First Class!

[vneef_healer]

A day for a student in the House of Bells starts at an unspeakably early hour. Sunrise? Hah! Sleeping in till sunrise would be positively SLOTHFUL.

Alia and Fajah have done their morning exercises, bathed, dressed in suitable clothes and eaten breakfast, and the sun has still not made it over the horizon. (Alia suspects there will be more potent stimulants in use among her peers than tea if this keeps up.)

Their amah, Iris, herds the female students through the courtyard and toward their first class in the eerie gray light of pre-dawn. As they near the classroom, the first year girls mix with the first year boys. Iris stays, as does her male counterpart, watching over the lined up students. Their presence is a bit puzzling, surely they don't expect students of THIS age to get into much trouble in so short a span of time?

Comments

[vneef_healer]

It helps that he's given this same speech to every class, word gets around.

It's difficult not to wince at those words, but Alia manages to keep her expression neutral and her body still. This speech is designed to wound, to inspire doubt, to deflate overconfidence... but it only drives Alia to prove him wrong.

[infinitest]

"So, in the past few weeks and months, when you find yourselves wondering if I'm trying to make you fail, you already have your answer." Nesen runs his gaze up and down the lined students. "Better making you fail here, than letting you fail out in the field."

"You." He snaps at a random student. "Bandit camp, well-armed, 300 strong. How you assault it with a wing of troops?" The young man gapes and stammers, and the instructor waves dismissively. "Anyone?"

"Skirmisher diversion, sir." Pipes up a female voice, sounding nervous. "Light infantry stages attack to draw out the enemy, cavalry flanks, archers cut retreat covered by heavy infantry."

The instructor gives Fajah a quick nod. "It seems someone bothered reading strategy. You might even someday not die shamefully because you could not make a snap decision." Right, that is as close to praise as he's likely to get.

"Everybody inside." The instructor gestures to the classroom. "The lesson for today will be Troop Organization and The Structure of the Imperial Legions."

[vneef_healer]

Alia smiles briefly at Fajah as they file into the classroom. That was good work there!

Alia will be taking very careful notes on today's lesson. Clearly, she has a long way to go where strategy is concerned.

The Thousand Correct Actions of the Upright Soldier is the basis of all strategy in Creation, as it has been for centuries. There is no question of them NOT learning it backward and forward, so it's no surprise when each student receives a copy of the legendary treatise on the art of war.

The auspicious number of 5 structures the Imperial Legion, each subsection lead by their own lord or officer. Fangs of five soldiers form the basis of all strategy in war. Five Fangs make a Scale (25 soldiers)and five Scales make a Talon (125 soldiers). Two Talons form a Wing (250 soldiers), and two Wings form a Dragon (500 soldiers). Five Dragons form a Field Force (2500 soldiers). The largest unit is a Legion of 5000 soldiers or two Field Forces (10 dragons).

Besides this numerical breakdown there are, of course, TYPES of soldier. Specialists in war machines, light and heavy infantry, cavalry, archers, sorcerers, marines. Then there are innumerable types of support personnel: healers, quartermasters, blacksmiths, carpenters, cooks, servants, farriers and on and on and on....

[infinitest]

After the general overview, their instructor focuses on the actual basic unit of the Legion... the Talon. Individual Fangs are simply accountable numbers send in specific assignments, Scales of troops are duty rooster rotation unities... the smallest practical garrison of forces starts at the Talon level.

"Two Scales of Light Infantry, one Scale of Heavy Infantry, one Scale of Archers, one Scale of Cavalry, plus around fifty Auxiliaries. By the end of the year you will know how to use such troops to the best results."

"Or rather, four of each five of you will."

[vneef_healer]

The Talon is a versatile instrument of war, and one Alia intends to master.

She will not permit herself to fail! And she doesn't think Fajah will either. Some of the other students, however, look less determined and more nervous.

[infinitest]

Who will make it and who will fail, remains to be seen.

But a lot of determination helps.

The class runs all the way to mid-day time, when they are dismissed for lunch; students file out orderly out of the classroom, and Fajah hangs back waiting for her... friend?

[vneef_healer]

Friend is indeed the right word. (Or at least as much a friend as someone can be on such short acquaintance.)

"You did really well with that question, Fajah," Alia says with a smile. It's possible the other girl didn't catch her smile at the time, and they certainly haven't had a chance to talk since!

[infinitest]

The girl shakes head. "I was lucky... skirmishes and ambushes is how most war is done in the South. I'm sure I'll look really stupid when we start learning about whole armies."

It's a nice warm day, with little wind. Outside the chaperons are waiting to guide the students to the Meal Room.

[vneef_healer]

"It will be a while before we get there," Alia says with a shake of the head of her own. "Plenty of time to get a grip on large scale tactics before then." Alia is saddened by Fajah putting herself down so often, but does not mention that now.

The students are all decidedly hungry by now, so the sight of the Meal Room is a welcome one.

The low tables are plain polished wood and the table settings simple. Small porcelain bowls for soup, a small wine cup, a small plate and a set of chopsticks resting near it. The kitchen slaves have already set the table with cold dishes: chicken marinated in rice wine, five-spiced carp and hundred year eggs.

[infinitest]

Fajah will give the eggs a wide berth... and after some pondering decide for the carp.

At least she has good table manners and can use the chopsticks correctly. "I..." She lowers her tone, so nobody but Alia will hear. "...people didn't realize this is a school of war? Half those people seem to think they would learn to parade in a shiny uniform and nothing else."

[vneef_healer]

Alia lowers her voice as well. "Perhaps they were under the impression that they would be a figurehead somewhere, signing off on orders, and that their underlings would do all the actual work?"

"As if the Realm would waste a Dynast so. If such a position existed, it would go to a Patrician not to someone blessed by the Dragons."

[infinitest]

Fajah opens her mouth to mention she did see such a thing happening, but closes it again: no sense starting an argument with her roommate, right?

She eats, quietly, while other students complain about... everything.

[vneef_healer]

Alia is many things, but all knowing isn't one of them. (Shocking, we know.) There are plenty of Dynasts who 'go to seed' one way or another, although most of them at least started off doing some actual work in their youth.

The kitchen slaves arrive with the next course. Hot and sour soup fills up the small bowls and stir-fried snow peas and greens provide much needed nutrients. For the more carnivorous, there is duck and eel.

Alia notices Fajah's sudden quiet and glances at her, concerned. "I said something wrong, didn't I?" she says quietly. "My House is small and, well, there simply aren't enough of us to go around." Despite her grandmother's efforts at more frequent than usual breeding for a Dynast.

[infinitest]

"I saw it happen." She says quietly. "Dragon-blooded sitting back and writing orders, while mortals get things done."

"People who reap the rewards without having done any work."

[vneef_healer]

"That's not right," Alia replies with a frown. "We're meant to lead, to set a good example."

She sighs, poking at her duck with her chopsticks. "Well, I don't think anyone will get away with that HERE, at least."

[infinitest]

Fajah nods, and will finish her meal in silence.

She does show great appreciation for the spicy tea and cookies served among other types of dessert.

[vneef_healer]

Alia makes note of these preferences for future reference. It's good to know what your friends like, after all!

"We've got more physical training this afternoon," she notes. "Martial arts are not my strong suit."

Why couldn't they have charms instead this afternoon? She's GOOD at charms!

[infinitest]

"Not mine either. I'm good with spear and shield." Fajah is not really eager for the trouncing she's likely to receive later on.

At least they can help care for each other's bruises, right?

[vneef_healer]

They can indeed, especially since Alia has a knack for healing.

She grins ruefully at Fajah. "I guess it's a good thing I brought so many of my plants with me, then. Looks like we're going to need them."

While the school will, of course, treat serious injuries.....bruises are another matter.