CLAN TERMINOLOGY:

ABTAKHA

  An abtakha is a captured warrior who is adopted into his new Clan as a
warrior.


BATCHALL

  The batchall is the ritual by which Clan warriors issue combat
challenges.  Though the type of challenge varies, most begin with the
challenger identifying his or herself, stating the prize of the contest,
and requesting that the defender identify the forces at his/her disposal.
The defender also has the right to name the location of the trial.  The
two sides then bid for what forces will participate in the contest.  The
subcommander who bids to fight with the least number of forces wins the
right and responsibility to make the attack.  The defender may increase
thestakes by demanding a prize of equal or lesser value if he or she
wins.


AUTOCANNON

  This is a rapid-firing, auto-loading weapon. Light autocannons range
in calibers from 30mm to 90mm, and heavy autocannons may be from 80mm
to 120mm or more. The weapon fires high-speed streams of high-explosive,
armor-piercing shells.


BINARY

A Binary consists of two Stars and is commander by a Star Captain.
A Binary varies in size depending upon the type of units it consists of
   A Mech Binary consists of 10 OmniMechs or BattleMechs.
   An Armor Binary consists of 20 Tanks or 20 Vechicles of any type.
   An Infantry Binary consists of 50 Elemental troopers or 250
     non-battlesuited troopers.
   An Aero Binary consists of 20 Aerospace Fighters or 20 VTOLs.
   A Naval Binary consists of 10-12* Warships or Jumpships or Dropships.
   * Warship and Jumpship Binaries often include an additional
     Command Vessel.


BLOODCOUNT

  The Bloodcount is the number of active Bloodrights associated with a
Bloodname, and thus the number of individuals who may use that Bloodname.
Traditionally, this number is twenty-five, but in the case of inferior
Bloodnames, the count may be as few as five. The process for reducing a
Bloodcount is known as Reaving, and the process for increasing it is
called Propagation. A Bloodcount may also be reduced by Abjuration or
by an ilKhan's decree


BLOODHERITAGE

  The history of the Bloodnamed warrior of a particular Bloodright is
called the Bloodheritage.


BLOODING

  Blooding is another name for the Trial of Position that determines if a
warrior cadet will qualify as a Clan warrior.  The candidate must first
demonstrate physical prowess in personal combat by defeating at least one
of three successive opponents.  If the cadet defeats two, or all three, he
or she is immediately ranked as an officer in his Clan.  If the cadet fails
to defeat any of the opponents, he or she is relegated to a lower caste.
If the candidate is successful in the Trial, a complex ceremony takes place.
He or she must be ritually defended by several Clan warriors when challenged
by other representatives of the Clan, or else face those representatives in
mortal combat.


BLOODNAME

  Bloodname refers to the surname of each of the 800 warriors who stood
with Nicholas Kerensky during the Exodus Civil War.  These 800 are the
foundation of the clans' elaborate breeding program.  The right to use one
of these surnames has been the ambition of every Clan warrior since the
system was established.  Only 25 warriors, which corresponds to 25
Bloodrights, are allowed to use any one surname at one time.  When one of
the 25 Bloodnamed warriors dies, a trial is held to determine who will
assume that Bloodname.  A contender must prove his Bloodname lineage,
then win a series of duels against other competitors.  Only Bloodnamed
warriors may sit on the Clan Councils or are eligible to become a Khan or
ilKhan.  Most Bloodnames have gradually become confined to one or two
warrior classes, but certain prestigious names, such as Kerensky, have
shown their genetic value by producing excellent warriors in all three
classes (MechWarrior, fighter pilot, and Elemental).
Bloodnames are determined matrilineally, at least after the original
generation.  Because a warrior can only inherit from his or her female
parent, he or she has claim to only one Bloodname.


BLOODHOUSE

  The warriors bearing or eligible to bear a Bloodname from a Bloodname
House. The House acts as a substitute family for the warriors and exerts
considerable political influence in the Clans. In some Clans, most
notably the Fire Mandrill Kindraas and the Cloud Cobra Cloisters, groups
of Bloodname Houses form together to form larger, more powerful
associations. After the first generation, Bloodnames are determined
matrilinealy and so a warrior may only claim membership of one
Bloodname House.


BLOODRIGHT

  A specific Bloodname lineage is called a Bloodright.  Twenty five
Bloodrights are attached to each Bloodname (For MUSE purposes three).
A Bloodright is not a lineage as we defin the term because the warriors
who successfully hold a Bloodright might be related only through original
ancestor.  As with Bloodnames, certain Bloodrights are considered more
prestigious than others, depending largely on the Bloodright's history.


BONDCORD

  The woven bracelet worn by bondsmen is known as a bondcord. Warrior-caste
bondsmen wear a three-strand bondcord on their right wrist, with the color
and patterning of the cords signifying the Clan and unit responsible for
the warriors capture. The cords represent: Integrity, Fidelity and Prowess.
The bondholder may cut each strand as he or she feels the bondsman
demonstrates the associated quality. According to tradition, when the
final cord is severed, the bondsman is considered a free member of his or
her new Clan and adopted into the warrior caste. Each Clan follows this
tradition to varying degrees: for example, Clan Wolf accepts nearly all
worthy individuals regardless of their past, while Clan Smoke Jaguar
generally chose to adopt only trueborn warriors.


BONDSMAN

  Clans can keep prisoners taken during combat.  These are called
bondsmen, and are considered members of the laborer caste unless and until
the capturing Clan releases them or promotes them back to warrior status.
A bondsman is bound by honor, not by shackles.  Custom dictates that even
Bloodnamed warriors captured in combat be held for a time as bondsmen.
All bondsmen wear a woven bracelet called a bondcord.  The base color of
the bondcord indicates to which Clan the individual is now bound, and the
striping indicates which unit captured him or her.


BONSREF

  Clan custom which allows a bondsman's master to slay him or herin
one-on-one combat. Tradition requires that the bondsman does not fight but
accepts death at the hands of his or her master.


BRIAN CACHE

  A Clan equipement store, usually one established during the
demobilization process Kerensky created upon arriving in the Pentagon.
The name is derived from the Star League Castle Brian fortresses.


CANISTER

  Clan slang for the eugenics program of the warrior caste.  It can also
refer specifically to the artificial wombs.


CANISTER BORN

  Clan slang for the artificial breeding element of the eugenics program
or the trueborn warriors that result from that process.



CASTE

  Clan society is rigidly divided into five castes: warrior, scientist,
merchant, technician, and laborer.  Each caste has many subcastes, which
are based on specialties within a professional field.  The warrior caste
is based on a systematic eugenics program that uses the genes of
prestigious, successful, current, and past warriors to produce new members
of the caste (see Sibko).  These products of genetic engineering are known
as trueborns.  Other castes maintain a quality gene pool by strategic
marriages within each caste.


CHALCAS

  Anything or anyone who challenges the Clan caste system is considered a
chalcas.


CHRONICLE OF BATTLES

  Once a month, the warriors of Clan Nova Cat gather at a designated place
at midnight, outdoors if possible, and perform the Chronicle of Battles.
This ritual retelling of tales that describe the Clan's most impressive
battles and victories inspires the current warriors to strive for similar
greatness and reminds them that victories may also be won through superior
strategy and planning, long before the warriors even reach the battlefield.


CIRCLE OF EQUALS

  The area in which a trial takes place is known as the Circle of Equals.
It ranges in size from a few dozen feet for personal combat to tens of
miles for large scale trials. Though traditionally a circle, the area can
be any shape.



CLANS

  During the fall of the Star League, General Aleksander Kerensky,
commander of the Regular Star League Army, led his forces out of the Inner
Sphere in what is known as the first Exodus.  After settling beyond the
Periphery, more than 1,300 light years aw ay from Terra, Kerensky and his
followers settles in a cluster of marginally habitable star systems near a
large globular cluster that hid them from the Inner Sphere.  Within
fifteen years, civil war erupted among these exiles, threatening to
destroy ever ything they had worked so hard to build.

  In a second Exodus, Nicholas Kerensky, son of Alexander, led his
followers to one of the worlds of the globular cluster to escape the new
war.  It was there on Strana Mechty that Kerensky first conceived and
organized what would one day be known as the Clans.


CLOISTERS

  The political-military factions of Clan Cloud Cobra, organized around
religious beliefs.


CLUSTER

  A Cluster consists of 5 Binaries, Trinaries, Novas or SuperNovas and
is commanded by a Star Colonel. A Cluster varies in size depending upon
the type of units it consists of. Clusters are usually made up of mixed
units such as mechs, infantry and air support. Except for Clan Hell's
Horses, vehicles are generally viewed as inferior to Mechs and are piloted
by freeborn units and serve in secondline solahma or garrison units.
Frontline Clusters usually consist of OmniMechs, Elementals and
OmniFighters. Secondline Clusters usually consist of BattleMechs, Vehicles
and Standard Infantry.


CODEX

  The codex is each warrior's personal record.  It includes the names of
the original Bloodnamed warriors from which a warrior is descended.  It
also records background information such as the warrior's Generation
number, Blood House, and codex ID, an alphanumeric code noting the unique
aspects of that person's DNA.  The codex also contains a record of the
warrior's military career.  See also Master Codex


COMSTAR

  ComStar, the interstellar communications network, was the brainchild of
Jerome Blake, formerly Minister of communications during the latter years
of the Star League.  After the League's fall, Blake seized Terra and
reorganized what was left of the communications network into a private
organization that sold its services to the five Successor Houses for a
profit.  Since that time, ComStar has also developed into a powerful
secret society steeped in mysticism and ritual.  Initiates to the
quasi-religious ComStar Order commit themselves to lifelong service.


CONTRACT

  A contract is an agreement between the commanders of two units that
allows the commander of one to include the units of the other in his or her
bidding for rights to a battle or trial.  During the invasion of the Inner
Sphere, Cluster commanders within Galaxies frequently made contracts to
allow greater, and often more extravagant, bidding, while still
maintaining a good mix of BattleMech, Elemental, and fighter combat units.


COREGN

  The personal aide to a Star Colonel or garrison commander.


CRUSADER

  A Crusader is a Clansman who espouses the invasion of the Inner Sphere
and the re-establishment of the Star League by military force. Most
Crusaders are contemptuos of the people of the Inner Sphere, whom they view
as barbarians, and of freeborns within their own Clans as well.


CUTDOWN

  The minimum force necessary to win any trial for which there has been
bidding.  Bidders who can push their opponent into making a bid below the
cutdown are considered clever.  Commanders who win with a force smaller
than the cutdown are greatly honored.


DEZGRA

  A fighting unit that disgraces itself is known as a dezgra unit.  The
name also refers to the ritual whereby a unit is marked and punished.  Any
unit that refuses orders, panics in the face of the enemy, or takes
dishonorable action is disgraced.The unit warriors are given a choice:
immediate execution or the dezgra: "disgraced expulsion." In pre-invasion
days, dezgra warriors who chose to live were sent to one of several
marginally habitable worlds and left to survive or die on their own.
After five years, the survivors were allowed to return, but without any
guarantee of acceptance back into society. Since Tukayyid, some dezgra units
have hired themselves as mercenaries. It is unlikely that any Clan will
accept a dezgra unit after it has served five years as a mercenary unit,
because Clan warriors consider mercenaries below even the lowest caste.
Dezgra units must, by Clan law, remove all Clan markings from their weapons
and uniforms and wear what historians would immediately recognize as the
crest of the hated Amaris family.


DROPSHIP

  Becuase interstellar Jumpships must avoid entering the heart of a
solar system, they must "dock" in space at a considerable distance from
a system's inhabited worlds. Dropships were developed for interplanetary
travel. As the name implies, a Dropship is attached to hardpoints on a
Jumpship's drive core, later to be droped from the parent vessel after
in-system entry. Though incapable of FTL travel, Dropships are highluy
maneuverable, well armed, and sufficiently aerodynamic to take off from
and land on a planetary surface. The journey from the jump point to the
inhabited worlds of a system usually requires a normal-space journey of
several days or weeks, depending on the type of star.


ecKhan

The leader of a Clan Cloud Cobra Cloister.


ELEMENTALS

  Elementals are the elite, battle-suited infantry of the Clans.  These
men and women are giants, bred specifically to handle Clan-developed
battle armor.


Enhanced Imaging (EI)

  EI refers to implanted neurocircuitry that allows a MechWarrior or
Elemental to better control his or her machine. Though EI implants
greatly enhance a warrior's reaction time, evidence suggests that
equipment eventually causes paranoia and outright madness.


Eugenics Program

  The Clans believe strongly in the principals of eugenics, the
improvement of the population by controlled breeding. The Clans implement
such a program along two distinct strands. The warrior caste uses an
artificial breeding program based on genetic engineering and incubation
in artificial wombs (see Canister) in order to create the ultimate
warriors. In the civilian castes, a system of mandatory arranged marriages
provides a similar but less technical means of advancement. According to a
strict definition, both these methods may be called eugenics, but within the
Clans only the artificial breeding program is commonly referred to as such.


FREEBIRTH

   Freebirth is an epithet used by trueborn members of the warrior caste,
generally expressing disgust or frustration.  If a trueborn warrior refers
to another trueborn as a freebirth, it is a mortal insult.


FREEBORN

  An individual conceived and born by natural means is freeborn.  Because
the Clans value their euginics program so highly, a freeborn is
automatically assumed to have little potential.


FORUM OF LAW

  The Clan Nova Cat Oathmaster Grand Melee is divided into two parts:
the first is a Circle of Equals which all members of the Clan, regardless
of caste, are allowed to participate in; the winner of that contest must
then prove, to the satisfaction of the Khans and his opponents from the
Circle of Equals, his or her knowledge of the Nova Cat version of
The Rememberance, Clan Law, Nova Cat tradition and the many exceptions made
to law and tradition this part is  known as the Forum of Law.


FOUNDER, THE

  The Founder is the Clan name for Nicholas Kerensky, who founded the Clans.


GALAXY

  A Galaxy consists of 3-5 Clusters and is commanded by a Galaxy Commander.
A Galaxy varies in size depending upon the type and size of Clusters it
consists of.


GIFTAKE

  This is the sample of DNA taken from a warrior who died with great glory
in combat.  The giftake is considered the warrior's best DNA sample and
the one most likely to produce improved warriors.


GRAND COUNCIL

  The Grand Council is the body responsible for governing the Clans as a
whole. It consists of the assembly of Khans, two from each Clan, as well
as the ilKhan (if one exists). It's authority covers any matters involving
more than one Clan, and it also determines general policy for Kerensky's
descendants. The Grand Council serves as the highest court of the Clans.


GRAND MELEE

  A free-for-all battle offering no target restrictions and ignoring the
rules of zellbrigen. Any trial may become a grand melee if a participant
violates zellbrigen by firing on a target already engaged in combat with
another participant. The battle to determine the 32nd slot in a Trial of
Bloodright is by default a grand melee.



GREAT FATHER, THE

  The Great Father is the Clan name for Nicholas Kerensky's father,
General Aleksandr Kerensky, who led the SLDF into exile.


HEGIRA

  Victorious Clan warrior sometimes extend the courtesy of hegira to
defeated opponents.  Hegira allows the opponent to withdraw honorably from
the field without further combat or cost.


HONGUARD

  This term refers to the honor guard assigned to escort a giftake to the
genetic repository.


HONOR ROAD

  Clan society is a warrior's society in which honor is a key important
concept defining behavior and obligations. Honor road is a Clan code of
conduct that is analogous to the Japanese bushido, the way of the warrior.


HONOR NAME

  Among Wolf's Dragoons an Honorname is analogous to a Clan Bloodname.
The surnames descend from the warriors who originally arrived with
Jaime and Joshua Wolf when the Dragoons came to the Inner Sphere on
an extended intelligence mission for Clan Wolf.


ilCHI

  The ambassador-messengers that Clan Blood Spirit assigns to its allies.


ilKHAN

  The supreme leader of the Clans, elected from the members of the
Grand Council. He or she also serves as the arbiter between Clans in
times of crisis, acting with the power of the Grand Council. The ilKhan
enjoys wide ranging powers in military matters, but his or her power is
not absolute; the ilKhan answers to the Grand Council and his/her
authority is limited to those matters ordinarily belonging to the Grand
Council. The ilKhan normally may not interfere in events deemed internal
to a Clan, but when the Martial Code is in effect they operate largely
unhindered.


INNER SPHERE

  The Inner Sphere was the term originally applied to the star empires of
human-occupied space that joined together to form the Star League. The
states, kingdoms, and pirate domains just beyond the Inner Sphere are
known as the Periphery. When Aleksandr Kerensky led his exiles out from
the Inner Sphere, they traveled even beyond the Periphery to regions
yet unknown.


INQUISITOR

  An inquisitor is the official assigned to advance the prosecution's
case at any Clan legal trial.


ISORLA

   The spoils of battle that warriors can claim as their right, including
bondsmen, are known as isorla.


JUMPSHIP

  Interstellar travel is accomplished via Jumpships, first developed in the
twenty-second century. These somewhat ungainly vessels consist of a long,
thin drive core and a sail resembling an enormous parasol, which can extend
up to a kilometer in width. The ship is named for it's ability to "jump"
instantaneously across vast distances of space. After making its jump, the
ship cannot travel until it has recharged by gathering up more solar energy.
The Jumpship's enormous sail is constructed from a special metal that absorbs
vast quantities of electromagnetic energy from the nearest star. When it has
soaked up enough energy, the sail transfers it to the drive core, which
converts it into a space-twisting field.An instant later the ship arrives at
the next jump point, a distance of up to thirty light years. This field is
known as hyper-space, and its discovery opened to mankind a gateway to the
stars.


KESHIK

  The Keshiks comprise a combination of bodygaurd and command unit, usually
serving a Khan. Traditionally, a Khan commands a Keshik, but in practice a
Star Colonel oversees day-to-day matters. Keshiks range from Trinary to
Cluster size.


KHAN

  Each Clan elects two leaders, or Khans.  One serves as the Clan's senior
military commander and bureaucratic administrator.  The second Khan's
position is less well-defined.  He or she is second-in-command, carrying
out duties assigned by the first Khan .  In times of great internal or
external threat, or when a coordinated effort is required of all Clans, an
ilKhan is chosen to serve as the supreme ruler of the Clans.


KINDRAA

  A political-military faction within Clan Fire Mandrill composed of one
or more Bloodname Houses.


KURULTAI

  A kurultai is a Clan war council.  A Grand Kurultai is a war council of
all Khans of the Clans.  Only the ilKhan can convene a Grand Kurultai at
any time or place.  A normal Grand Council, on the other hand, may only be
convened by petition of three or more Clans, and must be held in the Hall
of Khans on Strana Mechty.


LASER

  An acronym for "Light Amplification through the Stimulated Emission of
Radiation." When used as a weapon, it damages the target by concentrating
extreme heat on a small area. BattleMech lasers are designated as small,
medium and large. Lasers are also available as shoulder-fired weapons
operating from a portable backpack power unit. Certain range-finders and
targeting equipment employ low-level lasers also.


LOREMASTER

  The Loremaster is the keeper of Clan laws and history.  The position is
honorable and politically powerful.  The Loremaster plays key role in
inquiries and trials, where he or she is often assigned the role of Advocate
or Interrogator.


LRM

  This is an abbreviation for Long-Range Missile, an indirect-fire missile
with a high-explosive warhead.


MARTIAL CODE

  The Martial Code is a collection of rules and laws governing Clan actions
in times of war. It's primary goal is to minimize the political
prevarication that often accompanies Grand Council meetings, forcing the
participants to keep to the matter at hand and to carry out business with
the minimum of fuss. When in effect it also grants the ilKhan extraordinary
powers, such as the right to dismiss any charges brought before the Clan
or Grand Council that he or she deems frivolous.


MASTER CODEX

  The master codex is the master file of the Clan's breeding plan. The
master codex records the DNA maps and codex name of every warrior born
over the centuries.


NOVA

  A Nova is a mixed unit of OmniMechs and Elementals and is commanded by
a Star Commander or a Nova Commander. It usually consists of a Star of
OmniMechs supported by a Star of Elementals.


NOVA CAPTAIN

  A Nova Captain is the title given to an officer that commands a
SuperNova. Though this rank is recognized among the Clans, some Clans
see it as a violation of Nicholas Kerensky's original rank structure and
so do not use this title, in those cases a SuperNova would be commanded
by a Star Captain.


NOVA COMMANDER

  A Nova Commander is the title given to an officer that commands a Nova.
Though this rank is recognized among the Clans, some Clans see it as a
violation of Nicholas Kerensky's original rank structure and so do not
use this title, in those cases a Nova would be commanded by a
Star Commander.


OATHMASTER

  The Oathmaster is the honor guard for any official Clan ceremony.  That
position is similar to that of an Inner Sphere sergeant-at-arms, but it
carries a greater degree of respect.  The Oathmaster administers all
oaths, and the Loremaster records them.

 The position of Oathmaster is usually held by the oldest Bloodnamed
warrior in a Clan (if he or she desired the honor), and is one of the few
positions not decided by combat.


OATHMASTER GRAND MELEE

  Performed once a year, the Oathmaster Grand Melee offers every member
of Clan Nova Cat the opportunity to become Oathmaster. The Grand Melee
provides two arenas in which the candidates must prove their worthiness
- a massive Circle of Equals and the Forum of Law. On the longest day of
the year, every member of Clan Nova Cat, regardless of caste, may enter
the Circle of Equals and attempt to emerge victorious. The winner of that
contest must then prove, to the satisfaction of the Khans and the
opponents from the Circle of Equals, his or her knowledge of the Nova Cat
version of The Rememberance, Clan Law, Nova Cat tradition and the many
exceptions made to law and tradition, this is known as the Forum of Law.
If the victor from the Circle of Equals fail this second test, the final
opponent he or she defeated enters the Forum of Law. If that opponent
also fails this test, the current Oathmaster keeps his or her position for
another year.


OMNIMECH

  The OmniMech originally, was a machine of Clan design. It is a Mech that
unlike Inner Sphere Mechs, is based of an omnistructure. The omni base allows
for various arrangements of weaponry set up for certain usual purposes like
strike, support, artillery, or recon, for examples. Other equipment on an an
OmniMech might be defaulted equipment such as jump jets (Summoner, Shadowcat,
for example) or Beagle Active Probe, etc. Usually all variants will have the
same of these other equipments.
  By default a Clan OmniMech is superior to a regular Inner Sphere Mech
because of its Clan Tech weapons, armor, and double heats sinks, and because
its omni base can be easily refitted and repaired.
  The Inner Shpere has began to study captured Clan OmniMechs to create their
own new OmniMechs, Though often they still are inferior to Clan Omnis.

Clan OmniMechs: Fire Moth, Mist Lynx, Fire Falcon, Kit Fox, Hankyu, Hellion,
                Adder, Cougar, Viper, Phantom, Pouncer, Battle Cobra,
                Ice Ferret, Shadowcat, Grendel, Nova, Huntsman, Stromcrow,
                Black Lanner, Stooping Hawk, Mad Dog, Hellbringer,
                Linebacker, Cauldron Born, Cross Bow, Summoner, Nova Cat,
                Timber Wolf, Night Gyr, Gargoyle, Naga, Warhawk,
                Savage Coyote, King Fisher, Blood Asp, Executioner, Turkina,
                Iron Cheetah, Dire Wolf
  The Clans also have OmniFighters,  variants of aerospace fighters with Omni
bases.


OVKHAN

  This is a term of respect reserved for someone of a higher rank.


PERIPHERY

  Beyond the borders of the Inner Sphere lies the Periphery, the vast
domain of known and unknown worlds stretching endlessly into interstellar
night. Once populated by colonies from Terra, these were devastated
technologically, politically, and economically by the fall of the Star
League. At present, the Periphery is the refuge of piratical Bandit Kings,
privateers, and outcasts from the Inner Sphere.


POINT

  The smallest Clan military formation commanded by a Point Commander
except in the case of Mech points. A point varies in size depending upon
the type of units it consists of.
   A Mech Point consists of a single OmniMech or BattleMech.
   An Armor Point consists of 2 Tanks or 2 Vechicles of any type.
   An Infantry Point consists of 5 Elemental troopers or 25
     non-battlesuited troopers.
   An Aero Point consists of 2 Aerospace Fighters or 2 VTOLs.
   A Naval Point consists of a single Warship or Jumpship or Dropship.


POINT COMMANDER

  A Point Commander commands a single Point of troops, and holds a rank
equivolent to that of a Master Seargent. NOTE: The rank of Point
Commander does not exist in Mech formations as there is only one warrior
per Mech point.


POWLESS
  Powless is the vulnerability that a warrior, particularly an Elemental,
feels when forced to fight without his/her accustomed weapons.  The word
is probably derived from "powerless".


PPC
  This abbreviation stands for Particle Projection Cannon, a magnetic
accelerator firing high-energy proton or ion bolts, causing damage both
through impact and high temperature. PPCs are among the most effective
weapons available to BattleMechs.


PROPAGATION

  Propagation is the ritual of increasing the Bloodcount associated with
a particular Bloodname. A Bloodcount reduced by Reaving may be increased
on the advice of the scientist caste and after a vote of the Grand
Council. This motion may be opposed by a Trial of Refusal known as a
Trial of Propagation, but no penalty attaches to either the aggressor or
the defender in this case. (see Trial of Reaving)


Propagation, TRIAL OF
  A Trial of Propagation is a Trial of Refusal used to oppose the motion
to Propagate the Bloodcount associated with a particular Bloodname. No
penalty attaches to either the aggressor or the defender in a Trial of
Propagation. (see Trial of Reaving)


QUIAFF/QUINEG

  This Clan expression is placed at the end of rhetorical questions.  If
an affirmative answer is expected, quiaff is used.  If the answer is
expected to be negative, quineg is the proper closure.


RANSOM

  Clan custom dictates that a warrior who has been successful at his/her
Trial of Bloodright may be rewarded with a gift by the Clan.  Depending
upon the warrior's success during the Trial, the ransom might range from
the right to choose what type of weapon he or she will use as a warrior to
the right to command a special unit.  At the time Khan Natasha Kerensky
returned from the Inner Sphere and then underwent her second Trial of
Bloodright, ilKhan Ulric Kerensky awarded her a ransom of the right to
form the Thirteenth Wolf Guards.


REAVING

Reaving is the ritual of reducing the Bloodcount associated with a
particular Bloodname. Originally established to mitigate the impact of a
poorly performing Bloodname, over time the Reaving has become a political
tool used to control the number of warriors from a single Bloodname House,
and therefore votes, in Clan Councils. A Reaving is called by a Bloodname
House (rather than a Clan) against a Bloodname House that has announced a
Trial of Bloodright. The Grand Council debates the merits of the Bloodname,
and the mater is traditionally resolved by a Trial of Refusal, known as a
Trial of Reaving, based on the results of the Council vote. If the
pro-Reaving force wins the trial, the targeted Bloodname's Bloodcount is
reduced by one and the Trial of Bloodright is canceled. If the defending
force wins, the Trial of Bloodright takes place as scheduled and the
Bloodname House that called for the Reaving suffers sanctions.


REDE

  One of the many forms honor takes in the Clans, a rede is an honor-bound
promise, breaking a rede may be punished by death.


REMEMBRANCE, THE

  The Remembrance is an ongoing heroic saga detailing Clan history from
the time of the Exodus from the Inner Sphere to the present day.  The
Remembrance is continually expanded to include contemporary events.  Each
Clan has a slightly different version reflecting their own opinions and
experiences.  All Clan warriors can quote whole verses of this marvelous
epic from memory, and it is common to see passages from the book lovingly
painted on the sides of OmniMechs, fighters, and even battle armor.


RISTAR


  This term refers to a particularly gifted warrior on his or her way to
high position.  It is probably derived from the expression "rising star."


SAFCON

  A Clan rite by which the defending force allows the attacker to deploy
onto the battlefield without threat of attack. Once safcon is invoked,
the defending force commander is not required to detail the forces at his
or her command, as per the rules of batchall.

saKhan

  The junior Khan of a Clan is known as the saKhan. The saKhan's position
is less well defined as the Khan's. He or she is second-in-command, carrying
out duties assigned by the Khan, which are usually ones that the Khan does
not feel are worthy of his/her time or are considered mundane.


SATARRA

  A Clan council may cast a veto, or satarra, to settle or postpone
disputes between castes within their jurisdiction.  Satarra is invoked
only when negotiations seem at an impasse and/or threaten to disrupt the
work order of the Clan.  It seems to be more a ritual than an act of
legislation.


SAVASHRI

  A Clan epithet.


SEYLA

  This word is the ritual response voiced in unison by those witnessing
solemn Clan ceremonies, rituals, and other important gatherings.  No one
is sure of the origin or exact meaning of the word, but it is uttered only
with the greatest reverence and awe.


SIBBIES

  Derogatory name used within Clan Jade Falcon for those members of sibkos
who underwent accelerated training and whose Trial of Position consisted of
the Coventry campaign. This term is also used as a derogatory epithet to
imply poor training or a young, inexperienced warrior of any kind.


SIBKIN

  Members of the same sibko.


SIBKO

  A sibko consists of a group of children produced from the same male and
female geneparents in the warrior caste euginics program.  The members of
the sibko are raised together, then begin to undergo constant testing.  As
various members of the sibko fail at each test, they are transferred to
the lower castes.  A sibko consists of approximately 20 members, but
usually only four or five remain at the time of the final test to become
warriors, the Trial of Position.  These test and other adversities may bind
the surviving "sibkin" together.


SOLAHMA

  Clan warriors too old to serve in mainstream frontline units are assigned
to solahma units. The members of such units generally seek suicide missions
in order to die in combat, but most often they serve in garrison troops.


SRM

  This is the abbreviation for Short Range Missiles, direct tragectory
missiles with high-explosive or armor-piercing explosive warheads. They have
a range of less than one kilometer, and are accurate only at ranges of less
than 300 meters. They are more powerful, however, than LRMs.


STAR

  A Star consists of five Points usually commanded by a Star Commander. A
Star varies in size depending upon the type of units it consists of.
    A Mech Star consists of 5 OmniMechs or BattleMechs.
    An Armor Star consists of 10 Tanks or 10 Vechicles of any type.
    An Infantry Star consists of 25 Elemental troopers or 125
      non-battlesuited troopers.
    An Aero Star consists of 10 Aerospace Fighters or 10 VTOLs.
    A Naval Star consists of 5-6* Warships or Jumpships or Dropships.
    * Warship and Jumpship stars often include an additional Command Vessel.


STAR ADMIRAL

  A Star Admiral commands a Naval Star, and holds a rank equivalent to
that of an Admiral.


STAR CAPTAIN

A Star Captain commands a single Trinary, Binary or SuperNova and holds
a rank equivalent to that of a Captain.

STAR COLONEL

  A Star Colonel commands a single Cluster, and holds a rank equivalent
to  that of a Colonel/Major.


STAR COMMANDER

  A Star Commander commands a single Star or Nova and holds a rank
equivalent to that of a Lieutenant.


STAR COMMODORE

  A Star Commodore commands a Naval Point, and holds a rank equivalent to
that of a Commodore.


STAR LEAGUE

  The Star League was formed in 2571 in an attempt to peacfully ally the
major star systems inhabited by the human race after it had taken to the
stars. The League prospered for almost 200 years, until civil war broke
out in 2751. The League was eventually destroyed when the ruling body,
known as the High Council, disbanded in the midst of a struggle for power.
Each of the royal House rulers (see Successor Lords) then declared himself
First Lord of the Star League, and within a few month, war engulfed the
Inner Sphere. This conflict continues to the present day, almost three
centuries later. These centuries of continuous war are now known simply
as the Succession Wars.


STRAVAG

  A Clan epithet, probably a combination of the Clan words stran, meaning
independent, and vagon, meaning birthing.


SUCCESSOR LORDS

  Each of the five Successor States is ruled by a family descended from
one of the original High Council Lords of the Star League. All five royal
House Lords claim the title of the First Lord, and they have been at
eachother's throats since the beginning of the Succession Wars in 2786.
Their battleground is the vast Inner Sphere, which is composed of all the
star systems once occupied by the Star League's member states.


SUCCESSOR STATES

  After the fall of the Star League, the remaining members of the High
Council each asserted his or her right to become First Lord of the Star
League. Their star empires became known as the Successor States and the
rulers as the Successor Lords.


SuperNova

  A SuperNova is a mixed unit of OmniMechs and Elementals commanded by a
Star Captain or a Nova Captain. It usually consists of a Binary/Trinary
of OmniMechs supported by a Binary/Trinary of Elementals.


SURKAI

  The surkai is the Right of Forgiveness.  The Clans honor uniformity in
thought and belief above all else in their society.  When warriors
disagree, when a Clan disagrees with the Clan Council, or when a member of
one caste offends a member of another caste, surkai is expected.  It is a
matter of pride that the offending party freely admit his or her wrongdoing
and request punishment.  Those who show great surkai are held up as
examples to others for their willingness to accept the consequences of
their independent thoughts.  Those who do not show surkai when it is
expected of them are viewed with suspicion.


SURKAIREDE

  The Rede of Forgiveness, or surkairede, is the honor-bound agreement
between the majority and any dissenters.  According to the surkairede,
once a dissenter accepts punishment for having disagreed with the
majority, he or she should be allowed to resume his/her role in society
without suffering any further disgrace for having spoken out.


TEST-DOWN

  Test-down refers to the demotion of warrior who do not perform as well
as expected in their Trials of Position to maintain or advance in rank.


TRINARY

  A Trinary consists of three Stars and is commanded by a Star Captain.
A Trinary varies in size depending upon the type of units it consists of.
   A Mech Trinary consists of 15 OmniMechs or BattleMechs.
   An Armor Trinary consists of 30 tanks or 30 vechicles of any type.
   An Infantry Trinary consists of 75 Elemental troopers or 375
     non-battlesuited troopers.
   An Aero Trinary consists of 30 Aerospace Fighters or 30 VTOLs.
   A Naval Trinary consists of 15-18* Warships or Jumpships or Dropships.
   * Warship and Jumpship Trinaries often include an additional Command
     Vessel.


TOUMAN

  The term given to the fighting arm of a Clan. This includes Warriors,
their Mechs, Aerospace Fighters, Vehicles, Battle Suits, and Space Vessels.


TRIAL OF ABJURATION

When a problem with in a caste or Clan can be resolved by no other
process, the troublesome element may be ejected from Clan society through
a Trail of Abjuration. The target of the ritual is stripped of rank and
caste, which places them outside Clan law, and is usually forcibly
ejected fom Clan territory. Members of the Clans may no longer even
speak the name of the abjured member or Clan and, in the case of
warriors, their genetic material is purged from the gene pool. A Clan
may also abjure a warrior for negligence of duty or conduct unbecoming
a warrior.The results of a Trial of Abjuration may be overturned by
the Clan Council that enacted it or by the Grand Council.

TRIAl OF ANNIHILATION

The ultimate punishment in Clan society, the Trial of Annihilation calls
for the destruction of the accused. Such trials may only be carried out
following a unanimous vote of the Clan or Grand Council, and may be
invoked only for the most heinous crimes. Such sanctions have been
declared against individuals, Stars and Clusters, and once was used
against an entire Clan. Everything associated with the target (possessions,
genetic material and descendants) is destroyed, and no member of any
Clan may speak the name of those annihilated.



TRIAL OF BLOODRIGHT

  A series of one-on-one, single-elimination contests determines who wins
the right to use a Bloodname.  Each current Bloodnamed warrior in that
Bloodnamed's House nominates one candidate.  The head of the House
nominated additional candidates to fill thirty-one slots.  The
thirty-second slot is fought for by those who qualify for the Bloodname
but who were not nominated.  The nature of the combat is determined by
"coining".  Each combatant places his personal medallion, a dogid, into
the "Well of Decision." An Oathmaster or Loremaster releases the coins
simultaneously, so that only chance determines which coin falls first to
the bottom of the well.  The warrior whose coin lands on top chooses the
manner of the combat ('Mech versus 'Mech, barehanded, 'Mech versus
Elemental, and so forth).  The other warrior chooses the venue of the
contest.  Though these Bloodname duels need not be to the death, the
fierce combat and the intensity of the combatants often leave the losing
candidate mortally wounded or dead.


TRIAL OF POSITION

  There are two forms of the Trial of Position. The first - also known as
the "Blooding" determines whether a candidate will qualify as a warrior
in the Clans. To qualify, he or she must defeat at least one of three
successive opponents. If the candidate defeats two, or all three, he oe she
is immediately ranked as an officer in his or her Clan. If the candidate
fails to defeat any of the opponents, he or she is relegated to a lower
caste. The Second form is known as the testing. It is held periodically and
determines whether a warrior is qualified to maintain his or her rank.
Those who perform as expected (against targets based on role, rank and age)
maintain their rank, while those who perform better than expected
"test up" (are promoted). Those who perform more poorly than expected
"test down" (are demoted). A non-officer MechWarrior, Pilot or Elemental
who tests down is relegated to a non-combat role or else transferred to a
civilian caste.


TRIAL OF POSSESSION

  This trial resolves conflicts in which two or more parties disputing, be it
individuals, units, or Clans claim the right of owner ship or control of
the same thing, be it equipment, territory, a warrior's genes, or even
supremacy in a difference of opinion. The traditional batchall forms forms
the core of the Trial. The formal challenge of the attacker and the response
of defending forces, and favors those commanders from the attacking Clan
skillful enough to bid minimal forces to resolve the issue.


TRIAL OF REAVING

  A Trial of Reaving is a Trial of Refusal used to oppose the motion of
Reaving the Bloodcount associated with a particular Bloodname. If the
pro-Reaving force wins the trial, the targeted Bloodname's Bloodcount is
reduced by one and the Trial of Bloodright is canceled. If the defending force
wins, the Trial of Bloodright takes place as scheduled and the Bloodname House
that called for the Reaving suffers sanctions.
  Reaving is the ritual of reducing the Bloodcount associated with a
particular Bloodname. Originally established to mitigate the impact of a
poorly performing Bloodname, over time the Reaving has become a political
tool used to control the number of warriors from a single Bloodname House,
and therefore votes, in Clan Councils. A Reaving is called by a Bloodname
House (rather than a Clan) against a Bloodname House that has announced a
Trial of Bloodright. The Grand Council debates the merits of the Bloodname,
and the mater is traditionally resolved by a Trial of Refusal, known as a
Trial of Reaving, based on the results of the Council vote. If the
pro-Reaving force wins the trial, the targeted Bloodname's Bloodcount is
reduced by one and the Trial of Bloodright is canceled. If the defending
force wins, the Trial of Bloodright takes place as scheduled and the
Bloodname House that called for the Reaving suffers sanctions.


TRIAL OF REFUSAL

  The Clan councils and the Grand Council vote on issues and laws that
affect the community.  Unlike Inner Sphere legislation, however, any
decision can be challenged and reversed by a Trial of Refusal.  This trial
allows the losing side to demand the issue be settled by combat.

  The forces used in the Trial of Refusal are determined on a pro-rated
basis.  The faction rejecting the decision declares what forces they will
use, the side defending the decision (the attacker) can field a force
equal to the ratio of winning to losing votes.  For example, if the
contested vote carried by a three-to-one margin, the attacking forces can
field a force three times the size of the force challenging the decision.
Bidding usually results in a smaller attacking force, however.


TROTHKIN

  Used formally, this term refers to members of an extended sibko.  Less
formally, a warrior will use the term trothkin when referring to someone
he or she considers a peer.


TRUEBORN/TRUEBIRTH

  A trueborn is a product of the warrior caste's euginics program.


VINEERS
  Members of some Clans, most notably Clan Nova Cat, collect keepsakes of
their battles. These items are called vineers, probably derived from the
word souvenirs.


WARDEN

  A Warden is a Clansman who believes that the Clans were established to
guard the Inner Sphere from outside threats rather than to conquer it and
re-establish the Star League by force. Most Wardens were therfore opposed
to the invasion of the Inner Sphere.


WAYS OF SEEING

  To help all members of Clan Nova Cat understand the value of mysticism in
their lives, Nova Cat Khan Sandra Rosse wrote a spiritual guide called Ways
of Seeing, in which she described her mother's mystic experiences and her
own visions. This slim volume also outlined many rituals that warriors and
others could perform individually or in groups to gain those same benefits
in their own lives. Many of the rituals she described are still performed
by Nova Cats today.

ZELLBRIGEN

  This is the Clan word describing the body of rules used to regulate and
ritualize duels.  Zellbrigen means that combatants engage in one-on-one
duels, even if both sides have many warrior.  Those not immediately
challenged are honor-bound to stay out of the battle until an opponent is
free (meaning he or she has defeated the enemy).  To attack an enemy
engaged with an opponent is a major breach of Clan code, usually resulting
in at least loss of rank.