Excellence Through Necessity

In the milennia before the races divided and the world entered the Era of Solitude, the Children of the Moon were envied for the gifts of beauty, longevity and magic with which their goddess had endowed them.  They were under constant threat in the form of the jealous Children of the Sea and most particularly threatened by the competetive Children of the Mountains.  So they prefected the means to protect themselves: Weaponsmastery.  They learned the best ways to fight with a range of weapons from their own fists and whatever else might be near to hand to the more traditional weapons like longbows, staffs, and swords.  In essence, the Vanorans became deadly fighters because they had to be.  Even when relations between the races were more or less tranquil, if a Harinech caught a Vanoran in a dark alley, the Vanoran would be killed unless they could defend themselves.

As with all else, Vanorans brought a sense of grace to an otherwise harsh art.  Their weapons mimicked the elegance found elsewhere in their culture and even the way they moved spoke of poise and grace that even the most skilled Harinech could never hope to emulate.  Perhaps the difference lies within the belief systems.  Harinechs believe that the ability to fight is found in strength and sturdiness alone.  Vanorans believe in balance, that strength must be coupled with agility. 

In Lomenor and Palanor, Vanoran Weaponsmasters are highly sought after by the other races and as such, have been respected, even by the Harinechs, throughout history.  The longevity gifted by the Moon allowed them to perfect Weaponsmastery long after their initial training had ended and thus, when a man could defeat an enemy in moments using only the empty crate he’d grabbed, even the most hardened warrior had to admit to the man’s skill and abilities.  Respect, however, did not stop the Harinechs or the Ranaedans from trying to kill a Weaponsmaster.  In fact, if they succeeded, they were heralded throughout their home nations as being among the greatest warriors to ever walk the earth.  Still, a Vanoran Weaponsmaster was not someone to challenge to a duel for any but the extraordinarily skilled.

After the Breaking of the World, Weaponsmastery lost the sense of do-or-die, but it was still widely practiced and perfected.  Weaponless combat training decreased, but still practiced––it actually became its own area of study outside Weaponsmastery known as silévenar (“Bladeless Fight”).  In peace times, Weaponsmastery became an art, practiced by some simply because it was a respectable option of higher education, another skill to be added to the list––and one of the highest arts, at that.

Training

Weapons training traditionally starts at the age of eighteen, when the Vanoran reaches the start of their aridhiara.  The training period generally takes between ten and fifteen years, although some finish earlier (Celerion Elhon Erynhir and Nathel Endgwai Serharad in seven, Lorion Maruanor Erynhir and Durim Gilron Erynhir in eight).  If a person has not finished training in fifteen years, they have the option to be tested on what skills they have accumulated in the annual Weaponsmasters Trials or to exit training without titles.  Only those in the Tenth Year of training can compete in the Masters Trials, unless they have been in training for fifteen years and those cannot earn the title of Weaponsmaster.

Weapons training covers everything from general weapons handling (learning to handle swords, daggers, bows and arrows, fighting knives, etc. with proficiency) and silévenar, to survival training, basic healing, battle tactics, mounted soldiery, and strength training (including agility, stealth, strength, concentration, etc.).  It is a very intensive process with only one rest day a week and only half come though with the title of Weaponsmaster.

Usually, one or two students will train under a single Weaponsmaster (who must have earned no less than Full Honors at his or her Masters Trials) and will battle each other on a frequent basis during their training.  They will also, semi-annually, battle the students of other Weaponsmasters in the same stage of training.  During the last year of their training, they will be “Fostered” by the standing armed forces (Holding Guard or Holding Army) of a Holding in a Region not their own.

Training is divided into ten ranks called “Years”.  Certain skills sets continue throughout training while others may be discontinued (still practiced, but without any additional skills being introduced––Healing is one, because only the skills that might be needed, like cleaning and stiching wounds, setting broken bones, etc., are taught).  First Year apprentices focus mainly on building strength and increasing agility and balance (particularly important because Vanorans are in a stage of growth just slightly less awkward than adolescence), learning the basics of maintaining and handling weapons, adding to the very basic Healing methods they received as a part of regular education, and, for those who aren’t already familiar with horses, learning how to ride with a mind to the balance required for mounted warfare.

The Tenth Year is perhaps the most different, because focus is almost entirely on military.  The apprentice is Fostered with another Holding’s Guard for the Tenth Year.  During this period, they will learn how a standing military functions in times of both peace and war and practice warfare tactics with those who know it best.  Their Master, of course, accompanies them, and regular Weapons training is continued, though as a secondary requirement of the Tenth and final Year.

Unlike the warfare training of other races, Weaponsmastery’s main focus is not teaching how to kill.  Rather, the underlying current of the discipline is the importance of life.  Weapons apprentices are trained how to kill quickly and as painlessly as possible and how to draw out death, but they are taught to spare the life of their enemy if possible.  Contrary to what other races think, Weaponsmasters are not trained killers and assassins.  They are artisans with firm discipline and a deep-seated respect for life.

Apprentice Trials

The Apprentice Trials are those battles between the students of different Weapsonsmasters.  These battles occur only between students considered to be in the same “year” of training.  These semi-anual trials are the means by which students move up in rank.  In order to pass into the next stage, the apprentice must win at least half of the battles and pass all exams with a score of at least seventy-five percent in either the half-year or the one-year Trials.  The half-year Trials are––more often than not––for practice, but if a student comes through undefeated and with perfect scores on exams, they are moved up a Year.

The exeptions, however are these: even if an apprentice is undefeated in the half-year Trials in their First, Second, or Third Years, they do not ascend ranks.  These first years are the foundations of Weaponsmastery and are not shortened simply because the apprentice can fight.  The Tenth Year is the same, though for a different reason.  The “Fostering” requires a full year because, traditionally, only a Weaponsmaster with Full or Exceptional Honors was allowed to train soldiers, so they would need to know how a Holding Guard or Army functions by being a part of it.  In short, a minimum of seven years of training are required.  There is another exception to the rule; because the drawing for Fostering is held only once a year, in the second week of Teneri, an apprentice who “finishes” their Ninth Year at the half-year Trials will remain in that Year until the drawing.

Masters Trials

The Masters Trials are held annually, in late Iloreryl to early Calihan––the time of year with the most unpredictable weather––in five Holdings (one in each Region).  At this time, a four-week series of exams and battles, similar to Apprentice Trials, are held to officially test the apprentices’ knowledge and skills.  The exams take place the first week of the Trials, prior to the Trials’ Eve Feast.  Apprentices must score at least seventy-five percent on every exam to earn the right to test their skills against each other in an arena.  Those who score less than seventy-five percent will have to repeat the Tenth Year of training.

During the Trials, apprentices are watched and graded in every area of Weaponsmastery, including survival, healing, sword-fighting, archery, tactics, etc.  Once the apprentices have successfully passed the exams with the requisite scores, they enter the battles.  They must win at least fifty percent of their matches to earn the title of Weaponsmaster.  If they win less than fifty percent of these Apprentice matches, they will only be allowed to battle their Masters in the weapons at which they won the requisite percentage of matches.

They will be graded and awarded with fitting Honors, depending on how well they fight with said weapons.  If they qualify as a Weaponsmaster, they fight two Masters (selected randomly from those with apprentices in the Trials) in everything they are trained in.  At the end of the battles against the Masters, they are awarded whichever Honors, (None, Acceptable, Full, or Exceptional), depending on how well they fought.  It should be noted that in order to earn, say, Full Honors, the apprentice must earn Full Honors or Exceptional Honors in every weapon.  If they earn anything less, they will be given Acceptable Honors.  For Exceptional Honors, they must gain no less than Exceptional Honors in every weapon.

Pomp and Circumstance: the Ceremonies of the Weaponsmasters Trials

For even the most uninterested, the annual Weaponsmasters Trials provide an excuse to celebrate.  Raucus celebrations book-end the Trials, beginning the with Trials’ Eve festivities (which take place the night prior to the battles, after the exams have been completed).  A massive feast is held for anyone and everyone who cares to attend (a reason why the Trials are always held in the larger Holdings), followed by a night of dancing.  Before the feast is held, the schedule of the first day’s apprentice battles is read to the close friends and families and Holders of the apprentices to fight.  After the feast comes the First Dance, for which each apprentice has chosen a partner they would like to share all the glory they may earn at the Trials with––their partner will also accompany them throughout the Closing Ceremonies.  For the First Dance, apprentices and their partners dance through three songs, one fast, one slow, and the last, a fast song known as the Colors Dance (which is played at all sorts of multi-Holding affairs).  During the Colors Dance, each Holding’s colors are waved and the apprentices (and partners) from that Holding alone take the floor.  Then the colored banners representing all of the Holdings are brought into play and the rest of the attending people are welcome to join in.  At this point, the apprentices and their Masters are allowed to leave, if they so choose, though most stay around for a few more hours.  Weaponsmsters are widely thought to be excellent dancers (and the vast majority are), so the dancing is an important display of graceful prowess, not just another part of the celebration.

The Closing Ceremonies end the annual Masters Trials and consist of the Masters Ceremony and the Weaponsmasters Ceremony and takes place two days after the final matches––thus giving preparation time for things like engraving weapons and ceremonial armor.  As with the opening ceremony, there is much dancing and feasting.  The partner an apprentice chose for the dancing at the Trials’ Eve will accompany them throughout the night of the Closing Ceremonies as well.

The Master Ceremony is for those who did not earn the title of Weaponsmaster.  Each title (Swordmaster, Master Archer, etc.) will be awarded at once, by apprentice, not by weapon.  The tokens given are ceremonial brass arm guards etched with the weapons the new Master mastered in and a cape with the Master’s Pin (the silver strands are twisted into a fairly small, simple design).  The cape itself is the color of the new Master’s home Region, edged with embroidery in the colors of their home Holding and the Holding they were Fostered in.  Overall, the Masters Ceremony is fairly short and without much fanfair.

The Weaponsmaster Ceremony is much more complex.  The new Weaponsmasters are introduced in ascending order of rank––from those without Honors to those with Exceptional Honors.  Each increasing rank warrants more time and detail.  The new Weaponsmaster’s years in training will be announced, along with how well they fought at each of their Apprentice Trials.  Their former Masters are also asked to say something about them before taking the honor of suiting them up in their ceremonial armor.  Every new Weaponsmaster is given a full suit of armor, including beautifully polished chain mail, but the appearance is different, depending on the Honors earned.  A Weaponsmaster without Honors will receive a suit of plain brass armor.  A Weaponsmaster with Acceptable  honors receives brass armor that is engraved with the simple, flowing vines so common in Vanoran culture.  Full Honors receives silver-plated armor with the elegant engravings.  The rarely earned Exceptional Honors is awarded with a suit of silver-plated armor that has stunning gold inlay.  Each Weaponsmaster will also receive a cape like the lower Masters do, but the pins become ever more complex with ascending Honors.

Family members and close friends traditionally gift the new Masters and Weaponsmasters with weapons, though this is not a part of the ceremony.  Any gift giving, if done the night of the ceremonies, is done privately.  The exception being for those who earn Exceptional Honors.  They are gifted publicly with one weapon from, typically, a parent or their former Master.

When the announcement part of the Closing Ceremonies are over, then comes the celebrating.  Another feast is held and there is much dancing.  There are several songs at the start of the dancing reserved for the ranks of Weaponsmasters.  The first song would be for those who earned Exceptional Honors (in the years when someone does) alone.  Then those who earned Full Honors would join in the next song, then Acceptable Honors, no Honors, those who Mastered in individual weapons, and lastly, the Masters who trained them.  Then everyone else joins in.

The Weaponsmasters Convocation

Once a person has earned the title of Weaponsmaster (Masters of individual weapons do not fall under this distinction), they become part of the organization called the Weaponsmaster Convocation.  The Convocation’s purpose is to oversee and maintain the traditions of Weaponsmastery, up to and including disciplining Masters who have broken the Convocation’s laws.  The ranking system mimicks that of the government.  Each Holding has its own chapter of the Convocation made up of the Weaponsmasters residing in that Holding.

The next level up is Regional––the Quorum.  Weaponsmasters without Honors cannot ascend to this rank.  The Quorum is responsible for enforcing the Convocation’s laws within its Region and for bringing topics to the national gathering every five years.

The second highest rank is the High Quorum, which is a collection of twenty Weaponsmasters (two men and two women from each Regional Quorum).  To be a member of the High Quorum, a Weaponsmaster must have earned at least Full Honors and be a training Master (meaning, training apprentices is their main income) in good standing with the Convocation.  The High Quorum is lead by the High Master, who is responsible for directing the annual meetings of the High Quorum (and any meetings called as necessary) and at the national gathering every five years (at which every member of the Regional Quorums is welcome).  The High Master also represents the Convocation at outside functions, such as the Council of Lords Gathering, held anually, and at any meeting with the Elhira.  A Weaponsmaster with Exceptional Honors (only) is chosen, from either the High or Regional Quorums by a vote of the High Quorum to a term of two decades.  A High Master can serve an unlimited number of terms, if they are continually re-elected.

Punishments

As with anyone else, there are an unlimited number of ways for Weaponsmasters to disgrace themselves.  In regards to a Weapons-related transgression, it is the responsibility of the Convocation to punish the Weaponsmaster.  Any kind of ring fighting for sport (in a manner catering to degenerate bloodlust) is strongly discouraged even among equal fighters and bears various penalties, depending on the severity (anywhere from a proverbial slap on the wrist to being stripped of Honors and imprisoned).  Of course, public challenges to settle disagreements between Weaponsmasters or practice battles (at which outsiders are welcomed) to maintain skills not at all frowned upon (though combatants must follow the same rules as they would at any Trials).

One deviation that always demands swift justice is sabotaging a fight, especially at Apprentice and Masters Trials.  An apprentice may be forbidden to continue their training and therefore will not be given the chance to earn the title of Weaponsmaster.  If a Weaponsmaster should stoop so low, they will be forbidden to train apprentices for a century, during which they will banished from even the Regional Quorum.  They may even be stripped of their title altogether.

Other Occupations for Weaponsmasters

Even in the centuries of the Fourth (Uthorien) Age, Weaponsmasters are still highly respected and provided with many employment opportunities.  They may wish to go on and train others in Weapons, though it is more common for them to try their hands at other occupations first, then settle into training.  For those who have no desire to train others, there are several opportunities.  In wartime, many are enlisted to Captain armies.  In peacetime, Holding Guards and Holding militias also provide Weaponsmasters with ample opportunity to maintain their skills.  There are also plenty of openings as caravan guards all across Vanor and Suranor, for those possessed of a case of wanderlust.

Honors

No Honors: when an apprentice wins and average of less than 10% of their battles against both Masters.

Acceptable Honors: when an apprentice wins an average of 10% to 35% of their battles against both Masters.

Full Honors: when an apprentice wins an average of 35% to 60% of their battles against both Masters.

Exceptional Honors: when an apprentice wins an average of more than 60% of their battles against both Masters.