Magnus's Meanderings
Alanna smiles and nods, apparently happy with your response and wishes you well.
Galad and Gawyn look surprised, but both shrug. Galad responds, "Neither of us are very good at archery honestly, I've always taken to the sword by nature, and Gawyn has been trained in the sword as it's a better protective weapon than a bow. A bow is great for trying to assault someone, but not so great at repelling an ambush. I suppose that's why warder's primarily favor swords. Either way, we'd be happy to learn with you, but I fear our advice won't be of much use."
You practice archery that evening until dusk. It's slow going, and Galad was not lying. They are not good at archery, but it's at least practice.
Over the course of the week there is only one night where you are all not too tired to practice after lessons, but the archery practice continues as it can. You see Susan twice over the week, and learn that they all passed their novice test, and that Nynaeve was made an accepted, apparently in part because of her age and in part because of her strength in the one power.
She tells you she's managed to stay on everyone's good side, though Nynaeve and Egwene have been having trouble with that. They seem to be scrubbing pots more than anyone else.
Your training continues in small units tactics, one on one combat, and just at the end of the week you're starting to discuss the different types of shadowspawn.
Tomas starts his lecture with everyone taking a seat, "Today's lesson is less about the physical requirements of a warder, and more about the mental requirements. We fight the shadow. I'm sure you've all heard tales of trollocs and fades, perhaps even a gleemans tale of draakgar or two. These creatures do exist, and should you stick to this course you will fight them.
Trollocs are large half beast half man creatures. They are fundamentally cowards, and lack any real intelligence. They do however have a strong taste for killing, immense strength, and vast numbers. If you can scare a horde of trollocs, you can get a large number of them to back off of an attack, unless they have a fade with them. They often utilize large weapons with formidable reach, which is only bolstered by their long arms.
Fade's are known by many a name. Half men, mydraal, fade. They're all talking about the same creature. They are much more intelligent than trollocs, and much more deadly. They are unnaturally quick, can take control of entire cohorts of trollocs and drive them forward, and worst of all have the capacity to make military decisions on the field. Killing a fade is difficult, but will also kill all the trollocs linked to it.
Draakgar are winged beasts. Should you ever see one, you must kill it before it sings. It's song captivates ones mind, and lures it in for a soul-sucking kiss. While it may not kill you, what is left is often thought worse than death.
Darkhounds are the shadows version of wolves. They leave no mark on the ground, except for over solid stone and their spittle is enough to kill a main, or eat through armor. Once they have a trail they will not give it up.
Shade's are the last, and possibly most dangerous on the list. Shade's are the shadows assassins. Looking at a shade is difficult, they have an affect that makes ones eyes slide right past them and makes the mind not realize they are there. They often are not seen until their dagger is in the targets back.
Further, warder's are gifted the ability to sense the presence of shadowspawn, however because shade's are men with their soul removed, this gift does not sense them. Constant vigil is the best resource, and the hope that it will be enough.
OOC)I'll likely give you that one, or something very similar as the balanced style. I'll have all three worked up soon-ish.
