04-23-03 @ 6:43 pm EDT

I realize something like this will eventually end up in the Apsiu worldbuilder journal, but I'm tired of waiting to get to that part of the exercise, so I want to babble a bit about the organization of the Kana army since I find its dynamics so interesting. (Which you probably will not.)

Here goes, in no particular order...

The Kana are trained from a very early age to be prepared to enter the military. As early as a few weeks after birth, winged male pups are tested for flight abilities; this may seem cruel, but the Kana have a strong flight instinct, and the ability to fly can be determined with a test performed upon newborn pups. Even before they can walk, their wings can spread and slow their descent when they are dropped from a short distance (always with an adult nearby to catch them should they fall); this is a pretty accurate measure of whether a pup is Kana (warrior, flying caste) or Moru (slave, nonflying caste). Every once in a while, a pup that cannot actually fly may slip through the cracks and be judged as Kana, but further training into childhood will definitely reveal the error in time, thus reducing the Apsiu child to Moru status again.

No matter what their caste, all pups are raised first by their mothers or by another female who may serve as a wetnurse. This is only for a short time, for Kana pups. As soon as they are able to walk passing well, they are taken from their mothers to be raised among the Kana, though visits to the mother/nurse are still allowed until the pup is weaned from the breast. Personal training by the father, family, or close friends can begin at as early as three or four years. This is usually limited to wielding such things as short blunt sticks and mock daggers in exercises of dexterity.

Flight itself is not something that needs to be teached to Kana youths; it comes naturally, though sometimes with a few false starts. The Kana are skilled flyers and such an ability comes to them easily.

Around age six or seven informal training in preparation for entering the Kana military begins. Again it is the father or close family friends who teach the pup what skills he will need to know. Basic swordplay, flying exercises, running, and sparring are the primary areas of focus. Preteen Kana are considered responsible enough to wield sharp weapons, albeit of much smaller size than their adult counterparts. It is not considered dangerous or abnormal for boys between seven and ten to carry real swords and daggers as they go about their daily business.

Entry into the Kana military proper varies by age and skill level, though by the age of between eleven and thirteen, most boys are ready to join. They may live with their fathers in their own households and attend training at the barracks, or may house in the barracks themselves, though most Kana living in barracks are in their teenage years and up; sometimes a transitional period is needed before a Kana boy is considered adult enough to live with his peers, due to social pressures from the other Kana boys. (Sexual assault is a frequent but highly underreported problem in Kana barracks, where no females or Moru are allowed.)

Infrequently, Kana boys remain in the home for formal training, and enter the military only when they have reached a higher rank. They may be tutored by Kana lieutenants or captains who are specially paid by their fathers for the duty, though this costs much more than simply enrolling in the military itself. A home-trained Kana stands a greater chance of attaining a higher rank in a quicker amount of time, but the process can be very expensive, and beyond the means of most Kana fathers.

Admittance into the military is free, up to a point. All boys undergo several years of training in the hopes of attaining a higher rank (all start out as privates). Some may attain a higher rank and quit the military to seek other employment, even though this is not considered as honorable or as much of a source of pride as being a career soldier is. Some do not attain a higher rank and quit to seek employment anyway. Others attain higher rank and decide to continue in the military, but must then pay a fee to continue training and living in the barracks or in the household of a more powerful Kana. For those whose fathers cannot afford such fees, sponsorship is often available, in which another Kana usually unrelated to the family, often a captain elite, pays the youth's fees for him. This may be done out of generosity, though often the youth is expected to perform some service for his sponsor, such as guarding his household or doing other duties while in his care. Kana boys without fathers or legal guardians may be adopted by more powerful Kana in high rank, who will then pay their military fees as if they are the boys' parents themselves. As such, almost all Kana who wish to serve in the military beyond basic training are capable of doing so, though occasionally a youth must quit to seek employment or to move to a different tribe and join their army, as he cannot afford to support himself.

(Sponsored Kana run the risk of being ridiculed by those who must pay their own way or have their fathers pay their fees; it is a common practice for powerful Kana and their sponsees to become involved in sexual relationships, hence the mockery faced by their less-wealthy comrades.)

The basic training period varies according to skill and age when entering the military, but is generally of about three or four years or so. Basic training ends when this period of time has elapsed, no matter what the rank attained, or when a Kana reaches lieutenant status, at which he is considered a full member of the army and may then seek a household to serve, or a residence of his own. (Kana are allowed to seek their own households before this time, but are not held in as high a regard as lieutenants; those who quit the military before attaining this rank are often mocked as being "lazy" or unskilled.) Lieutenant is not the highest rank attainable, but it is considered the cutoff point between being a trainee and a full-fledged Kana warrior. As such, lieutenants are those in the military who have the most freedom of choices before them.

The Kana military recognizes the following ranks, from lowest to highest:

Private
Sergeant third class
Sergeant second class
Sergeant first class
Lieutenant third class
Lieutenant second class
Lieutenant first class
Lieutenant first class elite
Captain
Captain elite
General

The only rank unattainable by most is that of general, which is held by the one Kana in the highest power and esteem, and in civilian society would be similar to the position of chief or king; this is a very unstable position, and generals may be overthrown by their subordinates at any time. While hereditary ties are considered in attaining such positions, they are by no means ensured, and in the end the Kana held in the highest respect by the most men usually gains this rank. He is the only Kana allowed to wear the purple lappets, signifying his leadership over the tribe.

Those who are privates through sergeants first class make up the bulk of the military and are often those to be found in the barracks. For the most part these are considered the "unskilled soldiers," used primarily for their numbers rather than their fighting skills. Most "civilian" Kana--merchants, blacksmiths, physicians, etc.--are of the rank of sergeant and are those who chose to quit the army to pursue other professions. Those privates and sergeants who remain in the military wear the black lappets of their rank, and are used for most menial work not performed by the Moru (slaves). Aside from a handful of skilled sergeants first class who may be employed by Kana in higher standing, these soldiers do not command much respect and live a life of drudgery, except for the times they spend in the numerous taverns.

The rank of captain is purely a political one granted by the general, and cannot be earned in the military itself. Captains are lieutenants who were highly regarded by the general for their service, skills, and close social ties; it is a known and common practice for generals to promote those closest to them, in the hopes of then having a handful of loyal comrades to help them keep their hold on their position as leader of the tribe. This does not mean there is never any dissent between the general and his captains; among more "enlightened" Kana, the rank goes to those of highest respect and skill, no matter what their affiliations, though attempts are usually made to ensure that known enemies do not reach this standing. Captain elite is a rank reserved almost exclusively for the general's closest advisors; although captains are the rarest rank aside from general, there is no exact limit to how many there may be. Captains often live a life of luxury within their general's household or within their own, as their training is considered to be long over; they still fight in the army when needed (although they may tend to stay away from the front lines), but are not as active in military affairs as the rest. Some captains, in an effort to stave off the boredom that comes with no longer being so active among the ranks, may take on sponsees from among the lower ranks for personal training or tutorship. It is not uncommon for powerful captains to keep their younger sponsees as personal servants or even lovers, although most such relationships appear to be consensual. Captains elite also serve upon the Kana tribunal, which oversees important criminal trials at the command of the general.

Captains wear the red lappets of their rank.

Oddly enough, the rank within the Kana military which is strongest in terms of skills and camaraderie is that of lieutenant. Kana lieutenants are well known for their courage, loyalty, and fighting abilities, and are those who are held in the highest respect by the bulk of the military, aside from the general. Even captains are not held in as high a regard as the lieutenants, as the rank of captain is often considered to be an indolent one based purely on favoritism. Lieutenants, on the other hand, gain their rank through pure skill and fighting ability alone; they are those who have served longest and hardest in the army, who have trained most closely in the barracks, and have thus formed stronger bonds as "brothers" in the military. ("Brother" is a term used between equals or near-equals, as well as among male lovers; hence its meaning as a word of great respect and closeness is evident.) Far more than any other rank, Kana lieutenants are known to stick together and back each other up when support is needed, even if it means risking their own safety or social standing. It is not unusual for a lieutenant to turn down the rank of captain in order to remain closer to his brothers and in closer touch with the military itself.

Lieutenants are the primary trainers in the Kana army; barracks lieutenants are those responsible for the privates and sergeants, and those who will lead their units into battle if need be. In addition most captains have one or two primary lieutenants on hand to act as personal servants and messengers, and the general himself almost always employs a first lieutenant and a second lieutenant to carry out important duties; the positions of first and second lieutenant to the general are very well respected, indeed. Lieutenant first class elite is a more common rank than captain elite, but no easier to attain; only the most highly skilled achieve this standing, and most lieutenants pride themselves on this achievement by keeping their fighting skills honed and ready. Lieutenants are closer to the lower ranks than captains are, and as such command greater respect from their subordinates; they act much as "go-betweens" between the black-lappeted lower ranks and the red- and purple-lappeted higher ranks, often settling disputes and mediating between the two. They hold a very special position in between the two ranks; they are seen as being as skilled and influential as the captains, while they are still in touch with and understand the sergeants and privates and their needs. Therefore, aside from a few captains who reside in luxury and detest their "uppity" inferiors, the great majority of the Kana soldiers respect and honor the lieutenants as being the highest example of their tribe...besides the general.

Once a Kana reaches the rank of lieutenant, he is considered a "free man" and may quit the military honorably, or continue to serve, either directly (by training in the barracks or guarding the tribe) or indirectly (by serving another Kana lord, or establishing his own household). Lieutenants wear the blue lappets of their rank.


I will be back here later on today to possibly type more and to proofread for errors! Have to go now...

Edit: I've decided not to proofread this, as I haven't the time and wish to post another entry. So please excuse typos. Plus I think I said almost all I wanted to say above; if there's ever any more it can go in another entry. I think that's all.