OBT Forum

Think he had two kills finishing 3rd but doubt that trial would hold weight as it wasnt live ammo

There are a number of reasons to diss that contest including the fact it was performed by the Wolf Dragoons. Although the Mechwarriors he beat were pretty good if I remember correctly. And using a variation on a theme, this time Marthe Pryde, she blooded a bunch of her new sibbies against InnerSphere opponents in an irregular way for the Clans.

here are some more notes I managed to jot down last night for this developing alternate -

Victor’s New Statement (event) – The Star League is here to complete the Rite of Absorption enacted by the Star League High Council against the Smoke Jaguar Clan. Their horrendous treatment of civilians and wasteful brutality has forever marred their honor but all is not lost. The Crusade that they did begin did in fact restore the Star League and their assets will form the core of the new SLDF along with any other Wardens who wish to join us. (site Vlad’s anyone who wishes to join the invasion must join us)

Vlad’s Reckoning (Theme) – all of the stuff Vladimir Ward has been up to since the Refusal War starts to bite him back here. First, the Crusader takeover of the Wolves has certainly alienated Coyote and its perhaps the best reason for them to back the Star League in spite of their traditional nature. Second, the Warden Harvest as called for here by Victor is born directly out of Vlad’s Crusader Harvest. Third, the birth of his Jade Wolves then rebirth of the new Wolves has also set a precedent other Clans can now take to divide themselves legally and without the contest of the Grand Council. (I have two Clans splits to propose here to you guys just ran out of time, will post details later)

Bear Necessities – Citing the Battle of Trafalgar (December 3059) between Task Force Serpent and a Ghost Bear Naval Convoy perhaps Victor is aware of the Clan’s move to the InnerSphere. If so can he flip them to a support by threating them with a backlash if he reveals there secret?

Couldnt they really offer a series of trials similar to the one for invasion corridors and the winner become the ilClan in charge of the SLDF? I know it was originally to become first lord but what claim do they have to it greater than any of the houses

That is interesting, especially since that is why I was considering Cloud Cobra to flip for more than just visionary reasons. They seem very political and calculating to me. If they can add Victor to their Clan who is already the Commander of the SLDF then it puts them in a very advantageous position.

Quote from: Bradshaw on August 08, 2018, 06:21:06 PM

Doesn't the ritual of adoption require one to be a bondsman or a lower caste member though?

I am not sure buddy but you would think it would. Victor did take his Trial of Position with the Wolf Dragoons if I remember correctly although I am not sure how he did exactly I know he passed. He does have an impressive codex with numerous successful battle fought against the Clans from Bulldog to Coventry to Teniente. 

I read the books and it is not really clear.
The only thing certain is that he would have to bear the name of his adopted Clan.

Page 12 of Field Manual Crusader Clans has this blurb under Formal Rituals. Page 14 of Field Manual Warden Clans is exactly the same - word for word.

Ritual of Adoption
In this ritual , an individual from outside a given Clan's warrior caste is adopted into that caste. The adoptee may be a bondsman taken in battle or a member of a Clan's lower castes rising to warrior status. In some Clans-in most Clans with regard to freeborn warriors-adoption is a matter of paperwork, and the ceremony is held only after the warrior has demonstrated his or her worth to the Clan. In the ritual, the adoptee must usually walk a gauntlet, being challenged three times and then defended by aerospace pilots, Elementals and MechWarriors. The order of challenges is set by the type of warrior the adoptee is becoming. When adopted, a freeborn warrior bondsman is traditionally given an honorname reflecting his or her new Clan. For example, a Clan Wolf adoptee is given the last name of Wolf.

This blurb is from page 158 in Field Manual Warden Clans under Wolf-in-Exile.

The Wolves still observe only the formal Clan-wide rituals, such as the Rite of Maturity and the adoption ceremony. The Wolf adoption ceremony is open to freeborn warriors who have proven their worth in battle. The Rite of Maturity is held after a cadet's Trial of Position and includes the gift of a new warrior's ceremonial garb. Unlike some Clans, the Wolf rite requires no loyalty test: the Wolves trust the upbringing of their warriors.

Page 141 in Field Manual Crusader Clans under the Crusader Wolves is nearly if not completely identical.

Here are a bunch of thoughts on what could possibly result in a Call to Arms as some Clans divide when confronted by the Warden Harvest, enjoy and as always tell me what you think!

Division of Assets – With two-thirds of the Shark Touman being composed of Wardens (see FM Warden Clans) it is possible a significant part of the Clan may want to depart the Homeworlds for deeper waters. As such Khan Ian Hawker announces the rebirth of Clan Sea Fox committed to the Crusader cause and traditional Clan honor. The Foxes would be left with one Frontline Galaxy and two Second Line Galaxies who follow their revitalized warrior Khan onward. The Sharks on the other hand have 2 Frontline Galaxies, 2 Spina Galaxies, and 1 Second Line Galaxy led by former saKhan Barbara Sennet and Angus Labov. Despite being unable to live together business is business and the two Clans become a vital link (possibly the only one) between the Homeworlds and the InnerSphere.

Break Down – The Fire Mandrills always a fractious bunch could formalize a break up begun when the Clan was originally formed. Thanks to the example set by the Diamond Sharks and others the Warden Harvest could well attract Kindraa Payne and Beyl-Grant long known to espouse that cause. Kindraa Sainze and Mattila-Carrol would no doubt lead the Crusaders of the Clan in an effort to punish these traitors. Attempts by Kindraa Faraday-Tanaga to mediate the dispute prove fruitless as each faction divides the Clan in two. Kindraa Mick-Kreese likely joins the Crusaders giving them an early advantage in the conflict while Kindraa Kline is wrecked by Crusader assaults. The remnants likely join the Wardens which may also eventually include Faraday-Tanaga which may let warriors choose their allegiance. In the end the Fire Mandrills emerge as the Warden Clan and the Dragon Swords (so named for the Sainze-Carrol ideal) become the Crusaders.

Horse Alliance –Hell’s Horses, mostly a Warden Clan, begin to identify with the St. Ives Compact whose equine sigil and heroic Mechwarrior heir are both present during the Jaguar Absorption/ Warden Harvest. This is another possible Clan which could split as they did in canon into Hell’s Horses (Wardens) and Stone Lion (Crusaders).

A Soldiers’ Duty – The Star Adders while Crusaders are as Bradshaw points out are pragmatists who I think have two ways to go. One, let the Wardens go and assume command of the “true Clans” remaining in the Homeworld who draw on the history of the Clans to show that the first Exodus and the first Invasion were noble failures but much like the Second Exodus they will isolate themselves and await Operation Klondike II. As an aside to this I could certainly see them using personnel who wished to leave as infiltrators keeping up links and the follow of information between them and the Homeworlds. Two, if a majority of Clans did embrace the Star League and choose to return the Adders may just see it as their duty but this could lead to another split perhaps seeing a renewed Burrock Crusader Clan emerge.

We've concentrated alot on the Smoke Jaguar Absorption and the Warden Harvest but lets get back to this topic right now.

One thing I was speaking with Bradshaw about today was our old home campaign lovingly called Mystic X which saw the formation of the Star League Clans following the Smoke Jaguar Annihilation where it largely diverged from canon. Here are a few things I'd like to build on in a new vision of this alternate.

Wolves and Nova Cats - likely the core of any effort to assemble this new force to help defend the Star League. Abjured but solidly behind efforts to aid the new organization it is perhaps these Clans which bring everything together.

InnerSphere Clans - imitation is the highest form of flattery and who is to say groups of InnerSphere Mechwarriors wouldn't like to join the Star League Clans in their mission to defend the greatest hope of mankind. It happened in our campaign where five such groups (Chaos Dragon, Golden Blade, Fire Serpent, Frost Panther, and Silver Tiger) joined Wolf, Nova Cat and a few others from Clan space to defend the Star League. Yes they had to pass combat trials and a host of challenges to become new Clans but answering the call went along way to establishing them as part of the Star League Clans.

Now when i established these new Clans they had to establish themselves in combat trials against the Wolves and Nova Cats. These were known as the Foundation Trials with some Clans (Mistweaver, Star Phoenix and Snord) had their origins in the Kerensky Cluster and so did not have to run the entire gambit. InnerSphere Clans (Chaos Dragon, Golden Blade, Fire Serpent, Frost Panther, and Silver Tiger) however did as they were not among the 800.

They fought for their Bloodnames, Technology, and everything else that made a Clan a Clan. Now in that setting both the Wolves (in-Exile and Dragoons) and the Nova Cat had been Abjured by the Clans as a whole. So a certain amount of liberalization was to be expected.

Here we have another scenario being considered but without going to much further what would make these new Clans platable to existing Warden Clans who elect to defend the Star League?

Quote from: Takiro on August 20, 2018, 03:59:49 PM

Now when i established these new Clans they had to establish themselves in combat trials against the Wolves and Nova Cats. These were known as the Foundation Trials with some Clans (Mistweaver, Star Phoenix and Snord) had their origins in the Kerensky Cluster

Snord I can get (even if no Clan would ever allow them to use the name Clan) but could you elaborate where the two others come from?

Thankfully i posted the all a while ago, enjoy!

https://www.ourbattletech.com/forum/index.php?topic=705.0