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- May 1, 2012
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BIOGRAPHY
NAME: Vodal'oni (Vod)
AGE: 20
SPECIES: Human
FACTION: Mandalorian Dominion
RANK: Commando
HEIGHT: 184cm
WEIGHT: 74kg
HAIR COLOR: Black
EYE COLOR: Black
STRENGTH:
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DEXTERITY:
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STAMINA:
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INTELLIGENCE:
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WISDOM:
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CHARISMA:
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I have always been grateful for the opportunity to make something out of my life. Had I not been taken in by the mandalorians I would have starved to death, or worse. However, in order to survive and prosper in this society of warriors, I learned that as an outsider I had to surpass my peers in every regard to even be considered their equal.
When I first started training I was by far the worst at everything. I had no particular talents, I lacked coordination which other kids had developed in the games they played together and with their families but an orphan of non-mandalorian heritage was shunned even by the other orphans. All I knew was loneliness and hunger. Most of the parents didn't pay attention to me and the other kids treated me as a worthless waste of space. "The son of Ordo", they called me mocking the fact I was an orphan and emphasising my less-than trophy status in the clan. I had no motivation to get through the training other than simple survival and had I not been young enough to be acting on instict I may have given up on that, too.
In my loneliness I learned to observe. I observed their society. Their functions. Their rituals, trials and everything else I could see within the confounds of our base. Through these observations, despite the pain that had consumed my heart, I saw something in their society that seemed out of reach. I saw a dream that I could be a functioning member that has his place and is repsected by others. The only way to fullfil that dream was to become a renowned warrior. Everyone who was someone in the clan was a renowned warrior, so it was up to me to make the same out of myself. It was an opportunity to fit in and become a part of something bigger than just me. That is when training became more than just about survival, it became a purpose.
It was never easy but I put in everything I had, every single day. The one disadvantage I had - loneliness, I turned into an advantage. Instead of spending time with friends and family, I had more time to practice on my own. It took me a few years of my childhood but I slowly started catching up with the others. I began defeating them in some drills and displaying some skill that did not go unnoticed. I was one of the first to learn to read and started spending some of my 'free' time reading. My reading was focused on computer knowledge and droids but also on hunting, tracking and survival skills. The other part of my reading included holo feeds of current events. Slowly throughout the years I built an understanding of the worlds of the jedi and the sith and how the mandalorians fit in.
Often when I was tired of training and reading I would walk through the base and find old parts and components. I eventually started collecting them and then using them to build small droids, models, or other parts. Some of the mechanics noticed my activities and began giving me small tasks to aid them with which were rewarded with more knowledge, or treats. Of course, some of the more renowned among my peers got full apprenticeships with the mechanics but I enjoyed everything that could help me keep up if not get ahead.
Combat training became more specialised as the years passed and I easily idenfied what I was good at and where my weaknesses were. Hand-to-hand combat was by far my strongest suit and my favourite, too. When we first started training hand-to-hand combat all my peers were larger than me as they had more food on their tables. I suffered defeat many times but I had a chance to study how they attack and on an odd occasion I managed to find a way to use the techniques we were taught and overcome my weight deficit throwing my opponents on their backs for a change. As I grew older and stronger becoming more capable to use more techniques. Having spent a lot of time working on my technique as the weakest and shortest among my peers, I enjoyed a healthy technical advantage when my body began catching up to theirs. By the time I was 13 I was the best hand-to-hand combatant among my peers. I was decent with a rifle. I was doing above average with miscellaneous weapons and gadgets, daggers and vibroblades. My demolitions knowledge was also good. I had excellent tactical knowledge and blaster skills. My hunting and tracking skills were also the most renowned among my peers. That put me as one of the top if not the top warriors of that age but it still wasn't enough.
I had always known that simply being good, or even the best among my peers was never going to be enough, not for an outsider to be accepted anyway. I had to prove myself in a different way. Many warriors proved themselves in hunts and by the time I was 15 I had participated in hunts but I had never undertaken one on my own... until Dathomir.
I can clearly remember the day I was summoned by the trainer to the barracks. A ship was being prepared. Three well geared mandalorians were cahtting inside and the trainer was standing silently beside the ship. Waiting for my arrival. "It is time" he started "to find out if you have it in you." I was eager and foolish at the time. I didn't quite understand the meaning of his words. I just saw an opportunity to prove myself and hopefully take a better place in society. Little did I know that the trial ahead would make me a mandalorian by heart, not renown.
The three mandalorians welcomed me aboard the ship. All three of them wore the grey colours of clan Ordo. The pilot moved to the front while the other two sat in the back of the small troop carrier. I took my place in the back as well. The mandalorians seemed to study me throughout the ride but neither of them said a word, nor did I. There were no windows in the back of the carrier so I had no idea where we were headed. When we finally arrived at our destination the side door of the carrier opened, the two mandalorians picked me up and threw me off the transport without even waiting for it to land. I rolled onto a soft surface. By the time I recollected myself I realised the transport had no intention of landing. "You have to survive for 10 days, if you do, we will pick you up here" one of the mandalorians shouted at me just before the side door slid back to close and the transport flew off.
They had left me with the two blaster pistols I had prepared for the hunt I thought we were going on and a basic armor I had strapped on. Even my helmet was left on the transport as I had taken it off for the duration of the flight. I had to work hard to supress the emotions that were attempting to come out on the surface guided by a dozen unanswerable questions. Instead I began analysing my surroundings. I had initially failed to notice that the planet was lit red. Judging from the time the flight took and my surroundings I deducted I was on Dathomir.
I didn't know much about the planet other than that it was covered mostly in swamps. I had landed just outside one. It was clear to me that attempting to find a different way off the planet could take a lot longer than 10 days, so I decided to mark the spot I had been dropped off and return to it in 10 days time. I drew an X on the ground and walked into the swamp. It didn't take long to find a lonely log that wasn't too big. It was too heavy for me to lift, so I found some long weeds that were difficult to snap. I chewed through them and tied one end around the log and the other around my waist. It was a struggle but I managed to drag the log to the X I had drawn in the dirt. I used the bottom of one of my blasters to carve the symbol of clan Ordo into the log, so I could recognise it.
My next priority was to gain an understanding of my whereabouts. I knew the planet was inhabitet but I didn't know anything about the inhabitants. I decided it was wiser to avoid engaging them, if possible. My blasters had 12 shots each and I only had 2 spare magazines. That would have ahrdly been enough to conquer the planet but it would suffice for self-defence when needed. Hunting in the swamps wouldn't bee difficult but I was uncertain what sorts of animals I would find. Finally I knew there were vast mountanous regions on the planet but I dared not risk search for one in the open and risk being seen by locals. Stealth was a priority. Instead I decided it was best to find a tall tree near the edge of the swamp and climb it. The leaves and the other trees would provide good cover but I would hopefully be able to scan some of the surroundings.
During my first day I tasked myself with finding edible fruits, studying the patterns of the animals and finding a clean water source, which proved difficult and forced me to venture outside the swamp. Luckily I had spotted a river from the tree I had climbed and with careful movements I managed to reach it and return to the confounds of the swamp without incidents. I made a plan to hunt down some animals and make pouches fro mtheir hides to be able to stock up on water and reduce my trips to the river which could expose me to more wildlife or worse.
During days two and three I worked on making myself familiar with the swamp, which turned out to be rather large and its close surroundings. I marked trees that served as good observation posts with the symbol of clan ordo. The log which was placed on my drop-off point was to the east of the swamp. The river was to the south-east. There was mostly a clear landscape to the west, as far as my eyes could see and I didn't have my helmet to scan further away. There were some caves to the north but I couldn't see if they were empty or inhabited by beasts or something else. I found places that provided cover for sleeping, like tree trunks and large rocks.
Eventually the thoughts why I had been left there caught up with me. I knew I could only avoid all those questions for so long but I still couldn't realise what this was all about. I doubted that others were put through similar 'survival' tests. I knew they were challenged to do hunts and so was I but this was completely different. Had I not proved my skill and determination? Was I still not good enough to be one of them that I had to prove I could survive in an unfamiliar territory for 10 days? And what would this prove anyway? It didn't make sense, or so I thought at the time.
What was more I began having doubts about the mandalorian culture, beliefs and methods. I wondered if the sith and the jedi had similar trials. I knew the jedi had their trials but they were different from this. Every jedi had to face their trials alone but they didn't do so in exile. The sith faced some danger in their trials, it could even be considered mortal but again they were not merely cast aside as he was. The more I had read about the jedi the more I had believed them to have strong discipline but to be naive and to lack the strength to make tough decisions and the determination to bring order to the Galaxy. They wanted to embody peace, yet they did little to uphold it. The sith I saw as warriors. Warriors who put themselves first even before their order. They valued power and they had all the determination in the galaxy but they lacked the discipline to maintain the order they could create through power. With all my analysis of the jedi and sith, however, I had never done such an analysis of the mandalorians. I had thought that every renowned warrior could earn a place in their society but I was beginning to wonder if that was true. I had done everything to build my skills and develop myself as a warrior, yet I had not earned much respect in doing so. Had I been mistaken about the mandalorians all this time?
The days passed and my doubts lingered and grew. But they were very suddenly silenced when danger approached the swamp I had made a home. It was the middle of day 8. I was very close to the final day of this supposed trial and everything had been easy... too easy. I was sitting on top of a tree near the east end of the swamp when I saw four figures approaching the swamp. I considered my options. They could be friendly and then there would be no danger at all. But if they took me captive I would miss the return of the mandalorians and then I would have lost any vague chance I had of being accepted into their society, worse I might actually die on this red planet. I couldn't risk approaching them without battle readiness. But if they were unfriendly what could I really do. If I ran they would get backup to help track me down and judging by the surroundings, it would be difficult to evade even these four. If I killed them another patrol would probably be sent to search for them and there was still a full day before my pick-up. Four would be easy to dispose of, especially since I was familiar with the swamp but who knew what the next patrol might consist of. There was too much uncertainty. The best decision was to hide, perhaps observe them from a distance just to be safe. But then it hit me. The log I had marked was standing in their path. They would see the marking and they would know someone was there. They would certainly search the swamp and possibly even find the other markings I had left within. How could I have been so foolish?
I thought of the caves to the north and realised I could try to go there and hide out until nightfall then return to the swamp and use the cover of darkness to scout the area and find if they had left. I knew they could track me into the caves if they found my tracks but I also knew that searching the swamp would take them at least until nightfall and then my tracks wouldn't be so easily spotted. All I had to do was make sure that they didn't start too close to the swamp. I climbed down the tree before they got too close and started moving through the periphery of the swamp towards the north side. Once I reach it I climbed my spotting tree there and had a look around, making sure the visitors were not nearby. I crawed onto a larger branch that was pointing towards the north. It wasn't too high but it was high enough that if I made a bad landing I could suffer anything from a twisted ankle to a broken leg. Luckily I suspected the ground was as soft as it had been on the east side of the swamp, which would make the long drop a lot softer. I leapt forwards preparing to do a front roll as I land but the ground was rough... too rough, it wasn't as soft as it had been on the east end of the swamp. Pain coarsed through my feet up into my knees and lower back. Nothing was sprained but I knew I would be hurting for at least a couple of hours. I scrambled onto my feet after the half-managed barrel roll and quickly proceeded towards the caves.
I entered the closest cave with caution. I still considered them dangerous even though I had seen no motion around them during my short observations of them. A monstrous roar filled the air and I cursed, knowing in an instant that I should have paid more attention to the caves. My eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the darkenss that englufed the cave and before I could react to move to cover or even draw my blaster I heard something swoosh close to my side just before it slammed me against the wall of the cave. Despite the heavy pain coarsing through my body I followed my instincts and drew my blaster. The adrenalin was guiding my actions more than my thoughts but it did well enough as I fired into the darkness and another roar but this time one of pain echoed. If the first roar hadn't been heard in the swamp, this one had but the four scouts were the least of my worries. I knew I had only injured the beast if even so. There was no doubt my opponent was massive but I dared not linger to found out just how massive. I scrambled along the ground and the wall and suddenly my hand fell through something resembling a hole. I heard the beast puff and step towards me and I quickly slid into the hole which was large enough to easily fit me. The beast smashed against the wall of the cave but I knew that would only slow it down. I crawled through the hole, knowing the beast couldn't fit in. A comforting thought that didn't last very long.
I crawled through what appeared to be the other end of the hole. My eyes had began adjusting to the darkness. I realised I was in a tunnel of some sort and that is when it dawned on me. The caves were a network. That was probably why I had not seen or heard the beast before, because it travelled through the network and used its different exits much like I used the different ends of the swamp. But was this beast alone in these caves or where there others? I didn't plan on finding out. I attempted to get up on my feet but then I realised the effects of my high adrenaline had worn off and pain had taken their place. I was certain there were several fracturs inside my body and standing up was closer to impossible than flying at that very moment. Crawling was going to have to do.
I knew the beast would not give up on its easyh prey, especially after I had caused it pain. Furthermore the beast was far more familiar with the network of tunnels than I was. I could feel the irony of the situation. What I did know was where the different entrances were located and judging by that and my relative position in the network, I made an educated guess on which way I needed to crawl to get out. I was crawling as fast as I could while trying to listen for the beast's approach. When I heard the first footstep echoing in the distance, I could already see a light ahead but there was a problem, the light was coming in from above, not ahead. My chances for escape had almost disappeared. Despite that I kept crawling determined to find a way to climb out.
When I reached the light I found that climbing out would be possible had I not been in a nearly crippled state. But I saw something too. The top of the hole was covered with dirt. That gave me an idea... what was more it gave me a chance of survival, as I could heard the bests's steps growing louder and louder. I crawled to the far side of the light and then some. I found a larger rock, rolled around and leaned my back on it, while holding my blasters down behind my back. I squint my eyes to make them seem closed. The trap was set.
It wasn't long before the beast approached. I could see its massive sillhouette in the darkeness but it was when it stepped into the light that I recognised it as a rancor. It seemed to have calmed. Perhaps it was enjoying the sight of its weakened pray. Perhaps it was feasting on the moment of its victory. Little did it know that victory is a slippery devil. I drew my blasters from behind my back firing both at the hole above the beast. It roared almost laughingly thinking I had missed before dirt spewed down on top of its head and into its eyes. A more menacing roar following and I used the prolonged moment of gazing into its mouth to aim and fire as many times as the blasters allowed. The shots pierced through the inside of the beast's head and it stumbled upon its back. Victory had been mine but I didn't fancy my chances of survival, considering I was possibly lost inside the network of caves and could hardly move.
"That was a bit of a waste of ammo, don't you think?" a familiar voice sounded from behind the corpse of the rancor. "I mean two shots would have done it" the vocie drew closer. The two mandalorians that had thrown me off the transport several days ago stepped into the light between the legs of the rancor. I released a sight of relief even though I could not understand what was happening. How could they have found me? Did they know I was in trouble? One of them seemed to have read my mind. "We had a bug droid following you from the moment we dropped you off..." For a moment it seemed like his mouth kept moving but I couldn't hear anything he was saying. Perhaps the pain was taking over completely.
I woke up in the infirmary. Nothing major had been broken and I was going to make a full recovery within a matter of days. The time I spent laying down, I spent thinking. I was beginning to realise that the mandalorians had never truly abandoned me. Instead they had kept an eye on me the whole time, ready to jump in and help out if needed, even if the help arrived a little too late. But I still didn't understand what the need of the trial had been, or what the trial truly was. Had I failed for not lasting the 10 days?
The trainer who had sent me on the trial visited me on my last day in the infirmary. I was still uncertain of my future. "You're not cut out for it after all" the words stung like a vibroblade. I swallowed hard and the words got stuck in my throat. "But you'll make a fine mandalorian" that is when surprise covered my face. I was completely baffled. "I can see you are confused. The trial was simple - it was to determine whether you could survive on your own. We both know that if you hadn't been collected you would have died in an unknown cave on Dathomir. Let me tell you, you wouldn't have lasted more than a day without your training but even with your training you could only manage so much."
That is when I began understanding. Being a mandalorian wasn't simply about being a strong and skillful warrior. It was about being part of a clan, part of an order, part of something bigger. I had thought that you could only become a valued member of the mandalorians if you were a strong and skillful warrior but that was wrong. Ever since I had been adopted by the mandalorians I had thought that they were shunning me but it was me who had been shunning them. I had focused on all the wrong things in their society. I had valued the individual over the order. I had aspired to be accepted by the order but not to accept the order and become a part of it.
That was the day my values were reorganised and I truly became a mandalorian but not because someone had accepted me or bestowed some honor upon me but because I had understood what it meant to be a mandalorian. The jedi, as I had realised, had unity but lacked the strength to do what was necessary. The sith, were powerful but lacked unity. The mandalorians had both strength and unity and it was the mandalorian society that was built on both.
I still feel the need to prove myself but it is different from before. I feel the desire to rise within our society and make it stronger, larger and further-reaching. So all the misfortunate souls in the galaxy can be saved from a sad faith, like I was. I take pride in my painted armor and my name not because they make me different but because they show that despite our difference we can be strong in unity. Aliit ori'shya tal'din.
PERSONALITY
PRACTICAL SKILLS
■■■■■ Slicing | ■■■■■ Survival | ■■■■■ Tracking |
■■■■■ Hunting | ■■■■■ Leading | ■■■■■ Repairing |
COMBAT SKILLS
■■■■■ Blasters | ■■■■■ Rifles | ■■■■■ Misc. |
■■■■■ Demo. | ■■■■■ H2H | ■■■■■ Vibroblades |
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EDUCATION
■■■■■ Sign | ■■■■■ Mandalorian | ■■■■■ Piloting |
■■■■■ Tactics | ■■■■■ Politics | ■■■■■ Espionage |
Braws be they with or without purpose are a favourite among his hobbies. Fighting in the ring, doing traning drills, or exercises, or cleaning weapons are among his favourite activities to get in the mood for a mission. After a mission he enjoys a celebrations but only if the mission was a success. He avoids drinking too much as things can get messy. If he fails a mission he undergoes a punishment training process that reflects the magnitude of the failure.
He keeps journals of all his missions and describes his battles at length. He uses those to study his mistakes and those of his opponents. He relives each battle many times to analyse it to the absolute limit set by his own memory capacity. He modifies his training proccesses based on his reflections.
Vod is attracted to strong, confident women. In fact he likes them so much they make him feel uneasy which results in interesting choices for pick-up lines similar but not limited to "you look like you can wrestle a rancor and win".
He dislikes dishonesty and deceit outside of the battlefield. He believes that everything is allowed on the battlefield so long as it yields victory but interactions outwith any aggressive engagement should be free of such devils. What he dislikes more is cowardice and betreyal. He could never find forgiveness for those.
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LEGACY
EQUIPMENT
MandalArms TRA—Changed colour pattern
B-8R Medium Blaster Pistol
Standard Power Pack: 12 rounds
4 additional magazines
B-8R Medium Blaster Pistol
Standard Power Pack: 12 rounds
4 additional magazines
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