Rally Master

"You will form up near the warriors in crimson, your rally masters. Look for them and listen to them. They'll teach you our ways - and keep you alive when we get to Alderaan!"

―A Rally Master speaking to a crowd of new recruits on Jebble

Rally Master, also known as Neo-Crusader Rally Master, was the middle rank of the Mandalorian Neo-Crusader movement during the Mandalorian Wars and a rank in the Death Watch, a Mandalorian splinter group founded by Tor Vizsla. Under the Neo-Crusaders, they wore the crimson armor and were easily recognized as figures of authority by the Mandalorian ground forces, and generic Neo-Crusaders were expected to look for and listen to them.

History

Early history

During the early days of the Neo-Crusader movement, the Rally Masters worked independently. The position was originally earned by impressing Field Marshals, making the position very valuable. Being the closest thing the Mandalorians ever came to officers, they functioned as drill sergeants, commanders and more importantly political officers, spreading the ideals of the Neo-Crusaders amongst the Mandalorian forces. As the Field Marshals increased in numbers, many Rally Masters complained about too much division, as they began to lose their independent command. Rally Masters also oversaw the training of new converts during the Mandalorian Wars, and in training centers on captured worlds they indoctrinated these recruits to the Neo-Crusader way.

Later in the Mandalorian Wars, the position became corrupt and the quality of warriors who held the position declined rapidly. The position became increasingly devalued, and to achieve promotion later on a warrior only needed to know Mando'a and some of the Mandalorian ways.

During the Cold War between the Sith Empire and the Republic, long after the demise of the Neo-Crusader movement, the rank of Rally Master was still present among the Mandalorian forces. In that time, the colors signifying the rank had changed from crimson to a dark gold with silver and blue highlights.

Death Watch

"You are reading this because you have been chosen as a Rally Master, charged with training recruits, preparing Watchers for operations and commanding them in battle. Like Cassus Fett's Rally Masters of ancient times, you must educate and inspire our warriors, so they understand their heritage and will sacrifice their lives for it."

―Tor Vizsla, Ba'jurne Kyr'tsad Mando'ad

During the intersocietal struggle between the competing ideologies of the traditional True Mandalorians, the pacifistic New Mandalorians, and the radical Death Watch, the position continued to exist among the Death Watch ranks, and were once again represented by crimson color. The training manifesto entitled Ba'jurne Kyr'tsad Mando'ad, supposedly written by Death Watch leader Tor Vizsla, was intended for Death Watch Rally Masters, in order to help them train and guide new recruits.

Known Rally Masters

• Kelborn
• Kra'ake
• Gormer
• A Mandalorian commander
• Sherruk
• Merrk Kelborn

Appearances

• Knights of the Old Republic 7
• Knights of the Old Republic 8
• Knights of the Old Republic 9
• Knights of the Old Republic 10
• Knights of the Old Republic 20
• Knights of the Old Republic 21
• Knights of the Old Republic 22
• Knights of the Old Republic 23
• Knights of the Old Republic 24
• Knights of the Old Republic 26 (First identified as rally master)
• Iridonian Darkness on Wizards.com (backup link) (original site is defunct) (Mentioned only) (First identified as Neo-Crusader rally master)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
• Star Wars: The Old Republic

Sources

• Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide (First identified as Neo-Crusader Rally Master)
• The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett
• The History of Mandalorian Armor on StarWars.com (backup link) (original link is obsolete)

Notes and references

In other languages

• Deutsch
• polski