Jungfruar ach Bandlagare

Jungfruar ach Bandlagare, sometimes better known abroad by it's English name "Maidens ach Tracklayers" or sometimes "Maidens and Tracklayers" or even "MaT" is a series of books written by the Imerian author Brynhilde Tinasdottir about a series of girls attending the bording school "Rosewood academy" and despite being girls take up the spot as one of the crew of a tracklayer crew as part of the school district's military education competitions when the Rosewood academy faces of either other schools or entire different school districts in competitions of mock combat as is common in federal education. However the training exercises described in the books are often described as a bit more realistic than what is common in the real school system. Often depicting the tracklayers used not as the downsized, unarmoured, and slower replicas used by school but instead using the statistics one would expect from real tracklayers. The book was originally intended for girls however it found a popular fan following by both boys and girls in the federation for it's humour and the fish out of water story as women are not included in military education and are instead given classes focused on more womanly activities.

The story follows a team of 4 girls and especially the young noble lady Tina auf Hammarnafe that serves as the PoV character that hails from a noble house that has commanded a hammar class tracklayer regiment since their introduction in the Imerian army, Tina and her comrades that were forced to take up the mantle of the leaders of the schools tracklayer formation consisting of two tankettes, one light male tracklayer, two hammar class tracklayers of both female and male varieties, and later on even a heavy beheamoth class tracklayer. It should be noted that this is a very impressive tracklayer formation for a school the size of rosewood and another point that is not generally seen as very realistic. In the first story was the girls allowed to run because the school headmaster made a bet with the nearby rival school Oakenfield academy about who's school would win a mock combat engagement but the whole school's tracklayer specialists were said to have gotten sick due to food poisoning during a training exercise. Tina and her class mates volunteered to take the team after the headmaster realised that the challenge said that the combat was between "students" not "boys" and Tina used her noble lineage and what she had learned from her father and brother's at home to defeat a male team in a tracklayer duel. In later books is this not clarified furhter, however the second book also makes a mention of food poisoning and the third and forth novels does not even mention why this is allowed. Most fans however seems to believe in the theory that the headmasters keeps making best that he ill can afford to lose.

Stories

Name	Published	Takes place	Summary
A maid and her tracklayer	2017	Not mentioned	Tina auf Hammarnafe and her fellow students must face off against a rival school in a mock combat exercise, however can they prevent their fellow students and rivals from learning that they are women and bring home the victory at the same time? Especially as their rivals maintain one of the fiercest student cavalry corps in the realm.
Maiden tracklayer warfare	2018	Not mentioned	Rosewood and Oakenfield acadamies are forced to join forces as the local shrine between the two schools are mocked by a School from Vedian. Can our heroines preserve their identities while also fight alongside their rivals? And can they find out what they say about Vedians and their Kilts are true.
Tales of Maidens and their tracklayers	2019	Not mentioned	Not a true novel but instead a collection of various short stories about the maidens outside of combat, featuring various characters and is not as focused on Tina herself. Mostly comedic in tone.
In snow and frost	2019	Not mentioned	A short story more focused towards women rather than the boys in the readership. Mostly focused on Tina, Birger, and Hageriker as Birger is escorting Birger and Tina over land owned by Oakenfield. However the trio is overcome by a sudden snowstorm that does not seem to let up and they must seek shelter in an abandoned mansion. However are they truly alone in these dark halls? And is there any truth to the claim that a vampire haunts these halls? Generally met with mixed reviews. Breaking the usual story beats that most fans are used to was it generally seen as quite a good horror story, but most people agree that the artwork is cutting it very close to what would be considered morally acceptable.
Maidens in a Tracklayer clash	2020	Not mentioned	The great annual student clash is upon the Rosewood, and the students are called in for a week long engagement between the entire school district this time facing off against a school from Blaland, can our heroines prevail in this new hot landscape and secure honour not only for Rosewood and Oakenfield but also for the entire school district?
A maid in royal blue.	2021	Not mentioned	Yet another school faceoff is again upon Rosewood and Oakenfield as they this time is brought up in a mock exercise in the dense jungles of Sydvinland. Can our heroines secure victory not only facing mud, heat, rain, terror birds, but worst of all, a lack of proper bathing facilities out in the jungle and can their new toy help them?
Maids at the rout	2022	Not mentioned	Rosewood and Oakenfield is tasked with facing off against a Malgravean officer cadet corps from Niels Bohr Academy. However while the enemy have advantage in both numbers, experience, and vehicles do the Imerians spend most of the day prior in prayer to every God of War they can think of in a ASG center where they offer appropriate offerings to the Malgravean ancestors and are given a flag by the main cleric of the center said to depict a freasome warrior paragon, no exact name is given however. As a result does the game begins well as Hageriker is able to trick the main Malgravean force to chase a feint retreat before they are almost annihilated when the Rosewood-Oakenfield students turn around and charge with Hageriker's personal banner bearer replacing the Rosenholmen heraldric colour with their new paragon flag. However what follows is a nail-biting drawn out tracklayer duel as a Malgravean tank ace makes himself known when the Federals tries to clear out the last holdouts. While Tina is desperately trying to clear out the enemy holdouts do Birger and Hageriker both chase the enemy commander that also managed to flee the counter offence, both intending to declare his capture to Tina at the victory ball and hopefully even having the honour of accompanying her to the ball.
Maids; Los federales	2023	Not mentioned	Having shown the Malgraveans the might of their joint schools are the students of Roseholmen and Oakenfield celebrating with a ball, and having been invited by both Birger and Hageriker is Tina getting more and more stressed about who to grant the honour of the first dance and Klara and Brynhilda tries to cheer her up offering their suggestions, Klara seems to think Birger is the better candidate and Brynhilda suggest that Hageriker ought to be given the honour. In the meanwhile does Frida has her eyes on one of the cavalry students from Oakenfield and tries to get him to ask her to take the dance and does not give up despite numerous refusals and Klara's attention is quickly taken up by the new combat drone their school was donated to teach drone combat and Klara names it Bloodthirster. However to the horror of everyone is the party crashed by a Dornian university group that has infiltrated the school grounds, they attack suddenly and violently with sticks, breaking several expensive statues and paintings before running off. Tina herself is during the attack thrown into a barrel of strawberry cider ruining her dress and Hageriker is first on the scene pulling her out. Tina however runs away crying due to the state of her dress and him seeing her in that shape. The next morning is stock taken after the attack and it is realised that the price maskot of Oakenfield, an especially fat shagrat named "Fete ola", has been stolen and to get him back does the two schools need to challenge the Dornians to battle. Screaming for Vengence does Birger take lead pulling his own sword swearing that he will not rest in a bed nor comb his hair until vengence has been granted. An oath most of the schools take up whole heartedly and an official challenge is issued to the Dornian school. A few days later have a large battle been arranged between the two schools and to the surprise of everyone does the Dornian tanks speed ahead and outpaces their infantry, the federal school children are surprised and not sure what kind of ploy it is and they are pushed back, in part due to cheating by the other school. This defeat last until Hageriker realise that the Dornians are divided into two groups, a tracklayer teams used to a similar sport with only tanks and infantry that seems not used to having to deal with combined arms. As a result does he order a full retreat which the enemy tracklayers cheerfully attempt to exploit, this however turned out to be a rouse. The Federal infantry with armoured support and anti tracklayer weaponry is able to take out the enemy tanks and the federals launch a counter offensive attacking the enemy infantry shattering them. With the enemy in a complete rout does Hageriker order Tina and her tracklayer to join up with Birger's cavalry to ride at their school itself and Bloodthirster is able to wreak a bloody path of destruction on the battlefield. They arrive and are able to rescue Fete Ola the shagrat. Even better does Tina recognise one of the students leading the defence of the school as the man who originally threw her into the barrel, and she is able to take vengeance as Birger on her behalf ties him upside down to a tree. The Imerians withdraw in triumph having sacked the enemy school and is declared victors even if the other team complains and tries to issue a ruling against the federals, but is shut down by the judge. The book ends with Tina finally getting to relax only to find two letters, one from Birger and one from Hageriker both saying as they never got that dance would they instead offer to host a private dinner with her and both suggest the same day. Placing Tina back in the situation she started in.
Maids and the wolf	2023	Not mentioned	Okenfield and Roseholmen have both been invited to attend manouvers up in the far north in the northern iceplains to study with other schools. The climate is however cold and dreadful and the enemy school is more than capable tying the joint Okenfield and Roseholmen schools into a bloody stalemate and both sides dig in. However almost a day's walk to the north lies an abandoned village according to maps that overlook a river crossing that would protect the students from a flanking attack. Birger and some of his cavalry is joined by Tina and her Crew as they are both sent to take and hold the position. They arrive just in time as a snowstorm sweeps in and the students are forced to seek shelter in a larger house. While the grunts are allowed to take the main room does Brynhilda suggest that as nobility should both Tina and Birger take the main bedroom and the proper beds. While Birger originally accepts does he give the one bed to Tina and while she offers to share does he originally deny saying that while most people think that she is a boy would he still rather not wish to risk any scandals if people found out he shared a bed with a girl and he sleeps on the floor. However the night gets very cold and Tina has a hard time sleeping and is freezing, seeing that does Birger relent and they both fall asleep in one another's embrace for heat. Morning dawns and the students realises to their horror that they are snowed in, no attacks are likely to come but still they are unable to retreat back. Further more do they realise that their tracklayer has been damaged, both the radio is ripped apart and so is the engine. Birger take charge of the position while Frida uses the drone bloodthirster to scout out the area but they can find no trace of their attackers. Nightfall comes again and this time is there no snow. However the full moon reveals a horrifying scene as they realise that the village is the hunting ground of a werewolf. The Students are able to hold the beast off with their rifles but they are not able to hurt it. A tense siege begins, the third day is spent trying to find the wolf in human shape and kill him as well as gathering as much silver as they can get their hands on. Frida is even able to rig a homemade silver shrapnel bomb. As night comes again and the students take up positions again to fend of their attacker do they not see him. However this soon turns to horror as the wolf emerges suddenly from beneath the floor, bursting through the wood. The sudden attack forces the students to run and Tina realises to her horror that the wolf has zoomed in on her and she is forced to escape through the village. She is however cornered and about to be killed when Birger on horseback charges the wolf from horseback with a lance. The silver coated lance severely wounds the beast buy piercing it's jaw making it unable to bite but it does not kill him and birger is forced to dismount as he wolf kills his horse. The Nobleman is however soon on his feet and attacks the wolf with his blade, able to inflict damage on it and even able to get between it and Tina. However ultimately is he unable to win and the wolf mauls him quite fiercely. This is when suddenly bloodthirster intervenes Ramming into the wolf and exploding. The silver shrapnel ultimately does the trick and kills the wolf. The students have at this point been able to rally and Birger is given care, enough to keep him alive at least while everyone mourns the brave drone that gave it's life to save Tina and Birger. Tina however stays by Birger's bedside and tries her best to make him comfortable. Dawn breaks and the students start to argue what to do, however they are not forced to deliberate for long as a federal autogyro arrives. It is revealed that the students had overshot the village they had aimed for and instead ended up elsewhere and the whole war scenario had been called off to find them. Birger is taken to get medical treatment but they are all also locked up in a werewolf asylum to ensure that nobody got cursed. Tina is finally able to greet Birger who is recovering but still wounded and he apologises for not being able to save her on his own. Tina wants nothing to hear about it though and thanks him for saving her life. And while he is too weak to resist does she also give him a kiss, claiming that they are now equal. The students are ultimately cleared after a week of test and they can return home where a cremation ceremony is held for bloodthirster the drone.

Characters

Tina auf Hammarnafe

Tina is a young and smart woman as home in a tracklayer as she is in the kitchen, embroidery workshop, or with the accounting books being often very creative and using a very feminine mindset and her math skills to secure victories.

Brynhilda Rosadottir

Brynhilda is the second in command and gunner to Tina and often serve as a competent woman even if her appetite and love of food is played up as a humorous element in the books. She is also often the one that recieves most admoration from males in the books, and is generally described as pleasant. She is asked, and attends, balls escorted by the enemy commanders post or prior to the school matches in both "Maiden tracklayer warfare" and "Tales of Maidens and their tracklayers".

Klara Erikasdottir

Klara is the driver of Tina's tracklayer and her riding as well as her driving skills are often described as comedically reckless.

Frida Erikasdottir

Sister of Klara and second gunner of Tina's tracklayer, a woman that is very often depicted as very found of lads, often in trouble with the school staff due to this habit.  

Hageriker auf Rosenholmen

Hageriker is the son of a noble and attends Rosewood, as such is he often put in overall command of the schools students in military exercises. He serves as a romantic interest to Tina and knew of her identity as of the end of the first novel. Generally is he depicted as rather good natured and well willing and serves as a father to the men of Rosewood.

Birger auf Ekensjan

Birger is one of the main antagonists of the first novel as the commander of the Oakenfield cavalry is he depicted as a dashing and courageous young man with a duel scar across his cheek already despite his young age. He also serves as a potential love interest to Tina and knew of her identity as of the end of the second novel.

Mal Malssen

A Malgravean officer cadet in Maidens at the route, serves as the main antagonist of "Maids at the rout" a devilishly good tracklayer commander that spend most of the book trying to lessen the utter disaster that the original federal assault is. He is able to avoid most traps and attempts to encircle the him. Ultimately is able to take out the federal heavy tracklayer by sacrificing his commanding officer, finally earning his team the loss they had been trying to stave off, and ultimately sacrificing even himself as Tina's medium tracklayer is able to destroy his tracklayer. Exactly what kind of tracklayer he drives is never revealed but it is described as "a male medium tracklayer of a patchwork of dull green and browns as it's combat livery with only numbers as it's heraldry". He is mentioned as having paragon blood in his veins which most Imerians question why he was not in command then.

At the victory ball does he approach Tina, Birger, and Hageriker and surprising them all by being fluent in the good old tongue and offers his congratulations to their mysterious tracklayer commander that managed to triumph over him personally as well as giving both Birger and Hageriker praises for their actions as the commanders of the victorious force showing himself to be quite amicable and he agrees to write letters with both Birger and Hageriker.

Naird the four eyed.

A minor antagonist of Maids at the rout, generally described as inept, quick to anger, fat, and clean shaven is he in command of the Malgravean cadets he seems to have gotten that positions due to his good theoretical grades rather than any real claim to bloodline or personal chivalry. When Mal is praising his fellow warriors post the battle at the ball does he approach and badmouth the Imerians complaining loudly over his capture and claiming that mere luck secured the federal victory rather than their reverence for the ancestors. In spite when called out does he throw his wine at Tina ruining her dress. Both Birger and Hageriker challenge him to a duel at the spot to which he laughs off saying that he is a scholar and that chivalry has no hold over him. Birger then punches him claiming that if chivalry has no hold over him than he shall be treated as a scoundrel and he ought to be trashed with Birger's riding whip. Naird then summons a teacher demanding that something is done about it.

Here does however Mal step in saying that he saw no punch and that Naird most likely have been drinking a bit too much, having even spilled his drink over the honourable lady Tina. Naird is last seen being led away by the ear as Hageriker points out that lying is not honourable but he still considers Mal a righteous and honourable individual.

Bloodthirster.

Bloodthirster is a federal combat drone, as such is he controlled by Frida most of the time and she uses him to fly very dangerously and caused a lot of damage both in and out of combat to enemy and friend alike. He is however also described as a very cheerful spirit and the drone is said to enjoy being washed and petted, something the entire crew gives him. However he also died in Maids and the wolf where he sacrificed himself to save Birger and Tina.

Books and movies

A live action adaptation of the first novel is in the making however until date have all four books been adapted as an animated series of films.

In 2020 TVN announced that they had greenlit an animated adaptation of the book series called Maiden and Tracklayers