Lore Update: Canderous Ordo



In the Mandalorians' native language of Mando'a, Canderous roughly translates to "important rock." Canderous Ordo lived up to his name many times over throughout his illustrious career as a Mandalorian warrior. Not only was he an important figure in the Mandalorian culture, but he was also a steadfast rock to anyone lucky enough to gain his loyalty. He left many adversaries dead in his wake and left a legacy that remained in the minds of Mandalorians for hundreds of years to come, possibly even to the time period in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Seeking Honor and Glory


At the early age of eight, Canderous began his training as a Mandalorian warrior. By the time he reached his thirteenth birthday, he passed the traditional rite of passage known as verd'goten and became an adult member of the Mandalorian clan Ordo. His skill at controlling the Basilisk war droid was unmatched amongst his ranks, and he quickly became one of the fiercest and most accomplished warriors to wear Mandalorian armor. Eventually, the name Canderous Ordo fell upon the ears of Mandalore the Ultimate, the new Mandalorian leader who was beginning to reassemble the recently defeated Mandalorian Crusaders under the new banner of the Neo-Crusaders. Recruiting Canderous to their ranks was an easy decision.

Canderous' role in the coming wars changed from what he was formerly accustomed to. Under Mandalore's command, the young warrior became an expert of battle tactics, eventually earning the rank of Commander. His ascension through the ranks brought him honor amongst most of his Mandalorian brothers, but some thought he threw away lives in order to further his own glory. Regardless of what the other soldiers thought of him, Canderous's ability to lead his men into battle and return triumphant continued as Mandalore pushed into Republic space and began the Mandalorian Wars.



Canderous took the title of Mandalore the Preserver and vowed to rebuild the Mandalorians to their previous strength in order to guard the Republic against the threat that Revan feared. He gathered the Mandalorians on the Dxun moon in the Onderon system where he continued to recruit beings to his cause. Five years later, fate brought another member of his past into his life once again. One of Revan's former Jedi Generals from the Mandalorian Wars arrived on Dxun aboard the Ebon Hawk with her crew in search of one of the survivors of Darth Nihilus's Jedi Purge.

The presence of the Ebon Hawk and Revan's old utility droid, T3-M4, piqued Canderous's curiosity. He agreed to help the Jedi, who had been exiled for disobeying the Council's orders during the war. During their adventures together, it became obvious to Canderous that the Sith presence was a dangerous one. He called his Mandalorians together and led them in the Battle of Telos IV against the Sith fleet and its leader, Darth Nihilus. During the battle, Mandalore joined with the Jedi Exile aboard the Sith flagship Ravager and defeated the Dark Lord.

Living On


Canderous and the Jedi Exile parted ways to continue their separate journeys. The exile went in search of Revan, and Canderous--as Mandalore the Preserver--returned to the task of rebuilding the Mandalorians. However, it is unclear how successful he was in this endeavor. Fourteen years before the Treaty of Coruscant, the title of Mandalore was up for grabs. The Sith Empire secretly rigged gladiatorial battles to favor that of a man calling himself the new Mandalore. Once he obtained the official title of Mandalore, he rallied Mandalorian mercenaries together and launched an offensive against the Jedi Order. This is not what Canderous had in mind when he followed through with Revan's last wish.

Not all Mandalorians agreed with the Empire's psuedo Mandalore. After a bitter defeat in the Hydian Way trade route shortly after Mandalore took power, a group of Mandalorians formed that remembered the edict of Mandalore the Preserver. They felt that they should support the Republic, instead of the Sith Empire that had placed an unworthy puppet at the head of the Mandalorian clans. Unfortunately, the rebellion did not last long. The winner of Mandalore's own Great Hunt bested him in a duel and took the name of Mandalore the Vindicated. He then used his influence to amass an army that put a stop to the followers of Mandalore the Preserver's legacy. One has to wonder if Canderous of clan Ordo would be disappointed that his successors failed, or if he would be honored that they fell to a great warrior worthy to lead the Mandalorians into battle once again.

Comments

  • darthuser4302's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 6
    #11 darthuser4302 Posted 11/3/2011 5:02:03 AM
    I don't agree with your statement "the loss at Malachor V dishonored the warrior society and they dispersed themselves throughout the outer rim '
    The Mandalorian clans sought challenge, they were content to fight a formidable foe even if it meant loosing to him. To loose against a worthy and stronger opponent is no shame at all,it brings honour and glory. Canderous himself said that "it was the most glorious moment of his life". Many mandalorian felt the same way about the war: one of them can be found in the atlho city cantina on Manaan in Kotor 1, or in TOR but I can't say who nor where, damned NDA.
  • DarthLoath's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #10 DarthLoath Posted 10/20/2011 3:52:43 PM
    Wookiepedia will give you a decent recollection. But you should still play kotor 2
  • DarkJack's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #9 DarkJack Posted 10/20/2011 3:08:04 PM
    Note that trying to follow the example of Mandalore the Preserver would be a good role-playing hook for a LS Bounty Hunter.
  • flem1's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 865
    #6 flem1 Posted 10/20/2011 6:00:15 AM
    Ahh, good (well, not really) ol' Canderous. About the only reason I might play Bounty Hunter someday. (Ok, besides the rocket-launching Jawa.)
  • permacrete's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 118
    #5 permacrete Posted 10/20/2011 12:09:51 AM
    No doubt Cenderous would be disappointed that the Mandalorians were stupid enough to fall for the Sith's manipulation, again. Some people never learn.
  • Kraxis's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 971
    #2 Kraxis Posted 10/19/2011 9:22:08 PM
    Ahhh, good old Canderous Ordo. A sick bastard, but a damn good sick bastard. Must say he was possibly my most beloved companion in KoTOR, he was always ready with a decidedly politically incorrect comment. Sort of a proto-Wrex.

    And as an answer to the question. Canderous would be honoured, and would feel the new Mandalore was right to do what he did. Canderous was all for 'might makes right', so when his position was no longer the strongest, the other position was right.

    Charming... yes? http://imgur.com/r6WrI

  • abner_ford's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 662
    #7 abner_ford Posted 10/20/2011 12:15:33 PM
    Y'know, I'm not too sure. At the end of KOTOR, when you do Canderous' mission as a canon (read: light side) playthrough, he begins to question his motives when he sacrificed part of his squad for total victory in the Mandalorian Wars. There might have been a little crack in the besk'gar armor.

    I would need to play KOTOR 2 again though to remember how he might have changed from then... It's been so long.
  • Kraxis's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 971
    #8 Kraxis Posted 10/20/2011 1:21:00 PM
    No, he was not happy to lose his guys, yet he was fully confirmed in his loyalty because Revan could beat him sideways. Admittedly he was a bit of a psycho, and not just in the normal way. So he had this duality that victory isn't worth everything, yet at the same time he valued the ones that could achieve victory from sacrificing some of his guys. If the sacrifice wasn't in vain, it was good enough. But he began having doubts as to whether his sacrifice of his men was worth it.

    So I might as well elaborate from before. Canderous would support the new Mandalore supporting the Empire, because he was stronger and had proven that beating down Canderous' supporters. However, he would undoubtedly not like it, and should he get the chance he would overthrow the new Mandalore.

    Charming... yes? http://imgur.com/r6WrI

  • Muskaan's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 161
    #1 Muskaan Posted 10/19/2011 9:19:57 PM
    Who is this Jedi Exile?

    Excellent read by the way.
  • Echo2Omega's avatar
    Gamorrean Thug
    • Posts: 30
    #3 Echo2Omega Posted 10/19/2011 10:11:41 PM
    YOU are the jedi exile....well in one of the previous old republic games.
  • Moday's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 98
    #4 Moday Posted 10/19/2011 10:34:07 PM
    play kotor 2
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