Criteria
for picking river voices, for Daine's benefit. Poor Daine will get his ear bent for
quite a while (you get to read this huge rambling email <G>). Caernak doesn't mind sharing this info,
since we're looking for someone to eventually fill Arcus's shoes. It boils down to "people like
Caernak" if you want the short version.
The candidates need not
be ready by the next ZF Holy Day.
Caernak would rather Daine spend time evaluating them (and training
them), to make sure he's comfortable with his choices. Since Arcus will be around, he could get
to know them as well - while Daine doesn't need to listen to his advice, Arcus
would probably be able to offer it, and Caernak will certainly listen to
anything Arcus has to say about the candidates. Further, Raus is pressed for
men, and Caernak doesn't want to weaken him. "And besides," Caernak says
with a grin, "that way you get to deal with the raw recruits. After you've had them for a season or
two, I
expect they'll know which end
of a sword is which, and I won't have to reattach as many fingers." (Hopefully this gets some kind of
positive reaction - even if it's just a grunt of agreement).
Here goes:
Caernak is looking
mostly for personality traits. Honorable, valorous, generous, suspicious, energetic, and the other
key virtue for the Cleansed One Cult. (Passion for Honor isn't on the list,
but it's something Caernak has and values highly and thinks is important.) Also looking for
"flexibility" as a world view - men or women who are willing to see
both Raus and the Five Eyes as legitimate dwellers in the Valley (just an
example). As Daine knows,
this is not always true, but if one is to be successful employing the Left
Hand, one must be able to see others' point of view. Caernak will also be looking for things
that Daine can spot - like high stats for combat skill bonuses. "Spirit blessed" is not as
important - POW goes up over time.
Race doesn't matter.
Oh, and watery skills
like swim and boat would be cool, but Caernak thinks Raus may want those guys
too - even if he doesn't. In any
case, a big part of Mr. C's training and indoctrination plan is daily swimming "to
promote peace of mind in the bosom of the River", so he doesn't care if
they can't swim so good yet; they'll learn.
Caernak will be picking
based on personal interviews, and asks that Daine not tell the candidates what
the criteria are; he doesn't expect this will be a problem, or that Daine will
object to the criteria. After all,
honor isn't all that useful in Glorantha; if they're willing to look at things
from all sides, Daine can't ever be REALLY sure they won't decide Raus is in the
wrong; valorous translates as "gets killed doing stupid stuff";
generous = sucker; suspicious, well, who wants somebody who doesn't trust
easily?. Daine probably doesn't
want troops who think too much or ask too many questions; they cause problems
and lower morale. Caernak wants the
troublemakers; he's not looking for soldiers, he's looking for like-minded
individuals with potential. Future
priests of the Cleansed One, who can slay gorp with one hand and make peace
with the other, who will devote themselves to the virtues of the Cleansed
One. Daine might well perceive that
potential heroes and leaders who might cause trouble for Raus will find purpose
in serving the River and all who dwell in his Valley. They're also likely to die before they
can become a problem.
Uh,
is that kinda clear? Dave, Arcus
will also get a rundown on what we're looking for, so he can help with the
selection.
> Daine listens for
a moment, loses patience and calls for a scribe to
> take down notes
from you, and goes to train his men in the meantime.
> He returns and the
scribe gives his a brief overview of your points.
> Daine stiffly nods
and just says , "Fine enough." and dourly
heads
>
back to weapons practice.
Later, Raus says that Raus is impressed
> with
your criteria and thinks that it will help improve his fighting
> force.
I get
the feeling Daine was expecting some other criteria. Or didn't expect
Caernak (me) to have it all thought out :). Caernak wasn't trying to piss him off -
he thought Daine wanted to know, professional interest and all that.