Editing History of Clan Snow Raven

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

==History==

===The Birth of Clan Snow Raven===
Clan Snow Raven was established as a mixed combat force. Snow Raven Cluster was composed of 4 [[Star (Formation)|Star]]s of [[BattleMech]]s, while the rest of the Cluster was composed of a mix of [[aerospace fighter|aerospace]], naval [[WarShip]]s, and [[Infantry|specialist infantry]] (presumably [[Space Marine|space marines]] and security).<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 71, 74</ref>

For the past several centuries, it has been more famine than feast for the Snow Ravens. Very early in their history – during [[Operation Klondike]], the struggle to reclaim the [[Pentagon Worlds]] – the Snow Ravens were struck down by fate. Fighting on the northern continent of [[Circe]] alongside [[Clan Wolverine]], with Clans [[Clan Mongoose|Mongoose]] and [[Clan Nova Cat|Nova Cat]] on the other continent, many of the greatest events of Clan Wolverine's fall from the Clans were shaped. The Ravens captured their future capital [[Dehra Dun]], later destroyed by Clan Wolverine. And Snow Raven saKhan [[Joyce Merrell]] reportedly died in a battle possibly due to intentional actions by Clan Wolverine.

Overall the Snow Ravens fielded one of the most mixed forces in the Clans. With a high proportion of aerospace and Infantry elements and only half of their forces being 'Mechs, they had a flexible fighting force that, ultimately, was weaker than others might have been. The Snow Ravens lost almost half their ground units to enemy forces, and, although in the end the Ravens were victorious, the [[Clan Snow Raven Touman|Raven ''touman'']], particularly its [['Mech]] forces, were severely diminished. Khan McKenna sought ways to increase the strength of his ''touman'', and found his answer in the many caches of [[Star League]] equipment stored in various places in the Pentagon Worlds. At the time, other [[Clans]] were scrambling madly for equipment out of caches as well, thus it was impractical for an already weak Clan to face other, stronger Clans in this matter. Khan [[Stephen McKenna]], a naval commander during the [[Amaris Civil War|Amaris Crisis]] and during the [[Exodus]], suggested the Clan's warriors stage Trials of Possession for [[WarShip]]s, which were less sought after--- other Clans sought after 'Mechs and the WarShips ran against the warrior ethos of the nascent [[Clans]]. Before the other Clans could react, the Snow Ravens fielded a considerable naval force as well as gaining a stranglehold on almost all naval shipyards in Clan space.<ref name=H:OKp115,116>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 115–116: "Stephen McKenna Profile"</ref><ref name=FM:WCp118,119/>

===Operation KLONDIKE===
{{main|Operation KLONDIKE}}
As part of the preparations for Operation KLONDIKE, the Snow Raven Naval Star Black Claw was attached to [[Clan Star Adder]] to be part of [[Operation SABLE SUN]].<ref name=HOKp31>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 31</ref> Raven Khan [[Stephen McKenna]] took personal command of the operation to pacify space in the Circe system.  The Circe naval cache fell easily, but the zenith jump point and [[Outpost One]] had WarShips that put up a fight.  Some escaped, but most of those were eventually captured or destroyed in other systems.  The orbit of Circe proper was so filled with debris that it made covert monitoring of the surface a simple task.<ref name=HOKp44-45>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 44–45</ref>

Clan Snow Raven joined [[Clan Wolverine]], [[Clan Mongoose]], and [[Clan Nova Cat]] in the ground assault on Circe.<ref name=HOKp71/>  The Snow Ravens were partnered with the Wolverines in the Northern Campaign, while the Mongooses and Nova Cats took the Southern.

Landfall was made on 2 July at Point Alpha, an oasis on the northern edge of the planet's equatorial deserts.  The operation was timed to occur during a sandstorm, though not one of Circe's infamous Hellstorms.  With their base of operations secured and fortified, the two Clans fanned out and captured several small settlements of the [[Sand Confederacy]].<ref name=HOKp72>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 72</ref>

On 11 July, a Snow Raven patrol was ambushed by Sand Confederacy forces bearing light arms.  A Raven MechWarrior had exited his 'Mech to deal with a clogged filter, and was struck several times but was able to return fire.  The Snow Ravens were able to extract their warrior, but this was only the first of a string of hit-and-run attacks by the Confederacy.  The challenge was not in defeating these enemies, but in finding them.  The deciding action was at the city of Dun, named for the warlord who controlled it and its water supply.  Whereas Dun had used strict control of the water to enforce his will on the surrounding tribes, the Snow Ravens made it available to all, and said they would not interfere with the tribes so long as Clan laws were obeyed.  This won over many of the tribes.<ref name=HOKp72/> This city became Dehra Dun, the Snow Raven capital on Circe.<ref name=HOKp72-73>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 72–73</ref>

====Hidalgo====
Concluding joint operations with the Wolverines, the Ravens moved on the [[Empire of Hidalgo]].  [[Antonio Hidalgo]], who had declared himself God-King, headed a theocracy centered on himself that was notable for its many atrocities.  Settlements were miniature fortresses, and when the Hidalgo militia, the "Brigada de Dios", realized that the Snow Ravens were trying to avoid collateral damage to civilians and infrastructure, they began using those as shields against the Ravens.<ref name=HOKp73>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 73</ref>

Reinforcements came from an unexpected quarter: a group calling itself the [[Kerensky Dominion]] approached Snow Raven elements that were assaulting one of the city-states.  Their Dominion armor and infantry forces were cautiously accepted as allies, and together they brought down Hidalgo, followed quickly by the [[Tabor Voivoidate]].<ref name=HOKp73-74>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 73–74</ref> This alliance, however, was not to last.

====The Battle of Bitter Tears====
The Kerensky Dominion had expected a partnership of equals, while the Clans saw them as subordinates, bound to obey orders without question.  After matters escalated to brawls between the soldiers of the two commands, Colonel [[Michael Guillory]] visited Khan Stephen McKenna in Dehra Dun to protest.  Guillory was slain, reportedly after making an attempt on the Khan's life, and a battle erupted between the two sides.  While the Snow Ravens had the technological edge, the Dominion had force of numbers, and only close fire-support missions by the Snow Raven aerospace fighters kept them from being overrun. Outside the Raven headquarters, Clan casualties were light.  Dominion forces attached to Snow Raven and Dominion forces elsewhere were disarmed more peaceably, as the Clans controlled the communications networks, leaving Dominion forces unaware of what had transpired.<ref name=HOKp75-76>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 75–76</ref>

====Isle of the Eagles====
The Snow Ravens' ground forces had suffered heavy attrition during the long campaign on Circe, and so the ilKhan ordered that the final assault be a joint one by the Ravens and the Wolverines.  The Davionist Eagles gave a tough fight, avoiding open-field battles against the Wolverines while further attriting the Ravens who assaulted their fortifications.  The Eagles were finally forced to do battle outside the city of Hamilton, caught between the two Clans.  In official Clan histories, saKhan [[Joyce Merrell]] died in that battle,<ref name=HOKp76/> though in reality she survived well after it.<ref name=BOI/>

===Post-KLONDIKE===
The Ravens found themselves in conflict over the possession of a cache with the [[Clan Wolverine|Wolverine]] Clan on the planet [[Circe]].<ref name=HOKp71>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 71: "Primary Forces Committed to Circe"</ref> The Wolverines and the Snow Ravens bore much enmity towards each other since [[Operation KLONDIKE]]: the Wolverine saKhan, [[Franklin Hallis]] was attracted to Raven saKhan, [[Joyce Merrell]], however Merrell did not requite Hallis' affections and the Wolverines had moved to destroy Raven interests ever since.<ref name=HOKp76>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 76</ref>{{cn}} This cache of 'Mechs once belonged to the unit with which the Wolverine Khan, [[Sarah McEvedy]], had served; however the actual cache resided in Raven territory. Thus, the matter was brought before the Grand Council to be resolved. However, when the Ravens were awarded the rights to the cache, the Wolverine Clan, (who recently become very discontented with Clan society) declared their independence from the Clans.  The Snow Ravens, already aware the Wolverines were massing on their borders, moved to attack. The Wolverines fought intensely and the Snow Ravens were beaten back to their capital, [[Dehra Dun]], and finally repulsed from there as well. The Wolverines emptied the city of all civilians and detonated a low-level nuclear warhead, destroying the primary genetic repository. This resulted in a Trial of Annihilation declared against Clan Wolverine, by Clans [[Clan Wolf|Wolf]] and [[Clan Widowmaker|Widowmaker]]. Following the destruction of the majority of Wolverine Clan (now known as the Not-Named Clan), the Ravens were again heavily decimated, and [[Clan Mongoose]] began to quietly ask for a Raven absorption. The Ravens were not deterred by this; they moved their capital to the planet of [[Lum]] and tried to rebuild their shattered Clan once again.<ref name=H:OKp115,116/><ref name=FM:WCp118,119/><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 120: "Legacy of War, personal journals of Khan Stephen McKenna"</ref><ref name=HOKp99-100>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 99–100</ref>

:''Note: The above is accepted as the historical truth within the BattleTech universe, in accordance with Clan historical records. The Clans, including Clan Snow Raven themselves, believe this to be accurate.<br />The actual truth of the matter is that Clan Wolverine was set up as an example for those who would not unquestioningly follow Nicholas Kerensky. Historical records were later deliberately falsified to produce a completely rewritten story of what happened, in line with Kerensky's vision. These revisionist falsifications covered up, among many other things, that the destruction of Dehra Dun came from a nuclear warhead that the Snow Ravens were going to deploy against the Wolverines. Snow Raven Khan Joyce Merrell, a friend of Wolverine Khan Sarah McEvedy, was so sickened by what happened that Nicholas Kerensky promised her to purge her name from historical records after the final battle on [[Barbados]]; this is the reason why there is inconsistent information on Merrell's tenure and date of death.''<ref name=BOI>''Betrayal of Ideals''</ref>

===The Golden Century===
On [[Lum]], the Ravens gained many of the attributes they are renowned for today. Superb political manipulators, the Clan banded together their bloodlines to form "families." Conflicts between families, unlike the constant infighting that plagues the [[Clan Fire Mandrill |Fire Mandrill Clan]], have only made the Snow Ravens stronger. In addition to this, the Ravens were also efficient users of raw materials, breeding a naval phenotype, unique among the [[Clans]], to staff Raven [[WarShip]] fleets. The Raven Clan moved silently through Clan society, quietly rebuilding themselves.<ref name=H:OKp115,116/><ref name=FM:WCp118,119/>

In the 2850s, the Ravens came across an inhospitable world, aptly named [[Hellgate]], that was rich in natural resources. When the Ravens moved to colonize this world, the [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Vipers]] staged a Trial of Possession for the planet's agrodomes, and, although the Ravens fought hard, without food the Clan was forced to relinquish control to the Vipers within several years. The Vipers continued to prey upon the Ravens and they perpetuate a feud that continued through the Wars of Reaving, only ending with the Snow Ravens abandonment of the Clan Homeworlds.<ref name=FM:WCp119,120>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 119–120: "Clan Snow Raven, Absolute Power (2825 - 2976)"</ref>

Raven activities were fairly quiet for more than a century, until a Raven Khan revealed [[Clan Cloud Cobra]] ilKhan [[Tobias Khatib]]'s complicity in the murder of the previous ilKhan. The Ravens found themselves in the forefront of Clan society again, when Khan [[Liam Howell]] revealed that it was he who had instructed Snow Raven scientists to introduce a genetically-recumbent great white shark into the oceans of [[Strana Mechty]]. Khan Howell despised [[Clan Sea Fox]] for thwarting his attempts to gain territory on the world of [[Priori]], and subsequently unleashed these "diamond sharks" for the express purpose of wiping out the Sea Fox totem animal. The Raven saKhan, [[Niamh Sukhanov]], furious at his superior's machinations, declared a Trial of Grievance, killing Khan Howell and then assuming the seat of Khanship. Nonetheless, the Sea Foxes were furious, and their anger only abated when the Snow Raven Khan evoked the rite of ''[[surkairede]]''.<ref name=FM:WCp119,120/><ref name=ED:GCp10>''Era Digest: Golden Century'', p. 10: "Early Clan History: A Comparative Timeline, Cont."</ref><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 120: "Trials and Tribulations" (2977 - 3047)</ref><ref name=HOKp129>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 129</ref><ref name=HOKp130>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 130</ref>

===The Political Century===
[[File:SnowRavenWarShips.jpg|right|thumb|Snow Raven WarShips on patrol]]
In stark contrast to the peace that the so-called "Golden Century" granted, the following era, the [[Political Century]] would be racked with turmoil. The requisite three generations that Kerensky had mandated for the [[Clans]] to finally return to the [[Inner Sphere]] had long since passed and many in Clan society called for change. Nascent ideological rifts began to grow, eventually coalescing into the [[Crusader Clans|Crusader]] philosophy, which wanted to return to the Inner Sphere and reinstate the [[Star League]], and the [[Warden Clans|Warden]] philosophy, whose adherents felt the [[Clans]] were still not ready to return. Interpreting both these ideologies as false, Clan Snow Raven chose instead a "best of both worlds" path, combining the Crusaders' drive and the Wardens' patience, quite arguably to great effect. Moreover, the Snow Ravens - as a politically "neutral" Clan - could contract their services to either a Crusader or Warden Clan with minimal difficulty. Near the middle of the Political Century in [[2979]], Snow Raven Khan [[Ewan McCorkell]] would strike a bargain with [[Clan Blood Spirit]], trading a Galaxy of second-line BattleMechs for three of the Blood Spirits' WarShips. He would execute this deal after pondering the future and realizing the Snow Ravens would destroy themselves attempting to unseat one of the dominant Clans. He opted for the long road, setting his Clan up to be a primary provider of transport and cargo escort services to the distant edge of the Inner Sphere, while also cultivating an alliance for his Clan with a highly reclusive Clan that shared a mutual respect. All of these decisions would prove to be very prudent choices when, fifty years later, the calls for invasion were answered.<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 120</ref><ref name=ED:GCp10/>

===Operation Revival===
For half a century the Ravens were quiet, until the ''[[Outbound Light]]'' brought about the call for invasion of the [[Inner Sphere]]. [[Clan Coyote]], who had lost much territory in the last few decades, sought to bring glory and prestige to their Clan by attacking the Snow Ravens. While the Coyotes wielded considerable forces, the Ravens fought with equal force and both sides were bloodied badly enough that neither Clan was strong enough to participate in the Trials determining a slot in the invasion force. This worked out in the Ravens' favor anyway, for Khan [[Lynn McKenna]] was able to negotiate a contract with the Jade Falcons that loaned out two Stars of [[WarShip]]s, in exchange for resources from the Inner Sphere, and most importantly, the world of [[Hellgate]] (which the Falcons had recently taken from the Vipers). This arrangement allowed the Ravens to regain their strength lost through the failed Coyote attack, as well as thumb their nose at the Vipers. However, this deal did not last long, for the Vipers and the Crusader Wolves initiated the [[Harvest Trials]] in [[3058]], wherein two entire Clusters were taken by the Jade Falcons. Relations with that Clan cooled, although they are slowly normalizing again (even after the "McKenna Bloodhouse Incident" when the Jade Falcon Clan meddled with Snow Raven Bloodhouse affairs).

===Post–Operation REVIVAL===
One of the greatest feats of the Snow Ravens in recent years has been the completion of the largest [[WarShip]] ever constructed, the ''[[Leviathan (WarShip class)|Leviathan]]''. The [[Clan Ghost Bear|Ghost Bears]], the Snow Ravens' longtime ally, requested their assistance in building a WarShip so powerful that it could handle an entire naval Star by itself. The Ravens managed to deliver, but the project failed to be completed in time for the Bears' move to the [[Inner Sphere]]. The ''Leviathan'' served as a valuable cargo vessel, ferrying millions of Clan civilians to their new home. When the Ghost Bears finally left, they gifted the world of [[Bearclaw]] to the Ravens in thanks, although the [[Clan Hell's Horses |Hell's Horses Clan]] landed just as the Bears were leaving and the Ravens have failed to oust them fully, so far. The Snow Ravens have gained territory elsewhere as well. In the wake of the Smoke Jaguar Annihilation, the Ravens gained much of the planet of [[Circe]], as well as a portion of [[Homer]] (although they were eventually forced off that world by superior numbers of [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Vipers]]). The Snow Ravens also assisted in the withdrawal of [[Clan Nova Cat]] forces, which allowed the Ravens to obtain the Abjured Clan's territory with minimal conflict.

====Territory Wars====
Post-[[3060]], the Ravens began to see the limitations of their recent gains, and decided to send an expeditionary force to the [[Inner Sphere]]. While scouting the near-[[Periphery]], the Snow Raven force stumbled upon an [[Outworlds Alliance]] [[JumpShip]] and staged a Trial of Possession for it, offering a ''[[Titan (DropShip class)|Titan]]''-class [[DropShip]] as collateral. Surprisingly, the Snow Ravens were beaten by the Alliance pilots. Greatly impressed, they offered their hand in friendship and eventually formalized a make-shift alliance that has allowed Snow Raven vessels to use Outworlds recharge stations, in exchange for refurbishing an old [[Star League]]-era naval base at [[Quatre Belle]]. The Snow Ravens also helped the Alliance develop its own [[OmniFighter]], the ''[[Corax]]'' (named in honor of the Ravens).

====Treachery at [[Kazanka]]====
The [[Inner Sphere]] seemed like a very hospitable place for the Snow Ravens until the [[Draconis Combine]] blew up a Snow Raven vessel attempting to recharge at one of their stations (which the Ravens won the right to by Trial). The lost vessel was none other than the ''[[Sovetskii Soyuz#Named Vessels|White Cloud]]'', which once won the [[2736]] [[Martial Olympiad]]. The Ravens took several pirate worlds, [[Rezak's Hole]] and [[Farstar]], which they used for harassing Kuritan interests to the best of their ability.

====The Assault on Lum====
However, true revenge had to wait, for the Raven's homeworld of [[Lum]] was being assaulted. The [[Clan Steel Viper|Steel Viper Clan]], ejected from the [[Inner Sphere]] by the [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcons]], sought to take revenge on their most hated foe, the Snow Ravens. Several frontline Galaxies were deployed on [[Lum]], and, for a time, it seemed the Vipers would be victorious.  Eventually the Snow Ravens turned the tide of battle and drove the Vipers off-planet. The final battle involved naval elements and resulted in the destruction of the Viper vessel ''Pit Viper''. Several Raven vessels were damaged, but none destroyed.

===Jihad Era===
With the Viper threat diminished, the Ravens could now concentrate on the [[Draconis Combine]]. The [[Jihad]] waged by the [[Word of Blake]] was savaging the [[Inner Sphere]], and it was the perfect time to exact revenge upon the weakened Kuritan forces. The Ravens used the depleted [[Swift Wing Naval Assault Star (Clan Snow Raven)|Swift Wing Naval Assault Star]] to raid the worlds of [[Enif]], [[Tabayama]], and [[Galedon V]],<ref name="J:FRp45">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 45: "The Jihad In Review"</ref> destroying a Kuritan ''[[Kyushu]]''-class vessel in the latter engagement.

The depleted Swift Wing Naval Assault Star was destroyed on the 5th of January [[3069]]; the Star was resupplying in the [[Ramora]] system when terrorists, either funded by the [[Word of Blake]] or Blakist operatives in disguise, used Draconis Combine vessels and tactics to destroy the Raven WarShips.<ref name="J:FRp46">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 46: "The Jihad In Review"</ref> The Snow Ravens responded to the destruction of the Star by going on the offensive against the Combine in May 3069, seizing the border worlds of [[Budingen]], [[Goubellat]], [[Schirmeck]], [[Valentina]] and [[Weisau]] from the Combine. This was followed by the arrival of a naval Star in the Galedon system on the 1st of June and the orbital bombardment of a number of military installations on the surface of [[Galedon V]]. The Snow Ravens gave the Galedon civilian castes one week to leave the planet; on the 16th of June, the Snow Ravens followed their initial bombardment with a much longer bombardment of the planet's surface, targeting every city on the world in turn. The damage wrought on Galedon's population quickly outgrew that of the infamous [[Kentares Massacre]] and saw the planetary administration on Galedon collapse, along with the bulk of the planet's centralized transport and planetary controls. Even as the Snow Ravens captured 30,000 escaping Galedonians and declared them to be ''[[isorla]]'', a plague on the planet, which had broken out during battles between [[AFFS]] and DCMS forces earlier in the year, reached epidemic proportions, spreading among the survivors of the bombardment.<ref name="J:FRp47">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 47: "The Jihad In Review"</ref>

As the Snow Raven forces traveled back to the Outworlds Alliance, space cases of the plague from Galedon broke out on three of the five WarShips, prompting the forced scuttling of several vessels after a battle in an unnamed Combine system as the Snow Ravens tried to contain the plague, which had presumably arrived on their ships via some of the civilians taken prisoner.<ref name="J:FRp47"/>

When reports linking terrorist cells apparently operating from the Alliance world of Dante with the [[Word of Blake]] were confirmed in September 3069, the Snow Ravens lay siege to Dante for a week, alongside units from the [[Alliance Military Corps]]. The approach taken on Dante was considered heavy-handed by a number of Alliance worlds and provoked a political crisis for [[Mitchell Avellar]] when secessionist sentiments rose sharply on a number of Alliance worlds in response.<ref name="J:FRp47">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 47: "The Jihad In Review"</ref>

In late February [[3075]], diplomats from the [[Federated Suns]] traveled to [[Outworlds Alliance]] space to negotiate with the Snow Ravens. As well as a peace settlement, the negotiators hoped to arrange for the release of captured personnel from the [[3rd Crucis Lancers]] and for the Snow Ravens to contribute aid to the coalition assembled by [[Devlin Stone]]. While the negotiations did result in assurances from the Snow Ravens that they would not strike at the Federated Suns again unless provoked, the Clan refused to contribute to the allied coalition and claimed all of the captured [[AFFS]] personnel as ''isorla''.<ref name="JHS:Tp14+">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', pp. 14–15: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp53">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 53: "The Jihad In Review"</ref>

In early November [[3075]], [[Clan Ghost Bear]] sent a delegation led by [[Aletha Kabrinski]] to meet with the Snow Ravens in a bid to negotiate for the Snow Ravens to commit to supporting the coalition, the Ghost Bears having recently agreed to support the coalition themselves. By mid-December, these negotiations had been successful and the Ghost Bears were able to launch a second assault on the contested world of Ascella with the assistance of supporting forces from the Snow Ravens.<ref name="JHS:Tp19">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 19: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp55">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 55: "The Jihad In Review"</ref> The Snow Ravens dispatched two naval Stars to join the coalition on the 16th of February, with the Snow Raven ships escorting the returning Ghost Bears delegation.<ref name="J:FRp55"/><ref name="JHS:Tp20">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 20: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref>

The combined Ghost Bear and Snow Raven forces launched a number of major assaults in July and September 3076, with the first wave in July striking at the Protectorate worlds of [[Dyev]], [[Kervil]], [[Ko]], [[Lambrecht]], [[Moore]] and [[Sabik]], followed by a second wave in September that expanded the combined Clan front against the Protectorate by striking at [[Lyons]], [[Pike IV]] and [[Skandia]].<ref name="JHS:Tp22">''Jihad Hot Spots: Terra'', p. 22: "Timeline of the Jihad"</ref><ref name="J:FRp56">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 56: "The Jihad In Review"</ref>

Following the Jihad, Clan Snow Raven found itself facing new problems within the Outworlds Alliance. While the alliance between the Snow Ravens and the Alliance had brought some clear benefits - including, in [[Quatre Belle]], the return of the shipyards to operational status - the Snow Raven ''touman'' found itself overcommitted, unable to protect all of the worlds of the Alliance despite having taken on responsibility for them. This meant that the Alliance Military Corps had to garrison some worlds alone, prompting pointed questions about whether the alliance with the Snow Ravens was actually bringing the promised benefits.<ref name="J:FRp112">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 112: "Clan Snow Raven"</ref>

Despite the problems faced by the Snow Ravens, the recommissioning of the Quatre Belle shipyards gave the Ravens control over one of only three manufacturing sites capable of producing new JumpShips, marked by the production of the CSR ''Mitchell Avellar'', during a period in which the number of yards capable of producing JumpShips across the [[Inner Sphere]] had fallen sharply.<ref name="J:FRp113">''Jihad: Final Reckoning'', p. 113: "Clan Industry"</ref> The Quatre Belle shipyards gave the Snow Raven WarShip fleet somewhere to undergo maintenance and refurbishment after years of active deployment, but with limited resources available to support the fleet, there were calls from within the Clan to acknowledge that with little need for the full fleet, some of the older ships should be mothballed to reduce the draw on resources.<ref name="J:FRp112"/>

===Wars of Reaving===
During the Jihad, Clan Snow Raven was put on trial for their war with the Draconis Combine. IlKhan Brett Andrews stated that the Ravens' tactics were another example of the Inner Sphere's taint corrupting them. Being the Steel Vipers' enemies made it easier for them to be abjured from Clan space. The Snow Ravens were abjured from Clan Space and their holdings were contested by the other Clans. A naval convoy left behind was destroyed by the Snake Alliance.

===Dark Age===
Post-Jihad, the Snow Ravens were known to merge with the [[Outworlds Alliance]] government, forming the [[Raven Alliance]], although exact information surrounding this remains unknown.

===IlClan Era===
In [[3151]], at the dawn of [[IlClan Era]], a delegation of the Ravens travelled to [[Terra]] after the [[IlClan Trial]]. Both Raven Khans openly supported the IlKhan [[Alaric Ward]]. The next year, Raven forces easily conquered the [[Federated Suns]] world of [[Milligan]]. Their forces, with our without Alaric's permission, wore the [[Cameron Star]] of the Star League.<ref>''Dominions Divided'', p. 74</ref>


==Totem==
[[Nicholas Kerensky]] decreed that the remaining 800 warriors loyal to him be divided into twenty Clans. Each Clan, consisting of forty warriors would emulate a beast endemic to the [[Kerensky Cluster]]. In his wisdom, the warriors under [[Stephen McKenna]] were designated to embody the attributes of the snow raven, a snow-white bird common to the harsh tundra flats of [[Strana Mechty]]. Snow ravens are known to never waste anything, picking the bones of a carcass clean and then eating the bones as well. Snow ravens were also documented to cooperate with other animals, such as the introduced Terran wolf or the ghost bear, often sharing a kill. Like many other Clans, the Snow Ravens have followed their totem to a fault, often to the extent of ridicule. Indeed, Snow Ravens of all castes are often known to be conniving, cold, and more humorously, extremely garrulous to the point of being more verbose than even those of the [[Clan Ice Hellion|Ice Hellion Clan]]; moreover, Snow Ravens are unable to keep secrets of great purport. Members are colloquially referred to as "the Unkindness," the word used for a gathering of greater corvids.<ref name=H:OKp115,116/><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 118: "Clan Snow Raven"</ref><ref name=FM:WCp118,119>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', pp. 118–119: "Looking Into the Abyss" (2784 - 2785)</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[Dominions Divided]]'' (sourcebook)
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Era Digest: Golden Century]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Warden Clans]]''


[[Category:History|Clan Snow Raven, History of]]