Traditionally, new adults in Orlanthi cultures go through a period of cult training or apprenticeship, often called the “Ordeal Years”. The newly initiated young men (which include those women chosen by Vinga) are brought to Orlanth Adventurous and given weapons, a cloak, and a broad hat. This is sometimes done by the clan, more often by the tribe; in some cities, the young men live in the temple or guild house; in other traditional clans, they live in the wilderness. For the next two years, they learn to fight alone and as part of the militia. They raid and hunt, learn to run long distances, how to climb cliffs, and other physical training. Most importantly, they learn the songs and dances of the Orlanthi gods and heroes, how to speak with spirits, and of sex, the bonds of friendship, and the duties of men.
Now during the Lunar Occupation of places like Boldhome, New Pavis, or the other Sartarite cities, this had to be more circumspect. Young men were often sent to relatives in the countryside to learn how to be Orlanthi – for example, many went to Garhound in Pavis County, where they were under the protection of the clan chieftain. In Boldhome, many had kin among the tribes.
Ironically, this may have created a stronger and more defined Orlanth cult identity among the Sartarite communities and one often more loyal or devoted to the Orlanth cult to their own city.
The primary inspiration for this is the kóryos of Proto Indo-European culture, the Greek ephebos (and its Spartan agoge variant), and the Irish fianna.
Young men are taught the Orlanth Adventurous path even if once they have gone through this period they settle down as Orlanth Thunderous initiates. It is part of the general Orlanth cult – a few choose to devote themselves to that “young man” aspect, but most go on to initiate to Thunderous.
So an assumption in Orlanthi culture is that young men ARE Orlanth Adventurous. Most young men learn and experience that in a ritualised way by spending a couple of years in the hills with their fellows, learning how to fight, how to raid, sacred dances, etc. They then return to the community and devote themselves to Orlanth Thunderous.
But a minority continue along that Orlanth Adventurous path. And in a few groups they form the majority (or another way of looking at it, in a few kinship groups, the Orlanth Adventurous band IS the core of social organization).
Look again at the Orlanth cult writeup and carefully looking at the conflict between Wind Lords (Orlanth Adventurous) and Storm Voices (Orlanth Thunderous). And then thinking carefully about what is going on there socially.
Wouldn’t the Lunars have tried to round up every boy age 13-14 and haul them off to camps for 3-4 years and make good Seven Mothers initiate out of them? It is doubtful that the Lunar Empire ever possessed the resources to do that without stripping soldiers from the Redlands, Dorastor, Yolp Mountains, etc. And why on earth do that?
This comes from people assuming that Sartar is the MOST IMPORTANT priority the Lunar Empire has. Which is stupid – most Lunars really don’t care much about Sartar or Prax or the Holy Country. They are certainly willing to let the Red Emperor have his adventures as long as it does not cost them anything more than they are already paying. But there’s little enthusiasm outside of a little circle around the Red Emperor for anything more than cheap victories.