A Herald's Education

Once chosen, the new Herald-in-Training, or Gray, is placed at the Herald's Collegium to learn the necessary skills. The time spent training depends on the individual, with some graduating into Whites quicker than others. With so many different areas to study, most trainees take around 5 years to reach full herald status. The fastest reasonable time would be around three years and the trainee in question would have to have some experience or knowledge prior to being chosen. The following is a brief summary of the subjects studied.

Basic Orientation is one of the very first 'lessons' given to all new trainees. They are shown around the Collegium so that they do not get lost, and are introduced to the people they should know, such as the teachers and the cook. Trainees are also informed of any rules and procedures, such as the day that bedlinen is changed. This helps them fit into Collegium lifestyle without too many hiccups or embarrassing mistakes.

Equitation is essential to a Herald, whose major form of transportation is a Companion. Trainees are taught to eat and sleep in the saddle. Equitation lessons also serve to strengthen the bond between Companions and their Chosen.

Chores are assigned to every trainee. Not only does this put everyone on equal standing, regardless of rank, it helps teach them necessary survival skills. A Herald may find themselves having to cook a meal, camped miles from any town or village. They may need to stitch leather armour before a battle, with no time to visit an armourer. It is a subtle teaching method, the skills from which are eventually incorporated into formal survival skills classes.

Survival Skills outline how to survive in the wild. It includes how to track, hunt and prepare game, how to build a fire and put it out safely, how to recognise edible fungi and much, much more.

Weaponskills are also essential to all heralds, although some are required to attain a greater skill than others. The style of fighting and weapons chosen are tailored to suit each individual student. Weapons include the knife, the sword, the bow, etc. Most trainees specialise in one weapon but may also learn a second. All must learn hand-to-hand combat.

Strategy & Tactics obviously instructs a Herald on the best way to conduct battle, but it also includes how to avoid a battle if possible, how to use the lie of the land, how to make best use of the available resources, and the ability to change plans quickly mid-battle. It is a lot more complex than merely sending people off to fight.

Mathematics, both pure and applied, are taught. A Herald may be required to study a merchant's accounts, or help plan the building of a flood prevention dyke.

Geography requires the trainee to learn their way around Valdemar without the use of a map, for they may not always have a map at their disposal. This includes the locations of rivers, trade routes, towns and villages, etc.

Religions are diverse in Valdemar and a Herald may be tasked to settle a dispute involving one or more of them. Without knowing the beliefs and customs of each religion, the Herald will not know the motivations leading to the dispute or how to resolve it. Tolerance and respect for others' beliefs are taught here, as a certain amount of tact is required when dealing with a religious dispute.

History lessons allow a Herald to put the present day situation into context. They learn about the founding of Valdemar and why there are companions; the factors leading up to past conflicts and how they were resolved; and the history of the royal family.

Courtly Graces teach the trainee how to behave in different social situations. Good manners, dancing techniques and the art of polite conversation are all included. Trainees with heavy accents are given Oration lessons as, for example, a highborn noble would be loathe to heed someone with a common peasant accent.

Diplomacy is the art of tactful communication. Trainees are taught how to express themselves clearly and logically, crucial to their negotiation skills. They must be able to interpret body language and respond accordingly. These classes fit in neatly with the classes in Courtly Graces.

The Law is one of the Herald's primary duties. They exist to uphold the spirit of Valdemar, as set down by law. They may be asked to make a ruling in small village disputes where a judge is not available. In these cases, the Herald represents the law and must know it inside out.

Gifts are unique to the individual in both strength and quantity. Some may have only one gift, some many. It is rare to have more than a couple. The trainee is matched to a teacher with the same gifts. Control over the gift is taught first, to limit the number of accidents. Then comes the fine tuning of the gift through putting it to practical use.