The Monastic Brotherhood of Amkethran || Veridis Quo ||

[Elegant Egotism]

The Monastic Brotherhood of Amkethran

Table of Contents

Post 1.0 - Introduction Post
Post 2.0 - Rules
Post 3.0 - Monastery Description
Post 4.0 - The Brotherhood: What is a monk?
Post 5.0 - Joining

The Amkethran Monastery was originally founded five generations ago by the original members of the Monastic Order of Amkethran. The monastery itself is two days journey south from Aekea. The same rules that were put into place during it's conception are still followed in this all male monastery, and the dead are greatly revered. The mission has similarly remained the same, to perfect one’s self and grow in harmony with the universe.

[Elegant Egotism]

Rules

AMP Guidelines in effect
Don't know what the AMP is? Check it by clicking here
Common Sense is mandatory
Do. Not. Post. Stupid. Things.
The general time setting is pre-modern
Nothing outside what can logically happen in the time setting
We are open to attack...
But don't make it something stupid, for God's sake. I'm open to others styles, but keep the setting in mind. I've not seen any country fire missiles because they were bored. ( lol, North Korea )
My law of Feed Back applies here.
If you're not open to attack, neither are we. If you don't allow guns or technology, neither do we. You can build off this rule for various situations.
Keep weapons and technology reasonable
This is a monastery, kindly takes your aircraft and space fleets elsewhere unless you have special permission.
Did you ban me from your thread?
If so, you are banned here. =D

[Elegant Egotism]

The Monastery

The monastery is located in a region named after it, Amkethran. It is located in a desert plateau, surrounded by high defensive walls. As dictated by the lifestyle of those who reside and common sense, the facility is largely self-sufficient and is able to survive for long periods with little outside resources. The monastery was made in honor of, and all of the monks that reside inside of the monastery are subjects of, the lawful good god Helm - also known as The Watcher. The monastery itself is ancient and was made about 300 years ago by hand by the founders. The monastery is in remarkably good shape for it's age. The fact that it is well taken care of plus lack of any constant conflict attribute to it's pristine connection. Interestingly, the monastery has one of the largest collection of books and manuscripts in the area. A detailed map of the monestary can be found here.

Amkethran Monestary
1. Processional Entrance to the church
2. Church with two apses and it’s numerous altars
3. Main cloister, showing arches
4. Dormitory above, room with heating apparatus below
5. Refectory below, wardrobe above
6. Cellar with storehouses above
7. Houses for pilgrims and poor travelers, with brewery and bakery adjoining
8. Writing and study room below, library above
9. Living room and dormitory
10. Schoolmasters lodge
11. Orphanage
12. Porters lodge
13. Balthazar’s estate and library
14. Brewery and bakery belonging to dining hall
15. Towers with spiral staircases, overlooking the surrounding area.
16. Dining Hall
17. Sheep-stall
18. Storehouse
19. Storehouse
20. Swine stall with swineherds’ quarters
21. Cattle-shed with cowherds’ quarters
22. Horse barn with grooms’ quarters
23. Stable for mares and oxen with haylofts above
24. Workshops of coopers and turners
25. Storehouse for brewery-grain
26. Fruit drying house
27. Brewery and bakery for the resident monks, showing mortars and hand-mills
28. Workshops of clothing-makers, saddlers, blacksmiths, carvers, and tanners.
29. Granary and threshing-floor
30. Entrance to subterranean spring
31. House of gardener with kitchen garden adjoining
32. Burial grounds
33. Cloister and living rooms
34. Church for the novices and the ill
35. Cloister and living room for seriously ill.
36. Hospital garden
37. Physicians quarters, apothecary-shop and rooms for patients
38. Additional building for surgical purposes
39. Abbots house, with entrance to church and the main cloister.

[Elegant Egotism]

The Brotherhood

There are several requirements for one who wishes to join. First, he must discard himself and his worldly possessions, with few exceptions. When he joins, he is given a simple hooded brown robe, a medallion, and sandals. With few exceptions, this is what a monk must always wear. This simple garment stresses simpleness and humility and is easily one of the most identifiable traits. A monk must spend much time in meditation with himself and serving his community.

Martial Arts are a method in which a monk perfects himself physically, mentally, and spiritually. The monk's body is to act as one fluid object. The monk's skills not only apply to himself, but are to effect the world around him. It is a monk's obligation to project those who are in need and combat chaotic evil forces when he encounters them, either by destroying or converting them. While a monk is a powerful warrior, he must limit himself - using only the amount of power necessary and no more. To be flashy, self-absorbed and full of yourself are not qualities of a monk.

Monks also prohibited from using traditional magic, such as wizard spells. Instead, they use a unique set of abilities and stances through which they control their Qi or spiritual energies. Monks must learn to grow and use their spiritual energies if they are to become effective vessels of righteous harmony. Because positive nature of the monk, one who has strayed from the path no longer has access to his spiritual energies.

Sometimes a monk must prove himself worthy or overcome barriers, which is perhaps were monks are most commonly known in Gaia. A certain number of monks are allowed to leave the monastery every year to go to other guilds and organizations to hone themselves. They may also be called upon to aid organizations who are under siege from forces of evil. A monk may only be assigned to help or adventure with a lawful neutral, neutral good, chaotic good, or lawful good guild. In times of great trouble, the entire monastery may be called upon to help vanquish a powerful evil.

Even though it is often frowned upon inside the community, it is recognized that weapons must sometimes be used. For this purpose a monk is allowed to posses and train with a single weapon, but such weapons are usually restricted. For example, a halberd would be allowed but a great ax would not. Since the monk trains all his life with the weapon, it often acquires magical attributes. For this reason when a monk dies, his weapon is buried with him.

Combat

While it should be avoided as much as possible, in these times of trouble it is an acknowledged fact that combat often does take place. For this, a monk must learn and master different abilities. These abilities are learned over years of training. If a person is discovered to join simply to gain the monks combat abilities, he is instantly expelled from the order.

Basic Feats
There are a number of feats that all monk have access to, as they are part of the initial training. These are Cat's Balance , Cat's Climbing, Concentration, Craftsmanship, Diplomacy, Escape Artistry, Hide, Cat's Jump, Improved Knowledge, Improved Arcana, Improved Spiritual Knowledge, Improved Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, and Tumble.

Charge
In showing fear, a monk displays his lack of faith, and a faithless monk is less than a man - let alone a disciple. This is vital in that when all else fails, it is faith that will carry the monk through to victory. Monks of faith never shirk from righteous and just combat, but rush forward, allowing their faith to carry them into the thick of battle to deliver the first blow.

Flurry of Blows
A monk is often out numbered in combat of face a much stronger opponent, and for this a monk is taught this basic ability. Through this, he is able to strike a single foe accurately many times with his fist or a compact weapon or multiple ones who are in close proximity of each other. Each hit is precise, but only a high level monk can apply other modifiers behind a flurry of blows.

Evasion
While a basic ability, this is a very useful one. Using extreme agility, a monk is able to avoid most strikes and missiles such as arrows. This ability is one that is essential to that of the monk, as it not only is important in combat but also reflects the monk's spiritual values.

Natural Resistance
In order to survive the unforgiving lands of the Aekea, the people of the monks have developed hardy resistances to the common elements. Heat and cold alike are something they endure often. Since food is scarce at times, they have learned to consume species of plants that would slay normal men. Through additional training, a monk can further fortify himself against these dangers, allowing him to better survive while traveling to unfamiliar lands and battling unknown foes.

Still Mind
This ability cannot be taught, but is rather discovered through meditation. This ability enhances a monks resistance to enchantments, illusion, and other similar fields of magic.

Fast Movement
Though unarmed and unarmored training, the unhindered monk is able to move at a much faster rate than that of an ordinary human. Through proper training, he is able to increase how fast he strikes and moves at an exponential rate of that of a human.

Qi Strike
Intermediate level monks are able to apply their life energies to their strikes, enhancing damage done and adding more precision to their blows. Higher level monk's Qi is able to bypass armor and magical effects that ordinarily reduce physical damage.

Purity of Body
Through meditation, physical training, and through the god Helm, a intermediate level monk is granted immunity to all diseases except for those supernatural and magical diseases.

Lay of Hands
Through their spiritual abilities, monks are able to heal their own and others wounds by simply placing their hands on the wound. This is similar to a cleric's healing spell.

Stunning Blow
A monk that has learned to apply his spiritual energies may use them in a punch that will render the opponent unable to move.

Improved Evasion
High level monk agility improves to the point where it is difficult for a normal warrior to land a successful blow upon a monk. Higher levels monks are capable of dodging several blows at once.

Abundant Step
This high level ability allows a monk to "step" between magically between places, similar to the spell Dimensional Door. This ability must be used in moderation or it can prove physically and mentally harmful upon the monk, typically once or twice a day. The place must be typically short ranged ( 400 ft ).

Greater Flurry
This ability allows a monk to apply moves such as stunning fist to his flurry attack.

Diamond Soul
This is an ongoing skill that is never quite perfected. The higher level the monk, the higher his magical resistance is. Through physical, mental, and spiritual training it is constantly raised. However, there has been no immunity to spells yet.

Quivering Palm
Perhaps one of the monk's most feared ability, a monk is able to send vibrations through his palm that can disable or kill a target if he wishes.Constructs, oozes, plants, undead, and incorporeal creatures are unaffected by this ability.

Timeless Body
Upon reaching a higher level, a monk no longer takes penalties for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that she has already taken, however, remain in place. Bonuses still accrue, and the monk still dies of old age when his time is up.

Fade
A monk can will his physical being to shift partially into the astral planes. As his body becomes less substantial, he becomes less susceptible to the effects of elemental attacks and magical curses.

Tongue of the Sun and Moon
Through studying and divinity, a monk is granted the ability to speak any language that a human can learn.

Sainthood
While not sainthood in the literal sense, this means the monk has mastered all the afore listed skills and may progress to learn skills such as Armor Skin, Blinding Speed, Damage Reduction, Energy Resistance, Epic Prowess, Epic Speed, Epic Toughness, Exceptional Deflection, Fast Healing, Improved Combat Reflexes, Improved Ki Strike, Improved Spell Resistance, Improved Stunning Fist, Infinite Deflection, Keen Strike, Legendary Climber, Legendary Wrestler, Reflect Arrows, Righteous Strike, Self-Concealment, Shattering Strike, Vorpal Strike.

Greater Monk Abilities

Shadowless kick
This powerful kick that is charged with Qi, it throws the target back, knocks the target unconscious.

Tiger Strike
Like the Tiger, the monk can sense his foe's natural weakness and is able to ensure his strikes will target the weakest area the monk is able to perceive. Tiger Strike can be charged with Qi to have an enhanced Shadowless Kick ability.

Dragon Fist
With a strong blow to the target creature, the monk strips away the magical protections of the target. This is most useful when fighting wizards who have physical protection.

Faster Than The Eye
By concentrating briefly on another area within 4000 feet, the monk can instantly 'transport' himself there. This is a high level ability, most monks who are not properly prepared will end up injuring themselves grievous.

Flip Resistances
The monk's magic resistance converts into physical damage and vice versa.

Greater Monk Abilities

Solar Stance
The sun is a timeless mentor of something that serves to aid humanity, but can also harm or kill it. When entering, leaving, or during the stance the monk can execute a solar flare in which a blast of fire emanates from the monk, scorching and throwing back everyone in a 30 foot radius, though the stance protects the monk from the flames. Like the sun, it is able to illuminate the foes and point out their vulnerabilities to the monk. Lastly, It creates a cloud of glittering golden particles that fill the air for twenty feet around the monk, revealing invisible creatures. Enemies that do not immediately react will be temporarily blinded by the glittering dust. This stance is one of the more powerful that is learned by a monk, and must be used with care as the potential for collateral damage is great.

Lunar Stance
The moon is a mystic celestial body that provides illumination during the light, but only barely. The monk using this stance replicates that and this stance seems to darken the entire area around the monk, though in reality it is only the enemies surrounding the monk that are effected by the lunar stance. The monk also becomes more difficult to hit with normal, missile, and magical attacks since he appears more opaque and blurred than a normal humanoid shape. This stance also bestows immunity to certain abilities such as petrification, imprisonment, slay, etc.

Shadow Stance
This stance causes the monk to instantly become both invisible, as per the spell Improved Invisibility, and immune to divination spells such as True Seeing. The invisibility last for about an hour, depending on the monk's experience with the stance or unless dispelled by the monk.

Hurricane Stance
Like the rushing winds of a hurricane, a monk's movement rate is increased fivefold. Any movement such as running, punching, etc.. is increased exponentially but physics and reality still apply to the monk ( ie- Falling, metabolism, heart rate )

[Elegant Egotism]

Joining

Only a human male may become a monk. Other creatures can take sanctuary in the orphanage, surrounding village, and sometimes the monetary itself but only humans males can become members.

In-Character Requirements

You must come and request and audience with Balthazar

Memberlist

There is an approximate total of seventy monks living in the monetary at any given time. This includes Balthazar who is the head of the monastery and highest level monk in this guild who is played by me and Brother Honoré played by Wishijj. There is a large NPC force obviously, so I will simply state the number and not the names.

[Elegant Egotism]

Balthazar emerged from his private cloister wearing the slightly beaten dark brown robes, an amulet of Helm, and sandals that seemed to be omnipotent at the monastery. The sun was rising to his right, and would begin it's journey into the sky and would set again at his right - a different right. He moved down the stone staircase that connected his estate with the rest of the monestary, overlooking the main courtyard as he did so. The wheels of a ox-drawn cart could be heard on the stone "roads" as it and two brothers made it's way to town to collect more wheat for bread.

It was quite cool, as the chill from the desert night had not yet fully worn off.Ten or so monks were already dressed and practicing according to morning routine. They were in the horse stance commonly associated with Taekwondo and were counting off twenty punches. Currently they were at twelve. With each step Balthazar made another number and resounding "Ha!" was made until he reached the bottom oft he stairwell, making his way to the dining hall.

[Alala Alala]

Brother Honoré was not adversed to spending his time practicing stances. He never made this fact widely known, as there was no doubt repercussions and penance for his laxity. He was more of an absent-minded type, and spent his time oft exploring the cracks of Amkethran. The seclusion and isolation sometimes bothered him, as deep down he was a very social person.

Hunched over a type of desert bryony, which he sketched vivaciously into his notebook, unabated by the coldness that inhibited a desert's night. He had only been at Amkethran for a few years, but his internal clock had set off an alarm that reminded him that Balthazar at this time would probably be awake.

Not one to expose his own pleasures, the scholarly Honore leapt up upon the rocks that granted him to his secret hideaway, and slid back into the Monastery, his notebook slid carefully into one of the folds of his robes.

From hereon in he had a good long walk up the vast gorge, with its crater-esque peeks and strong support. His head bowed down, he entered the Monastery through the Church area, where he would clearly begin to take on the posture of a monk and not a scientist.

[Elegant Egotism]

A few monks moved around, looking rather busy. Many didn't really talk to themselves though they all knew each other and had talked at one point.

DOIINGG!

The large bronze bell rung out from it's housing in the bell tower, alerting all residents that it was now time for the breakfast meal.

The meal hall was about a quarter filled before the bell rung out, but was steadily growing. Balthazar was already seated on a raised table along with three others on either side of him who represented the senior officials for the monestary. Like the rest of the meal hall, he talked in a hushed voices to those nearest to him. Each set on the long tables had a bowl of varying condition from rather chipped and beaten up to only barely scuffed. Two monks were busy walking around, pouring oatmeal with diced peaches and blueberries in it for a humble breakfast.

The morning routine was rather mundane and was a daily drill. Outside roosters began to crow, indicating it was time to wake for anyone who was not already so.

Daily life continued as such at Amkethran.

[Elegant Egotism]

Outside of the monastery, there were a few monks that did not gather for breakfast or some who already had it. Among them were two bearing large scythes who were off to assist in the harvesting of wheat. They were to travel the kilometer to the town by foot. They both talked among themselves as they walked.

The only others were five assigned to watcher duty. They were mostly younger acolytes who traversed the monastery and it's immediate surrounding area such as the cliff side and roads in silence. This security had been put in place after Balthazar had certain concerns about outsiders attacking.

[Alala Alala]

Honore made his way into the Church Entrance where Monks prepared the day's work ahead of them. Clammed in like they were, they were close to simplistic and none too large needs, and for the most part, despite most of the sacrifices he made, Honore did enjoy his position here.

It was a enlightening, and beautiful, a good and necessary force.

However! There is food. And that, simply didn't manner.

[Elegant Egotism]

Eventually the "chefs" would make their way to where Honore was sitting, in which they would fill his bowl with a the oatmeal and fruit before dispensing unto him a wooden spoon. The oatmeal was rather bland in taste, but the peaches and blueberries helped to improve it's taste and added necessary nutrients.

None of the monks ate, but simply seemed to wait. The first to be served, Balthazar included, waited with supreme patience over their bowl that was growing ever colder.

[Alala Alala]

Honore took the bowl and placed it against him, he was still holding his notebook in his frock and was looking among the other monks to study their appearances, he himself was not hungry, as he had spent the morning consuming various supposedly sustainable plants. Though one managed to cause some stomach problems.

The silence did however both him.

"Should we say a prayer?

[Elegant Egotism]

A thirty five year old scholar by the name of Carbos who was sitting next to Honore overheard this remark.

"Brother Honore..." he began in his low and humble tone "..haven't you been with us long enough to know our routine? Or is this a joke? You don't seem the type to uh, kid."

The last bowl had been served and Balthazar bowed his head and made a dull chant that could only be heard to those to his immediate right and left. The rest of the congregation did likewise.

Honore would have about seven seconds to get a quip in before the morning chant began. This short ritual simply gave thanks to Helm for the food before the monks, and would take about thirty seconds to be completed, after which each was free to eat and talk in a hushed tone.

[Alala Alala]

He kept his mouth shut. For all the book work he involved himself in, he was not entirely clever and resourceful in terms of speaking, and therefore had no reply for Carbos. Instead he narrowed his eyes slightly and allowed the chant to be performed, though he himself carried it with a slight disdain in his own voice, but this was dutifully masked before the ears of the rest of the monks.