Editing Clan Coyote

{{InfoBoxFactions
| crest = [[Image:Clan Coyote.jpg|right|Clan Coyote Logo]]
| factionname = Clan Coyote
| timeperiod = [[2807]] &ndash; Present
| classification = [[Clan]]
| systems = 10 (2 at 100%)<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 249</ref>
| capital = [[Kirin]];<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 163</ref> used to be [[Tamaron]]
| rulertitle = [[Khan]]
| military = [[Clan Coyote Touman]]
| secretservice = [[Watch#Clan Coyote|Clan Coyote Watch]]
}}

'''Clan Coyote''' was one of the original twenty [[Clans]] founded by [[Nicholas Kerensky]].  They proudly take as their totem animal the [[Coyote (species)|coyotes]] brought with the [[Star League]] exiles from [[Terra]], which can now be found on [[Tamaron]] and many other worlds of the [[Kerensky Cluster]].<ref name=FMWC39-40>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 39–40</ref>

Forged by [[Khan]] [[Dana Kufahl]], a member of an anti-[[Stefan Amaris|Amaris]] resistance movement on [[Terra]] called "The Spirit of the Coyote", the Clan cultivates a tradition based on Native American mysticism, and were the first to practice ''[[zellbrigen]]'', well before ilKhan Nicholas Kerensky codified the tradition.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 113</ref>  Their most significant and revolutionary contribution to Clan society was arguably the introduction of the [[OmniMech]] in [[2854]].<ref name=FM:WCp40,41>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 40–41: "Birth of the Titans"</ref>

Traditionally one of the strongest Clans and the closest ally of [[Clan Wolf]], many events of the late thirtieth and thirty-first centuries have weakened their position.  Considered to be the most conservative of the [[Warden]] Clans,<ref name=FMWC39-40/> they had retained their Warden viewpoint well into the [[Operation Revival]] era and beyond.  Though they would dramatically regain much of their strength in the later portion of the thirty-first century, much of it was due to the influence of [[the Society]] and was quickly spent in a gambit that pitted them against the rest of the Clans.  The Society's influence, and the subsequent treasonous actions of many Coyotes would cost the Clan dearly as the [[Wars of Reaving]] came to their bloody conclusion, nearly forfeiting their Clan's very existence.  As a result, the Coyotes would face vastly different circumstances than what they had known during the previous centuries, being a Clan that has been through the fires of their own near destruction, and after that, through a deep cleansing of their collective spirit.  The Coyotes of the post-[[Reaving]] era have essentially been reborn, both as a Clan and as individual warriors.  Much like their totem, they have survived to continue their journey as the Clans enter a new age.<ref name=TWORp163,164,165>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 163–165: "Founder's Future, Clan Coyote"</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of Clan Coyote}}
====Early Beginnings====
When Nicholas Kerensky led his [[Second Exodus]] from the [[Pentagon Worlds]], [[Dana Kufahl]] was among those who followed him.  She had been born on Terra in [[2772]] and grew up during the bloody reign of Stefan Amaris. She joined [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] on the initial Exodus from the [[Inner Sphere]] and attended the military academy on [[Dagda (Clan)|Dagda]], where she met and fell in love with [[Andery Kerensky]].  The two served in the SLDF, with Kufahl part of an exploration team charting new worlds.<ref name=FMWC39-40/>

On [[Strana Mechty]] Nicholas Kerensky chose Kufahl to be the first Khan of Clan Coyote with [[Kesar Jerricho]] as her [[saKhan]].  [[Gerek Tchernovkov]], an [[Combat Vehicle|armor]] officer of the [[146th Royal BattleMech Division]], was chosen by the Clan's own warriors to serve as their Pack Master, a position which evolved into that of [[Loremaster]].<ref name=FMWC40>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 40</ref>

====Operation Klondike====
By [[2821]], the [[Clan]]s were deemed ready to return to the [[Pentagon Worlds]].  A full reconnaissance survey had been conducted by a team led by Khan [[Absalom Truscott]] of [[Clan Star Adder]], called [[Operation: Sable Sun]].  Truscott also used this time to formulate the overall plan of conquest which was adopted by ilKhan Kerensky, a plan titled [[Operation Klondike]].<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 40–41: "Lay of the Land"</ref><ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 41: "Sitrep: On the Ground"</ref>

Clan Coyote was selected for the drop onto [[Babylon]], along with three other Clans.  Their ranks were filled almost entirely with heavy and assault [[BattleMech]]s, making them the primary hitting power on the planet.  But what could have been a smooth, if not well-planned, operation got off to a bad start from the very beginning and never fully recovered, though the Clans would still go on to victory.<ref name=H:OKp62,63>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 62–63: "The Four Horsemen"</ref>

After the campaign ended, Khan Kufahl was nearly crippled with grief when she heard the news about [[Andery Kerensky]]'s death on [[Eden]].  Dana Kufahl would fall into a deep depression punctuated by periods of extreme mania.  These erratic mood swings began to take their toll on her Clan.  Unable to bear seeing the Coyotes suffer further losses due to Khan Kufahl's impaired ability to properly lead her forces through her overwhelming grief, saKhan Jerricho knew something had to be done.  Not wishing to shame or otherwise harm his Khan, Jerricho challenged Dana Kufahl to a [[Trial of Possession]] for the Khanship of Clan Coyote and won.<ref name=H:OKp113>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 113: "Dana Kufahl Profile"</ref><ref name=FM:WCp39,40>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 39–40: "Making of an Empire"</ref>

==Wolverine Annihilation==
As Khan Jerricho and saKhan Tchernovkov settled into their new roles, the first cracks in Kerensky's new society began to form.  The Khans would stand firmly behind their Wolf Clan allies when the [[Not-Named Clan]]'s treacherous actions demanded the harshest punishment possible.  Years later in [[2834]], they once more backed the Wolves in their bid to [[Trial of Absorption|Absorb]] [[Clan Widowmaker]] after the death of ilKhan Kerensky at the hands of Widowmaker Khan [[Cal Jorgensson]], honoring the alliance forged by Dana Kufahl.  Technological and scientific growth were also promoted from early on, especially in the realm of military applications.  The Coyotes' engineering program would turn out their first new [[BattleMech]] designs in [[2829]], though these were little more than reconfigurations of older designs.<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 40: "Making of an Empire"</ref><ref name=FM:WCp40,41/>

==Golden Century==
====Creation of the OmniMechs====
The Coyotes' weapons development program continued to churn out new 'Mech designs to meet the ever changing needs of the [[Clan Coyote Touman]], though they would constantly strive to achieve greater flexibility of design over the years.  Then in [[2847]], Scientist Richard (Remer) - formerly Richard Tchernovkov - announced to his Khans that he had invented a working prototype with completely interchangeable weapons and equipment.<ref name=FMWC41-2>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 41–42: "Crusade of the Valiant"</ref>  Based on the ''[[Mercury (BattleMech)|Mercury]]'' BattleMech, the design still required several more years of refinement and testing to perfect.  The Coyotes were aided along the way by scientists from Clan Sea Fox, who had heard early word of the secret design, but kept it quiet, understanding the nature of the new development.  By [[2854]], production models were entering service, and by [[2859]] next-generation designs were likewise finding their way into the Coyote ''touman''.  The [[OmniMech]] had been born, revolutionizing warfare amongst the Clans.<ref name=FM:WCp40,41/><ref name=FMWC41-2/><ref name=FM:WCp41>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 41: "The Renaissance Spreads"</ref>

The Coyotes had their hands full with fighting the many Trials of Possession during the years that followed.  Most every Clan realized that they would have to procure this development for their own ''toumans'' if they wanted to keep up.  Lodging a protest with the [[Grand Council]] over the volume of challenges, in [[2858]] the Council would respond by electing [[Clan Burrock]] Khan [[Zenos Danforth]] to be the first ilKhan since the death of ilKhan [[Jerome Winson]] seven years earlier.  His task was to arbitrate the many Trials, in an attempt to keep at least some level of civility.  Soon, legislation passed that limited the challenges to one per Clan per year.

The Coyotes kept their secret as best they could, but eventually the technology would spread.  One of the early Clans to win the design was [[Clan Jade Falcon]].  Noted for their opposition to Clan Wolf from early on in Clan history (and by extension, their allies, Clan Coyote), the Falcons won the OmniMech design in [[2863]].  Khan Tchernovkov then informed his allies in Clan Wolf about the unit that won the design, providing them with a chance to win the OmniMech without having to fight the Coyotes for it, which they would go on to do handily.  After the invention of [[Elemental]] battle armor years later, the Wolf Khans repaid the debt in full by providing the Coyotes with information once more leading to the Jade Falcon unit that had wrested the technology from them.<ref>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 16: "Golden Century"</ref><ref name=FM:WCp41/><ref name=EDGCp10>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 10: "Early Clan History: A Comparative Timeline, cont."</ref>

==ilKhanship==
The Coyotes would continue to grow through the years, becoming a truly dominant force in the [[Clan Homeworlds]].  At the height of the Golden Century, Coyote Khan [[Corian Tchernovkov]] was elected to the office of ilKhan in [[2920]], in order to moderate the rising tide of inter-Clan disputes.  Though she would strive to fulfill her mandate, some conflicts - namely, the conflict between [[Clan Ghost Bear]] and Clan Hell's Horses - were beyond even the most diplomatic of mediators to fully arbitrate.  Her reign was cut short by what at first appeared to be a training accident, an occurrence that was not at all unheard of amongst Clan officers.  The truth was uncovered twelve years into the reign of her successor, ilKhan [[Tobias Khatib]].  What seemed to be an accidental death turned out to be foul play, proven beyond a doubt by evidence brought forth by Clan Snow Raven. Coyote saKhan [[James Kielman]] felt compelled to end the conflict before his Clan suffered any more losses over an event that happened nearly 15 years prior.  He would challenge Khan Levien to a Trial of Grievance, and in the process killed him.  Though the bleeding of constant vendetta had ended, the Coyotes would not regain their dominance.<ref name=EDGCp10 /><ref name=FM:WCp119>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 119: "Clan Snow Raven, Absolute Power (2825 - 2976)"</ref><ref name=FM:WCp42>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 42: "Righteous Vengeance"</ref>

==Political Century==
By the end of the Golden Century a great debate had begun within Clan society, between those who wished to return to the Inner Sphere as conquerors, or [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]]s, and those who wished to remain separated in order to protect it from outside threats, or [[Warden]]s.  Within Clan Coyote, opinion was split between the two camps and a political tug-of-war broke out which would last for two decades until [[2967]].<ref name=FMWC42>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 42</ref>

With their ranks cleansed of treason the Coyotes worked with the Wolves to form a powerful political bloc within the Grand Council to oppose the Jade Falcons, Smoke Jaguars and Star Adders during what became known as the [[Political Century]].  While the Wardens were successful in postponing the Crusaders' desire to conquer, including the Coyote-backed [[Dragoon Compromise]] which sent [[Wolf's Dragoons]] into the Inner Sphere, mounting pressure both politically and militarily began taking its toll.  The Coyotes in particular became the target of the Crusaders, as well as the opportunistic Cloud Cobras, and after decades of constant fighting by [[3045]] their territory had been reduced to a quarter of its previous size.<ref name=FMWC43>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 43</ref>

==Operation Revival==
Like many other Clans, the Coyotes were forced to watch from the sidelines as [[Operation Revival]] begun with the Invading Clans smash into the Inner Sphere, taking world after world with seeming ease.  As news began to trickle back of defeats at the hands of the "barbarians", however, the mood within Clan space began to change, until finally the disaster at the [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]] in [[3052]] put a hard stop to any ambitions of further conquest. It also led to the election of [[Sullivan Koga]] and [[Pazi Tchernovkov]], hardline Wardens, as the Coyotes' new Khan and SaKhan.<ref name=FMWC43/><ref name=FMWC44>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 44</ref><ref name=FMWC48>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 48</ref>

Clan Coyote sided with the Wolves when the Jade Falcons brought charges of treason against them in the Grand Council, but could only watch as the [[Refusal War]] split their closest ally in two.  The Clan willingly stood on the sidelines during the [[Burrock Absorption]] and the [[Operation Bulldog|Star League assault on Clan Smoke Jaguar]] so that longtime adversaries could be weakened or destroyed.<ref name=FMWC44/><ref name=FMU56>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 56</ref>

==Wars of Reaving==
Several more years of quietly building up the Coyotes' strength passed before Khan Kufahl felt it was time to wade back into the waters of Clan conflict in [[3069]].  After discussing his plans with saKhan Clearwater, they would both agree that some of the fractured Kindraa of [[Clan Fire Mandrill]] would make excellent targets for possible [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]].<ref name=TWORp37,38,39>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 37–39: "Stalking the Desert"</ref>

Politics in the [[Grand Council]] had become increasingly toxic during this time.  In a grab for power amongst the [[Home Clans]], Khan [[Brett Andrews]] of [[Clan Steel Viper]] motioned for a vote of no confidence, which would dissolve the body until new leadership was elected for each of the Clans.  Khan Kufahl took note of the political power hoarded by the so-called [[Snake Alliance]], deciding on the Steel Vipers as the primary target for his Clan's rise to dominance.<ref name=TWORp53>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 53: "The Coyote Prowls"</ref>

====Aiding the Exodus====
Khan Kufahl's master plan was a very long process that involved many layers of machinations.  Some of his short term plans involved assisting various Home Clans in their plans to leave the Clan Homeworlds for the brighter pastures of the Inner Sphere.  But just as often it was simply a matter of opportunity.  [[Clan Hell's Horses]] Khan [[James Cobb]] would first approach the Coyotes near the end of [[3071]], offering the Horse enclaves on Kirin and [[Tiber (Clan system)|Tiber]] to the Coyotes in exchange for material aid in their flight.  Both of the acquisitions would add greatly to the Coyotes' resources and production.<ref name=TWORp53/>

Months later, after another string of events in the Grand Council, the Coyotes' longtime ally [[Clan Wolf]] was [[Trial of Abjuration|Abjured]].  In a deal long worked out in advance and paid for with several Wolf units and the Wolf enclaves in exchange for Coyote ''[[sibko]]s'', equipment, and cooperation, the Coyotes bid hard for, and won, the rights to enforce the Grand Council's decision and evict the Wolves.  They then used their position to assist their ally under cover of the sanctioned attacks. When all was done, this deal would see the entire Bloodhouse of [[Jennifer Winson]] pass from Wolf to Coyote keeping, something that would serve the Coyotes well one day.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 65–67: "Merges and Moves"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 70: "Vanishing Point"</ref>

====Allying with the Society ====
For years, Khan Kufahl had been courting dangerous forces in the form of a cabal of independent-minded scientists called [[The Society]] that had many of its roots in their own Clan.  By this point he had become deeply ensnared in the alliance, affirming loyalty to their cause above all.  He had kept this alliance a secret from saKhan Clearwater, revealing it only before a [[Clan Council]] meeting with their scientist caste.  Being a conventional Clan warrior, Raven Clearwater knew that the plan was high treason, but cast her own better judgment aside after coming to understand the gravity of the situation.  The Reavings would destroy the entirety of the Clans' carefully maintained gene pool due to the powerful and arbitrary nature of ilKhan Andrews' decree, placing what was once the domain of the scientist caste into the hands of the warriors. Her decision made, the Coyotes would smoothly slide into the role of military for the Society.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 85: "End of an Era"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 92: "Decisions in the Dark"</ref>

While the orgy of initial Reavings were called and fought for on [[Strana Mechty]] and other worlds, Silas Kufahl was forced to defend his Clan from reprisals emanating from several other Clans over his decision to aid the Abjured Wolves.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 82–83: "Wolf at the Door"</ref>

One of the first official acts of the Clans under the new ilKhan would be to carry out the Reaving of [[Kindraa_Mick-Kreese_(Clan_Fire_Mandrill)|Kindraa Mick-Kreese-Kline-Sainze]] on Shadow.  The Coyotes, who already possessed an enclave on the world, carried out the bulk of the attack, with aid from a Cluster each from the Goliath Scorpions and Steel Vipers.  After 36 hours of fighting, the Coyotes defeated nearly three times their own number in enemy forces.<ref name=TWORp91>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 91: "Death Rides Forth"</ref>

Six Coyote Galaxies would lend direct aid to the Society's cause, helping to cover for their weakness as the rebel group built up forces from their base of washed-out trueborns from throughout Clan society, and [[Dark Caste]] castoffs.  Resistance on Huntress would collapse after drops onto the continents Abysmal and Jaguar Prime surprised the Goliath Scorpion and Cloud Cobras.  Worse, a virus began to devastate the main continent a short time after the Coyotes withdrew their forces.  The Society would later claim the planet after the virus of their making had been allowed to do its work.  This would not be the last time biological agents tailored to kill the Society's enemies were employed.  Many Bloodnames were targeted by various engineered viruses, and great swaths of the population of many worlds felt their scourge before serum and vaccination could be produced to counter the afflictions.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 100–101: "The Fall of Szabo"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 101: "Genetic Death"</ref>

====Targets of Opportunity====
Clan Coyote's fortunes rode high for time, before their situation caught up with them.  A Coyote victory over the Goliath Scorpions on Foster that netted them control of over most of the planet was welcome, as was saKhan Clearwater's victory over the last Diamond Shark enclave left in the Clan Homeworlds at [[Vinton]], though they would largely abandon it to their Society comrades.  And at Niles, some of the last survivors of Clan Fire Mandrill and a few Hell's Horses survivors reported that the Coyotes had left, but returned often to Trial for groups of citizens for use by the Society.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 124: "Scorpion Gambit"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 130: "Vengeance on Vinton"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 133–134: "Rise of the Blood Spirit"</ref>

====Foundering of the Coyotes====
The ensuing naval battle was the largest fought in the Clan Homeworlds since the time of Operation Klondike, encompassing the destruction of the bulk of both the Coyote and Steel Viper naval assets.  Nearly six Galaxies of Steel Viper forces were brought to bear, and all of the Vipers' remaining naval assets were present.  The fearsome ''Perigard Zalman'' destroyed several WarShips before falling in battle with the Coyotes' ancient ''[[Texas]]''-class Battleship, ''Ancestral Home''.  The Coyotes were left with few operational naval assets after the conflict, though the Steel Vipers would not fare much better. Only the Viper Khans would survive this encounter, and few records exist regarding the course of events, but Coyote Clan legend tells of [[saKhan]] Clearwater offering her life as ''[[surkairede]]'', and being granted the right to kill the "False Khan" McKibben before her own life was taken by the Bloody ilKhan on the 16th of December, [[3074]].  With their death, the Coyote was subdued.<ref name=TWORp142,143/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 184–185: "Raven Clearwater Profile"</ref>

After the dust had settled, not quite two full [[Galaxy|Galaxies]] of Coyotes survived, in the form of [[Nu_Galaxy_(Clan_Coyote)|Nu Galaxy]] and [[Zeta_Galaxy_(Clan_Coyote)|Zeta Galaxy]].  All survivors of the [[Clan]] were ordered to gather at Ute City on the western shores of Tamaron's Dustland continent.  Ordered to await the ilKhan's forthcoming decision regarding their fate when the Grand Council reconvened in February of [[3075]], the Coyotes hastily elected [[Leo Koga]] as their new Khan. A veteran warrior who was a contemporary and ally of former Khan Sullivan Koga,<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 54: "Nu Galaxy"</ref> Leo Koga set about doing everything he could to rebuild his broken Clan with the assistance of newly elected saKhan, naval officer [[Laura McTighe]].<ref name=TWORp142,143>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 142–143: "Viper's Venom"</ref><ref name=TWORp163,164,165/>

With an understanding that many Coyote warriors openly resisted the corruption and treachery of their kin, the Grand Council was inclined to allow the loyal Coyotes to live.  But the survivors would still have to pay a price and prove their loyalty to the Clan way.  First, their entire scientist caste was to be [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilated]], with most of the Annihilation being carried out by the warriors themselves, though some scientific enclaves were bombarded into dust.  The Coyotes were also ordered to undergo many [[Trial of Cleansing|Trials of Cleansing]], where Coyote warriors who openly acted against the traitors were recognized as clean, and warriors who sided with the Society influenced leadership were Annihilated.  Those whose roles were unclear would have to face a cleansed warrior in a Trial of the cleansed warrior's choosing, with victory being the deciding factor.  Losses would not reflect on the cleansed warrior, though a demotion of status would apply.  Clan Coyote [[Galaxy Commander]] [[Noemi McKibben]] was chosen to fight the [[Trial of Refusal]], but the ruling would stand, costing the Coyotes approximately 55% of their remaining forces.<ref name=TWORp142,143/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 147: "The Coyote Trial of Refusal"</ref>

==Aftermath==
After the Annihilation of Clan Steel Viper, the Coyotes would do their best to settle into life amongst the Clans.  Seeking to escape the stigma associated with Tamaron, the Coyotes would move their capital to Babylon, while most of their activities in the [[Kerensky Cluster]] were now based on [[Kirin]].  Having eliminated over 95% of their scientist caste through Annihilation, the Coyotes were forced to Trial against the other Clans in order to gather enough researchers and scientists to run their Clan's technical programs, let alone attempt to make progress once more.<ref name=TWORp163,164,165/>

Shunned for the most part by their sister Clans for the role that they played in the Society insurrection, Clan Coyote has had a tough road to travel after the [[Wars of Reaving]].  They are not without diplomatic ties, however.  Khan Koga would recognize the Stone Lions as a kindred spirit of sorts, another Clan looking in from the outside.  The two Clans would often trade and Trial against one another for various necessities and resources during the Post-Reaving era.<ref name=TWORp163,164,165/>

The Coyotes were the last to reactivate all of their Bloodnames after the Wars of Reaving. Their lack of Scientists extended the validation process until 3089. During that same time, they stockpiled large numbers of OmniMechs and battle armor. The Coyote Merchant caste used these resources to bargain for resources needed by the Kirin shipyards. The Coyotes saw the need for transportation for all the Homeworld Clans early and added more JumpShip and DropShip facilities to the Kirin yards. After the Wars of Reaving, they became the largest producer of transport assets in the Kerensky Cluster.<ref name=wors10/>

Warriors from the Coyote ''touman'' raided [[Navarre]] in [[3088]]. Though intended to be a raid, the [[Escorpión Imperio]]'s defenders were able to take control of half the Coyote DropShips. This forced the Coyotes to stay on-world for two weeks, running through the wilds until they could reclaim their DropShips.<ref name=wors10>''The Wars of Reaving Supplemental'', p. 10</ref> The one unexpected benefit was the insertion of several Coyote Watch officers on Navarre. These officers began a whisper campaign that some Umayyids were actually descended from the [[Not-Named Clan]]. These rumors eventually reached the ears of the Imperio's War Leaders and led to a series of unauthorized genetic investigations. On at least two Imperio worlds, these investigations led to mass violence and civil unrest that led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians. This chaos was the ultimate goal of the Coyote Watch agents, who sought to weaken the Imperio.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving Supplemental'', p. 14</ref>

==Culture==
Clan Coyote was considered the most conservative of the Warden Clans: the civilian castes' only purpose was to serve the warrior caste, and [[freeborn]]s were discriminated against by their [[trueborn]] "betters."  Harsh punishments for slights both real and imagined against the warrior caste were not uncommon (though not on the same level as practiced by [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|certain other Clans]]), which often led to increased intercaste strife.  One outlet for members of both warrior and civilian castes were weekly "blood sports" held in most major cities, involving deadly fights of warriors (and occasionally civilian volunteers) against either [[Aliens|dangerous beasts]] or other pit fighters.  Another outlet were the arts, especially in the fields of holography and laser sculpting, though such pursuits held little regard amongst Coyote warriors.<ref name=CWoK74>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 74</ref>

The Native American traditions of Clan Coyote trace directly back to Dana Kufahl, who infused her Clan with the wisdom she learned as a child and a particular reverence for its totem animal.  Such traditions were practiced mostly by the warrior caste though, and for the majority these rites had since lost their spiritual significance.  While there was no requirement for Coyote warriors to partake in these ceremonies, those looking to climb up the chain of command willingly took part in them.<ref name=CWoK74>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 74</ref><ref name=FMWC46>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 46</ref>

Originally these rituals were practiced only on Strana Mechty.  However, as the Coyotes' territorial size increased, combined with the practicalities of space travel, the Clan's leadership were forced to allow them to be performed on any planet.  This decision also prompted entire packs of coyotes to be transported to each Coyote world so that the rituals could be carried out.  Each ritual had its own purpose and meaning, though these too evolved over the years, and many warriors could fulfill the requirements of multiple rituals even when originally setting out to only complete one.<ref name=FMWC46>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 46</ref>

===Communion with the Coyote===
This ritual grew out of Dana Kufahl's desire to impart her warriors with a sense of the wonder and power of nature.  Typically it involved groups of Coyote warriors living in the wilderness for extended lengths of time so that they could better understand the intricacies of life.  For example, Pack Masters customarily took their warrior cadets out to live off the land for a month at a time as both bonding experience and survival training, while some commanders would lead their entire unit in the Communion as a celebration for winning a difficult battle.  Some Coyote warriors also undertook the Communion by themselves, but would almost always undergo the rite later in life as part of a group.<ref name=FMWC46/>

===The Hunt===
The Hunt began when two Coyote warriors, undertaking the Communion after having survived Operation Klondike, were suddenly attacked by a pack of coyotes.  As the story goes the two unarmed warriors managed to slay five of the animals before being rendered unconscious, but having been impressed by their fighting skills the pack did not finish them off and instead left them a fresh kill to eat when the two awoke.  When the two warriors recovered from their injuries, they hunted with their adopted pack for the rest of their Communion and would return many times afterward, bringing along new companions to join.  Over the next two centuries however the ritual evolved somewhat: small groups of Coyote warriors would search the wilds for a pack of coyotes, from which individuals would pick out one animal to stalk and kill by themselves, as a test of their skill.  Since the beginning of the [[thirty-first century]], no warrior of Galaxy Commander rank or higher had not succeeded in at least one Hunt.<ref name=FMWC46/> In the post-Reaving era, the Hunt would take on a renewed importance to Clan Coyote, as a way of purifying the spirits of their commanders.  No warrior is allowed to progress beyond the rank of [[Star Commander]] without having succeeded in the Hunt.  As a new measure, sanctioned Hunts are only allowed to take place on Kirin, where the coyotes grow much larger and more cunning than their Tamaron cousins.<ref name=TWORp163,164,165/><ref name=wors10/>

===Vision Quest===
This ritual also began with Dana Kufahl, originating from her first vision showing the Great Father's death and the start of the Pentagon Civil War.  As it was when Khan Kufahl first experienced it, the warrior must be at peace with themselves, pure of thought and free of emotion, in order to undergo a Vision Quest.  Only when the mind's natural barriers have been dropped can their senses perceive beyond normal comprehension.  However, few have ever had a true Vision Question, and those who set out to deliberately experience one always failed.  Of those who have undertaken a Quest, the received visions are often described as glimpses into the future or the true intentions of another person's actions, and are typically of great significance to Clan Coyote or of all Clan society.  Most warriors who experience Vision Quests also tended to do so during a Communion.<ref name=FMWC46/>

==Military==
{{main|Clan Coyote Touman}}
Traditionally, the Coyotes had one of the largest ''toumans'' of all the Clans and, as the developers of the OmniMech, fielded overwhelming numbers of these 'Mechs, even in second-line units.  Preferences for heavy- and assault-class machines gave Coyote units tremendous firepower at the cost of maneuverability, while the Clan's Khans maintained a hands-on approach to command even at the [[Galaxy]] level.  During major operations the saKhan personally led the units involved while the Khan observed and directed from a centralized command post; however for smaller engagements the Khans allowed subordinates to command as they saw fit, offering only advice and strategic support.  Each [[Galaxy Commander]] was expected to lead these operations much as the Khans directed larger ones.<ref name=FM445>''''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 44–45</ref>

Events leading up to and after [[Operation Revival]] saw the Coyotes take heavy losses, which would force a change in their attitude to [[freeborn]] warriors.  Previously, freeborns were almost unheard-of in line units, as the Clan was more than capable of replenishing losses with [[trueborn]] warriors and attitudes towards "freebirths" bordered on contempt.  With increases in both combat losses and ''[[sibko]]'' training camp dropouts, the Khans took the unprecedented move of ending the ban on freeborns serving in line units.  The resulting uproar finally subsided when the freeborns proved adequate in battle and replenished the Coyotes' depleted ''touman'' to capacity by [[3061]], though many trueborns still looked down on them.<ref name=FM445/>  By [[3067]] the ''touman'' had increased in strength, though it still paled in comparison to its height before the Invasion, and while still favoring heavy and assault machines, efforts at diversity had seen the use of smaller and lighter units.  However, even with the creation of superior conventional BattleMech designs like the ''[[Rabid Coyote]]'', many warriors still refused to give up their OmniMechs.<ref name=FMU56/>

In the post-Reaving era, the Coyote ''touman'' was drastically reduced due to decades of warfare.  The smaller Clan would also retract its holdings, abandoning several enclaves in order to properly guard the resources that they value the most.<ref name=TWORp163,164,165/>

== Bloodnames ==
{{main|List of Bloodnames#Clan Coyote}}
{{Category|Clan Coyote Bloodnames}}

==Inter-Clan Relations==
{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
!Clan Name
!Symbol
!Relationship
!Reason
|-
|'''[[Clan Stone Lion]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Stone Lion logo.png|100px]]
|Ally
|The Stone Lions had a more contentious but respectful relationship with the Coyotes: the two Clans often dealt with each other to gain needed resources or information, and while their warriors often fought to keep themselves sharp, in the Grand Council chamber the two Clans formed an opposition bloc to the more powerful Adders and Cobras.<ref name=TWORp163,164,165/><ref>''The Wars of Reaving Supplemental'', p. 10: "Political Realities"</ref>
|-
|}

===Post-Reavings===
In the Post-Reaving era, the Coyotes counted no true allies. The Cloud Cobras continued their old feud with them, opposing the Coyotes at every turn. Cobra scientists in particular battled their Coyote counterparts, verging on open caste war between the two Clans. The Star Adders were more neutral, appearing to hold no grudge for previous sins and maintaining largely peaceful relations between the two Clans.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
!Clan Name
!Symbol
!Relationship
!Reason
|-
|'''[[Clan Cloud Cobra]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Cloud Cobra.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Coyotes held a special hatred for Clan Cloud Cobra for causing the death of their ilKhan, [[Corian Tchernovkov]]. After the Wars of Reaving, the age-old feud with Clan Coyote was given new life due to the Coyotes' involvement in [[The Society|The Society's]] machinations. The Cobra scientist caste in particular nursed a vehement hatred for the Coyotes, barely avoiding the fostering of a caste war between the two Clans.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving Supplemental'', pp. 9–11</ref>
|-
|'''[[Clan Fire Mandrill]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Fire Mandrill.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Fire Mandrills harbored a grudge over the destruction of Kindraa Smythe-Jewel, though Kindraa Payne enjoyed good relations with the Coyotes.
|-
|'''[[Clan Blood Spirit]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Blood Spirit.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Blood Spirits also held a grudge against the Coyotes for the destruction of their allies, the Smythe-Jewels. The Coyotes were longtime enemies of the Smoke Jaguars before their destruction, as well as the Jade Falcons, despising both Crusader Clans.
|-
|'''[[Clan Star Adder]]'''
|[[Image:Clan_Star_Adder.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Coyotes reserved their greatest enmity for the Star Adders for their role in the Blood Scandal.<ref name=FM445/>
|-
|'''[[Clan Wolf]]'''
|[[Image:ClanWolf.gif|100px]]
|Enemy
|The Coyotes were staunch allies of the Wolves until the Refusal War when the traditional Coyote-Wolf ties were weakened by the removal of the [[Clan Wolf-in-Exile|Warden Wolves to the Inner Sphere]] and the ascension of the Crusaders in the reborn Wolf Clan. This relationship would devolve further and later deteriorate after the Wars of Reaving.
|-
|'''[[Clan Hell's Horses]]'''
|[[Image:Clan Hell's Horses.jpg|100px]]
|Enemy
|When both they and Clan Hell's Horses were cheated by Clan Fire Mandrill's Kindraa Smythe-Jewel, they would form an alliance to defeat them. Following the Kindraa's destruction, they would take their heritages and refer to themselves as "honored comrades". While differing in their political views, the Coyotes still maintained respect and honor for the Hell's Horses, which the Horses returned.<ref name=FM445/> This relationship would end after the Horses' abjuration from the Clan Homeworlds.{{cn}}
|-
|}

They also maintained close relations with the Diamond Sharks and Ghost Bears, despite the latter's relocation to the Inner Sphere until the Reavings in Clan Space.

==Rulers==

===Khans===

See: [[Khan of Clan Coyote]]

===saKhans===

See: [[SaKhan of Clan Coyote]]

===Loremasters===

See: [[Loremaster of Clan Coyote]]

==Territorial Possessions==
By the dawn of the 31st Century the Coyotes held a veritable empire in Clan Space, counting enclaves on twenty worlds. But as a prime target for Crusader aggression following the Dragoon Compromise the Coyotes lost ground, and by [[3045]] they still held only a quarter of these territories. During the Clan Invasion and up until the Wars of Reaving their capital [[Tamaron]] was their only exclusive possession, in addition to other enclaves on [[Babylon]], [[Delios]], [[Foster]], [[Londerholm]], and [[New Kent]].<ref name=FMWC43/><ref name=CWoK74/>

When the Wars of Reaving ended in [[3075]] the battered Coyotes shifted their capital to [[Kirin]], which along with Babylon was an exclusive possession. Tamaron by now had been split with other Clans, and aside from Londerholm the Coyotes had lost their pre-Reaving holdings, gaining enclaves on [[Albion (Clan System)|Albion]], [[Barcella]] and [[Glory]]. A decade later the Coyotes were sharing their capital with [[Clan Stone Lion]] while expanding to [[Homer (Clan planet)|Homer]], [[Huntress]] and [[Strato Domingo]], abandoning Albion and gaining Barcella as an exclusive possession.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 248: "Political Balance Table: 3075"</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 249: "Political Balance Table: 3085"</ref>

==Era Specific Data==
===3062===
'''Coyote Demographics'''<br />
Affiliation: Warden<br />
Population (Clan Space): 73,360,000 (3060)<br />
Population growth rate: 1.9 percent (60/41)<br />
Self-Sufficiency Index: 91 percent<br />

'''Leadership:'''<br />
Khan: [[Sullivan Koga]]<br />
saKhan: [[Silas Kufahl]]<br />
Loremaster: [[Clarissa Jerricho]]<br />
Scientist-General: Ricarda (Remer)<br />
Merchant Factor: Kavindra<br />
Master Technician: Onyda<br />
Senior Laborer: Hillard<br />

'''Military:'''<br />
Clusters: 35<br />
WarShips: 12<br />

<ref name=CWoK74>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 74</ref>

===3085===
Capital: Kirin

Precise Coyote population demographics for the post-Reaving era are currently unknown.

'''Leadership:'''<br />
[[Khan]]: Leo Koga<br />
[[saKhan]]: Laura McTighe<br />
[[Loremaster]]: Carl Heller<br />

'''Military:'''<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 165</ref><br />
Clusters: 8<br />
WarShips: 3<br />

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Era Digest: Golden Century]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]''
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving Supplemental]]''


[[Category: Clans]]
[[Category: Factions|Clans, Clan Coyote]]
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