(D1 LE) Late to the Party

[Varina Ordo]

Whoops. Was she supposed to go with Raven about this weird dagger meeting thing? Oh well, too late to call her now. Varina followed the trail on her own, trying to remember all those video logs her mother had left behind during her escapades.

[Honor]

Mandalorians, from what she caught glimpses of, directed her way. Leaving obvious signs for her to follow for one skilled in the way of their people. Unlike before many took part in this leading, signs were placed down and removed as Varina passed.

Lead into a long abandoned warehouse she felt as the atmosphere changed from abandoned warehouse to something more ritual, more Mandalorian. Torches lit her way forward into a tunnel that when followed continued down many others and eventually came into one with Mandalorian markings made upon the walls. Historical symbols from their peoples long and storied past.

At the bulkhead the door was opened for her and beyond was stood two Mandalorians, on marked with blue and the other orange. They were silent as they watched Varina pass down toward them in the passage.

[Varina Ordo]

Varina gawked at a moment at the two standing guard. But because they were keeping silent, it seemed like she was supposed to too. Didn't stop her back at school but teachers were losers compared to these guys.

So she continued on. She didn't bother looking too into the actual cultural stuff. Enough of that on Mandalore and she left that place!

[Honor]

"You are expected," the one marked by blue said. While the one marked by orange seemed to bristle under his armor. Though he knew better now than to speak. Behind them there were no other Mandalorians present in this chamber.

"Please," the one marked in blue. "I shall take you to Mandalore. It is he who wished you here, personally."

[Varina Ordo]

"Oh, okay." Varina peeked into the chamber. She was totally confused.

But a weird, empty room wasn't as confusing as the other part. "Wait, Mandalore?"

[Honor]

"By right of being the strongest of the true Mandalorians, yes. We have here the Mandalore to rightfully claim this title," the one marked blue replied.

[Varina Ordo]

"Huh," she replied. Last she heard, Gar Saxon wanted to call himself that. Same with Pre Viszla, maybe that Jango Fett fellow too. She thought there might have been one from her own clan but it was hard to say.

"Well, guess I'm ready as always to meet them."

[Honor]

"Follow," the one marked blue said. With the instruction they both turned and walked confidently through dimly lit chambers. Each broke off into different directions, armories, barracks, many appeared unfilled. By the end of a long tunnel further in they stopped before a door. Each of the men prepared themselves and then entered with Varina in tow.

Each approached the man at the center of the room, Mandalore the Rebuilder, and took up position at either side. Around them there were approximately 12 other warriors, making their number 15 strong.

Mandalore instead watched and waited, seeing how Varina might react.

[Varina Ordo]

Varina looked around for her good friend Raven. They had to be good friends by now, right? Didn't seem like she was there, though.

"Hey, I'm Varina of Clan Ordo," she said casually. She wasn't going to be super formal like just yet even if he did call himself Mandalore.

[Mandalore]

"Speak then," Mandalore spoke. "Varina of Clan Ordo, I have heard some of your tale. Yet, some of those present have not. Tell them what there is to know, tell them why you have come to Kamda. For what do you aim to discover here?"

[Varina Ordo]

"My tale?" she murmured. What had this guy heard of her? She was just some kid who ran away from home... well she was much cooler than that but that's what had literally happened recently!

"I was raised on our planet of Mandalore during the rule of Duchess Satine and after her demise. Their ways never suited me, nor her successors. I'm here to make my legacy as a warrior, just as our people should."

[Mandalore]

Those around shifted, uncomfortable and uncertain.

Mandalore, however, nodded. "As it has been told. We have many here, from many of the names that carry weight for Mandalore. It is our people's way to fight, to strive, and to stand proudly. Your tale has reached me short as it may be, as many others have that journey here and especially of those few who leave Mandalore in secret. I know, as they know, as you know, that you would only be stifled there child, because you have the heart of a Mandalorian burning within you."

"Here, Mandalorians follow me because I am awake to the truth that those back on Mandalore are not. Those who claim themselves Mandalorians, are not. Our people were meant to strive and fight, and they kneel to the Saxons who kneel to the Empire. I, and my fellows here, will not kneel."

"Our way is to struggle and to triumph, our Way is being offered to you, child. Join with us, join with me, and I shall show you the pride and glory that it is to be a true Mandalorian."

[Varina Ordo]

Varina rocked in her boots. This guy was grandiose, that's for sure. She wasn't so sure about whether or not he was worthy of the title but she wasn't going to say anything about that. There were so many guys following him! And they seemed cool so even if he was fake, they did give him some credibility.

Plus there was no harm in learning more fighting skills from these guys. She needed some sort of training.

"Okay," Varina said with a shrug. She wasn't going to embarrass herself getting too excited. No, she had to play the part of cool, collected Mandalorian.

[Mandalore]

"Come with me then, Varina. We shall speak of what is to come," he said, waving a hand to beckon her along as he walked toward one of the other exits of this chamber.

[Varina Ordo]

"Okay." This seemed special if they weren't going to talk in front of all the other people. Hopefully he wasn't going to like randomly shoot her though because that would suck.

[Mandalore]

Walking into the back halls Mandalore eases his stride, far from prying eyes.

"It was I who wished you hear. Do you know why?" he asked, but didn't seek an answer. "You remind me of the spirit we once lost. In you, someone so young, you knew to yearn for more beyond the stars. When your tale reached my ears it was all but certain in my mind that you would come to us, some day. Be it as a proven warrior or untrained child. Now, you are here before your rise. So, you will rise with us."

"I will not disservice you by lending you any favors. Your rise will be of hardship, but in it you will find the strength and glory you seek."

Walking into one of the rooms he brings her passed what appear to be a large chamber for one man, and no others. Beyond it lies a small armory, this is the room he brings her to. In here there are weapons of many variety and each one deadlier than the last.

"What you will receive here is armament, when it is time, and a place to rest among us. You will be taught our way, such as to never reveal your face to your enemy. For the advantage it grants you lessens you as a warrior."

[Varina Ordo]

Varina nodded along until a sudden question came to mind: How did he even hear of her? It's not like she had done much other than ditch her dad. She didn't like the idea that someone was still looking for her or something. Maybe he just had a wealth of information?

"Okay," is all she really knew to say. She looked around at all the weapons and realized that her knife was really quite small. But so was she, and there were some advantages to being smaller!

[Mandalore]

"You are remarkably unspoken child," he remarks, after watching her make comparisons to the surrounding weapons. "Do you have questions? I would answer them. There must be much your mind desires to know." he said, moving about the room toward a case which kept a long blade on a long pipe-like grip. Moving it into his hand he relished in the sight of this weapon.

[Varina Ordo]

"I don't really know what there is to say," Varina admitted. She scratched the back of her head and looked back from where they had come from. "Some of your guys didn't talk so much so I figured I wasn't supposed to talk so much either."

[Mandalore]

"Some, you are right. When they were instructed to shut up and listen they did so and never opened their mouth again, I would think. Yet, sharp as their minds may be from this theirs could be ever sharper had they known that they were supposed to question as well. A well positioned question, a thoughtful reply, are these not evidence of a sharp mind? A Mandalorian should sharpen each of their tools, hone themselves to be ever greater," he said. Shifting the bladed weapon in his hand, holding the blade up to the light.

"There is much you should know child, and I invite you to ask and hone your mind. Sharpen it as I have sharpened this blade," he said.