[@shylarah] I disagree about this method not being successful in creating functional fighting groups. It's definitely cruel, but I think it would be successful more often than not. I have a brother in the Navy and two cousins in the USMC (my ex-boyfriend was in the corps as well) and I was really affected when I heard about their experiences-- the isolation they went through, the stripping down during bootcamp and how they basically had no choice but to bond with the people they were grouped with in order to succeed. My cousin, who was kind of a shy loner type before going in, said this to me at his graduation -- "Yeah I'd die for my brothers. Easily." So, I'd say it works. 

That's kind of what inspired the Seminary and the warband thing. Only in this case, it's a much longer than 13 weeks and it's literal survival on the line, which is a good motivator. And yes, pupils are forbidden from leaving their compounds, just as military recruits can't leave their barracks of their own free will. 

I'm curious though, what did you think the Seminary was supposed to be like?