Friday, April 24, 2020

Warriors of Monvesia - Mystics

RETCON NOTE: This post replaces portions of "Savants of Monvesia," which previously incorporated elements from the earlier "Warrirors of Monvesia" post.  See also "Warriors of Monvesia - Men-at-Arms."
There are warriors whose power and ability exist beyond mere training as men-at-arms.  Though paladins draw power from their faith and rangers from their esoteric knowledge, these classes are not much different than the fighter class--even the point of demonstrating many of t
he same combat styles.  Barbarian and monks, however, are more ascetic in their approach to empowered combat.  These classes have a more mystic appreciation of the combat arts.
The designation "mystic" is borrowed from the Rules Cyclopedia, which uses the term for its version of a monk-like class.  It is not to be confused with the Mystic class which has been presented as an optional psionic class.
Enhancements to the class features of both these classes can be found in Unearthed Arcana.

Barbarian

Barbarians are spiritual warriors from various traditions.  While each path is bound to a particular culture, followers of those paths are not bound to those cultures.

Totem Warriors often emerge from Galtic druidism, which is a naturalistic faith that venerates alimal guides and guardians.  These sacred warriors typically accompany and protect druids of the Circle of the Shepherd--though many barbarians of this path exist beyond the religious community as well.
New options for the totem warrior can be found in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
The Beast (Unearthed Arcana) draws on the same Galtic tradition as the Totem Warrior; with sacred warriors of this path more commonly associated with the Circle of the Moon.  As with their counterparts above, barbarians of this path are not bound to "religious service" (though they are often considered the equivalent of Paladins).
The Shepherd/Totem and Moon/Beast dichotomy among Galtic druidism may represent an orthodox/heterodox schism in the original tradition.  Which as much as the tw denominations have in common, they are dissimilar in  in key doctrinal and practical areas.
Berserkers are warriors who have been touched by the Taint.  They are found equally among goblinoids and the untainted.

Bloodrage Savages (DMs Guild) draw power from the bloodlust of the predator on the hunt--which is an integral part of rakasta culture. This primal path has allowed rakasta to share their connection to the hunt with neighboring races.

Ancestral Guardians (Xanathar's Guide) include those who venerate the dwarven and gnomish paragons, known for giving into madness for the sake of inspiring their allies.

Storm Heralds (Xanathar's Guide) emerge from the ancient cultures of goliaths and humans--in the tundra of Desolation--as an attempt to quell the taint before it took over the body.  When goliaths settled on the stormy coasts of Inheritance, they found their methods continued to be useful; the humans discovered the same during their years travelling through the Sea of Sand.

Wild Souls (Unearthed Arcana) emerge in elfish mysticism, where they are seen as those who allow their uncanny natures to take over for a time, becoming infused with the primal magic of Faerie.

Zealots (Xanathar's Guide) come from the ranks of the Vitalist Orders--particularly the Ancient and Independent orders.


Monk

Fuhonese & Henjali Monks

The various monastic traditions independently developed in Fuhon and Henjal.  Some are unique to one subcontinent or the other, while others are shared.  It is likely the monastic traditions in these ares influenced each other.  No formal study of monastic traditions in the west has yet been completed.

Pracian Monks

In Prace, monks are either a special caste of warrior shaman in rakasta culture, or else goliath medicine workers.  Most rakasta monastic traditions were born from the spiritual path of one of the great prides; and were later adapted by exoticist communes in neighboring Cuorria and the Honderreich. Only a handful of monasteries exist outside the Pridelands, and most of them located in either Montaigne or the Helvet (in Waschbar).

Rakasta Traditions

Way of the Open Hand - as "Acjiq Er Njoru," it is the Zyrndasta tradition; as "Manaberta," it is taught at a single monastery in the Helvet. 

Way of the Shadow - as "Qorqe Njoru," it is the Tjitasta tradition; as "El Sombra," it is taught at a single monastery in Montaigne.

Way of the Four Elements - as "Simnja Njoru" ("Way of Alchemy") it is the Kaplanasta  tradition.  In Cuorria, this tradition is called "Catro Estados," and is taught at a  monastery in Montaigne.

Way of the Long Death (Sword Coast) - as "Uzun Orym Njoru," it is the Pardasta tradition.  Known in Cuorria as "Gran-Mort," it is taught in a monastery in the Helvet.

Way of the Sun Soul (Sword Coast or Xanathar's Guide) - as "Qynesj Rruxu Njoru," it is the Aslanasta tradition.  This tradition has the Cuorrian name "Domanima," and is taught in a monastery in Montaigne.

Way of the Kensai (Xanathar's Guide) - as "Qrisjarr Njoru," it is a universal rakasta tradition foussed on the use their ceremonial blades.  In Veldistan, it has been adapted for use with a larger variety of weapons as "Hunerê Şer."

Way of Tranquility (Unearthed Arcana) - as "Xuzurr Njoru," it was the Lyncasta tradition; some critics of history have said that their "oneness" mentality is what caused the Lyncasta to be lost duing the Orc Wars--and the faction that carries their name does not share that virtue.  The form survives today among the other great prides.  Known in the Honderreich as "Rustigheid," it is taught at a monastery in the eastern Hindland.

Way of the Drunken Master (Xanathar's Guide) - as "Esrrarr Qolesi Njoru" (or "Way of the Nipweed Slave"), it is a rare tradition among the rakasta not tied to any particular great pride; it was developed after the arrival of humans, when rakasta became stereotyped as nipweed addicts.  As "El Borracho," it is taught at a single monastery in Montaigne.

Goliath Traditions

Way of the Astral Self (Unearthed Arcana) - as "Spiritual Medicine," it is the goliath way of the mind; it seeks perfection of the self (ie. release from the Taint) through connection with the spiritual bodyThis is a psionic character option.

Way of Mercy (Unearthed Arcana) - as "Mortal Medicine," is it the way of the body--not just the perfection of the self, but also the arts of healing and repose.

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