Hunting Pack

iztarshi:

I was going to say that Jägers appear to have a social structure
somewhere between an army and a wolf pack but, more accurately, they
have a social structure (and temperament) somewhere between an army and a
pack of hounds. Particularly scent hounds such as foxhounds or beagles.

Described in several breed standards as “merry”, they are amiable and
typically neither aggressive nor timid, although this depends on the
individual. They enjoy company, and although they may initially be
standoffish with strangers, they are easily won over.

Beagles are intelligent but, as a result of being bred for the long
chase, are single-minded and determined, which can make them hard to
train. They can be difficult to recall once they have picked up a scent,
and are easily distracted by smells around them. They do not generally
feature in obedience trials; while they are alert, respond well to
food-reward training, and are eager to please, they are easily bored or
distracted.

Beagles are excellent with children and this is one of the reasons they
have become popular family pets, but they are pack animals, and are
prone to separation anxiety,^[44] a condition which causes them to destroy things when left unattended.

From the wiki page on beagles.

They want to please but don’t listen, hate being separated from the pack and, oh yes, yell when they’re on the trail of prey.

The bloodthirsty tendencies probably come from their human side – they were all already raiders – combined with newfound hunting instinct. When not on the hunt they’re usually friendly, if a bit indifferent to social mores.

They don’t hold position and meet the enemy, they engage to bring down prey, surrounding, harrying, wounding and then killing them. It’s easy to see why the word “jägers” would be applied to them. Even when engaged with a larger group Oggie’s trick allows the Jägers to be the ones attacking from all sides. They have to be very outnumbered to fight on the defensive.

Like hounds they lack discipline when on the chase and very nearly the entire pack runs out of Mechanicsburg after a retreating army. They call each other onto a trail with the famous “ve hunt” and, while it might be a side effect of being detached and therefore unranked, Dimo, Oggie and Maxim can all equally call one another into a fight.

In some ways anyone using a pack of Jägers has to be a huntmaster as much as a commander. Jägers aren’t stupid and they don’t need to be treated like animals, but they are easily distracted and get caught up in things. Gil, at a point where he’s not used to being the heir to the Empire, fails to give clear instructions or command attention.

Then again, hounds, by training and instinct, respond to humans. Jägers, by training and instinct, respond to Heterodynes. They’re all much more attentive around Agatha.