Four Wolves & A Cat

[Subject 37]

​

Sundari - Throne Room
[member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Malika Mantis"] | [member="Preliat Mantis"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

Aryn stood on the small stop before the dais of the empty Throne of Mand'alor, his expression as blank and dead as it usually was. His golden armor was decorated with a green cloak that would have been enough to act as a blanket for a normal man but was just barely enough to cover the Warmasters shoulder. The Togiran appeared grim, the scar over his eye cutting through his fur and small patches of the wounds he'd received in the latest battle still showing.

There was a gust of wind that pressed through the room as the doors at the end of the hall opened, some figures quietly moving through as they entered the hall. Aryn watched them for a moment, looking down from his perch at the smaller humanoids.

The events as of late had been...unexpected. Ra had once again disappeared, the head of the Empire directing his attention elsewhere. It had left them in a precarious position, though one that had quickly been stabilized. At the beckoning of the Mand'alor's words the Cuir Rekr had been raised to power, new members falling into place and Aryn himself raised to the rank of Warmaster.

They would lead, and he would guide.

It was far from ideal.

Aryn knew that he was not Ra. He was not a great leader of men, he was not the one who could rally the Empire, but he was the one who would bring them through any battle they fought. With the Cuir Rekr at his side The Empire would remain not only on the rise, but would reach it's zenith. That much at least Aryn was sure of, and it was why he had gathered the four wolves here today.

The massive Togorian growled slightly, stepping down from the dais. "Close the doors."

This was a meeting closed to others, though Aryn had every intent to face his people before long. As far as he was concerned, without Ra he was accountable to one thing and one thing only; the People of Mandalore itself. His people.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat was the first to move, being the one to shut the massive doors that sealed them within. He paced around the table, running a hand over his face. Truthfully, he'd like to have the support of his brother here- but this was for the Four Wolves, and [member="Aryn Spar"]. He should've felt pride for a majority of the Rekr to be part of his family, but instead he found himself oddly...apathetic for the moment. There was a concern that was growing on his mind, the constant disappearance of their leader Ra. Which led him to be..overly cautious. Suspicious, even. Something wasn't adding up about Mand'alor.

Preliat's face said it all. None of them had the force flowing through them, and the Mandalorians, a stoic people by nature- their words were usually spoken with their eyes and faces. He tapped his foot on the floor, and crossed his arms.

He looked to the flags and decorations on the wall, some tapestries of old that had survived the scorching of the dear planet. He paced around the room, until he came upon the throne. Preliat's bare hands ran across it, his fingertips grazing the cold metal of the throne.

"So."

His eyes fell on the Togorian fuming at the opposite end of the room. Preliat closed the distance, and blinked several times before speaking. He was gathering his thoughts, in his usual quiet, somber way.

"We stand in a precarious position with the absence of the Undying."

[member="Vilaz Munin"] l [member="Aryn Spar"] l [member="Malika Mantis"] l [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Yasha had propped herself on the arm of Ra’s throne as she often did, when she had a question for the Undying and he was in a rare good mood. Ra’s disappearance sunk into her heart with another loss of a loved one, a second guardian, the man who kept her safe from harm when Sundari’s dome came crashing down. Feet swinging one at a time on either side of the massive metal armrest, the thirteen year old perked up as her father [member="Preliat Mantis"] spoke.

“We might’ve banded under Ra, but he always wanted us to stand tall without him. I know he did. He told me.” Beskar’gam buy’ce on the round table in the throne room, Yasha relied on the bright pink and orange rainbow chrome visor her mother made her to see in the relatively bright light. Hair pulled up in two braids atop her head, she looked ever the child surrounded by [member="Aryn Spar"] and the other wolves.

“It’s going to be okay, Daddy. Aryn and the Cuir Rekr will command Mandalore. We can do it… Aryn? Do you know where Ra went? Did Zambrano have something to do with it?” Of course the newly 13 year old ‘adult’ would have faith in the group before them. She trusted Ra even now, and gave herself over to the idea that this was, above all, for the best. Scanning the vastly empty throne room, she saw her Aunt [member="Malika Mantis"] and [member="Vilaz Munin"], once Mand'alor himself. It was a stabile group, Mantis and Munin to help Spar lead.

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Malika's eyes moved from one man to the next before coming to settle upon that of her niece, perched on the arm of the throne. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips and she moved forward, hands clasped behind her back, offering Yasha a small and playful bow. The seriousness of the situation was not lost on her, but she was not about to let it weigh heavily upon her.

Whatever happened, the mandalorians would endure. That was their greatest strength. She wondered, for the briefest of moments, If Mia had survived, if the insurrectionists had won...would they be here now? The though was gone in a heartbeat. Dangerous thoughts, even unspoken, in her present company.

"Why he's gone or where he's gone does not matter. The point is that he's gone. The longer we keep a lid on this fact, the longer we will maintain control." she moved up the dais fingers trailing along the arm of the throne. Such a ridiculous thing, Mandalorians did not need a throne. Ra had wanted total control and he had gotten it, but it was not the way of the past. The people knew this....they knew this. The Warmaster, and the Cuir Rekr could hold to the leadership. They were respected enough for that, but there would always been one fool who would whisper in peoples ears and seek to gather support and claim the empty chair. When did we become so concerned with title? When did we become so dependant?

"Our main concern should be repairing the damage we already have on our hands."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Aryn Spar"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Vilaz Munin"]

 

[Vilaz Munin]

Not again.

For Manda’s sake, not again.

Thoughts of fear when the Akaan of the Cuir Rekr knew of the absences of Ra. In his life, the Undying was the most competent Sole Ruler he served. All positions were full within the hierarchy of the Empire, but now they were missing one. One position that went back since the extinction of the Mythosaurs and the rise of the culture he belonged to. Politics was a thing Vilaz tried to avoid, but no matter what there was always some form of it within the Mandalorian community. Of course, it was little and limited but the people of Mandalorian would run wild with no banner to rally under.

The Concordian arrived at the place of meeting with his fellow wolves and the newly elected Warmaster. Only they knew of what was going on.

”I concur with Shukalar; we must hide this fact from the people as much as we can. Another shifting of power will potentially undo the work and effort we’ve put in these past few months,” the Munin said to his brethren after Malika spoke. Months had passed and the vode had done a good work of progress; however, it wasn’t enough to place one dent in the situation they were facing.

”We must continue the path and course we’ve already shown to our people. Continue raids and crusades on the Galaxy, and bring whatever values to help repair Mandalore. That should keep them busy and not worry of Ra.”

Would he lie to his people? Absolutely, as long as it would benefit Mandalore and her children in the long run.

[member="Malika Mantis"] [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Malika Mantis"] | [member="Preliat Mantis"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

Aryn watched the others for a moment, his ears twitching as he listened to them. A small scowl pulled at his lips and slowly he shook his head. "Hide?"

There was a disgusted growl that left his throat. Clearly he didn't like the idea. His gaze shifted towards Preliat on the dais for a moment, then looked between Malika and Vilaz. There was disappointment in his stare, his ears flattening slightly as he gazed at them. Finally his head shook once more.

"No." His claws clacked against the marble floor as he ascended the Dais. "We are not Aruetti. We are not the Empire, the Alliance, of the pathetic little Sithlings who require and Emperor to lead them."

He wrapped his fingers around the top of the throne, beskar claws digging into the metal. "Mand'alor began our Crusade, but we do not need him to finish it."

Aryn didn't like the idea of lying to the people, not about something like this, not about anything. To him it was pointless. Mandalorians had spent centuries living, dying, and fighting. Mand'alor's came and went, they were a part of the culture, but they were not needed for them to survive. His head shook.

"Ra will return or someone will rise to take his place." Aryn did not care which. "But we will continue to survive, rise, and thrive."

He gazed at the others. "We five are enough. The people will know this. They will not see a collection of lies and fabrications. They will see their Warmaster and Cuir Rekr. It will be enough."

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Rage flaired across Preliat's facial features- what remained of them. It was hard to be angry when half of your face didn't work. He slapped the table at which they were going to be gathered around, making a loud echo through the mostly-empty chamber.

"Lies and deceit earned us nothing more than a burned planet and a pile of dead loves, not to mention a civil war-" Preliat choked up. He was going to mention Jasper, but it needn't be said. They all knew where he was going with that.

He collected himself and continued, quieting his voice and speaking calmly.

"We need transparency and honesty to our people. We will not succumb to our base instincts out of fear of what our people may think. It is up to them, not us what they believe and should do- we continue pointless wars and crusades to no end earns us nothing and we sacrifice more than we would ever gain."

He looked between each gathered.

"Our brothers and sisters have a right to know the truth, regardless of what it may do."

He looked between them all.

"The title of Mand'alor holds weight, meaning and purpose- our people deserve to have a one above clans- we have come accustom to it. I would see the position filled by the worthy. Ra would have wanted that as well."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] l [member="Malika Mantis"] l [member="Vilaz Munin"] l [member="Aryn Spar"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

double postskis

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Sitting in a room of adults should have intimidated the girl, and for a moment as the doors crashed shut, it did. She looked to her Aunt [member="Malika Mantis"], and breathed deep, clutching to the necklace Ra gave her. He’d said then that if she held it hard enough, prayed hard enough he’d be there in her time of danger. Was it some magic bond, or just a necklace with a story attached?

[member="Vilaz Munin"] spoke of hiding Ra’s disappearance, Malika spoke of mitigating damages, and Aryn growled loud enough for Yasha to glare up at him from her relatively tiny gaze… if Aryn went loco and got hungry, maybe Yasha shouldn’t be sitting in such proximity looking like an appetizer.

Yasha flinched when her father’s hand slapped the table. Sitting perched on the arm of Ra’s throne, and having shifted to give Aryn room as he grabbed ahold of it, the girl slid onto the Mand’alor’s seat.

“What truth, Daddy? That Ra came back from the Netherworld smelling the same as Kaine Zambrano? Not... smell smelling... it's this... sense you get, when you've survived the Netherworld... can pick others out of the crowd. They felt the same... like they'd been in the same places. Do we tell them Ra answered Manda’yaim, then when the Great Mother stopped calling, he disappeared? Ra insisted that every table we sat at was round… ‘cause he didn’t want to be any higher than his brothers and sisters. Remember, Aryn? He put us in these positions, because he trusted us to lead. And we can… Folks are exhausted. Do we need another round of battles to decide who’s going to sit here, before I’m old enough to challenge them and take it? Who’s worthy? Do we focus on filling an empty chair, or do we focus on bringing enough food to Mandalore, since our harvests? They’re kinda dead. Our planetary defences? They’re not working anymore. I know, I checked… Ra had me do it as a science project. Another few weeks, and we’re not going to have enough in the food reserves to feed the Death Watch, let alone all of Mandalore… I’m young, and I don’t know a lot, but I know how Ra worked and I know what he planned to do next… so I’m asking because you’re all wiser than I am…”

Her booted feet did not even touch the ground, while her body sat on the throne. As of yet, the girl had no cognizance of the fact she even did so, drawn in by everybody’s words as she was. “Do we need someone outside this room to swoop in and become the sole dictator of our people, or are we enough?”

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat blinked. It started to make sense. It all did. Ra coming back. Kaine's involvement with the Mandalorians. The conquests, the revamping of the military, the targets they selected, the hatred of Force Users, purging them from the Mandalorians. He blinked heavily, twice. The weight of what he realized from [member="Yasha Mantis"]' words, and his conclusion, drawing from them.

It all made sense. Everything.

He thought on his words for a long time, before speaking again.

"The people of Mandalore have grown accustom, and wanting of a sole ruler. It is by our traditions that our people have survived and prospered. If we falter now, we will falter and compromise when we cannot. We must be like our iron- strong, unwavering. Absolute, unflinching resolve, even in the face of adversity. We can gather food for our people from our allies, or at the least, we trade with others to feed our people. We can rebuild our defenses as strong, and even better as they were before."

Preliat stood in front of the throne, then turned to look back at the other four Mandalorians in the room. Preliat then sat down in front of the throne directly. He felt....content, to say the least. He tapped his foot on the ground. He sat in silence for a few moments, before speaking again.

"We not only have been betrayed my friends...." He spoke to a tapestry which was hung on the wall, depicting the burning of Mandalore by it's traitors. "I believe that there is one who has been all the more interested in the Mando'ade lately..." He ran his fingers over the golden shawl around his neck, before speaking again. He turned to Yasha.

"Since you are our resident expert on the land of the dead- do you think it's possible that Ra did not simply reawaken as he so boldly claimed..." Preliat tapped his foot, his fingers rapping on the armrests. A tell-tale sign of Preliat's anger was his rapid movements of his hands.

"But that he was.....resurrected?"

Each of them in the room, an expert on politics and figures in the galaxy, should've had one man come to mind when Preliat posed the possibility that Ra was actually dead- and then brought back by a force of damn near pure evil.

[member="Yasha Mantis"] l [member="Vilaz Munin"] l [member="Aryn Spar"] l [member="Malika Mantis"]

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Malika Mantis"] | [member="Preliat Mantis"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

"ENOUGH!" Aryn roared, his voice booming throughout the Throne Room, his anger more than clear.

The fur on the back of his neck prickled, his ears twitched, his one good eye set on Preliat.

The Togorian sympathized with the mans thoughts, understood them completely. They were something he had contemplated as well. Aryn did not often speak, he was a silent figure, but he was not any sort of fool. He had stood by Ra's side the first time, and he had stood by him the second. Yet he had also been present at that meeting with the Sith. He had picked up the same scent of wrongness from Ra as he had those decrepit little humanoids.

Yet now was not the time for such a talk.

"We are not here to discuss the Undying. This is not about Ra." He growled, staring at Preliat. "That conversation can and will come, but not now."

There was something else that they had to decide first, how they would lead their people. Ra was gone, whether or not he would return was unknown. It didn't matter, they had to keep their people going, they had to rebuild Mandalore and stabilize their people. They could not do that by arguing over the past, particularly when it hardly mattered. He understood Preliat's point, but what had begun had been begun and there was no setting things back now.

First thing was first, they had to decide who was to lead. How they would lead. "We decide how we lead first, how we secure our people."

Then they could turn to...other issues. "Sole ruler, Mand'alor. Our people have survived without one, and can continue to do so until a worthy candidate rises. We five are enough until that time. That is my position."

He glanced at Preliat. The man had made his clear enough, he wanted another Mand'alor. At least that was how Aryn understood it.

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

[member="Aryn Spar"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Yasha Mantis"]

“Lies didn’t bring us the civil war you petulant child.” Yasha snapped, eyes blazing at Preliat, unappreciative of his outburst. She didn’t care who he’s had to kill in the war, there were no lies around it. Mia had not lied, nor had Ra. “And my concern is not for the crusades, either.” she added with an incline of her head to Aryn.

But sweet Yasha spoke up before she could continue, and Malika closed her eyes. There was a world of trouble that laid down that path of thought. Was Ra resurrected? Was he brought back by the sith? Were they now simply tools, the Sith Empires vanguard? Ultimately though, did it matter?

She flinched as Aryn roared. This was not the time to have the discussion. “I agree, we do not need a mand’alor. We can lead the five of us well enough. My concern and reason to perhaps keep a lid on the matter is that we are fresh out of purging the force from our people. By Ra’s ruling. Two large clans have been alienated by this. The Ordo’s and the Rekali’s. If we announce his disappearance, I would not be surprised if they rise up to challenge our position. Are we ready to face that?”

 

[Preliat Mantis]

Preliat could not his anger get the best of him- especially now. It was one of the rare times that he actually controlled himself, and more importantly, the anger within him. He snapped his head to Aryn, listening to the Togorian's words about not needing a Mandalore. He scoffed at Malika and Aryn's ideas.

"Are we so quick to fall back to what has failed us so many times in the past? Because we are afraid? Because we are unsure?"

He waved his hands dismissively.

"How weak were we, when we were lead by a council, as if we were Jetii- when we fell apart. When we became weak. You all stand here, survivors of the same wars, endured the same hardships- and yet you all want to lead the same way- as if our rule would be any different. As if any one of us could do any better than our predecessors."

He stood up and looked at them all, sternly.

"Lies and deceit brought us the war. Deceit and treachery. Vagabonds, ne'er-do-wells and villainous acts....traitors. Traitors to our people. Working in shadow to decimate our world." Preliat inhaled deeply through his nose before speaking again."We killed or decimated both the Rekalis and the Ordo clans...I do not fear them anymore than I fear a Jedi."

l [member="Malika Mantis"] l [member="Aryn Spar"] l [member="Yasha Mantis"] l [member="Vilaz Munin"] l ​

 

[Vilaz Munin]

"Enough, Ramanar," the Akaan called to his fellow Wolf, "we will not become what we were before with an incompetent council of Alor'e to dictate what we shall do. We are chosen by Ra, giving us power and authority that our people will respect and honor." Power was a thing he was responsible with as he was the head and leader of his clan that prospered and grew contently. Of course, his tenure as Mand'alor was awful as he tried to rally up the clans and focus rebuilding Mandalore.

"Having a Sole Ruler is part of our culture and life, but we cannot focus on finding a worthy warrior to take up the mantle or wait for Ra to return. That can wait as we clean up Mandalore," taking a moment to breathe before he continued, "I agree with the Warmaster. We five are enough to lead our people until Ra or another Mandalorian takes up his position, and we shall not lie to the people. We will be direct with them and be strictly honest with them. They can choose what path to follow, but we will act if it doesn't align with the interests of Mandalore."

Such as not wanting to be cured from the Force that plagued them, not following mandatory laws and policies, and whatever else that could stagnant them again.

[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Malika Mantis"] [member="Aryn Spar"] [member="Yasha Mantis"]

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Her father’s footsteps collided with the throne room’s smooth floor, rebuilt after the desolations.

It was then the girl realized where she sat. Yasha’s lips pressed together. She curled her hand into a fist. A throne built for a giant, sat upon by the Haran Adi’ka. This would be her view in later years, as warriors came and squabbled and lost under her boot. As with everything in her life, the girl knew in the marrow of her bones this was preparation for her rise.

Staring at her father’s back, Yasha remembered what Malika said about conquering fear. “They felt like they were in the same geographical locations, Daddy. So was I. Anyone who’d been there would feel the same way too. I was six when I conquered my way out of the Netherworld. If I could do it, Ra could, too.”

Aryn roared, Malika brought up threats, and Vilaz stood with a sensible amount of respect and honour. Only her father pushed. Only Preliat, who as a soldier always pushed forward... except on Kashyyk, when the young girl saw him put down his rifle. That moment burned in her mind, the girl firing under cover. She paused, framing her words with a particular care a teenager had, when they realized what they said was important. At least to the adults in the room.

“The only person talking about fear here, is you, Daddy.” She said in Epicant.

Her head wove between gazing at the Cuir Rekr and the Warmaster, this child of ruin and war. “Akaan is right. Our rule is already different. We will combat the fission around us, and end it. Whether Ra returns or not, the Mando’ade are on our shoulders and no one else’s. Whatever war comes is of our making. Whatever alliance is one we choose… and if the people stand weeping like Naboo or Byss for a Queen, or Emperor or Mand’alor…”

Yasha glanced to her Aunt, feeling again the pressure of the future in her mind. The one thing Yasha knew with assurance, as one knows any absolute truth.

“… let them weep at our feet as I beat them all back and take this throne as my inevitable right. We have a Mand’alor Inabsentia. His name is Ra Vizsla. We will have a Mand’alor. Her name is Yasha Mantis, and she has much to learn from all of you, before she takes this seat. No one else knows what’s coming… no one else but Aryn spent as much time with Ra. We are sufficient… or we will die and I will conquer death for a third time, and a fourth, and a fifth… we have nothing to fear. All we can do is rebuild and follow the Resol’nare. That is where we stand.”

[member="Aryn Spar"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Malika Mantis"] | [member="Preliat Mantis"]​

 

[Subject 37]

[member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Malika Mantis"] | [member="Preliat Mantis"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"]

Aryn looked around the room, his one eyed gaze settling on Yasha.

He agreed with the child on many points, save for one. "We will have a Manda'lor, as long as they are worthy. Whether it be you, or someone else."

Aryn had no designs on the title, for he knew that he was not fit for it. The Togorian was a creature of war, of battle, death, and vengeance. His singular purpose was to fight against the enemies of Mandalore, to keep their warriors strong and their world safe. He had no mind for politics, his thoughts did not linger on rebuilding the population, but instead their army. That was who he was, a creature of war. Aryn knew that he was fit for the title of Mand'alor.

Yet he also knew that his role was not to keep the throne empty.

If someone worthy rose to power, if they could rally the people and their vision was good for Mandalore, then Aryn would follow them. Just as he had Ra. It was that simple for him, whether the Undying returned or not, someone would take his place eventually.

He liked Yasha, as much as he could like any child, but it would be years yet before he would consider her ready to hold the title. Similar reasons reigned for the others within the room. None of them could be Mand'alor, at least not in his opinion, but together they could serve in his place.

 

[Preliat Mantis]

He turned and stared at his daughter. Very few times had he required to scold his daughter, or discipline her. She was well enough behaved that he rarely need to do so. But in this instance, his daughter did not understand the weight of the title, the consequences of what she was proposing. So when he spoke back to her in their shared tongue- it was sharp, accusative.

"I fear what I have experienced and what I have seen. Something you would be wise to heed, is the lessons in which we have built our current Empire upon. You are not ready for the title, as much as I would like you to have it." He turned his back on the others to speak with his daughter for a little while longer, but he instead opted to turn back to face the rest of the Cuir Rekr.

"What makes our intentions so different than the Alor councils of the past? What makes us so different?"

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

"She's not saying she is ready now." Malika replied softly to her brother's chiding, eyes fixed on Yasha, a shadow of a smile on her face. Baiko had seen it, that's what Yasha had said. Did Malika believe her? Perhaps, did she have faith in such visions? No. But she did believe that Yasha wanted that throne, and that Yasha would get it, one way or another when the time was right.

She closed her eyes at Preliat. "For starters, there is only five of us. Secondly," she opened her eyes to see all of them again. "We are all on the same page. This is not a leadership that will debate and quarrel over what action we take. This is a leadership that will work as one, as Ra intended us to do. Individuals that will trust one another to make the right calls at the right time. We are Ra's Cuir Rekr and we will continue along the path he has set for us. Rebuild Manda'yaim by the blade. Take what we need from whoever has it. There is nothing in that, that requires debate."

[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Aryn Spar"] [member="Vilaz Munin"]

 

[Preliat Mantis]

"I wonder how much rebuilding I did when I killed Jasper. I wonder how long this Empire built upon the bones of our brothers and sisters will last." He stared harshly at [member="Malika Mantis"]. "This is a temporary solution to a power vacuum that has never worked in the past...yet I suppose you will be different. I suppose your rule will be drastically different than all those that came before. But let us lay claim to our precarious positions. Let's continue what that madman, that puppet began."

Preliat flexed his fingers and lay his hand under his chin, sitting quietly for a while longer before speaking again.

"I have no honor or pride in what we have built. Only shame and regret."

[member="Yasha Mantis"] l [member="Aryn Spar"] l [member="Vilaz Munin"]

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Malika's eyes flashed dangerously and she stepped in close to where her brother-in-law sat, glowering down at him.

"You think that you are the only one who has suffered? The only one who cut down a brother? That lost family? You are not, Preliat. You are one among thousands. Thousands of mando'ade who need something. Temporary or not. We do not have a mand'alor so we will do what we can in the absence of one. If you will not stand with us, if you will not help us..."

She raised a hand to point at the door.


"...then get out."

[member="Preliat Mantis"] [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Aryn Spar"] [member="Vilaz Munin"]