A Lesson to be Learned

[thaelis]

Arriving back to the Gate after his most recent expedition, Altherion happens by a group of new Legion recruits being drilled in front of the Sunderer Barracks. The sack of loot he was carrying is promptly dropped at his feet as he crosses his arms and watches the somewhat comical display with interest.

Although it is clear the ranks have swelled in response to the promise of citizenship, many of the soldiers clearly "rounded up" their age in order to enlist. Some wear oversized helmets and handed-down mail, others are barely able to lift the practice swords they are meant to be using, and as he watches one lets out a sharp yell as, failing to recover from the momentum of his last swing, he trips over his own feet and lands face first in the dirt. Shaking his head, he picks the sack up and changes direction, heading instead toward the portal to the Towers, the considering look still evident.

An hour later he returns, a large wooden chest resting on a floating disc trailing obediently behind him. He wears his customary armor of green and gold, the Crown of the Preserver resting on his brow. Walking up to the weary-looking Praetorian overseeing the recruits, he gives the man a salute and a brief smile.

"You looks like you could do with a rest. Perhaps I could borrow these recruits for the afternoon? I have some special training in mind," he says curtly, holding up his left hand to give the man a closer look at the signet ring of the Hands.

[thaelis]

To the group of bruised and tired recruits' surprise, Altherion orders them to get cleaned up, eat something and return in clean clothing. Some time later when the last of the recruits have returned, he has them march into one of the rooms in the Sunderer barracks which he has had set aside, tables and chairs having been set up like a schoolroom. He then follows the recruits inside, the floating disc still trailing behind him.

As the recruits sit down and focus their attention to the front of the makeshift "classroom" Altherion finally opens the chest, and begins taking out a variety of puzzles. Some come in the form of wooden pieces which can be pieced together to form two dimensional or three dimensional shapes, some are sets of tangled steel hoops, some blindfolded finger-mazes, and other even stranger puzzles.

He promptly begins handing them out to the students, some of whom groan in disappointment, the prospect of this new task apparently more horrifying than anything the drill-sergeant could think up. Some, however, seem curious to try them out, perhaps even excited at the break in routine.

"You are each going to attempt to complete these puzzles in as short a time as possible. You may not ask your fellow students for help, and anyone caught doing so will be sent back to the training yard for punishment at the sergeant's discretion"

More groans and mutters can be heard from the recruits, but they quickly settle down and get to the task. Altherion's keen eyes continue to scan the room, and he records the time from a magical hourglass as each student finishes a task, noting it next to their name.

Once it seems all of the students have completed or attempted all of the tests, he leads them back to the practice yard, where they undergo a variety of tests for physical strength, which he also notes down diligently.

After this, he again opens the chest and takes out a set of obviously newly-purchased fencing swords. The students are then arranged into pairs and set to practice dueling, and again he assigns a grade next to their name based on their natural ability.

After worn-out recruits are sent back to the barracks, Altherion patiently sorts the names he has collected into two lists. Those with, in his opinion, sufficient agility and intellect fall onto one list, and those with sufficient strength and intellect he adds to a separate list.

Every day he returns and repeats the routine with a new group of recruits, until the faces of the recruits become familiar and he is convinced he has tested every last one.