At a very young age, you were given to, abandoned at, or otherwise brought into the fold of a local monastery. You have little to no memory of your old life, and have trained towards the ideals of the local tradition with your brothers and sisters for as long as you can remember. You might be the star pupil, a rebellious initiate, or somewhere in between, with the monks observing and guiding the path you make for yourself.
While partial to the Monk class, it is not an exclusive background. It is for the person who has spent most of their childhood and all of their adult life in a monastery. Work with your DM to flesh out your specific monastery, including the alignment, teachings, and associated Monastic Traditions, as well as the races and genders commonly seen among its members. Additionally, determine its location and area of influence. Once established, place yourself within its hierarchy. Were you a new student, naive and off-balance, or maybe you were one of the elder abbots, wise and sure-footed.
- Skill Proficiencies: The skills taught in monasteries are as varied as the cloisters themselves. Some provide training in martial arts, others instill knowledge, but a common thread between the differences are the training of body and mind. Choose two skill proficiencies, one drawing from Strength, Dexterity, or Charisma, and the other drawing from Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma.
- Tool Proficiencies: Monasteries often have unique practices that set them apart from their cousins. Ranging from bookkeeping to beverage brewing, traditions are handed down generation to generation, master to pupil. Choose the artisan's tool proficiency taught by your monastery.
- Languages: Sometimes monasteries are exclusive in the races they allow through their gates, and as such create niche pockets of isolated peoples, cultures, and languages. Others have open door policies, and allow any and all races to enter and study, providing a melting pot of cultures and languages. Choose a language commonly spoken or focused on as a subject of study within the walls of your monastery.
- Equipment: Monks seen in the public eye are commonly equipped with basic necessities for their errands, simple clothing, and minimal gold. You commonly leave the monastery with an artisan's tool set with which you are proficient, a monastic symbol denoting your affiliation, while wearing traditional monk garb, carrying a pouch of 10 gp.
(Due to limited customization options in the background creator, all monastic symbols are signet rings, and will need to be given a custom name in your inventory to reflect your choice.)
Most monasteries are ingrained in the local society, whether by presence, notoriety, or even superstition, and as such have a certain degree of influence in surrounding lands. Whether held in high regard as the student of a prestigious academy of knowledge and self-enlightenment, appreciated company as the apprentice of a well-loved monastic brewery, or feared as a weapon forged inside the walls of an ominous dojo, you share in this influence. While within the lands reached by the influence of your monastery (and recognizable as its member), the general populace regards you and your party as they would other members of the monastery, and have the tendency to be helpful and accommodating due to your status. However, whether their assistance is given out of respect, appreciation, or fear depends on the monastery established with your DM.
It is possible to lose the benefits of this feature. Repeatedly acting in contradictory fashion to the established teachings of your cloister while in public may result in loss of influence granted by your connection to the monastery. Based on the severity of your actions, your DM will determine the potential consequences, and whether or not the influence can be regained, and your standing with the monastery restored.
Suggested Characteristics
Monks have the tendency to be publicly reserved, but will often be more candid within the walls of their monastery and other trusted circles. However, that is not always the case. A brewer-monk may be entirely open about the teaching of his monastery, or a warrior-monk may have taken a vow of silence towards their secluded tradition. Whatever your choice, base your characteristics on the monastery your monk is from, and how they fit within its tradition.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am like a leaf in the wind. I go where ever the road takes me. Life just "happens", and I am content to let it. |
| 2 | I am as a mountain. I am hard and unmovable. I am the rock that my friends lean on, and I feel grounded that it is so. |
| 3 | I am a peaceful forest lake. I am serene with my thoughts and my tranquility overflows unto those around me. |
| 4 | I am the living flame. My fire and vigor ignites those around me. |
| 5 | I am one with myself. I strive for balance in all things. I work hard but play just as hard. |
| 6 | I am shattered. Something has happened that has shaken my beliefs and I will not find peace until I can face what has happened. |
| 7 | I have never found a problem that a good boot to the head could not cure. |
| 8 | I am a fraud. I pretend to feel all this spiritual stuff but it is beyond me. I can punch and kick with the best of them but all this inner peace stuff is just not happening. Oh well, maybe one day. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Brotherhood. I never feel alone as long as I know my brothers (and/or sisters) are out there. (Any) |
| 2 | Pacifist. My skills are only to be used for defense. I will not kill my opponent unless it is unavoidable. (Good) |
| 3 | Traditions. I will uphold the traditions of my monastery and show respect to my masters and my brothers (Lawful) |
| 4 | Power. All this training and meditation is just a means to an end. (Evil) |
| 5 | Unchained. I am a free spirit, roaming the land and bringing change. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Meditation. In order to understand the world, I must first understand myself. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have a duty to my order and will stand with them in all things. |
| 2 | I have received enlightenment but the world is still in darkness. I must bring enlightenment to others. |
| 3 | The strong have a duty to protect those who can not protect themselves. |
| 4 | I lost a brother in battle and I feel it was my fault. |
| 5 | I strive to bring balance to the land. |
| 6 | I love my brothers but I can not help but wonder who my parents were or why they brought me to the monastery. Hmmmmm... |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I feel the need to meditate three times a day to purify my thoughts. |
| 2 | I am extremely uncomfortable around (person they are attracted to, specific race, nobility, etc.)and find myself stammering, blushing, and loose all my composure. |
| 3 | I panic in large cities and usually try to avoid them. |
| 4 | I have no respect for those who do not respect themselves. |
| 5 | I left my monastery after a bad argument with my master. I am NEVER going back. |
| 6 | My way of peace and meditation is the only way. Those who travel with me must meditate with me at least once a day or I will refuse to help. |
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