The Rememberance

hark, children of the Clans,

to the wisdom of Kerensky and your forebears.

Know what has come before;

remember it and you strive toward the future.

- Passage 1, Verse 1, Lines 1-4

how your opponent the honor deserving;

be secure in your own nobility.

This was the Founder's charge,

this was the totem of the Sea Fox.

- Passage 2, Verse 14, Lines 1-4 (Clan Sea Fox)

~ General Aleksandr Kerensky ~

here nature's laws threatened the weary;

when food, water, even air itself ran low,

it took just a command, a word, a smile,

from the General to light the way.

He was comfort, stern courage, compassion

to our sires as he led them from the fires

that grew and fed on those they left behind.

- Passage 2, Verse 14, Lines 18-24

~ Khan Ellie Kinnison ~

from the ranks of the many she rose,

pre-eminent among all others.

Foe after foe fell before the young warrior

for destiny guided her sword.

When our Leader called, she rose

and became the head of the mighty Serpent.

She guided the Viper alongside the Wolf,

along the path of the True Vision.

Let us forever honor the First Khan, who showed the way.

Let us remain faithful to the True Path she marked for the Viper.

- Passage 3, Verse 5, Lines 6-15 (Clan Steel Viper)

~ The Hidden Hope ~

the just deaths of the traitors frightened some

there among the darkness and alien stars.

A few lost heart and began with quavering resolve

to question the Great Father's plan.

With stern compassion he spoke and all was revealed;

how their destiny was the Hidden Hope

of all mankind and how their son's sons

would one day return to the Inner Sphere

bringing back the enlightenment of the Star League

to those unfortunates they had left behind.

Such was their right, such is our legacy of blood.

- Passage 3, Verse 22, Lines 1-11

the day will come when our descendants

return to claim what is our right.

With honor swelling their hearts they will crusade

against the dark emotions that have dimmed

the Inner Sphere for so long.

But with glory comes responsibility;

without a pure soul we cannot give sight

to their blindness, but will only blind ourselves.

- Passage 3, Verse 41, Lines 1-8 (Clan Wolf)

n turn they tested each Clan namesake

in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.

Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.

All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.

Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

- Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1-5 (Clan Ice Hellion)

o, Star Adder;

you are the stalker, the hunter, the killer.

Your prey stands before you;

show them the way

of the True Warrior.

- Passage 5, Verse 17, Lines 20-24 (Clan Star Adder)

he General's intent was clearly stated,

to depart and never return.

He forced none but swayed many;

this compassionate, brilliant man

had lead thousands to victory,

and he would again lead the long march.

- Passage 8, Verse 6, Lines 12-17 (Clan Ghost Bear)

~ Time of Darkness ~

he rebels, heeding neither strength nor sense

cowardly ambushed noble DeChevilier.

Although he fought like a lion, he died

and with his death came the clouds, and reason fled

like a winter sun's feeble evening light

above hopeless Eden and wicked Babylon.

- Passage 8, Verse 36, Lines 51-56

~ The Legend of Turkina ~

hen Warrior Hazen grew cold

watching noble DeChavilier die.

She heard her mind whisper

urging her to fly,

to forget her duty.

But with a defiant cry

proud Turkina dove

from the realm of death

to seize Hazen's heart

and shake it free of fear

leaving pure her soul

and her duty clear.

- Passage 8, Verse 36, Lines 58-66 (Clan Jade Falcon)

nd Nicholas stood with the first gathering of Khans

to draw up the tenets of what made a warrior.

Wars have often killed the innocent,

ruined entire societies.

Not within the Clans.

Wars were for warriors to wage

and that innocents not suffer at the hands of trueborns.

- Passage 10, Verse 5, Lines 1-6

he darkness is behind us, the light is ahead.

Strive toward it, for it is the way."

Said our Founder, Nicholas.

"Be ever vigilant

and rely on your strengths:

Faith, which preserves us;

Knowledge, which gives us power;

Understanding, which lets us know our foes;

Courage, which lets us face the darkness without fear."

- Passage 10, Verse 9, Lines 1-10 (Clan Wolf)

~ Khan Karen Nagasawa ~

hen Karen Nagasawa said,

"The past holds wise men as well as fools;

why then, do we listen only to the foolish

when we have another choice?"

- Passage 12, Verse 14, Lines 4-7 (Clan Diamond Shark)

~ Khan John Fletcher ~

rom the fires of Eden came John Fletcher,

a true warrior, leader of men, not of machines.

His wisdom became that of a new Clan

that challenged even the mightiest of 'mechs.

- Passage 13, Verse 1, Lines 1-4 (Clan Hell's Horses)

~ Khan Phillip Drummond ~

he wise Nicholas spoke to them all

through the haze of their anguish;

his passion flowed through the doubt,

his conviction tore at the fear

he was become the living legend.

Phillip listened and believed;

he would follow this great man

as he had followed the father

into Exodus, and hope.

- Passage 14, Verse 1, Lines 1-9 (Clan Nova Cat)

ife begun with blackest darkness,

eyes thrown open with hottest fire.

Thoughts annealed with clearest vision,

Hearts confined with strongest chains.

Strength renewed with surest spirit;

absolution, the Scorpion's sting.

- Passage 24, Verse 37, Lines 11-16 (Clan Goliath Scorpion)

he Grand Council, in arrogance, gave their decree:

Blood Spirit, you must conform to the Way of the Clans.

You have strayed from the Path; we will lead you back.

The flash of the blade, the striking knife, the traitor's stab!

On the Path our step is true - while other Clans falter.

We held out our hands, in the spirit of Kerensky's Dream,

and our brethren chose to treat the gesture as folly.

In isolation's embrace, we forsake all and live for the future.

- Passage 42, Verse 7, Lines 5-12 (Clan Blood Spirit)

master of man and machine

servitor of none,

the Coyote awaits.

Skilled and tenacious,

a predator without peer.

The Coyote strikes:

Fear in the hearts of its enemies,

Pain at their sides,

Death at their throats.

- Passage 44, Verse 2, Lines 25-31 (Clan Coyote)

rawing strength from each other, they survived;

Tseng and Jorgensson emerged from the snow,

and forged a Clan in the Ghost Bear's mold;

unity of purpose and strength of spirit,

no task undertaken lightly or left half-done.

To these ideals we hold true until we all shall fall.

- Passage 45, Verse 6, Lines 13-18 (Clan Ghost Bear)

nd Nicholas Kerensky did charge us, the Fire Mandrills;

as we have left behind the differences between nations,

so now we observe the Way of the Clans, of the family.

Carry your name, and your Names, proudly.

- Passage 49, Verse 75, Lines 12-15 (Clan Fire Mandrill)

~ Khan Sandra Rosse ~

nd in her vision the wolf howled,

but the Nova Cat paced steadily on,

undisturbed by the petty battles

others fought, trying to cage it within the bars of

thoughtless sameness. The Nova Cat gazed

straight ahead, its heart and mind devoted to

the Ways of Seeing, devoted to a more perfect life.

- Passage 50, Verse 5, Lines 26-32 (Clan Nova Cat)

~ Clan Society ~

ive, Nicholas proclaimed, was the foundation

upon which our true society was to be built.

Laborers to till the land, to do the tasks:

They shall have our undying gratitude,

for they are the muscle behind us all.

Merchants to buy and sell with fairness:

They shall have our commerce and respect,

for they are the bones upon which we are built.

Technicians to build and fix the machines:

They shall have our admiration:

for they are the fingers with which we grasp life.

Scientists to create and discover:

They shall have our awe and our attention,

for they are the mind of our society.

And above all the Warriors who protect:

They shall have our cooperation and our worship,

for they are the blood and soul of us all.

- Passage 67, Verse 26, Lines 21-37

or the day will come and our kin will stand

on Terra's firm soil, ready to rebuild

the Star League with their hearts and hands.

But who shall lead? Upon whose shoulders

will the burden lie? The answer is the test;

the test is the journey. Whichever Clan

carves its way through the barbarians

to reach that fabled cradle of us all

shall be the vehicle of the League's rebirth. Upon

the Star League throne shall sit that Clan's

wisest Khan. So should it be - So shall it be.

- Passage 72, Verse 22, Lines 14-24

et all warriors bear their mark proudly,

taking what pride they can in their accomplishments;

for our lives should be full of glory, but short.

On the battlefield we are alone.

- Passage 74, Verse 26, Lines 1-4 (Clan Wolf)

s each warrior plays his role in battle,

so each caste plays its role for the Clan.

Growers of food and makers of 'Mechs,

those who discover and those who enrich,

all look for justice to the warrior who governs.

- Passage 96, Verse 12, Lines 1-5 (Clan Diamond Shark)

ith Falcon sight we choose our foes.

On Falcon wings we harry them.

With Falcon claws we smite our foes.

And with Falcon tenacity we win.

- Passage 97, Verse 1, Lines 6-9 (Clan Jade Falcon)

~ Birth of the Clans ~

rom Kerensky's Stars came the Eight Hundred

beneath a banner of Truth and Righteous Light

to lift up those who had suffered and to smite down

with fearful vengence those who had ruled

in the name of Vanity or Greed.

The thunder of their Battlemech's feet, the lightning

from their weapons, and the blood spilled in their name

created the Clan Spirit, the forge upon which

we have fashioned ourselves to be the weapon

of the resurrected Star League,

honed to a razor's edge by the Trials,

by the Rememberance, and by the Words

of the Great Kerenskys, our sires, our saviors.

- Passage 98, Verse 24, Lines 8-20

~ Khan Franklin Osis ~

emember Franklin Osis,

father of his Clan.

Three strengths he gave us:

The Jaguar's spring that brings the enemy down,

the Jaguar's claws that rend the enemy's heart,

the Jaguar's taste for the enemy's hot blood.

- Passage 104, Verse 18, Lines 5-10 (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

ll praise the art of Batchall and Bidding

for it proves our love of peace and tradition.

- Passage 118, Verse 3, Lines 11-12

ive are our foundation,

one above the rest.

Four are the steppingstones,

the fifth the pinnacle.

The laborer, the technician, the scientist, the merchant,

these are the steppingstones

to the warriors' place.

As the insect feeds the bird,

as the bird feeds the wolf,

as the wolf feeds the smoke jaguar,

so all give life to the warrior

who sheds his blood for their glory.

- Passage 121, Verse 43, Lines 12-24 (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

~ The Great Change ~

id the Sea Fox farewell;

noble he was, but not strong enough.

The diamond shark has devoured him;

the shark is the greater warrior.

- Passage 127, Verse 35, Lines 6-9 (Clan Diamond Shark)

race, honor and nobility; show these beforehand.

but when the battle begins,

attack with terrifying swiftness,

be the Diamond Shark, relentless and ruthless.

- Passage 127, Verse 42, Lines 16-20 (Clan Diamond Shark)

~ Clan Wolverine "The Not-Named Clan" ~

ike a poisonous weed, the Not-Named fostered

thoughts and actions against the Clans, calling them

"Independance" and "Freedom", not realizing

their every act chained them to the corruptions

that brought down the noble Star League

and set the Inner Sphere aflame.

But the Clans survived by condemning

them to a bitter annihilation.

Led by Clans Wolf and Widowmaker,

the Grand Council wiped clean the records,

obliterating with the warm blood

of its tragically doomed warriors

every mention of the Not-Named Clan.

- Passage 149, Verse 55, Lines 21-33

~ Death and Absorption ~

bout the fallen hero they gathered,

none able to give voice to his shock.

Khan Jerome Winson knelt, tears streaming,

to cradle Nicholas Kerensky's head.

To wipe the blood from the cold brow,

to close the lightless eyes. Peace, great hero.

Choked with sadness and anger

Khan Jerome Winson spoke. "Khan Cal Jorgensson,

I cry, not for myself, nor for others.

I weep for your Clan Widowmaker.

There is a price for such a crime

as you have committed. A price you

and your Clan will pay."

- Passage 154, Verse 34, Lines 16-28

now is the time

to prove

what we know to be true:

that we shall conquer all.

- Passage 155, Verse 2, Lines 45-48 (Clan Ghost Bear)

~ The Rememberance ~

therefore the youngest of them all stood up,

And with a voice like amber wine she spoke:

"Great sir, now all is clear and seeming well,

Yet still there is but one remaining problem;

My children, sir, they as of yet unborn,

Shall never hear your words so pure and grand."

"You see", the great one spoke aloud, "It is

your humble kin for whom I write this book.

It is the Law, our honor bound in hide."

- Passage 156, Verse 4, Lines 24-32

~ Clan Trials ~

and Minaka Widowmaker spoke,

"I claim the Bloodname Vordermark;

it was my mother's and my mother's father's.

it is mine by association and blood pride."

The council was stunned and outraged

by her lack of respect for the Clan ways.

Then the ilKhan rose and spoke wise words.

"Such a claim is not freely granted, Minaka.

Although your blood may cry out Vordermark,

it is your muscle and mind that will make it so.

Remember the Rede of our past, Widowmaker,

and do not ask words to win what the Trial decides.

If strong, you will win the Right.

But do justice to our future

by remembering our past, young one.

Those are my words, that is my judgement."

- Passage 167, Verse 34, Lines 33-48

ith the truth of Kerensky's vision,

Khan Mercer brought harmony from discord,

and as the Founder had done before,

sought isolation to bring forth victory.

- Passage 171, Verse 27, Lines 16-19 (Clan Steel Viper)

n our days of wandering,

he gave us Hidden Hope;

our sacred duty calls us to return.

As our Father told us,

and his father before him,

ours is the redemption of the universe;

ours is the paradise of Terra;

ours is the war of liberation.

- Passage 204, Verse 6, Lines 2-9 (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

~ ilKhan Leo Showers ~

emember Leo Showers,

Great Khan of Khans.

He showed us the way to destiny,

and gave his life to achieve it.

- Passage 215, Verse 31, Lines 22-25 (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

ourn for our ilKhan, o warriors!

Cry curses to the heavens!

They have silenced the voice of the Crusaders;

let them be ash beneath out feet.

Make your hearts as proud as his,

make your blood as fierce,

make your blows as deadly to our enemies.

- Passage 215, Verse 31, Lines 26-32 (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

~ Comstar ~

and never forget that help may come

from the most unlikely of quarters

and success rest upon the shoulders

of those kept shadowed until the time of need.

- Passage 222, Verse 6, Lines 11-14

~ Operation Revival ~

then the order came, "Furl the sails.

ready for jump, mighty warriors.

We journey back, we journey home,

carrying the flame of the Star League

back to the hearth. We face the ignorant

who believe themselves civilized and strong,

but they will soon discover otherwise.

We are the Clans, the Star League incarnate.

None can stand against us and survive."

- Passage 272, Verse 8, Lines 11-19

o natural calamities cost you.

There was no great disease, no famines;

no interstellar catastrophe to blame.

You have no excuse to explain.

How this, our rightful palace, has been fouled

with the dust of countless innocent dead.

The truth is that you are the descendants

of traitors who scurry about like rats

in the dark, fighting over petty kingdoms

at the foot of the empty throne.

Never recognizing that you have given up

the one true prize.

- Passage 285, Verse 15, Lines 21-32

~ Tyra Miraborg ~

Tyra of the Rasalhague led,

forth her fiery Flying Drakons,

gallant in bronze. A warrior woman whose hands

were unskilled in the ways of hearth and home,

In skills of war she was hard and trained

to leave behind the airy winds and fight

where the void is eternal and life fleeting.

- Passage 294, Verse 8, Lines 17-23

Tyra and her warriors fought

like crazed demons above Radstadt.

When her fighter was crippled by ours,

and her life leaked away into the endless night,

she chose to die

and sent her fighter like a spear

through the Dire Wolf, claiming as isorla

our mighty ilKhan's life. Sing of our loss, warriors!

Sing, but of Tyra also,

for though an enemy, her courage none can deny.

- Passage 294, Verse 8, Lines 24-33

In the Black Seam they dance,

moonlit steel gleaming in the twilight.

Black and gold, red and silver,

their clothes stir the still night air.

Five steps taken, five cuts drawn,

the Scars of Moreau's tribulation.

These pay heed to our debt, to our past,

reborn with the death of our Mother.

- Passage 316, Verse 12, Lines 1-8 (Clan Goliath Scorpion)

~ Battle of Tukayyid ~

and so the Khans met in kurultai

to discuss the carving of Tukayyid.

As if it was some feast dish cooked

and tender, begging for the server's knife.

- Passage 327, Verse 3, Lines 5-8

sons and daughters of the blood legacy,

inspire me as I sing,

of the deaths dealt out on Tukayyid

and of what our warriors faced and bravely fought:

Help me paint a portrait of an apocalypse.

- Passage 328, Verse 1, Lines 1-5

~ Truce of Tukayyid ~

fifteen years, fellow warriors. Fifteen years

we are to suffer in shame and silence,

listening to the crowing and laughter

of our enemies, who think us defeated.

But remember, warriors, we are the Clans.

What fails to kill us only makes us stronger.

And when future sibkos learn of us,

they will know the sixteenth year

as the Stacalkas-Nomen: The year

the punishment of our enemies began.

- Passage 329, Verse 53, Lines 141-150 (Clan Smoke Jaguar)

pouncing cat stalks the hunting cat,

with a roar, the two engage in a death's embrace,

the coiled serpent crushes both.

A pouncing cat stalks the hunting cat,

with care, the pouncing cat watches,

the coiled serpent crushes the hunting cat,

a new star is born.

- Passage 374, Verse 3, Lines 17-24 (Clan Nova Cat)

and the ilKhan gave us his final words,

charging us to protect those

with whom we found refuge in our time of need.

In this, our final duty, we shall not fail.

- Passage 411, Verse 16, Lines 1-4 (Clan Wolf in Exile)

~ Khan Vladimir Ward ~

from a 'mech grave he rose, snarling

ready to do battle for his vanquished Clan

stalking the Falcon Khans, who would remake us

his actions, the Wolf incarnate.

- Passage 412, Verse 10, Lines 9-12 (Clan Wolf)

~ Star Colonel Aidan Pryde ~

remember those events that brought us these fifteen years of shame.

But remember also those who fell to restore the glorious Star League.

Above all, remember the blood legacy of Aidan Pryde, child of Kerensky;

he made the final sacrifice so that his Clan could continue.

For eternity shall we praise him;

in fifteen years shall we avenge him.

• Passage 417, Verse 29, Lines 74-79 (Clan Jade Falcon)

~Khan IQ Tseng and Sakhan DJ Jorgensson

And came the two Warriors from the falcons eyree

To take up the legacy of Tseng and Jorgensson

DJ To Steer the Bear through its hardships

And IQ to forge strength and honor as one

• Passage 445, Verse 3, Lines 14-18 (Clan Ghost Bear)

~War with Draconis Combine

The Bear is wrapped by the coiling snake

A Combine of planets with which to struggle.

The bear fights hard and never tiers.

Till eventually the serpents is crushed bloody in its claws.

• Passage 462, Verse 7, Lines 2 – 6 (Clan Ghost Bear)

~Alliance with Clan Ice Hellion

The Hellion and the Great Bear meet together

To combine their strengths to defeat their foes

A worthy alliance was indeed forged.

To greet together a new beginning

And to win the race to Terras shores

• Passage 499, Verse 6, Lines 24 – 29 (Clan Ghost Bear)

~ Loremaster DJ Jorgensson named Oathmaster of all the clans

A great honor indeed bestowed

A Ghost Bear warrior named in the councils halls

To hold the light of the oaths of honor

Spoken aloud by the Khans of all

- Passage 501, Verse 1, Lines 1 – 4 (Clan Ghost Bear)