OBT Forum

Clan Political Factions

Clan politics have not always been about the Crusaders and Wardens, amply demonstrated by the rapid rise of the Loyalist faction in recent years.  However, before the so called Political Century polarised the Clans for nearly one hundred years into the Warden and Crusader camps, several other Clan political divides existed.

The initial divide can be characterised as the pro-ilKhanate and anti-ilKhanate factions.  From 2822 until the 2840s, the Clans in general supported the vision of first Nicholas and later Andery Kerensky.  However, all was not in harmony, with the opposition first led alone by the Wolverines, but once that Clan was Supplicated, opposition to the ilKhan and his brother came from the Widowmakers and their supporters, notably the Fire Mandrills and Mongooses (under the table), though other Clans would support them from time to time.

In the 2840s, as Andery rose to hold unofficial sway over the Clans, a pro-Kerensky and anti-Kerensky factionalism arose, with Andery surprisingly supportive of the anti-Kerensky faction desiring, as did his brother, that the Clans learn to live without a Kerensky guiding them every step of the way.

Upon Andery's death in 2867, these factions quickly morphed into the Wolf/Coyote led faction, sometimes called the Kerensky Faction as well, but also the Dogs of Kerensky by its opponents and their opposition.  This opposition never gelled into a formal faction, acting more as an on again, off again alliance of convenience between various Clans.

However, as the last of the old Star League influence and early generations of Clan Warriors died off, the division in the Clans from 2890, though still holding some of the Wolf/Coyote factionalism of before, began to morph into a Progressive versus Traditionalist divide.  This caused issues for the Wolf/Coyote faction, as the Wolves were a rather liberal Clan when compared to their fundamentalist Coyote allies.  Both Clan's opponents made headway against them in the Grand Council during this time period.

This divide persists until the present day in some Clan debates, but rapidly came to be dominated and subsumed to the growing Crusader/Warden debate of the 2930s.  As the Political Century progressed, more and more debates were being settled by voting patterns based on the Crusader/Warden split than any other.

This division lasted a century, until the rise of the Loyalist faction in 3032.  This faction is not so much a new way of thinking for the Clans, but a reinterpretation of both the Warden and Crusader ideals, making it a moderate middle ground between the ideologically opposed older factions.

Nice, you might want to expand on it a little bit with the Splendid, Drake, Fredesa and Nightord.

Expanding your thinking, perhaps there were for phases of Caln Naval Development:


1. Use of exisiting SLDF era commisioned ships - pre-Golden Century

2. Recommisioning best conditioned cache ships for flett expansion - Golden Century

3. Redesign of selcet units and refitting of advanced technology and Clan fighter bays to older design's hulls - Late Golden Century/Early Political Century

4. Design and Construction of new classes of WarShips - Mid-late Political Century.

Where are all the Mechs?

Since the introduction of the three series of the OmniMech through the 2860s, the era of the standard BattleMech within the Clans slowly came to an end.  However, it was not a complete death for the venerable models of the former SLDF, as many fates awaited those old Warhorses.

Many of the existing chassis were modified to the O-Series during the remainder of the 29th Century, and although an effective stop gap measure in the race to aquire OmniMechs, these conversions were never as effective as new build systems.

Some fought on until destroyed, especially in more impoverished Clans, where the resources for upgrades and replacements were never available.  The last of these machines fell fighting in the Touman of Clan Blood Spirit in the 2990s, well over a century after the debut of the OmniMech.

Others were simply mothballed and forgotten, with available records indicating that many larger Clans have some of these Mechs still stored in old Brian Caches.  Others were stored by, or traded to the Free Guilds for storage, where they form the largest such cache, stored with the masses of vehicles at the ilKhanate Armour Factory.

The last fate of many of these old BattleMechs only recently became truly clear.  Following the investigation of Clan Burrock's records during their Supplication, in was revealed that the wayward Clan had traded many of these venerable Mechs, along with the locations of many caches.  The Dark Caste still makes extensive use of these BattleMechs, despite recent heavy losses.


Developers Notes: The Free Guilds do hold a considerable number of BattleMechs at the ilKhanate Facility, but they are overlooked by the Clans as inferior designs.  However, one Clan will look to use them in the invasion, setting off a serious power play within the Grand Council and sparking a war in the Homeworlds.

Supplication’s Evolution

As the single most important, Clan affecting Trial, it is interesting to note that the implementation of Supplication was not set in stone for some forty years.  This stems from the fact that Supplication was a stop gap, emergency measure, created quickly and with little debate.

The first use of Supplication was the famous Wolverine Supplication, a plot hatched by Sarah McEvedy and Andery Kerensky to save the Wolverines, one that was at first grudgingly supported by Nicholas Kerensky, but something he warmed to once he had the chance to remodel the Wolverines.  This original application had McEvedy invoke the Rite of Supplication, something that was not made clear to the other Clans until later, a fact that enraged their enemies even more.

The second Supplication, that of the Widowmakers, was a far more planned event, however, it was implemented in a rather haphazard way, due to the chaos of Nicholas Kerensky’s death.  However, the end result followed the intention of the Rite of Supplication, so little was said at the time regarding any irregularities in its undertaking.

However, following their return to status as a regular Clan, Clan Widowmaker petitioned the Grand Council and Loremaster Kerensky to standardise the process of Supplication for any future events.

Twenty-six years later, Clan Mongoose would try to use the now properly codified Supplication rite against the Smoke Jaguars and Star Adders.  Khan Walter Martindale accused both Clans of open and un-Clanlike political collusion and demanded both face Supplication.  Clan Loremaster Eloy Varga would have none of the Mongoose Khans false accusation however, dismissing the charge as baseless according to Clan lore.

However, Khan Theodore Osis of the Smoke Jaguars, scenting the kill, immediately counter-charged Clan Mongoose for their unClanlike ways in attempting to use Clan Law to cover for their military failure.  Loremaster Varga, after consulting quietly with ilKhan Danforth, accepted the charge against Clan Mongoose.  In Clan eyes, the Adders and Jaguars were little more than allies of convenience, striking back at a shared aggressor.  However, Clan Mongoose was trying to use politics and Grand Council procedure to cover for their military failures, and this was not the first time that Clan Mongoose’s activities had raised the ire of the Grand Council.

With the Loremaster accepting the charge, the Grand Council went into recess for twenty-four hours, per the new code, to allow each Clan time to discuss the matter internally.  The Ebon Keshik took Khans Martindale and Knox into custody, pending the Grand Council’s decision.  Additionally, the Ebon Keshik, with assistances from the Katyusha Keshik, also put all members of clan Mongoose in the city under temporary arrest.  This was to prevent word reaching the Mongoose enclaves before the vote had been taken.

The following day, debate was opened in the Grand Council, with the accuser and the accused being the first to speak.  Following this, any Khan was allowed to address the Grand Council on the matter, with Clan Mongoose given a final response, followed by the Smoke Jaguars as the accusers.  In the end, the vote was heavily against Clan Mongoose, with the matter now preceding to the Trial of Supplication itself.   The immediate Mongoose bid of two Galaxies and their fleet over Circe, saw fierce bidding from the other Clans reduce the attacking force from at potential eight Galaxies reduced to three Smoke Jaguar Galaxies.  The defeat of Clan Mongoose on Circe saw them enter into Supplication.

Khans Martindale and Knox were then forced to step down, as ilKhan Danforth took personal control of the Clan and began mending its ways.  The Loremaster and most Galaxy Commanders, along with no small number of Star Colonels, were demoted and two years of internal trialling saw a new command echelon arise in the Clan.  At the end of the first two years of the Supplication, Clan Mongoose was allowed to Trial against other Clans, just as they were again allowed to Trial against Clan Mongoose.  Eight years later, under ilKhan Ward, clan Mongoose was allowed to re-attend Grand Council meeting, being reaccepted back into the mainstream of the Clans.

This format has not been deviated from since, with each Supplication call dealt with in the same manner.

Ryu and the Ravens

Mongoose Beverly Ryu, ilKhan of the Clans from 2979 to 2992, was one of the more enigmatic of the ilKhans, coming to power as she did through the usual ploy of Mongoose political manoeuvring.  ilKhan Ryu made few friends upon her ascension to the post, alienating the Warden Clans, but also winning no great love from the Crusaders, as her limitations on the Great Debate, whilst ostensibly the right decision, was not greeted with great acclaim by the Crusader Khans.

However, as problematic as some Khans found her initially, it would be the traditionalists from both sides of the Great Debate who then came in for her attention.  Ryu was in no way backwards about coming forward regarding what she saw as the traditionalists self limiting behaviour.  The only thing keeping her in power was that no agreeable alternatives were available, until the Diamond Shark scandal. 

Although the Sea Foxes lost their Trial and could not change their name, Ryu wasted no opportunity to pillory Clan Snow Raven, her Clans blood enemy, at every opportunity during the following Grand Council sessions, despite the rapprochement between the Sea foxes and Snow Ravens.

These actions made her the Machiavellian Raven’s perfect target for a fall, and in late 2991, a Raven delegation met with Ryu, with the ilKhan agreeing to step down at the following Grand Council meeting.  What the information that the Ravens possessed was never made clear, however the cover story that it was due to Clan Mongoose playing fast and loose with a small number of ships in the Naval Caches has never been accepted at more than face value.

What was the real reason this most unusual ilKhan was driven from office?  Several theories exist, none of which have ever been properly substantiated.  The first involves the ilKhan’s status as a Warrior, similar to what ended ilKhan Wood’s tenure, however, records of Ryu’s codex have been damaged (highly unusual in itself), so it is not clear if this was the case.  A second theory is that Clan Mongoose took more than just the wrong ships from the Naval Caches, taking something of far greater value that had been secreted there by ilKhan Kerensky.  Just what was allegedly taken has never been made clear, but something was removed.  However, the item, CNCC-001KX, has never been found and was not large, a mere meter across.

A third theory is that ilKhan Ryu had directed her Mongoose scientists to attempt to develop a new strain of MechWarrior, using any means necessary.  The story is that the resultant phenotype was, to Clan eyes, an abomination, something which no other Clan would stomach.  The last theory involves the Diamond Shark incident, with the rumour persisting that the ilKhan was aware of Khan Howell’s actions and supported them until they came to light in the Grand Council.  However, this theory is not well substantiated, as Khan Howell could have called out Ryu in the Grand Council when under questioning himself.

Whatever the secret that was used to remove Beverly Ryu from the position of ilKhan, it remains just that, a secret, known only to the snow Ravens, who have shared it with no one but the ilKhan herself.

Developers Notes: The WarShip scandal was a cover for the real reason for Ryu's removal.  All three of the above rumours were true and Ryu gave much to the Raven's to escape a bad end.

Her status as a warrior was defunct, something she quickly remidied after the fact and then covered her tracks by altering records.  The breeding of a new Warriro Phenotype went well beyond the pale, introducing mutagenic compounds to assist in rapid evolution.  Although the project was a messy failure, that it was attempted was something that would have seen her and many Mongeese ended.

The final theory, that of CNCC-001KX (Circe Naval Cache Container - 001KX, is also true. 001KX was the only resting place of any true genetic sample from Jennifer Winson, those of her bloodhouse being heaviliy modified versions of her brother Jerome's.  Why?  Because Winson was not a Winson, she was Amanda Cameron and Keresnky had a plan for her genetics.

NK believed that on a return to the Inner Sphere, the Clans would need more than just thier name, they would need the last Cameron and plans were to clone Jennifer prior to the return so that a Cameron would again sit on the Star League throne.  Only a select 2-3 scientists at any time knew of -001KX and would inform the Clan Loremaster and ilKhan when the invasion vote was given.

However, Clan Mongoose, when taking ships from the cache, stumbled on the secret facility that held Amanda's remains and samples and knew they had a winner.  In 2992, the first Amanda was cloned and raised as a Mongoose, however she was killed in combat in 3025.  The second was then cloned and is 9 during the start of the invasion.

For their silence, the Raven's get a percentage of the Mongoose output from Circe every yera.

I am thinking of posting thses as teasers once we are happy with each one on the main boards.  You guys happy with that?

Like that idea should make for interesting reactions I'd start with Supplication or McEvedy maybe one every few days

Got ideas on another one but at work want to develop it first

ecKhan Malachy

ecKhan Malachy, an un-Bloodnamed Freeborn Warrior of Clan Cloud Cobra is one of the most enigmatic of the truly odd souls to be produced by that Clan’s numerous Cloisters.

ecKhan Malachy was no great Warrior, seemingly destined for Solahma status, until being injured in a Trial against Clan Coyote.  Prior to his injury, Malachy followed no Cloister, being one of the rare Cloud Cobras who were no followers of The Way, likely the fact that limited his career in that Clan.  However, following his recuperation in 2930, Malachy became a man possessed, espousing a new philosophy that became the Weissagen Cloister.

The Weissagen Cloister believe that the Way is not only a guide, but a map to the future, with the True Path visible to those who possess the right insight into the way.  It is no surprise that the Weissagen Cloister has produced its fair share of prophesies, however, it was Malachy’s last prophesy, known a Malachy’s List, which produces the most discussion amongst Clansmen.

The Prophesy is interpreted to be a list of the ilKhans, and said by its supporters to show who will be ilKhan and in some cases their fate.  I have copied it below with notations for interests sake.

First will come the betrayer, kin to us all, [Tobais Khatib no doubt – Makes you wonder what Malachy knew?]

A failure shall follow, the Howling disappointment, [Ami Woods, failed Warrior and ex-Commander of the Ghost Bears Beta Galaxy, the Howling Bears?]

Then will come one of effort, but none count the effort of dogs, [The Coyote Albert Tangen, with no love lost from the Cobras]

Thence will there be one respected, but not respected in turn, [Said to be Elanor McEvedy, who restored some dignity to the office, but was felled by her own Loremaster]

Thence the first of the Conquerors, swift and dark, [This is interpreted as the short ruling Jae Ruby, first Crusader ilKhan and one of the “Dark Widowmakers” as the Cobras call them?]

He is followed by a deceiver, whose fall is assured, [The Mongoose Beverly Ryu]

Then one of Spirit, but not of vision [This corresponds with Antoine Osborne the short serving Blood Spirit ilKhan]

Then the soaring shadow shall heal many rifts, [The soaring shadow of the Snow Raven ilKhan Rebecca Bowes]

Followed by a Warrior of the respected’s kin, [If the respected was McEvedy, then Aamodt as a Wolverine fits this bill]

Strangely then one twice outcast, but honourable of heart, [Stacy Osis, whose legacy was caste out by the Jaguars and then was part of the Burrock mess]

The outcast will then stand back for the Conquerors hero [Crusader ilKhan Kimball N’Buta of Clan Star Adder]

Then will be the one unexpected after dark forces strike [It seems N’Butu will meet a bad end]

Another of honour will push back the night [But apparently N’Butu’s successor will repair whatever is lost with the Star Adder’s fall]

[There is actually a break here before the next lines]

Then will come the decider, upon who our hopes rest
The one we must follow or the Clans forever shall rest. [Apparently, 3 ilKhans from now, the Clan are going to be in trouble and our little sage had no idea what the outcome would be.]



Developers Notes: Like all prophets, this guy was just an A-Grade nutter.  Whether his predictions will ring true is something I have not decided yet.