The Duchy of Mandalore, the System of Mandalore, the World of Mandalore
The Duchy of Mandalore was a 3-system nation that was composed of mostly humans. The Mandalorians use to be known for their often violent culture, having caused much trouble for the Terran Empire when it still reigned, as they were amongst the few human colonies to have escaped the Terran Empire’s reign. However in recent years the culture of war and honor had turned into honor through defense and peace, while still be comprised of some of the most fierce warriors in the galaxy, they upheld their peace and neutrality, although pressure was always growing to let go of that neutrality.
The Capital World of Mandalore, which was of course in the system of Mandalore, which was also apart of the Duchy of Mandalore, was a vast planet. Most of the surface was now covered in vast towering structures, rising well into the sky. The planet’s food supply was mainly supplied by the nearby moon with robots automatically growing and harvesting it, and underwater farms. As it was the capital, Duchess Satine, ruler of the Duchy of Mandalore, made her home here. The planet had many ships coming and going, as its location in the galaxy made it a valuable trade node for the many human and other alien nations still reliant off a warp drive.
On the planet itself, in the Duchess’s palace, awoke the Captain of the Royal Guard, Dagmar. He sighed, standing up from his messy bed and looking about. Being apart of the palace the room was luxurious, decorated with fine tapestries with the crest of the Mandalorian Royal family, and with plenty of gold and silver trimming. A door led to the room’s bathroom, as Dagmar moved towards the room’s dresser and mirror.
Dagmar looked at himself for a minute, long black hair tied back into a ponytail, and his green eyes. His chest showed that he was a muscular man. He quickly slipped into a vest and slacks. He turned towards the wall, where kept two things. One was a sapphire blue blade, the other the hilt of an energy blade. Relics of Dagmar’s time as a Dragon-Rider, he quickly let go of those thoughts. He had left the order after he lost her.
He opened the bottom door, containing the set of armor he wore as the Captain of the Royal Guard. While it looked more like Medieval Era plate-armor made of silver that had golden trimming, under the hood it was a set of Mandalorian Power Armor. He grabbed the other item in the drawer; his family’s mask.
Dagmar had come from the world of Char, the home of the Ashen Peoples. A human colony being one of the earlier colonization attempts, the Terran Empire had not discovered the colony till well after it’s founding as the attempt had been thought to have failed. The Ashen Peoples had developed a unique culture and believed in the power of the family, the mask which Dagmar now held being a ceremonial symbol said to contain all of the souls of his family members. After their rediscovery by the Terran Empire, the colony was quickly brought to its knees and forced into the Empire. It joined the United Federation of Sol after the fall of the Terran Empire as a means of defending itself and maintaining its growing economic power that had started towards the later eras of the Terran Empire. When the United Federation of Sol had joined the Eternal Union, most of the Ashen Peoples had subscribed to belief of Faust, but still believed that the masks held souls of their family members as Faust’s way of helping defend the family. When Dagmar was recruited into the Riders, his father handed him the mask as he was the sole child of his parents.
Dagmar began slipping on the mask, as he had sought to hide his identity from all but a few after he left the order, however as he did, a gentle hand stopped them.
“Hiding your face from me already?” said Duchess Satine, her sweet and gentle smile looking at Dagmar.
Dagmar had always been grateful, having met Satine when he washed up on Mandalore after leaving the order. Her father before her, Canderous, had granted Dagmar safe haven and position as head of the guard after he heard of his story and tested his abilities. This was also about the time Dagmar met Satine, who was an adult at the time.
“Of course not, your highness.” bowed Dagmar.
“The formality is unnecessary Dagmar, we are close friends after all.” responded Satine.
“It’s a hard habit to break Satine, the order drilled it into me.” said Dagmar, letting his tone drop from a serious and formal one to a friendlier one.
Satine smiled, however there seemed to be something she was worried about. Dagmar took the mask in one hand and followed her through the halls of the Palace, the morning light shining through many of it’s grand windows. Satine and Dagmar stood side by side, as Satine shared her worries.
“The Church of Faust influence continues to grow Dagmar.” sighed Satine, turning to Dagmar.
“Is a Church that preaches peace so much really cause for concern Satine?” asked Dagmar, also turning to Satine.
“It is not so much the Church that worries me as the fact that the political parties and the people who follow it are now advocating Mandalore drop her neutrality and join the Eternal Union in political and military alliance. I do not fear the Eternal Union, yet my family has always done it’s best to maintain our neutrality as it has been the best for Mandalore.”
“Perhaps the Eternal Union holds the best future for Mandalore, Satine, they only seek peace and prosperity. I did not run from the EU because of the EU, I ran because of the Order afterall.”
“Not all of the Independent Human States are aligned with the EU. Many see the EU as a potential threat to their growing power. Loss of Mandalore’s neutrality could mean loss of our position current position amongst the human nations, and loss of trade as many of the Anti-EU nations may see trading to a EU-aligned nation as potential threat.”
“If that’s the case Satine, then maintain neutrality. But if the Church of Faust continues to grow in influence, the people may give you no chance the in matter. You said it yourself, the Duchy of Mandalore is a democratic state.”
“Yet what the people want, is not always what the people need.” sighed Satine, as Dagmar slipped the mask on and the two entered the throne room.
//A bit of a look into a very minor NPC nation that will play a role in a few important plots.