Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 gawain_viii Nov 24, 2006 23:35:55	I need some help. I never did play Mystics/Monks, and have found myself at a disadvantage. While detailing the Monk class, as it applies to Mystara (i.e. Mystics), for my Mystara d20 PDF project, I wanted to list a few of the major monastic orders. I know of none (canonically). I would like for some of you to provide a short 1-paragraph description of some of the major Monastic orders of the Known World. If you could, in your description, please include the following, at a minimum: Name, permitted alignments (G-E axis), Where the order is located, any pertinent restrictions or freedoms. (Vow of Poverty? allowed to multiclass or not?), and if/how they affect/react with the larger regions. I have one, stolen from my dad's old campaign, as an example. bin Wadi monastery (Good): Of all the monastic orders in the Known World, the bin Wadi monastery is certainly the most prestigious—and strict. Founded by Ibn bin Wadi, a retired Ylari adventurer, who studied somewhere in the Ochlea islands many years ago, it is nestled high atop a craggy peak deep in the center of the Black Peak mountains where Darokin, Ylaruam, and Karameikos meet. bin Wadi monks cannot multiclass under any circumstances (not even Prestige Classes). They must always remain fanatically Lawful Good, and commit a vow of poverty. Any wealth and property a bin Wadi monk may aquire is donated to the monastery. In essence, he owns nothing. Even the clothes on his back belong to the monastery and are only loaned to the character. I would like at least one order from each of the major monk-inclined regions: Ochlea, Thothia, Sind, Ylaruam, Ethengar, Broken Lands (wasn't one of the humanoid subraces given the species name "orientalis"?) and the Shepherds of Rad. Thanks in advance, Roger
#2 Cthulhudrew Nov 25, 2006 3:40:49	There several mentioned in CoM for Sind (p 16 of the Explorer's Manual): Fakirs: Ascetics following disciplines that originated in Ylaruam (with Sindhi influences). Vows of poverty- they only own the rags they wear and a begging bowl. They master their bodies to the point where pain and exhaustion are nothing. They indulge in strenuous ritual exercise- whirling in place in the heat of the noon sun, walking on coals, lying on beds of nails, etc. Keis: The largest Sindhi order. Open to all castes (even foreigners) who are able to pass their mental and physical tests. They gain enlightenment through meditation and a form of unarmed combat that is based on not being where your opponent strikes. Jashpurdhanas: A small order, based in the mountains of Kadesh. They meditate on the meaning of life. After training in unarmed combat for 3 years, they embark on a 10 year journey for truth and knowledge. Shehids: They are selflessly devoted to their fellow man. They protest abuses of people by authority and always step in when they see injustice. Many of them have died protecting the subjects of evil rajahs. Svamins: Known for their enigmatic answers to imponderable questions (what is the sound of one hand clapping?) Reclusive, they each live a solitary existence in the wilderness (no cloisters). Those seeking to learn from them must seek them out and earn their tutelage. They only train one pupil at a time. Yogins: They master the body and mind through ritual postures. They are commonly found standing in contorted positions, mindless of their surroundings. That's the gist of how they are described. My take on them is thus: Fakir: The Ylari traditions sound like those of the dervishes from Gaz2. I'd say they are probably Good- and I might be inclined to make an exception to the normal Monk rules and allow Chaotic Good alignments among them. Kei: Alignments, probably any, really, as they seem to not be terribly particular as long as you meet the requirements. Jashpurdhana: I'm personally inclined to think that this order- or one very similar- are also the order that inhabits the mountainous village of Lhamsa in Glantri. I've actually got a history for that order that I've been meaning to work up for the past couple of weeks, but haven't found the time. Shehid: One of the characters in the PWAs was a member of this group (Anand Brishnapur). While most monks are Lawful, I'd be inclined to allow true Neutral Good monks of this order; though I wouldn't allow any non-Good alignments in any case. Svamin: Not much to add here. Yogin: Well, these guys practice yoga, that's about the size of it. Again, no real commentary here.
#3 Cthulhudrew Nov 25, 2006 3:52:41	Okay, outside of Sind we have a couple known orders: Minrothad Guilds: Gaz9 mentions a group of mystics on Blackrock Island. "[They] are followers of Darrin Posman, a Minrothad human who was once a guild port agent in Alphatia. When his interests turned to Alphatian mystic traditions, he left guild service." It doesn't really give any information other than that. It is a small order (only 6 mystics), with Darrin being a 9th level Lawful "Lesser Master." They live in Larril Hermitage on Blackrock. (Perhaps they are the Larril Order? I don't know.) Ylaruam: None noted, but depending on how you choose to look at them, perhaps the dervishes could be monks. They are described there as desert druids, but they certainly engage in more monk-like physical ritual, so maybe they are a combination (a prestige class of monk/druid?) Glantri: The aforementioned mystics of Lhamsa. Their order is unnamed (though they are referred to as the Hospice of Mystic Healers in the Guilds and Brotherhoods section). Their leader is the Great Saffron Mystic of Lhamsa. Again, they may be the Jashpurdhanas, or a related sect. Thothia: The Thothians are known mystics. Their order originates from the teachings of Ramenhotep V, passed on to him by Arachne-Prime and her daughter, Aketheti. As such, they are obviously evilly influenced (though that isn't necessarily apparent, certainly at the lower levels of the discipline). It is a rather fatalistic order as well. Other than that, there really aren't any "canonical" mystic orders. You might want to check out this page at the Vaults for some thoughts DM came up with ages ago.
#4 agathokles Nov 25, 2006 8:04:35	I would like at least one order from each of the major monk-inclined regions: Ochlea, Thothia, Sind, Ylaruam, Ethengar, Broken Lands (wasn't one of the humanoid subraces given the species name "orientalis"?) and the Shepherds of Rad. Here is a list of the known martial arts (the original file -- http://www.pandius.com/canmarts.html -- includes weapon arts, so not only mystic groups). I generally agree with Andrew's ideas above. Mystic Order of Saffron Glantri GAZ3 These are probably Lawful (Good/Neutral) mystics. Ten Thousand Fists of the Khan Ethengar GAZ3 These are actually clerics, but, given the name, there's no reason why they couldn't practice martial arts, and become Mystics. Torasta Bellayne SCS These are not from the KW, but they are worth mentioning. There are four Fighting Monk orders, one for each acceptable alignment (LG, LN, NT, NG). They are celibate, cloistered monks with prettry strict vows. Dervishes Ylaruam GAZ2 Definitely LG or LN only. Al Kalim was a multiclass F4/Dervish. Dervishes might be considered Desert Druids or Monks, since they share attributes of both (good saves and martial prowess and restrictions as monks, but spells as druids or priests). Fakirs Sind, Ylaruam CoM Keis Sind CoM Jashpurdhanas Sind CoM Shehids Sind CoM Svamins Sind CoM Yogins Sind CoM Nothing to add to what said by Andrew here Yellow Ork Martial Arts Yellow Orkia GAZ10 Yellow Orcs have Martial Arts as their specialty skill. One could infer that they might be monks or mystics as well. Shadow Elves Martial Arts SE Territories GAZ14 Martial arts are mentioned in the SE Gaz, though they seem more suited to commando types than monks. Shar-Pei Polearm Fighting Ochalea DM237 Shar-Pei are oriental Lupins from Ochalea. They have a specific fighting style, but it focuses on Polearms, so probably they aren't good candidates for monks... too bad there isn't any other reference to Ochalean Martial Arts... I also wrote a short writeup on martial arts in Mystara: http://www.pandius.com/devmarts.html However, it is not really suited to your needs, since it covers the arts rather than monks or mystics (i.e., most martial arts mentioned are not necessarily practiced by mystics). As to monks themselves, I think Ochalea and Sind would be the major sources for the Known World -- with the individual monasteries in Minrothad and Glantri allowing for some additional variability. Of course, Sind mystics (especially the Keis) could be found in western Darokin, and Ochalean monasteries could be found in Thyatis mainland. Also, you could add mystics (or multiclass monks in 3e) in the Ten Thousand Fists or as a Bratak school in Ethengar, and among the Dervishes, as mentioned above.
#5 RobJN Nov 25, 2006 8:59:42	I seem to dimly remember there being at least passing references to mystic-like fighting styles as they relate to the Rakasta somewhere along in Bruce's "Voyages of the Princess Ark" series. I dont have my cache of articles handy to go through, but perhaps someone with the CD archive could take a look...? Rob
#6 havard Nov 25, 2006 16:46:33	I seem to dimly remember there being at least passing references to mystic-like fighting styles as they relate to the Rakasta somewhere along in Bruce's "Voyages of the Princess Ark" series. I dont have my cache of articles handy to go through, but perhaps someone with the CD archive could take a look...? Rob The Tortle Mystics of Zul? There could very well be some Rakasta ones too. Also, the Siswa of the Silent Way from Rahasia... Havard
#7 agathokles Nov 26, 2006 2:01:31	The Tortle Mystics of Zul? There could very well be some Rakasta ones too. Yes, it's called Torasta (Tortle-Rakasta martial arts) in Savage Coast. As mentioned, there are several orders (one per allowed alignment) in Bellayne. Membership is open to any race, though Tortles and Rakasta are obviously more common. GP