Egerin is the primary part of a sex-linked recessive gene complex, and is responsible for giving them speed, strength, and stamina well above the Sandeman norm. Although the psychological segment of the gene complex is smaller, it is no less important: Sandeman warriors enjoy fighting.
These physical and psychological traits are developed by training which starts at age five. The major emphasis, of course, is on combat and related subjects, such as weapons, martial arts, High War Speech, military and Sandeman history, and perhaps some spacecraft handling. Other important subjects are customs and courtesies, need management, the clan's specialty, and one or more personal interests, usually including some form of handiwork.
When the young warriors move into the main clanhome at puberty, they begin doing their own chores (laundry, cleaning, etc.), including a share in cooking.
At approximately 18 years old, there is a graduation ceremony for the new warriors and w'women, indicating that they now take their place in the clan as adults. There is no sharp division other than that an adult will not fight or have sex (except for the instructors) with a student; part of the post-graduation party is an adult inviting one of the new graduates to one or the other.
Warriors have the typical Sandeman ethnocentrism, but to an even greater degree. The race was created to be better than its creators, and the warriorsare the best of the Sandemans. Fortunately, they are also more concerned with honor, propriety, and courtesy, and they are thoroughly trained in "warrior restraint"; it is dishonorable to fight Others who regard themselves as non-combatants, however great the provocation, except in self-defense. To a Sandeman warrior, the Marine slogan "Death before dishonor" is a truism -- and a probable reason most warriors spend some time in that service.
Their physiology and training, however, make it unlikely that a warrior will ever become a Ranger or Sovereign; they are temperamentally unsuited to administering a civilian group larger than a clan. (That, at least, is the conventional wisdom.)
Because of this, there are fewer w'women than warriors, though ideally their numbers would be equal. About the best ratio most clans can expect is one w'woman for two to three warriors.
At initiation, a member drops à's family name, using "of the White Order" instead.
|