-Abridged Version

Nikau Tane, originally named Nikau Bandel, was born on the second day of The Festival of Stars in a Death Watch encampment on Concord Dawn under the star sign devoted to Mandalore the Destroyer. His parents, Lon and Hina, were a pair of Zeltrons who joined and revered the Mandalorian splinter group, Death Watch, and their way of life, and thus expended great effort teaching Nikau and his twin sister (18 minutes younger) Kauri everything they could on Mandalorian culture and history, neglecting their own Zeltronian culture. For years Nikau would be put through gruelling training to become a member of Death Watch, facing abuse from his trainers, fellow recruits, and even his fanatical parents, only finding brief respite in interaction with his sister. After proving himself worthy in his trials and being initiated as a full fledged member of Death Watch, Nikau found himself on a series of missions to recruit new members throughout the system. This exposure to other takes on Mandalorian culture, showcased by the New Mandalorians he was taught to hate and traditionalists in hidden pockets of the system, would cause Nikau to feel disillusioned with the Death Watch mindset. This disenchantment paired with his abuse would bring him to eventually desert the faction upon leaving for his first solo conscription mission. Following his desertion, he’d return to Concord Dawn and learn the truth of Death Watch’s origins and principles during the Mandalorian Civil War before being chased out of the system by Death Watch warriors. He’d fall into the arms of Trandoshan slavers and ended up having to flee for his life across Trandosha as they hunted him for sport, but would eventually escape to Kashyyyk with the help of fellow captives Shydah Ferl, Charhaakka, and a group of Wookiees they’d saved. After reaching Kashyyyk via crash landing near the coastal city of Rwaalrrorshm, Nikau found himself awarded with new friends in Shydah and Charhaakka and a large Honour Family of freed Wookiees which would grow larger to encompass most of the cities inhabitants as he’d lead a defence against more Trandoshan Slavers. Faced with a near-governing position under Chieftain Bowvvaraan, a blossoming romance with Shydah, the jarring feeling of being around peace and contentment after a multitude of years being around overwhelming hostility, spite and bloodlust, being out of touch with the culture his own species, and the weight of his entire life prior to that point being in service to a cause that he viewed to be an utterly abhorrent perversion of the culture he’d been forced to revere, Nikau started to break down until the timely intervention of his companions who’d encourage him to take the Hrrtayyk with Shydah, a Wookiee rite of adulthood, to clear his mind. Along their journey Nikau found the resolve to build a Mandalorian faction of his own, built on the more moderate and respectable traditions and values of Old Republic era Mandalorians and True Mandalorian Supercommandos as well as the drive to touch base with his own species, all with the encouragement of Shydah. Soon after the completion of their Hrrtayyk, the two would take a trip to Zeltros and wound up meeting a smuggler turned bartender, and eventually Nikau’s adoptive father, Haere Tane. Though while mentoring Nikau, Haere was attacked by Batari and Eko Veda, Echani performers and enforcers for Rigorra the Hutt tasked with claiming the bounty on his head, but upon recognising his company as Mandalorians would back off to conscript help from the three in killing the Hutt instead. The group, despite opposition from heavily armed gladiator droids and hired guns, succeeded in their mission to slay Rigorra and uncovered a massive movement in captured slaves via the use of Dreadnought Class Heavy Cruisers, an operation the Mandalorians were intent on stopping. The group spent the following months tracking the Dreadnoughts and freeing the slaves, recruiting many of them to be a part of Nikau’s faction. This would be how he gathered the other members of his core Aliit, Ce’na Tyrnis, Atin Dalorak, and Kilindi Malaen, and Subutai Balshet as well as strengthen his bonds with his father figure Haere and his lovers Shydah and Batari. Upon completing their mission the massive force of freed slaves turned Mandalorians, followed Nikau and his Aliit to Rwaalrrorsm on Kashyyyk and began training to truly become warriors for the next few years. However, soon the newly christened Free Mandalorians would receive their first test in the form of Rigorra’s Brother, Groodo, sending a Recusant-class armed with a C-9979 landing craft to bombard Rwaalrrorshm in retaliation for his brother’s death. While the Free Mandalorians were able to defeat the droid forces under Nikau’s command, they would suffer casualties, chiefly of which, Nikau’s lover and Eko’s sister, Batari. Following subsequent repairs and bolstering, the grieving Eko would challenge Nikau to a blood duel for command of the Free Mandalorians, believing he’d be a better lead and should begin with revenge on Groodo, but would ultimately die to Nikau. Beyond distraught with the deaths of Batari and Eko, one of which by his own hands, Nikau determined himself unfit to lead or even be amongst his Aliit. With a transfer of the majority of his power to his Aliit, and an agreed temporary break in his relationship with Shydah, Nikau exiled himself from Rwaalrrorshm, only to return when he decided himself worthy of the title of Mandalore. He’d work as a common Mercenary, working directly under Jabba the Hutt on Tatooine for a time before moving to live in the Entertainment District on Coruscant to become a freelance contract killer (and occasional vigilante) for Coruscanti upper class and impoverished of the Lower Levels. This would help Nikau acquire allies for the Free Mandalorians, for instance ex-Falleen Noble, Xenn Thurn, and Dathomiri Nightsister, Talis Yrmaq, as well as an occasional companion in Chisstoran Smuggler, Cassie Alryn. Despite his self exile, Nikau devoted himself entirely on his supporting his Mandalorians in any way he could and working to become a good leader to them.

Clan (always works towards their benefit from afar, sending recruits, funds, supplies, or even just fighting with them during mercenary or privateer work. he hopes to mold himself into a leader and warrior worthy of the title Mandalore to lead the Free Mandalorians to greatness)

Revenge (commit parricide. period)

Oath & Responsibility. Oath for abiding by Mandalorian Six Actions: Wearing armor, Speaking the Mandalorian language, Defending oneself along with one's family, Contributing to the welfare of your clan, Rallying to the Mand'alor when summoned, and Raising one's children in the Mandalorian ways. Responsibility for his clan, taking on missions for them and representing them as their leader to foreign parties

(add 10 for extra 2500 credits. Total of 25)

Nikau is a particularly tall Zeltron male who cut a built fighter's physique afforded to him by his race's natural pique fitness and a life of training to be a warrior, standing at 6 feet and 4 inches and weighing 191 pounds. his skin was a vibrant reddish pink that was adorned in elaborate tribal tattoos (most comparable to Maori Ta Moko tattoos and barring the facial tattoos) and a handful of scars, most notably entry and exit scars in his left shoulder he'd received from being stabbed in his duel with Eko and a series of intersecting scars on his back from being cut by his father's Beskad. His face has strong features yet with full cheeks and lips. his eyes were large and colored a striking amber gold that were framed by arched eyebrows. his hair was white, thick and curly (2C/3A/3B), growing a little ways past shoulder length with bangs that came down to his cheekbones, often covering his eyes. he parted his hair slightly off center to the left to make sure his left eye was clear though he'd often gather as much of his bangs as he could into a top knot while training or with his helmet on.

Nikau typically wears his Mandalorian armor, however in certain instances in which he must forego its use he opts for armored clothing, prioritizing maneuverability and stealth. he wears a two piece form fitting black armorweave flight suit with light black anodized bronzium plating, specifically a small breastplate, pauldrons, bracers, and amroured boots, all forged in the Wookiee armor style but sized down for subtlety. The armor on his upper torso his secured by his belt harness, and as such features his darkened keeled Anakkona skin kama for upper leg protection. He always wears his helmet that follows the angular Mandalorian Crusader design, tarnished into a darker colour and adorned with 2 katarn horns pointed backwards