Adding
to the Deities & Man Essay
©
2001 Trigee Enterprises Company. All rights reserved.
As the impact of potent and responsive deities
on a fantasy world is considered more fully, the greater the
model of the Western European world in the medieval period
comes to mind. It is as if this historical example were tailored
for the RPG game master of today…in this case a Lejend Master,
of course!
As the priest/priestess is well modeled
in the Ecclesiastic Order Avatar in the Lejendary Adventure
game, I turned my attention to the supporting cast, so to
speak. A special new Order, Friar, will be appearing
in an upcoming issue of Lejends Magazine (subscription information:
LoreCollege@aol.com),
I’ll not deal with them here, instead publish here a special,
basically Non-Avatar Character, Order, the Monk.
Unlike the cloistered Monk (and Nun) Order,
Friars will typically be found outside priory as they preach,
teach, and seek alms. They are a key element in the maintenance
of the ecclesiastical structure as are their more sheltered
brothers and sisters. Where the friar is mobile, however,
the monk or nun remains primarily in a fixed location to deal
with local folk and provide hospitality to visitors.
As a reminder to LMs reading this, the Rank
system for Orders provides a handy tool for you when detailing
encounter areas, the hierarchy being set forth by Rank. Of
course, all persons might not match the exact qualifications
indicated. For example, an abbot or abbess might not actually
be of 1st Rank, having gotten his or her office
through preference or some other attribute rather than through
the route manner indicated.
Monk (or Nun) Order:
This is basically a Non-Avatar Character
Order.
Monks will generally be devoted to a male
deity of less than greatest sort that is serving a more exalted
god, as they serve the former deity.
Nuns will generally be devoted to a female
deity of less than greatest sort that is serving a more exalted
one, as they serve the former deity.
Upper Lower to Middle Society: The monastic
association of religious persons involved in the lay priesthood.
This Order is similar to the Friar Order, akin to that of
the Ecclesiastic. Monks (or Nuns) are clergy organized into
religious societies that take holy vows, shun materialism
and carnality, seclude themselves from society, work to support
their separate community, and offer care and hospitality to
others that come to them. Monks (and Nuns) are looked to
in particular by the lower classes for guidance and inspiration,
as well as theological help. They are found in all of the
world’s nations, and they are generally considered in formal
hierarchy. They are recognized by all in such states in which
their deities are honored, and elsewhere, possibly respected
or dishonored, as their pantheon has renown or not. Typical
places for association are abbeys (and convents), shrines,
religious establishments, temples, and sometimes even in noble
courts.
Note that unlike others, persons of this
Order do not have Weapons Ability in any form, as their
dedication to their vows demands otherwise. However, a person
becoming a member of this Order after pursuing a secular path
might well have such Ability. Also, a person in the Order
above 7th Rank can acquire such Ability. The basic
five Abilities of the Monk (or Nun) are:
Rustic, Pantology, Learning, Theurgy, and
Physique.
12th Rank, Postulant. Rustic and Physique
possessed: No benefit save contact.
11th Rank, Novice. Rustic, Pantology and
Physique possessed: Gain small wooden devotional object (worn)
and small devotional object (in cell); abbey (or convent)
membership required; add 1 point each to the three Abilities
possessed.
10th Rank, Novice Brother (or Sister). Rustic,
Pantology, Learning, and Physique possessed: Add 1 point to
each of the four Abilities possessed.
9th Rank, Lay Brother (or Sister). All
five Abilities possessed: Gain a book of scripture and a Memory
Tablet with one Rite, and three Powers; add 2 points to each
of the five required Abilities possessed, but addition to
Rustic Ability can not then cause the Avatar to move to a
higher (numerically lower) Rank. If this would occur, limit
addition to the last point total in the category, i.e. 60,
70, etc.
8th Rank, Younger Brother (or Younger Sister).
Rustic at 61: Gain a Memory Tablet with one Rite, and three
Powers; add 1 point to each of the four other required Abilities
possessed.
7th Rank, Brother (or Sister). Rustic at
71: Add Arcana Ability at 20, or else add 10 points to Arcana
if already possessed.
6th Rank, Elder Brother (or Elder Sister).
Rustic at 81: Gain a Memory Tablet with one Rite, and three
Powers, add 1 point to each of the four other required Abilities.
5th Rank, Brother Superior (or Sister Superior).
Rustic at 91: Add Evaluation Ability at 20, or else add 10
points to Evaluation if already possessed.
Order members of this Rank and above
are permitted to travel alone outside the boundaries of the
abbey (or convent) lands.
4th Rank, Brother Magister (or Sister Magistress).
Rustic at 101: Gain a Memory Tablet with one Rite, and three
Powers, add 1 point to each of the other four required Abilities.
3rd Rank, Brother Proctor (or Sister Proctress).
Rustic at 111: Add Urbane Ability at 20, or else add 10 points
to Urbane if already possessed.
2nd Rank, Brother Dean (or Sister Dean).
Rustic at 121: Gain a Memory Tablet with one Rite, and three
Powers, add 1 point to each of the other four required Abilities.
1st Rank, Abbot (or Abbess). Rustic at 131:
Add chivalry Ability at 20, or else add 10 to chivalry if
already possessed. |