Monks are highly disciplined individuals that are able to manipulate a mystical energy inside of their bodies known as Ki. They utilise this energy to augment their own physical abilities, granting them extraordinary speed and strength. Monks can also use their own Ki to alter the energy flow of ki inside of other living creatures, for both defensive and offensive purposes. Monks are often spiritual ascetics, although there have also been some monks who have trained in private or who's ki abilities have come naturally.
Ki[]
Ki (pronounced kee) is the pool of psychonic mana inside a creature's body that can be used to fuel various powers by its practitioners. Ki is a fragile energy source, but can allow for incredible feats that push the body to and beyond its physical limits in the hands of someone who has mastered it. Of the mana throughout Sahul, psychonic mana is the most prominent one inside a creatures body. It gives them the ability to control their own existence, to feel the warmth of an emotion, and to create an thought all their own.
Just like many other types of mana around the world, most races have only learned of its existence after the Event Horizon. When it was first discovered many priests did not recognise it as a type of mana and was simply called inner power, but nowadays most monastic orders have agreed to call this inner well of power ki, besides a few remote societies who may know it under a different name.
Monastic Tradition[]
Throughout Sahul there are several monasteries. In each hundreds of young neophytes train to perfect their physical bodies and their spiritual souls to become closer to the gods. Every day these young monks follow a rigid schedule of studying, meditating, praying, and training according to the philosophy of their monastery. These philosophies differ greatly between each monastery based on its history, the local culture, and the personality of its sensei, but can be generalised and categorised into a series of "ways" which its members follow to reach perfection.
Way of the Astral Self[]
Monks following the way of Astral Self have a naturally strong mastery over their ki from birth. As such their training is more extreme than those of other traditions, including climbing high cliffs, fighting flames, and coordinated dance-like nightlong fights. In the end the goal of the training is to gain complete mastery offer ones breathing until they eventually are incapable of fatigue, which allows them to push themself so far that they gain the ability to manifest their ki into a physical manifestation. Senseis of the way of the Astral self only train up to four students at the same time, believing that great personal attention is needed for them to reach their full potential. The largest Astral Self training facility can be found on a small island of the coast of Serenissima Capitale.
Way of the Four Elements[]
Disciples of the way of the Four Elements can use their ki to reach into the waves of true mana flowing around them and pull the elemental mana from it. With this can bend air, earth, fire, and water to their will. Monasteries following the way of the Four Elements either dedicate themselves to one of the four elements or to a combination of all four. Those dedicated to a single element wear uniforms coloured to represent that element and tattoo themselves with iconography of the element, such as a coiling couatl to represent wind. Those dedicated to all four dress themselves in grey or white to represent their neutrality.
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The D&D 5th Edition Wiki has an article on Monk. |