The Avalon Grand Crusade

• Even with Pope Leo XXI (internal) entreaties for calm, religious fervor grows the desire for retribution against “non-faithful” within the Inner Sphere.

• Stoking the flames of this are a group of Wolverine Union infiltrators, including Blakists using their own actions as triggers for religious violence.
  • The Kittery Resistance orchestrate the burning of multiple churches on the Capellan – Federated Suns border.
  • The White Hand disrupt religious festivities surrounding the Feast of Michael (Michaelmas) on multiple worlds in the Free Worlds League, which is then advertised to the general population.
  • A religious procession is blocked by Orthodox Jewish protesters on Kathil, leading to a few deaths. Investigations show that the protesters were financed by a “foreign entity”.
  • The general immorality of the Magistracy of Canopus, being on full display after Ari Humphreys’s (internal) revelations after the death of his wife. This drives religious fanatics into attacking Canopian embassies and travel agencies throughout the Inner Sphere.

• Julian Davion (internal) attempts to quell the movement, but Alexander Hasek (internal) is attacked by “radical Taoist elements” on New Syrtis. This leads to demands for retaliation against a weakened Capellan state.

• The AFFS refuses to get involved in the situation, under orders from Erik Sandoval (internal). Mercenary outfits and “private forces” of various noble houses gather for strikes in the coreward region of the Capellan Confederation.

• Unable to effectively retaliate, the CCAF abandons multiple worlds along the Federated Suns border. Christian elements within the Confederation ask for denunciation of the terrorist acts against Christians within their borders.

• Within the Draconis Combine, Christian elements lead protests for more religious freedom within the realm. While Yori Kurita tries to stay out of this affair, the Warlord of the already shaky Benjamin Military District has his troops open fire on protesters.

• These actions lead to complaints by the Lyran Commonwealth and Rasalhague Dominion against the Draconis Combine, and religious fervor amongst their Christian population grows in response.

Escalation of the Avalon Grand Crusade

• The New Star League is forced to make an edict on religious freedom, against the will of many more hardcore Clan leaders which embraces Atheistic Ancestor worship.
  • A Clan Jade Falcon Star Colonel issues a Trial of Refusal on the edict, before being shut down by Khan Stephanie Chistu (internal).
  • Khan Rikkard Rwabdogo publicly converts to the Lutheran Church as a personal statement, as he is getting ready for his own marriage.
  • Loremaster Aberdeen Mehta writes an essay, “On Religion in the Modern Age”. While well received amongst the various Clans, it is viewed as patronizing by many religious elements within the Inner Sphere.
  • Clan Sea Fox stops the trade of counterfeit “relics” within their trade network. This both makes them viewed as a positive element by some, while other decry this as a conspiracy.

• Julian Davion attempts to prevent the crusade from moving against Combine worlds, which would break the peace treaty signed on Arc-Royal. He is injured when hit by a rock during a speech on New Avalon.

• Alexander Hasek and the Syrtis Scourge land on Small World, routing the Fourth Dieron Regulars. The subsequent burning of a heritage site pagoda is blamed on “extremist elements outside their control”.

• A religious group, “The Sheep of Kentares”, land on Proserpina with a significant “independent” military force. After routing the 3^rd Proserpina Hussars, they begin a massacre of civilian population in the name of “holy justice and retaliation”.
  • Erik Sandoval is alerted of the actions of the Sheeps of Kentares and takes the 1^st Robinson Strikers to stop them. Matsuhari Toranaga sends a strongly worded letter opposing the use of AFFS forces in Combine space, but in private, both he and Yori Kurita send a thank you note to the Prince’s Champion.
  • Alexander Hasek denies knowledge of the Sheeps’s actions, but MIIO imbedded assets report that he was the one funneling weapons and equipment to the group.
  • Julian Davion cannot openly move against his brother-in-law, especially as he has the support of the religious population involved in the Crusade movement.
  • Erik Sandoval is tasked with keeping the peace in the Draconis Marches and limit criminal action coming from this.

Next Steps in the Avalon Grand Crusade

• An assassination attempt against Roderick Steiner (internal) is blamed on Azami extremists near Terra. Retaliation against Islamic elements within the Commonwealth begin, while the Archon and the General of the Armies are trying to control the population.

• Khan Dalia Bekker (internal) has a falling out with Prince Hjalmer Miraborg (internal) over the decision to let Christians prevent a Norse parade on Rasalhague. Dalia Bekker falls ill, and questions in regard to her succession grow.

News Report 3155

“In breaking news, Duke Alexander Hasek has been attacked when trying to get into his hovercar from a presentation he was giving at the New Syrtis Academy of Fine Arts. The New Syrtis Federal Police reports that 6 terrorists, linked to the New Era Militias, were either killed or arrested. The New Era Militia, as we would like to remind our viewers, is an anti-Federated Sun group with deep ties with the Capellan State and Sun Tzu Liao’s new-Buddhist/Taoist religion.

Six shots of laser weapons were taken toward Duke Hasek, who suffered a minor head wound. His vehicle was heavily damaged, however, before his bodyguards of the Syrtis Scourge retaliated. Later in the day, the Syrtis Scourge raided a criminal opium den and arrested 12 other individuals.

Duke Hasek made a statement after the attack: ‘This attack should not be regarded only as an attack against House Hasek. This was an attack against the very identity of the people of the Federated Suns. This was an attack by people who hate our very way of life, our very belief. It is sad that we, as human beings, cannot agree to disagree. This is not political, or regional, this is an ideological problem which we need to have a discourse about and let the other nations of the Inner Sphere understand.’

First Prince Julian Davion has refused to comment at this time, waiting for more information and a wire from the ambassador to the new Capellan Steward. The Capellan March Militia has been activated by Decree 2418-B by Duke Hasek, but no military action or retaliation against the Capellan State is expected.”