The battles I fight today will be to prevent the battles fought tomorrow.
—Mandalore the Young
Mandalore the Young, born as Lancer Beroya was a human male Mandalorian who served as Mand'alor of the Mandalorian clans in 145 ABY. A shrewd diplomat and a cunning leader, despite his youth, Mandalore the Young embarked on a war of conquest to reunite the disparate Mandalorian clans and to bring back the days before the New Mandalorians.
Born to Clan Beroya, Mandalore the Young grew up during the Sith-Imperial War, watching as his people slowly disintegrated into infighting brought on by the ambitious betrayal of Yaga Auchs over Chernan Ordo. When Hondo Karr returned to Mandalore, the boy's clan was exiled over supposed ties to Yaga Auchs. In the ensuing Mandalorian Rebellion, the scion of Clan Beroya returned to Mandalore to restore his family to glory. To show his power and superiority, he decimated the rebellious Clan Sherr, until ultimately defeating Hondo Karr during his verd'goten and claiming his title of Mand'alor.
Biography[]
Early life[]
The man who would become Mandalore the Young was born as Lancer Beroya, the youngest child of Kregg Beroya and Jia Sherr, on Mandalore in 126 ABY. Clan Beroya, Lancer’s family, was a relatively small Mandalorian clan of little significance, and was generally regarded as stunted and backward. The baby was given the name “Lancer” because of a birthmark he carried on his right shoulder, which looked like the shape of a lance. Lancer was considered to be a very small and sickly child, and his place as the youngest member of the family meant that he was often poorly regarded by those around him.
Lancer’s father, Kregg, was a formerly renowned bounty hunter who due to a head injury became largely sedentary and passive. He was considered a kind and caring man, but he was also prone to unwise investments and for his unusual “generosity” - he often squandered much of the Clan’s fortunes to other chieftains just to please them. He was derisively known as Laandurla, the “delicate one” .
A year after his birth, the Mandalorians were involved in the Sith-Imperial War of 127 ABY, after the Fel Empire turned on the Galactic Alliance. The Mandalorians, now under the leadership of Mand'alor Chernan Ordo, had been contracted by the Galactic Alliance to hold the planet Botajef and its shipyards against the Imperial Army until the Galactic Alliance Fleet arrived with reinforcements. However, there was a traitor in their midst by the name of Yaga Auchs; Auchs served an unknown master and it was in his service that he sabotaged communication with the Alliance fleet and betrayed his comrades, leading to the Mand'alor's death. Usurping the title for himself, Auchs used his authority as the new Mand'alor to order a retreat, leaving Botajef to the Empire and taking his people out of the war. These events severely fractured the Mandalorian tribes, leaving the matter of succession unclear. Yaga Auchs was not universally regarded as the “true” Mand’alor, and support for him dwindled when the war reached its conclusion. One of the people left behind on Botajef was Hondo Karr, who pledged vengeance on Auchs henceforth.
Mandalorian Rebellion[]
In 137 ABY, when Lancer was eleven, his uncle Dak Beroya joined Hondo Karr in his attempt to overthrow Yaga Auchs. The Second Imperial Civil War was nearing its end, and Clan Beroya wavered under the leadership of Kregg Beroya, who chose to ally himself with Yaga Auchs. In 140 ABY, Hondo Karr arrived at Mandalore and overthrew the usurper Yaga Auchs, claiming the title of Mand’alor for himself.
In the years that followed, Karr decided to purge his realm of those who had aligned themselves with Auchs. Declaring them traitors, Clan Beroya lost their privileges and were exiled from Mandalorian space. Shortly after, Kregg died of a heart attack after the stress became just too great. Disparate and in ruin, it was at this time that the 15-year old Lancer assumed the leadership of his clan. He received opposition from his elder brothers and even his older sisters, though the cunning and resourceful Lancer managed to sway them to his side. Plotting to return to Mandalore and restore his family’s glory, Lancer took advantage of an ongoing civil war that erupted within Mandalorian space between clans who were loyal to Auchs, and clans who were loyal to Karr.
Appearing before Hondo Karr, Lancer reaffirmed his clan’s loyalty to the Mand’alor - promising to quell the rebellion within just a month. Amused by the young boy’s tenacity, Karr decided that - as part of Lancer’s Verd’goten, the rite of passage for Mandalorian teens, he would supervise the boy’s promised “defeat” of the rebel clans. This was doubly a challenge for Lancer, as one of the leading rebels was Clan Sherr - his maternal family.
Using his mother’s connections, Lancer requested an audience with his maternal uncle, Haesedth Sherr - the leader of the rebellion - and ordered him to put down his weapons and declare his fealty before the Mand’alor, promising swift retribution otherwise. Offended by his inexperienced nephew’s threats, Haesedth robbed Lancer of his blaster, removed the cartridges and handed it back to him - which in Mandalorian society was considered a sign of great disrespect.
True to his word, Lancer organized Karr’s forces and assaulted the Sherr fortress. Using a series of improvised and unorthodox tactics, Lancer broke through the Sherr defenses and slaughtered the entire family - including his uncle - and displayed their heads outside the gates. The ruined castle and the bodies were left as a reminder of the fate that awaits those who scorn the power of the Mand’alor.
Despite Lancer’s success, Karr refused to restore Clan Beroya - on the notion that “one boy’s easy victory does not excuse a clan’s treason.” Realizing that Karr was also not intending on letting Lancer live, simply acknowledging that he outlived his usefulness, the young Mandalorian challenged the Mand’alor himself to duel, using only vibroblades. Lancer knew that if Karr refused this challenge, he would be seen as weak for refusing to fight a mere boy. As such, Karr accepted the challenge.
The two Mandalorians duelled, ultimately ending in Lancer’s victory. Using the same strategy he used when he assaulted the Sherrs - improvisation and unorthodox tactics - Lancer overpowered the older Mand’alor but instead of ending his life, exiled him. Claiming the title of Mand’alor, Lancer was forever known as “Mandalore the Young”.
The New Mandalore[]
For the next four years, Mandalore the Young worked to unify the Mandalorian clans and to bring back the golden days of Mandalore the Ultimate, initiating the Yaim'ol. Despite his youth, the Mandalore’s tenacity, creativity, and cleverness allowed him to subjugate over forty clans by 145 ABY, earning not only the respect - but also the fear - of some of Mandalore’s most seasoned warriors.
During this time, Lancer took an interest in tracking down the last two relics of ancient Mandalore; the darksaber and the mask of Mandalore the First. Lancer came to believe that taking possession of the two relics would give legitimacy to his position as Mand'alor, moreso than just conquering the quarreling clans.
Alliance with the Hapans[]
In 145 ABY, Mandalore the Young sought to bolster Mandalore's economy and prevent a potential financial catastrophe from crippling his conquest. As such, decided to seek out an alliance with Queen Mother Ta'a Gohed Djo Solo of the Hapes Consortium, who at the time was one of the wealthiest nations in the galaxy. Unannounced and uninvited, the Mandalore arrived at the Fountain Palace on Hapes in session, introducing himself to the Queen Mother as the Mand'alor. Upon seeing the Queen Mother, it was argued by the Mandalore's brother Vogg Beroya that he immediately fell enamored with the young regentess. Intrigued by the visitor, the Queen Mother decided to allow him an audience, retreating back to the parlor to discuss his arrival.
After a few formalities were established, the Mandalore firstly apologized for intruding uninvited - claiming that he couldn't risk potential eavesdroppers of his enemies catching wind of his decision to travel to Hapes. Afterwards, he came forward with a proposal for an alliance, claiming that while both Hapes and Mandalore were old nations that greatly valued independence, they could not realistically maintain their sovereignty as the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances seemingly grew stronger, adding that he foresaw a potential war from erupting that would put the might of both Hapes and Mandalore to the test.
The Queen Mother in return claimed that she had encountered growing instability of her own in the Hapes Cluster, such as an increase in black market activity, supplies disappearing, and ship malfunctions. However, she was amused by the young Mandalore's bold proposal of an alliance, and fascinated by his youth and the command in his voice. Nevertheless, she voiced her concerns regarding Hapes' neutrality if they would ally with Mandalore, believing that her officers would not agree to such a thing - nor would the Hapan population at large.
The Mandalore retorted by telling the Queen Mother that the only reason he maintained his own power was by exerting sheer brutality on his own people, using the Mandalorian Rebellion as an analogy. He claimed that the Mandalorians would follow his every command, for they understood the grave consequences if they didn't. He also suggested by saying that if the Queen Mother was unsure she could keep her subjects in line, she would not be a true ruler at all, stating that he already had two of her underlings approach him about an alliance under the Queen Mother's nose.
The Queen Mother assured him that he would find no deviation in her people's loyalty, implying that she would deal with the deviant vassals soon enough. For cementing the potential alliance, the Queen Mother requested for an import of beskar iron, to which she would pay for. In turn, the Mandalore guaranteed Hapes' full military support if their sovereignty was ever under attack.
Before signing the agreement of an alliance, the Mandalore's brother Vogg briefly spoke out in defiance of this alliance, which he believed could hinder the ongoing war. In turn, the Mandalore quickly silence his brother before apologizing for his impulsivity. Assuring that no offence was made, the Queen Mother signed the contract, before giving the Mandalore a rainbow gem from her own treasury as a parting gift.
Before departing Hapes, Mandalore the Young silently accosted his brother for speaking out in the presence of outsiders. He threatened by saying that if he ever repeated the offence, he would be executed by the Mandalore himself.
Rescue of Threnn Beroya[]
Sometime before his meeting with the Hapans, the Mandalore's older brother Threnn Beroya was captured by Nyra Fett, the matriarch of Clan Fett. Since his capture put a dent in the Mandalore's reputation as a leader, he needed to be rescued. To accomplish this, the Mandalore employed the help of Vedma Tariss, a bounty hunter and mercenary-for-hire. Prior to their meeting, the Mandalore discussed the implications of Threnn's abduction with his generals. Some of them suggested exchanging the captive Chaggae Ladern for Threnn, while others like Reymon Kryze suggested suing for peace. Dismissing them, the Mandalore met with Tariss and instructed her to meet with Dorian Stark - a smuggler he hired in the past - to rescue Threnn from the Fetts' underground stronghold in Nar Shaddaa while abducting Gerto Fett, Nyra's youngest son, in the process. Although she hesitated working with Stark, who hunted her in the past, Vedma nevertheless accepted the contract upon being promised a hefty bonus for Gerto's capture.
Hunt for the Darksaber[]
In Sundari, the Mandalore received a delegation of clan chieftains who voiced their disapproval of the Mand'alor siding with the isolationist Hapans. Some, like Arn Saxon, chided the Mandalore for his idleness and instead suggested the Mandalorians side with the Fel Empire instead. The Mandalore rebuked by noting upon Clan Saxon's notorious betrayal of their people to Maul and the Galactic Empire a century earlier, comparing the demise of the Mandalorians then to what their people would face now if they were to make deals with a powerful empire such as the Fels. Styra Wren, head of Clan Wren, reminded the Mandalore that he still lacked the legitimacy of his position if the Mandalorians remained disunited.
Personality and traits[]
Mandalore the Young had a powerful presence combined with an intimidating gaze.
The young Mandalore was a calculating, intelligent, politically astute, ruthless and controlling young man. He dedicated his life and efforts towards unifying the Mandalorian clans and ensured that they were respected, or at least feared. Although young, the Mandalore was a proven battle commander who led from the rear, and he had a powerful presence combined with an intimidating gaze. He was harsh with betrayal.
The Mandalore was known for his stoic, tough as nails, pragmatic, cunning and calculating demeanor, but also his ruthless, cold, manipulative, power-hungry, and often unfettered attitude, even for his own clan. He insisted that all he did was for the sake of his people. The Mandalore’s own father Kregg was a nice, generous and caring man, whose bad investments and indecision made Clan Beroya a laughingstock. As a result, while admitting that his father was a “good man”, the Mandalore viewed his father's kindness as a source of weakness that nearly destroyed the reputation of their clan.
The Mandalore regarded his predecessors, namely Yaga Auchs and Chernan Ordo as weak fools whose untamed love for warfare and glory brought his people to ruin. While he adhered to the traditional Mandalorian tenets of honor and glory, the Mandalore also recognized that wars of unification were not won simply with blasters, but with strategy as well. He successfully rebuilt his clan’s fortunes almost singlehandedly, and this along with his total destruction of the rebellious Clan Sherr caused him to embrace ruthlessness as a principle of keeping one's power.
Despite his outward display of power, the Mandalore hid many of his own flaws and weaknesses - such as his unwillingness to display his emotions, and he tried to suppress his own doubts and fears behind a wall of stoicism.
Appearances[]
Behind the scenes[]
Mandalore the Young is a character in Star Wars: Dawn of the Force, a Star Wars Legends roleplay hosted on the VoIP application Discord. The character was inspired by Tywin Lannister from the A Song of Ice and Fire series and Paul Atreides from the Dune saga.
