Marik Commonwealth

This is an unofficial, non-canon guide put together to help people using any of the MechWarrior RPGS, or any Battletech product, get a better idea of the various provinces of the Free World’s League. The first four “major” states use information directly taken from the most recent handbook, which is a publication of Catalyst Game Labs and should be used as the starting point for learning about the FWL, along with the old FASA handbook. This is a fanmade supplement to those. Direct example and canon were used as much as possible, but at many points conjecture was relied upon, especially for smaller and newer states. Hopefully these can at least get ideas flowing for GMs and players. Keep in mind that a single planet can be very diverse indeed! MARIK COMMONWEALTH With an ethnically diverse population like much of the FWL, the Marik Commonwealth draws its people principally from the European regions of old Terra, including the British Isles, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Romania, Austria, Germany and Hungary. English is the province’s official language, but substantial minorities speak Czech and Slovak, while Romanian, once regarded as a dead language, has made a significant comeback during Thomas’ reign. Christianity (mostly Protestant and Orthodox, but with some Catholic- dominated worlds) is the dominant religion, with significant minorities in Judaism and Islam. As the League’s industrial heartland and one of its most active trading regions, the Marik Commonwealth has a dynamic economy and a vibrant arts scene, supported by private and corporate investment. Many of the FWL’s best known artists, writers and actors hail from the Commonwealth, though the provinces of Regulus and Oriente pose significant challenges in terms of the mass media. As a culture, the people of the Marik Commonwealth, spared many of the horrors of the Succession Wars, tend toward introspection and adherence to established traditions. The family is the core of their society, encompassing nuclear families and extended clans. Many inhabitants have strong ties to business interests and are among the League’s most active traders, exceeded only by the Regulans. Like the League itself, the Marik Commonwealth is a Parliamentary Democracy, with representatives voted on from the various composite planets. The head of the Marik Noble House maintains a ceremonial role as head of state but is generally more concerned with matters of the greater League and its military. As would seem fitting, the Marik Commonwealth is generally a solid centre of support for the Marik family and the federal government as a whole. The symbol of the Marik Commonwealth is the ubiquitous Marik Eagle, similar symbols becoming popular across the League, especially in the Dark Age when factions used it as a token of legitimacy. The provincial units of the Marik Commonwealth were the Marik Guard. Their colours were red and yellow, the hereditary colours of the Marik Family. Their emblem was the sword and shield. REGULUS The Indian influence of House Selaj remains strong in Regulus, mixed liberally with European (particularly Norway and the Baltic States) and East and Central Asian (particularly Persian, Mongolian and Kazakh) cultures. English is the dominant language, used in business and education, but in less formal circumstances Hindi and Urdu are common. The Hindu faith likewise predominates in Regulus, beating out Islam and Christianity. The latter falls to third place in this fifteen-world region, while Sikhism is a distant fourth. Second only to the Marik Commonwealth in manufacturing capacity and overall trade (a status Regulans often blame on federal contracts that apparently favor Marik industries over those from their own principality), Regulus strives to live up to its mercantile heritage. Regulan traders are among the farthest-ranging and innovative in the Inner Sphere, constantly seeking new goods and markets. Regulus never had a strong military or intellectual tradition, even though its troops and sages are respected, but rather focuses its endeavors on commercial pursuits. Many of the League’s most active traders are Regulan, as are a substantial number of corporate executives. The arts remain strong on Regulus, particularly those of Indian origin, despite the diminution of other aspects of the Asian subcontinent’s culture. Regulus is officially a Constitutional Monarchy, with the Cameron-Jones family at the head of a parliamentary republic. However, legislation put in place after the fall of the Selaj family, and the outstanding wealth of the Cameron-Jones allows that family to essentially operate as a dictatorship in theory. In practice, powerful merchant concerns have provided a political opponent, barring the worst excesses of the post-Jihad period. Regulus would evolve over time to become one of the major rivals to the Marik Commonwealth for control of the League – not seeking like Andurien to split from the League, but to gain ascendency within it. The most common symbol of Regulus is the Regulan Ankh, seen everywhere there are supporters of Regulus. The provincial units of Regulus are the Regulan Hussars. The Hussars tend to use brown and tan camouflage patterns, with different highlights for different regiments. Their emblem is the bat-winged banshee, often superimposed over a map of the old Regulan Principality. ORIENTE As with the rest of the League, English is the common tongue of Oriente. Greek, Spanish and Italian are the mother tongues of many of its peoples, with various Chinese dialects common on worlds toward the Capellan border. Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity form the mainstay of religion in this province, but substantial minorities adhere to Islam and Confucianism. Oriente, draws many of its people from the Mediterranean basin—principally Spain and Italy, but with a substantial Greek tradition—and is bolstered by Russian, Indian and Chinese enclaves. The common people of Oriente are more pragmatic than not. While seeking to preserve their own cultural identity they see the advantages for themselves and for the League in a stronger central government, and have shown willingness to sacrifice some freedoms—most notably their independent military—in return for a booming economy, rapidly improving standard of living and protection from internal and external threats. Provided their day-to- day lives continue normally, they can endure much. The population of Oriente tends toward cultural or military pursuits, the results of their dual heritage as the architects of the Free Worlds and their location on the Capellan border. Artistic works are highly prized in Oriente, but the inhabitants do not restrict their cerebral pursuits to the arts; many of the League’s scientific and technical innovations originated in this region. As with Marik, the wealthy citizens of Oriente are afforded the luxury of operating a parliamentary democracy, although with an autocratic head of state from the Halas family put in place to manage international affairs and military concerns. Oriente was long a supporter of Marik, its wealthy citizens and dedicated military growing from being the loyal opposition to dedicated allies. The most common symbol of Oriente is the Oriente Orchid. Eagle iconography would become popular during the Dark Age as a mark of support for the Halas-Marik line. The Provincial units of the Duchy of Oriente are the Oriente Fusiliers and the Oriente Hussars. The Oriente Fusiliers use a colour scheme of dark green with black and light green highlights. The Oriente Hussars use a green scheme that fades from dark to light. The Oriente Fusiliers use the Oriente Orchid as their symbol, while the Oriente Hussars use an Eagle. ANDURIEN English is the official language of Andurien, but in practice Italian is the most common tongue, closely followed by Spanish and Chinese dialects (principally Mandarin and Hakka). Catholicism is the principal faith of the Andurien worlds, with Confucianism a distant second. Many Anduriens eschew religion, believing in no power in the universe beyond human determination. Andurien, as its occasional ties to the Capellan Confederation suggest, has a powerful Chinese subculture, but its northern European traditions—in particular, the Welsh of the ruling Humphreys clan— dominate, closely followed by Spanish and Italian influences. Andurien, mixes commercial and political acumen with significant military traditions. The result is a self-reliant and proud people who are nonetheless divided on the region’s checkered relations with the federal government. Andurien’s government is best defined as an Oligarchy, with a number of powerful figures sharing power – a combination of hereditary, appointed and elected positions. The Humphreys Family always holds the preeminent positions as Dukes. The Duchy of Andurien would always have a complicated relationship with the rest of the League, torn between a desire for independence and a fear of the Capellan Confederation. This rebellious streak was not helped by the scheming of its nobles. Even Anduriens who wish to be part of the League tend to distrust Federalism and seek greater autonomy. The symbol of Andurien is the Andurien Globe, said to represent Andurien itself. The Humphreys Tower is also not uncommon. The Provincial units of Andurien used to be the Defenders of Andurien. The old Defenders of Andurien used a white paint scheme with green and blue highlights. After the Jihad Andurien would form units like the Rangers, Guard and Cavalry, who would use buff or white with green highlights and returned to using the symbol of the Defenders – the Andurien Globe. TAMARIND-ABBEY English is the official language in Tamarind-Abbey, but there are many native Spanish speakers in the area as well. Catholicism is the majority religion in the area, with Judaism making up a notable minority. Many of the original inhabitants in these areas were from the Americas region of earth, bringing the Spanish language and Catholic faith here. There was also, however, a significant amount of later immigration from the Marik Commonwealth (and Graham-Marik), particularly to Abbey, adding in some aspects of European culture, particularly British and Romanian.

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