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Handbook House Davion
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ANIMALS 5
INTRODUCTIONANDFOREWARD 9
HISTORYOFTHEFEDERATEDSUNS 10
TheRacetoSpace 10
Colonizing the Stars 10
Founding of New Avalon 12
RiseoftheDavions 14
First Families Fight 14
A New Era in Avalon 15
The Crucis Pact 16
EarlyFeuds 19
Genesis of a Lasting Rivalry 19
ReformationandWar 21
Charles the Reformer 21
Reynard the Warrior 21
TheWeakandtheInsane 23
Etien the Mad 23
Paul the Scholar 25
Marie Davion 25
The Twin Tyrants 26
Revolution 27
The First Prince 27
Principality Matures 29
CivilWar 31
Council of Regents 31
Flames of War 33
Prince Alexander 36
TheStarLeagueEra 38
Interstellar Alliance 38
The Reunification War 41
Golden Age 43
Tragedy 45
Peace and Exodus 47
FirstandSecondSuccessionWars 50
Fighting Over the Scraps 50
The First Succession War 50
Kentares 52
Turn About 52
Second Succession War 55
The Peace Prince 57
ThirdSuccessionWar 61
War Unleashed 61
Military Reformations 62
Rise of the Brotherhoods 64
Next Generation 67
ANewEra 71
The Advent of Modern War 73
FedCom Forming 74
Kerensky’s Vengeance 77
AllianceandDissolution 79
The Federated Commonwealth 80
Star League Anew 80
The Fall of the FedCom 81
Aftermath 83
FEDERATEDSUNSATAGLANCE 84
How to Read this Atlas 85
CapellanMarch 86
Brockway 87
Chesterton 87
Kathil 87
Kittery 88
Nanking 89
New Syrtis 89
Novaya Zemlya 90
Tikonov 90
Wernke/Talon 91
Ziliang 92
CrucisMarch 92
Argyle 93
Chirikof 93
Galax 94
Kestrel 94
Lackland 95
Marlette 95
New Avalon 96
Okefenokee 96
Panpour 97
Sabanillas 97
DraconisMarch 98
Addicks 98
Cassias 99
Kentares IV 99
Le Blanc 100
Mallory’s World 100
Mayetta 101
New Ivaarsen 101
Ozawa 102
Robinson 102
Tancredi IV 103
Woodbine 103
FEDERATEDSUNSGOVERNMENT 104
NationalLeadership 105
Principality 105
Privy Council 107
High Council 107
Royal Court 107
Nobility 108
House Davion 109
House Hasek 111
House Sandoval 112
Minor Noble Houses 113
Ministries 114
Ministry of Administrative Services 114
Ministry of Education 115
Ministry of Foreign Relations 115
Ministry of Information Intelligence and Operations 116
Ministry of Ways and Means 117Regional Ministries 117
RegionalandPlanetaryGovernments 119
ARMEDFORCESOFTHEFEDERATEDSUNS 120
Structure 121
Chain of Command 121
Departments 123
Regional Commands 124
Combat Units 126
Non-Combat Units 127
Training 128
Military Academies 128
Other Training Facilities 129
UniformsandInsignia 130
Dress Uniforms 130
Field Uniforms 130
Ranks and Insignia 131
Medals and Honors 132
SOCIETYANDCULTURE 134
PeoplesandCultures 135
Social Groups and Languages 135
Festivals and Traditions 137
Clothing and Style 138
Education 139
Primary and Secondary Education 139
Technical and Vocational Education 139
Universities 140
Other Education Initiatives 143
ReligionandPhilosophy 144
Buddhism 144
Christianity 144
Hinduism 145
Islam 145
Judaism 146
Unfinished Book Movement 146
Other Religions and Faiths 147
PoliticsandMovements 148
Labor Unions 148
Corporate Lobbies 148
Political Movements 148
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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MediaandtheArts 149
Public Media 149
The Arts 150
Recreation 151
Science&Technology 151
Every Day Technology 152
Medicine 152
Travel 153
CrimeandPunishment 153
The Judiciary 153
Prisons and Corrections 154
ECONOMICS 155
NationalEconomy 156
Pocket Full of Dead Princes: Currency in the Federated Suns 156
Chencellory of the Exchequer 156
Trans-Federation Stock and Commodities Exchange 157
Foreign Trade 158
CivilIndustry 158
Apple Computers Interstellar 159
Basantapur Fine Metals 159
Cerulean Waters 159
Federated News Services 159
Golden Star Entertainment Group 160
Grand Federation Bank 160
Green Star Corporation 161
Interconnectedness Unlimited 161
Kelvin-Drahne Diversified 162
Melcher Food Corporation 162
Mendham Electronics 162
NAIS Information Network 163
O’Keefre Importers-Exporters 163
Rander Communications, Inc. 163
Vinson Pharmaceuticals 163
White Swan Trans-Stellar Inc. 164
Wunderland Enterprises 164
AerospaceIndustry 164
Cal-Boeing of Dorwinion 164
Challenge Systems 165
Dynamico Ltd. 165
Federated-Boeing Interstellar 165
Galax Launch Systems and Satellites 166
Kathil Shipworks 166
Lycomb-Davion IntroTech 167
Michaelson Heavy Industries 167
New Syrtis Shipyards 168
Salvatore Inc. 168
Universal Air 168
Wangker Aerospace 168
MilitaryIndustry 169
Achernar BattleMechs 169
Corean Enterprises 170
Federated Industries 170
General Motors 171
Jalastar Aerospace 172
Johnston Industries 173
Kallon Industries 173
Precision Weaponry 174
Quikscell Company 174
Robinson Standard BattleWorks 174
Starcorps Industries 175
Valiant Systems 175
Yeffers Weapons Factory 175
HOUSEDAVIONRULESANNEX 176
ClassicBattleTechRPGRules 177
Sub-Regions 177
Traits 177
Skills 179
Additional Paths 179
Academic 179
Outback Teacher 180
Personal Equipment 181
Cost of Living in the Federated Suns 184
RoleplayingintheFederatedSuns 188
Advanced Experience Bonuses 188
Nationalities 188
Federated Suns Adventure Hooks 190
Creatures 193
Brockway Goat 193
Galax Beefalo 193
Hobbs Takooma 194
Kigamboni Leopard 194
Kountze Arctic Terror 195
Silver-Furred Walrus 195
Trachazoi 196
ClassicBattleTechRules 196
New Terrain 196
New Unit Types 197
Gauss Infantry 197
GM/Rowell “Apocalypse” World Rover 198
Pintel Heavy Combat ATV 198
Antares Series AS-17 C3ISR Satellite 199
Generic Expandable Services Vehicle 199
Rapier-Class Patrol Destroyer 201
INDEX 202
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CrEdiTS
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WritingChristoffer “Bones” Trossen
Original House Davion SourcebookBoy F. Petersen, Jr., C.R. Green and J. Andrew Keith
Product DevelopmentHerb Beas
Product EditingJason Hardy
BattleTech Line DeveloperRandall N. Bills
Production StaffArt Direction Randall N. BillsCover Art Franz VohwinkelCover & Header Design Jim NelsonClassic BattleTech Logo Design Shane Hartley and Steve WalkerLayout Adam Jury (Black & White) David M. Stansel-Garner (Color)Illustrations Ray Arrastia Robert Atkinson Doug Chaffee Brent Evans Chris Lewis Klaus ScherwinskiColor Section Ted Galaday Franz VohwinkelMaps Øystein Tvedten
Handbook Series Fact-CheckersPaul Bowman, Rich Cencarik, Loren Coleman, Ken’ Horner, Peter La Casse,
Mike Miller, David McCulloch, Jeffrey “Highlander” Morgan, “Medron Pryde”, Rick Raisley, Ben “Ghost Bear” Rome, Christopher Searls, Paul Sjardijn, Peter Smith, Christoffer “Bones” Trossen, Øystein Tvedten , Chris “Chinless” Wheeler, and Andreas Zuber
AcknowledgementsAfter twenty years of sourcebooks and novels, a sourcebook of this scope
draws on the work of too many people for them to be named individually. Instead, a heartfelt thanks is extended to those who contributed in one way or another over the years (you know who you are) to the body of work that is Classic BattleTech.
Special ThanksFirst and foremost, to my good friend Randall, for entrusting the great and
glorious House Davion to me and for not complaining too loudly after what we’ll call a couple of missed deadlines. Chris and Herb, my fellow handbook authors who came before me and experienced firsthand the psychoses and headaches of tackling such a massive project like this. Randall and Loren—you’ve been warned! To all my friends and family, who put up with my constant “gotta go, got work to do”s. And finally, to all the fans. Whether you love or you hate House Davion, you’ve been waiting patiently for far too long. Here’s to you!
PlaytestersJoel Agee, Daniel M. Ball, Ron “Steel Hawke” Barter, Dave Baughman, Paul
“Blackhorse” Bowman, Rick Casarez, Rich Cencarik Brent Dill, Warner Doles, John “Quentil” Dzieniszewski, Dave Fanjoy, Bruce Ford, John Gordon, Aaron Gregory, Jeff Green, Anthony “Shadhawk” Hardenburgh, John “Worktroll” Haward, Ross Hines, Ken’ Horner, John Hudson, Rodney Klatt, Peter La Casse, Edward “TenakaFurey” Lafferty, Edward Lott, David L. McCulloch, Mike Miller, Jeff “Highlander” Morgan, Darrell “Flailing Death” Myers, Louis “Nukeloader” Myers, Mike Nelson, Keith “Vang” Oberschulte, Aaron Pollyea, Max Prohaska, Rick Raisley, Rick “Rick Steele” Remer, Christopher K. Searls, Paul Sjardijn, Joel Steverson, Lara Harman-Steverson, Michael “GuruMike” Stouffer, Rob Strathmann, Geoff Swift, Roland “Ruger” Thigpen, Todd Thrash, John E. Tiffany, Jason “Panzerfaust 150” Weiser, Chris “Chinless” Wheeler, Charles Wilson, Patrick “Roosterboy” Wynne, Eberhard von Massenbach, Andreas Zuber.
©2007 WizKids Inc. All Rights Reserved. Handbook: House Davion, Classic BattleTech, BattleTech, ’Mech, BattleMech, Classic BattleTech RPG, and WK Games are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of WizKids, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Copyright Owner, nor be otherwise circulated in any form other than that in which it is published.
Version 1.0 (January 2007)
Published by FanPro LLC 1608 N. Milwaukee • Suite 1005 • Chicago, IL 60647
Find us online:[email protected]
(e-mail address for any Classic BattleTech questions)http://www.classicbattletech.com
(official Classic BattleTech web pages)http://www.fanprogames.com
(FanPro web pages)http://www.wizkidsgames.com/mechwarrior/ (official MechWarrior web pages)http://www.wizkidsgames.com
(WizKids web pages)http://www.fanprodirect.com
(online ordering)
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ANiMALS
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“S heep. A herd of sheep led by a scared little lamb.”Duke George Hasek looked down upon the procession—Princess-
Regent Yvonne Steiner-Davion, accompanied by Duke Tancred Sandoval, at its head—from his vantage point in the Royal Palace on Mount Davion.
“Careful.” The voice came from behind him, slipping onto the balcony from his private suite. “Remember where you are, son.”
The Duke of the Capellan March turned to face his mother. Dressed in a simple dark suit and skirt, she could have been mistaken for any of the hundreds of sub-ministers rushing about the halls of the Royal Palace preparing for the arrival of the Princess-Regent’s procession were it not for her confident and deliberate stride or her piercing eyes. Or the four-man security detail that accompanied her every move—a detail that undoubtedly took up positions outside of the suite and in the adjoining rooms with the Duke’s own security team.
“I know precisely where I am, mother. As should you.” He turned back to face Avalon City far below, watching the royal procession slowly snake its way through the streets, crowded as they were with millions of cheering citizens. “More than anyone.”
She joined him at the railing, deeply breathing the cool mountain air. Undoubtedly it reminded her of New Syrtis’ crisp air—it certainly did for him. He looked over to his mother, who stood silently, gazing across the huge city and the magnificent vista beyond. The light breeze rustled her skirt’s hem, but unlike his shoulder-length red hair, which he had to pull back out of his face, his mother’s long blonde hair remained perfectly tucked within the tight, conservative bun. She was a comforting—and occasionally overbearing—fixture in his life, ever more important to him since his father’s death deep in the Periphery eight years earlier. She also had a unique insight into royal court politics, undoubtedly thanks to her career before meeting Morgan Hasek-Davion.
She waited another moment before finally responding, though whether that was simply a dramatic pause or a stretch for the right thing to say, he didn’t know.
“Your father spent his entire life in service to this nation.” Her tone was even. She’s fishing. “You would do well to respect the process, if not the people.”
George Hasek turned back to procession, which was less than two kilometers from the gates to the massive Royal Court complex at the foot of the mountain. He shook his head. It’ll be hours before they make their way to the palace itself. “Look at them down there. Meek. Obedient. They were barely aware of the dangers before, and now? Blindly following the leader.” He threw his hands up in disgust and walked away from the railing. “Hell, put the bitch at the head of a parade and I wager they’ll cheer ‘til they’re blue in the face.”
“Where are you going with this?” He felt her icy stare on the back of his neck, but he didn’t turn to face her
accusing tone. Not yet. “What is the best thing for this nation right now? Turn off the blind loyalty and think about it, mother. Really think about it.” He craned his neck to meet her gaze before turning about. “I know you can do that.”
Her eyes narrowed. That struck a nerve. She stood her ground, literally and figuratively. “Not a scandal. Or a
usurper.” “Is that what you really think of me?” the Duke snorted. “You think this is
about who’s sitting on the throne?”“Isn’t it?”
He closed the three meters between them in a few rapid steps, standing toe to toe with his mother. Returning her accusing stare with his own fury, he answered. “Okay. It is.”
She stormed away from him, passing through the balcony’s open double doors and towards the suite’s exit. “I will not be a part of this.” She stopped for a second and looked over her shoulder at her son. “And neither will you.”
“Aren’t you going to hear me out?” he replied before she could reach the front door. “Or are you just going to report me to your MIIO friends?”
That stopped her in her tracks.“Yes, I know.”At sixty-six, Kym Sorenson-Hasek was still a strong and beautiful woman
who’d somehow never succumbed to the ravages of age. But when she turned to face her son, it seemed she was a hundred years old. George could see the desperation in her eyes, the slump of anguish in her shoulders. He wished he hadn’t had to say it, at least in this way, but what was done was done.
“What do you think you know?” She sounded like a child caught with her hand in the candy jar.
“I know, mother. I know what you did.” He choked back the bile rising in his throat, willed away the tears welling in his eyes. His knees were buckling, but he somehow stood upright. “You may have been able to keep it from father, but he was blinded. He never wanted to see the dark side of anything. Or anyone.”
“I used to work for the Ministry of Intelligence.” She stood up straight. She was getting her strength back. “Good. Now you know—“
George cut her off before she could spin the conversation in a different direction. “Cut the charade, mother. Don’t make me say it aloud. It hurt enough the first time around.” He was telling the truth—when he learned about his mother’s past, he’d vomited so hard that his back hurt for a week. His insides had felt like they’d turned inside out, a feeling that didn’t go away. He couldn’t look at her or be around her, so he took his wife and son on an unscheduled tour through the Capellan March. It was supposed to be a three-month trip away from Mee-maw Kym. Instead, it ended in tragedy. A micro-asteroid that shattered the dome of their JumpShip’s hydroponic garden. A wife and young child killed by the heartless deep black.
Oh, Michelle. And little Georgie!The pain of his loss brought all those emotions back in a rush, but he
needed to get this out. “But for a twist of fate, I could have been an Allard?” His voice wavered. That’s all he could say.
Kym blanched. She all but collapsed into the green Avalonian leather couch behind her. She brought her right hand to her open mouth and turned away from George. She wouldn’t—couldn’t?—look at him. “H– how did you f– find out?”
He moved to the matching overstuffed chair next to her and fell in himself. The emotional burden he’d been carrying for years was lightening now that he’d finally gotten this off his chest. He focused on the vases of orchids on the table in front of both of them. Their deep violet petals. Their sweet fragrance, carried by the cool breeze from outside, circulating about the room. He closed his eyes, inhaling the orchids’ sweet tang, exhaling pain. Another breath, and another. With each, the tightness in his chest lessened and the tears subsided. There would be time for emotion later. Now was about the future.
“Does it matter?” he finally answered. The Duke of the Capellan March opened his eyes and looked at his mother, who was trying to hold back the sobs. “I hear things. And I don’t let love blind me to the truth.” He’d barely whispered the last.
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