Not Quite Like Home

[Vilaz Munin]

The former Mandalorian Empire had fallen as Vilaz predicted when Yasha took the mantle of Mand’alor in the most dishonorable and revolting fashion the Warlord had ever witness in his life. In exile he lived again until Mandalore was besieged by the Sith and their legionnaires, seeking conquest from an ally that didn’t muster the strength to defend its own borders and scoring a victory against its belligerents. Vilaz has part in those invasions before sacking Mandalore from Cadera’s loyalists. He found victory against them, his beskad soaked in the blood of many Mandalorians he mercilessly slaughtered with the prisoners he captured finding a fate much worse than death.

And with all those victories, to see the Empire’s knees losing strength and allow the body crumble in defeat...

..he wasn’t satisfied.

His soul wasn’t content, not fully at least. A roar of glee came from his soul to see Mandalore be liberated by a cancer that spat in the tombs of those no longer with them and their ancestors. The men and women that fought for and built a grand culture of warriors that brought terror to the Galaxy had its reputation be squandered by a child in the body of a woman.

But now Mandalore found itself occupied by a new power, a power he fought for in exchange of credits and other forms of currency to compensate for his time and the risk of his life in battle. It made him uneasy to see this, and it truly made him depress.

Perhaps the comfort of his wife and the family they built would raise his spirits? A portion of his clan migrated back to Concord Dawn which was his home and the founding place of his clan. They were all coming home...but not all would return with an actual face of happiness. Rather they’d have to create a facade and pretend they were living in joy.

[member="Briika Munin"]

 

[Briika Munin]

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Hyperspace - en route to Concord Dawn​

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If Briika was honest, she wasn't sure this homecoming of sorts was best for them; so much had happened as of late, and not all good. But for the good of the exiled clan from Mandalorian space after the events of the Red Coronation, the Tor-Munin put on a dutiful 'happy' face and joined her husband on the bridge of his ship. Today was a new day.

The petite blonde dressed in her signature silver-plated beskar'gam stepped up beside the once mighty Akaan and Mand'alor in his own right, then gave Vilaz a small smile with a nod of encouragement as the vessel's nav computer counted down towards reversion.

"The ade are excited to be returning home. I hope they won't be too disappointed when it's not exactly the same as before. Kaiyra and Adenn were so young when we we're forced to leave... Have your scouts reported back yet if the ranch is still standing or our lands intact?" Bree asked the Concordian about his homeworld with just a tad bit of trepidation in her voice.

Vilaz had told her of the carnage laid down by the Sith Empire to Manda'yaim, the Enceri-born's homeworld, during their invasion of the former ME to de-throne the child Mand'alor. Briika was glad that the Cadera no longer was Sole Ruler. But, she was too so done with being under the thumb of the Emperor... Hopefully a silver lining would show itself sooner than later out of this crazy mess the Munin had unintentionally gotten them into in the first place; living the consequences of his rash actions for better or worse until death do them part.

[member="Vilaz Munin"]​

 

[Vilaz Munin]

”It won’t be the same, no; but it’ll be better for them. That I can hope, cyar’ika,” and made an attempt of a grin to his wife, trying to make it genuine as possible. ”And I have, the lands of our clan are still intact. The Empire did march their legions on our planet, but they made sure not to leave a mess. Our ranch is still standing, but we may need a few...patches here and there. A little home remodeling won’t hurt.”

For such a homecoming, the exiles returning to the lands they know and worked on to call it their home, the Mandalorian couple were bitter and not too excited for this moment to come; the moment they’ve wished for since the Red Coronation. Right now they’d probably be in their quarters and celebrating properly with Vilaz trusting his lieutenants to ensure a happy landing on Concord Dawn. Something he’d like and wished for to alternate this scenario. He had told her everything what occurred on Mandalore and while they were both thrilled to see the Infernal be stripped down from her pedestal of power and self righteousness, they were ultimately defeated to see at what cost it came to have that happen. Killing Mandalorians has never been an unfamiliar thing for Vilaz, he’d only do it in certain circumstances. Maybe the blood of those he stained his beskad on Mandalore was glorious, but that emotion faded away to what his vengeance had come to.

The Warlord had also noticed strange shifts in his relationship with Bree. They were loyal and faithful to each other, only loving each other and keeping true to their wedding vows they exchanged on that wonderful day. He had noticed there was some sort of distance between them, thankfully it wasn’t too grand of a chasm but it couldn’t be ignored.

Finally they had entered real space and the orb of Concord Dawn welcoming them.

”Home sweet home, yeah? Let’s ready the little ones, ner cyare.”

[member="Briika Munin"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika was relieved to hear that Clan Munin's lands were not destroyed in the Sith Empire's invasion of Concord Dawn. The news calmed the storm momentarily that was brewing within her soul.

"That is good to hear, cyar'ika. Well, you know I always wanted to remodel the old vheh'yaim... Perhaps we should just build a new one for the next chapter in our lives, hmm?" Bree suggested, hoping that this would indeed be a new starting point for them.

The area called Mission Valley or Ada Jatr in Mando'a was located in the northwestern region of the northern continent. It was nestled along the range of the Jagged Mountains, which were ragged peaks with snow on them most of the year. It reminded Briika of the North Country of Mandalore where she grew up near Enceri and the Three Sister Mountain Range. Sadly, the area didn't exist any longer after the cataclysmic destruction set off by the traitors struck her homeworld; near a decade ago already.

The wilderness complex was made up of small active glaciers, alpine lakes, meadows, and clear streams that ran icy cold, and had slab-like boulders, vertical cliff faces and talus slopes. The Clan Home was built into the rolling foothills below with grassland abound that the clan could use for farming and keeping range animals. It was important to be self-sufficient, and that the Munin clan were known for... along with their warrior forte.

The petite blonde's azure gaze flicked from her husband's blue to the visage out the viewport of the bridge as the ship came out of hyperspace, then back to the Concordian with a knowing grin.

"The ade are already in the hangar bay... Kaiyra wanted to do the transport's pre-flight, and Adenn was making sure your vanguard was ready and able for the Yaim'ol be Aliit Munin," she winked rather proudly of their children falling into their desired rolls already, then the Tor-Munin spun on her booted heel and headed to the turbo lift.

Too soon the younger Munin's would be ready for their individual rites of passage. Where had all the time gone to? Seemed like they were just babies, and the crusades and clans were alive and well, and life was good. Perhaps it could be again...

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Had their lands been damaged, even by an acre, by the Empire, Vilaz would retaliate in a hostile manner towards the Sith. He remembered the deal he had struck with the Emperor, that none of the lands belonging to his clan would be touched or have a foot stepped on its soil in return for his service at Mandalore. While his reasons to aid the Sith invasion on Mandalore was personal he did wanted to get more out of his service and that alone was enough compensation with a purse of credits and other values added as well. Vilaz knew how much his beloved wife had lost; her home, family members, and an unborn child. It would have been a devastating blow to her if she lost the home she shared with the Warlord and their children.

”It’s time to start anew again on our world, cyar’ika. Our old home carries only memories of the past and while many of them were fruitful, there was pain involved too. I’ll have some of our clansmen ready to build us a new home, it would be wrong if I didn’t provide that to you and our children.”

Maybe he was seen as a vicious monster in the body of a man having an unending lust to blood and war from the eyes of the Galaxy, and while that could be true he was a different man with his family and clan. The complete reciprocal of what the Galaxy painted him to be. He always made sure to provide his family the best from the treasures he’d earn from his many raids. Very overprotective and never afraid to bite the bullet for them which at times came to annoy Bree and she’d address it to him, feeling as if she was worried he’d lose his life or risk something important all to protect her. Truthfully she was his weakness, but she also gave him strength and resolute. They were soulmates and that was bound to happen.

Then a genuine smile came to his face as Briika mentioned of their children already making preparations for their homecoming. They were still young, nearing the age of adulthood in their culture. Vilaz had disciplined them as he expected them to be great warriors among the Mandalorians, but he never forgot to show his love and appreciation for them. They had been trained in different skills by Vilaz and Briika as the Mandalorians of Clan Munin weren’t just men and women only focused on war. What good would an army be without those tending the fields or forging metal into armor?

”They never fail to surprise or make us proud, they have come a long way from these past years,” replying back to his wife while following her as they’d take the lift and head for the main hangar of their vessel.

The Warlord’s hand reached out to his spouse’s own, holding Bree’s hand while not saying anything. He could sense something bothering her, perhaps she felt the same way as he from these recent events? Something that would have to be addressed eventually, but not now.

[member="Briika Munin"]

 

[Briika Munin]

Briika gave her husband's hand a loving squeeze as the two rode the turbo-lift silently down to the hangar bay. When the Munin's reached the hangar deck, the doors opened and out they walked as Alor and Alor'ad. Kaiyra and Adenn were waiting for them on the transport along with Vilaz's vanguard. Quickly they boarded the shuttlecraft as the air of anticipation was bountiful from the vode present. It was finally time to go home.

The trip down from the Warlord's ship in orbit to the clan's lands to the northwestern region on Concord Dawn's northern continent was uneventful. There had been rumors of a resistance group lurking about, but none had come to greet them as the transport circled a couple of times before landing near the old homestead, which from above looked to be mostly intact. Briika had a high suspicion that there would be much work still ahead to make the accommodations livable once again. After all, it had been a few years since that fateful day of the Red Coronation that changed their lives. But now, they had a second chance to start over and rebuild. There was hope again.

"I am only too glad to be here with you and the ade, Vil'ika. This day really couldn't have come any sooner. I prayed to the gods, and they finally granted my wish. Let's not anger them again, hmmm?" Bree jested with a knowing glance towards the Concordian.

Vilaz Munin

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Like his wife, Vilaz also heard reports and rumors of Mandalorian cells fighting off Imperial Forces and staging attacks wherever their enclaves were stationed at. His warriors would eradicate any foreigners that would trespass their lands and cause any problems for the clan. The Sith and their replaceable legionnaires could handle themselves with whatever rebellions occurred in their space. Right now Vilaz’s focus were reestablish the roots of their clan to the mainland, its birth, while maintains other territories they reigned from distant systems. That and give time to his family they rightfully deserve; something he struggled with while on his raids and offensive strikes. A balance difficult to maintain, though Bree was understanding for him. They couldn’t ignore whenever duty called for them.

Their ship landed and Munin clansmen went out to scout out the area to see if there was any unwelcome guests in their lands.

“You mean not fire another wrist rocket?” with a smirk on his face towards his wife. “I’d be questioning the gods had they not heard the wishes of a gallant daughter of Mandalore like yourself, cyar’ika,” the Warlord beamed at his beloved with a toothless smile, complimenting Bree in the ways of their people. Instead of praising looks Mandalorians acknowledged and boasted the prowess of their own, and Briika was a decorated warrior to take inspiration of. He was sure their daughter would take a path like her and be better.

“But with the gods granting our prayers it would only be correct to give thanks to them.” Whether it be hosting a great feast or sacrificing blood to their deities was up to them. Or both.

“I feel whole and complete to have all of us here in our home and lands,” he said while heading out from their vessel with their children in tow, following their parents to the house they hardly knew about.

While he did feel happy, he also felt guilt within him. He was nearly complete, just nearly. They faced hardships together, yes; however, he never felt a conflict of tense emotions as these before.

The Warlord also knew his beloved felt unlike herself, and he wondered if she shared these feelings as he did? They were home, something they prayed for. Even with that they weren’t...themselves.

Briika Munin

 

[Briika Munin]

"Elek... Let us make the most of this gift our family and aliit has been given," Bree nodded in agreement with her husband's statement, then the petite blonde walked up the steps of their abandoned homestead.

The Baar'ur paused for a moment and gazed back giving Vilaz a knowing look with her azure eyes. "I seem to recall a few important discussions we had on these here steps at one time or another... but what I am most fond of are the memories of sitting on the back porch swing and watching the sunset," she offered the Concordian for thought with a soft smile.

"Come, Kaiyra... We will start cleaning the inside while your buir and Adenn tend to the outside. With divide and conquer as our plan of action, we will get this yaim back into shipshape in no time."


Vilaz Munin

 

[Vilaz Munin]

The homestead would not be finished in under a day, unfortunately. Much to do with four people to tackle a project. Progress was made, and the family retired from their chores in order to dine together as one with the food beautifully by the matriarch of their family, no doubt Kaiyra helped her beautiful mother with some of the cooking. Father and son went out to clean the lands of their homestead, trashing broken and rusted detail and control the wild population of fauna that colonized the once vacated homestead. No animals were killed as the duo used ion weapons to poke the beats, signs he respected the wildlife of his homeworld as some species were endangered.

Dinner was then finished with the children being escorted to their rooms and lovingly rocked to sleep by their parents.

Opportune time for the parents to have company with each other.

The Warlord, in one hand, carried a Mandalorian red wine he knew his wife fancied that specific craft he always carried in supply. Another hand contained a glass of whiskey, one that was meant to enjoy with a smooth texture to it and not be gulped down like a shot. Briika sat out on the porch swing with her husband joining her.

“Your favorite, cyar’ika,” he offered the glass to her with a smile, and rocked the swing with her.

“How was Kaiyra? I hope she feels satisfied, does she have any memories before our exile?”

Briika Munin