Editing Crystalla Centrella

Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.

The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.

Latest revision Your text
Line 6: Line 6:
 
| died                = 13 June [[2611]]
 
| died                = 13 June [[2611]]
 
| affiliation        = [[House Centrella]]
 
| affiliation        = [[House Centrella]]
| rank                =
+
| profession          = [[Magestrix]]
| title              =
 
| position            = [[Magestrix of the Magistracy of Canopus|Magestrix]]
 
| profession          =
 
 
| parents            =  
 
| parents            =  
 
| siblings            =  
 
| siblings            =  
Line 18: Line 15:
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
A direct descendant of [[Kossandra Centrella (26th c.)|Kossandra Centrella]], the founding ruler of the [[Magistracy of Canopus]], Crystalla had the misfortune to be the [[Magestrix of the Magistracy of Canopus|Magestrix]] of the Magistracy during the [[Reunification War]]. Crystalla inherited a nation less than fifty years old but already very wealthy; that wealth was also a large part of her nation's undoing, as it attracted the avaricious interest of the [[Inner Sphere]] powers.<ref name="H:RWp57">''Historical: Reunification War'', pp. 57–58: "Crystalla Centrella"</ref>
+
A direct descendant of [[Kossandra Centrella]], the founding ruler of the [[Magistracy of Canopus]], Crystalla had the misfortune to be the [[Magestrix]] of the Magistracy during the [[Reunification War]]. Crystalla inherited a nation less than fifty years old but already very wealthy; that wealth was also a large part of her nation's undoing, as it attracted the avaricious interest of the [[Inner Sphere]] powers.<ref name="H:RWp57">''Historical: Reunification War'', pp. 57–58: "Crystalla Centrella"</ref>
  
 
Kossandra Centrella had been a warrior hardened by battle and possessed of considerable experience when she founded the Magistracy; in contrast, Crystalla was possessed of a keen understanding of people and human nature rather than military skills. With war between the [[Star League]] and the nations of the [[Periphery]] increasingly certain, Crystalla used her ability to spot people with talents she lacked to make up for her own shortfalls. Perhaps the best example of this was her recruiting people such as the skilled mercenary officer [[Adam Buquoy]] to lead the [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] to make up for her own lack of martial skill; Crystalla had trained as a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] and was adept at small unit tactics, but knew that she lacked the ability to craft the high-level military strategy needed to defend the Magistracy effectively. Buquoy had a keen mind for tactics and strategy and an encyclopedic knowledge of warfare; Crystalla gave him the authority to plan and conduct the defense, and did everything in her ability and power to provide the MAF with the war matériel it needed to fight.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
 
Kossandra Centrella had been a warrior hardened by battle and possessed of considerable experience when she founded the Magistracy; in contrast, Crystalla was possessed of a keen understanding of people and human nature rather than military skills. With war between the [[Star League]] and the nations of the [[Periphery]] increasingly certain, Crystalla used her ability to spot people with talents she lacked to make up for her own shortfalls. Perhaps the best example of this was her recruiting people such as the skilled mercenary officer [[Adam Buquoy]] to lead the [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] to make up for her own lack of martial skill; Crystalla had trained as a [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarrior]] and was adept at small unit tactics, but knew that she lacked the ability to craft the high-level military strategy needed to defend the Magistracy effectively. Buquoy had a keen mind for tactics and strategy and an encyclopedic knowledge of warfare; Crystalla gave him the authority to plan and conduct the defense, and did everything in her ability and power to provide the MAF with the war matériel it needed to fight.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
  
{{quote|This popinjay expects us to hand him the keys to our jeweled cities on a golden platter. That is an absurd notion. We are Humans, yes, but we are also Canopians, and Canopians we shall remain. What does he offer us for the "privilege" of joining his Star League?<ref name="TP1Ep39">''The Periphery'', p. 39: "Crystalla's Reply"</ref> What can he offer us that we cannot already buy?<ref name="H:RWp57"/><ref name="TP1Ep39"/>|Magestrix Crystalla Centrella, transcript of Ministerial Minutes, 7 October [[2576]]<ref name="H:RWp57"/><ref name="TP1Ep39"/>}}
+
{{quote|This popinjay expects us to hand him the keys to our jeweled cities on a golden platter. That is an absurd notion. We are Humans, yes, but we are also Canopians, and Canopians we shall remain. What does he offer us for the "privilege" of joining his Star League?<ref name="TP1Ep39">''The Periphery (1st Edition)'', p. 39: "Crystalla's Reply"</ref> What can he offer us that we cannot already buy?<ref name="H:RWp57"/><ref name="TP1Ep39"/>|Magestrix Crystalla Centrella, transcript of Ministerial Minutes, 7 October [[2576]]<ref name="H:RWp57"/><ref name="TP1Ep39"/>}}
  
 
Crystalla knew that the Magistracy had little chance of winning the war, but remained a pragmatist throughout.<ref name="H:RWp57"/> Crystalla recognized from the outset that if Weapons of Mass Destruction were used during the war, the population of the Magistracy would be the ones who suffered the most, and WMDs were not used by the MAF during the War as a result.<ref name="H:RWp188">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 188: "Magistracy of Canopus Front"</ref>
 
Crystalla knew that the Magistracy had little chance of winning the war, but remained a pragmatist throughout.<ref name="H:RWp57"/> Crystalla recognized from the outset that if Weapons of Mass Destruction were used during the war, the population of the Magistracy would be the ones who suffered the most, and WMDs were not used by the MAF during the War as a result.<ref name="H:RWp188">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 188: "Magistracy of Canopus Front"</ref>
Line 30: Line 27:
 
Even after her capture as a result of the capture of [[Canopus IV]] in [[2584]] Crystalla refused to assist with the conquest of her realm and set out to make the most of a bad situation, using her abilities to read and manipulate people to begin gaining influence and control of [[Ian Marik]], the son of future [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] Marion Marik and [[Star League Defense Force]] military governor of Canopus IV.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
 
Even after her capture as a result of the capture of [[Canopus IV]] in [[2584]] Crystalla refused to assist with the conquest of her realm and set out to make the most of a bad situation, using her abilities to read and manipulate people to begin gaining influence and control of [[Ian Marik]], the son of future [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] Marion Marik and [[Star League Defense Force]] military governor of Canopus IV.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
  
{{quote|Darling, you wanted to take all my people away from me, so if they're being naughty then it's for you to deal with them. Do you want to give them a good spanking? Or me?”|Magestrix Crystalla Centrella in response to being directed to order the MAF to surrender.<ref name="H:RWp105">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 105: "Mopping Up (2584–2588)"</ref>}}
+
{{quote|Darling, you wanted to take all my people away from me, so if they're being naughty then it's for you to deal with them. Do you want to give them a good spanking? Or me?”|Magestrix Crystalla Centrella in response to being directed to order the MAF to surrender.<ref name="H:RWp105">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 105: "Mopping Up (2584-2588)"</ref>}}
  
 
{{quote|Anything you say, Governor. Coffee? Tea? Or would you prefer me, governor? I can provide whips and handcuffs if you think I need punishing.|Magestrix Crystalla Centrella responding to Ian Marik's declaration that he was the new military governor of Canopus IV, 2 May 2584.<ref name="H:RWp7">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 7: "Stalking Prey"</ref>}}
 
{{quote|Anything you say, Governor. Coffee? Tea? Or would you prefer me, governor? I can provide whips and handcuffs if you think I need punishing.|Magestrix Crystalla Centrella responding to Ian Marik's declaration that he was the new military governor of Canopus IV, 2 May 2584.<ref name="H:RWp7">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 7: "Stalking Prey"</ref>}}
Line 40: Line 37:
 
When the Star League decided to restore civil rule of the Magistracy, replacing the occupation government, Melissa approached Crystalla to retake the title and position of Magestrix, but Crystalla refused, stating that her time was past and that it was time for the next generation to take over. Rule passed to Crystalla's daughter, [[Rinalla Centrella|Rinalla]], and although Crystalla died peacefully in [[2611]] she had the opportunity to see Rinalla grow into the role of Magestrix and to see Rinalla's daughter mature into a young woman.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
 
When the Star League decided to restore civil rule of the Magistracy, replacing the occupation government, Melissa approached Crystalla to retake the title and position of Magestrix, but Crystalla refused, stating that her time was past and that it was time for the next generation to take over. Rule passed to Crystalla's daughter, [[Rinalla Centrella|Rinalla]], and although Crystalla died peacefully in [[2611]] she had the opportunity to see Rinalla grow into the role of Magestrix and to see Rinalla's daughter mature into a young woman.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
  
==Trivia==
+
== Trivia ==
 
Crystalla was described as a svelte and elegant woman, with honey-colored skin, fine bone structure and lustrous black hair; she was considered by some to be the veritable image of a catwalk model or multimedia star.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
 
Crystalla was described as a svelte and elegant woman, with honey-colored skin, fine bone structure and lustrous black hair; she was considered by some to be the veritable image of a catwalk model or multimedia star.<ref name="H:RWp57"/>
  
==Notes==
+
== Rules ==
* Special rules for Crystalla Centrella can be found in ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]'' (page 187).
+
<div class="gamerules">
 +
* Before Crystalla makes any Opposed Action involving social skills, she makes a CHA Attribute Check first; if the check is successful, she may either: add the Margin of Success for that Attribute Check to her Margin of Success, or reduce her opponent's Margin of Success by a similar amount. This may potentially reduce the opponents score below 0, thereby turning it into a Margin of Failure.<ref name="H:RWp187">''Historical: Reunification War'', p. 187: "Magestrix Crystalla Centrella"</ref>
 +
</div>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
Line 51: Line 50:
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
 
* ''[[Historical: Reunification War]]''
* ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)|The Periphery]]''
+
* ''[[The Periphery (sourcebook)|The Periphery, 1st Edition]]''
  
 
[[Category: Magistracy of Canopus Characters|Centrella, Crystalla]]
 
[[Category: Magistracy of Canopus Characters|Centrella, Crystalla]]

Please note that all contributions to BattleTechWiki are considered to be released under the GNU FDL 1.2 (see BattleTechWiki:Copyrights for details). If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource. Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!

To edit this page, please answer the question that appears below (more info):

Cancel Editing help (opens in new window)

Advanced templates:

Editing: {{Merge}}   {{Moratorium}}   {{Otheruses| | | }}

Notices: {{NoEdit}}   {{Sign}}   {{Unsigned|name}}   {{Welcome}}

Administration: {{Essay}}   {{Policy}}   {{Procedure}}