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 +====== Moine ======
 +
 +{{tag>classes}}
 +
 +There are a few established monastic traditions in Khorvaire.
 +
 +Mastering Mind and Body. The Monks of Khorvaire hail from the Adaran tradition of the Tashalatora, to Dol Dorn’s Order of the Broken Blade, this introduction explores the monastic traditions found across Khorvaire. Professor Hass Holan will guide you through the varied philosophies of these fascinating sects, while Professor Tolai Démontrates their martial techniques.
 +
 +—Talaen Tolaoi Professor of Physical Studies & Jolan Hass Holan Professor of Galifarian History
 +
 +
 +Monastic Traditions
 +
 +
 +The Main Écorchée 
 +Le Narquois is the lord of pain and vengeance, the deceiver who destroys. His monks embrace suffering, and through ritual torture, they overcome weakness of body and mind. An initiate of the Main Écorchée strips the flesh across the body and then treats the muscle below with an alchemical substance that toughens and heals it. This process is an aspect of their Unarmored Defense. After learning to endure pain, the next teachings focus on how to inflict it. The monks of the Main Écorchée are master torturers and deadly warriors, communing with Le Narquois through murder and deception. Most monks of the Main Écorchée employ the Way of Atonement (Xanathar’s Perdu Notes) or the Way of Ombre. The order often tempts orphans and those with sorted pasts to join their ranks, making urchin or criminal ideal recruits for these monks. Monks of the Main Écorchée might be mercenaries or assassins for hire. In that vein, you might be a murderer who preys only on murderers or a masked avenger who uses terror and torture as tools in the service of justice. Work with your DM to discover where you came from, why you joined, and if you hide your sElfeeinflicted disfigurement or display it as a source of pride and a warning?
 +
 +The Fulcrum 
 +The monks of the Fulcrum meditate on the balance of the planes, contemplating the delicate array of forces that underlie reality. The order was founded in Zilargo, and its roots are closely tied to the Élémentaire binding industry. The masters of the Fulcrum believe that industrial binding carries the risk of disrupting the planar balance, and that the devotions of the Fulcrum serve as a counterbalance and prevent catastrophes. Through their devotions, monks of the Fulcrum learn to channel powerful Élémentaire forces. Rather than being part of the natural world, these powers are drawn from the planes, and the energies of Fernia, Risia and Lamannia flow through the Fulcrum monk. Most members of the order use such energies in abstract ways, acting purely to maintain the balance of Élémentaire energies within the world. While some focus on the martial potential of these powers, sheathing their fists in fire and skin in stone. The Fulcrum isn’t a religious order, but its members are concerned with anything that could disrupt the balance of the planes and are especially interested in solving the mystery of the Mourning. The order follows the Way of the Four Elements, and sage, scholar, and hermit are Commun backgrounds.
 +
 +
 +
 +Ombre Dancers
 +
 +The Order of the Broken Blade Dol Dorn is the Sovereign of the Commun warrior, the patron of anyone who pits strength and skill against another. Centuries ago a soldier stood alone surrounded by foes, holding the hilt of a shattered sword. Though the odds were impossible, Dol Dorn was with him and he let the Sovereign guide him, bringing down his enemies with hands, feet, and the hilt of his broken blade. This unnamed soldier founded the order and it continues to this day. The monks of the Broken Blade follow the Way of the Kensai. Many members of the order began as soldiers, but a few gain renown as folk heroes, using their talents to protect the Commun people. As a monk of the Broken Blade, you honor all the deities of the Légion Souveraine in the proper time, but Dol Dorn stands above the rest. You hear the Sovereign’s voice in battle and are always searching for worthy foes. Sword, bow, fist, foot—you strive to master each one, as each reveals another aspect of the Sovereign of Strength and Steel.
 +
 +The Demesne of Motion in Maison Phiarlan teaches every aspect of movement from acrobatics and dance, to gymnastics, and even advanced forms martial arts. For many, this discipline is used only to entertain but the Houses of Ombre are tied into a world of espionage and intrigue, and while this order is primarily comprised of Elfes who bear the Marque Du Dragon of Ombre, Thuranni and Phiarlan will train exceptional students of any bloodline. There are two distinct paths within the house, and as a Ombre dancer, either is just as likely. The Way of the Drunken Master is tied to showmanship, and those who follow this tradition are typically entertainers. Those that follow the Way of Ombre typically originate from the spy variant of the charlatan background. As one of these monks, you might be an operative for the House or, conversely, it is possible to have remained untethered to anything particularly sinister at all. An entertainer might simply have given up the stage for a life of adventure. On the other hand, your troupe might have been murdered one night, and you seek to discover who was behind their final curtain call. If this is your path, you might expect to have lingering ties to the espionage operations of one of the houses, regardless of the teaching you learned. In L'Ombre of clandestine syndicates, one is never truly retired.
 +
 +The Silver Forge The templars of the Flamme d'Argent are sworn to stand against the darkness and to defend the innocent from supernatural evil. The typical templar relies on sword and bow to overcome their foes, but there is an elite order within the Church that strives to produce living weapons. Forge and Flame temper the body and mind, producing a champion who can channel the radiant energy of the Flame into blade or fist. A student of the Silver Forge is devoted to fighting for the light. An Argent Fist is a champion of the Church, well versed in its lore, and sworn to protect the innocent from all foul things. A Blade in the Light of the Forge should always be watching for hidden threats or hunting for Démon, monstrosities, Mort-vivant, or fiends. The monks of the Silver Forge follow the ways of the Argent Fist, Kensei, or Sun Soul traditions. Some are acolytes, focusing on their role within the church, while others are artisans or folk heroes, putting the battle against the darkness ahead of a place in the church hierarchy.
 +
 +Tashalatora Tashalatora is a kalashtar martial art, typically translated as “The Path of Ombres” and it is a true martial art, practiced both as a form of meditation and sElfee-defense. The Path of Ombres is widely dispersed among the empathetic kalashtar. As a Tashalatora monk, you could be tied to a particular monastery, either in Khorvaire or Adar. There’s a wellestablished monastery in Sharn, and its members help to defend the local kalashtar from the schemes of the Rêve Obscur. Some Tashalatora monks are rumored to channel ki so precisely they can infuse allies with their lifeforce to embolden their attacks or magically transfer injuries to their own flesh, concentrating to mystically regenerate healing the wounds. Tashalatora monks follow the Way of the Open Hand or the Way of Empathy (Xanathar’s Perdu Notes). The “Ombre” of the title refers to walking through the darkness of the world in pursuit of the light that lies ahead, not to the use of Ombre magics. There are many backgrounds that can fit this path. As a hermit, you may have just left an Adaran monastery after a decade of contemplative isolation or a vision of a threat posed by the Rêve Obscur drew you out to oppose it. On the other hand, you could have been taught the path by a kalashtar mentor, regardless of your own race or background. An urchin could have been taken in by an elderly mentor and taught the path to help you control your angelr. A folk hero might be determined to use such gifts to battle crime in the alleys of Sharn or to protect the innocent from tyranny.
 +
 +Other Traditions The paths described above are well-established and are the most likely monks, but a monk isn’t limited to these options. The Order of the Mystic Fist is a secretive order of sorcerers who blend the powers of their arcane bloodlines with the Way of the Four Elements. The monks of the Long Arm are traveling folk who have developed remarkable staff techniques. The Valénar are another source of monks who don’t maintain monasteries. Each of the different monastic techniques is associated with a particular patron ancestor, each celebrated for their deeds on the battlefield. Valénar orders that teach the Way of the Kensei are comprised entirely of Elfes who share a spiritual lineage and roam the world in search of worthy challenges. Your greatest rivals will often be other Valénar monks, keen to prove either the superiority of their ancestor or, if you share an ancestor, that their mastery of the path is greater than yours.
 +
 +Monks Without Discipline Just as a barbarian needn’t be a savage, a monk needn’t be tied to a monastic order. A monk is characterized by their inner strength, remarkable speed, and martial abilities that improve over time. A monk’s increasing unarmed damage generally reflects improved skill; but as a Guerrier de Fer monk, it could literally reflect your fists evolving into deadlier weapons. Consider the following ideas. Living Weapon. As a Guerrier de Fer monk, your class features can reflect the ongoing evolution of your physical form. Your ki is an internal reserve of energy you use to activate embedded enchantments. Your subclass features can reflect this, for instance, Sweeping Cinder Strike could be depicted as coming from an embedded wandlike device. Mageproduit Warrior. The Marqué par le Dragon Maison Létourneau is renowned for magebreeding which employs mystical techniques to imbue animals with enhanced physical abilities. According to the house, they’ve never successfully applied these techniques to Humains. Yet, during La Dernière Guerre, the house certainly attempted to produce mystical warriors. As your character matures, you’ll have to decide if your class features represent a physical mutation or enhanced speed, precision, and combat instincts. You could have been made in the image of a living weapon as the result of this program and your abilities are the result of mystical enhancement. Could it be that you have bone ridges along your fists that enhance your unarmed attacks and a stronger bone density that enables you a higher threshold for taking and dishing out damage? Are you still aligned with the House Létourneau or are you a renegade working to reveal their horrific experiments? Are you a champion, the first great success of this program, or a flawed and terrible secret the house is trying to hide? Master Spy. By default, the monk has a mystical, ascetic aspect, but you could present a monk as a highly trained spy specializing in unarmed combat techniques. Combine the monk class with the spy variant of the charlatan background, focusing on stealth and infiltration as your class proficiencies. As a master of disguise, being skilled at deception and quick with your hands, you don’t need to carry a weapon—you are the weapon. In that light, the abilities of the Way of Ombre can be seen as a form of specialized arcane training, and you might still be actively working for your former agency or have you been burnt and need to forge a new life. In either case, work with your DM to decide if former operations could come back to haunt you. Primal Champion. Féral monks might be called Primal Champions, driven by their instinct rather than monastic tradition and found in the wilds or fighting alongside druids and Rangers. As a Féral, a monk’s enhanced speed and physical capabilities could be a form of ongoing shifting. Racial traits might well explain the monk class features like Unarmored Defense as a heightened Beasthide trait or reflect the increased damage of Martial Arts as deadly claws and teeth. If you discuss this path with your DM, your Martial Arts might inflict slashing or piercing damage if you want to describe the use of claws or teeth gnashing and tearing at your enemies.
 +
 +Solemn Vow The martial arts and mental techniques of the monk require devotion and discipline. Many monks live ascetic lives, forsaking the luxuries of the world to better focus on the powers within. Your vow may be a taboo shared by all members of your order, or it could be a boon laid upon you by your mentor. It may be that you are proving your worth to your order by holding to your vow for a period of time, or it could simply be a promise you’ve made to yourself.
 +
 +Monastic Vow d8
 +
 +Vow
 +
 +1
 +You shun all forms of comfort and luxury, maintaining a squalid lifestyle.
 +
 +2
 +You maintain an unusual and highly restricted diet.
 +
 +3
 +You cannot lie.
 +
 +4
 +You seek to suppress all emotion and maintain perfect calm.
 +
 +5
 +You seek to battle other martial artists, to learn from their techniques.
 +
 +6
 +You must oppose tyranny and cruelty.
 +
 +7
 +You cannot refuse a challenge.
 +
 +8
 +The master of your order has given you a question; you must do everything within your power to uncover the answer.
 +
 +====== Dragonmarks: Monks in Eberron ======
 +
 +There is a simple truth in Eberron: people can channel powers that bend the laws of reality. Artificers and wizards use scientific methods to harness powers of arcane magic. Clerics and paladins rely on faith and a connection to a higher power. A psion uses the power of their mind, often enhanced by a connection to Xoriat or Dal Quor. Other creatures in the world are inherently magical. The blink dog doesn’t cast a spell; it simply steps through space, defying physics through instinct and biology. The medusa’s gaze, the harpy’s voice; creatures can //be //magical. The monk lives in the intersection of these things. Beginning with a foundation of strict mental and physical discipline, the monk learns how to channel a force that lets them perform impossible actions… from moving with superhuman speed to striking with fists of fire. //Ki //is a power the monk finds within, but it is magic all the same. The wizard shapes the energy that is all around; the monk focuses the power that is already within, combining this with martial discipline.
 +
 +Other the course of thousands of years, many cultures have developed monastic traditions. It’s not a common path in Khorvaire; while the Silver Flame has multiple monastic traditions, the common templar is an armored warrior. But most people have at least heard of monks, and won’t be entirely mystified when they see one.
 +
 +Here’s a few of the monastic traditions of Eberron!
 +
 +====== THE ORDER OF THE BROKEN BLADE ======
 +
 +**Traditions:** Way of the Kensei
 +
 +**Typical Skills:** Athletics, Religion
 +
 +Dol Dorn stands between the treacherous Mockery and the honorable Dol Arrah. He is the Sovereign of the simple warrior, of anyone who pits their strength and skill against another in a fair fight. Legend says that when a soldier was set upon by three ogres who sundered his sword, he called on Dol Dorn for guidance and miraculously slew his foes using only his hands, feet, and the hilt of his broken blade. He founded the order that continues to this day.
 +
 +The Order of the Broken Blade is a religious order. Its devotees respect all the Sovereigns and honor them in their moments, but it is Dol Dorn who they look to for inspiration. While a Monk of the Broken Blade trains to //become //a weapon, they also honor the Sovereign of Strength and Steel through mastery of the longsword, and thus follow the Kensai path. The order teaches that their Sovereign speaks to them in battle, and while they learn the basics of their tradition in a monastery, it is only in true combat that they can learn directly from Dol Dorn. As such, monks of the Broken Blade wander Khorvaire in search of worthy struggles. Some followers of the Sovereigns welcome the presence of one of the Broken Blades and may ask the monk to help overcome a threat to their community. Others—especially followers of the Three Faces of War—see the Broken Blades as dangerous loners who are unwilling to work within the greater structure of an army. Dol Dorn is the Sovereign of //Strength//, and while the monks certainly recognize the value of speed, they are more prone to hone their Athletics than their acrobatic abilities, and they rarely rely on Stealth (that being more a tool of the Mockery).
 +====== THE SILVER FORGE ======
 +
 +**Traditions:** Way of the Sun Soul
 +
 +**Typical Skills:** Religion, Acrobatics
 +
 +The Silver Flame empowers all those who would fight to protect the innocent from supernatural evil. The Silver Forge draws on the flame to transform the devotee into a weapon, striking with both fists and bolts of radiant flame. Few people can master this discipline. Devotees of the order typically serve the Church as templars and are recognized for that rank. However, those followers of the Silver Flame who know of the order (Religion check DC 14) will show respect to a student of the Forge.
 +
 +The Silver Forge is a religious order and its members are charged to use their power to protect the innocent from supernatural evil and to inspire common folk towards virtuous behavior. While there is only a single Silver Forge monastery in Khorvaire, this was originally developed by the **[[http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ebds/20040920a|Shulassakar]]**and could be encountered in that way. Certainly, a Shulassakar will be impressed by any human who has mastered this path.
 +
 +Beyond the Silver Forge, there are some exceptional templars who follow the Kensai tradition, focusing on the use of the Longbow. There is also the Order of the Argent Fist, an elite force comprised of monks who have also been called as paladins.
 +
 +====== SHADOW DANCERS ======
 +
 +**Traditions:** Way of Shadow, Way of the Drunken Master
 +
 +**Typical Skills:** Acrobatics, Stealth
 +
 +House Phiarlan and House Thuranni walk a line between the role of entertainer and covert operative. There is an ancient path among the Phiarlans that brings both of these together, combining physical grace and performance with deadly martial discipline. When the Mark of Shadows evolved, it was incorporated into this tradition; adherents draw more deeply on their marks than their kin, learning to leap between shadows. When playing such a Shadow Dancer, you might work shadow and illusion into descriptions of your mundane techniques. When you deflect missiles, it may be because your enemy is striking at an illusion as opposed to you deflecting the missile with your hand. Your increased unarmed damage could reflect your crafting talons of shadow as opposed to stronger physical blows. Such things don’t change the way that these abilities FUNCTION, but it adds flavor to your descriptions.
 +
 +Not all heirs of the house possess the Mark of Shadow, and some who do choose not to use it in this way. There is a separate tradition that focuses on disarming foes with //performance//, a path reflected by the Way of the Drunken Master. This is in many ways a deadly perfection of the art of the clown, a rolling dance that amuses and entertains while allowing a master to outmanuever baffled enemies.
 +
 +Both of these are //traditions //as opposed to //orders. //They are ancient techniques a modern elf might master, but the tradition is all that binds monks of this path together. Some monks may join the Serpentine Table or serve Thuranni as assassins; others simply find their own way in the world.
 +====== THE Main Écorchée ======
 +
 +**Traditions:** Way of Shadow
 +
 +**Typical Skills:** Insight, Stealth
 +
 +The Mockery is the lord of pain and vengeance, the deceiver who destroys. His monks embrace suffering; through ritual torture, they overcome weakness of body and mind. As part of this training, a monk flays strips of her skin, treating the muscle below with an alchemical substance that toughens it. Once an initiate has learned to endure pain, she is taught to inflict it. The monks of the Main Écorchée are master torturers and deadly warriors. A monk of the Mockery seeks communion with her god through violence and treachery. Many members of the order sell their services as mercenaries and assassins. Others cause pain in more subtle ways by destroying hopes and dreams instead of spilling blood.
 +
 +Monks of the Main Écorchée are most likely to be found as antagonists. However, there is a critical factor here: the Mockery advocates treachery and terror, but nothing says that //these tools can’t be deployed for a good cause//. A Main Écorchée monk could be a mysterious figure—never seen without her mask and long gloves—who inflicts pain and terror only on vile and evil people. There’s a touch of //Dexter //or the general idea of “fighting fire with fire.”
 +====== OTHER PATHS ======
 +
 +There are many other paths a monk can follow in Eberron, and unfortunately I don’t have time to go into such depth for all of them. But here’s a quick overview of some of these traditions.
 +
 +  * **The Path of Shadows **is a Kalashtar technique, a martial discipline that helps focus the mind. Despite the name, it is primarily a //physical //tradition and lends itself first and foremost to the Way of the Open Hand, though practitioners often train in Stealth and Acrobatics.
 +  * **The Quori Nightmare **is another Kalashtar technique, which draws on the quori spirit tied to the Kalashtar to strike at an opponent’s mind. If the DM is willing to adjust classes, you can reflect this by adding //Intimidate //to the list of monk proficiencies and changing the abilities of the Way of the Sun Soul to inflict **psychic **damage instead of fire or radiant damage. The special attacks of the Quori Nightmare take the form of a ghostly manifestation of the Quori, striking a foe with tendrils of terror.
 +  * **The Shaarat’Khesh **goblins are a Dhakaani order of assassins whose techniques transform a goblin into a deadly weapon. The Shaarat’khesh are ascetics devoted to their traditions and their vows. Most follow the Way of the Open Hand, focusing on the physical arts; however, some may have mastered the more mystical technique of the Way of Shadows. Stealth and Acrobatics are also common among this path, as the goblin favors speed over strength.
 +  * **Claws of Eberron. **While primarily a shifter technique, this is a path that can be followed by other races; it is known among the shifter communities of the Eldeen Reaches and sometimes used by the Ashbound. A Claw of Eberron draws on primal strength and instinct. When wielded by a shifter, the increasing unarmed damage reflects a minor physical transformation in battle. A monk of another race could still beneift from such a transformation, growing claws or fangs in a shifter-like fashion… or they could just strike with a feral boost to strength or instinctually find vulnerable points. This is most typically reflected by the Way of the Open Hand, and both Acrobatics and Athletics are common skills.
 +  * **The Tairnadal. **The Tairnadal elves devote themselves to martial excellence, working to become avatars of their legendary ancestors. Tairnadal techniques often focus on speed, skill, and precision over force, and there are ancestors who have inspired monastic paths. The Way of the Open Hand and the Path of the Kensei are the most common paths, but Shadow, Four Elements, or even Drunken Master could be justified with a logical story about the ancestor in question.
 +There are many more possibilities. Aereni monks drawing on the power and techniques of Deathless ancestors. Monks devoted to the Blood of Vol, who draw their Ki from their divinity within. Changelin mourners, who adopt the form of their victims for a day, giving the fallen’s spirit time to peacefully transition. Warforged monks who physically transform their body into weaponry. Beyond this, some of the Dark Lanterns learn the based skills of the monk—rarely harnessing the potential of Ki, but learning the skills that provide a deadly unarmed strike.
 +
 +That’s all I have time for now, but share your thoughts and questions below! My thanks as always to my **[[https://www.patreon.com/keithbaker|Patreon]] **supporters, who keep this blog going.
 +
 +======   Q&A   ======
 +
 +//**What would you say defines the monk mechanically and what sort monks that aren’t MONKS might you pitch with that mechanical chassis?** //
 +
 +Physical abilities—Armor class, unarmed strike damage, speed—that build over time; abilities restricted by use of armor. Different traditions can push the class in different directions; a Kensei uses weapons, a Sun Soul has a ranged attack. Over time, you gain immunity to disease, poison, and age.
 +
 +The focus on unarmed combat is a pretty specific thing, and it would be weird to ignore it. But that doesn’t have to reflect being part of a martial or monastic tradition. I mentioned a few ideas above, and just didn’t call out that they didn’t //have //to be tied to monastic traditions. Expanding on these….
 +
 +  * A warforged whose enhanced abilities reflect physical evolution. Increasing unarmed strike damage would be reflected by evolving weaponry. Ki would reflect internal reserves of energy allowing the warforged to push beyond its limits or to activate embedded enchantments (for Element, Sun Soul, Shadow monks).
 +  * A follower of the Blood of Vol who’s drawing on their own Divinity Within—reflected by their Ki—to boost their physical abilities. This isn’t about monastic tradition; it’s enhanced speed and reflexes combined with skill at unarmed combat.
 +  * A Létourneau experiment: a magebred human whose class abilities reflect the ongoing manifestation of their physical evolution. If you’re using the lore from 4E, this character could be part of the program that developed the Mournland Magebred.
 +  * A creation of the Daelkyr or Mordain the Fleshweaver. Your evolving physical abilities could reflect physical mutation. Your Unarmored Defense could be armored skin, and your increased damage some form of symbiont-like grafted weapon.
 +  * A gladiator who focuses on martial arts, but isn’t part of a monastic tradition.
 +
 +Essentially you have someone who can kill with their bare hands and possesses exceptional speed and a limited ability to boost their physical abilities or generate supernatural effects. You simply need something that explains those concepts, but as noted with the magebred human, this doesn’t have to be something that someone else could replicate.
 +
 +//**Would Sora Maenya be aware of any ancient or primal paths that might be passed on to her war trolls?** //
 +
 +In the past I’ve suggested that Sora Maenya might be the master of the Tiger Claw discipline from the //Book of Nine Swords//. She could thus be a master of a monastic discipline, but I would likely make it AN ENTIRELY UNIQUE TRADITION — not simply saying she’s an Open Hand monk, but designing a new tradition that someone can ONLY LEARN FROM HER. This could also be reflected by a feat that a monk could only get from training with her.
 +
 +With that said, I personally WOULDN’T have her war trolls know these techniques. The war trolls are exceptionally disciplined //for trolls//, but to me the point of Sora Maenya knowing a secret technique is that IT’S SECRET AND AWESOME and that most people just don’t have the talent to master it; if you convince her to train you, you might be the first person in centuries to learn this technique. War trolls are heavily armored and talented for trolls, but I don’t think I’d make them THAT special.
 +
 +//**I was wondering if you could touch on the Order of the Radiant Flame, the Brotherhood of the Mystic Fist, and the Long Arm school (and why the Long Arms were persecuted). Or is Long Arm one of the Phiarlan/Thuranni traditions mentioned above?** //
 +
 +To be clear: many authors have worked on Eberron and added their own sects and ideas. None of these are things I created, so I can’t tell you what the creator intended. I’m actually embarrassed to say that I DIDN’T think to check the //Player’s Guide to Eberron //before I wrote this; as I usually say, what I write in these articles is what *I* do, not necessarily canon. I can add a few thoughts:
 +
 +  * //**Order of the Radiant Flame**// . Faiths of Eberron states that the OotRF is a //contemplative order //that seeks //spiritual// union with the flame. In mentions that they “ponder the mysteries of the cosmos from their monasteries and shrines” but I don’t feel that this necessarily means //they are PC-classed monks//; I see “monastaries” in this case as simply being the abode of a community of cloistered faithful. So I would personally say that the Order of the Radiant Flame could involve characters of ANY class — including “classless” NPCs trained in Religion and Arcana, who are //contemplating mysteries//. I could IMAGINE a PC-class-monk of this order, but I could also see a cleric tied to this order.
 +  * //**Brotherhood of the Mystic Fist. **// The idea of this school is that it focuses on multiclassed sorcerer-monks. It’s mentioned in the PGtE, but they give no indication of its history or location. The idea of a school that seeks to develop “physical skill and arcane potential” suggests Aundair to me, but Aundair leans more towards wizardry than sorcery. So if I were to use this, I might go WAY exotic and say that it’s an old Sarlona technique from pre-Sundering kingdoms, and give them a lone monastery in the Lhazaar Principalities. They’ve preserved their tradition ever since the Sundering; they could be waiting to take vengeance on the Inspired, or for some chosen student to arrive.
 +  * //**The Long Arms. **// Again, this isn’t mine, so I don’t know the original intent. It’s said that they have close ties to Phiarlan, which to me says that it’s either a direct Phiarlan tradition, or that they were //licensed performers//, which allows this to be a human (or other race) tradition developed more recently. As for why they were persecuted, to me this reads more like a local issue —bandits or a vendetta with a local lord (perhaps a local tyrant being mocked by the troupe) than some sort of massive large-scale persecution. But you can certainly add more depth and scope if you’d like!
 +//**In the ECS is there’s is the image of a monk follower of the Mockery… That looks a bit strange thinking that monks have to be lawful. Any thought on that?** //
 +
 +We’ve never been too fixated on alignment in Eberron. The order in question is //**The Main Écorchée** ////, //and I’ve added an entry for them in the main article. But looking to alignment in this case: as I discussed when talking about good and evil, personal alignment is primarily about the manner in which you conduct your affairs, not the end goal. A lawful person can pursue an unlawful act; but they will do so in a disciplined, organized way. Lawful doesn’t mean “obeys the laws” — laws are a cultural construct and one nation’s laws may be abhorrent to someone from another culture. It means that they value structure, tradition, order, discipline, strategy — while a chaotic person is more driven to innovation, personal expression, acting without thinking of the consequences.
 +
 +In 3.5 monks are lawful because their lives and traditions are //extremely structured//. They are entirely about mastering an ancient tradition and following an established path. In 5E I’d be happy to abandon this and present a monastic order connected to the Fury that is driven by ecstatic motion and spontaneous action. But I don’t mind the limit on the 3.5 monk. In the case of the Main Écorchée, again, the monks //revere a god who encourages treacherous behavior on the battlefield//… but that doesn’t mean //chaotic //behavior. That betrayal will be carefully planned and calculated.. and again, this is tied to tradition and extreme discipline.
 +
 +//**What about pacifist monks? I like Mohists and I want to explore moral dilemmas (they are inherent when you teach pacifism during the time of war), counter-siege techniques and the like. Where would you put the Way of Tranquility in Eberron? ** //
 +
 +First of all, I do just want to note that when people in Eberron use the term “monk”, they are generally referring to cloistered ascetics associated with a religious or philosophical tradition—but that very few of these individuals actually have //levels in the monk class//. It’s the same way that the vast majority of priests in Eberron //are not clerics//. There are surely monasteries tied to every religion in Eberron and every deity in the host. Aureon has monasteries where monks transcribe ancient tomes of law and contemplate mysteries of arcane law. But these monks AREN’T martial artists who can kill people with their bare hands. So my first point is that there are SURELY pacifist monks in Eberron… but most of those pacifist monks, being pacifists, aren’t actually trained in deadly arts of unarmed combat.
 +
 +With that said, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the idea that some ARE. Eberron has been through a century of war, and I think it’s highly plausible to have an order that uses the traditions of the Way of Tranquility to try to intervene and bring an end to conflict when they can. Boldrei is an option for this, as suggested online. But I’d personally call them //**Syranians** ////: //an order that has long contemplated the mysteries of Syrania, which as I note in this article is fundamentally the [[http://keith-baker.com/planes-of-hope-peace-and-order/|Plane of Peace]]. Rather than acting on behalf of a deity, they draw on the power of Syrania (reflected by their supernatural abilities) to enhance their efforts at mediation and conflict resolution.
 +
 +//** My players are about to pass Angwar Keep, which Five Nations (I know you didn’t write it) suggests is inhabited by warforged monks who defected from Cyre, and now serve the Church of the Silver Flame. Any thoughts on what a big group of war-veteran warforged monks would do close to the border of the Mournland?** //
 +
 +They’re defending Thrane from threats that emerge from the Mournland, for starters. I’d imagine that they patrol the border of the mists, as well as occupying the fort.
 +
 +Beyond that, they are contemplating the Flame and their connection. Do they have souls as mortals do? If not, does serving as a vessel of the Flame essentially fill them with a soul? Could they become vessels for couatl spirits or other spirits that have joined with the Flame? Plus, given the whole “no sleep” thing you’ve got 24 hour chants, etc.
 +
 +//**How would you deal with a small town in Q’barra where a monk of the Mockery is the spiritual leader of the community? ** //
 +
 +This is tied to my idea for a **Q’barra Campaign**. The point of having a character as the Faith of a town is that the majority of the people in the town share that faith and look to the spiritual leader for guidance. So this is a town founded by people who revere the Mockery. Which means they don’t have to hide their faith… but also, that the way the faith is enacted needs to take the overall good of the community into consideration. So, something like this.
 +
 +//Betrayal is a small mining town on the edge of Hope. It was founded by followers of the Mockery disgusted with the Last War; had one of Jarot’s children simply assassinated the others, Galifar would still stand and innocents would have been spared the losses of the war. This is a faith that has lingered in the shadows in the Five Nations, but in founded their own community in Q’barra the faithful finally had a chance to build a town openly driven by their faith. While many assume that Betrayal is a chaotic place where the strong dominate the weak, Dol Dorn is the Sovereign of Strength; the Mockery teaches how cunning and terror can overcome strength. The leaders of Betrayal have to earn the respect and fear of the community. The Sheriff of Betrayal is there to enforce order… and if anyone thinks they could do a better job, they’re welcome to assassinate the sheriff and take his place. But with that said, the sheriff DOES enforce order. The principle the town was founded on is that *assassination could have prevented the needless death of innocents* in the Last War. This isn’t a place where random violence is encouraged or accepted; if someone does get rowdy in the bar, the bartender will poison their next drink. It’s a place where people are expected to use their cunning to succeed — but to also consider the overall strength of the community. If a miner can salt a claim and trick someone else into paying a foolish price for it, so be it: that’s a legitimately victory of cunning, a lesson taught to the loser. And it can be expected that the loser will take vengeance on the person who tricked them, if they can find a way to do it; but that vengeance should only target the person who harmed them, not bring harm to innocents.//
 +
 +//It’s understood that a wronged party will seek vengeance in Betrayal, and as long as that vengeance only targets the wrongdoer that’s accepted. So deception and trickery is accepted, and if you’re smart enough to get away with something, congratulations; if you’re not smart enough to pull it off without the other person realizing what you’ve done, now they are entitled to pursue vengeance. So haggling is a fine art in Betrayal, but no one will BLATANTLY take advantage of others… because such obvious predatory behavior invites retaliation from those who’ve been wronged, and as long as it’s legitimate vengeance, the sheriff will allow it.//
 +
 +
 +**Monastic Orders**   \\ //By Keith Baker//
 +
 +Most of the religions presented in the //Eberron Campaign Setting//   maintain monastic communities, where the faithful live ascetic lives of contemplation and honor the gods with their prayers and works. Many of the religious texts of Eberron are produced in such monasteries, and relics of the faithful are hidden away in monastic vaults. The majority of these devotees are experts who are trained in Knowledge, Craft, and Speak Language; Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Heal, and Forgery are also Commun.
 +
 +But "monk" has a second meaning: an ascetic who devotes her life to physical and mental discipline. Religious monks make a spiritual devotion of physical perfection, chastising the body through harsh exercise. These monks are champions of the faith who rely on martial skill instead of the divine magic of the cleric.
 +
 +Not all monastic orders are religious in nature. The Gobelin sharaat'khesh and Valénar Jaeldira pursue martial perfection for its own sake. These monks are swift and deadly warriors – assassins who slip through the night and swordsmen who dance across the battlefield.
 +
 +Many monastic orders exist, from the Mironites of the Flamme d'Argent to the Tashalatora of Adar. This article examines three different traditions: The Order of the Broken Blade, the Main Écorchée, and the sharaat'khesh.
 +
 +**The Order of the Broken Blade**
 +
 +//"Lord of strength and steel, guide my hand!"//
 +
 +The name of this order is drawn from the legend of Kalan Desh, a devotee of Dol Dorn who ventured into the Byeshk foothills to rescue a kidnapped child. Three ogres attacked Kalan – they sundered his sword and mocked him. Kalan called on Dol Dorn for guidance, and miraculously he slew the ogres with only his hands, feet, and the hilt of his shattered sword. In gratitude, he founded the first monastery of the Broken Blade, where others might honor Dol Dorn and master war in all its forms.
 +
 +Dol Dorn stands between his honorable sister Dol Arrah and the treacherous Mockery, patron of assassins. He may inspire any combatant who relies on skill instead of deceit. For a Broken Blade monk, combat is both meditation and art – a monk finds union with Dol Dorn through battle. After attaining the rank of swordbrother, a Broken Blade monk wanders the world. While many of these monks protect the weak and innocent, others join in any struggle they find. Occasionally, Broken Blades may fight on both sides of the same battle. The ultimate goal is to attain enlightenment through conflict, and the cause of the battle and the consequences of its outcome are a secondary concern.
 +
 +**Organization: **The majority of the inhabitants of a Broken Blade monastery are initiates. After passing grueling mental, physical, and doctrinal tests, an initiate is granted the title of swordbrother (or sister). If he masters body and blade, a swordbrother can return and claim the title of blademaster. The blademasters instruct the initiates and manage the monastery under the direction of the abbot.
 +
 +Initiates are typically 1st-level monks. Traditionally, a swordbrother must possess Whirling Steel Strike and at least 5 ranks of Knowledge (religion); however, in a campaign where PCs start at first level, the DM may wish to grant a player the honorary status of swordbrother to justify his wandering. There is no level-based prerequisite for the rank of blademaster; claiming such a position is a matter of devotion and skill, requiring the judgment of the other blademasters and the abbot.
 +
 +The Karrnathi line of Maison Garda has a close relationship with the Order of the Broken Blade, and a number of distinguished swordbrothers are among the Épées Certifiées and the Garde Maréchaux.
 +
 +**Monasteries: **The primary monasteries of the Order of the Broken Blade are located in Karrlakton (Karrnath), Rekkenmark (Karrnath), and Starilaskur (Breland). Smaller monasteries are scattered across the Five Kingdoms, and the order has recently established an outpost in Le Pic (Bastions de la Nation). Broken Blade monasteries are austere, fortified buildings. Every monastery contains a forge; to attain the rank of blademaster, a monk must forge his own sword.
 +
 +**Character Development: **Monks of the Broken Blade divide their character levels between fighter and monk, combining monastic discipline with swordsmanship. This dual discipline requires the use of the Monastic Training feat, which is described in the //Eberron Campaign Setting. //Monks are also encouraged to learn the following feats: Improved Critical (longsword), Weapon Focus (longsword), and Whirling Steel Strike. Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Disarm, and Quick Draw are also Commun disciplines. Broken Blade training emphasizes physical skills such as Balance, Jump, and Tumble.
 +
 +**The Main Écorchée**
 +
 +//"Embrace the path of pain."//
 +
 +Le Narquois is the lord of pain and vengeance – the deceiver who destroys. His monks embrace suffering; through ritual torture, they overcome weakness of body and mind. As part of this training, a monk flays strips of her skin, treating the muscle below with an alchemical substance that toughens it. This excruciating torment permanently marks the monk as a follower of Le Narquois.
 +
 +Once an initiate has learned to endure pain, she is taught to inflict it. The monks of the Main Écorchée are master torturers and deadly warriors. A monk of Le Narquois seeks communion with her god through violence and treachery. Many members of the order sell their services as mercenaries and assassins. Others cause pain in more subtle ways bydestroying hopes and dreams instead of spilling blood.
 +
 +The Main Écorchée is a secretive order, and a student of the Main Écorchée usually conceals her devotional scars. A monk dressed for battle is a grisly sight; the members of the order keep scraps of their victims' skin and craft their battle-robes from the flesh of the fallen. Some say that the masters of the order know how to capture a victim's knowledge in his skin, or to craft leather masks that allow a monk to adopt the appearance of her victim. Any priest of the Légion Souveraine or Sombres Six automatically recognizes the significance of the marks of Le Narquois; other characters can make a successful DC 15 Knowledge (religion) check or bardic knowledge check (DC 20) to see if they have heard of the Main Écorchée.
 +
 +**Organization: **Three ranks exist within the Main Écorchée, and all monks of a particular rank are considered equals. The lowest level is that of the initiate, who is still studying the mysteries and earning the marks of Le Narquois. Once a monk survives the flaying and masters the arts of pain, she has earned the rank of Écorché. An Écorché who settles in a monastery is known as an archimandrite.
 +
 +Initiates are typically 1st-level monks. Écorchés are generally distinguished by possession of the Flensing Strike feat, but a PC who chooses to follow the path of Le Narquois (a somewhat disturbing choice) may have earned the title of Écorché at 1st level.
 +
 +**Monasteries: **The primary monasteries of the Main Écorchée are located in the Grand Rocher (Droaam) and Rukhaan Draal (Darguun). In other lands, the monasteries of Le Narquois are small and carefully disguised, and the archimandrites are always prepared to evacuate on a moment's notice.
 +
 +**Character Development: **Followers of the Main Écorchée put great emphasis on stealth, and many become assassins at 6th level or above. While it is not a class skill, Disguise is very important to Main Écorchée monks, both for subterfuge and to conceal the marks of Le Narquois. The trademark feat of the order is Flensing Strike, which requires Weapon Focus (kama). Other traditional feats include Stunning Fist, Two-Weapon Fighting, Dodge, Combat Expertise, and Improved Trip.
 +
 +A Main Écorchée monk adds Intimidate to her list of class skills. However, while her devotional marks are visible, she suffers a -2 circumstance penalty on Diplomacy or Gather Information checks.
 +
 +**The Shaarat'khesh**
 +
 +//"Even the smallest blade can slit a throat."//"Shaarat'khesh" is a Gobelin word that translates to "silent knives." The shaarat'khesh are an order of Gobelin spies and assassins. This order can trace its roots back to the ancient Empire Dhakaani. At the height of the empire, the shaarat'khesh served as the hand of the emperor, bringing silent death to traitors and criminals. Once the empire fell, the shaarat'khesh became mercenaries, selling their services to any warlord with gold. As the Dhakaani age came to an end, the Silent Master called upon the shaarat'khesh to withdraw into the depths of their mountain fortress, leaving the remaining warlords to squabble over the ruins.
 +
 +Now, thousands of years later, the Héritiers de Dhakaan have reemerged – and the shaarat'khesh have returned with them. For the past century the Gobelins have been studying the nations of modern Khorvaire, moving among city Gobelins and establishing safehouses across the land. All of the clan lords rely on the shaarat'khesh for information, and many have sought to win the allegiance of the assassins. But the Silent Master has maintained a position of neutrality. The shaarat'khesh are the servants of the empire. But until the clans unanimously agree on an emperor, the silent knives treat all clans equally and demand payment in gold. The shaarat'khesh do not accept every contract; as a rule they do not assassinate Dhakaani clan leaders or dirge singers. But once the silent knives take an assignment, they see it through to the end, even if this means fighting other members of the shaarat'khesh. It is this impartiality and dedication that has allowed the clan to survive amid the warring heirs.
 +
 +The Dhakaani are an agnostic people, and the shaarat'khesh have little interest in gods or arcane mysteries. A Gobelin initiate seeks to become the perfect living weapon: swift, silent, equally deadly with fist and blade, whose focused mind can overcome any weakness of the body. While he may feign emotions when it serves his cause, a silent knife is cold and calm, and he always remains focused on his next task.
 +
 +As a general rule, a Gobelin must be born into the clan of the shaarat'khesh to learn the ways of the order. However, exceptional Gobelins have been adopted by the clan, and they even have a few members of other races – most notably changelins.
 +
 +All Dhakaani Gobelinoids know of the shaarat'khesh. Other characters must make a successful bardic knowledge or DC 25 Knowledge (history) to see whether they have heard of the order.
 +
 +**Organization: **A student of the silent arts carries the title of shaarul (//dull blade//). Upon completion of his training, the monk takes the title of tar'khesh (//silent hand//) or il'khesh (//silent eye//), depending on whether his primary focus is combat or espionage. Monks with assassin levels are known as mula'duur (//bringers of sorrow//). Clan decisions are made by a council of elders; the leader of this council holds the title of guula'khesh (//silent master//).
 +
 +Shaaruls are generally 1st-level monks. To attain the title of tar'khesh or il'khesh, a character must be a 2nd-level monk or 1st-level monk/1st-level rogue with 5 ranks of Hide and Move Silently.
 +
 +**Monasteries: **The il'khesh have spread across Khorvaire over the past century, and the silent knives have eyes hidden in many of the great cities of the Cinq Nations. Any city with a significant Gobelin population may contain a shaarat'khesh safehouse. However, only one true monastery exists: the fortress hidden deep in the Montagnes de la Digue, home to both the monks of the shaarat'khesh and the noncombatant members of the clan.
 +
 +**Character Development: **The majority of the shaarat'khesh divide their character levels between rogue and monk, using the Monastic Training feat. Others follow the pure monastic path until 6th level, when they can become assassins (provided they meet the prerequisites). The shaarat'khesh rely on speed and stealth, using surprise to strike an opponent with devastating sneak attacks. Traditional feats include the following: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Improved Feint, Monastic Training (Rogue), Skill Focus (Bluff), and Stunning Fist. Monastic skill training focuses on Hide, Move Silently, and Tumble; Bluff, Disguise, and Gather Information are also considered to be important talents.
 +
 +Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (history) are class skills for shaarat'khesh monks. These take the place of Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (religion).
 +
 +{{url>http://vps265505.vps.ovh.ca/5eTools/classes.html#monk_phb,hideclassfs:true,showfluff:true 100%,800 noborder}}
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