Clan Snow Raven

The snow raven wastes nothing, A scavenger par excellence, it makes use of materiels abandoned by others. It works in harmony with the other beasts and is the perfect companion.

ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky, 2810

The snow-white ravens of Strana Mechty's southern tundra are respected for their unwillingness to waste anything. The Clan that shares their name - Snow Raven - shows a similar lack of willingness to waste any resources, or any opportunity. They are scavengers and politicians par-excellence.

Clan Snow Raven Wastes nothing. They make use of neglected opportunities, creating advantages where others see none. They believe in working alongside other Clans, using them for their own gain, and they give the appearance of being the perfect ally.

ilKhan Ulric Kerensky, 3055

History and Origins

The early years of Clan Snow Raven were harsh. They were the last Clan certified combat ready and were ill prepared for the challenges of Circe. They took massive losses storming rebel compounds and barely survived the campaign. However, worse was to come when Clan Wolverine rebelled against the Grand Council. The small Raven force moved against the Wolverines but was beaten back and the Raven capital of Dehra Dun, together with its genetic repository, was destroyed with a nuclear device. The repositary was later rebuilt and the samples it contained replaced from the master site on Strana Mechty, but deep emotional scars remained.

The Ravens vowed never to allow such an event to happen again and set about becoming masters of their own destiny. Overtly they developed their navy and expanded their holdings, making themselves indispensable as explorers, escorts, and manufacturers of components for DropShips, JumpShips and WarShips. Covertly they sought to become master purveyors of information and manipulators par-excellence.

In 2947, the Ravens brought before the Grand Council details of ilKhan Tobias Katib's complicity in the death of his predecessor, Corian Tchernovkov. Katib was impeached, found guilty and executed for his crimes. Suggestions that the Ravens had also been involved in the Tchenovkov affair were never proven, but their sudden betrayal of a former ally smacks of their political games.

More often, they seem to prefer more subtle manipulations, making Khan Howell's admission of guilt in releasing the diamond shark into the oceans of Strana Mechty even more unusual. The Raven saKhan challenged Howell to a Trial of Grievance, killing him. Officially, this was because he had disgraced the Clan. More likely it was because he was stupid and got caught.

The Snow Ravens fought hard to join the Invasion force in the late 3040s, but took too many losses before the trials and were denied a place. However, the Ravens did gain from the operation: they contracted out almost a third of their fleet to Clan Jade Falcon to serve as escorts, and arrangement recognized by a formal alliance during the 'Year of Peace'.

This alliance was doomed from the start, philosophical differences overshadowing their mutual interests. Relations between the two Clans became strained in 3055 over issues relating to events of a Raven Bloodname house. The matter soon escalated into skirmishes, but they soon died down - the Falcons being too engrossed elsewhere to prosecute a homeworlds campaign.

In recent months, the Ravens have sought rapprochement with the Falcons, admitting that they 'overreacted'. At the same time, they have turned their attentions to the worlds of the Kerensky Cluster, making considerable gains in the recent trials.

Society

Snow Raven society is extremely tight-knit and distrusting of strangers, a trait stemming from the trials and tribulations of their formative years when they struggled to survive. They let no one inside their guard, fearing that any associates will turn on them. No member of the Clan does anything without a reason. However, the Raven's Byzantine politics and complex relationships mean that the readily apparent reason is unlikely to be the real one.

Much of the Clan's internal politics centers on the Bloodname houses, frequently referred to as the families and any interference in their business is viewed as a mortal insult. The authority of the House Leaders is seen as absolute, and the leader's will determines how the Bloodnamed vote. However, cutthroat internal politics determine the position of house leader and only the most politically astute remain in power for more than a few years.

The Snow Ravens take Bondsmen from other Clans but most wear the Bondcord for many years before being accepted. Very few warriors are ever adopted into the Clan, and those few that are find themselves banned from rising above the rank of Star Colonel. The Snow Raven distrust of outsiders means those taken as bondsmen often have difficulty integrating.

Caste divisions are readily apparent in Snow Raven society, as are the sub-groups within each. Individuals rarely mingle outside their immediate circle, enhancing the 'us against them' attitude that pervades the Clan. There is a measure of mutual respect, accompanied at the same time by distrust. Competition for promotion is fierce, and friends may soon find themselves competing.

Snow Raven technology is tightly focussed on aerospace and naval systems. They have the largest fleet in Clan Space and control most of the shipyards and repair stations. The other Clans are obliged to seek them out for maintenance, either trading for the use of the facilities or else staging Trials of Position (for which the Ravens demand collateral, and win often enough to remain profitable).

The well developed Raven merchant marine supports the Clan by trading and contracting to other Clans. The Ravens made considerable profit by supplying the Invading Clans with transport assets and escorts, enhancing their status among the Home Clans.

Military

The major losses on Circe and to the Wolverines almost destroyed the Ravens, and needing to strengthen his Clan quickly Khan McKenna, himself a pilot, chose to strengthen the Raven aerospace arm with fighters and ships from orbiting Brian caches. No other Clan objected to McKenna's action, and by the time the other Clans seriously thought about the matter, the Ravens dominated the field and jealously guarded their advantage.

However, this aerospace bias has resulted in them having the smallest BattleMech contingent of any Clan. Their ground forces offset this by forming combined arms Trinaries known as triads, comprising a star of 'Mechs, a star of Elementals, and a star of fighters. Although ideally suited to defensive operations, these have only limited offensive capabilities.

Allies and Enemies

The Raven paranoia leads them to believe that anyone outside their Clan is not to be trusted, although they have managed to avoid making any real enemies. The most prominent of their foes are the Steel Vipers, with whom the Ravens have feuded since 2897.

The severing of ties over the House McKenna incident lead to conflict with Clan Jade Falcon, prompting mutual recriminations and several engagements. However, the Ravens have recently contacted the Falcons with a view to normalizing relations. The Falcon response to this attempt at rapprochement is unknown.

Clan Diamond Shark has maintained an adversarial relationship with the Snow Ravens since the diamond shark incident. However, rather than taking up arms, the Sharks have waged a war of words and assets. Strangely the Ravens appear to just sit by and accept the Sharks actions, enacting no reprisals and still allowing them access to their shipyards.

Only three Clans come close to being regarded as allies of the Ravens. The first are the Blood Spirits with whom they had an alliance half a century ago regarding war material and with whom they retain contact through the ilChis. These are closely followed by the Cloud Cobras, who as well as being of similar military disposition, share the Ravens Machiavellian politics. Lastly are the Ghost Bears. The complimentary nature of their totems has applied to the two Clans, and they have oft traded technology and expertise. Indeed, the massive arc-ships used by the Bears in their Exodus to the Inner Sphere were probably designed and built with Snow Raven help, or at least tacit support. The Raven's acquisition of Bear assets would tend to support some form of deal-making.

Possessions

6 Worlds (1 exclusive)

Until recently, the Snow Ravens had few assets, but in the last year their holdings have almost doubled. The Ghost Bears granted them their asteroid mining sites and their enclave on Bearclaw. The Ravens were further able to negotiate control of the remainder of the world with the Nova Cats when they withdrew, but the intervention of Clan`s Hell`s Horses reduced Raven control to two-thirds of the world.

They also consolidated their hold on Circe, staging a blizkrieg that secured them much of the Jaguar and (with their permission) Nova Cat enclaves. However, that brought them into conflict with Clan Wolf, a matter that has yet to be fully resolved. They also 'negotiated' with Clan Cloud Cobra for a small enclave on Homer (part of the former Jaguar holdings) from which they have been pressuring their enemies in Clan Steel Viper.