A Trip to Wolf City

[wardeninexile]

There is a furor of activities in the hangars as Clan Wolf mechs and Elementals (most of Ranna's Trinary, in fact) transfer onto the large dropship docked to the White Chalice. This does not appear to be the usual periodic supply run.

Speaking with any of the Clanners, warriors or not, will let you know that they are going back to Wolf City in Siberia for several days to witness a Trial of some sort. Regardless of whether you had received Ranna's invitation, they will extend it again.

A trip to Wolf City!

Several flights are scheduled, so one need not worry about missing a dropship there or back.

(1)
The flight there was uneventful, except perhaps for the fact that the dropship shot up out of atmosphere first, before descending straight down over Siberia to the city, giving one a good view of Earth and a glimpse of Wolf warships in orbit.

Wolf City itself seems quite utilitarian in its layout, the spaceport that the dropship landed in was dead center of the city, and many buildings appear similar in design. However, there is a strong and sleek style to their architecture which is more than just utilitarian and distinctive enough that it is clearly a city unlike any others on Earth. You also see a larger and more monumental structure near the spaceport – the Clan Hall.

A middle-height young man wearing Clan Wolf’s dress uniform greets the group as they leave the dropship. Unlike Ranna’s and Resnick’s rank insignia of two small red stars, his has a single large star.

“I bid you welcome to Wolf City,” he pauses at that with a smile, as if knowing how bland it was. “I am Phelan Kell, Khan of Clan Wolf. It is an honor to finally meet you. Star Captain Ranna spoke often and highly of the White Chalice.”

(2)
Lodging has been provided at the Visitor Center near the spaceport. At a glimpse, the nearest parts of the city are:

Commercial District – this is where you find the most non-Clanners doing trading. The most striking thing you notice is that there is no ‘currency exchange’, and most shops and stores accept all currency and goods for trade. Furthermore, they seem to value the goods more, as they will ask for more currency comparatively.

Residential Zones – making up most of the city, the zones appear to be designed similarly.

Feel free to explore!

(3)
The next day you are invited by Ranna to the Clan Hall. The building is strangely grand compared to the rest of the city, and there are Elementals acting as guards. She leads you to a rather comfortable room. Multiple smaller holovid screens have been setup in addition to the main screen.

It shows a large chamber with circular seating arrangement. Close to twenty people are present, and after a short speech introducing the leader of the ‘Kerensky Bloodhouse’ – each person present takes turn naming a candidate for a ‘Trial of Bloodright’. Ranna seems strangely intent as she watches the proceedings.

After each of them has nominated a name, the leader nominates a list of names, ending with “And the last nomination is Ranna, whose claim to the bloodheritage comes from Natasha Kerensky.”

In total, you count 31 nominations.

(4)
Immediately after that, the view changes to the outskirts of the city – a snow landscape dotted with some forestry. There is not much wind at the moment, so the view is clear. Icons popped up on the screen, and you can see names of the mech and pilot attached to each icon. The icons are scattered about, and you count about thirty.

The various smaller screens can be adjusted to provide different views of the area, or to track a single mech.

“Commence,” came the voice over the screen, and the mechs leap into action.

Clearly this is no simulation, and the weapons are not powered down as missiles arc over terrain, lasers burn molten trails into armor and autocannon rounds leave craters in the snow when they miss. Nobody seems to be taking sides as the free for all rages on.

What is going on here?

((OOC: the trials will be in a later post, as this is long enough. Assume that the dropships will shuttle you back and forth on request, so feel free to come along!))

Comments

[2]

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Ah-hah!"

Matthew represses the urge to do a cartwheel.

"Finally, at last! Free from the noise and color and shouting of the Earth Sphere and back in a proper Clan hold! Even the air feels charged with the Founder's breath!"

He catches a hold of himself.

"Hmmmph. It is a reasonably satisfactory place that Clan Wolf has built."

Who has he dragged along on this road trip to Clanner-land?

[wardeninexile]

"It is wonderful simply because we are on Terra, quiaff?" Ranna says.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff." Matthew agrees. "And yet, by breathing it in the midst of a Clan City, it somehow has become more refreshing!"

He comes down from his all natural high.

"I have heard you are entering the trial of bloodright."

[wardeninexile]

"They have informed me that I am to be one of the nominations, aff. The nominating itself has yet to take place though."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Ah. I have heard that the Bloodname in question is that of Kerensky."

Matthew's voice is filled with the sort of envy every other Clan save Clan Wolf has felt.

[wardeninexile]

"Aff. My genemother is Natasha Kerensky. As such, I trace my blood heritage to the Great Father himself." As opposed to Nicholas Kerensky.

She smiles softly and there is a hint of pride, but nothing to be considered boastful.

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Matthew gawks at you at this point.

"Is that so? Amazing!"

He is standing next to the genes of the Great Father himself!

Without thinking about it, he pokes Ranna gently on the shoulder, as if trying to convince himself that she is there.

[wardeninexile]

She blinks, then looks at him with amusement.

"It is an honor, cetainly, but not that amazing. There are many of us that contain the genetic legacy of our forebearers, including yourself, quiaff?"

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"Aff...but you Wolves got the Founder himself." Matthew mumbles, lowering his arm.

[wardeninexile]

"Aff, an honor that I do not deny. Though you must admit, we did fight hard to keep it over the years."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

"As any Clan would have!" Matthew replies.

Then suddenly, a devious look comes into his eyes.

"It has occurred to me...my new Clan, the Gurren Brigade, is in need of new Bloodnames. What better way to increase our honor in front of the other Clans then by acquiring the Kerensky name in a Trial of Possession?"

[wardeninexile]

Ranna chuckles without malice.

"You may have a point, if you were made part of another Clan, Matthew. As it is, you joined the Gurren Brigade. Much like those who were taken bondsman by the Successor States and then freed to become a warrior, a 'bloodname' has no meaning to those states."

[gurrenbrigbonded]

Grumpy Matthew is grumpy.

"Not yet..."

[wardeninexile]

"I doubt they will ever be a Clan, in theory or practice."

1

[getter_class]

Hayato had been curious about the Clan Wolf holdings for some time now. So, naturally, when he was invited to visit it he jumped at the opportunity.

Stepping off the dropship, he raised his eyebrows slightly at how much the clanners had put up in such a short time. "You've certainly been busy."

Re: 1

[wardeninexile]

Phelan nods amiably, "We chose this as our landing site due to the flat terrain, but there is still much incentive to construct the city quickly."

The Wolf Khan spares a sidelong glance at Ranna, "One of the rituals Alpha Galaxy has involves being on-foot, the Strana Mechty winter and the Strana Mechty wolf."

He grins informally.

"Not all of us are esteemd enough to withstand the cold without proper shelther, and so here we are."

Re: 1

[getter_class]

"It's very impressive."

He looked around looking for all the world like a tourist trying to make sense of street signs in a strange city, before turning back to Phelan. "Perhaps you can help me, actually. They mentioned something about a 'trial of bloodright' going on, and that it was a big deal, but not what it was or where it was happening."

[wardeninexile]

"I suppose the good Star Captain was too humble to talk about it?"

The Khan laughs good naturedly while Ranna sniffs.

"You see, all clan warriors are born without a family name. Many of them, however, can trace back their lineage to one of the 800 warriors that founded the Clans. The family names of those 800 were designated as bloodnames, and a bloodname can only have 25 warriors at a time at most - one of the highest honor available.

When a warrior holding that bloodname is killed or dies, it opens up a slot, so to speak. That is when a Trial of Bloodname is held. You will see the proceedings soon.

Usually it is not so high profile to non-Clan or non-Warrior circles, but the bloodname here is 'Kerensky' - that of our Great Father."

[getter_class]

"Yes, I've heard mention of him. I believe his claim to fame was severing ties between your Star Clans and the rest of humanity during some kind of war?"

[wardeninexile]

He looks around with a smile before replying.

"I was from the Inner Sphere, so it is like I have a different perspective. Aleksandr Kerensky's claim to fame was leading the Star League Defense Force to many victories, and ultimately choosing to lead 80% of that into exile.

Unlike the clans, there are some who in the Inner Sphere who feels he was a coward for 'running' away. However, for the most part he is also quite the popular historical figure there.

I do tend to agree to the latter view, as I shudder to think of the devastation had he and the SLDF stayed."

He gestures at Ranna.

"That is her heritage. The other 'Kerensky' bloodname belongs to Nicholas Kerensky, the actual founder of the Clans after his father's death. It is our Clan's privilege that both Kerensky bloodnames are exclusive to Wolf - another source of tension between us and the Falcons."

3

[hominilupusinexilio]

Resnick took to the pomp and ritual of a bloodhouse like an amphibian returning to the water.

"I am surprised they waited so long to announce you."

[wardeninexile]

Ranna smiles slightly.

"I can see a few reasons why - they may want to keep Natasha Kerensky's bloodheritage candidate to the last in honor of her, I doubt I am the only genedaughter she has. Or it could just be a political play, letting the bloodhouse leader nominate the candidate of such a prominent warrior."

[hominilupusinexilio]

"We shall see if they continue saving the best for last at tomorrow's Fetladral meeting, quiaff?" He said, obnoxiously sure that he'd be nominated. The Kerensky bloodname couldn't go unfilled, but there were others undergoing trials too and he intended to not allow Ranna to have all the glory of it.

[wardeninexile]

She chuckles.

"Aff. I suspect it is most likely a play at politics, however."

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Like the Snow Ravens? Pfah." He was clearly disdainful of bloodhouse politics, probably because if he decided to go for the Vickers bloodname instead he would become a victim of it.

Upon leaving, he noticed another strange phenomenom: Siberian tourists, come to gawk at the 'aliens'...and trade, of course. "Why are those Merchants and Laborers pointing at us?" He said, clearly both puzzled and annoyed at these non-Clan 'lower caste' having such temerity. I dunno duder, the uniform and visible bright green tattoos might have something to do with it.

[wardeninexile]

Ranna simply points at his face.

[hominilupusinexilio]

Not understanding, he pats at it, as if inspecting the closeness of his shave in a commercial.

"What? Did an insect land on me?"

[wardeninexile]

"Neg. Your EI tattoos stand out."

[hominilupusinexilio]

"Oh? So they have never seen such before..." He remembers Adette's astonishment too. If a woman as urbane as her can be thrown for a loop, then surely these ignorant Laborers...Well.

He strode up to them, waving his hands and yelling alien-sounding gibberish. Their eyes bugged out and they fled, proclaiming in Russian how they did not wish to be probed.

This may be the most humor Ranna has ever seen come out of him.

[wardeninexile]

Ranna smiles with a shake of her head.

"You must admit, it is rare among our Clan, and those native to Siberia will not have seen much Falcons either." There is slight chiding there, though also amusement.

1)

[sonofgucun]

Khan Phelan.

[Cheng inclines his head respectfully to the Clan Leader calmly before offering his hand in greeting.]

I am Chairman-General Hua Cheng Kwan, Leader of the People's Republic of Gucun. I hope as your neighbors your people and my own will have an amicable relationship.

[wardeninexile]

Phelan shakes the hand firmly.

"A pleasure, Chairman-General. I do hope you will forgive us for our sudden arrival and instatement as your neighbours."

An easy smile.

[sonofgucun]

As unexpected as your arrival has been, I do owe your Clan a measure of gratitude. One of your own pilots had assisted me in liberating Gucun from a despot with delusions of grandeur.

[Cheng nods calmly to the Khan.]

As such you are forgiven easily. Allies are hard to come by in these days.

[wardeninexile]

"Such individuals are all too common, be it here on Terra or in the Inner Sphere.

How is your state recovering? You can tell your people they are more than welcomed to trade here."

[sonofgucun]

Hm. Indeed.

We are recovering... despite internal difficulties. However it is something that will be taken care of in due time.

As for trade, I will send word back to Gucun. I believe there is a lot we can assist each other with.

[wardeninexile]

"We are in the same situation, then. Recovering from internal difficulties as well."

Phelan nods.

"Do inform them that we prefer trading in goods rather than currency - as we are both newcomers to Terra, and that currency has always been an unfamiliar concept to us."

[sonofgucun]

[Cheng nods, then chuckles amusedly as Phelan brought up the topic of trade.]

Somehow I do not believe that will be a problem...

[Given how Gucun had been isolated for a while, trading goods would be the best solution for them - especially given how the place used to be a massive industrial nightmare/slum before its time displacement.]

[wardeninexile]

"Good, good."

Phelan nods.

"So what are you here for, Chairman-General? To see the sights or to view the Trial?"

3

[emorangerpink]

[I'm sorry this is so delayed!]

So now you know what the competition looks like.

Re: 3 That is okay.

[wardeninexile]

"Aff. Though it still does not tell me what my opponents in the rounds will be."

[emorangerpink]

And there's still one wildcard... how does that last candidate usually stack up against the nominees?

[wardeninexile]

"The wildcard will be decided in a grand melee - the winner of the grand melee, to be precise. That should be starting... now."

The screens changes. ((switching to 4))

Ranna smiles softly. "There were bloodname holders who entered as a 'wildcard', as you so aptly described."

[emorangerpink]

[Laura watches, a little pale at the clearly unsimulated carnage on display.]

It's not... wasteful?

[wardeninexile]

"It has always been the Clan's way to use actual weaponry for field exercises. A Trial, which is one of our honored ways, is considered actual combat, and thus not considered wasteful."

[emorangerpink]

All the same, I hope this combat does not claim too many warriors.

[Laura winces at one hit.]

[wardeninexile]

The Kit Fox staggers and collapses onto the snow as its leg actuator gave way, the metallic alloy at the joint twisting and breaking.

Ranna nods in approval.

"A good but non-fatal hit."