Ok ad'ikase, I've mentioned it a lot in passing through out this blog, but today's the day we talk about the Resol'nare.
The Resol'nare, or Six Acts, are a guideline to the basics of being Mandalorian. If you can accept these tenets & follow what they call for you too can be a Mandalorian.
The Resol'nare goes thusly:
Seems simple, right? Well, mostly yes. But with veman'oya, some things are slightly different than they may seem at first glance. Let's take these points one at a time, shall we?
For Mandos, education isn't just reading, writing, and reloading a blaster. And though it's often attributed as "raising kids", bajur goes a bit beyond that. Bajur is about continuing to grown & learn, about expanding & perfecting your skillsets. It's about raising your own children, or the children of your aliit, sure. But it's also about imparting your skills & knowledge to others. This even constitutes as bajur. I'm offering up my meager knowledge & we're growing better together. Overall, it's about avoiding stagnation. Changing & learning to become a better version of yourself & helping others to do likewise.
As a friend of mine says, "self improvement's part of the Resol'nare, ya gotta do it!"
You all know what beskar'gam, Mandalorian armor, is & what it looks like. You may know some of the customs & components that make it up. Beskar'gam, literally iron skin, is important to Mandos in a number of ways. It's cultural connectivity; no matter your species, everyone knows a Mandalorian when they see one. It's protection; having a full suit that deflects blaster bolts, even lightsaber blades, that keeps out hostile enviroments is a game change for moving through the universe - especially in dangerous professions. It's modifiable, personal & potentially packed with helpful, sometimes lifesaving, modifications. Viewing things differing spectrums, be able to connect to any number of galactic networks, comms that never go beyond your squad, 360 views, weapons platorms, thermal & cooling protections...the list goes on. Beskar'gam is handy! And super stylish!!
But you can't really wander around in the real world all kitted out on a daily basis, now can you? Personally, I'd love a buy'ce on the regular as I'm told that my face can be very loud, lol, but alas that not the world we live in. So what can we do to fulfill this tenet? The impracticality of actual beskar'gam makes the idea of a symbolic alternative an attractive one. Symbols - jewelry, stickers, tattoos, key chains, etc. There are any number of things you can carry or wear for a declaration to the galaxy, or just for your own peace of mind, that you're a Mandalorian. Bes'karta or kyr'bes are popular choices, but present your Mando pride in whatever way speaks to you.
In a warrior culture defense is a big deal. You never know when you might be beset upon by an aru'e & have to step up to protect your clan or yourself. Mando kids are taught combat & weapons early. Even Mando'ade that aren't soldiers or hunters learn these skills.
And in our own world, a number of people for a number of reasons seek out & practice these skills. But not everybody wants to & not everybody feasibly can. So where does that leave you? Well, ner burc'yase, may I present my alternative for following the ara'nov tenet - Kar'tayl bal paklalot. Knowledge & a sharp tongue.
I've been credibly informed that I -and this is a direct quote- "hit like Fluttershy talks". If you're unfamiliar, take half a minute, search up Fluttershy on YouTube & have yourself a good laugh. But, what I lack in menacing physique or martial prowess, I make up for in kartayl bal paklalot. I may not be able to throw a punch, but I can stand by my eldest nibling when they were having a big, scary conversation about being queer to a, let's say less than understanding, parent. I don't know how to shoot a Verpine, but I can shoot my mouth off to anyone that comes for one of mine. And I may not be able to kaliki some guy, but I can go full head on a swivel next to my bestie to keep chakaare off her when she was terrified going out during the first few months post transition.
Defense, of your family, yourself, of just other people in the world doesn't have to mean only fists & weapons. Your mind, your support, your presence, your words can all protect people too.
Clans are a major factor in Mando culture. Your family, born or chosen, are your people. They help make you who you are, as well as protect & provide for you.
I wouldn't usually quote Bo-Katan, but it fits the moment:
"Mandalorians are stronger together"
Mandalorians sometimes live in generational households. They welcome new members from birth, marriage, or adoption equally. Communal contributions to the clan are common through provision, defense or labor. It is part of what it means to be family, everyone helps out, everyone works for the good of the clan.
You may not all be best friends, but when the creds are down, your aliit will -generally- be there for you. It's like real life siblings - "they may be a jerk, but they're OUR jerk!" *thus ensues the fight from some aruetii sassing your vod*
Here's the part that got me in the door, lol. Learning, speaking, and reading Mando'a is another aspect of being Mandalorian. It's another piece of cultural connectivity like I mentioned back in the beskar'gam section. Passing on the culture of Mandos is important to the Mando'ade. it's a piece of themselves that they can carry & pass down no matter where life & the galaxy takes them. The language let new people come in to the culture & be able to communicate when, in Crusader times, people poured in. As converts, as traders, & as conquests Mando'a let a myriad of beings from a myriad of backgrounds become one people.
While there is written Mando'a, you'll find it on decorations or signage, on artifacts or screens, it's a largely spoken language. Mando'a has dialects depending on the origins of the speaker. Some are easier to parse from standard(ish) Mando'a than others.
Also, it's just fun to talk past the aruetiise who don't know -and probably couldn't be bothered to learn- our language.
I want to just jabber about all the things I love about Mando'a, but that would make this a MUCH longer post. I'll just say that I love it so much & if you aren't here cuz you're already trying to learn it, please try! Mando'a beautiful & amazing & always surprising &...Ok, yeah I hear it. I'll shut up now, lol.
Mand'alor: The Leader of the Mandalorians
This tenet gets tricky, as Mando'ade don't handle planetary or cultural governance the way a lot of aruetii worlds do. Other worlds have long lines of the same family ruling over their populace, or strings of people fighting & grasping & scheming for power.
Mandos just...don't. They'll put up a person for Mand'alor when they need one, but otherwise they get by just fine on their own.
Or, as Boba Fett once put it:
"You don't lead Mandalorians. You just make sensible suggestions that you know they'll want to follow."
Mandalorians just don't always need a leader. And there isn't always a huge push to take the job when they do need one. And when whatever calamity passes, a Mand'alor won't usually cling to power. There's no Mand'alor's castle, no trappings or treasury really. No Mand'alor's Court, no real expectation of deference from the people. It's a bit of an important, but not very flashy, temp job. There are frequent, long stretches where -to the bafflement of aruetiise everywhere- there just isn't a Mand'alor. Mandalorians don't always need one.
"But," I hear you saying, "what about Satine? She ruled Mandalore and she had a throne & a Court and all that stuff!" Yes, yes she did. But that's something of a separate, specific issue. She was Duchess Satine, Mandalorian royalty. She was a bit more 'rule over my subjects' than your, shall we say, classic Mand'alor. Ultimately, it comes down to this: I'm more of a Legends nerd & Mandalorian royalty ruling over everybody seems nu'mandokarla to me. If you feel otherwise, I can respect that, but it's my blog so go talk about it on yours. That goes for Bo-Katan too. Jedi appointed Regent, my shebs.
In times of war or hardship, a -generally- sensible individual will rise to the post of Mand'alor with the backing of the Mando'ade. When they, for there have been Mand'alore of different genders & species over the eons, rally the people to a cause, Mandos answer. Sometimes willingly, sometimes reluctantly, but when the Mand'alor calls, Mando'ade answer their call.
Cool, so...what's the real world relevancy on this one then? There really isn't any. Not a lot of Mando'ade in the world, if something that happens that is so bad that we might need a real world Mand'alor we probably have bigger problems.
So there ya have it, anade, that's the Resol'nare. Six guidelines to living life as Mandalorian. I hope you enjoyed today's presentation. Ret'urcye mhi.
Resol'nare - The Six Acts. The minimum required components for living as a Mandalorian. Comes from the word resol - six, and the verb narir - to do or to act
Mando'a - Mandalorian language
Mand'alor - leader of the Mandalorians
bes'karta - the iron heart, the 6 pointed symbol (much like the Resol'nare itself) found on most armor. Also called kar'ta beskar or chest diamond
kyr'bes - the Mythosaur skull
Aru'e - enemy. Aru'ese is the plural
Ner burc'yase - my friends
Kar'tayl bal paklalot - knowledge & a sharp tongue
Kaliki - conjugated form of kalikir, to stab with a narrow blade - to skewer
Chakaare - literally grave robbers, thieves crooks, etc. Ya know...dirtbags. Adjetive form is chakaaryc
Aruetii - outsider, foreigner, non-Mandalorian. Plural is aruetiise
Vod - sibling, close friend, sometimes cousin. Plural is vode
Nu’mandokarla - not in keeping with Mandalorian virtues, not showing “the right stuff”
ret'urcye mhi - maybe we'll meet again
