Editing History of Clan Blood Spirit

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[[Image:Clan Blood Spirit.jpg|right|thumb|Clan Blood Spirit Emblem]]

:''This article details the history of '''''Clan Blood Spirit'''''. For more information, see [[Clan Blood Spirit]].''
:''For the history of the Clans as a whole, see [[History of the Clans]].''

==Founding==

Clan Blood Spirit was unique in that it was named for an ideal rather than a totem creature. Its first [[Khan]], [[Colleen Schmitt]], and her warriors thus sought to remember the trust, honor and spirit that had bound the eight hundred warriors who had followed [[Nicholas Kerensky]] into exile. Unlike other Clan leaders, Schmitt refrained from filling the post of saKhan at this time, as she wanted a leader who had proven able to work not only with fellow Blood Spirits but also other Clans.<ref name=FMCC20>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 20</ref>

==Operation KLONDIKE==
Assigned to [[Arcadia (Clan)|Arcadia]] during [[Operation KLONDIKE]], the Blood Spirits' first [[Cluster]] favored no particular form of combat, and was most often paired with the [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Vipers]] in hammer-and-anvil attacks. Khan Schmitt also attempted to fulfill her self-appointed role as peacemaker and keep her fellow Khans working together toward a common objective.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p.49, "Clan Blood Spirit Cluster"</ref> When a friendly fire incident led to a near state of war between Clans Star Adder and [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bear]], Khan Schmitt managed to cool the situation down and get the Bears to finally cooperate with the other Clans on-planet.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 53-54, "Bear Baiting and Snake Charming"</ref>

In tandem with Clan Steel Viper, the Blood Spirits advanced upon the [[Ilkasur Shogunate]]<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 54-55, "Opposites Complement"</ref>, the [[Ravisham Collective]] and the [[Confederation of Arcadia]]<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 55-58, "Minors Powers, Major Roadblock"</ref>, and then the continent of East Arcadia.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 58-59, "East Arcadia"</ref> Often the Blood Spirits' more considered approach to warfare saved their reckless Viper allies from suffering heavier losses. It was during these battles that Star Captain [[Devon Boques]] proved himself able to work with other Clan warriors as well his own; this resulted in Boques becoming the Spirits' first saKhan following KLONDIKE.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 58</ref>

==Ostracism==
In the time following KLONDIKE the Blood Spirits attempted to maintain the esprit de corps that bound all Clans. To this end, Khan Schmitt created the post of [[ilChi]]; these nineteen ambassadors would maintain open relations and facilitate mutual aid between the Spirits and the other Clans.<ref name=FMCC21>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 21</ref>

Their dream did not live long. In [[2823]] [[Clan Wolverine]] was [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilated]] for rebelling against Kerensky's vision; for expressing some sympathy for the Wolverines, the Blood Spirits found themselves a target as well. [[Clan Burrock|Burrocks]] called for the Spirits' Annihilation, and though the Grand Council voted down the measure, the Spirits were reprimanded and told to follow the Way of the Clans or else. Shocked, and realizing that the other Clans no longer respected one another, Khan Schmitt cancelled the ilChi program.<ref name=FMCC21>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 21</ref>

Following this, the other Clans, predominantly the Burrocks and [[Clan Mongoose|Mongoose]], targeted the Spirits with near constant raids, and the Spirits eventually lost their holdings on [[Albion (Clan)|Albion]] and [[Homer_(Clan_planet)|Homer]]. Reduced to a single planet - [[York (Clan)|York]] - the Spirits' former regard for their fellow Clans was replaced with a bitter hatred. The death of ilKhan Kerensky in [[2834]] was blamed by the Spirits upon the other Clans, and a series of furious counterattacks ended the raiding but cost the Spirits Khan Schmitt and left them a small and weak Clan.<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 22-23</ref>

==Isolation==
Years of fighting had shattered the Spirits, but their isolation, small size and lack of any resources worth fighting over probably saved them from [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]]. The Spirits adopted a policy of near-total isolation, which had the effect of binding the Clan's members more closely together.<ref>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 5</ref>

When the [[OmniMech]] was first deployed by [[Clan Coyote]] in [[2854]], Khan [[Ceana Boques]] initiated several programs to counter this new technology. Spirit warrior training was toughened to the point where it produced fewer but better warriors than in any other Clan, while merchant and laborer caste members received rudimentary weapons training to serve as a militia in times of need. Blood Spirit technicians, many of them ex-warrior trainees, were also permitted to train and fight, with the winner of an annual [[Grand Melee]] granted another [[Trial of Position]]. Exploration and colonization of new worlds, first among them [[Foster]], was undertaken, while the scientist caste was forced to improve its eugenics program and 'Mech designs.<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 23</ref>

Expecting nothing but hostility from other Clans, the Blood Spirits were surprised when the [[Clan Fire Mandrill |Fire Mandrill]] [[Kindraa Smythe-Jewell]] approached them with an offer instead: OmniMech technology in exchange for territory on Foster. Though initially suspicious, the Spirits accepted the deal and thus gained OmniMechs. Shortly after, the Spirits found themselves unable to retain their holdings on Foster due to increased Burrock raids, and so ceded the enclave to Kindraa Smythe-Jewell. In return, the Fire Mandrills gave the Spirits [[Battle Armor|battlesuit]] technology and the breeding material for [[Elemental|Elementals]].<ref name=FMCC24>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 24</ref>

When Kindraa Smythe-Jewell was destroyed in [[2872]], Clan Blood Spirit resurrected the ilChi office and dispatched an emissary to the rest of Clan Fire Mandrill offering military aid. Though rejected, the offer improved the tentative ties between the two Clans and lead to an informal alliance. The success of this new compact and the Spirits' resource deficit later prompted Khan Boques to accept limited trade offers from [[Clan Sea Fox]].<ref name=FMCC24>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 24</ref>

In [[2975]] [[Fara Church]] became Khan of Clan Blood Spirit. With momentum building for a return to the [[Inner Sphere]], Church realized that his Clan's touman was too small to be considered a viable member of any invasion. To counter this, the Blood Spirits contacted [[Clan Snow Raven]] and made an offer: the Blood Spirits would trade some of their excess [[WarShip|WarShips]] for a large quantity of the Ravens' older, second-line [[BattleMech|BattleMechs]]. The deal benefitted both parties immensely, allowing the Spirits to increase the size of their touman considerably, and led to the Spirits gaining a new ally of sorts.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>

==Operation Revival==
Throughout the first half of the 31st century Clan Blood Spirit became an adherent of the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] philosophy, but nonetheless forsook nearly all interaction with other Clans. Aside from dealings with their few allies or occasional voting in the Grand Council the Spirits for all intents and purposes vanished from Clan civilization.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials'', p. 1, "A Call for Unity"</ref> <ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref> Like nearly everything else in Clan life, this state of affairs changed forever with the surprise appearance of the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' in [[3048]].

Although the Blood Spirits participated in the placement trials for [[Operation Revival]], and achieved a first-round win against the hated Clan Burrock, they lost to [[Clan Nova Cat]] in the third round and thus did not participate in the invasion. The Spirits consoled themselves by claiming that this loss merely confirmed their belief that the time for an invasion had not yet arrived.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials'', p. 14</ref> When the [[Invader Clans|invaders]] were defeated at [[Tukayyid]], the Spirits felt some vindication of this view.<ref name=WOK70>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 70, "Clan Blood Spirit"</ref>

==The Burrock Absorption==
In early [[3059]] the Spirits' longtime foe, Clan Burrock, became the target of a [[Trial of Absorption]], and the Blood Spirit Khans made a rare appearance at the [[Grand Council]] to support the measure. The Spirits were shocked and furious when the honor of Absorption went to the [[Clan Star Adder|Star Adders]] and decided to take unilateral action; they launched their own attacks against the Burrock enclaves on [[Priori]] and Albion.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref> This anger-fueled decision to interfere in the [[Burrock Absorption]] would cost Clan Blood Spirit heavily.

In total, the Blood Spirits committed seven Galaxies in fighting across five worlds. Their deal with Clan Snow Raven allowed them to field a larger touman than other Clans expected, and the Spirit Khans believed that the battles would be three-way struggles that would end in victory for them. But more often than not the Burrocks instead joined forces with the Adders; their hatred of the interlopers burned so fiercely that they willingly allied with those who were trying to Absorb their Clan in an effort to punish the hated Spirits.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>

In the end fewer than eight Spirit Clusters survived to withdraw when the fighting was over. Although they had destroyed seven Galaxies of Star Adder and Burrock troops, the Blood Spirits had lost almost five Galaxies for no effective gain. In addition, their feud with the Burrocks had transferred over to Clan Star Adder, who in the long run would prove to be a far more dangerous enemy. As a response to her Clan's defeat, Khan [[Karianna Schmitt]] called for and received a mandate to isolate the Spirits as much as possible from the corrupting influences of other Clans. They withdrew from their enclave on Arcadia and retained their holdings on [[Strana Mechty]] only to deny the Clans' birthworld to the 'traitors' of Kerensky's vision.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>

==The Great Refusal and the Wars of Possession==
This new isolationist policy of the Blood Spirits did not last long. [[3060|A year later]], when the reborn [[Star League#Second Star League|Star League]] challenged the Clans to a [[Trial of Refusal]] over the Clan Invasion, the Blood Spirits were one of the Crusader Clans to square off against the [[Star League Defense Force#Second Star League Defense Force|Star League Defense Force]] during the [[Great Refusal]]. Pitted against the [[Draconis Combine|Draconis Combine's]] [[1st Genyosha]] in the Coldrill Valley, the Spirits lost their trial shortly after Khan Schmitt's 'Mech was knocked out.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 25, "The Great Refusal"</ref>

During the first two years of the subsequent [[Wars of Possession]], Clan Blood Spirit remained aloof from the fighting. In early [[3063]], Clan Star Adder began raiding York, and gradually increased both its presence in the York system and the frequency of its raids. The Spirits finally struck back at the Adders when in [[3066]] they regained a foothold on Arcadia, destroyed the [[WarShip]] CSA ''[[Vritra]]'' and hit the Adder enclave on [[Tathis]] in conjunction with their Fire Mandrill allies.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 36</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 16, 17</ref> In [[3062]] the Spirits supported [[Clan Cloud Cobra]]'s plan to bring [[Inner Sphere]] religious delegates into Clan space for the Babylon Diet.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 24</ref>

==Wars of Reaving==
[[Clan Blood Spirit]] discovered the [[Colleen]] system in [[3067]], when the situation in the [[Clan Homeworlds]] was rapidly degenerating and ultimately set off in the [[Wars of Reaving]]. The Spirits were under increasing pressure from other [[Clans]], in particular from [[Clan Star Adder]], and they needed to start a new colony unbeknownst to the other Clans.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 14</ref> To offset their losses against the Adders, saKhan Boques initiated a [[Trial of Possession]] for [[Clan Snow Raven]]'s Zeta Galaxy and won it.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 35</ref> With these additional assets, the Spirits recaptured most of York but at the same time they exhausted themselves.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 44</ref>

Haven and Honor grew rapidly in the years after their discovery, the Spirit leadership well aware of their importance especially after the destruction of their capital world York. Haven became the home of the Spirits' genetic repository, while Homer received a ''[[Chrysaor]]'' [[ProtoMech]] facility.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 33</ref>  In 3069 the Spirits voted to Abjure those Clans that participated in Operation REVIVAL.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 46</ref> They also worked with Clan Snow Raven to take over some of their holdings as the Ravens departed Clan space.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 54</ref>

On August 6 3072, Clan Star Adder sent several WarShips to York. They began an orbital bombardment that lasted for more than three weeks. At the end of it, York was in shambles with ninety percent of industry destroyed and three quarters of its civilian population dead. The debris and ash thrown into the atmosphere resulted in a "nuclear winter" that began to destroy the biosphere.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 105</ref>

The Spirits sent forces to Arcadia to seize enclaves from other Clans in 3073. What they found instead was a barren world, stripped of nearly all usable material, stacked with civilian bodies and home to only a few humans who wandered the wastes. These people were largely insane. (Later investigation suggested that these unfortunates were the survivors of testing by [[The Society]].)<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 122</ref> After being ambushed by a few Steel Viper positions, the Spirits bombarded those locations by WarShip and left the remaining parts of Albion to [[Clan Cloud Cobra]].<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 123</ref> Also in 3073 the Spirits hit [[Niles (Clan)|Niles]] and took Clusters from Clan Hell's Horses and Clan Fire Mandrill as ''isorla''.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 133</ref>

The Blood Spirits took control of Tokasha factories. In 3074 forces from Clan Steel Viper arrived and challenged for the entire world. The fighting was intense, with Omicron, Omega, and Zeta Galaxy facing off against four Viper Galaxies. Though they fought well, the Spirits lost. The ilKhan then announced that the surviving Spirit warriors could join his ''touman'' or die. Most chose to die.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 138-139</ref>

During the [[Trial of Annihilation]] against [[Clan Steel Viper]] the Blood Spirits' Alpha Galaxy dropped on [[Circe]] with the Cloud Cobras' Delta Galaxy.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 150</ref> They then moved on to New Kent, where they lost part of Beta Galaxy.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 151</ref> After [[Clan Steel Viper]] was annihilated in [[3076]] the Spirits were in shambles, having suffered greatly from the invasion of [[Circe]] and [[New Kent]] which much of their touman and industry on Albion destroyed.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 154</ref>

When [[Bryce Schmitt]] was elected as saKhan, the Clan leadership made the hard decision to withdraw from all their enclaves in [[Clan Space]] to Colleen, except from [[Strana Mechty]], their main genetic repository having already being relocated to Haven in 3070. Progress was slow but steady and the Clan began to rebuild in complete isolation, the system still being secret to other Clans even if they known the Spirits had withdrawn somewhere but where too busy with more pressing concerns.

At the beginning of the [[Jihad]] the Blood Spirits were one of four Clans to support the [[Inner Sphere]] forces against the [[Word of Blake]]. However, this came to nothing.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 32, 77</ref>

==The Last Stand==
Finally in 3082 a [[Clan Stone Lion]] vessel arrived in the Colleen system, and Khan [[Boques]] immediately prepared his Clan for the inevitable conflict over these worlds.

The first to arrive was [[Clan Cloud Cobra]], which respectful of previous dealings trialed for and won the right to establish two enclaves on Honor's southern continent, centered around strip-mining the nearby mountains of ore. They were in process of building an [[OmniFighter]] factory when a cataclysm nearly split the planet in two in March 3083.

Soon after [[Clan Stone Lion]] and [[Clan Coyote]] arrived on Honor and trialed for almost every colony on the planet.

By the end of June Blood Spirit Khan Boques was dead, their last factory lost and their touman now consisted only of the remains of [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Blood Spirit)|Alpha Galaxy]]. The Stone Lions with their [[Psi Galaxy (Clan Stone Lion)|Psi Galaxy]] captured several agricultural enclaves and two [[ProtoMech]] factories near Lovell, as well as the Spirit ProtoMech warrior phenotype. The Coyotes with their [[Nu Galaxy (Clan Coyote)|Nu Galaxy]] captured three newly built [[BattleMech]] factories, and prepared for the inevitable counterattack.

New Khan [[Bryce Schmitt]] unleashed the traditional Blood Spirit response to assaults on their homeworlds, hoards of armed civilians who stormed the Coyote-occupied city of Glasgow, nearly a [[Cluster]] in number. Khan [[Leo Koga]] of the Coyotes conferred with the leader of Stone Lion forces in the Colleen system, [[Loremaster]] Jackie Ravenwater, both agreeing that the Blood Spirits were now to be considered ''dezgra''. Also the Lions were having problems with their ''[[isorla]]'', although not at the level faced by the Coyotes. Civilians refused assimilation and kept on attacking the Clan forces.

In a subsequent Grand Council called by Khan [[Leo Koga]], the Coyote Khan called for the [[Trial of Abjuration | Abjuration]] of Clan Blood Spirit.  But [[Clan Star Adder]], long time enemies of the Blood Spirits, called for their Annihilation over the reports of such flagrant un-Clanlike activity.  In lieu of this position, a [[Trial of Absorption]] was passed by the Grand Council, granted to the Star Adders, who immediately set about landing their forces as soon as the Stone Lions and Coyotes withdrew in deference to the Adders, taking all the ''isorla'' they could with them before leaving.

They immediately attacked and quickly overrun the enclave on [[Strana Mechty]], killing saKhan [[Lucas Campbell]].

On the 5th of October, [[3084]], CSA ''[[Sovereign Right]]'' and ''[[Absolute Truth]]'' crippled the last remaining Blood Spirit naval assets, the CBS ''[[Karianna Schmitt]]'' and the ''[[Stooping Kite]]'', landing their [[Gamma_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Gamma]], [[Epsilon_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Epsilon]] and [[Xi_Provisional_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Xi]] Galaxies on Haven, while the Blood Spirit response to the landings was ineffectual.  Khan Schmitt unleashed four more Clusters of armed civilians in an ambush of the Star Adder forces as they crossed the Sidhe River, sending two ''[[Broadsword]]'' [[Dropship]]s on strafing runs over the assembled Adders.  Khan Schmitt would lead a desperate stand through the most vicious fighting since the fall of York, but to no avail.  He would eventually fall to the Star Adder saKhan [[Wyatt Talasko]], with his few remaining Blood Spirits following soon after, fighting until the end in the city of Glasgow.

With their leadership and touman destroyed, the remaining armed civilians ambushed the Star Adders in the city of Lovell, taking down [[Loremaster]] [[Fletcher Daniels]]. The Adder response was brutal, gunning down anyone in sight and systematically burning and destroying buildings. They then loaded as much ''[[isorla]]'' as they could onto their [[DropShips]] and retreated to their landing zones.

==Annihilation==
The Adders never wanted to really absorb the Spirits, knowing they would have never integrated with such a longtime deeply hated foe. Their goal was Annihilation, and they carried it out in the following weeks, starting heavy orbital bombardment on Haven, targeting key infrastructure locations at the Spirit holdings. Any resistance put up by the survivors was intercepted and crushed by the Adder forces.

By mid-December every holding on the planet had been destroyed, and the Adders moved to Honor to repeat their actions. The seismic activity had not ceased yet, and the [[17th Crimson Guards (Clan Blood Spirit)|17th Crimson Guards]], which had managed to survive so far after being stuck on the planet after its evacuation, was all that remained of the Spirit touman. The Adders destroyed them from orbit.

The ''[[Sovereign Right]]'' was left in the system to watch for any activity, and a month later it destroyed some [[DropShips]] that were trying to escape. By July 3085 Haven emitted only minimal signs of life, while Honor had completely gone dark. The Adders recalled their ship but made irregular surveys the system in the following months.

In October 3085 the Adders targeted the side of Mount Schmitt, near Glasgow, and buried the Blood Spirit genetic repository under a rumble of rock and ice.

With its legacy destroyed forever, the annihilation of [[Clan Blood Spirit]] was now complete.

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Era Digest: Golden Century]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Crusader Clans]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Updates]]''
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
* ''[[Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials]]''
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''

[[Category:History|Clan Blood Spirit, History of]]
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 ==Operation KLONDIKE==
-Assigned to [[Arcadia (Clan System)|Arcadia]] during [[Operation KLONDIKE]], the Blood Spirits were working alongside [[Clan Star Adder]], [[Clan Steel Viper]], and [[Clan Ghost Bear]] under the initial direction of Star Adder Khan [[Absalom Truscott]].  Disaster struck on first landing, however, when the Ghost Bears abandoned the planned landing site and grounded closer to the capital of the [[Nation of Hastur]].  This left the Star Adders facing forces from Hastur and the [[Ilkasur Shogunate]], with the latter comprising over a regiment of force. The Star Adders successfully drove off the attackers, but at heavy cost: Khan Truscott was slain.  The Blood Spirits and Steel Vipers landed and moved to intercept the withdrawing Shogunate forces, pinning them against a Trinary of pursuing Star Adders and breaking them quickly.<ref name=HOKp50-51>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 50–51: "Clan Blood Spirit Cluster"</ref>
+Assigned to [[Arcadia (Clan)|Arcadia]] during [[Operation KLONDIKE]], the Blood Spirits' first [[Cluster]] favored no particular form of combat, and was most often paired with the [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Vipers]] in hammer-and-anvil attacks. Khan Schmitt also attempted to fulfill her self-appointed role as peacemaker and keep her fellow Khans working together toward a common objective.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p.49, "Clan Blood Spirit Cluster"</ref> When a friendly fire incident led to a near state of war between Clans Star Adder and [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bear]], Khan Schmitt managed to cool the situation down and get the Bears to finally cooperate with the other Clans on-planet.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 53-54, "Bear Baiting and Snake Charming"</ref>
-Khan Schmitt also attempted to fulfill her self-appointed role as peacemaker and keep her fellow Khans working together toward a common objective.<ref name=HOKp49>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 49: "Clan Blood Spirit Cluster"</ref> When a friendly fire incident led to a near state of war between Clans Star Adder and [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bear]], Khan Schmitt managed to cool the situation down and get the Bears to finally cooperate with the other Clans on-planet.<ref name=HOKp53-54>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 53–54: "Bear Baiting and Snake Charming"</ref>
+In tandem with Clan Steel Viper, the Blood Spirits advanced upon the [[Ilkasur Shogunate]]<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 54-55, "Opposites Complement"</ref>, the [[Ravisham Collective]] and the [[Confederation of Arcadia]]<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 55-58, "Minors Powers, Major Roadblock"</ref>, and then the continent of East Arcadia.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 58-59, "East Arcadia"</ref> Often the Blood Spirits' more considered approach to warfare saved their reckless Viper allies from suffering heavier losses. It was during these battles that Star Captain [[Devon Boques]] proved himself able to work with other Clan warriors as well his own; this resulted in Boques becoming the Spirits' first saKhan following KLONDIKE.<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 58</ref>
-In tandem with Clan Steel Viper, the Blood Spirits advanced upon the [[Ilkasur Shogunate]].  Both Clans advanced quickly at first, but in time the Blood Spirits dropped back to handle objectives that the Steel Vipers had bypassed.  Facing a foe that was culturally compatible with Clan values, they typically received one-on-one battles, full honors of war, and cooperation from honorably defeated combatants.  When the Steel Vipers negotiated with the Shogun for the capital of Kito in an early version of the ''batchall'', two Stars of Blood Spirits were included in the Steel Viper bid.<ref name=HOKp54-55>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 54–55: "Opposites Complement"</ref>
-The partner Clans then set out for the [[Confederation of Arcadia]].  The Clans bid for the right to assault each city-state: two-thirds of the bids were won by the Steel Vipers, but several times they had to call in Blood Spirit reserves, making the gains roughly equal in the end.  The decisive battle came between the cities of Gratz and Tellmen, where all sides committed their reserves extensively before the Confederation broke.  Mop-up took six weeks, but the Clans' victory was never in doubt.<ref name=HOKp55-58>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 55–58: "Minors Powers, Major Roadblock"</ref>
-As the other Clans were still engaged with their objectives, the Blood Spirits and Steel Vipers took on the continent of East Arcadia. Their first objective was the former Arcadian capital Rivera, which the [[Democratic Republic of Rand]] had renamed Tian-to.  The city fell quickly to the combined forces of the two Clans, but after they set out from the city, the garrison left behind came under counterattack from Rand, along with resistance from inside the city.  It was during these battles that Star Captain [[Devon Boques]] proved himself able to work with other Clan warriors as well his own; this resulted in Boques becoming the Spirits' first saKhan following KLONDIKE.<ref name=HOKp58-59>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 58–59: "East Arcadia"</ref>
-Seeking to pacify the rest of the Rand Republic, the Clans faced a new enemy: the weather.  Seasonal storms limited their conquests to only seven targets in forty-six days.  Once the storms calmed, however, the rest of the Republic fell quickly.<ref name=HOKp59>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 59</ref>
-The two Clans then split up.  The Steel Vipers faced Helgren County while the Blood Spirits moved on the Kingdom of Surev.  Both nations had taken advantage of Rand's preoccupation with the Clans to make temporary gains in their own territory.  With Rand gone, the County and the Kingdom sent peace delegations to negotiate with the Clans, but the Clans were not interested in compromise, only surrender.<ref name=HOKp58-59/>
-The Blood Spirits' campaign against the Kingdom of Surev was chaotic: a palace coup by one of King [[Angelo Tamik]]'s trusted subordinates fell to a countercoup by another who sought the throne.  The Kingdom fragmented, and was brought under Blood Spirit control over a course of weeks.<ref name=HOKp59/>
-Helgren County also gave up territory and spoils to the Blood Spirits: facing a vengeful Clan Steel Viper, Sheriff [[Tiberius Reed]] deliberately sought out and challenged a Blood Spirit patrol.  The battle lasted a minute and a half, leaving the city of Reed a Blood Spirit holding and Tiberius a bondsman of the Clan who would later be adopted and rise to the rank of [[Star Colonel]].  The Steel Vipers objected, though the [[ilKhan]] ruled it a valid act, and this led to a deep rift between the Clans that had cooperated so closely up to that point.<ref name=HOKp59/>
 ==Ostracism==
 In the time following KLONDIKE the Blood Spirits attempted to maintain the esprit de corps that bound all Clans. To this end, Khan Schmitt created the post of [[ilChi]]; these nineteen ambassadors would maintain open relations and facilitate mutual aid between the Spirits and the other Clans.<ref name=FMCC21>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 21</ref>
-Their dream did not live long. In [[2823]], [[Clan Wolverine]] was [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilated]] for rebelling against Kerensky's vision; for expressing some sympathy for the Wolverines, the Blood Spirits found themselves a target as well. [[Clan Burrock|Burrocks]] called for the Spirits' Annihilation, and though the Grand Council voted down the measure, the Spirits were reprimanded and told to follow the Way of the Clans or else. Shocked, and realizing that the other Clans no longer respected one another, Khan Schmitt canceled the ilChi program.<ref name=FMCC21>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 21</ref>
+Their dream did not live long. In [[2823]] [[Clan Wolverine]] was [[Trial of Annihilation|Annihilated]] for rebelling against Kerensky's vision; for expressing some sympathy for the Wolverines, the Blood Spirits found themselves a target as well. [[Clan Burrock|Burrocks]] called for the Spirits' Annihilation, and though the Grand Council voted down the measure, the Spirits were reprimanded and told to follow the Way of the Clans or else. Shocked, and realizing that the other Clans no longer respected one another, Khan Schmitt cancelled the ilChi program.<ref name=FMCC21>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 21</ref>
-Following this, the other Clans, predominantly the Burrocks and [[Clan Mongoose|Mongoose]], targeted the Spirits with near constant raids, and the Spirits eventually lost their holdings on [[Albion (Clan System)|Albion]] and [[Homer]]. Reduced to a single planet—[[York (Clan System)|York]]—the Spirits' former regard for their fellow Clans was replaced with a bitter hatred. The death of ilKhan Kerensky in [[2834]] was blamed by the Spirits upon the other Clans, and a series of furious counterattacks ended the raiding but cost the Spirits Khan Schmitt and left them a small and weak Clan.<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', pp. 22–23</ref>
+Following this, the other Clans, predominantly the Burrocks and [[Clan Mongoose|Mongoose]], targeted the Spirits with near constant raids, and the Spirits eventually lost their holdings on [[Albion (Clan)|Albion]] and [[Homer_(Clan_planet)|Homer]]. Reduced to a single planet - [[York (Clan)|York]] - the Spirits' former regard for their fellow Clans was replaced with a bitter hatred. The death of ilKhan Kerensky in [[2834]] was blamed by the Spirits upon the other Clans, and a series of furious counterattacks ended the raiding but cost the Spirits Khan Schmitt and left them a small and weak Clan.<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 22-23</ref>
 ==Isolation==
 Years of fighting had shattered the Spirits, but their isolation, small size and lack of any resources worth fighting over probably saved them from [[Trial of Absorption|Absorption]]. The Spirits adopted a policy of near-total isolation, which had the effect of binding the Clan's members more closely together.<ref>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 5</ref>
-When the [[OmniMech]] was first deployed by [[Clan Coyote]] in [[2854]], Khan [[Ceana Boques]] initiated several programs to counter this new technology. Spirit warrior training was toughened to the point where it produced fewer but better warriors than in any other Clan, while merchant and laborer caste members received rudimentary weapons training to serve as a militia in times of need. Blood Spirit technicians, many of them ex–warrior trainees, were also permitted to train and fight, with the winner of an annual [[Grand Melee]] granted another [[Trial of Position]]. Exploration and colonization of new worlds, first among them [[Foster]], was undertaken, while the scientist caste was forced to improve its eugenics program and 'Mech designs.<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 23</ref>
+When the [[OmniMech]] was first deployed by [[Clan Coyote]] in [[2854]], Khan [[Ceana Boques]] initiated several programs to counter this new technology. Spirit warrior training was toughened to the point where it produced fewer but better warriors than in any other Clan, while merchant and laborer caste members received rudimentary weapons training to serve as a militia in times of need. Blood Spirit technicians, many of them ex-warrior trainees, were also permitted to train and fight, with the winner of an annual [[Grand Melee]] granted another [[Trial of Position]]. Exploration and colonization of new worlds, first among them [[Foster]], was undertaken, while the scientist caste was forced to improve its eugenics program and 'Mech designs.<ref>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 23</ref>
-Expecting nothing but hostility from other Clans, the Blood Spirits were surprised when the [[Clan Fire Mandrill |Fire Mandrill]] [[Kindraa Smythe-Jewel]] approached them with an offer instead: OmniMech technology in exchange for territory on Foster. Though initially suspicious, the Spirits accepted the deal and thus gained OmniMechs. Shortly after, the Spirits found themselves unable to retain their holdings on Foster due to increased Burrock raids, and so ceded the enclave to Kindraa Smythe-Jewel. In return, the Fire Mandrills gave the Spirits [[battle armor|battlesuit]] technology and the breeding material for [[Elemental|Elementals]].<ref name=FMCC24>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 24</ref>
+Expecting nothing but hostility from other Clans, the Blood Spirits were surprised when the [[Clan Fire Mandrill |Fire Mandrill]] [[Kindraa Smythe-Jewell]] approached them with an offer instead: OmniMech technology in exchange for territory on Foster. Though initially suspicious, the Spirits accepted the deal and thus gained OmniMechs. Shortly after, the Spirits found themselves unable to retain their holdings on Foster due to increased Burrock raids, and so ceded the enclave to Kindraa Smythe-Jewell. In return, the Fire Mandrills gave the Spirits [[Battle Armor|battlesuit]] technology and the breeding material for [[Elemental|Elementals]].<ref name=FMCC24>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 24</ref>
-When Kindraa Smythe-Jewel was destroyed in [[2872]], Clan Blood Spirit resurrected the ilChi office and dispatched an emissary to the rest of Clan Fire Mandrill offering military aid. Though rejected, the offer improved the tentative ties between the two Clans and led to an informal alliance. The success of this new compact and the Spirits' resource deficit later prompted Khan Boques to accept limited trade offers from [[Clan Sea Fox]].<ref name=FMCC24>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 24</ref>
+When Kindraa Smythe-Jewell was destroyed in [[2872]], Clan Blood Spirit resurrected the ilChi office and dispatched an emissary to the rest of Clan Fire Mandrill offering military aid. Though rejected, the offer improved the tentative ties between the two Clans and lead to an informal alliance. The success of this new compact and the Spirits' resource deficit later prompted Khan Boques to accept limited trade offers from [[Clan Sea Fox]].<ref name=FMCC24>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 24</ref>
-In [[2975]] [[Fara Church]] became Khan of Clan Blood Spirit. With momentum building for a return to the [[Inner Sphere]], Church realized that [[Clan Blood Spirit Touman|his Clan's ''touman'']] was too small to be considered a viable member of any invasion. To counter this, the Blood Spirits contacted [[Clan Snow Raven]] and made an offer: the Blood Spirits would trade some of their excess [[WarShip|WarShips]] for a large quantity of the Ravens' older, second-line [[BattleMech|BattleMechs]]. The deal benefited both parties immensely, allowing the Spirits to increase the size of their ''touman'' considerably, and led to the Spirits gaining a new ally of sorts.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>
+In [[2975]] [[Fara Church]] became Khan of Clan Blood Spirit. With momentum building for a return to the [[Inner Sphere]], Church realized that his Clan's touman was too small to be considered a viable member of any invasion. To counter this, the Blood Spirits contacted [[Clan Snow Raven]] and made an offer: the Blood Spirits would trade some of their excess [[WarShip|WarShips]] for a large quantity of the Ravens' older, second-line [[BattleMech|BattleMechs]]. The deal benefitted both parties immensely, allowing the Spirits to increase the size of their touman considerably, and led to the Spirits gaining a new ally of sorts.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>
 ==Operation Revival==
-Throughout the first half of the [[thirty-first century]], Clan Blood Spirit became an adherent of the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] philosophy, but nonetheless forsook nearly all interaction with other Clans. Aside from dealings with their few allies or occasional voting in the Grand Council the Spirits for all intents and purposes vanished from Clan civilization.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials'', p. 1: "A Call for Unity"</ref><ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref> Like nearly everything else in Clan life, this state of affairs changed forever with the surprise appearance of the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' in [[3048]].
+Throughout the first half of the 31st century Clan Blood Spirit became an adherent of the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] philosophy, but nonetheless forsook nearly all interaction with other Clans. Aside from dealings with their few allies or occasional voting in the Grand Council the Spirits for all intents and purposes vanished from Clan civilization.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials'', p. 1, "A Call for Unity"</ref> <ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref> Like nearly everything else in Clan life, this state of affairs changed forever with the surprise appearance of the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' in [[3048]].
-Although the Blood Spirits participated in the placement Trials for [[Operation Revival]], and achieved a first-round win against the hated Clan Burrock, they lost to [[Clan Nova Cat]] in the third round and thus did not participate in the invasion. The Spirits consoled themselves by claiming that this loss merely confirmed their belief that the time for an invasion had not yet arrived.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials'', p. 14</ref> When the [[Invader Clans|invaders]] were defeated at [[Tukayyid]], the Spirits felt some vindication of this view.<ref name=WOK70>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 70: "Clan Blood Spirit"</ref>
+Although the Blood Spirits participated in the placement trials for [[Operation Revival]], and achieved a first-round win against the hated Clan Burrock, they lost to [[Clan Nova Cat]] in the third round and thus did not participate in the invasion. The Spirits consoled themselves by claiming that this loss merely confirmed their belief that the time for an invasion had not yet arrived.<ref>''Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials'', p. 14</ref> When the [[Invader Clans|invaders]] were defeated at [[Tukayyid]], the Spirits felt some vindication of this view.<ref name=WOK70>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 70, "Clan Blood Spirit"</ref>
 ==The Burrock Absorption==
 In early [[3059]] the Spirits' longtime foe, Clan Burrock, became the target of a [[Trial of Absorption]], and the Blood Spirit Khans made a rare appearance at the [[Grand Council]] to support the measure. The Spirits were shocked and furious when the honor of Absorption went to the [[Clan Star Adder|Star Adders]] and decided to take unilateral action; they launched their own attacks against the Burrock enclaves on [[Priori]] and Albion.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref> This anger-fueled decision to interfere in the [[Burrock Absorption]] would cost Clan Blood Spirit heavily.
-In total, the Blood Spirits committed seven Galaxies in fighting across five worlds. Their deal with Clan Snow Raven allowed them to field a larger ''touman'' than other Clans expected, and the Spirit Khans believed that the battles would be three-way struggles that would end in victory for them. But more often than not the Burrocks instead joined forces with the Adders; their hatred of the interlopers burned so fiercely that they willingly allied with those who were trying to Absorb their Clan in an effort to punish the hated Spirits.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>
+In total, the Blood Spirits committed seven Galaxies in fighting across five worlds. Their deal with Clan Snow Raven allowed them to field a larger touman than other Clans expected, and the Spirit Khans believed that the battles would be three-way struggles that would end in victory for them. But more often than not the Burrocks instead joined forces with the Adders; their hatred of the interlopers burned so fiercely that they willingly allied with those who were trying to Absorb their Clan in an effort to punish the hated Spirits.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>
-In the end fewer than eight Spirit Clusters survived to withdraw when the fighting was over. Although they had destroyed seven Galaxies of Star Adder and Burrock troops, the Blood Spirits had lost almost five Galaxies for no effective gain. In addition, their feud with the Burrocks had transferred over to Clan Star Adder, who in the long run would prove to be a far more dangerous enemy. As a response to her Clan's defeat, Khan [[Karianna Schmitt]] called for and received a mandate to isolate the Spirits as much as possible from the corrupting influences of other Clans. They withdrew from their enclave on Arcadia and retained their holdings on [[Strana Mechty]] only to deny the Clans' birthworld to the "traitors" of Kerensky's vision.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>
+In the end fewer than eight Spirit Clusters survived to withdraw when the fighting was over. Although they had destroyed seven Galaxies of Star Adder and Burrock troops, the Blood Spirits had lost almost five Galaxies for no effective gain. In addition, their feud with the Burrocks had transferred over to Clan Star Adder, who in the long run would prove to be a far more dangerous enemy. As a response to her Clan's defeat, Khan [[Karianna Schmitt]] called for and received a mandate to isolate the Spirits as much as possible from the corrupting influences of other Clans. They withdrew from their enclave on Arcadia and retained their holdings on [[Strana Mechty]] only to deny the Clans' birthworld to the 'traitors' of Kerensky's vision.<ref name=FMCC25>''Field Manual: Crusader Clans'', p. 25</ref>
 ==The Great Refusal and the Wars of Possession==
-This new isolationist policy of the Blood Spirits did not last long. [[3060|A year later]], when the reborn [[Star League#Second Star League|Star League]] challenged the Clans to a [[Trial of Refusal]] over the Clan Invasion, the Blood Spirits were one of the Crusader Clans to square off against the [[Star League Defense Force#Second Star League Defense Force|Star League Defense Force]] during the [[Great Refusal]]. Pitted against the [[Draconis Combine|Draconis Combine's]] [[First Genyosha]] in the Coldrill Valley, the Spirits lost their Trial shortly after Khan Schmitt's 'Mech was knocked out.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 25: "The Great Refusal"</ref>
+This new isolationist policy of the Blood Spirits did not last long. [[3060|A year later]], when the reborn [[Star League#Second Star League|Star League]] challenged the Clans to a [[Trial of Refusal]] over the Clan Invasion, the Blood Spirits were one of the Crusader Clans to square off against the [[Star League Defense Force#Second Star League Defense Force|Star League Defense Force]] during the [[Great Refusal]]. Pitted against the [[Draconis Combine|Draconis Combine's]] [[1st Genyosha]] in the Coldrill Valley, the Spirits lost their trial shortly after Khan Schmitt's 'Mech was knocked out.<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 25, "The Great Refusal"</ref>
-During the first two years of the subsequent [[Wars of Possession]], Clan Blood Spirit remained aloof from the fighting. In early [[3063]], Clan Star Adder began raiding York, and gradually increased both its presence in the York system and the frequency of its raids. The Spirits finally struck back at the Adders when in [[3066]] they regained a foothold on Arcadia, destroyed the [[WarShip]] CSA ''[[Vritra]]'' and hit the Adder enclave on [[Tathis]] in conjunction with their Fire Mandrill allies.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 36</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 16–17</ref> In [[3062]] the Spirits supported [[Clan Cloud Cobra]]'s plan to bring [[Inner Sphere]] religious delegates into Clan space for the Babylon Diet.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 24</ref>
+During the first two years of the subsequent [[Wars of Possession]], Clan Blood Spirit remained aloof from the fighting. In early [[3063]], Clan Star Adder began raiding York, and gradually increased both its presence in the York system and the frequency of its raids. The Spirits finally struck back at the Adders when in [[3066]] they regained a foothold on Arcadia, destroyed the [[WarShip]] CSA ''[[Vritra]]'' and hit the Adder enclave on [[Tathis]] in conjunction with their Fire Mandrill allies.<ref>''Field Manual: Updates'', p. 36</ref><ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 16, 17</ref> In [[3062]] the Spirits supported [[Clan Cloud Cobra]]'s plan to bring [[Inner Sphere]] religious delegates into Clan space for the Babylon Diet.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 24</ref>
 ==Wars of Reaving==
@@ Line 69: / Line 56: @@
 On August 6 3072, Clan Star Adder sent several WarShips to York. They began an orbital bombardment that lasted for more than three weeks. At the end of it, York was in shambles with ninety percent of industry destroyed and three quarters of its civilian population dead. The debris and ash thrown into the atmosphere resulted in a "nuclear winter" that began to destroy the biosphere.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 105</ref>
-The Spirits sent forces to Arcadia to seize enclaves from other Clans in 3073. What they found instead was a barren world, stripped of nearly all usable material, stacked with civilian bodies and home to only a few humans who wandered the wastes. These people were largely insane. (Later investigation suggested that these unfortunates were the survivors of testing by [[The Society]].)<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 122</ref> After being ambushed by a few Steel Viper positions, the Spirits bombarded those locations by WarShip and left the remaining parts of Albion to [[Clan Cloud Cobra]].<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 123</ref> Also in 3073 the Spirits hit [[Niles (Clan System)|Niles]] and took Clusters from Clan Hell's Horses and Clan Fire Mandrill as ''isorla''.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 133</ref>
+The Spirits sent forces to Arcadia to seize enclaves from other Clans in 3073. What they found instead was a barren world, stripped of nearly all usable material, stacked with civilian bodies and home to only a few humans who wandered the wastes. These people were largely insane. (Later investigation suggested that these unfortunates were the survivors of testing by [[The Society]].)<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 122</ref> After being ambushed by a few Steel Viper positions, the Spirits bombarded those locations by WarShip and left the remaining parts of Albion to [[Clan Cloud Cobra]].<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 123</ref> Also in 3073 the Spirits hit [[Niles (Clan)|Niles]] and took Clusters from Clan Hell's Horses and Clan Fire Mandrill as ''isorla''.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 133</ref>
-The Blood Spirits took control of Tokasha factories. In 3074 forces from Clan Steel Viper arrived and challenged for the entire world. The fighting was intense, with Omicron, Omega, and Zeta Galaxy facing off against four Viper Galaxies. Though they fought well, the Spirits lost. The ilKhan then announced that the surviving Spirit warriors could join [[Clan Steel Viper Touman|his ''touman'']] or die. Most chose to die.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 138–139</ref>
+The Blood Spirits took control of Tokasha factories. In 3074 forces from Clan Steel Viper arrived and challenged for the entire world. The fighting was intense, with Omicron, Omega, and Zeta Galaxy facing off against four Viper Galaxies. Though they fought well, the Spirits lost. The ilKhan then announced that the surviving Spirit warriors could join his ''touman'' or die. Most chose to die.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 138-139</ref>
-During the [[Trial of Annihilation]] against [[Clan Steel Viper]] the Blood Spirits' Alpha Galaxy dropped on [[Circe]] with the Cloud Cobras' Delta Galaxy.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 150</ref> They then moved on to New Kent, where they lost part of Beta Galaxy.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 151</ref> After [[Clan Steel Viper]] was annihilated in [[3076]] the Spirits were in shambles, having suffered greatly from the invasion of [[Circe]] and [[New Kent]] which much of their ''touman'' and industry on Albion destroyed.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 154</ref>
+During the [[Trial of Annihilation]] against [[Clan Steel Viper]] the Blood Spirits' Alpha Galaxy dropped on [[Circe]] with the Cloud Cobras' Delta Galaxy.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 150</ref> They then moved on to New Kent, where they lost part of Beta Galaxy.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 151</ref> After [[Clan Steel Viper]] was annihilated in [[3076]] the Spirits were in shambles, having suffered greatly from the invasion of [[Circe]] and [[New Kent]] which much of their touman and industry on Albion destroyed.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 154</ref>
-When [[Bryce Schmitt]] was elected as saKhan, the Clan leadership made the hard decision to withdraw from all their enclaves in [[Clan Space]] to Colleen, except from [[Strana Mechty]], their main genetic repository having already being relocated to Haven in 3070. Progress was slow but steady and the Clan began to rebuild in complete isolation, the system still being secret to other Clans even if they knew the Spirits had withdrawn somewhere but were too busy with more pressing concerns.
+When [[Bryce Schmitt]] was elected as saKhan, the Clan leadership made the hard decision to withdraw from all their enclaves in [[Clan Space]] to Colleen, except from [[Strana Mechty]], their main genetic repository having already being relocated to Haven in 3070. Progress was slow but steady and the Clan began to rebuild in complete isolation, the system still being secret to other Clans even if they known the Spirits had withdrawn somewhere but where too busy with more pressing concerns.
-At the beginning of the [[Jihad]] the Blood Spirits were one of four Clans to support the [[Inner Sphere]] forces against the [[Word of Blake]]. However, this came to nothing.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', pp. 32, 77</ref>
+At the beginning of the [[Jihad]] the Blood Spirits were one of four Clans to support the [[Inner Sphere]] forces against the [[Word of Blake]]. However, this came to nothing.<ref>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 32, 77</ref>
 ==The Last Stand==
 Finally in 3082 a [[Clan Stone Lion]] vessel arrived in the Colleen system, and Khan [[Boques]] immediately prepared his Clan for the inevitable conflict over these worlds.
-The first to arrive was [[Clan Cloud Cobra]], which respectful of previous dealings Trialed for and won the right to establish two enclaves on Honor's southern continent, intended for strip-mining the nearby mountains of ore. They were in the process of building an [[OmniFighter]] factory when a cataclysm nearly split the planet in two in March 3083.
+The first to arrive was [[Clan Cloud Cobra]], which respectful of previous dealings trialed for and won the right to establish two enclaves on Honor's southern continent, centered around strip-mining the nearby mountains of ore. They were in process of building an [[OmniFighter]] factory when a cataclysm nearly split the planet in two in March 3083.
-Soon after [[Clan Stone Lion]] and [[Clan Coyote]] arrived on Honor and Trialed for almost every colony on the planet.
+Soon after [[Clan Stone Lion]] and [[Clan Coyote]] arrived on Honor and trialed for almost every colony on the planet.
-By the end of June Blood Spirit Khan Boques was dead, their last factory lost and their ''touman'' now consisted only of the remains of [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Blood Spirit)|Alpha Galaxy]]. The Stone Lions with their [[Psi Galaxy (Clan Stone Lion)|Psi Galaxy]] captured several agricultural enclaves and two [[ProtoMech]] factories near Lovell, as well as the Spirit ProtoMech warrior phenotype. The Coyotes with their [[Nu Galaxy (Clan Coyote)|Nu Galaxy]] captured three newly built [[BattleMech]] factories, and prepared for the inevitable counterattack.
+By the end of June Blood Spirit Khan Boques was dead, their last factory lost and their touman now consisted only of the remains of [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Blood Spirit)|Alpha Galaxy]]. The Stone Lions with their [[Psi Galaxy (Clan Stone Lion)|Psi Galaxy]] captured several agricultural enclaves and two [[ProtoMech]] factories near Lovell, as well as the Spirit ProtoMech warrior phenotype. The Coyotes with their [[Nu Galaxy (Clan Coyote)|Nu Galaxy]] captured three newly built [[BattleMech]] factories, and prepared for the inevitable counterattack.
-New Khan [[Bryce Schmitt]] unleashed the traditional Blood Spirit response to assaults on their Homeworlds, hordes of armed civilians who stormed the Coyote-occupied city of Glasgow, nearly a [[Cluster]] in number. Khan [[Leo Koga]] of the Coyotes conferred with the leader of Stone Lion forces in the Colleen system, [[Loremaster]] Jackie Ravenwater, both agreeing that the Blood Spirits were now to be considered ''dezgra''. Also the Lions were having problems with their ''[[isorla]]'', although not at the level faced by the Coyotes. Civilians refused assimilation and kept on attacking the Clan forces.
+New Khan [[Bryce Schmitt]] unleashed the traditional Blood Spirit response to assaults on their homeworlds, hoards of armed civilians who stormed the Coyote-occupied city of Glasgow, nearly a [[Cluster]] in number. Khan [[Leo Koga]] of the Coyotes conferred with the leader of Stone Lion forces in the Colleen system, [[Loremaster]] Jackie Ravenwater, both agreeing that the Blood Spirits were now to be considered ''dezgra''. Also the Lions were having problems with their ''[[isorla]]'', although not at the level faced by the Coyotes. Civilians refused assimilation and kept on attacking the Clan forces.
-In a subsequent Grand Council called by Khan [[Leo Koga]], the Coyote Khan called for the [[Trial of Abjuration | Abjuration]] of Clan Blood Spirit.  But [[Clan Star Adder]], longtime enemies of the Blood Spirits, called for their Annihilation over the reports of such flagrant un-Clanlike activity.  In lieu of this position, a [[Trial of Absorption]] was passed by the Grand Council, granted to the Star Adders, who immediately set about landing their forces as soon as the Stone Lions and Coyotes withdrew in deference to the Adders, taking all the ''isorla'' they could with them before leaving.
+In a subsequent Grand Council called by Khan [[Leo Koga]], the Coyote Khan called for the [[Trial of Abjuration | Abjuration]] of Clan Blood Spirit.  But [[Clan Star Adder]], long time enemies of the Blood Spirits, called for their Annihilation over the reports of such flagrant un-Clanlike activity.  In lieu of this position, a [[Trial of Absorption]] was passed by the Grand Council, granted to the Star Adders, who immediately set about landing their forces as soon as the Stone Lions and Coyotes withdrew in deference to the Adders, taking all the ''isorla'' they could with them before leaving.
 They immediately attacked and quickly overrun the enclave on [[Strana Mechty]], killing saKhan [[Lucas Campbell]].
-On the 5th of October, [[3084]], CSA ''[[Sovereign Right]]'' and ''[[Absolute Truth]]'' crippled the last remaining Blood Spirit naval assets, the CBS ''[[Karianna Schmitt]]'' and the ''[[Stooping Kite]]'', landing their [[Gamma_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Gamma]], [[Epsilon_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Epsilon]] and [[Xi_Provisional_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Xi]] Galaxies on Haven, while the Blood Spirit response to the landings was ineffectual.  Khan Schmitt unleashed four more Clusters of armed civilians in an ambush of the Star Adder forces as they crossed the Sidhe River, sending two ''[[Broadsword]]'' [[DropShip]]s on strafing runs over the assembled Adders.  Khan Schmitt would lead a desperate stand through the most vicious fighting since the fall of York, but to no avail.  He would eventually fall to the Star Adder saKhan [[Wyatt Talasko]], with his few remaining Blood Spirits following soon after, fighting until the end in the city of Glasgow.
+On the 5th of October, [[3084]], CSA ''[[Sovereign Right]]'' and ''[[Absolute Truth]]'' crippled the last remaining Blood Spirit naval assets, the CBS ''[[Karianna Schmitt]]'' and the ''[[Stooping Kite]]'', landing their [[Gamma_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Gamma]], [[Epsilon_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Epsilon]] and [[Xi_Provisional_Galaxy_(Clan_Star_Adder)|Xi]] Galaxies on Haven, while the Blood Spirit response to the landings was ineffectual.  Khan Schmitt unleashed four more Clusters of armed civilians in an ambush of the Star Adder forces as they crossed the Sidhe River, sending two ''[[Broadsword]]'' [[Dropship]]s on strafing runs over the assembled Adders.  Khan Schmitt would lead a desperate stand through the most vicious fighting since the fall of York, but to no avail.  He would eventually fall to the Star Adder saKhan [[Wyatt Talasko]], with his few remaining Blood Spirits following soon after, fighting until the end in the city of Glasgow.
-With their leadership and ''touman'' destroyed, the remaining armed civilians ambushed the Star Adders in the city of Lovell, taking down [[Loremaster]] [[Fletcher Daniels]]. The Adder response was brutal, gunning down anyone in sight and systematically burning and destroying buildings. They then loaded as much ''[[isorla]]'' as they could onto their [[DropShips]] and retreated to their landing zones.
+With their leadership and touman destroyed, the remaining armed civilians ambushed the Star Adders in the city of Lovell, taking down [[Loremaster]] [[Fletcher Daniels]]. The Adder response was brutal, gunning down anyone in sight and systematically burning and destroying buildings. They then loaded as much ''[[isorla]]'' as they could onto their [[DropShips]] and retreated to their landing zones.
 ==Annihilation==
 The Adders never wanted to really absorb the Spirits, knowing they would have never integrated with such a longtime deeply hated foe. Their goal was Annihilation, and they carried it out in the following weeks, starting heavy orbital bombardment on Haven, targeting key infrastructure locations at the Spirit holdings. Any resistance put up by the survivors was intercepted and crushed by the Adder forces.
-By mid-December every holding on the planet had been destroyed, and the Adders moved to Honor to repeat their actions. The seismic activity had not ceased yet, and the [[Seventeenth Crimson Guards (Clan Blood Spirit)|Seventeenth Crimson Guards]], which had managed to survive so far after being stuck on the planet after its evacuation, was all that remained of the Spirit ''touman''. The Adders destroyed them from orbit.
+By mid-December every holding on the planet had been destroyed, and the Adders moved to Honor to repeat their actions. The seismic activity had not ceased yet, and the [[17th Crimson Guards (Clan Blood Spirit)|17th Crimson Guards]], which had managed to survive so far after being stuck on the planet after its evacuation, was all that remained of the Spirit touman. The Adders destroyed them from orbit.
-The ''[[Sovereign Right]]'' was left in the system to watch for any activity, and a month later it destroyed some [[DropShips]] that were trying to escape. By July 3085, Haven showed only minimal signs of life, while Honor had completely gone dark. The Adders recalled their ship but made irregular surveys the system in the following months.
+The ''[[Sovereign Right]]'' was left in the system to watch for any activity, and a month later it destroyed some [[DropShips]] that were trying to escape. By July 3085 Haven emitted only minimal signs of life, while Honor had completely gone dark. The Adders recalled their ship but made irregular surveys the system in the following months.
-In October 3085 the Adders targeted the side of Mount Schmitt, near Glasgow, and buried the Blood Spirit genetic repository under rock and ice rubble.
+In October 3085 the Adders targeted the side of Mount Schmitt, near Glasgow, and buried the Blood Spirit genetic repository under a rumble of rock and ice.
 With its legacy destroyed forever, the annihilation of [[Clan Blood Spirit]] was now complete.
@@ Line 120: / Line 107: @@
 * ''[[Operational Turning Points: REVIVAL Trials]]''
 * ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''
 [[Category:History|Clan Blood Spirit, History of]]