Where is your Honour?

[Darth Metus]

It was often said that there were three sides to every tale: His side, Her side, and the Truth.

In the context of the current dilemma, the Warmaster had only heard the perspective of Mara Merrill. Now, while he did believe what the woman said to be accurate - mostly faith placed upon the surname of his mentor - a man could not hope to judge without hearing the words of the accused. Isley found himself leaning back in his seat when [member="Arrbi Betna"] began to address the Council. In that moment, nothing else mattered than the words of he who led the raid...and Isley found himself respecting the man all the more. He made no excuses, only recounted what were facts in his eyes. What's more, he offered to take full responsibility for his actions.

When he had said his piece, Isley rose from his seat, stepping over so that he might inspect the buy'ce himself. That, of course, put him well within earshot of [member="Gilamar Skirata"]...and he opted to ignore what the man felt justified to mutter. Of all the individuals in the room, the old Skirata had the longest "relationship" with the Warmaster. After all, he had been the Sole Ruler who had first welcomed him back decades prior. Isley still walked the Black Path in those days, but that was a tale for another time.

Right now, what mattered was verifying what Arrbi said was within the helm. Isley tapped into the buy'ce remotely and allowed the aforementioned comms to play within his own helm. He skimmed, admittedly, but heard what he needed to make judgment.

A sigh escaped him.

"Alor Betna, as you have stated already, a leader is responsible for the actions of the men under his command. We all agree that the Raiding spirit empassioned the young men, enabling them to commit these deplorable acts...and they shall be held accountable. As will you now. If it pleases the Mand'alor and this Council, my judgment is thus..."

"You will forfeit leadership of the next raid."

"To publicly denounce you will show weakness. To strip you of that which you have painstakingly earned over the years would be an abuse of this mantle. Therefore, I find that this consequence is most fitting for the actions committed. I will not bar you, nor your kin, from participating in the Crusades of our people - but you will not lead the next one. Take that time to speak to the vode who stand at your shoulders, remind them of what honorable warfare looks like. That is my judgment of you."

"As for the young souls who committed these acts...a day, for every soul lost. For every child they slaughtered, a day of service is required. They will restore the grounds of the Dantooine Enclave within my Crusade's territory. They will learn the error of their ways by repairing the very halls children like those slain ran free within. Their honor will be restored through hard labor."

He wouldn't have them drawn, quartered, maimed, or anything of that sort. They had made a greivous error, but the Council's stance on honorable warfare will be made known to them. And for every child lost, they would work. Tirelessly. Isley and his kin would see to it. Would that repair the wounds dealt to the Jedi? No. Would that smooth things over with the Light? No. But that was not his concern. His concern was restoring the Honor of his vod and seeing them grow past their mistakes. That was redemption.

Isley set the buy'ce down before facing Gilamar.

"Remember, ner'vod, this raid was called before the rise of our Mand'alor. We now live under the edict of our Sole Ruler, to assault the holdings and lands of our enemies. The young generation will be shown honorable warfare, through battling our enemies thenceforth. They will be shown the right way, and given work, through the United Crusade of our people."

[member="Arrbi Betna"], [member="Ronan Vizsla"], [member="Ra Vizsla"], [member="Mia Monroe"], [member="Gilamar Skirata"], [member="Draco Vereen"]

 

[Tysk Willamina]

[go out for an interview and things blow up]

Tysk had been there and remained quiet for mostly two reasons. The first being how the Willamina clan saw it was no point in arguing. Battle strengthened them, fighting against those who posed the largest and greatest challenge brought the most honor. Taking everything into the battle and risking it against odds that were against you. That was the thrill of being a fighter and she cared little for fighters, monks in a temple who don't want to raise a blade. If they choose to fight in the armies, if they choose to lead the armies and match wits with the bladesisters then she welcomed it. She wanted the fight to mean something not be because she came storming into someone home to take their things. Hearing gilimar speak though she remained there ready for anything. The other was her clan remained on Dxun in the jungles of the moon away from everyone. They preferred the isolation and being away from everything only needed should the Mandalore call them to fight. As she remained silent though she was listening to the rest wondered if there was any other thoughts on the judgement.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

[member="Mia Monroe"] [member="Isley Verd"] [member="Arrbi Betna"] [member="Ronan Vizsla"] [member="Gilamar Skirata"] [member="Draco Vereen"]

Ra lounged back in his chair at the circular table. He looked extremely annoyed at having to be here, though one couldn't tell if that anger was because he was now dealing with the Council's squabbling firsthand or because upstart brothers and sisters of the Mando'ade had slaughtered defenseless, retreating children. He listened and stayed silent throughout the meeting. This was what stagnation was. This was how the Clans had become rife with internal disputes. Challenging a new Manda'lor to judge anew actions of the past was only the beginning. It was this table that threatened them all the most - this table that had the ability to shatter the unity of the Clans that Ra had only just days ago solidified.

He witnessed Mia's retreat, Arrbi's defense, and Alor Verd's last words. Lifting his chin up to address the Alor Betna, Mandalore finally spoke.

"And so it is. This council is adjourned."

His voice bellowed, the finality of his tone resonating with the Warmaster's words. Mand'alor stood from his chair, stopping to gaze over the Council. His gaze would drop to the table, if only for a second.

This is where it ends.

And then he left.

War.

His mind was war.

Ra wondered how the Mand'alors of old dealt with the murder of innocent children. Ra wondered if the thought of the millions of innocent children's lives had stayed the hands of Mand'alor the Ultimate before he had turned the cities of Serrocco into glass craters. Ra wondered if the countless wars fought by ancient Manda'yaim stopped for the life of an innocent child. Ra wondered if Canderous, Boba, Jaster... if any of these men would have stayed their hands from bloodshed for the thought of the children.

Ra wondered how many children his Crusade would claim.

Ra wondered.

And it was distracting.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

"Well good gorram, we had a productive meeting for once." Alec stood and left and got back to work. Sectors to extort, shipyards to gank, dicks to kill. Just another Tuesday.

 

[Bestala Vizsla]

Outside the Alor Council’s meeting chamber, Bestala waited for her Alor, [member="Ronan Vizsla"], to emerge. She wished to speak with the Clan Leader about the details of the meeting and to know how he would want Clan Vizsla to act. As an Alor’ad, it would be her duty to help enforce his wishes.

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray had shown up for this meeting of Alor because of the urgency of the matter. He had sat through the whole proceeding and remained silent despite his name coming up a few times during it. It had been about that "raid" on Illum a while back, and the fallout of the matter. He had gone along with it to try to do his best to bridge some of the tension between the Mandalorian factions as well as to hope ot minimize as much damage as he could. He was hoping he could have avoided bloodshed, but he had failed in that horribly. He did his best to get the jedi to trust them enough come to a deal that might benefit both of them, but all of those efforts had been ruined. There was no honor in any of it, and the sheer fact people spoke about it as if it could be called a success on any level disgusted him.....

But the worst had been Gray. He should have stepped up and put a stop to it the moment innocent people were so viciously slaughtered. He had failed not just his people, but every single jedi at the temple. He knew his words would not be able to change a thing at the meeting, like they had not been able to change a thing back on Illum. This meeting was as much a prime example as Illum was about the sever lack of honor there was within his people. He had broken away to try to provide a guiding light and to be able to get back to the Resol'nare. But perhaps it was just him hiding from the fact that he had failed in his duty to his own people. He might only be an Alor for a single clan, but he was as much a living example for the other Mandalorians as he was his own clan. He had failed and he would need to atone for it in some way.

Gray stood up along with everyone else and silently left the room. As he got outside of it and into the hallway, he headed for a more private spot. He pulled out a holopad and began to type up a message on it. When he was finished he inspected it and then sent it. After he did, he put the holopad back away and began to head to his ship. He was going to need to try harder from now on to be true to his people's traditional values and culture. He needed to do that and should have thinking of how right away, but he couldn't. All he could think about was the message he had just sent out. He read it to himself in his head as he continued to leave:

" Mand'alor [member="Ra Vizsla"] , I wish to speak with you about our people. Please contact me with a reply as soon as you are able. Alor of Clan Raxis, Gray Raxis."

 

[Julius Sedaire]

A flickering holo had been present the whole meeting, and said nothing. Ijaat was occupied on Concord Dawn, trying to rebuild the home of his clan from the ruins of the Death Watch assault. Each argument was weighed in his mind, but he could not believe it of Arrbi. Whether or not his old friend owned responsibility he knew the man as he knew himself. He would not have ordered and sanctioned the killing of children. He had seen him play with Mirshko too much, the joy in the mans smile. The laugh in his eyes. Knuckles cracked white on the crude camp chair he had sat upon for this meeting at the actions of some who knew better. Or should conduct themselves with a touch more bearing, in his eyes. Emotions were useless in matters of discipline and command.

"I will abide by the decisions, in any matters decided, but have only this to say. Any who doubt Isley, doubt me. I put my being into redeeming that man. I am proud of who he is. If you doubt his character, you doubt mine. There are circles for those types of insults. To Arrbi... I am disappointed in you, but I know you will do what is right to fix this. You always do."

The image flickered a it drew forth a sword that stabbed down in front of him, naked steel that would have glinted coldly in the light

"To [member="Gray Raxis"], who actually did these acts... Come to Concord Dawn if you have spine and honor, boy...If these others don't handle you first.. And I will teach you. You disgraced us. Blood calls for blood, and words are wind... I will act the part of justicar for the innocent you slew... "

There the image flickered and terminated, nothing further said.

 

[Arage Bao]

Vizsla was one of the last to leave the room.

It was tiring to him, exhausting, to have been involved in this meeting first hand. A gaggle of clucking mother hens made up the Alor’e council and it filled him with shame to see how far the Mando’ade had fallen since the Great Plague and the years prior to it. The New Mandalorian Movement had poisoned his vode a long time ago, but to see it here and now so many years later and in person?

Difficult, very difficult situation.

He gestured for [member="Bestala Vizsla"].

“Walk with me, vod Bestala.” The large man simply said for now as they walked. If there was one thing Ronan had learned from this meeting, it was that a few words spoken could poison the entire well immediately. There was no sense in recounting the situation from his perspective with all these people around.

They walked and walked, silence in comradery, before ending up outside. The others had either stayed or had walked further, but Vizsla rested in his movement here. Further away came the starport with their shuttle, that would lead them back to Wayland.

“Some disgusted, some concerned, all of them worried about the events on Ilum.” The Alor finally broke the silence. “A compromise has been reached, we will instruct ours to focus solely on threats during battle engagements.”

Bestala would sense something of indignity in that last statement, but over what?

“Our vode on Ilum were disciplined and did not partake in the less… efficient acts, but we will remind them regardless.”

He stayed quiet after that, most of his attention towards the starport. But she would know that the silence that followed was an opportunity for her to dig him for more information.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

The Alor of Clan Raxis had been contacted and told that Ra would be heading for the Eastern Villa's courtyard, far away from the Council of Alor'e chambers. He often went there to meditate his first few weeks as Mand'alor, so it would be no surprise to any Mandalorian knowledgeable of Ra that he could be found there.

Ra would receive the Alor Raxis there, away from the politics of the Council, and they would speak about what troubled Gray Raxis.

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray had shifted from thinking about the message he had sent to what [member="Ijaat Mereel"] had said during the ending of the meeting. What innocent had he slain? He hadn't drawn a single one of his weapons he took with him the entire time. He hadn't even harmed someone let alone killed them. It would seem there was some kind of misunderstanding or misinformation he was going to need to clear up soon. Where had he been challenged to go to again? Concord Dawn? He would need to head that way after everything was dealt with right now.

The reply back from [member="Ra Vizsla"] was rather swift. He was directed to head to a courtyard in the Eastern Villa, so he stopped heading back to his ship and started heading to the Eastern Villa. He did need to speak with the new Mand'alor, but hadn't expected it to be this soon. He was going to need to finish organizing his thoughts on the matter so he could be ready to speak with the man he had yet to meet or speak with up to this point. He knew little about him other than he had risen through the ranks and had not been met with a challenge to his position by any of the other alor. That seemed odd to him, even if the man was as fearsome as his reputation suggested. You would think at least one person would have challenged rather than kneel immediately. But Gray would just have to find out for himself why they did that it seemed.

The courtyard of the Eastern Villa came into view. Gray could immediately see the man now known as Mand'alor there. He walked up with a smile on his face. He said extending his hand out to shake, " Greetings Mand'alor Ra. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I didn't expect it to be this quickly though, but all the more honored I should be feeling right?" He just kept smiling as he waited to see how this imposing man would respond. He knew enough about to own people to know not to assume too much, or it would end badly. The people of Mandalore were as varied and diverse as their clans were after all.

 

[Bestala Vizsla]

Just as [member="Ronan Vizsla"] emerged from the meeting chamber, Bestala was about to ask, “How did the meeting go?”

Yet the body language Ronan exhibited told her enough. She walked with Ronan just as he asked. As they walked in silence, Bestala glanced over to Ronan a couple times as if to further gauge what he was thinking. It would had been very noticeable with her turning her head in order to see through her helmet.

Then as Ronan spoke, Bestala stood still and listened. She tilted her head at the end.

“Ilum?” rhetorically asked Bestala. Enough of a brouhaha was made for many Mandalorians to know of what happened.

“You don’t agree with what was said about it?” sincerely questioned Bestala.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

Ra gripped the man's wrist in a tight squeeze, honoring him with welcome. He wore a warm smile on his face. Could Ra actually be happy to see this man, or was it some false display of emotion in the face of what he knew would come? Did the sting of the Council being summoned still tear at Ra's mind?

Or could the new Mand'alor actually be displaying some appreciation for the Alor of Clan Raxis in visiting him?

Smiling wasn't something Ra was usually accustomed to.

"It's just Ra, here." The gigantic man sat down on the ground, crossing his legs and closing his eyes, breathing in the warm air. He motioned with his left hand for Gray to join him. "You don't have to, if you don't want."

"There is clarity to be found in nature. In this city, it seems these gardens are one's only solace." He spoke with his eyes shut, deeply inhaling again. "What can I help you with?"

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray was taken by surprise at how friendly the man was being to him right away. It was not a bad surprise, just didn't match up with what he had heard about the man. He had heard plenty of things concerning his prowess in combat and his focus on honor, but not much about the man being the type to smile. No smiling and being friendly was more of Gray's thing when it came to speaking with others. It put people more at ease and helped to cover up his actual thoughts and feelings on matters. It was something he did as much for himself as well as for others, but he had no reason to believe the huge man before him was the same way. But this was his first meeting with the man, so what did he truly know about him?

Gray kept on smiling and as the man sat down on the grass with a motion to join him, Gray did just that. He sat across from him cross legged as well and rested his arms on his knees. It was a familiar position for him as he did it every day for training. He listened to what the man had to say and replied back, " It does indeed. I grew up in space on board ships so it might just be the utter difference in environments, but there is a real calmness to it. On ships there is always some kind of loud, distracting noise going on. Be it pipes or atmosphere equipment. But in nature I had found the sounds to be much more quiet and soothing." He wasn't sure exactly what was prompting him to speak so much on the matter. It could have been nerves or just actually enjoying a pleasant conversation with another Mandalorian. Likely though it was both of them working together.

Gray paused for a few moments after he finished speaking. He took the time to consider his next move then said, " I am here to speak with you about what it means to be Mandalorian. What I feel it means to be one. And of course how I failed everyone back on Illum. Not just our people, but the jedi there as well." He stopped speaking at that point. He was sure the subject was likely what the man was expecting out of him, but there was more to it than that. There was more on Gray's mind than just the events at Illum that he wished to speak of. Perhaps [member="Ra Vizsla"] could sense that or perhaps he couldn't. Either way, Gray was going to speak his peace on the matter.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

Ra's eyes remained closed, his face remained unchanged.

"So be it. Unburden yourself, warrior."

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray nodded to [member="Ra Vizsla"] in response to what he had to say at first. He was still completely sorting it out in his head and he figured the best way right now to do that would just be to start speaking. He took in a deep breath before letting it out slowly, going into a meditative state. He said after he finished, " Back on Illum I joined in the raid that was planned despite my not liking the idea of it. I saw no protecting or providing for our own in it. After all few outside of jedi would care to have a lightsaber crystal. I joined it because I thought I might be able to find a better path for us to take during it. To hopefully preserve the temple and keep people from dying senselessly. But I failed at it miserably. The group in the lead immediately killed none hostiles on sight before I or anyone else could try to stop them. It was an aggressive engagement on a group of pacifists. It was senseless killing for the sake of killing. We clearly didn't understand our enemy, and we treated them with disrespect."

Gray had to pause here. He didn't like the killing done before they had entered the temple, but it had just gotten worse. He eventually started back up again, " I got Arrbi to agree to let me into the temple and I tried to negotiate with the jedi there. I offered a peaceful solution that would benefit both of us. I said we would leave them be if they would allow us to take two or three crystals a person, and I was willing to offer my share up to the group. They wished to evacuate out their children and younglings, and I was willing to allow them and gave them my word I would personally see to their safety so long as our leader agreed to it as well. I named Arrbi at that moment and had named myself previously hoping I could force his hand into being more willing to agree.......but then he gave them an ultimatum of surrender completely or die."

" This is where I failed everyone. I shouldn't have walked away after the negotiations failed because Arrbi refused to show the non aggressive jedi any options. I should have done something to stop the raid then and there. There was no honor in any of it. Not from the beginning, not in the end. I knew that, yet I did not do enough when I should have." Gray said and paused as he looked Ra in the eyes. He added on after a few moments, " Mandalorians at our very core are about providing and protecting our kith and kin. We form clans, we uphold our honor, we even go to war all for the sake of this need, this drive, to provide and protect our people. It is what I believe truly defines what it means to be Mandalorian by how we go about doing this. It is why clan Raxis' creed is Family, Honor, Clan. I have seen little honor in our people as of late. I have seen only a thirst for blood, a thirst for war. They do not have it in their mind to provide or protect. The raid on Illum was proof of this very fact. And I failed to protect our people's honor that day." He stopped right there and waited for everything to have a chance to sink in. He had said a lot just now, and he was sure it would take a moment for Ra to think it all over.

 

[Ra Vizsla]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

Ra sat, contemplating. After a long while of silence, he addressed Gray again.

"What would you have me do, then?"

 

[Gray Raxis]

What would you have me do, then? That was a loaded question with no real answer to it. What could an Alor ask of their Mand'alor? The obvious answer was a hard nothing, but Gray was beginning to wonder if that was really the case. Only fools didn't challenge their superiors to prove themselves, to be better. Was it really better to just sit back and let things play out as they had been or would it be better to speak out against it and invite conflict? Either option didn't seem right, but with the way the other clans had acted up until now they were the only options.

Gray thought it over a bit before he finally said, " I ask that you keep it in mind. Every raid, every skirmish, every war. Always keep asking yourself how this benefits our people. How does it protect and provide for them. Is this action truly for them or is it just to satisfy the desires of those who want war for the sake of war. Mandalorians are warriors, but before that we are parents, siblings, children. We should worry more about our loved ones needs than our own, and going to war because we just want to fight isn't looking out for them. War is a tool used to meet an end, not the end itself......... Or it should not be." With that he stopped and waited to see if Ra would offer his thoughts or remain silent once more.

[member="Ra Vizsla"]

 

[Ra Vizsla]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

"One must be self, family, clan and nation," Ra retorted. "It's a tall order to ask of a vod."

He slowly stood from his meditation in the gardens, turning to face Gray with his vibrant green eyes.

"My worry for our loved ones comes first and foremost, above all others. I love Mandalore, so I seek to protect her. I love my brothers and sisters, so I fight to defend them. I love all the children of the Mando'ade, as I love you, brother." Ra began pacing in short rhythm. "There is no greater glory than to defend our ancestral homes, no greater honor than to be a Mandalorian. For this, I worry our people will become blinded to that which threatens to take it away."

"I worry that I would be tempted by you, Alor Raxis." Ra was using his title. He was obviously becoming more serious. "To stay the hands of Mandalore. I worry that you would caution that every life is precious, that we must negotiate our way to a just peace and tranquility among the stars. I worry that the blood of my blood would tempt me, again and again, that the path I walk is false. I worry that you would advise me to treat with those who would turn one cheek to bless the name of Mandalore whilst the other cursed our people."

"I worry that you, Alor Raxis, would have me be too weak to defend Mandalore."

He began walking away, storming out of the gardens.

His voice called back to Gray.

"Let your past actions serve as my example - ​

​

- I will not stand idly by and watch as MY children are slaughtered."​

​

There was no altering Mand'alor's course of war.​

​

Everything Ra did, he did for his people.​

​

His people.​

​

No other mattered.​

​

Mand'alor left the gardens.​

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray just sat and listened to what [member="Ra Vizsla"] had to say to him. The man was filled with passion and anger. What the man had to be angry at though, Gray was unsure. If it was his words, he found that to be a bit of a stretch to believe. He had not directed any insult or accusation at the man. Yes they were heading to war, but it was not as if Gray was telling him to stop. All he did was warn him against falling for the trap that was war for the sake of war. It was something every Mandalorian warrior had to deal with at some point. That urge for the rush of battle, to put one's life on the line while their opponent did the same. That knowledge that both of you knew only one of you was making it back home in the end............

But that was what Gray was trying to help his people avoid. They had suffered far more from going to war recklessly than any other people. He did not seek to make his people stop being warriors, because even Gray found himself constantly throwing himself into combat for the sake of others. He just didn't want to see his people lose their lives for selfish reasons. His new Mand'alor though seemed to think he was trying to turn his own people into pacifists, as Satine had done ages past. But that was not what Gray wanted. He believed in fighting when it was needed, but not for any other reason than that.

Gray just listened as the large man finished speaking to him and ended it with words half meant to insult and half meant to drive his point home. Gray didn't feel the way he was meant to feel after them though. He didn't feel insulted or guilty. He didn't inferior or ashamed. He felt content. He had said his peace to the man, and the man had honestly contemplated his words. This new Mand'alor was more driven than the other alor he had met. As bad as that might for some, it was a glimmer of hope for the Mandalorian people. Gray was glad he could do something by providing an example of the proper path through his failure, because he knew there was no chance of him being heeded otherwise. He saw some future for his people, but only if the man before him truly walked the path of the Resol'nare from this point forward and did not succumb to the same apathy that the others had.

Gray waited for the man to be complete gone for a few minutes as he just sat there in the garden. He had taken to some meditation while he thought about what had transpired. He needed to become more proactive from this point forward. He had just sat back far too much thinking it was not his place to say anything. That might have been true before and remained true still now, but he could no longer act like that. Even if he did not do a thing in the territory of his brothers and sisters, he could do something with his own clan and people. His own needed him to be more of a leader, and that was what he was going to do. He finished his thoughts on the subject and stood up. He brushed himself off and then headed for his ship. He had a lot to think about still from this point forward.

 

[4ND-R0]

(Ignore this / Delete)