Private A Ruus in Mereel's Court

[Drego Ruus]

The title of Manda'lor wasn't one simply given out. At least, that's how Drego Ruus saw it. A man of principle, such things as monarchs held little power in his eyes. He'd seen what folks who call themselves kings do when a battle comes, and he'd seen how little that crown mattered when a blaster was pointed at your face. The days of the Darksaber were long gone, and thus the title had become free to claim by anyone who had the balls.

And now, another had been so bold.

Drego had heard through the local gossip that a new Manda'lor had taken up the title, and thus the man who often spoke of fighting his enemies head on, who had now taken up the title of Clan Ruus, wished to find out who this supposed new ruler of his people was.

---

After so many wars, the old homeworld was slowly rebuilding. The Star Dragon slowly descended, just outside of the main square of the city center. He'd made an appointment ahead of time, just as he'd expected. Surely, the Manda'lor wouldn't have time for a random passerby, yeah?

As he exited the ship, he considered that maybe he was being too harsh. Too cynical for his own good. Maybe this would all be a good time, and they'd go hunting. Maybe this guy was just as much of a gun nut as he was.

Maybe he'd punch him in the face. At the very least, that'd be a good time for Drego.

Tag: Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

Despite being recently a claimant as Manda'lor, Ijaat Mereel was struggling a bit to delegate. No doubt he would have a lecture coming from Mia Monroe for just such things. But when someone from Clan Ruus had taken the time and showed respect to send ahead comms, Ijatt had responded with an equal show of deference and honor. As the ship landed, the Manda'lor would be in the door of the docking bay himself. Guards were unavoidable, but they were far back, decked in the olive drab of Protectors and studiously talking to one another and certainly not guarding Mereel. No, of course not. Even if Mia had likely threatened their hides if he were allowed to slip their gaze and protection, as he was wont to do.

Standing, leaning casually, the unassuming figure raised a hand in greeting. His armor, newly forged, looked a splintered and worn mess. It was a masterwork despite the aesthetic, piece of gleaming bronze bes'manda and gunmetal beskar itself, a suit made by Ijaat for himself from the ruined pieces of the armor of departed vode from Sundari and Keldabe. He had been, when he could, journeying there in secrecy, collecting the scraps from his brothers and sisters to reforge. No paint covered the bare metal, and the disparate parts and alloys of beskar blended to a damascene like pattern of forge-welded steel.

A hand covered in such metal plating over crushgaunts waved in greeting to Drego.

"Su'cuy gar, vode. Welcome to Keldabe... What brings you back to Manda'yaim?"

Spoiler: Gear

[/gear]

Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

Drego's armor, by contrast, looked worn from many a battle. The old soldier had always had a mentality that battle scars, whether they be old wounds of the skin, or scorch marks from blaster bolts shrugged off, were never to be washed away. They were a sign of pride, after all. Another day lived. Another battle won. Beskar panels, first painted with years old camo patterns, then marred with scars of old battles, lined his chest. The same could he said about his helmet, save for the archaic built in gas mask, that looked to be more for looks than anything.

"Su'cuy gar, vode." He nodded. "Just here to see what the old homeland looks like, and to meet you. Big name you're throwing around, Nehutyc Cabur." Drego looked the fellow mando up and down, frowning under his mask. "Clean armor. You seen battle yet, or are you just going around calling yourself Manda'lor for kicks? I couldn't follow someone who's never seen a Kyrbej."

Tag: Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"Seen enough battles to know I wouldn't envy tangling you. But I also make armor. Probably my one skill that isn't with a blade or gun. The armor is new because I saw a purpose in it's making. I collected scraps of beskar from the ruins of Sundari and Keldabe to forge into it, and left the paint off... Keeps a reminder close to the heart of where we were. What we're going to step above. And the debt we're calling home from the Galaxy itself, and all those that betrayed us."

Standing straight, the smith eyed the other warrior and nodded, internally deciding he liked the cut of the man's jib, respectful but not fawning or dutiful. He needed folks like that.

"Now, I assume you wouldn't say no to moving to nicer quarters and a bit of a bite and drink while we get to know one another? Then if you're so inclined, we can find our way to the sparring ring. Good way to get the measure of a man, see how he eats and how he fights."

Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

"I could go for some Gal." The man chuckled through his helmet. "You offering a fight? Manda'lor vs some grunt starting his own clan?"

Tag: Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"Unless you're offering, no. Grunts are the dangerous ones in life, as they always have surprises to them. Someone like me? Too many responsibilities to get too inventive and risky in a spar. Besides, I wouldn't want to tangle with you anyhow, unless I had to."

Gesturing, Ijaat lifted off the wall and began the walk through the halls to his office, nodding to those he passed. He seemed to know most of the Mando'ade in the fortress on some level, trading jeers and greetings and name calling like the soldier he used to be. A few seemed reluctant to engage 'one of his station' in such a way, but most of those were new and so he gave them a break in getting used to him.

Opening the door to a sparse study, Ijaat gestured within. Veshok wood furniture that was sturdy, if just shy of opulent or beautiful. Weapons racks along the walls with trophies and personal pieces he had made. One desk in the corner was littered with tools and the pieces of a keldabe cannon from an old friend Draco Vereen . The smith nodded to a chair and table off to the side, waiting for the guest to take a seat as he rummaged about in a chiller to find the appropriate beverage.

Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

Drego couldn't help but look around the room, eyeing older weapons. "Good lord, some of this stuff is pre-hyperspace war." Drego chuckled. "I've always been more fond of the newest models myself. GA defense contractors know their stuff, still do. Used to be part of that group, so maybe I'm biased."

He took a seat, adjusting himself. "Maybe I should take a look into making weapons for you guys. MOS used to be small arms repair before they offered me a front line job. Turns out breaking records at rucking was a sign for the brass to put me elsewhere. What about you? What'd you get up to before the crown fell on your head?"

Tag: Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

Coming up with a jug of tihaar for himself and some netra'gal for Drego Ruus , Ijatt slid a couple of simple durasteeel camp cups and poured as he smiled. His quarters were almost more armory than quarters really. Something Mia Monroe chided him over. A careful eye would spy things ancient amongst the modern. A Mythosaur axe, a dagger of crude beskar made by the Taung when they settled Mandalore after being driven out of Coruscant. Pouring a glass of the liquor he had selected for himself, he sighed in a roundabout way and sipped before he spoke.

"I was a smith, and a merc. Armor and weapons both, primarily armor. I ran into debt of a few mucky mucky types like Ashin Cardé Varanin and... Things went sideways. Life got complicated. Then I put on the Mask, and claimed the crown... And it's all gotten even more layered. I sometimes just walk out to the forges in disguise and spend hours hammering, just so I don't lose it all, you know?"

Shaking his head, he redirected the conversation back to Drego.

"I helped the Alliance take Coruscant the first time... I was a cursed thing even then, Vong biots riddling my body. Took over the Sith's own planetary defenses and turned them on their own strongholds. Bastards called me a war criminal for it. Wouldn't have won without me... Auretii, eh? Always want to win, never want to get dirty doing it."

 

[Drego Ruus]

"I got dirty plenty in my time. Worked alongside Clan Bralor before I went AWOL on them just like I did the GA. But don't let that paint my character. Just couldn't stand to be beaten around again. GA led me into a massacre, and while I understand the reason, I wasn't gonna get reassigned to some other shit unit. Bralor....well, you've seen how the Enclave is doing. I ain't about slaughtering civies for shits and giggles. They call it glory, I call it sick. But you...you're new. You're going around starting something different. But tell me, is it good different, or bad different?"

Tag: Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"I'm biased, of course, but I would like to think good different. We get used as pawns too often of late. We have no home, no soul, no rock to stand on. That's why my first focus is fixing this planet, and bringing everyone back to the basic roots. From there, we make a list of debts and call them in until everything is square."

Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

"Nice ideal, but it's not exactly an easy feat." He took a sip, frowning under his helmet. "You talk about makin' debts. Clan Ruus might be able to make that happen. You want us on your little kingly council too?"

Tag: Ijaat Mereel

 

[Ijaat Mereel]

"It wouldn't go amiss. I would welcome the weight and experience, and a differing source viewpoint. The more voices I have to advise, the wiser my decisions. Though being on a council doesn't guarantee your voice is listened to..."

Here he sighed and shook his head.

"To be honest? I could use someone who sees me as you do. Not as a king, and not as just a man. But a vod, and nothing more. Partly why I came to meet you myself was to get your measure and see whether you would be the kind of man I could listen to. And, thankfully, you are. I have my Protectors, and my Journeyman led by Arla Rodarch . But I could use experienced warriors all the same. What say you to that?"

Drego Ruus

 

[Drego Ruus]

"I can appreciate the honesty, at the least." A low chuckle came through his voice modulator. "The way I see it, we're both on the same side, trying to fix up the homeworld, yeah? I can see you as a Vod, I can see you as a king. Don't matter. You're a good man, that's all I care about. And if you aren't...well, ain't no skin off my back."

Ijaat Mereel