Job: Train the Recruits (Asgeirr Frostwardt)

Sitting in the shade of an oak tree Asgeirr observed the group of men and women arriving at the Rune Knight Barracks. They seemed pathetic in every way. Some were grotesquely overweight, others disgustingly frail. There were self-proclaimed tough guys and obvious cowards.
'It's impossible to even count the types of pathetic weaklings here' he thought to himself 'How the hell am I supposed to make these pieces of dead meat into soldiers?! They'd run from a mere sneeze ten miles away.' He sighed in disappointment, near the point of resigning before his task had even truly begun. Then it hit him as he thought back to what he was told. Sure it was his task to create combat ready fighters, but it was never stated how many were to return. As the northern giant rose from his seat a devilish grin spread across his face. "Alright you pathetic maggots!" Asgeirr's voice thundered, instantly gaining the attention of the recruits "Time for you to face the white hell..."

The 30 recruits were gathered in the courtyard, neatly lined up in five rows, all standing at attention...a state that was achieved after a wasted three hours of disciplining them.They were a troublesome bunch - uncooperative, rude and disrespectful. Asgeirr sighed once more, shaking his head in shame. "First of all we will be training in Magic" he spitefully glared the freshlings "I hope you lot understood the last sentence. I hope you won't force me to...elaborate on my commands again. The last seven who disobeyed me certainly did not enjoy it." Marching up and down the rows of newbies the frost prince looked each and every one in the eye, coming to a halt in front of girl no older than himself. She was shaking...her eyes darted from on left to right as she sought any possible escape routes...there were none. With icy hand Asgeirr grasped the girl's shoulders.

"Tell me...how much training have you had in magic?"
"N-not m-much, Sir. W-we were given a b-b-brief introduction to the theoretical material, Sir!" stammered the blond girl he grasped lightly at the shoulders.
"Don't stammer, girl!" he barked and shook her a little "You are now on your way to becoming a Rune Knight! Fear is the last thing you can afford to have! Even when faced with a person such as myself."
"Yes, Sir!"
Asgeir let go of the girl and continued his way up and down the rows. "There are three essential lessons you learned if you payed any attention to magic theory 101. The first is collection, the second flow and the third release. If you hadn't the ability to even feel the magic around you, you would not stand here. Thus!" he now stood at the front, facing the group of 30. "Your task now will be the practical application of those lessons. Behind me are moving targets targets." Two large doors set in the ground opened behind him from which dinner plate sized ceramic disks with propellers flew out. "These are engraved with runes that allows them to sense and evade magic. I want each of you to hit at least 12 of the 300. Those that do not meet the quota will be relieved of duty."

The first attempts at firing magic bolts were beyond a doubt pathetic even for beginners. One of the recruits even lost an arm by focusing too much magic in his right arm. It splattered everywhere...and the other recruits had to clean the bloody mess. "This is good. Now one of you knows what mutilation is like and everyone knows the sight and smell of blood...things are progressing rather well." Nodding his head in content he mumbled to himself: "Guess there's no need for the death match then...although...nah. It is important to know what killing a man is like."

24 of the 30 passed the test, including the one who lost his arm. He actually did best of all in the group (apart from blowing his own arm off). What followed were several days of weapons training. Each individual learned to wield three distinct weapons...and now it was time for the combat training...with real weapons.

"This is the final part of your training. I must admit, that you have progressed better than anticipated. However the true test will begin today. Form up groups of three and I will take note." Watching the 24 recruits forming groups of three was like watching a group of children, fumbling about to find friends for a group project. It was loud, unorganized and took far longer than it should have. Asgeirr had to physically intervene at them on several occasions to avoid any casualties before the actual training started.
With a stern look upon his face Asgeirr explained the final trial: "It is here where you will learn to work together, to apply both your magical and physical combat abilities...as well as learn what it is like to kill a living human. For this will be a death match!" Panicked looks spread across the people's faces as they glanced at each other. Foe may kill foe and friend may kill friend. "There can be no surrender as long as a group has three members. If you do not kill, attempt to flee or do not participate I will personally end your life and that of your group." To the recruits it wasn't the instructions that was the most shocking, but the eerie calm and slight hint of satisfaction that lined Asgeirr's voice. "You have one day to prepare. Sharpen your blades, prepare your traps, forge your plans...and say your farewells. When you are finished you will not only be Rune Knights, but true soldiers!"

When the day had come to an end there were only 16 were left...traumatized and scarred. They sat among the dead bodies and blood of those they had once called comrades, fatigued and in tears. Only two seemed unaffected, but that may simply be shock or emotional repression.
"Why...why did we have to do this? What's the point of killing our friends?!" screamed a boy with short brown hair holding a bloodied spear.
"Because that is the life of a soldier. In the years to come you will not simply walk the streets of Era on patrol. You will fight on battlefield and be sent on missions. You will be forced to learn to survive the harshest of environments under inhumane conditions. Your friends may become your foes and you may have to kill them. That is what all THIS prepared you for." All that ensued was silence.

Asgeirr turned rounded up the remaining people, escorting them to the barracks. "Go now. Clean yourselves and get some rest. You've earned it. For now you are true warriors. The hate for me may only grow in time within you, but when the inevitable happens you will be thankful for these lessons."
With these words the frozen knight left to report to his superiors. He knew they would be dissatisfied to have lost half the recruits...but now they have soldiers each worth a dozen normal Rune Knights.