Mandalorian Exiles (The 'True' Mandalorians)

"The True Mandalorians have long lost their way, divided across space as smatterings of guns-for-hire, not even thinking to pay heed to one another. Most of the so-called war-parties, made up as they are of goons and lost killers, are nothing more but excuses for the slaughtering of easy quarry, marauders and raiders who are just as guilty of betraying the way of our people as the farmers of 'Manda'toma', not fit to call themselves Mando - who have no concept of our culture. Do not let Manda'toma have a monopoly on honour, but never again let us be deceived into believing the lies of paper tyrants. We are not mercenaries. We are not slaves. We are not cannon fodder. Oya Veman manda!"" - Klav Thurn to the True Mandalorians of Jericho, after the death of Zrad Rezer

ORGANISATIONAL INFORMATION

Title of leader: True Mandalore Current leader(s): The True Mandalore Governing body: The True Rally Masters Other positions: Field Marshal, Trooper Organisations: Various exiled clans; Jericho (formerly under Zrad Rezer, now under Sev Rezer, a Manda'toma Mando) Sects: Numerous Headquarters: Clan vessels (primarily) Official language(s): Mandalorian Affiliated organizations/governments: Hutt Cartel (sometimes); GalactaWerks Corporation (unknowingly/unwittingly)

Historical information

Formed from: Mandalorian Protectors Date of founding: 301 ABY (as the New Mandalorian Crusaders), 319 ABY (as the True Mandalorians, and later the Exiles) Planet of founding: Mandalore Founder: Mandalore the Undefeated Date of reorganisation: 700 ABY (approximately) as the Mandalorian Exiles

OTHER

Notable members: Mandalore the Undefeated Mandalore the Staunch The True Mandalore (several) Zrad Rezer Klav Thurn (aligned to Sev Rezer, a member of Manda'toma)

MILITARY

The military of the Exiles is very rarely organised in any traditional sense. Although it is the dream of all Exile leaders and those declaring themselves the True Mandalorian, having been attempted by several ambitious warriors over the centuries, the True Mandalorians have never been arrayed as a single and cohesive fighting force. Instead, they are divided along both clan lines (although some still have relatives in Manda'toma) and what can only be termed as marauder factions.

For the most part, there is an acceptance across the Exile factions, clans and tribes that, aside from any claimed (but never recognised) True Mandalores, their respective Rally Masters are the authority in how they conduct and manage themselves. Whilst some smaller parties will try to claim their leaders as Rally Masters, donning the protected red armour of that honour, it is usually only the larger groupings that will successfully claim the honorific and be recognised by both their own and others' warriors. Although it is rare that it happens, and even rarer that it succeeds, these Rally Masters are meant to meet to plan raids and larger campaigns against their foes. This has most recently been done, in repetition of historic acts, during the Fifth Bastion War, in which the Exiles launched a highly-successful and divisive attack late in the war between the Bastion Moff Empire and Manda'toma.

TRUE/EXILE ARMOUR

Whilst the armour of the Mandalorian Defenders that forged Manda'toma is of an archaic and standardised design, individual clans and Mandalorians have long forged their own unique variants, honouring various concepts, ideals and preferences. Whilst these still exist in Manda'toma, it is far less commonplace, especially over the last millennium. The individuality of Mandalorians, from the perspective of adherents to "the Old Way" and that number the Exiles, has been suppressed by the state. This meant that many of the Mando that formed the original True Mandalorians were already sporting their own personalised armours. In the generations since the actual schism, the Defender armour, whilst owned by many defectors, their clans and descendants, has dwindled in popularity and availability. Instead, several new designs have become far-spread by those naming themselves True Mandalorians. In recent years, some of the larger groupings of Exiles (some claiming to be led by one True Mandalore or another) have tried to mass-produce certain armours to hand out to their newcomers and thralls, in an effort to better organise themselves and appeal to broader groups. Of course, in-keeping with the ethos of many Exiles, this displeases many conservative warriors, who feel both clan-members and newcomers should forge their own armour.

The symbol of the Exiles that emblazons most of their architecture and armour is that of the ancient Neo-Crusaders, whom the Exiles consider to have been the purest and most successful of all Mandalorian factions. They even consider their defeat at the hands of Revan to have been divine and appropriate. The Malachor system remains a site of holy pilgrimage for the True.

Generally-speaking, the Exiles do not necessarily adhere to the colour-coded ranks of Manda'toma, save for the Rally Masters; the crimson hue of their armour is closely-guarded and reserved for their highest-ranking and most-respected figures within their organisation. Nominally, the Rally Masters are meant to convene to organise their campaigns, and whilst this is not generally true or as structured as it sounds, it is considered dishonourable for those not accepted as Rally Masters to don the colour as a primary motif.

As a mockery of Manda'toma, the True Mandalorians, generally (when even giving armour to them), provide their thralls and new recruits with yellow/golden-stained armour. It is very rare for thralls to ever advance beyond their role of servitude, unless truly displaying acts that denote them as Mandalorian.

RANKS

TRUE RALLY MASTER BRIGADE LEADER FIRST WARRIOR WARRIOR THRALL/RECRUIT


(Above: The standardised armour that one faction of Exiles attempted to mass-produce and spread across their controlled territories. Whilst not adopted (or even acknowledged) by some factions, it is the most frequently seen variation.)