckles.
Nearing the doors leading outside, he exited the lobby and moved his gaze towards the garden where he saw his older brother and sister and...her boyfriend? Oron squinted then.
"Are they...are they holding hands?"
Shaking his head, he palmed his face and drew a deep breath as he approached, extending hugs to his siblings and opened his arms to Keira's plus-one as well, moreso grabbing him than allowing him to accept the gesture first. Oron didn't know [member="Julius Sedaire"] personally of course, but found an initial respect for him, if not for his power alone which he always admired in others. Weakness in most forms made his stomach turn in disgust. He could feel a strong vibrancy of Force mastery resonating from his persona. Julius seemed strong, fair, and looked much more clean cut than the majority of the people gathered today. Oron wondered how he'd fit in if he stuck around, but he himself wouldn't be the one to give the guy a hard time. That wasn't his job.
"Hello..Julius, is it? Pleased to finally meet you." He said with raised raised brows and tight eyes. He seemed nice. Oron wasn't sure how "nice" would fit into the Verds and their ways, considering how they maneuvered through the galaxay, however. It'd be interesting to see how he'd adjust, change, or do neither of the two in such a warmongering House.
Oron turned his attention to the two remaining Sith then. A few seconds passed, and he'd looked them both up and down, although he knew who they were. [member="Darth Carnifex"] and [member="Darth Prazutis"]. He'd campaigned with them in the past during a few invasions, but was completely oblivious to their connection to House Verd. It seemed he'd be campaigning with them more in the future as they've found a new banner to wave under the Ascendency. Something that turned Oron on more towards them. He extended open arms to them both.
"Su'coy ner vods." He began. "Aliit ori'shya tal'din" Which was true- Family is more than blood, but little did Oron know, they could have actually been related to him by blood. The house had grown so large over the past decade that this event was just as much for him to learn who's who as it was for him to eat and get drunk- which he also fully intended to do.