Lesson 1:

Ashram looked up as people entered his class. This would be quite the interesting endeavor he thought. Most of those present were Wetlanders and could surely benefit from the training he was offering. Ash made sure all the things he had prepared were ready and then began with the first lesson.

"Welcome to you all, please a have a seat. Now, he first thing we're going to concentrate on is preparation. The first rule of wildnerness survival is to have more resources and tools than you know what to do with. It makes things much easier to manage all around. Though, it is also important to pack lightly, because you don't want to have to carry too much with you..."

He motions to the items on the floor and indicates each as he speaks, "Knapsacks are definetly a bonus to have with you, it makes items easier to carry. Also, some items to bring along would be: Blankets, a mug, a small knife, Flint and steel to make your fire, a chopping axe, some extra preserved meat or food of some sort, a bow and arrow, extra clothes and boots, a canteen of water, a tarp or cover, some rope, a small pot, a dish, a fork and spoon, kindling, and a few more items. Though, keep in mind, you should only take the bare minimum of what you're going to need, it makes traveling either. Also, as a side note, you should wear comfortable boots, because hiking can grow tiring and painful without them. Now, does anyone think we should take anything else? Or something that could be left behind?"
He looked around and waited for an answer before going on...

Kubotai Drin'far'ji wrote:

Kubotai regarded the materials that Ashram Ji'alantin had laid out before the class, pursing his lips in thought. "Ji'alantin, the kindling may be somewhat extrenuous to the task; unless one is traveling to the Aiel Waste, kindling could be found in most places you wish to travel through. The axe and bow and arrow would help for hunting and gathering on a journey, but I would consider that they might depend upon what kind of journey you are undertaking." Kubotai frowned in thought, trying to think of what else might be necessary. "Hooks. Hooks and some line would be smaller and somewhat easier to carry here. If one camps near a stream or river, one could try for fish for their supper. And a work knife - a work knife would be absolutely necessary out in the wild."

Ashram nodded as an answer was given to his previous question and continued...

"The next thing to worry about when deciding to travel somewhere, is where you are going. Knowing the dangers beforehand can be a great help in overcoming them. Such as: you decide to journey to the Three-Fold land, you would of course relize there was a lack of water, so you'd bring extra to compensate and travel mostly at night, when the weather is cooler and the Sun is not beating down on you..."

"A map and a compass are additional tools that can aid in finding where you are going. But, you have to know how to orient them. First, you place the map down on a level surface and put the compass on it, then you orient it by determing the direction in correlation with the map." Ash did so and then did it a few more times to show the procedure.,"Now, you all try...then we'll move on..."

Kubotai Drin'far'ji wrote:

Kubotai thought on the Ji'alantin's lesson; it made quite a deal of sense. One must consider what they might encounter on a journey and plan accordingly. When the Ji'alantin took out a map and compass, he paid rapt attention; he had only seen two maps in his entire life, and both had belonged to his father. The compass itself was something he had only been told of, and never had he chanced to see one, as they were expensive and delicate items.

Accepting the compass after another of his classmates, Kubotai held it gingerly, afraid of breaking it. He looked at it and found it to be quite ordinary on inspection, with its engravings of the four cardinal directions and the delicate needle that wavered about in a circle. Kubotai did as instructed, laying the map out and scanning its content before determining how it would normally be read. He smoothed it out, placing the compass atop it so that the compass' North marker pointed in the same direction as it was displayed on the map, and moving his hands away. He watched as the needle swayed back and forth, gently adjusting the compass and map until the needle and the marker for North were aligned. Once he had done so, he looked up at the Ji'alantin with a grin.

Lesson 3: 

Ashram smiled as he advanced to the third lesson...

"Allright, does anyone know where the bestb part to set up your camp is?" Ash looked around and continued,"You should always look for a place near water to set up camp. For the obvious reason that water is an essential resource, but not easy to carry it. Also, you want to be careful to make it on level ground, and far enough away from the water in case of floods.

"Another important point is to make sure your tent is away from the wind. So, it does not blow away or let the cold night air into the tent. Can anyone tell me the essentials of a camp site? First, you need a tent, a fire, a possible place to sit. IT's also important to note that during the evening in troubled country, have watch shifts with each person, spread them out about 2 hours or so." Ash waited as they took that all in, before he continued...

Kubotai Drin'far'ji wrote:

Kubotai considered what the Ji'alantin demonstrated, and organized it in his mind. A campsite needed easy access to water, but also need to have enough distance from the water in case of rising water level. The campsite itself must be on level ground, and Kubotai supposed that this was in case of ran, as one would not want to wake up in the middle of the night with a small waterfall through their blanketroll. Sufficient space for a fire needed to be considered, as well as the necessity for it not to burn your campsite down. One's tent needed to be placed with consideration as to the direction and strength of the wind. Nodding to himself, Kubotai felt as though he understood the matters at hand.

Lesson 4: 

"This lesson will teach you to live off of the land..." Ash said as he began...

"To survive for long periods of time in hostile terrain, one needs to be able to replace depleted supplies. Things such as berries are good, and fruits, as long as you know which are poisonous and which are not. But, the best source of food is the game around you. I always carrya bow and arrow for such things..."

"Hunting takes skill and patience, that's something you really can't teach too well. But, other things. The water you camped by can be used to supply more water. And the trees around you can be cut down and burned for wood. Pine needles or dry grass can be used to replace kindling and other such things. Roots are also a very good source of food that can keep you going for a long time...any questions?"

Kubotai Drin'far'ji wrote:

Kubotai pursed his lips in thought. Hiss father had taken him hunting when he was a boy; nothing extravagent, but simple trips to teach him about the animals around Fal Dara, what was easier caught and what harder, and how to lay snares for rabbits and fetch quail with a sling. He had practiced some, but had not spent much of his youth outside the safety of Fal Dara's walls, due to its proximity to the Blight. Young boys fit into Trolloc cookpots very easily, and Trolloc raiding parties could drive well into the heart of Shienar.

What Ashram Ji'alantin taught was even more valuable. Kubotai had a basic understanding of what roots and berries and fruits could be eaten, and what could not; peaches, it was told, had once been a great frui to eat in the Age of Legends, though through the Dark One's own twisting, fruit and seed had become deadly poison. Roots and tubers were well and good for sustaining one's self, but they tasted of the earth for certain. Kubotai surmised that when one was hungry for days, taste mattered very little.

Final Exam

"Well, we're almost done, the next part we have to discuss is fire-building..."

Ashram gathers the materials in front of him carefully, holding up each as he speaks..."First, you begin with kindling. Little things such as twigs, pine needles, or anything small that burn well. Then, you get smaller pieces of wood or bark, and build your way up. You have to be careful when lighting it, because you don't want to use so much so as to smother it.

Dry wood is the absolute best, because wet wood doesn't burn so well and has more smoke. Always be sure to enclose your firew with rocks, so it doesn't spread. Friction is a good way to start a fire, as is of course the Power, sunlight, and flint and steel. The final test for the class will be to light 2 fires, building each and in two different ways..."

Kubotai Drin'far'ji wrote:

Kubotai found him a small spot amidst the other students hurrying to their task, and carefully set to the side his flint, steel, and the fire-bow that he had been allowed. His first attempt was simple, using the flint and steel to strike sparks onto the kindling. In just a few attempts he had the beginnings of a fire, in which he fed it some bark and more kindling to let it sustain itself for the Ji'alantin to see. Once the instructor was satisfied, Kubotai stopped feeding it small bits, allowing it to dwindle and die out in little time.

The second attempt Kubotai was a little more nervous about. His father had taught him how to make his own fire-bow, but Kubotai had never really used it in the wild; he had always relied on flint and steel to conjure flame. Remembering what his father had taught him, Kubotai set to work.

First he took a larger portion of bark and laid it out as a small workplace. Next he took the Board and notched the already burned-in hole in the Board with his belt knife. Once the notch was cut to his satisfaction, he began making the powder, drilling slowly by pulling back and forth with the bow and cord to gather powder from the board in the notch. A wisp of smoke rose from the work, but it was small enough that he continued just as he was. Once the notch was nearly filled with black and fuzzy powder, good for what he was trying to accomplish. Once the notch was nearly filled, he lightened his pressure on the spindle and began drilling back and forth at a much faster pace, making heat and causing it to smoke heavily.

Once he was nearly surrounded by smoke, he removed the bow and spindle and waited a moment. Smoke continued to come from the powder he had drilled, and he stooped down and gently blew on the coal, and it began to turn red with the heat. Carefully he transferred the glowing coal to a waiting tinder bundle, and was rewarded with a small flame. He quickly fed it more tinder in growing sizes, and the fire began to grow. He waited for the Ji'alantin to witness it, feeling quite proud of himself.