Slighen
Slighen, meaning 'hunter' or 'arcane-smeller' in Cravven, refers to those who contain enough bodily reserve of arcana to sense it around them but not enough to use arcana. While the term originally strictly refered to men and women recruited by The Aveaan Empire to hunt arcanists, it's now used as an umbrella term for individuals who can sense arcana, whether they've been trained by the Protectorate or not.
Up until Fjornin Balassar took position as Beourjen Army High Commander, slighen were trained separately from their units and any friendship or emotional attachment between slighen and their fellow soldiers and captain was generally frowned upon. Slighen in the Beourjen army, especially during wartime, often experience much shorter lifespans than that of normal common men and it's the captain's responsibility to put down his slighen in the case of severe arcana poisoning or after their first death. Thus, retaining an emotional barrier between the captain and slighen was considered important in reducing the risk of hesitation or emotional distress when it came time for the captain to perform this duty.
In recent decades, thought on this has shifted. Fjornin Balassar has argued that the benefits of training together and consistent comraderie vastly outweigh the risks, and this is heavily supported by evidence that units show increased combat skills, emotional stability, and consistently better morale when their slighen trains with them and bonding between the parties is encouraged.
Additionally, the idea that emotional attachment between the captain and slighen might prevent the captain from putting down his slighen at the necessary moment has been found to be generally untrue. Captains with a longstanding friendship with their slighen are able to more easily recognize the signs of arcana poisoning, and the killing is usually less violent and more akin in nature to assisted suicide than callous murder. Many of these commissioned officers report feeling less guilt over the death of their slighen than those who weren't as close with their slighen, and most slighen employed by the Beourjen army also report strong preferences of dying at the hands, and in the arms, of a comrade they trust and are close with.
Tracking Arcanists
Since the emergence of arcanic restrictions throughout the Globe, slighens have been used for their ability to sense arcana.The Protectorate
The Aveaan Protectorate, for nearly three centuries, has overseen eight orders of slighen monasteries throughout Avar and its dominions. Slighen are brought to these monasteries as young as three or four years, and complete ten years of training before they take their final Protectorate vows and are considered professional arcanic trackers. They are then tasked with finding and subduing arcanists.The Beourjen Army
The Beourjen Army requires at least one slighen assigned to each of their companies. The slighen train in the military alongside the other Common soldiers, however they must also attend specialized training in sensing arcana before they're officially assigned to a company. Once assigned, their primary function is in assessing any arcanic threats or targets to prevent their unit from being surprised or ambushed. While employed by the Beourjen Army, they're entitled to amended civilian rights and a slightly higher pay than average soldiers.Up until Fjornin Balassar took position as Beourjen Army High Commander, slighen were trained separately from their units and any friendship or emotional attachment between slighen and their fellow soldiers and captain was generally frowned upon. Slighen in the Beourjen army, especially during wartime, often experience much shorter lifespans than that of normal common men and it's the captain's responsibility to put down his slighen in the case of severe arcana poisoning or after their first death. Thus, retaining an emotional barrier between the captain and slighen was considered important in reducing the risk of hesitation or emotional distress when it came time for the captain to perform this duty.
In recent decades, thought on this has shifted. Fjornin Balassar has argued that the benefits of training together and consistent comraderie vastly outweigh the risks, and this is heavily supported by evidence that units show increased combat skills, emotional stability, and consistently better morale when their slighen trains with them and bonding between the parties is encouraged.
Additionally, the idea that emotional attachment between the captain and slighen might prevent the captain from putting down his slighen at the necessary moment has been found to be generally untrue. Captains with a longstanding friendship with their slighen are able to more easily recognize the signs of arcana poisoning, and the killing is usually less violent and more akin in nature to assisted suicide than callous murder. Many of these commissioned officers report feeling less guilt over the death of their slighen than those who weren't as close with their slighen, and most slighen employed by the Beourjen army also report strong preferences of dying at the hands, and in the arms, of a comrade they trust and are close with.
Sterilization
Slighen, by law since the Arcanic Purges, must be sterilized in the BC, however this may be reversed if the slighen has been employed by the army for at least twenty years. As slighen are highly susceptible to arcana poisoning, this is to ensure that any slighen further reproduced in the BC are more likely to have a delayed onset to arcana poisoning.
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