Warrior House

The Capellan Warrior Houses are semi-religious military orders within the Capellan Confederation, independent from the regular Capellan Confederation Armed Forces. They are a unique feature of the Capellan military, and well known and feared throughout the Inner Sphere. They are typically abbreviated "WH".

Sworn "to the Chancellor and to the Confederation" and fanatically loyal to House Liao, the Warrior Houses are autonomous monastic organisations operating as combined arms regiments, typically pairing highly trained infantry with one or two bataillons of 'Mechs, and occasionally armour elements. They operate under traditional House laws based on the Warrior House guidelines, which were created by Colonel Hiritza Hikaru from a somewhat revised concept of the Lorix Order, modeled along the Korvin Doctrine.

The first Warrior House, WH Imarra, was formed by the Chancellor's Decree of Martial Unity in 2864.

The Warrior Houses played an important role in Maximilian Liao's reach for power in 2990, and he authorized an increase of established Warrior House regiments from four to eight the following year.

Owing to their structure, the Warrior Houses are mainly used as special forces rather than frontline troops, and have access to the best equipment that the Capellan Confederation has to offer. For this preferential treatment, they have a strained relationship with the regular Capellan military most of the time.

Membership in a Warrior House is regarded as a great honour. Members wear long Katana blades (at least with their ceremonial uniforms) and are trained experts in a wide variety of martial skills, including piloting a BattleMech, infantry training, infiltration, espionage and specialist training.

Each Warrior House is led by a House Master with subordinate Mentors. Suitable membership candidates are chosen at the age of 12 by the House Master, and then educated and trained by the House for a lifetime of service. It is very rare, although not unheard of, for a House member to leave the order. Warrior House pupils lead a life apart from normal society; each House strives to inculcate basic martial philosophy and discipline, and each member is required to take various House Vows.

There is no formal ranking among the Warrior House Orders, although WH Imarra is considered the first among equals. The eight major Houses, in order of seniority, are as follows:

House Imarra

Founded by philosopher-soldier Kamachi Imarra in 2864, the first Warrior House regiment performed beyond all expectations against the Goliaths of the Oriente Hussars when House Marik attacked Sirius in a deep penetration raid in 2901. Through superior tactical handling of their light Falcons and audacious use of jump infantry, the Imarra troops inflicted heavy damage on the attackers, driving them off.

WH Imarra contained and later drove off superior forces of the 7th Crucis Lanciers together with WH LuSann in a defense on Lincoln in 3001.

Imarra BattleMechs were among the very first to be equipped with the new Triple Strength Myomer technology that the Federated Suns had leaked to the Capellans on purpose just prior to the Fourth Succession War. In the daring raid on Sian to rescue Justin Xiang Allard at the conclusion of the war in 3029, the Davion DropShips launched missiles with a gaseous agent that destroyed the myomer, incapacitating the Imarra 'Mechs before they could mount an effective defense.

Until 3015, the House Master of House Imarra was Icarra Sung, an expert killer and martial artist who went on to command the Death Commandos by 3025. He was succeeded by Karl Yaquinto Yadi who was in turn succeeded by Ion Rush.

House Imarra is entrusted with the defence of Sian and permanently stationed there; the other Warrior House battalions rotate to Sian periodically for special training.

Since WH Imarra is primus inter pares among the Warrior Houses, the Imarra House Master is the accepted spokesman for all the Warrior Houses together.

House Kamata

• Based on Betelgeuse and entrusted with the defense of the factories there, most notably the Aldis Industries and Firmir Weaponry plants.
• Relieved St. Ives from Davion mercenary units Kingston's Commandos and Tristram's Terrorists in 3019 together with WH LuSann, utterly destroying the attackers.

Commmander Kalidas Aniro, a WH Kamata officer, achieved great fame in the brief war against Andurien in the 3030s, following the Fourth Succession War. Defending the 'Mech factories against the invading 5th Regiment of the Defenders of Andurien, he achieved twelve kills against other BattleMechs (including the BattleMaster of the enemy regiment's commander, Jimmy "Jayhawk" Lee) in his Cataphract in a short time.

House Hiritsu

Although WH Hiritsu was noted as stationed on Tigress (Laurel's World) as of 3025, their stronghold was on Randar at least since 3045. The House insigina are a radiant white Katana against a field of stars, and the WH Hiritsu colours are green and black. WH Hiritsu is notable for strongly following the philosophy of K'ung-fu-tzu (Confucius), having incorporated his teachings into their House Vows, and courtesy is a major element.

• Quelled a rebellion on Gei-Fu in 3051
• Held in reserve during the Liao-Marik offensive of 3057, though one company saw combat on Sarmaxa
• Retook Kaifeng from the Sarna Supremacy in 3058

During the conquest of Kaifeng, the WH Hiritsu JumpShip was the Tao-te (Way of Power). Their DropShips included the Overlord-class Dainwu (Great Tiger), two Union-class ships (one named Lao-tzu) and an Intruder-class ship. Known personnell that took part in the campaign includes:

House Master Virginia York (KIA)

Battalion Commander (formerly Senior Company Leader) Ty Wu Non ('Mech: Charger)

Lance Leader Terry Chan ('Mech: Cataphract) (KIA)

MechWarrior Justin Loup ('Mech: Hatchetman) (KIA)

MechWarrior Lewis ('Mech: Blackjack)

Lance Leader Raven Clearwater ('Mech: Huron Warrior)

MechWarrior Brion Lee ('Mech: Apollo) (KIA)

MechWarrior Richard Smith ('Mech: Vindicator)

MechWarrior Lynn Trahn ('Mech: Huron Warrior)

Lance Leader Aris Sung ('Mech: Wraith)

MechWarrior Jill McDaniels (KIA)

MechWarrior Yan Lu ('Mech: Thunder)

Company Leader Thom Lindell (KIA)

MechWarrior Kevin Larsen (KIA)

Company Leader Jason James

A War Dog was piloted by either Jill McDaniels or Kevin Larsen. Also, the defenders obverved at least one Raven among the WH Hiritsu forces.

Infantry Commander Sebastian Jessup

Infantryman Mikhail Chess

unnamed Infantryman named "Leon"

Chief Surgeon Dr. Hammond

Bridge Officer Kyle Lee (DropShip Lao-tzu)

During the campaign, five Hiritsu MechWarriors (Thom Lindell, Terry Chan, Jill McDaniels, Brion Lee and Kevin Larsen) betrayed their House in an attempt to weed out what they perceived to be weak elements that stood in the way of greater glory; Lindell murdered House Master York aboard the Kaifeng recharge station right at the beginning of the invasion. Their plot was revealed, but covered up to protect the integrity of the House. With the exception of Lindell, who was later executed, the perpetrators were given a chance to die (rigged) hero's deaths in a suicidal final attack, luring the Kaifeng defenders into a trap in the process and winning the final confrontation. In all official records they are listed as combat casualties, and House Master York is officially considered the victim of an unknown Sarnese or MIIO assassin.

Virginia York was House Master of Hiritsu from ca. 3045 until her death in 3058. She was succeeded by Ty Wu Non.

House LuSann

• Took part in the defense of Spica against a Davion offensive in 2910.
• Contained and later drove off superior forces of the 7th Crucis Lanciers together with WH Imarra in a defense on Lincoln in 3001.
• Relieved St. Ives from Davion mercenary units Kingston's Commandos and Tristram's Terrorists in 3019 together with WH Kamata, utterly destroying the attackers.
• Performed unspecified "special maneuvers" on Liao around 3025
• WH LuSann was one of the Warrior Houses whose loyalty to Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao was doubtful; they were thought to favour his sister Kali Liao.

In 3057, Jesse Villar was House Master of WH LuSann.

House Daidachi

• Based on Nanking and Drozan as of 3025.

House Fujita

• Based on Styk since shortly before 3025.
• Based on Grand Base since around 3025 and entrusted with guarding the Earthwerks Incorporated 'Mech plant there.

Styk was overrun by Davion forces during the Fourth Succession War. A bomb planted by a Davion spy destroyed the WH Fujita Overlord-class DropShip Empress Ting in September 3028 when it tried to lift off from Styk, destroying most of what remained of the regiment at the time. A single Fujita MechWarrior who had not reached the evacuation ship in time survived, and later managed to kill a Davion Wolverine pilot and assume his identity with his skills at infiltration. He went on to free numerous other prisoners from Davion captivity, including Techs and other personnell from WH Fujita, and even steal a Mammoth class dropship loaded with BattleMechs in a daring escape.

House Matsukai

• Based on Bithinia and entrusted with guarding the industrial complexes there, most notably Bithinia Ballistics.
• Spearheaded the successful Liao-Marik offensive of 3057

House Ijori

• Based on Aldebaran.
• Arrived too late to prevent the destruction of the Capellan Ariana Grenadiers regiment that was caught unawares and hammered to pieces on Ingersoll by the Free Worlds Guard in 2874, but inflicted heavy damage on the attackers nevertheless.
• Turned the tide against a Marik Militia regiment on Hsien in 2943, relieving the 1st Kearny Highlanders.
• Closed a trap on Davion troops on Cammal in 3002.
• Caught and mauled a Davion mercenary regiment on Tsanna in 3003, capturing a large number of BattleMechs in the process.
• Spearheaded the successful Liao-Marik offensive of 3057
• WH Ijori was one of the Warrior Houses whose loyalty to Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao was doubtful; they were thought to favour his sister Kali Liao. They were sent to join the Arc-Royal Defense Cordon in 3057, ostensibly to gain combat experience against the Jade Falcons but possibly also to wear them down and neutralize them as a possible threat to the Chancellor.

Other Houses

There may be minor Warrior Houses in existence in addition to the aforementioned eight Houses which are frequently referred to as the "major" Warrior Houses. The Capellan Chancellor can create or disband Warrior Houses at any time.

Some also consider the Capellan Death Commandos to be a Warrior House in the wider sense, or at least a related institution. However, it should be noted that the Death Commandos are part of the regular Capellan military and have a particularly strained relationship with the Warrior Houses; they are often set against the Warrior Houses in political maneuvering. Yet, they exclusively recruited (or drafted) their personnell from the Warrior Houses until they opened up for qualified personnell from regular line regiments in 3003.