Train Soldier-at-Arms (sage ability)

Train Soldier-at-Arms is an amateur-status sage ability, in the study of Instruction, granting the character the ability to elevate non-leveled "hardened" commoners or "comrades" into soldiers trained in the use of heavy armour and advanced weaponry. Those who undergo this training gain proficiency with superior weapons, including swords, axes, maces, polearms, bows and crossbows. Under the guidance of a knowledgeable trainer, these individuals develop the discipline and skill necessary to serve as competent warriors, whether in defense of a stronghold, as part of a standing force or on the battlefield.

The availability of such training is largely dictated by circumstances. In times of war, instruction is provided more freely to comrades, as the need for able-bodied fighters outweighs concerns over cost or scarcity of resources. However, in peacetime, this training is rare and difficult to obtain. The primary obstacle is not just the expertise required, but also the considerable expense of providing adequate weapons and armour for recruits. A peasant or common labourer lacks the means to acquire such equipment independently, and without the backing of a noble patron or military institution, even those willing to learn will find themselves unable to practice effectively. Moreover, proper training demands space for drills, formations and live combat exercises — resources not readily available outside military encampments, garrisons or well-funded mercenary companies.

Training Process

The physical conditioning required, alongside the discipline and combat proficiency necessary for effective soldiery, demands a rigourous commitment spanning 4 months. This training is structured in progressive stages, each offering tangible improvements in the trainee's abilities, ensuring that even if no further effort is made beyond a particular stage, the individual retains practical benefits gained up to that point. The training encompasses endurance, strength-building, weapons handling, battlefield awareness and the rigid discipline necessary to function as part of a cohesive fighting force.

Throughout this demanding process, each instructor possessing this sage ability is limited to overseeing no more than 8 students at any given time, maintaining the same group for the entirety of the 4-month period. The nature of military training is such that individualised attention, repetition and direct correction are essential for success, making it impossible for a single instructor to effectively manage a larger contingent. The close oversight ensures that trainees receive proper instruction, preventing fatal mistakes while fostering their ability to endure the relentless physical and mental demands of soldiering. Those who survive the process emerge as hardened fighters, more capable in battle, better equipped to withstand fatigue and injury, and possessing the necessary discipline to maintain formation and follow orders in the chaos of combat.

1st Stage: Rigourous Training

The initial phase of soldier-at-arms training is devoted to intense physical conditioning, aimed at improving the student's strength, constitution and dexterity. This stage builds the necessary endurance, flexibility and coordination required for later combat instruction. Over the course of one month, the trainee undergoes exhaustive drills, including long-distance running and sprinting, weightlifting, jumping and climbing, as well as rigourous hand-to-hand exercises such as wrestling and unarmed combat. These activities push the trainee's physical limits, forging a foundation of resilience and stamina essential for battlefield survival.

The training regimen is relentless, compressing a total of 250 hours into the span of 30 days, ensuring that each student undergoes near-daily exertion. While weapons training is introduced at this stage, the emphasis remains on physical development rather than technique, meaning that any improvements in weapon proficiency will not yet take effect. The demands of this first stage test not only the student's body but also their determination, mental fortitude and ability to endure hardship.

Throughout the month, the trainee must make four ability checks to determine their ability to withstand and adapt to the training: strength for raw power, intelligence for grasping tactical and technical concepts, wisdom for situational awareness and self-discipline, and constitution for sheer physical endurance. Failure in these checks may result in setbacks, injuries or an inability to continue, while success grants the necessary resilience to advance to the next phase of training. The results of this are as follows:

• When a strength or a constitution check succeeds, the character gains 1 ability point in that stat (to a maximum of 18). This increase represents the only opportunity for the character to naturally improve these physical attributes through training. The rigours of intense physical exertion, endurance tests and repeated strain either forge a stronger, more capable warrior or reveal the body's limits.

• If both the intelligence and wisdom checks fail, the character sustains an injury as determined by a malady check. This reflects a lack of awareness, failure to recognise one's own limits or simple recklessness that results in a mishap during drills, falls, wrestling matches or overexertion. Injuries may be minor, requiring only rest or severe enough to threaten further participation in training.

• So long as at least two checks succeed, the character demonstrates sufficient potential and endurance to be considered fit for continued martial development. As a result, the character's THAC0 improves from 21 to 20, representing a modest but vital increase in combat accuracy. This refinement stems from improved reflexes, heightened coordination and greater comfort in aggressive physical engagements.

• If three of the four ability checks fail, there is a 50% chance the character will voluntarily quit training, overwhelmed by the relentless demands of soldierly life. The intensity of the drills, combined with exhaustion, injury or an inability to keep pace with the regimen, proves insurmountable for many. Those who quit often do so with a mix of relief and shame, unable to endure the discipline required of a soldier.

• If all four checks fail, the character must be dismissed from further training, deemed entirely unsuited to the tasks of war. Such individuals lack the necessary physical endurance, mental resilience or adaptability to function in a martial environment. Whether due to weakness, poor reflexes or an inability to follow instruction, their removal ensures that only capable recruits proceed to the next phase of training.

If multiple instructors are training soldiers at the same time, 8-person "maniples" (squads) are reorganised at the end of the first month, with those who have dropped out replaced by the most capable remaining recruits. This restructuring ensures that squads remain cohesive and effective as training progresses. Fewer instructors are needed as weaker trainees are eliminated, allowing surplus instructors to shift their focus to new recruits beginning the 1st stage. This system maintains an efficient cycle of training while steadily refining the quality of the soldiers who advance.

2nd Stage: Steady Training

Over the next two months, training intensifies with a concentrated focus on weapon mastery, armour familiarity, battlefield tactics and group coordination within the maniple. The recruits spend countless hours drilling formations, learning how to hold the line, advance under command and shift positions instinctively based on shouted orders or the movements of their comrades. The discipline instilled in this stage ensures that each soldier operates as part of a unit, responding to commands with precision and unwavering focus.

Weapon training becomes the core of daily instruction. Each recruit is drilled extensively with swords, axes, maces, polearms, bows and crossbows, ensuring that they develop a level of proficiency with each type. Defensive skills are equally accentuated — students are trained in the use of shields, parrying techniques and how to deflect blows using armour rather than absorbing the full impact. They are taught to recognise weak points in an opponent's defense and how to exploit them efficiently. Constant repetition and harsh correction reinforce these techniques, transforming raw recruits into disciplined fighters.

Discipline remains strict throughout this period, with punishments for failure or insubordination designed to reinforce obedience and resilience. Weapons and armour maintenance become second nature, as each recruit is responsible for ensuring their equipment remains in optimal condition. Mock skirmishes are held regularly to simulate battlefield conditions, often in harsh weather or unfamiliar terrain, testing the soldiers' ability to function under pressure. If a shortage of trained recruits arises due to war or unforeseen circumstances, trainees may even be thrust into real combat before their training is complete, giving them a taste of the battlefield in its brutal reality.

At the conclusion of these two months, the recruit undergoes another round of ability checks to assess their progress. These checks are made against their strength, intelligence, |wisdom and dexterity, reflecting the physical conditioning, tactical understanding and reflexive control they have developed. These checks determine whether the character is ready to advance or if they falter under the strain, marking another step in the unforgiving process of creating a true soldier. The results of this are as follows:

• The non-proficiency penalty for all weapons drops to -4, reflecting the character's growing familiarity with martial combat. While not yet fully adept, they have learned enough to handle a variety of weapons with competence, reducing the hindrance caused by unfamiliar grips, swings and techniques.

• The character is now capable of wearing and effectively fighting in any armour, from simple leather jerkins to full plate mail. Training in weight distribution, controlled movement and endurance drills has conditioned them to manage the restrictions and burdens that armour imposes without loss of combat effectiveness.

• Negative hit points are improved, allowing the character to survive until their health drops below -4 hit points instead of the standard threshold. This increased resilience represents their hardened body and battlefield conditioning, granting them a stronger chance of withstanding mortal wounds.

• If at least one ability check succeeds, the character's THAC0 is set at 20, ensuring that their overall combat effectiveness improves regardless of the specific abilities tested. This change acknowledges that even recruits who struggle in some areas will still emerge as functional warriors.

• If an intelligence or dexterity check succeeds, the character gains a near-proficiency (-1 to hit) in a weapon chosen by the instructor. This semi-mastery suggests the recruit has grasped the fundamentals of at least one martial weapon, though refinement is still necessary. Regardless of their ability checks, they gain full proficiency in their region's hereditary weapon, ensuring they are competent in at least one culturally significant armament.

• If the strength check succeeds, the character permanently gains 2-3 hit points, representing the raw physical endurance and resilience developed through relentless combat training and bodily conditioning. This boost further reinforces their ability to withstand wounds and continue fighting.

• If the wisdom check succeeds, the character gains 1d4-1 points in each study within the sage field of Mastery at Arms. This knowledge reflects their growing grasp of advanced combat tactics, strategy and battlefield adaptability beyond simple weapon handling.

• If two ability checks fail, there is a 25% chance the character will quit training, unable to handle the pressures, discipline or demands placed upon them.

• If three ability checks fail, there is a 75% chance the character will quit, as their struggles in multiple areas make continued training increasingly untenable.

• If all four checks fail, the character must be dismissed from training, having demonstrated an inability to meet the basic standards required for combat readiness.

Regardless of ability check results, all recruits at this level of training will suffer some form of malady, as the relentless physical demands take a toll on their bodies. A roll must be made on the malady table, reflecting the wear and tear, injuries or long-term afflictions gained through intense conditioning and combat practice.

3rd Stage: Practice Training

The fourth and final month of training is devoted entirely to drills that refine reflexes, coordination and combat efficiency, reinforcing all previous instruction. Every movement is honed through repetition, ensuring that attacks, defensive maneuvers and formations become second nature. Weapons handling is further polished, making strikes faster, blocks smoother and responses instinctive under battlefield conditions. The trainees are expected to push past hesitation, learning to trust their own abilities and execute combat techniques with confidence.

Beyond physical skill, significant effort is dedicated to combat psychology, particularly in overcoming fear. Recruits are instilled with the belief that war is not merely survival, but an opportunity for glory, honour and duty. Stories of victory and heroism are shared, reinforcing the pride of belonging to a disciplined fighting force. Religious zeal is stirred in some, duty to their monarch and officers is stressed and loyalty to one's fellow soldiers is deeply ingrained. The goal is to create warriors who do not hesitate in battle, who fight with purpose and who draw courage from their comrades when facing death.

To further strengthen camaraderie and develop competitive spirit, structured competitions are held among trainees. These may include jousting, wrestling, sparring matches and tests of strength, all designed to push recruits to prove themselves among their peers. Winning such contests earns respect and confidence, while losing teaches resilience and the ability to recover from failure. The ability to fight for one's honour, to uphold discipline under pressure and to trust in one's training are all essential lessons before a recruit can truly be called a soldier.

At the conclusion of this stage, three ability checks are made to assess the final readiness of the soldier: A strength check to measure their developed power and endurance in battle; a wisdom check to reflect their discipline, strategic thinking and ability to maintain focus in combat; and a constitution check to determine their resilience, ability to endure long campaigns and resistance to fatigue or injury. These final tests mark the last barrier between the recruit and becoming a full-fledged soldier-at-arms, ensuring that only those who have endured and adapted through months of grueling training will stand among the ranks of trained warriors. The results of this are as follows:

• Former near-proficiencies in weapons are improved to full proficiencies, solidifying the character's ability to wield these weapons effectively in combat. What was once a rough understanding of technique has now been sharpened into complete mastery, allowing for confident and precise execution in battle.

• Negative hit points are further improved, ensuring that the character will not die unless reduced below -5 hit points. This increased survivability represents their hardened resilience after months of intense training, allowing them to endure more punishment before succumbing to mortal wounds.

• If both the strength and constitution checks succeed, the non-proficiency penalty for all weapons drops to -3, demonstrating the recruit's heightened adaptability in wielding unfamiliar arms. Though they are not trained in every weapon, their general martial experience grants them greater competence when forced to use unpracticed tools in combat.

• If the strength check is made, the character permanently gains 1 hit point, reflecting the raw endurance and physical reinforcement developed through relentless sparring, drills and exposure to battlefield conditions.

• If the wisdom check is made, the character gains 1d4-1 points in any study that the instructor is capable of teaching. The choice of study is determined by the instructor, meaning the knowledge gained aligns with the expertise and battlefield wisdom passed down through direct mentorship.

• If all three checks fail, the character still improves their weapon use and negative hit points, but has also committed a serious crime that results in dismissal from training. This offense is severe — murder, sacrilege, egregious theft or another unforgivable act — marking the individual as unworthy of serving as a soldier. In most cases, the crime is discovered after the recruit has already fled, evading justice by abandoning the camp. Many such outcasts, unable to integrate into honourable military service, seek their future as assassins or mercenaries, their training repurposed for more clandestine and ruthless pursuits.

Accommodations

Those undergoing training to become soldiers are required to reside within the designated grounds, whether a military encampment, fortress or a secured civilian training area. Their movement is restricted, with limited permission to leave, ensuring that discipline is maintained and training remains uninterrupted. This enforced proximity fosters camaraderie among recruits while reinforcing the regimented lifestyle necessary for future service.

Healthy, nutritionally balanced meals are provided daily, ensuring that trainees receive the sustenance needed to endure the physical demands of their training. The diet is structured to promote muscle growth, stamina and recovery, typically consisting of hearty portions of grains, meats, vegetables and clean water. Food is distributed on a strict schedule, reinforcing routine and further disciplining the recruits to function within an ordered system.

Shelter is provided in the form of sturdy wooden barracks, offering basic protection from the elements. Each recruit is assigned a bed and bedding, often little more than a straw mattress with a blanket, but sufficient for rest and recovery. While the bulk of their time is spent in drills, formations and study, designated areas exist for relaxation and solitude, allowing recruits to maintain personal space when needed. Though accommodations are minimal, they are structured to foster endurance and resilience, instilling the mindset necessary for life as a soldier.

See also,
Level Training (sage ability) Salon (sage field) Training (sage field)