Shadowhunter Training

**Shadowhunter Training**is the method by which Nephilim teach their young about the Shadow World as well as how to defend it.

## Overview

Shadowhunters begin formal training at age 8. They start with basic combat training (such as learning how to fall properly) as well as history and learning about Shadowhunter society. Their receive their first Mark (Voyance) at age 10 on their dominant hand, and their second Mark (Angelic Power) on either their throat or insides of their wrists at age 12. Young Shadowhunters are strictly forbidden from training with weapons until they reach the age of 12.

Areas of combat study include Western combat style, Eastern martial arts, and stylized combat such as judo or fencing. There is an early emphasis on enhancing strength, speed, and flexibility from the ages of 8-12. Younger Shadowhunters mostly focus on language studies and classroom learning.

## Skill Sets

### Monomachia (Hand-to-Hand-Combat

* **Beginner:**basic competence ("black belt" equivalent) in at least one Eastern martial art or Western fighting tradition. Ability to reliably fend off two or three simultaneous attackers.
* **Intermediate:** competence in three to five mundane fighting traditions. Ability to reliably fend off five or eight simultaneous attackers.
* **Expert:** competence in ten or more mundane fighting traditions. Ability to fend off an arbitrarily large number of demons.

### Ranged-Missile Combat

* **Beginner:**competence with standard set of ranged weapons - longbow, crossbow, sling, thrown daggers, javelins, big heavy rocks, etc.
* **Intermediate:**competence with the above while blindfolded.
* **Expert:**competence with the above while blindfolded and lying down.

### Stealth

* **Beginner:**ability to pass undetected through darkened alley or room.
* **Intermediate:**ability to pass undetected through darkened alley or room filled with small breakable objects precariously balanced on top of other breakable objects.
* **Expert:**ability to pass undetected through open terrain in broad daylight.

### Blending and Concealment

* **Beginner:**ability to pass as a mundane in a typical public scenario (driving a car, shopping for food, etc.)
* **Intermediate:**ability to pass as a mundane at a small cocktail party or reception.
* **Expert:**ability to pass as a mundane in the midst of a mundane demonic cult performing a human sacrifice.

### Agility and Grace

* **Beginner:**basic competence at acrobatics, tumble, trapeze, gymnastics, etc.
* **Intermediate:**competence at the above skills while wearing 66 pounds of gear and several heavy weapons.
* **Experts:**competence at the above skills while wearing 66 pounds of gear, several heavy weapons, a blindfold, and iron manacles.

### Endurance

* **Beginner:**competence at improvised survival skills in typically harsh environments (high desert, drifting ice floe, etc.)
* **Intermediate:**competence with above in extreme conditions (inside a building that's on fire, free-falling from an airplane at high cruising altitude, in outer space, and in Hell).
* **Expert:** ability to withstand torture by Greater Demons while in above harsh or extreme conditions.

### Tracking

* **Beginner:**knowledge of basic tracking runes; ability to identify telltale signs of an animal or demon activity and maintain pursuit.
* **Intermediate:**ability to maintain pursuit while also evading similar pursuit by different animal or demon.
* **Expert:**ability to maintain pursuit while in extreme conditions.

### Orienteering

* **Beginner:**intuitive grasp of altitude, cardinal direction (north, south, east, west), time of day, weather conditions, etc.
* **Intermediate:**ability to find way to known safe location when dropped into an arbitrary environment.
* **Expert:**ability to find way to known safe location when dropped into extreme or harsh environment.

### Observation and Deduction

* **Beginner:**basic forensics knowledge; ability to "read" the scene of a crime and reconstruct the events with a high probability of accuracy.
* **Intermediate:**ability to reliably identify revealing details of a scene that mundane law enforcement would often overlook.
* **Expert:** as above, but while blindfolded.

### Languages

* **Beginner:** knowledgeof several mundane languages, preferably a mixture of living languages spoken near a Shadowhunter's geographical base and ancient languages used in religious writing (Sanskrit, Hebrew, ancient Greek, Sumerian, and Latin).
* **Intermediate:** knowledge of the above and at least two demonic languages.
* **Expert:** knowledge of the above, at least four demonic languages, and ability to intuit basic meanings from written or spoken language never encountered before.

### Diplomacy

* **Beginner:**ability to talk your way out of being eaten by a demon or killed by an angry Downworlder horde.
* **Intermediate:** ability to talk your way out of being eaten by a Greater Demon or killed by angry Downworlder political leadership.
* **Expert:**ability to talk your way out of being eaten by a Greater Demon or angry Downworlder political leadership, and to convince said demon or Downworlders that letting you go was their idea.

## Division of Studies

### Ages 8-10

Most young Shadowhunters have a basic grasp of Shadowhunter society if they are being raised by fellow Nephilim. Shadowhunters ages 8-10 mostly focus on improving physical condition and language/history study. Most of language/history study is done in younger years of training. The time is split 60/40 (more classroom lessons). During this time, Shadowhunters will:

* Improve flexibility, endurance, strength, and speed
* Memorize all runes
* Learn about Nephilim society and history
* Earn their first Mark (Voyance)
* Learn about basic tools (seraph blades, steles)

### Ages 10-12

At this age, Shadowhunters will begin to split their time 50/50 between physical training and language/history study. They will be expected to have memorized all of the runes from the Gray Book by now. They will start to learn ancient languages as well as demonic languages; they may wish to pursue other regional dialects, as well, and are encouraged to do so. Shadowhunters this age will:

* Receive their Angelic Power rune (age 12)
* Memorize all runes
* Begin to train with weapons by age 12
* Begin to learn languages (demonic & ancient as well as regional)
* Learn about different types of weaponry & materials

### Ages 12-14

By this time, Shadowhunters should be almost complete with their history of the Shadow World. They will continue their language studies; this extra time will be used to prepare Shadowhunters for field duty, as well as basic skills in areas (hand-t0-hand combat, long-range combat, endurance, stealth, etc.). Shadowhunters will also choose their weapon of specialty at this age. Young Shadowhunters will:

* Choose weapon of specialty
* Learn about basic skills in areas
* Continue their language studies
* Learn about different types of demons

### Ages 14-16

Shadowhunters, at this age, will begin to go out into the field. They should also continue to train daily, and will also be expected to maintain their language studies. They will also continue to improve upon skills learned in earlier years. Shadowhunters at this age will:

* Go out into the field for the first time (14 years old)
* Continue to advance combat skills and learn about weapons
* Continue to maintain language studies
* Learn about different types of demons

### Ages 16-18

Congratulations! Shadowhunters at this age will officially be done with their history/language training, and will be placed in the field when needed. As they are not adults, they do not have full rights of Clave members. They are expected to be done with language studies, and are encouraged to visit other Institutes in foreign places once they reach the age of 18. Shadowhunters at this age will:

* Complete language studies
* Continue to hone abilities in combat areas and specialties
* Be in the field full-time
* Visit foreign Institutes (age 18)
* Declare allegiance to the Clave (age 18)