Thank you all for taking the time to read my story. As you can see, I'm trying to ensure each chapter is over 2k words. That's a lot for me, since I'm new to writing, but I make it work.
I want to thank all of you for giving my story a chance. If you have any suggestions for improving my writing, pointing out grammar mistakes, ideas on where you would like the story to go, or any encouraging words, I would greatly appreciate it. I update this story as I write new chapters, so please bear with me if it takes a day or more to create each chapter. If you could also drop some power stones to help get this story seen by more people, I would really appreciate it!------------------------------------------
The next morning, Rayden woke up late, knowing that today would be a rest day. His training schedule consists of multiclass days, single-focus days, and two rest days per week. 'I love training and getting stronger, but man, I do love a rest day where I can kick back and relax doing nothing.' Rayden thought while stretching in his bed, thinking about the day ahead.
A lethargic Rayden got out of bed to grab a drink of water and use the restroom. Heading to the kitchen, he saw his mother preparing breakfast. "Morning, Mom," he said, sitting down at the table, as he greeted Elyse.
"Morning, dear, you're up late." Elyse had a warm motherly smile on her face as she put a plate of food in front of Rayden and kissed him on the forehead.
Rayden: Ya, it's a rest day, remember, so I'm going to take it slow and enjoy this day.
"Where are Dad and Grandpa?" he wondered, looking around the house.
Elyse: Your dad is out getting things ready for the competition.
Rayden: What does he need to do to prepare?
Elyse: Your dad has a lot to manage for the competition. He is securing different venues for each of the games and preparing equipment such as speeders and droids that will be needed. The clan members are helping set up a cultural exchange area by designating a specific section for each clan.
Rayden: That's a lot of work for a competition that is 2 months away. Can he handle it himself?
Elyse: He always does. He thrives under pressure. Try to relax today and make the most of your time off.
Rayden: I will, and what about grandpa? Where is he?
Elyse looked down, and a small, sad smile formed on her face. "Grandpa is spending time with your grandma right now."
"Oh," startled Rayden, realizing and looking down to collect his thoughts. "I'll go visit with him later; he needs some company.
A loving smile formed on Elyse's face. "How about all of us go visit together later today? I'll bring some snacks.
Rayden: Ok, what time?
Elyse: around 6 pm
"Ok I'll meet you and dad later then." Rayden got up from his chair after finishing his breakfast. Thinking about his grandfather as he walked away, he remembered what his parents had told him about his grandmother and how she was no longer with them.
—
When Torin was the clan leader, he and his wife, Maria, a skilled armorer, worked diligently to grow the clan from around 200 members to its current size of approximately 500. One day, Torin decided to pass on the leadership to Varn so he could go on vacation with Maria. For a year, they traveled across the galaxy, encountered adventures, shared laughter, enjoyed drinks, and formed connections with a variety of people. They had the time of their lives, free from worries about the clan and confident that it was in Varn's capable hands.
However, on their way home to conclude their travels, slavers ambushed them, whom they had run into and caused trouble for during their adventures. After a long and bloody battle, Maria sacrificed herself to protect Torin. Overwhelmed with grief, Torin fled with his wife's body, injuring himself on the way back to the clan. After staying awake for more than a day with serious wounds, Torin finally returned to the clan, collapsing before his son while carrying Maria in his arms.
Varn, grieving the loss of his mother and nearly his father, prioritized stabilizing Torin before hunting down the slavers responsible. Once Torin was stable with the clan doctors, Varn led a task force of clan warriors to hunt down the slavers and kill them. This turned into an adventure in itself, and it was also here that Elyse and Varn met each other. Varn, with grief and rage, and Elyse, with her compassion and grace, worked together to dismantle the slaver organization that was connected to the Hutts.
The rest is history. Elyse and Varn destroyed the slaver organization. Varn avenged his mother, and Elyse helped Varn overcome his rage and grief. Over time, they fell in love, and with Ryaden being born soon after.
—
Rayden stepped out of his home and pushed aside thoughts of his grandfather for the moment. 'Today is for rest and relaxation; I don't need to be all depressed. I'll visit Grandpa later anyway, so for now, let's enjoy the day.'
Kweving Heights is the home of Clan Knight, housing all 537 clan members. The main fortress and home of Rayden is on a flat plateau on the side of a mountain. Below the fortress are sprawling fields of farms and pastures where support members and droids provide the clan's food. Water is sourced from underground aquifers.
'Looks like today is a lively day,' Rayden thought as he walked through the central plaza, where children ran around playing, and elders relaxed and played Dejarik, also known as Holochess.
Stalls selling handcrafted trinkets, items members brought back from off-world while doing bounties or mercenary work, food, toys, and entertainment devices.
"Looks like Lira is selling the latest harvest today." As Rayden walked past a food stall, he noticed a 40-year-old woman selling grain, fruits, and meat alongside her son. Lira and her husband are farmers who work the fields with 28 other clan members and several dozen droids.
Rayden: Morning, Lira, Jon
Lira and Jon: Morning Rayden, not training today
"It's a rest day; one apple, please." Rayden placed a credit on the counter while Jon handed him an apple. "Thank you."
Lira: Enjoy your day; there's no need to drown in training. You're young, so have fun and enjoy yourself before becoming the clan leader.
Rayden: Will do, later.
As I walked away, I reflected on the clan and its structure. There are currently 537 clan members, with more expected to join, including those who are pregnant. Additionally, let's assume that some foundlings are occasionally picked up from outside the clan.
Clan Knight follows the motto, "It's better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in war." Every member, from warriors to support personnel, receives combat training. Everyone is required to maintain a minimum level of physical fitness, hand-to-hand combat skills, and proficiency in shooting. As Mandalorians, fighting is in our blood, and weapons are our religion.
We keep our blades and blasters away from innocents while protecting and defending those who need help. We follow the Resol'nare. Sometimes, when members take bounties or go on missions, they also protect and adopt foundlings in need.
The population has a ratio of 51% men to 49% women. There are approximately 40 elders and 60 children under the age of 13 present. The elders train the children to prepare them for the Verd'goten. Once they pass this rite of passage, children are then considered adults.
I'm 5 years old, but I began my training at 4. Most members don't start until they're 8. However, since I'm both the clan heir and can wield the Force, starting my training early gives me more time to become proficient in various skills.
After taking a bite of the delicious apple, let's get back on track. We currently have 467 adults in the clan. Approximately 125 guards live here permanently to protect the fortress, farms, and Beskar mines. They are led by Keal, a childhood friend of my father who has extensive combat experience. He and my father worked as mercenaries when they were younger, providing assistance on war-torn planets and tracking down high-profile bounties. Now, Keal focuses on training new clan guards, and he's probably in the midst of that training right now.
Rayden approached the training ground but paused at a distance to observe. He watched as Keal and about a dozen guards ran laps, while another group practiced hand-to-hand combat on raised platforms that moved intermittently. Meanwhile, a final group was honing their shooting skills at flying targets, assisted by floating droids.
Keal's training for the clan guards is rigorous and diverse. He focuses on physical conditioning, stamina, and combat techniques. Throughout his life, he acquired numerous hand-to-hand combat skills.
Each session begins with rigorous exercises to build strength and agility. Following that, the guards practice hand-to-hand combat and weapon handling, with a focus on precision and discipline. Keal also teaches tactical strategies for defense and offense, using real-world scenarios to prepare them for any threat. He fosters a sense of camaraderie among the guards, believing that teamwork is essential for success. Under his guidance, they not only learn to fight but also to protect with honor and loyalty.
After training, I walked to the observatory. This area serves as a lookout for incoming ships and offers a great vantage point to observe the farmland below. The farmers in the clan work just as hard as the warriors. About 15 families—comprising 30 adults and several children—along with dozens of droids, manage the clan's food production to sustain the greenery around our home, preventing it from eroding due to the surrounding desert.
At the farms' edge lies the entrance to the Beskar Mines, guarded by a dozen guards. Beskar is crucial for all Mandalorians; however, the mines on Mandalore are nearly depleted. While Concordia has its own mines, ensuring we won't run out of Beskar immediately, I am aware that after a millennium of extraction, the easily accessible reserves on Mandalore are dwindling.
In the Legends, it is said that a substantial Beskar deposit is located near the small and unremarkable town of Enceri. This town later became known as a refuge for clone deserters and Clan Skirata. However, the exact location of that Beskar lode remains undiscovered, and I do not know its precise location.
Our clan mines are still supplying us with an ample amount of beskar, but I have heard from Dad and Grandpa that over the last 20 years, it has started to dry up. We have 25 miners and mining droids working tirelessly to supply the clan with as much beskar as they can find and mine.
Using the Beskar, the clan has 13 Armorers who create and repair all armor and weapons. They ensure that each family has armor for every member of the clan who is over 13 years old. The Armorers work closely with each member to help create comfortable and unique armor tailored to their individual preferences. In the clan, Grandma Maria was the best; she forged both Grandpa's and Dad's armor herself and helped train the current 13 Armorers. The forges they use are located on the west side of the fortress in the forge hall. That place gets incredibly hot; Rayden felt phantom sweat just thinking about the forges.
Just because the clan was self-sufficient doesn't mean we don't trade. The clan has four dedicated trading teams, each with four members, along with droids to assist with loading and unloading. Two of the teams have a C-ROC Gozanti-class light cruiser. I heard that they stole them from enemy smugglers and slavers.
As Rayden pondered the merchant in the observatory, he spotted a C-ROC flying overhead, landing to the south. It appeared to be the Golden Blade, commanded by Kalia, Keal's sister. "They must have brought back a lot of goodies; they've been gone for about six months," he thought.
The other C-ROC, Dawn's Hammer, is commanded by a man named Dren; they are also at the hangars in the south. He is the one who brought the Bondar crystals for Elyse from Alderaan.
The other two teams of traders each use Y-1300 series freighters, which are similar to the Millennium Falcon. "I was stunned and excited when I saw those ships. Part of me wants to be a rogue like Han Solo, but personally, I think the C-ROC is better. Plus, you can add more weapons to them." Rayden sat daydreaming as he watched the Golden Blade land.
The merchants also serve as diplomats, negotiating favorable terms and fostering relationships that can lead to prosperous alliances.
To care for the merchant ships and other personal craft, we have a team of 15 mechanics and engineers. To the south, there are hangars and landing pads where the mechanics spend most of their days. The lead mechanic, Jarred, sometimes complains that they are too short-staffed to handle all the ship and mechanical failures. I can understand his concerns because, even with the assistance of a droid for repairs and maintenance, the team is constantly on the go and rarely gets a chance to rest.
In addition to the four trading vessels, the clan owns three Kom'rk-class fighter/transports and ten Fang Fighters. We also have various personal ships belonging to clan members who work as bounty hunters and mercenaries.
The clan consists of 122 bounty hunters and 114 mercenaries. While some operate as lone wolves, others form teams ranging from 2 to 15 members. Most of the time, they are busy completing jobs and causing a bit of mischief. However, they always return for clan gatherings to relax with family and occasionally bring new members along.
With so many warriors, some are bound to come back injured, so that's why there are 7 doctors in the fortress. They take care of everything health-related, ranging from pregnancies, sprains, and burns to accidental stabbings, which happen more often than not during training. They have medical droids to help out when needed, and they manage the production of bacta fluid and materials for the clan.