Post by starhawk on Jan 25, 2014 20:54:10 GMT -8
“Cathar Unite! The Mandalorians tried to eradicate our people. They failed. We are here. We are strong.
We have survived to re-build our world. Now, we prove ourselves. Now, the Blood Hunt will begin.”
―Skira
The Blood Hunt is a crusade started by a group of young Cathar in the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars. Descendants of the exiled survivors and those who struggled to re-settle their ravaged homeworld, they have joined together to fight, to prove themselves and to protect the future of their people.
The war band is modeled on a tribal structure. It consists of hunters, warriors and shamans united by courage and loyalty. The Hunt is open to all who dare to oppose the Mandalorians.
The Origins
A Blood Hunt is a Cathar ritual in which warriors individually engage in combat in order to gain honor and purge themselves of inner darkness. Hunts frequently occurred in the Vast Veldt region of Cathar, a rolling grassland devoid of trees, tree-cities or major rock formations. The Giant Horned Hopper, a species of herbivorous mammal native to that area, was a frequent prey in such hunts.
The other favored target was the Kiltik, giant beetle-like omnivores. If left unchecked, these Kiltik could devastate entire regions, reducing them to barren desert. Kiltik lived in hives consisting of hundreds of guards, and a single, monstrous queen. They were nocturnal, emerging en masse at night to feed.
Cathar warriors would periodically engage in blood hunts to cleanse their nests. The Kiltik may have become extinct, when the planet was razed by the Mandalorians in the Battle of Cathar. This, however, has yet to be proven, and entire hives may continue to exist underground.
History
"My people had a great reputation as warriors... and that appealed to the Mandalore version of 'honor'. They sought
to test themselves against us, I think... They swooped down from space across the world, firing at anything that moved.
They used ships in space to destroy all orbital facilities and bombard the surface.”
―Juhani
During the Great Sith War, the Mandalorians were allies of the Sith led by Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma. The Mandalorians ravaged many worlds, but the Cathar species were able to stand against them. By the war's end, the Mandalorian numbers had been severely reduced. Mandalore the Ultimate rebuilt the Mandalorian Clans by opening membership to other species.
When the Mandalorians began conquering planets in the Outer Rim Territories, they remembered the dishonor they had suffered at the hands of the Cathar during the war with Exar Kun. Because of this grudge, the Cathar became one of their earliest targets. Cassus Fett, the Mandalorian’s chief strategist said the battle was about revenge, and he intended to kill all Cathar on the planet.
The Mandalorians' attack began with a bombardment from space that destroyed all interstellar communications relays and orbital spacedocks. They then descended to the surface where they slaughtered over ninety percent of the population, many as they slept or attempted to flee. The Cathar realized that because they had stood against the Mandalorians in the past, there would be no mercy for their species or their world. The few survivors who were able to withstand spaceflight were quickly loaded into a handful of remaining ships and sent off into the void.
Aftermath
Following the fall of Cathar, the Mandalorians went on to conquer other systems, including Taris and Suurja, before eventually invading the Galactic Republic. The Mandalorians smashed the Republic’s military forces in numerous battles and were on the verge of conquering the Republic.
Finally, some ten years, after the Battle of Cathar, a group of Jedi calling themselves the Revanchists visited Cathar seeking proof of the atrocities wrought by the Mandalorians. Their leader found a discarded mask which triggered a vision shared by all those present of the battle and attempted genocide. This leader then took the name of Revan and swore not to rest until the Mandalorians were defeated thus leading the Revanchist faction into the war. Three years later, the war concluded with the Republic victory at Malachor V.
After the end of the Mandalorian Wars, Cathar began to resettle their world. Although the Cathar species had been rendered nearly extinct as a result of the slaughter, the survivors retained their cultural identity. They remained great warriors and dedicated, efficient predators known for their loyalty, passion, and temper.
Joining the Blood Hunt
The Blood Hunt is open to anyone who has the courage and integrity to meet its standards. Those wishing to join are first admitted to an outer circle comprised of cubs and seekers. Any hunter, warrior or shaman is free to bring new candidates into this group.
To progress beyond this rank, each aspirant needs to meet individually with one of the Hunt Leaders. Candidates may be asked about their past, their skills, the reasons for their interest in joining the hunt and their plans or aspirations. They may also be asked to demonstrate their abilities by undertaking specific tasks.
The First Rite
Seekers who have gained a Hunt Leader’s approval are welcomed into the Hunt through a ceremony known as the Clawing. This indicates either a Coming of Age or formal adoption into the tribe. It also signifies that they are capable of contributing to the goals of the hunt. Those who have passed their Clawing are considered Unblooded.
Each Unblooded is matched with a mentor from among the older members of the Hunt. Mentors provide advice and guidance, assist or arrange training, and ensure that their charges are familiar with the traditions, practices and ideals of the Hunt and the Cathar people.
The Blooding
The second Rite of Passage takes the form of individual combat against a chosen foe. This adversary is generally a Mandalorian of equal or superior skill and status. An Unblooded who survives such an encounter while displaying courage, honor and competence is acknowledged as a fully-blooded member of the Hunt.
The goal of the Blood Hunt is to win honor and to prove the worth of its members and by extension their people as a whole.