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Monk Orders - Jafin - 10-31-2008
Disclaimer: This information is provided for players who would like to know more about the various Monk Orders in Forgotten Realms. These are taken directly from official FR sources and provided for your resource and benefit. The multiclass restrictions listed here are not strictly enforced in the mod, but are provided as guidelines if you wish to create a more authentic FR character. This information is intended only for roleplaying purposes.
Monk Orders
Long Death (Evil): The Long Death order worships the principles of death without caring much which deity currently owns the portfolio. They are more than willing to share death and its antecedent, pain, with others. Clerics of the previous god of death, Myrkul, chose to view them as part of their god's long-range plans. Kelemvor (the current god of death) views them as enemies, but is at least pleased that they do not actively promote undeath. Velsharoon (the god of necromancy and undeath) wants to woo them, but as not figured out how. This order is quite strong in Thay, though not with the sanction or cooperation of the Red Wizards. Monks of the Long Death may multiclass freely as blackguards, assassins, and fighters.
Old Order (Neutral, Some Good, Rarely Evil): Monks of the Old Order do not worship any deity, but are devoted to the philosophy espoused by a deity who is either now dead or has never existed on the Material Plane of Toril. The monks contradict themselves at this point, but the deity's identity is not important to them, it's the message they care about. The Old Order never has huge monasteries, but has spread widely throughout Faerun. Monks of the Old Order may multiclass freely as rogues, sorcerers and shadowdancers, but must maintain more monk levels than their combined levels of other classes.
Avoreen, Cyrrollalee, Sheela, Urogalan and Yondalla (Halflings)
Hin Fist (Neutral or Good): The halflings of Luiren turn their confidence into belief in the power of a single halfling to master herself and the world. Enterprising Luiren monks sometimes establish monastaries in the north. Although only halflings can study Hin Fist in Luiren, some Hin Fist monasteries accept exceptional gnomes and dwarves. Monks of the Hin Fist order can multiclass as fighters, rogues, or paladins (usually of Yondalla).
Azuth
Shining Hand (Neutral): The Shining Hand is one of the oldest monk orders of Amn, mixing faith in Azuth and the practice of wizardry with monastic devotions. Amn's crackdown on the practice of wizardry has sent some Shining Hand groups underground and sent others out into the wider world. Monks of the Shining Hand can multiclass freely as wizards so long as their monk level equals or exceeds their wizard level.
Bane
Order of the Iron Gauntlet (Evil): A small sect within the Zhentarim, these monks train in stealth and assassination. Currently they are few in number but their leader has been recruiting widely. Monks of the Iron Gauntlet may multiclass freely as assassins and fighters.
Deneir
Zealots of the Written Word (Good): These monks accompany clerics of Deneir on quests, assist in moneymaking efforts for the church, and are as fond of recording information as any devout worshiper of Deneir. They may multiclass freely as clerics.
Grumbar
Disciples of the Changeless Face (Neutral): This stoic and spartan order is obsessed with preserving the knowledge of how things are (from laws to traditions to manners of speech) so that change can be detected and countered (which often involves beating into a pulp someone who disagrees). They may multiclass freely as fighters.
Ilmater
Broken Ones (Good): Of all the popular deities of Faerun, Ilmater is the deity most associated with an order of monks who act purely in his name. The Broken Ones can freely multiclass as clerics. The Dalelands house no monastaries of great fame, but monk of Ilmater frequently travel through the Dales, sheltering in Ilmater's temples if they cannot find other lodging. They may multiclass freely as clerics and divine champions (CoT).
Yellow Rose (Good): Also known as Disciples of Saint Sollars, this solitary monastery of Ilmater worshippers in the Earthspur Mountains of Damara is known for its loyalty to its allies and destruction to its enemies. Greatly respected on matters of truth and diplomacy, the monks work hard to survive in their harsh remote sanctuary. The monks often travel with Ilmataran paladins, particularly from the Order of the Golden Cup. They may multiclass freely as rangers and shadowdancers.
Kossuth
Disciples of the Phoenix (Good): This order (and the other two orders of Kossuthan monks) is very insular and has a rigid tradition of study and fighting style, as well as behavioral taboos. They are the most likely to espouse the purifying and redeeming aspects of their deity's element.
Brothers and Sisters of the Pure Flame (Neutral): These monks seek a balance between the purifying aspect and the destructive aspect of Kossuth's flame, and are the mediators of the three orders. Most of them learn Ignan to better communicate with fire elementals.
Disciples of the Salamander (Evil): Some of these monks rival a Talosian fanatic's love of destructive fire, but most see it as a necessary tool for renewal in the world. Many of them bear brands of magical symbols on their bodies and decorate themselves with fiery tattoos.
Kossuthan monks of any of these orders can multiclass freely as clerics.
Lathander, Selune, and Sune
Sun Soul (Good or Neutral): The allegiance of this widespread but disorganized sect varies between groups, some following Lathander,others Selune, and a few devoted to Sune. The Sun Soul order, along with the Old Order, is the most likely to have monasteries in far flung wilderness areas. Members of the Sun Soul can gain levels in one other class and still progress as a monk as long as their monk level is their highest class level.
Loviatar
Disciples of the White Rod (Evil): Monks of Loviatar prefer using their bare hands to inflict pain rather than using weapons. When forced to use weapons, they prefer nunchaku with white-bleached leather wrappings on the hilts. They may multiclass freely as clerics.
Luthic (Orcs)
Runeclaws (Evil): Because in many orc tribes females are not allowed to touch weapons, unarmed combat has become a means for female worshippers of Luthic to defend themselves against raiders from other tribes. Some female orcs that are too old for childbirth (particularly older wives of the chief) become runeclaws to prove they are still useful to the tribe. They can multiclass freeely as clerics.
Oghma
Children of the Passive Voice (Neutral): These monks serve as guardians to libraries and abbeys, and sometimes are sent to find lost stores of knowledge. They cannot multiclass freely.
Shar
Dark Moon (Evil): Shar is worshiped by a powerful sect of monks who maintain open temples in lands ruled by evil overlords or hide among hills, back alleys or the Underdark. Most of the Dark Moon monks are human, but occasionally they are joined by a half-orc, shade, or drow. The monks of the Dark Moon can multiclass freely as sorcerers so long as their monk level and sorcerer level stay within two levels of each other.
Tiamat
Serpent Guards (Evil): These fanatics guard temples, serve as minions to dragons, hunt dragonslayers, and assassinate those who pry too closely into the activities of the church. They are active in Unther and have been known to attack Mulhorandi soldiers. They can multiclass freely as assassins, fighters and rogues.
Yurtrus (Orcs)
Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge (Evil): Monks of this strange orc order bleach their hands white and grow their nails very long. Before combat they dip their nails in a powder made of the blood infected with the red ache, which lets them infect their opponents. They may multiclass freely as clerics.