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Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks

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Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by captinjoehenry   » Fri May 29, 2015 7:26 pm

captinjoehenry
Lieutenant Commander

Posts: 147
Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:36 pm

Hi I was just thinking it would be interesting if we could gather info about Merlin's career through the Charisian Royal Guard. So can we all gather some info about Merlin's rank and what book he gained it.

ok here is what we have so far:

Lieutenant - OAR
Captain - BSRA
Major - MTaT

Edit: list has been updated to the current rank of Merlin now we just have to wait and see if he gets promoted again in HFQ
Last edited by captinjoehenry on Sun May 31, 2015 3:02 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Undercover Fat Kid   » Fri May 29, 2015 7:46 pm

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I'm pretty sure Merlin's Imperial rank is like points in "Whose line is it, anyway?"
.
.
Death is as a feather,
Duty is as a mountain
This life is a dream
From which we all
Must wake
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Zarz   » Sat May 30, 2015 7:54 am

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This seems to be a pretty apt quote - for both comments. I don't have the page number, but it's from Like a Mighty Army Ch VII, and can also be found in Snippet #31 (http://forums.davidweber.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4955):

The only person in that cabin junior in rank to Halcom Bahrns was Major Athrawes. However, there were majors and then there were majors, and Bahrns couldn’t think of anyone Emperor Cayleb was likely to consider senior to this particular major.


To answer the rest of your question, Merlin was still a captain as of How Firm a Foundation, but he was promoted by Midst Toil and Tribulation; when Irys meets him again in Tellesberg she says:
“As did you, Major Athrawes.” She smiled almost as warmly as Daivyn as she took note of his new rank.
I don't think he started out as a captain, though (I think maybe he got promoted after Darcos Sound?), but I don't have the books handy to check. Anyone else know?
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Keith_w   » Sat May 30, 2015 8:05 am

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Zarz wrote:This seems to be a pretty apt quote - for both comments. I don't have the page number, but it's from Like a Mighty Army Ch VII, and can also be found in Snippet #31 (http://forums.davidweber.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4955):

The only person in that cabin junior in rank to Halcom Bahrns was Major Athrawes. However, there were majors and then there were majors, and Bahrns couldn’t think of anyone Emperor Cayleb was likely to consider senior to this particular major.


To answer the rest of your question, Merlin was still a captain as of How Firm a Foundation, but he was promoted by Midst Toil and Tribulation; when Irys meets him again in Tellesberg she says:
“As did you, Major Athrawes.” She smiled almost as warmly as Daivyn as she took note of his new rank.
I don't think he started out as a captain, though (I think maybe he got promoted after Darcos Sound?), but I don't have the books handy to check. Anyone else know?


He joined the Royal Guard as a Lieutenant as his "reward" immediately after rescuing Cayleb from the assassination attempt (OAR). I don't recall the first reference to him as a captain.
--
A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by captinjoehenry   » Sat May 30, 2015 8:23 am

captinjoehenry
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Updated first post
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Charybdis   » Sat May 30, 2015 12:19 pm

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Personally, I don't think you'd want to give him much higher rank and even then at Major he is already at the junior 'Field Rank' level. If Safehold treats ranks like they appear to do, Major through Colonel are Field Ranks capable of leading independent formations on independent tasks in the field. Generally, Majors are still make-learnee level being Executive Officers and the sort.

One of my reasons for desiring Merlin to go no further is that this 'Field Rank' level is where the enemy starts to take notice of an individual officer. Majors have enough seniority and power to carry important orders and information, have instant command of junior officers and the ability to logically request a hearing by 'Flag Rank' level. Thus an intelligent enemy starts to keep track of such and that is what Merlin does not need on top of being an acknowledged Seijin, As a Royal Bodyguard, Captain AND Seijin, it was dangerous if he got noticed for being too fast at getting around. As a Major, it just gets more noticeable and potentially increases chances of 'bad things!'

Of course given our author's proclivities ...

What would happen if CoGA forces managed to capture our good Major, hmmm? Might be a bit of a dicey accomplishment - no? :?
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Randomiser   » Sat May 30, 2015 12:31 pm

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Charybdis wrote:Of course given our author's proclivities ...

What would happen if CoGA forces managed to capture our good Major, hmmm? Might be a bit of a dicey accomplishment - no? :?


Have you heard about the hunting dog that caught the slash lizard?
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by McGuiness   » Sat May 30, 2015 3:40 pm

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Randomiser wrote:
Charybdis wrote:Of course given our author's proclivities ...

What would happen if CoGA forces managed to capture our good Major, hmmm? Might be a bit of a dicey accomplishment - no? :?
Have you heard about the hunting dog that caught the slash lizard?
This is the sort of event for which I'd gladly sit down with Cayleb, eat some fried potato slices, and watch the action in slow motion... :lol:

"Oh bother", said Pooh as he glanced through the airlock window at the helmet he'd forgotten to wear.
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Keith_w   » Sat May 30, 2015 4:47 pm

Keith_w
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captinjoehenry wrote:Hi I was just thinking it would be interesting if we could gather info about Merlin's career through the Charisian Royal Guard. So can we all gather some info about Merlin's rank and what book he gained it.

ok here is what we have so far:

Lieutenant - OAR
Captain - ???
Major - MTaT


Page 30 of BSRA he is referred to as Captain. Understandable as his boss just got an unwanted promotion too.
--
A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
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Re: Lets keep track of Merlins rise through the ranks
Post by Tonto Silerheels   » Sat May 30, 2015 6:27 pm

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Charybdis wrote:

If Safehold treats ranks like they appear to do, Major through Colonel are Field Ranks capable of leading independent formations on independent tasks in the field.

It shouldn't be very difficult. Just calculate the number of seijins he's already in command of, and assign him a rank accordingly.

~Tonto
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