Difference between revisions of "Warden Clans"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Origins=== | ===Origins=== | ||
| − | The Warden philosophy was adhered to by all of the Clans throughout the [[Golden Century]], though the term 'Warden' itself didn't come into use until the Crusader ideology arose in opposition to it. Derived from a passage in Nicholas Kerensky's diaries - “to ward the Inner Sphere from all outside forces until that time when the Star League is reborn” - this doctrine mandated that the Clans' superior culture was to remain isolated from potential corruption and the barbarian influence of the [[Great Houses]], only to intervene if an 'outside threat' were to menace the Inner Sphere. The Wardens never provided a definitive answer as to what such an 'outside threat' might be, but some suggested [[Alien|nonhuman]] enemies from beyond known space while others spoke of countering a human tyranny so vile that it transcended the bounds of decency.<ref>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 24</ref> | + | The Warden philosophy was adhered to by all of the Clans throughout the [[Golden Century]], though the term 'Warden' itself didn't come into use until the Crusader ideology arose in opposition to it. Derived from a passage in Nicholas Kerensky's diaries - “to ward the Inner Sphere from all outside forces until that time when the Star League is reborn” - this doctrine mandated that the Clans' superior culture was to remain isolated from potential corruption and the barbarian influence of the [[Great Houses]], only to intervene if an 'outside threat' were to menace the Inner Sphere. The Wardens never provided a definitive answer as to what such an 'outside threat' might be, but some suggested [[Alien|nonhuman]] enemies from beyond known space while others spoke of countering a human tyranny so vile that it transcended the bounds of decency.<ref name=WC24>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 24</ref> |
A gradual change in the Clans' political landscape first became noticeable in the mid- to late 2900s as the Golden Century transitioned to the [[Political Century]]. The increasing disunity between the Clans, coupled with support for a return to the Inner Sphere from the civilian castes who suffered most in the harsh worlds of [[Clan Space]], led to a new ideology arising: that of the Crusaders. Decades of [[Grand Council]] neutrality on the issue finally ended in [[2980]], when the first Clan to declare itself for the new movement, the [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]], presented a formal proposal for an invasion of the Inner Sphere.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 17</ref> | A gradual change in the Clans' political landscape first became noticeable in the mid- to late 2900s as the Golden Century transitioned to the [[Political Century]]. The increasing disunity between the Clans, coupled with support for a return to the Inner Sphere from the civilian castes who suffered most in the harsh worlds of [[Clan Space]], led to a new ideology arising: that of the Crusaders. Decades of [[Grand Council]] neutrality on the issue finally ended in [[2980]], when the first Clan to declare itself for the new movement, the [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]], presented a formal proposal for an invasion of the Inner Sphere.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 17</ref> | ||
===Stemming the Crusader Tide=== | ===Stemming the Crusader Tide=== | ||
| + | The Falcon motion was defeated but the invasion debate had now become too prominent to ignore. As a result the Wardens spent the next seven decades fighting an ultimately losing battle against the rising support for the Crusader cause. The first measure they supported was the formation of [[Intelser]]; intended to rectify the lack of solid information on the Inner Sphere, this organization's members infiltrated several [[Periphery]] states throughout the 2980s. This second-hand information proved of limited value and Intelser's failure would provide a compelling argument for the Warden's next move.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 16</ref><ref name=WC24>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 24</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | By [[3000]] the Crusader cause was on the verge of triumph as pro-invasion support reached overwhelming levels. But when Khan [[Nadia Winson]] of the [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]] put the motion to the Grand Council, Khan [[Kerlin Ward]] of Clan Wolf pulled off a victory for the Wardens. Arguing that the lack of useful intelligence made an invasion too risky, Ward convinced most of the Grand Council to support the formation of a mercenary unit intended to remedy this defect: [[Wolf's Dragoons]]. The Dragoons would serve each of the Great Houses and report back on their strengths and weaknesses, but this odyssey would take several years - possibly up to three decades - to complete. Despite protests from the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars, and rebellious elements of [[Clan Ice Hellion]] nearly launching their own solo invasion, the Wardens had successfully staved off a Crusader assault upon the Inner Sphere for years to come.<ref name=TCWK17>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 17</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Even with the apparent defection of the Dragoons around [[3019]] and rumors of the new [[Federated Commonwealth]] superstate threatening to dominate the Inner Sphere, the Wardens, now led by [[Ulric Kerensky]], still managed to prevent a Grand Council 'go' vote on the invasion throughout the mid-31st century. <ref name=TCWK17>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 17</ref> But the Crusaders found a charismatic and fanatical spokesman of their own in Khan [[Leo Showers]] of the Smoke Jaguars, and during this era Showers and his allies steadily chipped away at Kerensky and the Wardens' support base in the Grand Council. Nonetheless, the Wardens managed to thwart Showers at every turn, until [[3048]] when fate delivered him the [[Outbound Light|intelligence coup]] he needed to tip the scales.<ref> ''Invading Clans'', p. 52, "Wolfnet Archive File:07765-ER3-21/3/7"</ref> | ||
===Operation Revival=== | ===Operation Revival=== | ||
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Clans [[Clan Diamond Shark|Diamond Shark]] and [[Clan Nova Cat|Nova Cat]], while pro-Crusader for much of their history, were motivated by benevolent intentions towards the Inner Sphere and so moved into the Warden camp after the [[Battle of Tukayyid]]. The [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]] were also Crusaders until some time prior to the [[Great Refusal]], when they officially announced their shift to the Warden stance. | Clans [[Clan Diamond Shark|Diamond Shark]] and [[Clan Nova Cat|Nova Cat]], while pro-Crusader for much of their history, were motivated by benevolent intentions towards the Inner Sphere and so moved into the Warden camp after the [[Battle of Tukayyid]]. The [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]] were also Crusaders until some time prior to the [[Great Refusal]], when they officially announced their shift to the Warden stance. | ||
| − | While considered a Crusader Clan, some of [[Clan Fire Mandrill|Clan Fire Mandrill's]] [[Kindraa]] were supporters of the Warden philosophy. During the 3050s and early 3060s, the rank and file of [[Clan Hell's Horses]] were pro-Warden despite their Clan's staunch Crusader leadership. After | + | While considered a Crusader Clan, some of [[Clan Fire Mandrill|Clan Fire Mandrill's]] [[Kindraa]] were supporters of the Warden philosophy. During the 3050s and early 3060s, the rank and file of [[Clan Hell's Horses]] were pro-Warden despite their Clan's staunch Crusader leadership. After 3065, the Horses would effectively shift to the Warden camp. |
==List of Warden Clans from c. 3050 to c. 3067== | ==List of Warden Clans from c. 3050 to c. 3067== | ||
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==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]'' | * ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Invading Clans (sourcebook)|Invading Clans]]'' | ||
* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]'' | * ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]'' | ||
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]'' | * ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]'' | ||
Revision as of 01:17, 24 November 2018
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. |
The Warden Clans were those Clans who adhered to the Warden ideology in Clan politics. The essence of the Warden ideal was that Aleksandr and Nicholas Kerensky had never intended for the Clans to reestablish the Star League by force or conquer the Inner Sphere, but to remain aloof from its corrupting influence while standing ready to intervene should the Inner Sphere require saving from an existential threat.
The Wardens succeeded for decades in preventing the Crusaders from spearheading an invasion of the Inner Sphere until an unforeseen event in 3048 finally resulted in a Crusader-led assault upon the Great Houses. The ultimate failure of that invasion, eventually defeated in accordance with the Clans' own laws, left the Wardens temporarily triumphant before events after 3060 saw the Crusader-Warden divide rendered moot by a permanent rupture between the Home and Invading Clans.
Contents
History
Origins
The Warden philosophy was adhered to by all of the Clans throughout the Golden Century, though the term 'Warden' itself didn't come into use until the Crusader ideology arose in opposition to it. Derived from a passage in Nicholas Kerensky's diaries - “to ward the Inner Sphere from all outside forces until that time when the Star League is reborn” - this doctrine mandated that the Clans' superior culture was to remain isolated from potential corruption and the barbarian influence of the Great Houses, only to intervene if an 'outside threat' were to menace the Inner Sphere. The Wardens never provided a definitive answer as to what such an 'outside threat' might be, but some suggested nonhuman enemies from beyond known space while others spoke of countering a human tyranny so vile that it transcended the bounds of decency.[1]
A gradual change in the Clans' political landscape first became noticeable in the mid- to late 2900s as the Golden Century transitioned to the Political Century. The increasing disunity between the Clans, coupled with support for a return to the Inner Sphere from the civilian castes who suffered most in the harsh worlds of Clan Space, led to a new ideology arising: that of the Crusaders. Decades of Grand Council neutrality on the issue finally ended in 2980, when the first Clan to declare itself for the new movement, the Jade Falcons, presented a formal proposal for an invasion of the Inner Sphere.[2]
Stemming the Crusader Tide
The Falcon motion was defeated but the invasion debate had now become too prominent to ignore. As a result the Wardens spent the next seven decades fighting an ultimately losing battle against the rising support for the Crusader cause. The first measure they supported was the formation of Intelser; intended to rectify the lack of solid information on the Inner Sphere, this organization's members infiltrated several Periphery states throughout the 2980s. This second-hand information proved of limited value and Intelser's failure would provide a compelling argument for the Warden's next move.[3][1]
By 3000 the Crusader cause was on the verge of triumph as pro-invasion support reached overwhelming levels. But when Khan Nadia Winson of the Ghost Bears put the motion to the Grand Council, Khan Kerlin Ward of Clan Wolf pulled off a victory for the Wardens. Arguing that the lack of useful intelligence made an invasion too risky, Ward convinced most of the Grand Council to support the formation of a mercenary unit intended to remedy this defect: Wolf's Dragoons. The Dragoons would serve each of the Great Houses and report back on their strengths and weaknesses, but this odyssey would take several years - possibly up to three decades - to complete. Despite protests from the Jade Falcons and Smoke Jaguars, and rebellious elements of Clan Ice Hellion nearly launching their own solo invasion, the Wardens had successfully staved off a Crusader assault upon the Inner Sphere for years to come.[4]
Even with the apparent defection of the Dragoons around 3019 and rumors of the new Federated Commonwealth superstate threatening to dominate the Inner Sphere, the Wardens, now led by Ulric Kerensky, still managed to prevent a Grand Council 'go' vote on the invasion throughout the mid-31st century. [4] But the Crusaders found a charismatic and fanatical spokesman of their own in Khan Leo Showers of the Smoke Jaguars, and during this era Showers and his allies steadily chipped away at Kerensky and the Wardens' support base in the Grand Council. Nonetheless, the Wardens managed to thwart Showers at every turn, until 3048 when fate delivered him the intelligence coup he needed to tip the scales.[5]
Operation Revival
The Refusal War
The Great Refusal
Post-Wars of Reaving
Membership
Though its membership changed over the years, Clans Wolf and Coyote led the Warden bloc from its beginnings until after the Refusal War, when the Wolves were split between a reborn Crusader-dominated Clan Wolf and the Abjured Clan Wolf in Exile who continued to support the Warden cause. Clan Goliath Scorpion traditionally supported the Warden cause as well, while the majority of Clan Cloud Cobra's cloisters were inclined towards the Warden philosophy.
While nominally Warden, Clans Snow Raven and Steel Viper were in reality fence-straddlers. The Ravens would support Crusader motions that suited their goals, while the Vipers agreed with the Crusader aim of returning to the Inner Sphere and restoring the Star League under Clan leadership.
Clans Diamond Shark and Nova Cat, while pro-Crusader for much of their history, were motivated by benevolent intentions towards the Inner Sphere and so moved into the Warden camp after the Battle of Tukayyid. The Ghost Bears were also Crusaders until some time prior to the Great Refusal, when they officially announced their shift to the Warden stance.
While considered a Crusader Clan, some of Clan Fire Mandrill's Kindraa were supporters of the Warden philosophy. During the 3050s and early 3060s, the rank and file of Clan Hell's Horses were pro-Warden despite their Clan's staunch Crusader leadership. After 3065, the Horses would effectively shift to the Warden camp.
List of Warden Clans from c. 3050 to c. 3067
- Clan Cloud Cobra
- Clan Coyote
- Clan Diamond Shark (Crusader prior to Tukayyid)
- Clan Ghost Bear (Crusader until Great Refusal)
- Clan Goliath Scorpion
- Clan Hell's Horses (Crusader until Khan Malavai Fletcher's death in 3065)
- Clan Nova Cat (Crusader before Operation Bulldog)
- Clan Snow Raven (officially Warden, opportunistic supporter of Crusader policies)
- Clan Steel Viper (shared some Crusader goals)
- Clan Wolf (Crusader after Refusal War)
- Clan Wolf in Exile (extant after the Refusal War)