"Mando'ad draar digu a bic ni skana'din, ner vod," he sighed.  He looked up, met Zirk's eyes and continued, "a verd ori'shya beskar'gam...and so must I be now."

He looked to wear Zirk had pointed and saw the women leaving their barracks.  "You know friend, there was a time when a world like this would have been a home to us.  A place where we could earn our right to be warriors...perhaps, in its own way, it still can be," looking around and taking note of the guards he finished his statement quietly, "I will see us free.  Free to stay, free to leave...free to choose."

OOC: rough translation of Mando'a: ""A Mandalorian never forgets but that really ticks me off. But, a warrior is more than his armor... "

The old man nodded "More than you know." He chuckled for a moment "how nice of the First Order to voluntarily assemble The Clans together like this, and put themselves up to be our enemy. This will be the first time in living memory that we fought an enemy other than ourselves. I'll tell you this much; nobody's leaving here if we can't work together."

"The working together if probably the hard part of the situation.  It isn't often that the Clans have united.  Do you know how many clans are represented in our camp and who their leaders are? If we are going to do anything, it needs to be while we still have the strength and numbers."


He scanned the yard and spoke softly, as if to himself, "we need to know how many of them there are and so much more..."

"The leadership question is difficult. With the First Order grabbing random groups of us for weeks at a time to take out on projects, and never knowing if they're back, it's difficult to determine who's in charge of any group. Seperating men and women makes it harder. Take the Fett's; they were lead by a woman named Jhaid, but removed from the rest, one of the lads has vied for her position. I'm sure some of the Mando'a they keep in solitary are clan leaders, which is it's own challenge"

As he spoke, alarms went off through the whole of the camp. Guards along the perimeter of the camp all drew their firearms and pointed towards the interior. From a hatch exited a solitary human woman, shackled at the hands and feet, followed by three stormtroopers. The area immediately outside the hatch was fenced; a prison inside a prison. The woman was tall, strong, and defiant as all hell: a steady gaze fixed her eyes, surveying the surroundings. It was as if the weight of the world had no affect on her.

"And than you have the likes of her. The crazies. Can you believe that she has the gaul to lay claim to the title Mandalore? In this place?"

Jax smiled just a little at Zirk's words. "Crazy might be what we need to get out of here."  He fell silent for a moment trying to catch the woman's eyes as she scanned the camp.  He continued talking but never looked down or back to Zirk, "We need to unite the clans to escape...what better way to unite than behind a true Mandalore.  But, that is the key, how can we believe someone here is the Mandalore when anyone trying to make that claim will be ridiculed as crazy..."

"Do you know her name and clan?"

"The real question is, how can anyone lay claim to that title? Din Djarin hasn't been seen with the Darksaber in three decades, Bo-Katan Kryze for nearly as long. Too much rumor to know for sure. With them gone, anyone could say they were Mandalore, if they had strength enough to convince them. Unless she has the Helm of Mandalore himself, she's no more entitled to that name than you." Zirk crossed his arms across his chest

"To that question, her name is Qanir, of Clan Ordo."

"And how is it we choose to let the Darksaber be our indication of Mand'alor...there were Mand'alor long before the creation of the Darksaber and, we need a true Mand'alor now.  I am not saying SHE is the Mand'alor, but, we do need one and the odds of finding the Darksaber on this world are very slim." He looked over at Zirk, shrugged, and said, "I think it is time we talked to the men in our barracks tonight.  I grow weary of this drudgery.  I will go speak with this Qanir...you may accompany me if you wish, or not."

As he finished, he began walking towards the woman.  He strode confidently toward her only slowing when he neared the fence.  He stood there a moment, looking at her.

"Qanir Ordo," he spoke, direct and to the point, "I am Jax Rook.  By what right do you claim the title of Mand'alor and why should the clans support your claim?" 

She looked behind her slowly, seeing if the stormroopers were reacting to such blatant conversations of rank and claims of leadership. The lack of response bade her to answer. Her face was carved of stone, it seemed. Unflinching, her eyes fixed on you without a second's wavering.

"The only rights that any Mandalorian are bound to respect. The rite of strength, and rite of knowledge. As Mandalore, I will not only strengthen Ordo, but strengthen all of our people. I know all of our oldest traditions. I will see that the path of Mandalore is preserved, and the ideas that lead to our destruction, by the Empire and by each other, are forgotten. I know where to find the ancient helm of Mandalore, but by the time that I put my hands on it, it will redundant. I will have already been Mandalore in the spirits of minds of all the clans"

Qanir took two steps forward, standing immediately against the fence to speak to you "And because I alone recognize the greater threat. The children and foundlings are gone. We know where the First Order draws it's strength from. I will become Mandalore because if we do not resolve this quickly, than this camp will be the last stand of our kind."

Her rhetoric crossed a line, with a guard taking his rifle and driving the butt end of it into her back. Staggered, she fell into the fenceline and grimaced in pain, but was resolute in her defiance. She didn't even speak to the guard, or admit his presence. Still fixated on you, she gave a final statement with a slight nod of the head.

"This is the way"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:00, Sat 14 Jan 2023.

Jax kept his eyes on the woman as she spoke.  As she finished her last statement, he nodded, raised his head, and looked at both of the guards.

"You tread a dangerous line.  You feel safe...you no longer know fear...we remember and we will not be in your power forever," he paused looking at each man.  "There will be a reckoning."  He stood there, almost tauntingly.

He looked back down and caught Qanir's eye, "The way..."

He let his words hang in the air for a moment, took two steps backwards, turned and strode defiantly towards the barracks.

Walking away, you see the grizzled vet watching you, arms crossed against his chest.

"Well? What do you think? Anything worth while?"

He paused and thought carefully about his response, "She is formidable and, possibly, could be a rallying point for the clans...and, as we discussed, we need something to rally around."

He motioned for Zirk to follow him as he walked towards their barracks, he turned to see if they'd dragged her back in yet before continuing to talk as they walked.

"If you're asking whether I believe she is Manda'lore...well, no.  However, that doesn't mean she can't become such or, just the catalyst to get us out of here." He took a few steps before continuing, "We are going to have to take a risk to free our people...can we trust our barracks," he asked?

"Depends" He replied cryptically. "They're loyal to the clan, there's no doubt about that. Motivating them to any action, I don't know."

A low humming sound is heard in the distance "look sharp, and get back to it. We've gobbed enough for now" as Zirk gave his warning, a First Order ship soared overhead in low orbit, before a vertical landing in the base.

OOC: as the ship comes in, something strange happens. What you can only describe as an out of body experience, as you see someone on board, through the distance and inmpenetrable metal. A woman, scournful, whose attire was as dark forboding as her soul.

Jax stared hard at the shuttle, then closed his eyes and tried to burn the image of the woman into his mind.  As her face became clearer, he felt a strong disdain for the woman and vowed to himself to get his people out of here.  If this woman, or anyone got in the way of that, he'd do what was necessary.

He opened his eyes and watched the shuttle land...'perhaps a way off this planet,' he thought to himself.  He turned to walk away with thoughts running rampant through his head.

It was about an hour of sweaty labor before anything of interest happened. A loud voice came through on the intercom. A female voice, and one you haven't heard before.

"Attention to all prisoners. The First Order is prepared to make an offer of clemency to the Mandalorian Clans. We have a mutual enemy in the New Republic and the Rebellion. Our intelligence apparatus tells us of a resurgent Jedi Order. Help us weed out this threat, and you will be rewarded. Guns, armor, will be granted to you, and a system to call your own will be granted upon final victory."

"This offer's been made.  The clan's need to discuss the offer.  If we accept, we are no longer your prisoners...so, are you going to let us stop working to have our discussion?  If so, I'd like you to take me to Qanir Ordo now," this was said with some authority.  He kept his gaze fixed firmly on the guard.  He may not have been able to see his face through his helmet...but he wanted the man to feel like he was looking at his soul.

"Move on" The guard was unfazed in their posture "Rumor has it that the solitaries are being sent out to fight whether they want to or not. Make babysitting you lot easier."

Jax smiled slyly at the guards words and then he turned and began walking towards the men of his barracks.  He spoke loudly as he walked, "Clansmen, come together so we may discuss the offer made to us.  Come, hear my words," he beckoned to the men he recognized from his barracks but made sure his words carried to all.  "Let us all discuss our future, come," when he found a spot away from where the guards stood, he stops and waits to see who will come.

The response you received is far from ideal or complete. Most, even in your clan, ignore you. Those who do respond and gather around you have furled brows and agitation in their stances.

"Well, welp, what is it?"

Jax looked around at those who'd gathered.  He then checked to be sure none of the guards had tried to follow them.

"We all burn to avenge our family and friends.  The First Order deserves our anger," he takes a slow breath. "But," he continues, "They make an offer that we should consider.  Here we slave away, working until we die or until we find a way to escape...However, if we accept their offer..." he paces a few steps back and forth before stopping and facing them. "Well, if we accept, then we are free from our bondage.  Free, armed, and in a much better position to plan our vengeance...on Jedi and... ," he purposely looks around at all the guards hoping the gathered clansman would get the hint.

"Will you follow me or will you stay in this camp?"

His eyes burned into each person present...


OOC: 18:45, Today: Jax Rook rolled 3 using 1d20+2.  Persuasion +2.
yay for my incredible luck...Natural 1.  Guess I may be doing this on my own

"The Jedi? They're lone gone."

"Ya! It wasn't the Jedi that put us in this cage, even if they are real."

"I don't believe you. We're given a chance to fight and you take the cowards way out? Are you even Mandalorians anymore?"

"We have better chance of getting our freedom out there than we do in here"

"Build their trust, than take them out when they're looking."

Clearly there was no consensus on this issue, and the crowd you'd gathered around you weren't paying any attention to you anymore, instead quarreling with each other.

You could roll with those already agree to the mission. If you want to convince more, perhaps start with either Clan leaders or other authority figures. Mandalorian fighters will obey orders, even if they disagree with them.

Lying also works, if you're ready to take that risk.

Jax took a few moments listening and looking before motioning to a few of the men who were in agreement with him.  As they gathered near him he said, "Before we proceed, go to your clan heads and ask them to come speak with me.  Let us try to unite as many of us as possible. Go now," he finished.

As the men left he approached those still arguing, "What does arguing accomplish," he yelled out, "Jedi or First Order," he continued at a lower tone, "we cannot affect vengeance on either if we are slaves in this camp.  Freedom...is the only way we can plan for out future.  I will take any who wish to follow with me."  He let his words sink in before walking a few feet away and waiting to see if the clan leaders would appear.

"You did good, son" You hear behind you as another familiar, old voice approaches.

"Rock" the leader of your clan, walks up slowly. He got that nickname by seemingly being unphased by anything; few Mandalorians seemed to be as in good spirits as he was, even in this place

"I'll meet with the other leaders, remind them what it means to be Mandalorian. Conflict is our creed. If the opponent is enough to give the First Order trouble, than it should be a worthy fight. Whatever direction we take, the clans will do so as one."

"You've got some fire in you, to try and rally everyone together by yourself. What's the rush? You in a hurry to die?"

Imagine what he may look like under the suit
<img src =https://i.pinimg.com/564x/2e/3e/81/2e3e81adee305e5aa87e4de0541710d3.jpg>

Jax turned slowly and nodded to the man.  "I am in a hurry to get out of this hell.  We are Mandalorian, not slave labor..."

Jax closed his eyes and took a breath to center himself.  He lowered his voice a little, "I felt like someone had to do something.  Perhaps you, or other clan leaders, would have stepped forward.  However, I felt that seeing a force of us rallying together would help push the leaders in to action.  My father taught me to think, to lead as well as to fight."

"I knew your father. He saved my hide more than once. Very smart man. Would always tell me that the fight is fought in the gray before it's fought in the arm" as he points towards his temple

"I don't know how he did it, but he always seemed like he had a sixth sense, your father. Like he had an additional set of eyes, or Bith hearing." There was a slight sigh "we could use him now, that's for sure. Thankfully, we've still got you, which is the next best thing"

"We'll get in this fight yet, don't you worry. I'll speak with the clans."

"I am not worried," Jax began, "Do what you can with the clans, if you want a second, just ask."

Jax knew the odds of being asked to accompany the clan leader were slim...but he really didn't care.

OOC: I know this one is short.  I have had a rough week at work.  Once I know what Rock does, I will move this on.