#mandalorian worldbuilding

[furious-blueberry0]

Mandalorian Government (new)

Is someone interested in a revisited and more complete version of the Mandalorian Government I've been workin on for my AU?

Well here it is, beware it's long:

First of all, some extra context: 

This Government was created roughly 2000 years before the era of the prequels.

The difference between the Mandalorian System and the Mandalorian Sector:

Mandalorian System: composed by the nine homeworlds, and the respective moons, of the mando’ade.   Mandalorian Sector: the eleven systems, and respective planets, that the mandalorians conquered during their Crusade, plus the Mandalorian System. Imperialistic colonies, governed by the invasors, and where the people of those worlds had little to no agency or power over their own life. 

To be considered a citizen of age, and have the right to vote, it depends on only one thing: Completing the Verd’goten (whether you are 13 or 35, you have to complete it first)

When you reach the age of 60, you can still vote, but you cannot run for any kind of political office.

Mandalore is not part of the Republic, but the System decided to at least maintain a good relationship between the two, and so every ten years, they invite emissaries of the Republic to the Celebration of the election of the new Governors. 

More often than not the emissaries they send are Jedi, as if the Republic was testing them to see if they cared more about their current peace, or the war of the past, but for now no mandalorian ever attacked verbally or physically any of the Jedi sent there, or at least none of the Jedi ever said anything about it in their reports, so who knows.

There are four main bodies in this government:

The Assembly 

The Committee of the Elders

The Governors

The Council of the People

The Assembly is formed by 30 elements, and with the two Governors they are 32.

To be elected as a member you have to be a citizen of age, so the standard mandalorian citizen can be elected if they're at least 13 years old (since that’s the standard age of the Verd’goten), but not if they’re over 60.

It’s rare to see mandalorians under the age of 18 actually be elected, but some actually managed it.

Obviously the non-human species that have different life spans will have different rules, with their years equating to the human ones. 

Each of the nine planets of the Mandalorian System: Nog, Akaan, Tracyn, Kalevala, Mandalore, Mandallia, Bonagal, Shukut and Werda, who are considered as the homeworlds of the Mandalorians, run elections to choose three mandalorians to represent the planet in the Assembly.

Not only the citizens of the planets can run for elections, but also those who live on their moons, which is a bit tricky for the planets of Bonagal and Shukut, who have 34 and 30 moons, but they seem to manage just fine.

Only one member per Clan can run for election, and more often than not, they are elected based more on the power of their names than their actual worth as a candidate. 

But this doesn’t preclude the way to those who come from less known Clans, who are sometimes even preferred by the citizens, because they are considered more part of the people, and not spoiled kids of powerful families.

This way we have 27 members elected. 

The other 3 are chosen by the Assembly, and are the representatives of the Three Houses: House Vizsla, House Kast and House Kryze.

This was a rule made to avoid internal conflicts, so that the Houses could not complain about losing power or not being represented in the government.

They have the same power as the other members of the Assembly, no more, no less.

For each member their tenure lasts 20 years, but since one can’t keep a political career over the age of 60, for example, if they are elected when they’re 50 then their tenure will only last 10 years, if elected at 45 it will only last 15 years and so on. These cases are actually pretty rare, but they do happen.

They can decide to withdraw from their position, but only after 5 years of service. 

Their position can be taken away with a Vote-of-No-Confidence, who can be called by any individual that brings enough evidence to show their reasoning about the vote.

If any of this happens, their planet is given three months to redo a new election for a new member, if this is not done then the Assembly can choose a new member on their own.

The Committee of the Elders doesn’t have actual political power, their position is more honorary than anything else, they are there to give advice and suggestions to the Assembly and the Governors, but their voice has no power in the actual decision making.

It’s made up of 6 elders, elected by the Assembly, with tenure for life and to be part of it you need to be at least 60 years old.

Most of the time they are former members of the Assembly, who cannot be re-elected there, and so they are given this position.

There have been cases in which some of those elected never held political tenure, but they are rare.

They can decide to withdraw at any moment.

They too can lose their position, but this can be decided only by a Vote-of-No-Confidence made and voted by the Assembly.

The citizens have no say on the Committee, since they have no power and are only used as advice givers.

The Governors are the heads of state of the Mandalorian Sector.

They are chosen with an election done across all the planets of the sector, and are voted by only the citizens of age.

Before the Great Secession of the People, they were only voted by the planets of the system.

To run for the election they need to be at least 20 years old, and anyone from any Clan or House can do so. Their tenure lasts ten years.

When one becomes a Governor, they have to strip their beskar’gam of any kind of paint or symbols on it. 

This is done because the Governors have to represent all Mandalorians, and not just a specific faction or creed, so plain beskar is far preferable to send that message across.

In older times the Governors could not use their surnames for this exact reason, but this is a practice that was then lost to time and never used again.

During official meetings with the Assembly or the Council of the People, they have to wear a purple cloak, to signify their status as head of state and distinguish themselves from the other mandalorians.

The decade of the Mandalorian Calendar in which they governed has the name of the two Governors.

For example the decade of Satine and Arla is called “The Years of Fett and Kryze”, but since in older times the Governors didn’t use their surnames, the older ones used the first names, so another example could be “The Years of Arla and Satine”.

They too can have their power taken by a Vote-of-No-Confidence, that can be called by any individual that brings enough evidence to show their reasoning about the vote, but this happens only if at least 25 members of the Assembly vote against the Governor.

No, challenging one of the Governors to a duel to the death will not give you their position of power, but it will give you the chance to get your ass beaten and obliterated by all the 30 members of the Assembly for even suggesting such a stupid idea.

The Council of the People is formed by the representatives of each of the eleven systems that have been conquered by the mandalorians and transformed into colonies: the Breshig system, the Cheravh system, the Concord Dawn system, the Draboon system, the Gargon system, the Harswee system, the Hrthging system, the Jakelia system, the Ordo system, the Vorpa’ya system and the Zanbar system.

Each system elects 5 representatives, and they follow the same rules of the Assembly, both for the elections and for the tenure. In total the Council has 55 members.

Unlike the Assembly, who can decide anything for anyone, they have no saying on what happens in the other systems, but only on what happens to their respective one. 

So, for example, the representatives of the Concord Dawn system cannot decide new laws for the Ordo system, but the Assembly can for both of them, but not without the representatives of that system present.

This Council has not always existed.

During the times where the Mandalorians still followed the rule of the Mand’alor, these planets had no power of their own. 

The Mandalorian Crusaders were the ones in charge of these worlds, and they exploited the native populations as slaves, to work in their place in taking their own resources and giving them to the planets of the Mandalorian System.

The situation changes throughout the centuries, with the native populations slowly mixing with the mandalorians, leading to the creations of new clans and new subcultures of the Mandalorian one. 

The people are no longer the slaves of the invaders’ clans, now they cannot be sold away from their land, they can own houses and small properties where they can live with their own clans.

They are not allowed to wear the beskar’gam or own weapons, but thanks to a proliferating and well-hidden black market, these things manage to find their way into their homes.

But this does not make them free, the work life they are forced to live is cruel and unfair, the taxes on both their money and their products are terribly high, the vast majority of the people live in poverty, and the overall treatment reserved to them by the settlers is nothing short of horrific.

When the last Mand’alor gets assassinated, the mandalorians ( of the Mandalorian System) created this new government, but with only the Governors, the Assembly and the Committee being part of it.

This goes on for a few decades, but the people of the colonies are tired of not being considered in the political life, of being treated as class B citizens, of the way they were still being treated by those who proclaimed to have killed the Mand’alor to stop his tyrannical rule, but who gave them none of the freedom they were so fond of proclaiming to have protected and saved. And so, they decided to take action.

In what would later be known as The Great Secessions of the People, one day all the populations of the occupied worlds stopped working en masse, they abandoned the cities, all their shops and all the factories. The planets who started the secessions had been those of the Concord Dawn System, and as word spread of these actions across the Sector, the other Systems started to do the same, leading to an unprecedented economical crisis, that led the Mandalorian System to remain without primal resources, since the vast majority of the manpower came from the colonies.

The mandalorians had tried to send armed forces to force the populations to get back to the cities and to their work, but not only were they extremely outnumbered, the people had weapons too, and so they fought and fought, winning all of the battles they had to endure, until the armed forces had to retreat.

Realizing that with brute force nothing would have been achieved, the then Governors decided to find an agreement with all the planets of the Sector.

And so a treaty was written, where the planets would now be allowed to choose their own leaders and govern the planets to their liking, they are given a voice in political life with the formation of the Council and choose their representatives.

They are still under mandalorian domination, and are not free to do whatever they want without the Assembly approval, but it’s far more freedom and power than they ever had since becoming colonies.

Basically each planet can have their own form of govern (monarchy, oligarchy, democracy etc.), but they all have to follow the laws that are imposed by the Assembly.

[lightsaber-dorphin]

I’ve been thinking about how Mando’a has a lot of glottal stops and how people probably wouldn’t pronounce them correctly when speaking quickly. I had the idea of an “accent” Mando’a speakers develop if they rush their words a lot.

Usually mispronunciating glottal stops would make a Mando’a speaker harder to understand or make them sound rushed and harried. But sometimes people, like, get good at it. When that happens they are said to have “soldier’s accent” (“joh’ika* be verde” or “joika be verde”). It’s not joh’ika be verde if the person is tripping over their words and can’t be understood.

Despite the name, it is most often seen in restaurant cooks, nurses, etc. after busy shifts. The work rush version usually goes away once the person gets to sit down and breathe. Long term joh’ika be verde develops gradually when someone spends most or all of their time in an environment where speaking quickly is encouraged, even outside of rushes. That version is more of an “accent” and seen in soldiers and holonet gamers.

Outside of the expected settings, joh’ika be verde gives the impression that someone has never relaxed or had a normal conversation. In casual settings it’s considered hashing the vibe.

Idioms I made up from this:

“Gar jorhaa’i sa gar kih’ru’cuyi o’r akaan” / “You sound like you were just in a war” as an equivalent to “you look like you just went through a war.” (I added kih/small to ru’cuyi/were for kih’ru’cuyi/‘recently were’ because there’s no “just” or “recently.”)

“digu gar betene” / “forgetting your sighs” as an equivalent to “tripping over your words”

*there wasn’t a Mando’a word for accent, so I added the diminutive to joha/language

[carrion-art]

The "sneaky bastard" winner of '37 and their (reward? punishment?) prize apron + a visual of how i think the voting chits would look like

[wizard-finix]

LU Star Wars AU: Part 5

LAST BUT NOT LEAST ITS TIME AND SKY LETS GO

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4

Time

Time is a direct survivor of Order 66. He was a child living in one of the more remote temples when everything happened, and was able to escape alive by fleeing into the dense forests of the planet.

Time spent many years after that traveling on his own and not getting close to anyone out of fear of being found out, or worse, left behind. He holds a certain bitterness towards everything that's happened, and when he was a teenager, he was involved in a major incident on the planet Termina. Time finally decided to bury his saber on a remote planet after that, unwilling to take on the responsibility that comes with it.

Time actually ended up meeting Sheik and donning Mandalorian armor some time after that in his teenage years. He doesnt always gel with Mandalorian warrior ideaology, but he doesn’t truly fit the Jedi way of his childhood anymore either, after all the war and death he’s seen. He's determined to be strong enough to protect those he cares about, like Malon.

Time doesn't entirely get along with the Chain at first. (Especially Warriors and Twilight; Warriors reminds him of his old Jedi master, who wore a red scarf, and Twilight's saber looks suspiciously familiar.) The boys eventually grew on him anyway, and he counts them among the people he cares about.

Sky

Sky comes from a gaseous planet in the Outer Rim with settlements that float in the clouds, constructed far above its surface.

Sky's planet is a bit of a cosmic mystery, since it should be impossible for islands of solid rock to float; some theorize that it was constructed instead of naturally occurring, or that there is a unique combination of magnetic fields and orbits that make it possible, but no one knows for certain. Loftwings are part of the planet's ecosystem of impossible floating islands, and are an important part of the culture there.

Being so remote, the Empire didn't show much interest in Sky's home planet until Ghirahim showed up. The Empire hasn’t taken over his home yet, and he is determined to keep it that way, along with the rest of the Knights of Skyloft (including Sun). Ghirahim's interest in the planet involved rumors that there was an old Jedi temple hidden on its surface, and the secrets that were hidden within it.

Those rumors turned out to be true; there was an ancient abandoned temple on one of the floating islands, and Sky and Sun ended up discovering it before Ghirahim did. Sky also found a protocol droid named F1, and with Fi's help he and Sun managed to forge their own sabers with the only remaining kyber crystals there.

Sky's connection to the Force manifests mostly as visions, and he occasionally experiences strange, cryptic dreams as a result.

Linked Universe AU belongs to @ linkeduniverse!

[formlessvoidbeast]

I think my favorite blink-and-you'll-miss-it detail from my jangobi fic is that Jango 100% did not assume any specific genital configuration when he got into Obi-Wan's pants. He reached in and was just like 'aha, human-standard dick. I know what to do with this' and carried on. Had he discovered a cunt he would have had the exact same reaction.

If it had been something entirely surprising (eg: nest of tentacles, ovipositor, cloaca) he might have paused for a second to ask 'hey, how do I make this feel good for you' but very much would not have been thrown off his stride.

It just amuses me to think about Mando culture around sexuality not taking gender or species into account at all? Just "This person is badass and/or good with kids. That's hot. I'll make it work with whatever they've got going on under the armor".

[cinerins]

Could I get some input from those who know Mando'a? I've been assembling an armor & gear guide for our group and needed to come up with some words I couldn't find in any dictionary.

Handguard – Bes'gaan -> following the example of kneeguard = bes'lovik (metal+knee) Skidplate – Ru'cabur -> since codpiece is ven'cabur, but would something else make more sense? Flak vest – Pel'bur -> or any "soft armor"; I felt it would make sense to draw a distinction between that and kute? Utility belt – Bir'tay -> my understanding of "bag/pocket/many" + "hold/keep/storage" ...so, something that holds a bunch of stuff/pockets?? Cowl (Cape/Cloak/Poncho) – ??? -> honestly I was a little shocked there doesn't seem to be a word for this. My immediate thought would be going in the direction of hukaatir ("to cover") or hodasal ("camouflage") and hodar ("to deceive, fool") but I could also see something in relation to protection/defense

I'm still on the fence for what to call gloves. Boots exist, so I'd think there's something, especially since they can be made from some kind of armorweave as well...

Let me know what you think!

[sewingmonster]

ㅤ“True pacifism is not passivity, but a deliberate choice not to invoke violence. Not to feed it. Not to commit to its cause. This includes not only thoughts, but actions. I must commit, so I commit. And I must weigh a balance on my philosophies and my ethics – to commit upon you a small harm, or to allow you to commit a greater one”

Satine Kryze from The Desert Storm by @blue-sunshine-mauve-morning

[high-fantasy-sw]

Mandalorians!

Their culture is an integral part to the clones, especially the older generation clones like Cody and Rex, I'd like to know more about how they fit into this universe and how they contribute to it.

Everything from their songs (which they ahve a lot of) to their weapons (again, they have quite a bit of this). How does beskar fit into all this? What of the Kryze sisters and Korkie? And Death Watch? Jango and Boba Fett? The Cuy'val Dar and how they trained the troopers?

Oh! And what about our beloved Kamas?

Just...splurge about the Mandos to me

:DDDDDD YESSS SO MANY QUESTIONS LET ME ANSWER THEM ALL

Okay! So. Part one. Mandos. Let's go. I'm gonna zero in on a few specific things about Mandalorian culture here, because across the AU I tend not to change a lot of established, canon lore in terms of detraction. I (usually) operate on a policy of "keep everything that's canon, adapt certain things to fit a fantasy aesthetic rather than a science fiction one, and add whatever I think is cool". For an example of what I mean by this, I'd advise you to go check out my post about Togrutas in the AU.

With this being said, that means that the established Mandalorian culture is pretty much the same as in canon. Therefore, I am choosing to highlight the additions I have made and several adaptations to existing cultural items and practices.

One more thing to keep in mind: as made abundantly clear by this point, in HFSW the Mandalorians are based upon Ancient Rome. I cannot promise complete historical accuracy, in fact I will go so far as to not promise any historical accuracy, but as a Latin student, history buff, and the co-consul of my school's Latin Club, it was too perfect an opportunity for me to resist.

Art Forms: Other than their beskar, the Mandalorians are famed for one other art form: their gorgeous stained glass. (This was actually one of the very first things I knew I wanted to add to the AU.) Ever since the island was cursed so many years ago in the Jedi-Mandalorian Crusades and turned mostly to a barren wasteland of sand, the people of Mandalore and its surrounding island territories put their hallmark resilience to the front again: they melted it down and made something of it. Combine that with traditional Mandalorian Color Symbolism, and the glass became almost as important as the beskar'gam itself. By the time of the Clone Wars, it can be found in use for practical purposes (glassware such as cups and vases, as well as the domes of Mandalore Proper's famed domed cities), art (windows and even blown-glass sculptures), and jewelry (some of the more crafty have even found ways to work it into their armor), to name a few examples. In addition, and especially under Satine's rule, other forms of the arts flourish on Mandalore Proper and its island territories, such as frescoes, mosaics, architecture, and theatre.

Gear and Weaponry, specifically Jet Packs: The beskar'gam is still the most important aspect of Mandalorian culture, although- unfortunately- I haven't actually had the time to design what it would look like for the AU yet. (I'm working on it.) It's still made of beskar, beskar is still only found on Mandalorian islands, armorers are still the ones in charge of its creation and maintenance, et cetera. Mandalorians fight with almost all weaponry found under the sun, although the vast majority of them favor spears and javelins, or knives (mostly daggers, although throwing knives are not unheard of). The Darksaber has a serrated blade, and due to its being forged of beskar, when ignited by a force-sensitive it crackles with lightning rather than fire. Jet packs (haven't thought of an appropriately fantasy name for them yet) are a creation of the Mandalorians, and are- essentially- fully-jointed, mechanical wings mounted on a harness. It's very cool. I shall have art of it for you soon, when I actually get around to designing beskar'gam. (As for your question about kamas: I'm gonna answer that when I get around to the more Clone-centric asks. I didn't forget, I'm just saving it for later)

Songs: Mandalorian songs are of wide and varied style and genre, from ballads to elegies to rousing tavern-songs, and every kind in-between. They are written in Basic, Mando'a, or Old Mando'a (though these are usually more traditional, ancient songs; with very few exceptions, more modern songs are not composed in Old Mando'a). I will talk more about songs, though, when I get to your more Clone-centric questions, because song is a hugely important part of Clone Culture in this AU and I want to do most of the heavy lifting there.

AAASDFGHJKL YOUR QUESTIONS ARE SO GOOD AND I AM SO LOOKING FORWARD TO ANSWERING ALL OF THEM!!! Also I got the message in your last ask; PLEASE don't be afraid to shoot me as many as you want, I will answer literally any question you throw at me because I am so starved for people to talk to me about this AU. AUGH MAY YOU'RE THE BEST :D

This concludes part one!! (it's almost 1 AM in my time zone right now so i'm gonna clock out and get some sleep BUT I WILL BE ANSWERING THE REST OF YOUR QUESTIONS TOMORROW)

[crackedopen]

FINALLY

DONE

[inquisitor-apologist]

Honestly I think all the fake Christmas holiday stuff is really boring. Mandalorians don’t need Life Day they need a holiday celebrating how many deadly weapons they have + their kill counts be creative ffs

[furious-blueberry0]

Ok I made a list of mandalorian colors:

Black: justice (canon)

Grey: mourning (canon)

White: responsibility / temperance

Silver: clean slate / being reborn / seeking redemption

Gold: vengeance (canon)

Yellow:  lust for freedom

Orange: lust for life (canon)

Red: honoring a parent (canon)

Dark Red / Garnet: survival 

Magenta: luck

Purple: strength of spirit 

Blue: reliability (canon)

Light blue: ambition

Green: duty (canon)

Light Green / Erin: lust for peace

Teal: healing / compassion

Brown: honesty / valor

Pink: kindness / trust

Lilac: universal harmony / emotional balance 

[tmorriscode]

I have so many thoughts about pog soup.

cooking is a great way to experience culture and history of a place.

When I make gumbo, I think of the intersecting cultures that led to okra, dried sassafras leaves and roux all sharing a pot.

So when I see mention of food in something I’m reading or watching, I pay attention.

Bo shares a food she calls pog soup with Din Djarin. She also references the food’s cultural importance.

“You've never eaten pog soup?"
"No."
"Can you appreciate the irony? Any Mandalorian worth their armor was raised on this since they were his (Grogu’s) size.”

This is a nice bit of world building. We’ve seen in the show that the Mandalorians are a race that take their culture seriously. But they’re also a diaspora. One that has spent time in hiding after being persecuted by the imperial government.

In our real life diasporas, one of the things we try to hold onto are recipes. Items can be lost, but recipes can be recreated from memory and handed down. Consuming them puts us in mind of people and places we no longer have access to.

The Children Of The Watch have managed to hold on to what is culturally most important (their forge, their creed).

But along the way, they lost simpler pleasures, like comfort foods.

What is it about pog soup that makes it a cultural touchstone? It’s not listed in any Star Wars cookbook I own. The Galaxy’s Edge cookbook lists two Mandalorian foods - a spicy chicken stew and a sticky and spiced fruit and nut cake.

In the cookbook, the fictional author speculated that Mandalorian food is spicy because the warrior culture looked at it as a test of their bravery to eat.

There are supposedly four essentials of Mandalorian cooking, but the only one mentioned in canon is that the food must be portable.

It makes sense that the Mandalorian comfort food is soup. You can put it in a mug and drink it on the go. Especially if you are running to your next battle. And it’s probably spicy.

The Star Wars website helpfully provides a recipe that includes bell peppers, onions, assorted flavorful spices, a little heat from curry powder and sweetness from coconut milk.

It honestly looks delicious. Sweet, with complex notes from the spice blend. But not too hot for a child’s palette. The coconut milk would help cut down on the spice burn, and the natural sugar in the peppers and coconut milk would appeal to kids too.

I wonder about what we could infer about Mandalorian culture based on particular spices? Are they native to Mandalore? If they were one more thing lost in the purge (except in places like Bo Katan’s palace gardens ) that might explain why Din hadn’t heard of pog soup. Also, a covert on the run and hiding their numbers in sewers wouldn’t have access to spices. Not to grow and not to buy in quantity.

In a situation like that, they might hold all the tighter to their creed because that’s all they have of Mandalore.

Otoh, it also highlights the way the two characters are diametric opposites. For Din Djarin, adhering to the creed is what makes him Mandalorian. He tells Bo-Katan “If we don’t have the creed, what are we?”

Bo-Katan otoh, grew up with a pre-purge Mandalore. She had pog soup and the gardens in the domes. She took her creed at thirteen while standing in the living waters. Her followers left her in the same way that Din’s covert cast him out. But she doesn’t have to question if she’s Mandalorian. She has these experiences to shape her identity. Her self-doubt revolves around her leadership ability.

Bo-Katan sharing an experience over food with Din Djarin shows how the two characters who represent different types of Mandalorian are learning to see each other. It’s the first step in their quest.

That’s quite a lot of meaning to pack into a simple cup of soup.

I know that the episode that references pog soup has been out a little while, and I’m probably behind in posting my thoughts, but I just had to let this digest a bit.

. . . I’ll just see myself out.

[anjels001]

Kirosk (KEE-rohsk)-equivalent to turtle

General Description:

The Kirosk is a formidable terrestrial creature indigenous to the planet Mandalore. Known for its formidable shell and assertive territorial nature, the Kirosk bears a striking resemblance to Earth’s turtles but boasts unique attributes that set it apart as one of the most esteemed and intimidating species on Mandalore. Revered and feared, this creature symbolizes the enduring spirit of Mandalorian culture.

Physical Characteristics:

Size and Structure:

Length: Up to 4 meters

Height: Up to 2 meters

Body: The Kirosk possesses a broad, muscular build, covered by a segmented shell composed of hard, resilient plates. These plates are made from a material akin to beskar, the legendary Mandalorian metal, known for its exceptional strength. The shell’s coloration ranges from dark gray to muted green and blue, aiding in camouflage against Mandalore’s rugged terrain.

Head and Limbs:

Head: The Kirosk features a wide, flattened head with small, piercing eyes that emit an amber glow. Its robust jaw is equipped with razor-sharp teeth designed for breaking rocks and extracting valuable minerals and metals.

Limbs: Short but powerful, the Kirosk’s limbs end in formidable claws. These claws are adept at digging through the earth and defending against potential threats.

Tail:

Structure: The Kirosk’s tail is long, thick, and armored with spiked protrusions. It serves dual purposes: as a defensive weapon and as a tool for attacking. The tail can knock over small trees and deliver significant damage to adversaries during combat.

Behavior and Habits:

Territoriality:

Marking: The Kirosk is highly territorial, using deep scratches on rocks and soil to demarcate its domain. Preferring rocky and mountainous environments, it uses these areas for shelter and strategic observation of potential threats.

Diet:

Feeding Habits: Omnivorous by nature, the Kirosk’s diet includes tough vegetation, small fauna, and minerals embedded in rocks. Notably, the consumption of beskar deposits contributes to the robustness and durability of its shell.

Activity Patterns:

Behavior: Generally solitary, the Kirosk is active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk, seeking food and defending its territory. Its behavior reflects a blend of cautious observation and aggressive defense.

Cultural Significance:

Mandalorian Symbolism:

Cultural Role: The Kirosk is revered in Mandalorian culture as a symbol of strength, resilience, and perseverance. Its image is often depicted in art, monuments, and armor, representing the enduring spirit of the Mandalorian people.

Ritual Significance: In Mandalorian tradition, confronting a Kirosk is considered a rite of passage for warriors, serving as a test of bravery and skill. The challenge of facing such a formidable creature is seen as a mark of honor and capability.

Utilitarian Value: The Kirosk’s shell, when found naturally, is highly prized. It is often repurposed into armor and shields, enhancing their protective properties with the strength of beskar-like material.

Conservation Status:

Population: The Kirosk is a rare and respected species, with populations concentrated in specific rocky regions of Mandalore. Its rarity contributes to its status as a formidable and coveted creature within Mandalorian society.

Threats: Natural predators and environmental changes pose threats to the Kirosk’s habitat. Conservation efforts focus on protecting these creatures and their ecosystems to ensure their continued presence on Mandalore.

Ecological Role:

Ecosystem Impact: As a keystone species, the Kirosk plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of Mandalore’s rocky environments. Its feeding habits help control mineral deposits and promote the health of the ecosystem.

Curiosity:

"In our extensive studies of the diverse flora and fauna across the galaxy, one particularly fascinating specimen from the remote world of Mandalore has come to our attention: the Kirosk. This remarkable creature, with its formidable shell and elusive nature, has revealed an intriguing biological phenomenon concerning the formation of a rare crystal known as the Mado'a Kyeber. The Mado'a Kyeber, or 'Ka'ra Manda' as it is known in the native tongue, forms within the Kirosk’s digestive system in a manner reminiscent of the pearls produced by the Krayt dragon. As the Kirosk consumes various minerals, some of these are not fully digested and instead accumulate within the stomach. Over time, these undigested mineral fibers crystallize, resulting in the formation of the Mado'a Kyeber. This process mirrors the creation of Krayt dragon pearls, which develop from the irritation caused by foreign objects within the dragon’s digestive tract. The resulting Mado'a Kyeber is a striking black crystal with a pulsating resonance akin to a heartbeat. Its unique formation and properties make it a valuable and symbolically significant substance within Mandalorian culture. The comparison to Krayt dragon pearls underscores its rarity and the complex interplay between the creature's biology and the environment of Mandalore. Such discoveries not only enhance our understanding of the natural world but also deepen our appreciation for the intricate ways in which life adapts and evolves in different corners of the galaxy." — Archivist Nerron, Jedi Archives, circa 1017 ABY

[theolsuspendisbelief]

The Mandalorian (Din Djarin and Bo Katan Kryze dynamic) and the Progression of Courtly Love

Okay okay, okay.

This came up in the the comments on 'O True As Steel, but I thought it might make a fun English 202 Lit Theory post from this amateur researching dude.

To begin, though Courtly Love literature often has a strong thread of eroticism throughout, this can be read as more of a spiritual or religious fevour and is not neccesarily the same as romantic or sexual love. I personally am down with Dinbo because this is a trope I super dig, but I do like a Din/no-one life as well. All shippers welcome in Suspend's Ted Talk.

So, in doing research for aforementioned fic, I kept coming across versions of Barbara W. Tuchman's list of stages from her analysis of Courtly Love literary tradition. The only place I can find the actual source material is a physical copy in a university library across the city and I have stuff going on. So.

Anyhow, her stages, as follows, are fairly self-explanatory:

1. Attraction to the Lady (eyes being a common motif)

2. Worship of the lady from afar

3. Declaration of passionate devotion

4. Virtuous rejection by the lady

5. Renewed wooing and oaths of virtue/fealty

6. Moans of approaching death from unsatisfied desire

7. Heroic deeds of valor

8. Consummation

9. Perpetual adventures

If we put on our reading-too-much-into-things hats, we can apply this structure to the dynamic seen thus far, with episode seven obviously being stage 3. Oof.

So, for those a little bummed that the dynamic wasn't addressed in the finale (and again, even if not into a romantic angle, I think a scene like that pledge does deserve some catharsis from a plot perspective), my take, through the above framework, is that we have hit stage 4.

Seperation by duty would definitely qualify as a virtuous rejection. If the showrunners do decide to continue in a direction where they follow what's happening on Mandalore, my S4 predictions, in this hypothetical at least, would be as follows:

Stage 5 - Clan Din occasionally dips into Mandalore to do classic side quest shiz and there is light banter. Sprinkled in first half of season 4.

Stage 6 - Something big goes down on Mandalore as a major plot point. Someone is endangered or even injured.

Stage 7 - Awesome fight season finale. Complete confidence in show. This is what they do best.

Stage 8 - Ackkowledgement of some kind of relationship. Paladin, consort, devoted pilgrim from afar. Whatevs.

Stage 9 - Season 5 and up

I just like my silly western space fantasy show with a shiny paladin, warrior princess, and wizard son, you know?

[djarins-cyare]

Chapter 15 is released. If you miss Din already and want cheering up with a lovely, detailed, completely written, regularly posted, character-based story with an original plot, in-depth worldbuilding and thorough research, I urge you to take a look 🥹

I’ve now reached over 5K views, my mind is blown just thinking about it 🤯

❤️ Thank you to everyone reading this little tale of mine, I hope you continue to enjoy - there’s plenty more to come! ❤️

[usernamesuggestionsarefunny]

I think the lives of Star Wars people who spend their lives on the ground, on planets, rarely ever going to space except perhaps to a beach planet on vacation or to visit relatives in another system and who are just chilling as either lawyers, farmers, builders, spaceship engineers, doctors (Healers in SW universe lore idk?), singers, actors for hologram dramas, students of universities, high school students, mine workers or owners who find the materials needed for all that spacecraft craft we take for granted, the scientists, etc. basically the lives of non-force sensitive people or force sensitive people who use their powers for mundane stuff and live in this advanced sci Fi setting should be explored more.

Almost every fandom fusion on Star wars assumes their characters would live completely different lives if they were in the Star wars universe…. But why. What were the wars about, what were the Sith and the Jedi fighting over? Presumably an incredibly advanced civilization that had more than just soldiers eternally fighting living in it (or more like OUTSIDE in spaceships). So in an alternative universe your characters do not necessarily have to live in space. They can still be their canon profession except they might have futuristic gadgets to help them do their job. They may know the canon characters as either soldiers or historical characters they see on the news or learn in school (Hey class, today we are seeing the clone wars and the rebellion lead by Luke skywalker) . They can still meet. Or they can go to space and become jedi or such after living a relatively normal life, that would also be interesting (We are assuming here this is Post original trilogy and the Jedi got reformed not to be a child soldier institution).