Ak'wyara

The Ak'wyara (from Mando'a: akaan wyara, "war mound"), often referred to in Basic as the War Den, was an ancient fortified bunker in an isolated mountain that was blanketed in woodland. It served a relatively critical role in leading the Mandalorians in major galactic events, and was thus often considered one of Mandalore's many capitals over the years.

Description
The War Den was built inside of a oblong mound on the peak of a large narrow mountain blanketed in a woodland which, in later years, was tiny on the map in comparison to the surrounding wastelands and deserts that dominated Mandalore's surface. The peak of the Mountain was flat, save for a mound and a few hills, and was lined with a "wall of rock"; the surface of the mountain's peak was about eight to ten kilometers in size, and a sort of "path" leading to the peak wrapped around the mountain, which was the only way to access the peak without starships. A wide stream of water ran down the middle of the peak, and it was even home to a species of colorful moth that were unique to that mountain; unique eel-like fish and mushrooms were also present in the stream, which seemingly was also connected to much larger water caves running through the whole mountain.

The bunker underwent several modifications and renovations over the millennia, and thus its design shifted frequently over the years.

The modern War Den's interior was made almost entirely of durable metal save for glass fixtures such as windows. The bunker contained a meeting room, a training room, a small armory, a round rally room (which featured an elevated platform with a "throne" reserved solely for the commander of the base, and two chairs beside the "throne" for their advisers. The rally room consisted of chairs in "stadium style" circling around a large hologram projector), a sublevel for sleeping quarters and cafeterias, and a few small holding cells in an even lower level. Its modern form could comfortably house up to fifty soldiers comfortably. Dozens of wooden huts would also built around the War Den, serving as a barracks and supply post for the Journeyman Protectors during their war with the Galactic Empire. Under the orders of Kal Skirata, the War Den was fitted with turbolasers, a powerful shield generator, as well as advanced transmitters and jammers; security droids were also deployed in the bunker's interior.

History
The War Den was constructed during the reign of Mandalore the Indomitable (c.4000 BBY) and served as his command center during his campaigns in the Great Sith War. His successor, the Ultimate, also centered his command at the War Den during his early invasions of the Galactic Republic; after the Ultimate relocated his command center to an outpost on Dxun and the city of Keldabe later became Mandalore's capital, the War Den became relatively abandoned for millennia, though its importance remained known to Mandalorian historians. By 2000 BBY, a Mand'alor rediscovered the War Den and used it as his command center during his supression of rebellious clans. After this warlord died, a trade post was erected around the War Den where merchants from various Mandalorian clans and foreign worlds came to exchange goods and cultural items - this settlement was also host to Mandalore's first casino; the War Den itself became a corporate meeting place between the Mandalorian chieftains that controlled the territory.

When Mandalore the Uniter came to power (c.1040 BBY), the clan that controlled the trade post rebelled against the new ruler; in retaliation, the Uniter gathered a company of foreign mercenaries and marched on the settlement, eliminating any warrior who didn't immediately surrender. The surrounding settlement was mostly destroyed and the War Den was occupied and became the Uniter's temporary command center while his city, Keldabe, was currently occupied by another rebellious clan. During its time under the Uniter's army, the War Den was renovated and more modernized, though much smaller than its previous forms. After the Uniter's death, the War Den juggled between clans as chieftains and warlords fought for control over the region over the centuries.

When the New Mandalorian government came to power, the War Den and the surrounding area was secured under New Mandalorian control, though Old Mandalorian warlords frequently preyed on the area in hopes of reclaiming the War Den and the artifacts within. It was preserved under New Mandalorian law as a heritage site, and became little more than a tourist attraction. The New Mandalorian government largely collapsed in 20 BBY, and a contingent of Journeyman Protectors forcefully occupied the War Den after a brief engagement with the New Mandalorian guardsmen that remained there. Throughout the course of the Mandalore campaign, the War Den served as the Protectors' command center, and was frequently a meeting site between Fenn Shysa (who commanded much of the Mandalorian resistance) and his allied chieftains and warlords. The War Den was fitted with defense systems, jammers that hid the base's location from the Imperials, and a small grouping of wooden huts that served as a makeshift barracks.

In 4 BBY, however, the Imperials eventually learned of the base's existence as they gained more ground in the area, and an Imperial Army battalion supplemented by several AT-AT walkers and TIE bombers besieged the mountain. The walkers spent nearly a week scaling the narrow "road" that wrapped around the mountain, with smaller land transports containing supplies and over a battalion of Army troopers following the walkers at a slow pace. The Mandalorian fighters held the War Den and the mountain it was on for nearly a month, though were eventually forced to flee after sustaining heavy casualties. Unknown to the Imperials, the War Den was also fitted with hidden battle droids that could be remotely activated; one of the fighters that was previously stationed there managed to activate the droids and attack the Imperials from the inside. Despite the victory, the War Den would not be reoccupied by another Mandalorian organization for the rest of the campaign.