Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Nov 12, 2003 14:25:13	I'm going to start playing in a new 3.5E campaign this weekend which the DM has said will start near the city of Greyhawk. Our characters are assumed to be from around that area but as I have no experience with the Greyhawk world I need help to flesh my character out. My character is a monk and I'm trying to go on the premise that he would spend a few years at a monastary and then convince a bunch of fellow monk trainees to travel with him to another monastary. The cycle would then repeat itself after a few years and would continue a few times. I don't even know if this concept is feasible but I'd like to make it work. So here are my questions: 1. Is there a monastary in the city of Greyhawk? 2. What other cities, that aren't too far away, would have monastaries? Not too far would be a month or two's walk. If there are no cities that match this then my concept may be down the tubes already. 3. If there are answers to #2, how reasonable would it be for a group of trainee monks to make these journeys with relative safety? We're talking anywhere from 8-20 monk trainee's (commoners training to be monks or what have you). That's all I have for now, I appreciate any answers you can provide.
#2 zombiegleemax Nov 12, 2003 16:08:19	My answer would be to work closely with your GM to determine if he's willing to tailor the world to fit your background. Why? Because unlike some other settings, Greyhawk material usually doesn't obsess over whether there's an X in city Y or not. It focuses more on the big picture (races, cultures, gods, national politics, etc) and leaves most of the rest to the GM. Is there a monestary in Greyhawk? Or Hardby, Dyvers, etc? There can be, if the GM wants them. Talk to him about your background and I'm sure you two can work something out. As for how safely some commoners could undertake a long land journey, that very much depends on where they're bound and where they're passing through on the way. Assuming they arm themselves, stick to major, well-patrolled roads and generally play it safe, I'd say they shouldn't have to worry about too much. Wilderness travel or travel through hostile domains is where you'd run into most of your problems.
#3 zombiegleemax Nov 12, 2003 19:01:53	Thanks for the info, I will do that. I wasn't sure how set-in-stone and pre-planned the Greyhawk world was so I figured I would just ask here. I guess I will write up my character's history loosely and let the DM fill in the blanks on locations and such. Thanks again.
#4 zombiegleemax Nov 12, 2003 22:36:07	As long as you're not talking oriental style monk, there is a sect of Zuoken worshipers who have established a monastery in, or near, the Cairn Hills which is just outside of Greyhawk City and forms the eastern border of the Domain of Greyhawk. Zuoken is a Baklunish (think a mixture of arabian/indian/mongol style influence) god of perfection who was once the mortal follower of Xan Yae, the goddess of Perfection and Shadows. Though it might seem odd that a temple to a Baklunish god (okay, maybe not odd to you yet, but once you learn more of Greyhawk it will be) is in a primarily flan/oeridien area, it is said that the god has disappeared from the realm and thus his followers not only seek to perfect themselves, but also to find their missing god. Since Zuoken is said to be one of the gods Zagyg (another ascended mortal) imprisoned in Greyhawk Castle, it follows that they'd set up a base close by.
#5 zombiegleemax Nov 13, 2003 9:51:25	Excellent! Thanks, that is very helpfull indeed. And yes, I am talking about the standard 3.5E Monk. Maybe I can use that monastary as my point of origin and let my DM pick out the other ones I spent time at. That way I can start this campaign "having just returned to my original school" and will be in the area of the city of Greyhawk which is where I think he wants us to start.