The Knight Officers' Trial of Fire
The Knight Officers Trial of Fire, also known as "Kokoanen Ganpenunsen" in Gehenian, its founding language and culture. The Trial of Fire, Trial by Fire, Trial Match, has a large number of names surrounding it. Much weight is placed on the secrecy of the task. What is known is that the Trial is rutheless and can challenge the Knight Officer in ways usually unthinkable.
History
Kokoanen Ganpenunsen was developed by Elysian the First, Founder of the Empire of Five Kings and Husband of the Divine Goddess of Life, during his years against the "Desert Tribes of Savages". The idea behind it was to place Knight Officers in the position of command for an obviously one-sided battle. If the KO could survive, they were given a position of leadership. If the KO could survive and manage a stalemate, they were given appointments alongside the King as military planners.
For some, the loss of life that resulted in these early trials were seen as barbaric and unnecessary. If the Empire was so willing to kill its own citizens for a single Knight Officers training, then what else would they do? Internal squabbling forced the ritual to a halt for a short while, until it was decided that the forces being lead would instead be hired soldiering parties. These people were rare, but a world of danger as it stood produced a number of candidates.
Kokoanen Ganpenunsen was suspended following the Rule of Her Majesty, King Elysian the Second. Elysian the Second, after being elected through her careful politicking, a trade learned from her father and mastered in her own right, made efforts to reform aspects of the Empire into a more Educated location. This included the removal of the Kokoanen Ganpenunsen, and the instituting of the Academic Unification Order placed alongside.
After Elysian the Seconds early passing, she had been plagued with medical issues for some time after a terrible wound inflicted during a Kokoanen Ganpenunsen no less, the council elected a distant relative to Elysian the First who went on to change his name to Elysian the Third. Elysian the Third returned the ceremonial Kokoanen Ganpenunsen to its position as a vital training step in the Officer Academy, but now that the Academy was working alongside the Arcanists and Scholars a more simplified and safer way was devised. Mock battles held at locations of previous failed engagements with a force, and recreate it to as close as possible.
King Viltran took control from the Elder Council after the "Desert Tribe Savages" had almost completely taken control of the entire Eastern portion of the Continent. They had established both towns and religious sites, and if it wasn't stopped then the Empire would lose its foothold of control. With the Empire already on the verge of Splintering under Elysian the Third, Viltran instituted a myriad of new sweeping reforms. One of which resulted in the return of the Kokoanen Ganpenunsen to its traditional role, the only difference was the soldiers fighting would be captured "tribesmen". They would be pitted against each other under the commands of different KO trainees from the Academy.
The Rule of Ginyun was lengthy and treated as return to original values. Faith and courtesy were treated as more important tenants of their overall culture and incentives were put in place to reduce the ferocity of troops during Viltrans rule. With the "Tribes of the Southern Desert" pushed back to the Desert, and no other force wanting to challenge, Ginyun ordered the newest and current way of going through the ritual of the Kokoanen Ganpenunsen.
Kokoanen Ganpenunsen was suspended following the Rule of Her Majesty, King Elysian the Second. Elysian the Second, after being elected through her careful politicking, a trade learned from her father and mastered in her own right, made efforts to reform aspects of the Empire into a more Educated location. This included the removal of the Kokoanen Ganpenunsen, and the instituting of the Academic Unification Order placed alongside.
After Elysian the Seconds early passing, she had been plagued with medical issues for some time after a terrible wound inflicted during a Kokoanen Ganpenunsen no less, the council elected a distant relative to Elysian the First who went on to change his name to Elysian the Third. Elysian the Third returned the ceremonial Kokoanen Ganpenunsen to its position as a vital training step in the Officer Academy, but now that the Academy was working alongside the Arcanists and Scholars a more simplified and safer way was devised. Mock battles held at locations of previous failed engagements with a force, and recreate it to as close as possible.
King Viltran took control from the Elder Council after the "Desert Tribe Savages" had almost completely taken control of the entire Eastern portion of the Continent. They had established both towns and religious sites, and if it wasn't stopped then the Empire would lose its foothold of control. With the Empire already on the verge of Splintering under Elysian the Third, Viltran instituted a myriad of new sweeping reforms. One of which resulted in the return of the Kokoanen Ganpenunsen to its traditional role, the only difference was the soldiers fighting would be captured "tribesmen". They would be pitted against each other under the commands of different KO trainees from the Academy.
The Rule of Ginyun was lengthy and treated as return to original values. Faith and courtesy were treated as more important tenants of their overall culture and incentives were put in place to reduce the ferocity of troops during Viltrans rule. With the "Tribes of the Southern Desert" pushed back to the Desert, and no other force wanting to challenge, Ginyun ordered the newest and current way of going through the ritual of the Kokoanen Ganpenunsen.
Execution
The Ginyun Age Kokoanen Ganpenunsen:
Knight Officers in their Second, Third, and Fourth year are run through the Ritual yearly, with only the Fourth (Graduate) year classes being given the actual workings.
Second & Third Year Trials. The Kokoanen Ganpenunsen is not to be treated as a simple test and should be given the deference that it demands. A mock battle of two KO trainees is to be held, one side armed and prepared with a large amount of troops. The other is to be given only the minimum amount of equipment, and only enough to equip a small handful of soldiers. The battle is to be fought and the winner noted. The following day the Roles are reversed but with new soldiers. Records of the KOs' choices and actions are kept for further study, as well as a copy being given to the instructor to review.
Fourth Year Trial. In a KOs fourth year they are given command of a group of training soldiers. These soldiers, like the KO themselves, are trainees but have been sufficiently trained to get deployment orders. These trials are to be demonstrations of the effective schooling within the academy both of the Officers and of the Soldiers. Arcanists are lent during this trial only, as the reliance on their types has risen to new degrees and their abilities can be seen as a hinderance to tactical thinking during the early years. This team of KO, Soldiering party, and small band of Arcanists depart from the Academy and patrol a certain section of land within the Empires control. They protect and work to help the people while also working alongside them in the efforts of rebuilding after the recent skirmishes if need be. For one calendar month the group is ordered to only return if the KO deems their troops unfit for duty. The dangers of this Trial are far more prevalent than the others as creatures and bandits pose a much larger threat, but after the task is given it must be completed. After one month, should they make it that long, the Group is to return and their stories corroborated. The number of dead, missing, injured, or otherwise is counted and held on the KO's record. Should the reports be favorable then the Knight Officer is granted their position, tittles, and their own command. Usually command of the KO's Kokoanen Ganpenunsen Soldiering Party and Arcanists are chosen as the most obvious choice, though occasions of full changes are allowed. Failure during the Final Years Trial results in failure of the training overall, meaning they return to their positions as a Knight and must attempt to retake the program in the Academy.
Second & Third Year Trials. The Kokoanen Ganpenunsen is not to be treated as a simple test and should be given the deference that it demands. A mock battle of two KO trainees is to be held, one side armed and prepared with a large amount of troops. The other is to be given only the minimum amount of equipment, and only enough to equip a small handful of soldiers. The battle is to be fought and the winner noted. The following day the Roles are reversed but with new soldiers. Records of the KOs' choices and actions are kept for further study, as well as a copy being given to the instructor to review.
Fourth Year Trial. In a KOs fourth year they are given command of a group of training soldiers. These soldiers, like the KO themselves, are trainees but have been sufficiently trained to get deployment orders. These trials are to be demonstrations of the effective schooling within the academy both of the Officers and of the Soldiers. Arcanists are lent during this trial only, as the reliance on their types has risen to new degrees and their abilities can be seen as a hinderance to tactical thinking during the early years. This team of KO, Soldiering party, and small band of Arcanists depart from the Academy and patrol a certain section of land within the Empires control. They protect and work to help the people while also working alongside them in the efforts of rebuilding after the recent skirmishes if need be. For one calendar month the group is ordered to only return if the KO deems their troops unfit for duty. The dangers of this Trial are far more prevalent than the others as creatures and bandits pose a much larger threat, but after the task is given it must be completed. After one month, should they make it that long, the Group is to return and their stories corroborated. The number of dead, missing, injured, or otherwise is counted and held on the KO's record. Should the reports be favorable then the Knight Officer is granted their position, tittles, and their own command. Usually command of the KO's Kokoanen Ganpenunsen Soldiering Party and Arcanists are chosen as the most obvious choice, though occasions of full changes are allowed. Failure during the Final Years Trial results in failure of the training overall, meaning they return to their positions as a Knight and must attempt to retake the program in the Academy.
Components and tools
Items provided during Years 2 + 3:
Training weapons and armor, as well as transportation to and from the chosen site.
Items Provided during Year 4: A single Personal Journal and Quill for the KOs Two weeks of rations and a cart to carry it Second hand Weapons and Armor A number of Labor animals (Horses, Cow, Dog, etc...)
Items Provided during Year 4: A single Personal Journal and Quill for the KOs Two weeks of rations and a cart to carry it Second hand Weapons and Armor A number of Labor animals (Horses, Cow, Dog, etc...)
Participants
Years two and three require an instuctor to watch and observe the two KOs actions. Year four has a far more removed hand to guide it, but there are still items in place to add a level of security.
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