02 - Iron Kingdoms W.. - Captain Spud Is Amazing

112 Iron Kingdoms
108.1.141.197
alternative calling that is altogether more appealing
but others because their enquiry into the wider world
leads them into more trouble than they can handle.
From time to time, traders have to call on hired help
to rescue wandering journeymen in whom a master has
invested too much time, energy, and resources to lose.
Arcane Apprenticeships
One particular craft is worthy of closer examination:
the magical arts. Although there are a number of
wizardly orders in Immoren, they are mainly for the
benefit of established individuals. Junior wizards learn
their skills from a master just as any other apprentice,
and they too have to start by making themselves
useful with a broom or dishcloth. An apprentice’s
first magical tasks often involve preparing arcane
components or assisting in the development of a
construct. If he proves dependable in these areas, he
might be taught enough to help with rituals. Once
he has proven himself able to learn the simplest of
spells, he is dispatched as a journeyman often with the
express task of learning spells unknown to his master.
Upon his return, he is expected to have purchased
a spellbook, and after a period of practice with his
master, he may undertake his own test of mastery.
War Bards follow an altogether different path. As
they begin to discover their sorcerous talents, some
young folk join the military to legitimize their abilities
rather than try to conceal them. Apprentice war-bards
are generally recruited in local militias though some
do earn the right to attend the military academies. As
a raw recruit, once an apprentice war-bard has proven
that he has the Gift, his training begins with standard
military drills. After six months of weapons and combat
training, the war-bard apprentice begins training with
a mentor who is usually the current war-bard serving
the unit. Over the next year, the apprentice develops
his skills and learns the basics of song, legend, and
myth. More often than not, it is two years before the
apprentice strikes off on his own typically to seek
out a company of fighting men, mercenaries, or
adventurers to join to record their deeds, or explore
sites of obscure lore. This is a perilous time to be a warbard,
honing one’s skills alongside seasoned soldiers
or adventurers. However, some remain with their unit,
slowly taking over the responsibilities of an aging warbard.
If and when the bard once again meets with his
mentor—usually after at least a year—he is expected to
share what he has learned and to start work on a new
piece: a song, tale, or tune describing the deeds and
adventures of his new warband. It is only when he can
perform this to the satisfaction of his mentor—and
whatever audience happens to be present—that the
apprentice is deemed by his mentor to have become a
war-bard in his own right.
Sorcerers are different. Since few of them are
comfortable admitting to their talents, it is a hard task
for a sorcerer to find a master. The unsuccessful ones,
which are most, must cope with their power as best
they can on their own. If a master has been found, it is
rarely safe to send an apprentice sorcerer off traveling;
usually he remains with his master and pretends to be
a servant or relative, studying until he has developed
some measure of control over his powers. It is only
when an apprentice has demonstrated that he can
control his powers that his tutor will normally allow
him to go off on his own. Those who attempt to leave
early are such liabilities that they sometimes become
the target of an anonymous tip-off to the appropriate
authorities.
Military Training
Right, you ‘orrible gits! Get them
rocks inta yer packs! Go on, go on, fill
‘em or you’re on ‘alf rations! Tha’s it.
Now, onto yer backs, and off we go.
If you can’t lug ‘em back to Midfast
by noon, we’re going to do it again
tomorrow!
—Drill Sergeant Terrius (male Tordoran Ftr7),
Ordic military school
As in so many walks of life, military education in
the Iron Kingdoms consists of on-the-job training.
A good captain will take newcomers under his wing
or nominate some veteran to keep an eye on raw
recruits—in which case learning will look much
like the kinds of apprenticeships described above.
However, considering the current state of affairs, the
various rulers of the Iron Kingdoms take the issue of
military training very seriously.