Currently formulating a character concept for an Astral Self monk who is a Hill Dwarf, and it got me thinking:
What sort of monastery would a Hill Dwarf come from...?
...and now I've gotten swept up in creating the dwarven equivalent of a warrior-monk's monastery.
I'm picturing crowds of dwarves surrounding fighting pits, shouting and cheering on their fellows dwarves as they pummel each other in the arena, while chugging healthy does of dwarven ale.
Training to harden their dwarven physiques by repeatedly punching and headbutting sand, then wood, then stone...perhaps even metal!
Specialized dwarven equipment, like knuckledusters to wear on their fists, and ironboots that they wear as they do endurance running.
...the best thing is that the various "Monk" subclasses all lend themselves to types of dwarven martial arts:
"The Way of the Drunken Master" is perfect for dwarves who utilize their Brewer's Tools to intoxicate themselves for combat.
"The Way of the Long Death" could be re-flavored as a type of battlerager dwarf...dwarves whose battle-cries instill fear in all around them, and whose seemingly-suicidal charges reveal that they are notoriously hard to kill.
"The Way of the Open Fist" would emphasize a dwarf's uncanny strength...pushing back and knocking over large creatures way above a dwarf's stature.
"The Way of the Kensei" would speak to a dwarf's mastery of their traditional weapons...throwing hatchets and light hammers, battleaxes and warhammers.
Even my own "Astral Self" Hill Dwarf monk could flavor their "Astral Arms" and visage as manifesting spectral dwarven armor, without any of the weight that comes with them...perhaps they are channeling the strength of their dwarven ancestors!
I'd like some thoughts from others...how would you detail a dwarven monastery for an order of monks?
What would such a monastery be called? What would be their philosophy?
The stone is strong! The flesh is weak! Pain is for the old, feeble, and WEAK!
That whole pain is weakness leaving the body type of dudes. Thinking some sadomasicistic scarred, branded, and tattooed albino dwarves. Type of dwarves that look like they served time for killing an orc with a halfling.
Currently formulating a character concept for an Astral Self monk who is a Hill Dwarf, and it got me thinking:
What sort of monastery would a Hill Dwarf come from...?
...and now I've gotten swept up in creating the dwarven equivalent of a warrior-monk's monastery.
I'm picturing crowds of dwarves surrounding fighting pits, shouting and cheering on their fellows dwarves as they pummel each other in the arena, while chugging healthy does of dwarven ale.
Training to harden their dwarven physiques by repeatedly punching and headbutting sand, then wood, then stone...perhaps even metal!
Specialized dwarven equipment, like knuckledusters to wear on their fists, and ironboots that they wear as they do endurance running.
...the best thing is that the various "Monk" subclasses all lend themselves to types of dwarven martial arts:
"The Way of the Drunken Master" is perfect for dwarves who utilize their Brewer's Tools to intoxicate themselves for combat.
"The Way of the Long Death" could be re-flavored as a type of battlerager dwarf...dwarves whose battle-cries instill fear in all around them, and whose seemingly-suicidal charges reveal that they are notoriously hard to kill.
"The Way of the Open Fist" would emphasize a dwarf's uncanny strength...pushing back and knocking over large creatures way above a dwarf's stature.
"The Way of the Kensei" would speak to a dwarf's mastery of their traditional weapons...throwing hatchets and light hammers, battleaxes and warhammers.
Even my own "Astral Self" Hill Dwarf monk could flavor their "Astral Arms" and visage as manifesting spectral dwarven armor, without any of the weight that comes with them...perhaps they are channeling the strength of their dwarven ancestors!
I'd like some thoughts from others...how would you detail a dwarven monastery for an order of monks?
What would such a monastery be called? What would be their philosophy?
The stone is strong! The flesh is weak! Pain is for the old, feeble, and WEAK!
That whole pain is weakness leaving the body type of dudes. Thinking some sadomasicistic scarred, branded, and tattooed albino dwarves. Type of dwarves that look like they served time for killing an orc with a halfling.
Half monk barbarians.
Thought About Building a Astral Self Dwarf before literally the same Idea XD.
Some Great World building here surprised there are not more Dwarven Monastery's in Settings.