Verd'goten

[Adenn Kyramud]

Verd'goten, it was the even that marked a Mandalorians rise from a child to an adult, usually held at the age of 13. Every clan had a different way of doing their verd'goten, but sometimes these things mixed together, such as today. Several Clan Cadera and Clan Mortui children were coming of age, along with some others from different clans that might show up. The most standout of this number was Taru Cadera, Adenn's own nephew. Said lad had expressed an interest in undergoing his verd'goten under Adenn, as had several members of Clan Mortui. Eventually Adenn had accepted, which is why he found himself on the edge of a forest on Vanquo.

Standing there in full beskar'gam and armed to the teeth, Adenn stood separate from the group of both children and adults. Within the forest itself were several challenges that the children would have to complete to become adults, along with a final test at the end once they made it out. Along with these challenges were natural beasts of Vanquo, untamed and completely wild. They were theoretically tamable, but it'd take a lot of work to tame just one. Not that it truly mattered for now, it was really a test of skills to see how far and how well the children would go. Some would die of course, but more would survive, and they would prove themselves to be true Mandalorians.

Turning around towards the assembled people, Adenn took note of everyone there. The verd'goten would start soon, and those who participated in the trial would only be allowed to go in there without any weapons. All they could take with them was the clothes on their back, a small knife(not a vibroknife or similar), and a flask of water that was empty. Their challenge would no doubt last several hours, but seeing as it was 10 AM in the morning, there'd be more than enough time to complete the verd'goten by sundown if one was good. Making his way towards the gathered group, Adenn wondered once more who all would be there aside from those he already listed to himself.

 

[Azure Djitred]

It had been a long time since Vanquo had been visited by so many Mandalorians outside of Clan Solus, so when Azure heard of a Verd'goten being held on her home planet? Well, the witch just had to watch. Lailya skipped along, holding her adopted mother's hand, as they approached the area it would begin at. Contrasting between the two, Azure wore her newly made beskar'gam, while Lailya wore the frilliest, laciest, cutest, lavender dress the 4 year old could get her mother to buy. Black was much more Azure's taste, but she vowed to do whatever she could to make the 4 year old happy.

"Look, Mama! It's that Adenn person! From Kiros!"

"Oh? You should go see him!" A squee came from the little blonde child, before she sprinted off at a run towards [member="Adenn Kyramud"], Azure following close behind at a walking pace. "Su cuy'gar, Adenn. I do hope you've informed these children they absolutely will die if they don't watch themselves."

 

[Taru Cadera]

It was a day long waited for, one which Taru had both dreaded and hoped for...

It was finally here. Today, right now.

He almost had to pinch himself, that was how excited he was. But this excitement was well contained, not showing in his actions but being portrayed in the smile which he flashed from time to time and the look of pure ecstacy in his eyes. He was ready, and he(his body included) needed to undertake this. And even with such motivation, such necessity, Taru waited. He dared not to upset his uncle, whom he saw of as almost a fatherly figure. So instead, he sat on the ground and whittle sticks into stakes with durasteel knife. This stakes he then threw into the ground, embedding them into the dirt. He wore a cloth shirt and pants, and on his feet was a pair of comfortable hiking boots. He also had an empty water flask in his back left pocket.

The Verd'goten was the rite of passage for a Mandalorian to become an adult, and one of the few traditions which the clans were able to undergo completely at peace with each other. And today was one where Clan Cadera, Mortui, and others came together to have their Verd'gotens and to replenish the ranks with new adults.


Having finally gone through all of his sticks, Taru got up and said: "Pas, Ba'vodu Adenn? Tion'tuur liser mhi ohira? (Hey Uncle Adenn? When can we start?)". His impatience was beginning to show, but his pride was at the forefront. He needed to do this...

[member="Adenn Kyramud"] | [member="Azure Djitred"] ​

 

[Mig Gred]

Mig leaned against a nearby tree, keeping his eyes on everyone that had come. Only one person, [member="Taru Cadera"] to participate in the Verd'goten so far, but he was sure more would come. Leddie meanwhile, dress in a simple shirt and pants, was just happy to joined her Jagyc'buir in watching this, and to learn what a Verd'goten really was. At least that was her goal until she spotted Lailya. She ran up, waving at the younger girl, [member="Azure Djitred"] , and [member="Adenn Kyramud"] as she did.

"Su cuy'gar!" Mig just chuckled as he watched her, looking walking up with his helmet off.

"Su cuy'gar, Adenn. Su cuy'gar, Azure."

 

[Adenn Kyramud]

Adenn made his way to the group of Mandalorians, observing them and seeing who all would be participating. The most obvious to Adenn was Taru Cadera and those from Clan Mortui, particularly since there were several Mandos in Clan Mortui colors near said children. There were also several children near Clan Cadera children, along with a few more spread out here and there. It really was a sight, there were many, many Mandos here, and many more Mandalorian children, soon to hopefully be full fledged adults. Smiling at that thought, Adenn came to a stop some 5 paces away from the entire conglomerate of Mando'ade. Gazing over them, Adenn kept smiling, not saying anything yet, there was still some time before it would officially start.

Turning as he saw movement to his right, Adenn took notice of a small child approaching him. At first he didn't know who it was, until he saw Auzure near the girl. Smiling in recognition, Adenn lowered himself to a knee to receive the girl that was charging towards him. In recent times with his own children, Adenn had come to love the young 'uns and treat them better and be nice. Now he was putting it to good use once more. Opening his arms slightly, Adenn invited the little girl to come hug him, which she did with a fierce crash against him. Rocking back slightly, Adenn brought an arm around her shoulders as he looked down slightly at her, grinning behind his helmet.
"Su cuy Lailya, you've certainly grown. How are you adiik?"

Rremaining kneeled before Lailya, Adenn turned his gaze up to look at Azure as she spoke. Nodding to her, Adenn tilted his head slightly as she spoke about the kids dying to the wilds. Snorting once, Adenn straightened up before speaking, keeping a hand on Lailyas head as he spoke.
"Su cuy'gar Azure, been awhile. They know what they're getting into, but that's the whole point. This is the verd'goten, where children become adults, they are tested one final time before achieving the gateway to everything in life." Turning to look at the group of Mando'ade, Adenn smiled slightly behind his helmet before shaking his head slightly. Turning back to Azure, he continued. "They are ready Azure, or the woods will kill them, they know this, we know this. Now it's up to them to come through and survive, to become adults."

Turning to face Taru as he stood up, Adenn listened as the soon to be adult spoke. Chuckling lightly at hearing the impatience, pride, and eagerness to do this, Adenn thought back to his own verd'goten. It had been in a far deadlier place, only a few short years after his parents had been killed. But that hadn't deterred Adenn, no it had empowered him, made him fight harder. It made him kill those who had stood in his way, kill the things that were spawned in the depths of that hell. Shaking the memories away, Adenn responded to Taru then.
"Su cuy Taru, ra gi'ah ohira skotah. Miak, bic b shi a kisol pur be nity'irlmatasi akaanir bal sruba a'yaou gar cuyir sta'hralhe.(Hello Taru, we'll start shortly. Then it's only a few hours of grueling fighting and testing before you're an adult."

After waiting a few extra moments, Adenn eventually turned towards the gathering as a whole and called them to attention, having them focus on him. Those participating in the verd'goten lined up then, standing before Adenn in a neat line, facing the Adenn and the forest behind him. Smiling widely behind his helmet, Adenn spread his arms wide to gesture at everyone and their surroundings. Then he spoke up, voice loud and clear for all to hear(this is spoken in Mando'a, not going to translate it all though, just plain old English).
"Su cuy vode, one and all, and welcome to another verd'goten! This is the first one we've had in some time, thanks to all the chakaar that've attacked us." At that comment, there were bitter mutters of agreement from several individuals in the crowd, though most simply remained impassive, here only to listen and then send their kids off to become adults. "That aside, it is now time for our children to grow, to complete their verd'gotens and join our ranks as full fledged adults."

Clapping once, Adenn then half turned to expand his left arm to show the forest behind him, and in front of the assembled Mando'ade. Adenn let them take in the impressive sight; tall trees, hidden movement, and general nature at its finest and deadliest. After a few moments of just observing it, Adenn turned his attention back to the ones who would be taking this verd'goten.
"In these woods are horrors of nature hell bent on killing you. They will try to eat you, cut you, stomp on you, poison you and more. Thus your simple mission is to get from here to the other side, get your reward, and then head to where it sends you. To pass, you must work alone, though you are allowed to help another of your vode out if they require it, this test is for each individual, not groups. That said, some of you may die, while others will survive and thrive. This will test you like nothing ever has or most likely will."

Taking a deep breath, Adenn let his gaze pass over every individual lined up before him, making T-visor to eye contact, with each and every single one. There were 34 children here, most likely only 25 or less would make it out after this. Sighing, Adenn continued.
"It's time for your verd'goten. You've said your goodbyes, so now you say hello to the jungles of Vanquo." Adenn moved to the side then, letting nothing obstruct the view of the verd'goten participants. "Oya vode, for glory and honor, let the hunt begin!"

And like that, the candidates would be off, heading into the forest in their own ways to face the various creatures and plants in the jungle/forest, forging their path through thick and thin. This would test them like nothing else, but it had to be done. Now it was all in their hands, whether they lived or died, failed or succeeded, it was up to them, and all the rest could do was watch through the camera droids high in the air.

[member="Mig Gred"] [member="Taru Cadera"] [member="Azure Djitred"] [member="Adara Raxis"]

 

[Adara Raxis]

The Verd’goten.

Coming of age. As if being thirteen was any sort of indication of anything but a woeful awareness of anybody but oneself. Who needed a rite of passage camping trip to prove they were dependable anyway?

Little Adara Raxis-Australis was quite overcome today. She’d had it. And yes, [member="Taru Cadera"] would be there, and that alone was going to cause this embarrassment of a Verd’goten to be a little less terrible.

“Go camping in the woods. Like I’ve never done that before ten thousand times with Yasha ‘pitch you in the Netherworld for a week or two’ Cadera for a Mum…” Adara mumbled all the way from the ship. Tuulu laughed and ran his gauntlet-clad hand over Adara’s braided hair, holding her buy’ce in his other.

“Can’t fool me, little bit. Now, fess up. What’s bothering you? I know you want to be excited, so what’s all this?” Tuulu didn’t have to bend down on his haunches to see Adara eye to eye. The thirteen year old finally began growing as a proper Epicanthix should, and stood at a wiry, gaspingly thin 6’1”. She looked to the other children, all of whom were shorter than her by several aching inches, and the hubbub of Mandalorian vode, who excitedly and with trepidation waited for their children to go off.

“Mother couldn’t even show up. You’re amazing Tuulu, but… shouldn’t mother or even Baba be here? To see me off? And… and what’s the point of camping on Vanquo anyway!? We lived here! I know what’s in the woods. And… and….” Adara sniffled, rubbing her eyes on an embroidered handkerchief from her pocket. “… and when mother turned thirteen, she got to conquer a planet for her Verd’goten. She led the Mandalorian invasion of Dathomir, then spent the next seven years in the Netherworld defeating test after test after test that Ember Rekali threw at her, until he released her from the Netherworld with the information and abilities she sought.”

Digging her beskar’gam boot in the ground, Adara’s chin wobbled.

“Look at them all. They think it’s such a big deal we’re all going on this traipse through the woods. It’s… I… I thought my mother thought I was special. Like her. But this is the most…” Adara broke into sniffles, trying to cover little sobs at the disappointment that even in this, her mother’s distance was the only gift Adara got.

Tuulu sighed as he pulled Adara into a warm embrace. He’d watched the child grow every day of her life, seeing the struggles Adara was put through by the Mandalorians’ on-planet hatred of powered folk. Adara sniffled loudly, then yelped as Tuulu shifted, tossing the girl onto his back.

“Yipes! Tuulu!!” Adara clung to his neck, as Tuulu Cadera, fierce and ferocious protector of the Mand’alor… gave the Mand’alor’s daughter one more piggy back ride.

“Oy, you’re still a kid, right? Until this is over? Kids get piggy back rides.” Tuulu jogged with Adara on his back, trailing around in goofy lines until she pealed with laughter and stuck her nose onto his backplate.

“Tuulluuuuuu.” Adara cracked out, hopping off his back only when they got almost next to [member="Adenn Kyramud"]. She wiped her eyes one last time, and whimpered. “Ohhhh, we missed the start… guess I’d better get started… walking through the woods I walked through all the time, when we lived here…”

Tuulu set Adara’s buy’ce onto her head, watching the gold plated filigree expand over her face like the swooping arms of angels, or raptor-birds. Adara’s beskar’gam was a work of art, blue leather cuirass set over beskar and songsteel plate, crystals set into the metal, white undersuit of silicar, armourweave threads. Adara never understood how much her armour cost her parents to produce, nor would she any time soon.

Yasha’d gone off for days at a time to source the stones alone, rare crystals she killed for. The Sith blood cult they culled to get hold of the Qixoni crystal in the bracer’s centre was a hard won battle, Tuulu and Yasha back to back roaring at the dark.

Adara would never know how much sacrifice it took for her mother to send Adara to boarding school, or the long hours of halting traditionally minded Mandalorians from culling the death-child. How many times had Tuulu watched over Adara with the girl unaware of the sometimes multitudes hidden so as not to frighten her. Not to upset her.

Now, she’d be alone.

“Adara, wait…” Tuulu took Adara’s shoulder, turning her one last time to face him. “… your mother wanted me to bring you, because… I… brought… her. Ambrose and I planned Yasha’s Verd’goten and yes, it was conquering a planet. Heh. Nothing was too difficult for our Hell Wolf… And… we watched in horror as she negotiated with Rekali, disappeared back into the Hell we all promised she’d never know again. Yasha’s Verd’goten was the greatest failure any of us ever had. She didn’t want you to live up to impossible expectations, cyar’ika. For once, your mother wanted you to know what being a normal kid was like. And… I think being a normal Mandalorian is going to be trial enough, your Highness.”

The gurlanin did a courtly bow, as the Dark Side Child barrelled him almost to the ground with another warm embrace.

“Thank you Tuulu. I don’t know what we’d ever do without you.” Adara raced off to hopefully follow the other children unless one of the adults stopped her. Tuulu shut his eyes and breathed, trying with every fibre in his being not to chase after the second girl-child and protect her from every possible harm. He sidled up to Adenn, and gave the other man a nod.

“Adara’s going to murder that forest, you know. You’d better hope the other kids steer clear of her… or steer very, very close.”

[member="Mig Gred"] [member="Taru Cadera"] [member="Azure Djitred"] [member="Adenn Kyramud"]

 

[Azure Djitred]

Lailya giggled as she crashed into [member="Adenn Kyramud"], and looked at him with a wide grin. "Su cyu'gar! Mama bought me this pretty dress! Isn't it pretty?" The little girl curtsied, showing off her dress as her mother came closer. "Mama! Tell him how pretty my dress is!"

"It's a pretty dress, Lailya. Oh? Little Leddie, is that you?"

"Leddie!" Lailya squealed happily as she tackle hugged the other young girl she met on Kiros just a few months ago, before dragging her a little ways away from the adults to play. Azure smiled at the two, before turning her attention back to Adenn with a frown. Clearly, he knew the forests of Vanquo were dangerous, but she didn't believe who knew just how dangerous they were. Between the Cinn Dhorcha, the Scriosar, and those wasps... Even some grown adults can't survive those woods. She sighed, and gave [member="Mig Gred"] a nod of greeting.

"They best hope they don't run into any of the Cinn Dhorcha. I'd hate for them to be captured and used in one of those cursed Dark rituals of theirs, damned ugly creatures. Their hunters reek of death, those shamans even more so." Azure shivered in disgust as she spoke of the Cinn Dhorcha. "I'd rather get mauled by a Scriosar than captured by a Cinn Dhorcha. Of course, the children could get lucky and be left alone?"

The witch hummed as [member="Taru Cadera"] spoke with Adenn. The child was impatient. Hopefully it was something he would grow out of, as he became an adult? A sigh escaped her lips as she watched the children run off into the woods, woefully under geared for the dangers of Vanquo. Out of all them, Azure figured only a few would survive, until she felt a shiver roll down her spine. A shiver caused by the Dark Side. Her body tensed as she turned to where she felt it come from to see...

Was that a woman or a child? Azure eyed [member="Adara Raxis"] curiously, with a hint of suspicion in her gaze, even as Adara ran off into the woods after the other children. The Daughter of Allya did not approve of the Dark Side coming from that child, but clearly she was a Mandalorian just the same. A snort came from her as Tuulu spoke.

"Grown adults have died in those woods, you know. No more than 10 of those children will survive, if they're lucky. We'll need to search for corpses before the end of the night, if the Scriosar and Cinn Dhorcha don't get them first."

 

[Mig Gred]

Leddie smiled as she hugged the girl back.

"Lailay!" Mig chuckled as he watched the pair walk off to do play, and listened to [member="Azure Djitred"] and [member="Adenn Kyramud"] speak. Azure was definitely worried, and the Gred couldn't blame her. Vanquo wasn't exactly the safest planet, but he still had that same hope he usually had. He thought of the one Gred going on this Verd'goten, Fredrick, aka Fred. Mig looked back at Azure though, thinking.

"I know the feeling Azure, but some of these ad'ika have been through worse than any of us. Have some faith."

Meanwhile, in the group of Mandalorians setting out, Fred walked through, trying to stick with the others. The young man was in his light weight armor, wearing a war mask instead of a helmet. He somewhat wondered what others would think about him. He had a weird weapon, he was from a clan with a lot of Force Sensitives, and he was sure there were at least one or two who would hate him just for that. Yeah, things were better for Force Sensitives, but.... He just shook it off. It was then that he noticed [member="Adara Raxis"] , though he didn't really know who she was. He had always been more of a farmhand or technician, not so much a warrior. In all likelihood, he'd end up working at CST at some point, or maybe some sort of field mechanic. Or at least that's what he thought. Either way, he walked to Adara, pulling his mask up.

"Hey. Name's Fredrick, Clan Gred, everyone just calls me Fred though. So... who are you?"

[member="Taru Cadera"]

 

[Taru Cadera]

"Oya!" he shouted before starting his seemingly mad dash into the forest. He knew what he had to do here, and he was still formulating how he was going to do it.

His knife in hand, he went methodically from tree to tree, selecting a branch approximately one meter in length from each. Taru then whacked each of these branches four times against the truck of a sturdy tree. The first two broke on their third swing from the strength with which they were being slammed against a wall-like tree, while the last two survived. Out of these two branches, he whittled down the tip of one into a stake, and then in the other cut it down to approximately two thirds of its original length, and into a small gap at the top, he wedged his knife into it to give himself a true wooden short spear and not just a "spear" made from a wooden stake.

Before being finished with his whittling of the stake spear, Taru had heard the shrill scream of one of the others, and a low undercurrent of buzzing in the same direction from which the scream had come from. He had moved twice since then, almost perpendicular to the direction from which the scream was heard, because if there was one thing which Taru knew, it was that once you screamed in pain or fear, you were a goner.

Once the air settled down and the buzzing became less audible, he trudged on forwards, once more in the direction of the "exit" for he had managed to, so far, keep his sense of direction throughout the Verd'goten.

[member="Mig Gred"] ~ [member="Azure Djitred"] ~ [member="Adara Raxis"] ~ [member="Adenn Kyramud"] ​

 

[Rhaegar Dib II]

Verd'goten. A trial by fire that every mandalorian child had to pass in order to be accepted as a full fledged adult by his peers. The Verd'goten had many different forms, but each was a test of who the child was, a trial by fire that would forge them into who they will become. A timeless tradition based on the resol'nare. To fail would be death. Success was the only option. And so young Rhaegar Dib arrived for the ceremony that would be the end for some and a new beginning for others.

He stood amidst a group of other youth waiting for the call to begin. A man spoke to those assembled while the teens shifted, murmured, and listened at attention. And then it began. He stood watching as others ran forward, a race to finish and become one of the mando'ade. He would join them, but there was something he had to do first.

Trotting backwards he approached a figure in matte, black beskar'gam who looked down at the boy with no words being uttered. Silently he removed his buy'ce and placed it into the netting at his belt. The boy's red flecked irises stared up into the glowing, blue eyes of his ba'vodu Muad and quietly held out his right arm. A red rune of Sith origins was branded into the skin inside the crease of his right arm.

Without words Muad closed his eyes and placed his palms above the rune with lips moving but no words being audible. A flash of pain seemed to burn through his body and Rhaegar couldn't help to flinch, a small cry escaping his lips before the pain retreated. Muad looked down at the boy and nodded. “Oya ner adiik. And return ner vod.” He smiled then jerked his head indicating toward the jungle with his chin.

Rhaegar turned and jogged into the jungle. But just before entering his head turned to look for his buir. He didn't see her but he knew she was there. He knew.

Derek Dib stepped up next to his brother, Muad, and shook his head. “You know his mother just may kill you when she finds out what you did.” Muad merely grinned and watched Rhaegar slip through the curtain if the jungle.

Passing through the clearing he entered the foliage of the jungle and felt the difference. He had crossed over into danger, forsaking the safety behind. A metaphor of leaving the relative safety of childhood for the uncertain future of adulthood. Or at least that's what the old people said. He smirked as he leapt several fallen trunks and continued jogging for several quiet minutes until the thing his ba'vodu had done erupted in his veins.

Dropping to his knees he felt the loss flood his body as the ever present Force receded from his consciousness. It only took a few moments but then it was gone. Rising he wiped the leaves from his pant legs and turned his head at an angle trying to place what was different, other than being forsaken by the Force, and realized what it was. The jungle had turned quiet. No, not quiet but silent. He raised his hands and clapped, but no sound was heard. Letting out a laugh that he couldn't hear made him laugh again before the seriousness of the situation calmed the youth.

He had wanted to complete his Verd'goten without the Force, but that wasn't enough. His mother had been nearly deaf and she was known as the Mando in pink beskar'gam even before her own Verd'goten. So not only did he want to be free of the Force for his own but had asked his ba'vodu to give him a rune that would alternately remove one of his five senses during his trek. Then he would be a real mandalorian and would have accomplished something neither of his parents had been able to do.

With a wide grin he began moving forward again determined to succeed.

 

[Ginnie Dib]

“SON of a VOORPAH HEADED BANTHA bodied NERF HERDER!” Ginnie kicked the oil can so hard it exploded in a shower of dark ichor, which promptly exploded into infernal sparks. “Fekkin’ uncles and… and…. gah!” Ginnie Dib, single mother of twin beautiful (and perpetually aggravating) children, and never again cuddled widow of a soul-inhabiting statue in the middle of Mandalore, slipped on the puddle of engine grease she created.

“For the love of Manda if he’s already gone I’m gonna chase after and kill him. I’m gonna kill him good and traipse through the Netherworld, grab him from Manda, bring him back and then kiss his forehead and send him myself. SO HELP ME RHAE! If your son, yeah your, deal with it, I’m mad at him! Has left for his Verd’goten without me I will murder the entire Dib bloodline!” Stomping out of the ship, the five foot two Mando in Pink Beskar’gam charged after [member="Rhaegar Dib II"] and his ill fated uncle-cousin-whatevers.

Nephews of… dang their family tree was karked.

Gritting her teeth, the once-deaf kiffar Mandalorian charged after Muad and without a single word spoken, decked him so hard she felt a knuckle in her left hand crack.


“MUAD DIIIIIB!!!!” Screaming in not-so drunken rage, the firecracker stomped her foot and started for the jungle. “Where’s my karkin’ mother lovin’, sister treatin’, adventure chasin’ gorram gorgeousness of a son!?”

Blinking through the haze of her rage, and attempting to staunch the itty bitty fires popping up in every one of her footsteps, Ginnie waved at Derek.

“Oh su cuy’gar, Derek, I’m glad you’re here, what a special family time…. NOW MUAD WHAT THE FETH DID YOU DO WITH MY GORRAM SON!?” Ginnie raised her diminutive fist, as yellow and white flames sparked from her knuckles.

“Rhae!? RHAE I’m right… I didn’t miss it! I’m here, son I didn’t… I… I didn’t miss it…” Ginnie’s fist dropped. She could barely make out her son’s back as he rushed into the jungle on his own. “But… but I was here and… I was gonna see him off and… I was here.”

A sniffle much larger than her petite frame burbled out of the Beskarsmith and Sith Alchemist known as Ginnie Dib.

“I was gonna give him my beskad… The one from my Mama…”

 

[Derek Dib]

They had been standing together, Muad and Derek, watching as Rhaegar slipped into the tree line and out of sight. Hearing someone approach Derek turned his head as Ginnie stormed up like a volcano about to erupt. Add then she did. With an uppercut that seemed to rise from the ground her first connected with Muad's still grinning face. It was impressive that the diminutive woman hit him with such Force that he landed backwards on his tailbone. Controlling a smile he gave Ginnie a careful nod off greeting, wary that he may join Muad on the ground himself for being guilty of association.

“Hey Ginnie.”

His greeting was short for he didn't plan to get in-between the two as she waited for an explanation from Muad who was sitting on the ground rubbing his chin before spitting a glob of blood into the dirt beside him.

“I just gave him what he asked for … with maybe a bit more …”

Derek flicked his gaze to his brother and tried to contain a sigh of acceptance that Muad was most likely about to get hit again. Steering between then he raised his hands.

“Can we just discuss this like rational adults? Without resorting to violence … or fire? Now Muad, what did you do?”

Rising to his feet Muad made to dust his beskar'gam off before turning to the two with a smirk.

“You should be proud of the adiik, Ginnie. You know he's living in the shadows of both his parents, their accomplishments, their reputations, their sacrifices. He's not even able to find an identity as the only child of y'all. Then on top of that he's trying to not only impress but to show up and show out among his peers, his age group. He wanted to make this special and extremely difficult. So I place a rune on him that would remove his connection to the Force.”

Derek winced at the statement while watching Ginnie to try to gauge just how explosive her temper would grow. Then Muad continued.

“Oh and he wanted to be like his buir, like you. So he had me also remove his sense of hearing.”

Muad grinned as Derek stepped closer to Ginnie, hands still up in a pacifying gesture. He spoke low and moved slow as if he were confronted by a skittish, dangerous animal.

“Listen Gin, he wanted to like his momma, like you. He looks up to you even though he'll never admit it. He wanted to do this to prove that he's worthy. Not in your estimation but for himself. You've raised a strong, smart young man. He will be fine. And when he gets out and is a man, give him the beskad.”

Muad chuckled causing Derek to turn his head. The blue eyed madman had that twinkle in his eye that always meant something bad.

“Well, the rune and magik I used does just a wee bit more. At random intervals another of his senses will become blocked. So he's on a time crunch. He takes too long and effectually all five senses and the Force will be denied him.”

Derek started at his brother aghast.

“Ginnie, hit him again.”

[member="Ginnie Dib"]

 

[Ginnie Dib]

“Uuuuuuugh. Family is the worst.” Amma sauntered out of the ship, hefting a canvas rucksack onto her back as she watched her mother deck [member="Muad Dib"] in front of [member="Derek Dib"]. “Ba’vodu deserves more than a punch, Buir. He always deserves more than he gets.”

The unimpressed vocals of Amma Dib drained into the scene, even if a slight smile broke on the Witch’s face. She didn’t really hate them all, or even think House Dib was full of raging lunatics.

Lunatics, yes. But raging?

“Maybe a bit more?! SO help me Muad dinglebrained Dib, if you cause my kid to get a scratch on his ebony splendour I will mutilate you past the point of recognition and throw you in a vat of acid so slow at destroying your flesh you writhe in agony for eight and a half decades before crying for a death that never comes!” Ginnie grabbed Muad’s collar, yanking the man up to her eye-level… which…. being a petite but wonderous Mandalorian, wasn’t that far off the ground.

And she would have punched him again for good measure, if Derek hadn’t of intervened. Ginnie dropped Muad, dusting off her hands. A gesture which was moot, when Muad explained what he’d actually done. Ginnie surged forward, blocked by Derek’s hands on her shoulders.

“MUAD DIIIIIB!!!!” Rushing past Derek, Ginnie balled up her fist and thundered it into Muad’s jaw as hard as her little, enraged body could. A column of fire burst straight into the air, dying down only when Amma groaned and walked past them.

“Hey Uncle Derek. Thanks for coming…. ugh. Buir. Ba’vodu. Can you two be any more embarrassing? Obvies, Buir? I’m gonna fix it. ‘Cause I always fix it. I always fix it because this family? Always needs fixing. See you, Buir. And remember on our next life day? Which one of your kids was less of an idiot.” Amma walked on, stepping on Muad’s ribcage as she leaned down to give her mother a kiss on the cheek.

Waving at Derek with as bright a smile as the Dib’s own Little Black Raincloud could muster, Amma went running off after her brother.

Once Amma was off too, Ginnie rubbed her forehead with both hands.

“Muad.” A softness purged the anger from Ginnie’s voice, as the woman he’d known since she was a child stared him in the deep and lunatic eyes. “Rhae and Amma are all I have. I can’t lose them, too. I can’t…”

Her throat felt thick, eyes lowering to the dirt as Ginnie hugged her arms around her chest.

“I can’t lose them, too.”

 

[Derek Dib]

“You've got this kid. Go get it.”

Derek watched Amma head off into the treeline, a smidge of pride in the girl, no, young woman. She wasn't as temperamental and brash as Rhae Jr was, but she had the same beskar reserve within her. She just might be the leader of the Clan and House when her generation took over for them. He smiled and shook his head before looking back at Ginnie and Muad. He approached to place his hand out on the smaller woman but thought better of it. She was a firecracker and he certainly didn't want to be her next target. So instead he gave her a silent, sad smile as he warily watched Muad rise from the ground. Again.

“Fierfek woman, did you have to hit me twice!?”

Muad rubbed his chin again after the initial haymaker, getting yanked up, then getting knocked down again. If it had been anyone else not part of his aliit he wouldn't have been smirking as he rubbed his swollen jaw. Glancing at Amma's retreating back he smirked again as he absently dusted the footprint from his chestplate. Then his glowing eyes turned back to Gin who seemed to have turned into herself. The smile disappeared as he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't even brace for another punch or knee to the special place.

“Ginnie Dib. Little Ginnie. Just because you are a grown woman with little pups of your own doesn't mean I don't remember. I know you. Brave little Gin running off when she was just an adiik to literally fight beside grown vode. And who were you? Verd? Ordo? It didn't matter because you were mando'ad and, even with everything you endured, you were always there for the mando'ade.”

He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead with a fatherly gesture.

“Even before you took that crusty ole sourpuss of a Dib as your riduur, you were my family. Rhaegar is gone, and every day I remember him. Every karking day. I would die for you, for Rhae Rhae, for Amma, if Derek didn't beat me to it first. You are all my family you hear that little firebug? And if Rhae Rhae gets into too much trouble, the rune will deactivate and he will have all his senses and the Force.”

Derek shook his head and turned away to watch the other adults looking after their departed loved ones. He withheld a wince that his words threatened to place on his face.

“Muad may be less than eloquent, but he speaks the truth. We've been here. If you or they ever need anything we are here. Those two kids are about to start their lives as adults. It's time their mother takes a look in the mirror and decide who she wants to be. An overprotective drunk, or a strong, beautiful woman her kids can be proud of.”

[member="Ginnie Dib"]

 

[Ginnie Dib]

“Thanks, Ba’vodu. I will.” Amma whispered, trotting off after her brother and the other children for the Verd’goten. Vanquo was the sort of place she’d heard of but never been allowed to explore. Not with Ginnie the Guard for a Buir. Sure, there were fun times, there always were. Their constant protective shadows made Ginnie relax enough to let herself have fun with Amma and Rhae growing up, but one sound.

One odd shadow flickering on a wall and the Guard flared up, usually with fire and the inevitable clean-up of ash and particulates afterward. Amma got really, really good at cleaning up.

That, and staying level. Something easier to do when one emulated [member="Derek Dib"] and two droids. Even as the sounds of the forest overcame her ability to hear her family, Amma sighed and looked down at her boots.

Her mother made them for her, in Amma’s favourite colours. Terentatek leather, and rainbow chrome treated beskar alloy that swept up to her knees. Biting her lip, Amma pulled out her beskad and glanced around. Some kids further on were already screaming, little punctuated noises which cut out too abruptly for Amma’s slim smile to remain.

“Freakin’ RhaeRhae… Gotta be extra, don’t you? Can’t just be Rhae, gotta do everything double… okay. What would Cher do? Frick… what would Buir do?” Stepping a few more paces in, Amma slumped against a tree trunk. “Buir would already be halfway to RhaeRhae by now. She’d have stomped in and never stopped to think about it.. cause she don’t have to think ‘bout it… okay… okaaaaaaay… okay, feet. Let’s be more like Mom.”

With that, Amma Dib charged off into the undergrowth, searching for her unwitting brother. He took such looking after.

“Yes! Yes you deserved it! Twice! You… you fekked up my son! He probably thinks he’s some meta-hero! All ‘gotta be better than both parents and half the Mando’ade put together or I ain’t nothing!’ Do you know how hard it is to keep that boy from… from fighting half the Galaxy out of spite!?” Ginnie choked on a gasp as [member="Muad Dib"] pulled her in.

Ginnie’s arms shivered as they wound around her aliit’s chest, and for the first time in years, she buried her face in an infantile search for comfort.

“I didn’t get a Verd’goten. My di’kut of a father kicked my damaged shebs out before then. So, I strapped on what I had and got fighting. Maybe if I fought hard enough someone’d let me stay. And it kind of worked… for a while. Bits and pieces, places to lay my head for a time. Nothing was ever permanent except your sorry arse.” Ginnie tried not to sniffle, tried and failed not to need to, as Muad kissed her forehead and held his family. “Nothing felt permanent but Rhae… and I know you think I ought to stop grieving. It… keeps reopening, like a fresh wound. I should’ve… you fekking voorpah hairball!”

Snapping her head back up to glare at Muad, Ginnie would have wound back and slammed her fist in Muad’s face again if he wasn’t holding her so close.

“RhaeRhae thinks he’s going in there to prove himself twice more’n he ought to!” Growling with a snarl, Ginnie clung to Muad. Truth was, a hug felt like exactly what the woman needed most right now.

Until [member="Derek Dib"] let loose both barrels.

Ginnie’s face crumbled. Her eyes shut and she loosened her arms around Muad’s chest.

“They’re grown. RhaeRhae and Amma don’t need me anymore… more I keep workin’, keep goin’, the louder… it don’t matter none.” The ache returned, that cancerous ache to bring herself back to the only perfection she’d known. Back, ever back to Manda’s hymn in her ears, drowning out all the noise of her failures around her, when two souls held firm in the ever present communion of Manda.

Without her usual influx of booze and barbiturates, Ginnie looked out on Vanquo as if through a dim lit blurred glass. The pulse of that slim piece of soul missing from her own for so long called and called and called.

She wanted to go home. Ginnie couldn’t voice it. She couldn’t say the words without a ferocious love for her family overwhelming the desire of her heart. So she clawed at her pain to keep herself grounded. She drank until the craving faded and worked her beskar forge for so many hours Jarek or Malek carried her exhausted, half-broken body inside. Put her to bed with her boots on. Cher or Amma would unclasp them later, pull covers around her.

The hammer striking her anvil counterweighted the conflicting desires of her two natures. One, the desire of a once-dead soul to return to the divine and the lover she lost, the other a horrified warrior who never ran from any battle for comfort’s sake. Ginnie Dib couldn't allow herself to lose this battle... nor could she tell anyone about it.

Faulty as she was, her kids needed her, and Ginnie was present. Even if her hands shook. Even if her breath smelled of tihaar. Even if her heart burned…

Ginnie looked out on the Vanquo forest, where her twins rushed toward their own adulthood. She fought with her own mute tongue, as she fought every battle she’d ever had. And for once, the Kiffar let two brothers feel her inner struggle. The battle she raged every day without calling for backup she feared would never come.

“I’m tired… but I’m here. I was here for them on their day. I shouldn’t have missed him.”

 

[Derek Dib]

[SIZE=11pt]Muad looked down at the woman as she spilled her soul out. He knew she had it hard growing up. Watching it with his own eyes was one of the things that had endeared him to the way. The stubborn tenacity to overcome, to not be told she couldn't, had always reminded him a bit of himself. But she had never moaned or groaned. She just continued like one of her pieces in the forge. Hammering out the impurities. Muad had forgotten that he himself lost his way more then once and only through acceptance through cin vhetin did he find himself. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Our Rhae and Amma are always going to be competing with the shadows their buirs cast. It is the way. When they find themselves they will step out of the shadows and find their own path. What I did with Rhaegar was unfair to you. But the opportunity for your children to see him, speak with him, gave them something none of us had. A father who was always there. But that time is passing. Everything changes firebug. Even for you.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Derek listened to the outpouring between the two, eyes not intruding on a moment of intersection and intimacy. A pang of jealousy leapt in his heart, but for a moment. They were brothers, yet so often they were as different as night and day. Even Ginnie was separate from him. He was the brother of an Alor, the majority of his family part of the mando'ade. He was not. His choices had never been about him and always served the greater purpose. What he wanted was rarely considered, for there was always a need that had to be met. He shrugged off the petty emotion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]However, at the diminutive woman's words he did turn. Eyes rimmed with red narrowed into Ginnie as he shook his head aghast. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Then you are twice the fool. A child always will need his parents. A son always desires his mother's love and when he is older will seek to watch over her. A daughter will fight with her mother even as she looks to emulate her. And when she is older she will want you for her confidant. A mother's work is never finished for her children and they will always need and want her.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Watching her arms fall loosely to her side he stepped forward and placed a hand upon her shoulder and another on his brother's.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Think about your son. Running off his entire childhood for excitement. Trying to learn new abilities. Getting his hands upon all kinds of weaponry. Trying to prove himself to everyone else. Now who does that sound like to you? Rhaegar Nemesis Dib or [member="Ginnie Dib"] the Mandalorian? You may see his father, but he's the son of his mother. And never doubt that he knew you were here.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Grimacing he continued. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“You are here. Rhaegar isn't. He was the fool that didn't wear your vaunted second skin. You were birthing those two wonderful kids. He was the one that failed, that died. And you have raised your children, forged armor and weapons, and continued. He didn't. It's not your fault Ginnie. And maybe it's time we prove it to you and you accept it.”[/SIZE]

 

[Ginnie Dib]

“No! No, it wasn’t unfair, I need him! I need him every day, being able to talk to him, to see him even for a second… you can’t take him away.” Ginnie’s chin jutted up to watch [member="Muad Dib"]’s face. Her arms wove around his chest again, not quite ready to stop fretting over her now deaf-son’s added adventure difficulty.

Dang Dib bravado…. Who was she kidding? The bravado was all Ginnie. Maybe 90 - 10…

“Watch over me. Haaah. Rhae-Rhae stoppin’ for five minutes to watch over his Buir. Gawsh, he’s going to get through his Verd’goten and zoom off into the Galaxy to discover his own self. And I’m fekkin’ proud.” Chin wobbling, Ginnie stuck her cheek on Derek’s side, feeling as ridiculously petite as the 5’2” woman she was. “My boy’s a fighter, and he ain’t afraid of a single thing. He’s the best kid. And Amma’s tough as beskar, even if… even if it was harder for her growing up after wh-“

Years of healing for Amma’s burnt infant skin flashed to Ginnie’s guilt-ridden mind. Still, the girl weathered even those storms, even if Amma was as emotional as her pet rock.

Dwayne.

Who named a pet rock Dwayne?

The clarity of [member="Derek Dib"] was two seconds from getting the man decked. Woe but that he was right, and it stung ferociously across Ginnie’s cheeks. Why was it so much easier to punch Muad?

At least that smug pyromaniac usually deserved an extra punch or two. Punching Derek was like punching the martyr-saint, who gave his last credits to orphans. It was like punching wisdom for being wise.

“Stop.” Ginnie gritted her teeth, balled fists shook as [member="Derek Dib"] kept making sense of the truth of their familial situation. A man of balance, Derek seemed eternally detached, but Ginnie knew those waters were deep.

“Stop it! I should have been there. How do I look at myself, the goran of the fekking Mand’alor, and I couldn’t even fi-couldn’t finish Rhae’s?! How come I couldn’t raise him, eh!? Rhae made my body out of the Mandalorian dirt. He pulled my soul out of Manda, and I couldn’t… Why can’t I? It should be there. The way back should be part of me too, but it’s not. I can turn an unbendable metal into armour and weapons and functional anything, but I couldn’t save my own husband. It is my Manda-damned fault. I can set the atmosphere on fire, but I can’t reach out and grab him like he did me.” The more Ginnie talked, the hotter her clothing became. Wisps of smoke curled upward from leather and armour plate.

“Rhaegar raised me from the dead. Why was his death so final? And dang it, he owed me decades of happiness for all the poodoo I’ve been through! And no, Derek, ‘raising two beautiful but petulant children by myself’ isn’t payment in full for the happy debt. It added to his bill. This is the time where Rhae and I should be waving them off, and planning which vacation planet to drift to first, while the kids figure out their lives and how to buy their own dang toilet paper! But nnnnnope!”

 

[Derek Dib]

Muad couldn't help but laugh. The angry little woman was always so full of life and passion. It was what drove her. And there was pain too. But that was life, passion, happiness, and pain. All you could do was live with passion, embrace the joy, and survive through the hurt. Didn't make things easier, but it was what it was. And getting angry was sometimes the way to deal with it. This he understood oh too well. Gin’s perception of her children were true, but flawed. Yeah they would grab adulthood by the horns and ride it, but their buir was an ingrained part of who they were. And they were part of the diminutive woman. That would never change. He reached down and ruffled her hair.

“This is life ner adiik. Most only get a single chance at it. Don't waste yours.”

Derek felt her face pressed against his side even as the heat from her body began to climb, the steam rolling from her figure and garments. His arm slipped from her shoulders and hand tilted her chin. His own flesh was feverish against her skin as he offered a sad smile.

“Remember, pyromancers run in the family. You can't scare us off with sparks and an increased temperature. It's good that you are angry. Rhaegar did leave you and your kids. You deserve to be upset. But you also deserve to be happy. Perhaps it's time you place the blame where it deserves to go. Your husband knew he was going into battle but he didn't arm himself for it. He knew he was going to be in the midst of warfare but he didn't wear the armor. I've seen him wear armor before, so he had the choice. He chose to play the fool, to believe in his own infallibility, he clung to his pride, he underestimated his enemy. And he paid the price.”

He gritted his teeth at the memories of the day.

“Rhaegar was wrong. And he damned his wife and children to a life without his touch, his laugh, his presence in every single moment. His selfish hubris was what he chose over protection in the face of war. But you weren't there to see it, were you? No, you weren't you were in the throes of motherhood. But I was there. So was Muad. We were both on the planet that day. He was robbing banks and ships on both sides as well as the echani treasure that day. And I, to my dismay, was fighting for the Confederacy. You were not there, but both of us were. And Rhaegar died with us so near. If any were culpable in his death, it was we.”

He stepped back from both of them arms sliding behind his back, his hands clasped, as his eyes darkened.

“Stop blaming yourself Ginnie. It's not your fault. Stop making excuses for Rhaegar and his failures. Put the blame where it belongs. Stop denying, start accepting. Grieve and scream if you need to. Burn a world if you have to. But it's time for you to stop carrying the weight of his loss upon your shoulders. He was a good man, at the end, yes. But it is his fault he's gone. Blame the bastard already. And as for resurrection, it takes a lot. And Rhaegar lived for over a century and made a lot of deals. Some of which sealed his fate. He can't return. It's over for him. He will never walk in this plane of existence again. And once more, that was his fault. So stop living in a past that will never return. Stop living with ghosts …”

He unclasped his hands and reached out to touch her chest with a pointed finger.

“Rhaegar gave you back life. Gave you your soul. And don't think that we don't know that a part of him is still with you, just like a small part is with him. It was good for the two of you in the beginning. It helped during Amma and Rhae's childhood. But now it's time to say goodbye. Time for you to be whole. Time for Rhaegar to rest in peace. It's time.”

 

[Adenn Kyramud]

Smiling down at Lailya, Adenn nodded to her question, agreeing that it was pretty, even though he had no true concept of pretty in this regard. Still smiling slightly behind his helmet, Adenn watched as the little hugged another person before going a ways away. Shaking his lightly in amusement, Adenn returned his attention to Azure, taking in her frown and listening to what she was saying. Nodding in greeting to Mig, Adenn spoke then to Azure, hoping to assuage her fears.
"If anyone's captured, we'll have people on standby ready to save them, or put them out of their misery if need be. We don't want anyone tortured after all." After saying that, Adenn looked down slightly, clearly remember some bad memories. Shaking himself out of it, he continued. "I doubt most if any of these adiik will not be bothered, this is Vanquo after all. Besides, if you're so worried about these Cinn Dhorcha, why not ask for some help in purging them? I'm sure I could bring together a few groups who'd love to kill this group." Giving a dry laugh, he shook his head once more.

Turning his head to face Tuulu then, Adenn merely snorted in response to what the gurlanin said. Looking out to watch Adara go off into the forest, Adenn felt the need to say something, but he didn't know what to say, so instead he just called out to her what he'd told everyone else.
"Oya adiik, good hunting." Then as an after thought to himself, half whispered to himself, but loud enough to possibly be overheard. "Prove yourself as a Mando to everyone else now."

Turning his attention back to the other adiik as they raced off, he noted how several clans had different views of how to do the verd'goten. No matter, those who entered would prove themselves, or die. Adenn heard a commotion around that time, coming from his right and from the parents. Looking in that direction, he saw several Dib clan members, particularly GInnie Dib and her husband, along with someone who he might or might not know. It seems they were having a disagreement, one that Ginnie needed to punch Muad for apparently. Wincing slightly upon seeing that, Adenn thought it best to let them be and not involve himself in the slightest.

As such, Adenn returned his attention to those standing near him, waiting to see if any of them would comment on anything. Particularly, the few screams that could already be heard. Adenn ignored them for now, choosing instead to wait, and let the adiik become adults.

As the adiik entered the forest, they'd find the place to be large, yet enclosed, with nothing truly around them but nature. A few would find others to team up, while others would be lone wolfs, for better or worse in both regards. Either way, only a few unlucky ones immediately found something to fight, with a few dying to these enemies, but most managing to overcome their initial opponents. Regardless, most would travel deeper into the forest before encountering anyone or anything that would fight them. This would not last long though.

Taru had already heard buzzing coming in the direction of one scream. The buzzing he had heard was from the wasp's of Vanquo, deadly creatures that loved to kill. What Taru would soon notice is that the buzzing was getting louder, a lot louder than before, despite him having moved. He'd need to move soon, or 15 of the creatures would be upon him in record speed, in fact, they were nearing him even now, less than 30 meters out. In the background to that, more noises would be heard, among them screeches and cries, and louder thumps.

As for the others, well, as Fred and Adara(if they stuck together) went deeper into the forest, they'd heard the cry of Vanquo's Dragons in the distance. It'd be unclear to them though if it was in the sky or on land, regardless, it was nearing them, and that was all that mattered. Elsewhere, the adiik came face to face with creatures of every make and model, each vying to kill those that were intruding upon their territory. Regardless, the forest of Vanquo had felt the intruders and was moving to destroy them.

[member="Derek Dib"] [member="Ginnie Dib"] [member="Rhaegar Dib II"] [member="Taru Cadera"] [member="Azure Djitred"] [member="Mig Gred"] [member="Adara Raxis"]

 

[Ginnie Dib]

Her fingers burned for the familiarity if her tihaar flask. She ran her thumbs along the tops of her fingers, a near meditative attempt to stave off the rebuke of [member="Muad Dib"] and [member="Derek Dib"] in their righteousness.

And insanity. With Muad… there was… there was always insanity.

Her mouth worked as Derek tugged on her chin, deep brown eyes scalding into him.

“Stop… stop it, shut up.” Her lip trembled as fire danced around her boots. The fire which burned since the day she lost her mother and her ears as a child. That fire, which melded with an enemy’s dragon and made him consider severing a piece of his own soul to bring her back, a tool for his arsenal.

Until the hymn of incalculable Mandalorians lulled them both into Manda’s compassion and mercy and grace. How could she quantify heaven? How could Ginnie make Derek and Muad understand it was impossible to rid herself of the soul with which she spent time immemorial, an eternal chorus? This living business was harsh and lonely.

Except when Rhaegar was with her.

“You’re right.” Ginnie watched Derek step back, the anger she medicated herself to keep at bay radiating around her. “I was in labour. I couldn’t be by Rhae’s side.”

The ground shuddered underneath her feet, and for three feet around her body, it turned to ash from heat and rushing white flame.

“But you were there. And you watched my husband die. You and your precious Confederacy. The same Confederacy that stood mute while my own brother killed me.” Ginnie’s chest heaved in her armour, her hands playing at fists. “Rhae was an idiot but you… the clear headed one… you watched him do it.”