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COWBOYS & VIKINGSCompendium of the Wild Wastes

Catalog / Origins / Monastic

Monastic

Origins

Ability Reflex or Might
Talent Grappler or Powerful Fist
Skills at rank 2 Martial Arts, Stealth

You were brought to the monastery young and remember little or nothing of your old life. You've trained beside your brothers and sisters for as long as you can remember, and spent all your adult life within the monastery's walls.

You gain: +1 Reflex or Might; the Grappler or Powerful Fist talent; 2 ranks in Martial Arts and Stealth.

Starting Equipment:

  • Calligraphy tools
  • Monastic symbol (beads, ring or necklace)
  • Clothes
  • 15 gp

Feature — Monastic Influence: Your insignia tells those who know your order who you are—earning respect, shelter and aid from friends of the monastery, or making you a target for its foes.

Quirk (1d8)

  1. I'm a leaf on the wind: I go where the road takes me and let life happen.
  2. I'm a mountain, hard and unmoving, the rock my friends lean on.
  3. I'm a still forest lake; my calm spills over onto those around me.
  4. I'm the living flame; my fire and vigor ignite others.
  5. I'm one with myself and seek balance in everything: I work hard and play just as hard.
  6. I'm shattered; something shook my beliefs, and I won't find peace until I face it.
  7. I've never met a problem a good boot to the head couldn't fix.
  8. I'm a fraud: I can punch and kick with the best, but the inner-peace part just isn't happening. Maybe one day.

Ideal (1d6)

  1. Brotherhood. As long as my brothers and sisters of the order are out there, I am never truly alone.
  2. Pacifist. My training is for defense. I won't take a life unless there is truly no other way.
  3. Traditions. I honor the ways of my monastery and show proper respect to my masters and fellows.
  4. Power. All the training and meditation is a means to an end: strength I can use.
  5. Unchained. I'm a free spirit, wandering where I'm needed and stirring change as I go.
  6. Meditation. To understand the world, I must first understand myself.

Pledge (1d6)

  1. I owe a duty to my order and will stand with it in all things.
  2. I've found enlightenment, but the world is still dark; I must bring light to others.
  3. The strong must protect those who can't protect themselves.
  4. I lost a brother in battle, and I believe it was my fault.
  5. I strive to bring balance to the land.
  6. I love my brothers and sisters, but I can't stop wondering who my parents were and why they left me at the monastery.

Flaw (1d6)

  1. I need to meditate three times a day to purify my thoughts.
  2. Around certain people (those I'm attracted to, nobility, or another group I choose) I stammer, blush and lose all composure.
  3. Large cities make me panic, and I avoid them when I can.
  4. I have no respect for people who don't respect themselves.
  5. I left my monastery after a bitter argument with my master, and I'm NEVER going back.
  6. My way of peace and meditation is the only way; my companions must meditate with me daily or I won't help them.

Roll or choose one of each, then pair each with a Virtue or Vice (2 of each).

Features

Monastic Influence. Your insignia tells those who know your order who you are—earning respect, shelter and aid from friends of the monastery, or making you a target for its foes.

Starting Equipment

  • Calligraphy tools
  • Monastic symbol (beads, ring or necklace)
  • Clothes
  • 15 gp