Monks believe that true purpose of existence is to achieve oneness, an ideal form of existence where harmony between the physical, mental and spiritual is attained. They call this oneness Self. The monk holds the pattern of the world to be the truest expression of this and therefore, devote much of their early years studying it, through history and direct observation of the world around them.
The Quest for Self: A monk's progession through circles and their journeys in the world are one quest toward the achievement of Self - the oneness that is total knowledge, mastery and control over their being. The teachings of Climacus dictate that only the experiences gathered through many journeys are the way to Self. In fact, monks refer to all their travels and experiences as the Journey. Whether a combat, sabbatical in a library or lengthy friendship, the Journey is an outer symbol of the monk's inner quest for Self.
Monks and the passions. Monks do not worship passions until 7th circle. We must first learn who we are, and then once we have mastered our inner self we can begin to look toward the passions. However, no monk will ever willingly become a questor, except in times of great need. There have been monks who have opted to leave their calling to become a questor, but at that time they must begin from 1st circle as a new discipline, leaving behind their teachings as a monk forever.
The races that can't be monks are orks and windlings. Windlings lack the attention span, and orks are too emotional to complete the training necessary to become a monk. It requires a great ability to meditate for long periods. Human monks cannot use their versatility talent, all their energies must be devoted to the final goal, the mastery of self, spiritual, mental and physical. Monks cannot be part of a multi-discipline character it divides the character's devotion. The character must give up the monk discipline or leave behind their previous discipline.
Climacus the first and only person to have ever attained 15th circle mastery of oneness carried with him a great staff carved with his experiences. He marked his progression through by changing languages at significant points in his quest. At first circle, upon acceptance into the monastery as an initiate all persons are given a plain staff made with true wood woven through it. The monk must also take two points of permanent damage to make the staff a focal point for his meditations. The staff is necessary for many rituals that the monk practices. The monk must have the staff for his karma ritual, the meditations ritual and to be part of the masters ritual of linking. If the monk ever leaves the path of oneness he must turn the staff in to the leader of the monastery he began his training at. The leader of the monastery burns the staff in a ritual that signifies the monk's leaving the way. If the monk chooses at a later date to reenter the brotherhood he must begin again at first circle with a new staff.
As the monk progresses through his training he carves his experiences and journey toward oneness on the staff. In honor of certain historical figures of the monks the staff is carved in different languages depending on the point the monk is at in his journey. At the initiate circles (1-3) the staff is carved in Dwarven in honor of Geotal Stoneheart, the first monk to create a monastery and accept initiates. A the disciple circles (4-6) the staff is carved in Human in honor of the ___ ____, the first Human to ever attain status of a monk. He under went three trials one at each circle 4-6 to prove his devotion to the way of the monk and was finally allowed to become a true monk. It is not until circle 7 that the monk is considered a true monk. For circles 7 through 10 the staff is carved in elven, in honor of ______ the first disciple of Climacus. Then from circle 11 until circle 14 the monk leaves the monastery and becomes a seeker. The seeker period is a period of deep introspection and self-reflection, seeking for the Oneness, harmony between the mind, body and spirit. During this period the staff is carved with a written variation of the Obsidiman language. Obsidiman was not only chosen for its ability to express sublime ideas through the use of pictorial type writing that could not have been expressed in any commonly written language, but also in honor of Climacus the first monk and the only one to have ever attained mastery at 15th circle. Right before the scourge began he re-entered his life rock Ayodhya. It is rumored that it is his spirit that holds the pattern of the life rock together and is preventing the Triumph from fully tapping the life-force held within. The final carvings on the staff are written in an unknown language that has yet to be deciphered.
The leader of a monastery is always a monk (circles 7-10). When a monk becomes a leader of a monastery he is able to learn a special ritual, the masters ritual of linking. To complete this ritual the monk must make a blood promise to protect the monastery and to accept for training all who seriously seek the way. This ritual allows a monk to communicate with a monk through his staff anywhere in the area of the monastery (within 1/2 mile). This makes it especially difficult for any attacker to successfully invade a monk monastery. There currently only a handful of monkish monasteries in Barsaive since leaders are so hard to come by. Most monasteries have not only monks but other Disciplines often come to train and learn with the monks.
Even though the staves themselves are quite expensive, they are rarely stolen. Since only monks carry the staves it is quite evident that the staff was stolen. A monk will track down the staff and recover it at any cost. The monk's direct link to the staff as a focus allows him to sense its general direction from anywhere. Any monk who finds a staff in the possession of a non-monk will recover it and return it to its rightful owner. The stories of what happens to those who are caught stealing or dealing in stolen staves are mostly rumors but it never ends well for the thief. If a monk loses his staff, he makes all attempts possible to recover it.
On obsidimen and the Way of the Monk - Because of the unique relationship of obsidimen and the Liferock, the Way of the Monk seems like a conflict with an obsidiman's ties with the earth. In order to balance the call of the Liferock with the importance of the aims of the Monk, an obsidiman seeking to begin the Journey must ask the permission of his Liferock elders. The elders consider the merit of the request by contemplating the obsidiman's deeds, words and beliefs to that point. If they believe the obsidiman is prepared to undergo such a quest and understands the gravity of what he is doing, they allow the obsidiman to become a monk. The justification is that, if successful, the monk's pattern strengthens and betters the Liferock upon his reemergence. Therefore, the obsidiman's Journey varies slightly in respect that his Journey for Self focuses on mastering his pattern and his connection to the Liferock.
| 1st Circle | Karma Ritual
Steel Thought (D) Book Memory Avoid Blow (D) Silent Walk Acrobatics (D) |
9th Circle | Spend on Willpower, +1 Social Defense
Endure Cold Critical Hit Emotional Control |
| 2nd Circle | Martial Arts (D)
Durability (6/5) Anticipate Blow (D) |
10th Circle | +1 to Recovery test Step, +1 spell Defense
Dominate Arrow Safe thought (D) |
| 3rd Circle | Item History
Astral Sight |
11th Circle | +1 Physical Defense
Vitality Spirit Strike |
| 4th Circle | Meditation At fourth circle the monk gains the meditation
ability. This ability allows the monk to spend all of his recovery
tests. He must then meditate for one full hour, if interrupted all
the recovery tests are lost and no benefit is gained.
Chi Weaving (D) Tiger Spring |
12th Circle | Spend on Dexterity, +1 Spell Defense
Thought Link Life Check |
| 5th Circle | +1 Physical Defense
Willforce (D) Wound Balance |
13th Circle | +25 Max Karma, +2 Social Defense
Detect Influence (D) Detect Falsehood (D) |
| 6th Circle | The Monk can now spend Karma on tests based on perception only
Strengthen Spirit Disarm |
14th Circle | +2 Physical Defense, Spend on Strength
Multi-strike Vital Strike |
| 7th Circle | +1 Spell Defense
Swift Kick Resist Taunt (D) |
15th Circle | Steel Pattern This ability is the culmination of years of
meditation and training. The monk now has learned the connection of
the mental, physical and spiritual self. The monk can now make a
Steel Pattern test to resist any talent or spell that makes a direct
attack to the monk's pattern. Make the test versus the test result
of the talent or spell targeting the monk's pattern. This does not
require an action.
Aura Armor Seize Initiative |
| 8th Circle | Spend on Recovery Tests
Chi Healing (Fire blood) Poison Resistance (D) |
Karma Ritual:
The monk sits and meditates on his staff,
contemplating his existence and the ultimate harmony on mind, body
and spirit.
The Chi-Healing talent allows the character to make one of his available Recovery Tests in the middle of a Combat Round, substituting the Chi-Healing step for his Toughness step in the test. The character cannot make an attack in the same round he uses the Chi-Healing talent, but he may also still be engaged on the field of battle. Chi-Healing is the monk’s ability to manipulate his physical essence so that mental energy is able close small cuts and sterilize wounds partially healing the monk.
Martial Arts:
Characters use the Martial Arts talent to make impossibly graceful, leaping, spinning attacks. In combat situations, use Martial Arts for the character's Attack Test. Add the ranks of Martial Arts to the character's Physical Defense Rating for the rest of the Combat Round. Martial Arts can be used either bare handed or with the monk's staff. No other weapons are allowed.
Strengthen Spirit:
Strengthen Spirit allows the monk to use his will to reinforce his body, increasing the amount of pain he can withstand. The monk must meditate on his staff for one-half hour. The effect of Strengthen Spirit lasts for 12 hours. The character makes a Strengthen Spirit test versus his toughness step. If successful add the strengthen spirit rank to the wound threshold and add the effect step to the unconsciousness rating (up to a maximum of the character's death rating).
If the test fails the character immediately takes an amount of damage equal to his wound threshold including the resulting wound.
Emotional Control
This talent allows the monk to resist the effects of his emotions. The monk can increase his defense versus talents or spells that try to effect his emotions. To use Emotional Control the monk takes one point of strain and increases the appropriate defense spell or social by his rank in Emotional Control. The effects of Emotional Control last for one round but the monk can maintain Emotional Control as long as he is willing to spend take the strain each round. Each emotion to be controlled must be purchased as a talent knack, such as fear, sadness, hatred and jealousy.
Seize Initiative:
The character makes a seize initiative test versus the target's spell defense. If successful treat the target's initiative result as 1 with respect to the monk. The target's initiative for purposes of any other opponent is unchanged. This talent can only be used in the first round of combat.
Meditate:
Meditate allows the Monk to make multiple recovery tests, up to
all available recovery tests, at once. The character must then
meditate for 1 full hour or lose all benefit of the recovery test.
This ability requires the Monk to meditate on his staff. Without his
staff he cannot complete the ritual.
Steel Pattern:
Effect: Willforce + 5
Steel Pattern is the epitome of the monks training. At this
point he has attained harmony of mind body and spirit such that he
can not only sense when his pattern is begin manipulated or attacked
but he can resist the effect. Steel Pattern allows the monk to
resist any spell or talent that attempts to manipulate his pattern
directly, such as Talent Shredder, Shatter Pattern or Horror Marks
(not including damage targeted versus the monk's physical defenses).
To use Steel Pattern the Monk makes an effect tests versus the effect
value of the spell or talent being resisted. If successful the Monk
has avoided the effect.
It is rumored that this ability through Climacus is what is holding the life rock of Ayodhya together, and is preventing the Triumph from fully tapping the life-force contained within. Thereby, keeping the Obsidiman trapped within the liferock alive.
The leg sweep can be performed either unarmed or with the monks staff. The monk makes an attack test as normal. However, the target does not take damage but instead must make and immediate knockdown down test. Add the character's rank in Martial Arts to the target number.
Focused Attack
This knack represents the monk's ability to strengthen his physical body. Increase the Monk's martial arts damage by +3.
Hold
This knack allows the monk to use his knowledge of physiology to hold an opponent immobile. The monk makes a martial arts test normally. A good success or better means that the monk has managed to grapple his opponent and immobilize him. The opponent can break out of the hold with a strength test using the result of the monk's attack test as the target number.
Target Pressure Point
With this knack the monk targets a pressure point to attempt to stun an opponent. The monk makes and Acrobatic Strike test as normal. On a normal success make a damage test minus 3 steps. On each success make a damage test minus 3 steps but the opponent is stunned for one round plus one round for each additional level of success. The monk must be able to reach a pressure point of some sort, such as an exposed head, hand, foot or arm. If there are no exposed areas add 3 steps to the difficulty of the attack test. A stunned opponent suffers a 2 step penalty to all actions for that round.
Sense Presence
This knack allows the monk to use his heightened senses to sense when someone is about to surprise him. This knack allows the monk to make an anticipate blow test versus the opponents attack test. If successful it allows the monk to use any ability to avoid the blow. This talent is only effective versus physical attacks.
Focused Attack(2)
This knack represents the monk's ability to strengthen his physical body. Increase the Monk's martial arts damage by +3.
Graceful Fall
Graceful fall reduces damage from a fall. The monk must be able to touch a solid surface such as a wall or a tree. The monk would be able to use his acrobatic and mental abilities to reach such an object if it is within 10 feet from his point of origin. The monk uses his acrobatic ability and his mental and spiritual abilities to control his decent. Make an acrobatics test versus the damage step number. If successful reduce the damage step by the monks rank in acrobatics.
Momentum Throw
This knack allows the monk to use an opponent's own momentum against him. By means of careful timing and maneuvering the monk is able to avoid a blow and throw the opponent to the ground. To use momentum throw make an Avoid Blow test as normal. On a good success or better the monk not only avoids the blow but he throws his opponent to the ground. The target makes and immediate knockdown down test, but add the monks rank in avoid blow to the difficulty number.
Emotion
Each emotion that monk want to learn to control must be purchased as a separate knack.
Focused Attack(3)
This knack represents the monk's ability to strengthen his physical body. Increase the Monk's martial arts damage by +3.
Avoid Spell
Avoid Spell allows the monk to avoid the effect the spells that have either a physical or astral manifestation. To use think knack make an avoid blow test versus the spell casting test. If successful the character voids the spell. The character can only use void blow once per round. The avoid spell knack if not effective versus blindsided attacks.
Focused Attack(4)
This knack represents the monk's ability to strengthen his physical body. Increase the Monk's martial arts damage by +3.
Monk's Staff
Maximum Threads: 1
Spell Defense: 19*
The staff has true wood woven through it. They are created for a
monk when he becomes an initiate in the bortherhood. The staff
serves as a focus for the monk, he records his experiences and
tribulations. As the monk progesses through his journey the staff
begins to strengthen from the mental and spiritual energy. Even
though the staff can be used as a weapon a monk will only do that in
the most dire of circumstances, since that means risking damage to
the experiences carved on the staff.
*The weaving difficulty for the monk who the staff was given to is 11.
Thread Ranks
Rank 1
Cost: 300
Deed: The monk must have attained 4th Circle.
Effect: The monk now can sense the direction and location of the
the staff as long as it remains on the physical plane. If the staff
is destroyed or transported out of the physical plane, the senses the
loss.
Rank 2
Cost: 500
Deed: The monk must have attained 5th Circle.
Effect: The staff gains +3 to its toughness, and its damage step
is now STR+5.
Rank 3
Cost: 800
Deed: The monk must have attained 6th Circle.
Effect: Monk's mental and spiritual link to the staff is
strengthened so that the monk knows immediately if anyone handles
the staff. The effect will be noticed as long as the monk is
conscious, even in sleep. The sensation will not interrupt the
monk's meditation if the monk chooses to ignor the warning.
Rank 4
Cost: 1300
Deed: The monk must have attained 7th Circle.
Effect: For one point of strain the monk can focus a small
amount of energy through the staff to cause the top to glow. The
light is the same intensity as a personal light quartz. This effect
will last for a number or hours equal to the rank of the thread woven
to the staff.
Rank 5
Cost: 2100
Deed: The monk must have attained 8th Circle
Effect: The monk can now plant the staff in the ground. Only the
monk can release the staff. To force the staff from the ground
without the monk's permission a person must make a strength test
where the target number is equal to the staff's spell defense plus
the rank of the thread woven to the staff.
Rank 6
Cost: 3400
Deed: The monk must have attained 9th Circle
Effect: For two points of strain the monk is able to sense the
surroundings of the staff within a 10' radius. These sensations
include sounds, climate conditions and the presence of living
beings. This does not include visual images, only the number of
beings and sentience is known. For example the monk would know that
there are 4 name givers and one animal, but he would not be able to
see who the name givers where or know what race they were. This
effect lasts for a number of rounds equal to the rank of the thread
woven to the staff.
Rank 7
Cost: 5500
Deed: The monk must have attained 10th circle
Effect: In response to the use of the Monestary's Protector's
ability to communicate through the staff, the monk is now able to
respond to the Protector.
Rank 8
Cost: 8900
Deed: The monk must have attained 11th Circle, and the monk must
walk the Iota Spirit Path in Honor of Climacus and carve the
experience on the staff. This deed is worth 8900 LP.
Effect: While holding the staff the monk is now able to find better
footing. Add three steps to any test to avoid slipping, tripping or
falling down.
Rank 9
Cost: 14400
Deed: The monk must have attained 12th Circle
Effect: The monk can call the staff back to his hand through sheer
force of will. The monk must make a willforce test (see the table
for difficulty). If successful the staff will move a number of yards
per round equal to the result of the willforce test. The monk must
take a number of strain points equal the distance in yards divided by
100 to make the willforce test to begin the process. This process
requires the monk to concentrate on moving the staff. If the monk
is interrupted he must begin again using the staff's current location
to calculate strain and difficulty.
Rank 10
Cost: 23300
Deed: The monk must have attained 13th Circle
Effect: The staff gains +3 to its toughness, and its damage step
is now STR+8.
Rank 11
Cost: 37700
Deed: The monk must have attained 14th Circle
Effect: The monk can now store his thread rank in karma points
in the staff. The staff's karma can be spent on any test the monk
could normally spend on, but they are in addition to the normal
karma. To store karma the monk must transfer karma from his own
available karma pool. To transfer karma the monk takes one point
of strain and can transfer as many karma points as he has available,
up to the staff's maximum.
Rank 12
Cost: 61000
Deed: The monk must decipher the final writing on Climacus' staff.
This deed is worth 61,000 LP
Effect: The monk can create a circle of tranquility around the
staff. This has a great calming effect on those within 10 yards of
the staff. The monk makes a willforce test against the highest
social defense plus one for each additional being to effect. This
does not effect the undead, horrors or horror constructs.
In 1335 upon Tassadar's emergence he was greeted by Karagian and Gothorum, the elders of the Dragon's Neck Liferock and the other members of the liferock. Then Tassadar underwent the Ritual of the First Merging. In 1435 Tassadar Awoke and began his journey.
Tassadar spent the first 10 years observing the other members of the liferock. He learned about the obsidimen's place in the world and various legends about the journey. Tassadar quickly displayed an interest in the idea of the harmony that an obsidimen strives for. After various discussions with his brothers, Tassadar decided that the best way to achieve this harmony was to follow in the footsteps of the great monk Climacus. The monk's journey to Oneness, their striving to reach the physcial, mental and spiritual harmony, is so similar to an Obsidimen's belief of physical and spiritual harmony. So in 1454, Tassadar petitioned the elders to allow him to journey on the path of the monk. After a brief (2 years) examination by the elders on Tassadar's intentions and beliefs (see appendix A for excerpts from the hearing) permission was given along with a letter of introduction, written in Dwarven of course. Finally in 1456, immediately following the conclusion, Tassadar travelled to the Spirithawk Temple in the Scol Mountains.
Late in 1456 Tassadar reached the Spirithawk Temple. His first few years passed as an initiate. The period was spent in study at the temple's library. It is beleived that Tassadar first came across the legends of S'shr'tal during this period. After the intial few years of mandatory study Tassadar began his physical and spiritual training. During this time Tassadar traveled with a small group of monks to learn what they could from other temples across Barsaive. Then in 1485, Tassadar returned to the Spirithawk Temple to undergo the ceremony to become a monk.
Remebering the brief and obscure legends of S'shr'tal Tassadar devotes much of his free time to learning all he could find about this momentus point in the history of Barsaive. For Tassadar, this event had a profound effect on the Great Pattern of Barsaive and so as he began to learn more he realized that to reach any understanding about his own place in the pattern must include knowledge of an event this significant.
Then in 1508 he was summoned by the liferock to attend the Return of one of his brothers, Gort. Knowing the importance of Gort's own journey to the liferock, Tassadar began the journey back. While at Dragon's Neck Tassadar met those responsible for bring Gort's body back for the Returning, the Bearers of Akasha. Reflecting on Gort's experiences and the path he chose for himself, the elders decided to ammend their thoughts on Gort (see Gort's history as recorded by Caarad Surestrider). The whole episode had effected Tassadar deeply. Seeing the importance of Barsaive to Gort moved him to devote even more of his studies to S'shr'tal. Also, during this time Tassadar hears of the Liferock Rebellion. Being an obsidiman, Tassadar pledges to do everything in his power to aid the Rebellion in any way possible. Tassadar returns to the Spirithawk Temple.
1509 Tassadar receives a missive from Omasu, one of the leaders of the Liferock Rebellion. Apparently, Omasu had heard of Tassadar's research on S'shr'tal and decided that he could assist the Bearers of Akasha in their new quest. Tassadar decides that he can use this opportunity to learn about S'shr'tal firsthand, travel and gain new experiences and to also give something back to the Bearers for their service to the Dragon's Neck Liferock.
Finally, on ______ Tassadar meets up with Maxwell Highcliffe of the Bearers of Akasha and the journey begins...
| <Karagian> | "So Tassadar, you wish to follow the path of the monk. There have been others in the past who have chosen to disregard our deep beliefs in tradition. We worry that by forgetting who and what we are the essence of the liferock is diminished. Are you aware of the danagers following such a path places on your committment to the liferock?" |
| <Tassadar> | "Yes, elder Karagian, I have thought long on the subject of my ties to the Dragon's Neck liferock and to my brothers. But I believe that the way of the monk and their journey to find harmony of mind, body and spirit does not interfere with my committment. In fact I believe that with my increased awareness and the progression of my own self-understanding that I can strengthen our understanding of our own existance and our place in the great pattern. Concerning the ties I have as an Obsidimen to the liferock and to my brothers, that understanding would take on a much larger concept than the normal monks journey, but I am sure that I am up to the task. The teachings of Climacus have shown us that there is some deep and fundamental understanding that we can attain through introspection. If you could just grant me permission to begin this journey I know I will not disappoint you." |
| <Gothorum> | "Yes, we know the teachings of Climacus and we have conferred with the Council of Four concerning this matter. You have that strong desire for knowledge that fuels us all. Your thirst to learn about the harmony of being should be explored, as long as you keep in mind your connection to the liferock, to the earth and to your brothers. This path you seek could lead to revelations about our race and our existance. The teachings of Climacus have taught us that we need not deny our search for harmony or self-understanding, rather that search will, in the end, strengthen our bond as brothers. By just one of us gaining the insight of the monk we can hope to better understand our connection to one another and therefore our connection to the Great Pattern itself. So, it is agreed that as long as you, Tassadar, are a fine example of what it means to be an obsidiman." |