Monk

That feeling of the wind through the leafless branches, that the air simply moves around it; that feeling of water sweeping around the set river rock; that unfettered bird flying circles and loops in the airy springtime: all these things are to be your chief desire
— Master Goriz of Hezhz

Be it a normal woman in the crowd of people, easily dismissed as a commoner concealing dozens of weapons, a man surrounded by thieves who breathes steadily as they approach, or a woman with a quarterstaff who disarms the armored knight threatening her village, all of these show the way of a monk. They are guardians and defenders, rarely the aggressor. Their teaching of pacifism does not always align with others, but it does align within themselves.

Minimalists

Monks have the labels "austere" and "ascetic" applied to them. This is true. No matter the region or alignment, the way of the monk is a way of minimalism. Monks are trained to not be overly fond of wealth and materials. These traits can still be within someone, but those ones are taught to avoid or redirect those feelings into something else. This attitude reveals their true lessons of embracing the present and never worrying about tomorrow.

Joyous Earnestness

This present-living they practice allows them to keep what they have with thanksgiving. They need for nothing because they lack for nothing. Many monks do not go into any sort of career or paid profession but simply live their lives of minimalism, joyful of their current circumstances.

Pacifist Warriors

The world, however, does not agree with their assessments of austerity. The world wants. Many times, even the ascetic monks must defend themselves. Part of their training is martial arts. These arts include dangerous sword or sword-whips or shifting spears. They master two or three, not including their own bodies, Any that believe "simple monks" to be an easy target are fatally mistaken. Monks are not belligerent, but they are not afraid to kill.

Wanderers

There are many monks who travel the world, either for inner peace and serenity or for defense. Indeed, there are many who become monks for self-improvement or for ability in defense, should the case arise. These wandering monks are most likely to become adventurers and what non-monastic people believe monks to be.

Notable Examples

Monks of the Seven Peaks, Monasteries of Brin Balo

Regional Differences

Enor Daeg

The largest monastery for monks is at the Seven Peaks. This is one of the best monastery programs in the world. Another notable monastery is the Monasteries of Brin Balo, where monasteries to each deity of the pantheon do their best to coexist on their separate summits.

Sefir Daeg

Monasteries exist in most major countries. Notable ones are Tallibab, Trimon, and Catholonika. The monks here prefer fighting with sturdy weapons such as swords and staffs then the chained weapons or sophisticated arms of Belor Daeg or Enor Daeg.

Belor Daeg

In Belor Daeg, monks prefer the shores of the Derelict Sea or the eastern shores of Gozlimer. On the tropical and warm shores of Caradas are many monasteries pejoratively referred to as "vacation homes" for tourists who fancy the monk way of life. The monks take them in, for a fee, and show them the fundamentals, often accompanied with a certificate of completion. Every other monastery disagrees with these "vacation homes."