Tsabo's Discipline

[Corwyn]

You were trained from an early age by the Monk's of Eagle Mountain. When you attained your monkly level, the elders gave you a choice. Leave now to enter the world, seeking transcendance on your own. Or remain at the monastary to benefit from the guidance of the others.

If you are to leave, you may never return, and any monks who are rightfull students of the Eagle Clan, will be honorbound to assault you on sight, killing you if they can. Should you stay, you might be bound for decades more of study untill you can prove to the elders that you are ready to teach, and then you will be honorbound to stay and teach the youngest members of the clan.

Tsabo kneels in the monastary's main temple, prayer sticks burn in the altar before him. The young monk has a difficult choice before him and out of reverence of the decision, the temple has been cleared of others. Tsabo has twelve hours in which to mediate. Once he leaves the temple area, or the time runs out, the elders will come to ritually ask of him the question of his intent.

Tsabo of the Eagle Clan

**It's a DM's trick decision, there is no right or wrong choice...**

[orco]

Racked with uncertainty, Tsabo's furrowed bow reveals his indecision.

Hours after deep meditation, the sweet smell of incense brings Tsabo back to an earlier time in his training. "THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT IS EACH MAN'S JOURNEY". An old proverb often quoted by his first teacher and most beloved friend. As the oh too familiar smell of the temple begins too fade, Tsabo understands what path he must take. After saying a prayer asking the holy ones to protect and guide him, he slowly opens his eyes and pulls his chin up from his chest whispering "Thank You Sensai!"

And with that, with catlike grace, he silently walks through the initiates entrance, the same one he came in, so many years ago.

[Corwyn]

Tsabo rises from his position, declining the full twelve hour meditation. He turns to leave and finds the assembly of elders waiting for him. Master Wei U'Sen steps forward and speaks, we have always known what your choice would be, you are a brave man and you must go to meet your destiny. May the will of Gaia guide your soul to transcendence and peace. He places his hand on Tsabo's shoulder, gently. Looking into the young man's eyes, he adds, you have been as a son to me, as well as a pupil. Now, I must hope that I never again lay eyes upon you, for then I must kill you, or you me. That is the will of the Temple. Go with Gaia, As he says those last words he releases Tsabo's shoulder and steps back, closing his eyes. The other seven monks of the assembly all bow their heads, repeating in unison, go with Gaia. Tsabo walks past them and exits the temple area. The extensive gardens and the wide practice field are all eeriely deserted as Tsabo departs the monastary grounds. He walks past the sculpted and tended rock gardens and monument parks of the mountain clan and heads down the rocky path towards his destiny. Just before the main buildings of the monastary vanish from view behind a shoulder of the mountain, an eagle caws from the firmament, an omen of things to come.

Tsabo travels for two days in the mountains, before coming to the road that would take him towards other civilized regions. He briefly ponders his situation and the choice before him. Head west towards the freelands and the great Tasavaltan Kingdom beyond, as well as the benevolent Knight, Sir Andrew's kingdom? Or, head north, towards the uncharted mountains of the northern reaches, and the cliff cities of the Windrunner people? Or else, he could head south towards the great city of Tashagang, and the continental interior. The east has no road, but there are ways to get to that little known part of the continent...

**Essentially, your 'hook' is so far, very simply: attain the ultimate union of mind, body and spirit and thus transcend. Your main goal should be to challenge yourself in every aspect (not necessarily always physical). Since I run a over-powered campiagn I will grant you additional abilities above the already high-powered class of the monk. But should you attempt to remain strictly monk-classed, you will have additional prerequisites to attaining each level. In order to level up, from now on, you must be able to identify some aspect of spiritual, mental of physical knowledge that you have learned. Which type of knowledge of knowledges you must identify is dependant upon the abilities the next level of monk will afford. So for your next level (6), the main bonuses will be the increased Slow Fall and increased Unarmored Speed. Both are physical, but I'd say that the slow fall includes an aspect of mental advancement. Therefore, you must begin searching for some sort of epiphany that will illustrate either two seperate physical concepts of advancement or one physical and one mental concept. Don't be too afraid. Any serious effort will be considered correct (since you are not really Tsabo in RL), though it cannot be random bull crap either. The more insightfull the knowledge, the more abilites you will gain. For these 'extra' assignments, focus on things you accomplish or fail to accomplish in game. Good luck. Simply post your decision on where to head and feel free to describe as much of the mountain trail as befits what you imagine of it.**

[orco]

Having arrived at the crossroad he remains standing for many hours pondering Master U'sen last words "May the will of Gaia guide your soul to transcendence and peace". With the honestly of a child he says aloud

"How am I to know the will of Gaia?".

Just as his mind begins to wander again, the day breaks. Shafts of light come forth streaming from the sun as it cracks onto the horizon, beginning its journey across the sky, temporarily breaking his concentration bringing him to resolution.

"May the will of the holy ones be praised, for my direction has been chosen! For they have chosen for me to head in the direction of new beginnings that is the East!".

[Corwyn]

Tsabo begins his climb over the broken ground and rocky slopes of the upper mountains. He can see a kind of depression amongest the jagged outcroppings, about a hundred or so feet below the moutain path, on the east side. The climb at first is extremely difficult and Tsabo is sweating from the exertion after only a few minutes. As he progresses, it gets slightly easier, either from the natural slope and the presence of hand and foot holds or from the monk's focus of mind and body. There is constant danger of falling during the climb and Tsabo can tell that this would almost surely mean death. Still, with the dedication and perseverance of his years of training in the mountain monastary, the young monk does not falter.


**Make two Climb checks. One to get down this first slope and one to determine your speed over the course of the next leg of the climb.**

[orco]

Keeping his center of gravity close to the sheer rock faces, Tsabo is able to nimbly crawl the vertical expanses. Deadhanging in between a particularly precarious chute, Tsabo pauses and reflects on fond memories of Master U'sen teachings and friendship.

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+2:	(6) + 2	Total = 8

Coming back to the present he feels strangely serene and content, fullfilled with the memories that will serve him in the future.

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+2:	(16) + 2	Total = 18

[Corwyn]

Once the monk finds the place within himself, surrendering to the single-minded task of negotiating the rough terrain, he begins to move faster. By midday, Tsabo has long since passed the depression and another set of sheer walls before beginning a long slope of light gray granite. About a hundred feet along the slope, the angle suddenly changes and becomes much more vertical. The stone in this area is relatively free of cracks and openings, therefore much more difficult to traverse. At the bottom of the steep, smooth slope, there is a section of some very jagged looking rocks. Probably the collection of years of loose debris sliding down the slope and cracking up a plate of stone. Beyond that, there is a much more level surface that extends along the side of the mountain, descending out of sight. The ledge actually contains some amount of growth, sporting a small tree and some bushes, possibly even a little grass, though there seems to be a pocket of snow there as well.
Tsabo tries to focus his mind on the task, recalling his long hours of sand sculpture and his gardening on the temple grounds. The monk performs these meanial tasks, his master would say, because there is transcendent bliss in the full concentration that is required for perfection. Focus on only what you are doing. Push out all else and you will perform the task perfectly.

**Make another Climb check to get down this precarious slope. Also make a Concentration check and a Listen check.**

[orco]

Tsabo had never fully understood the value of performing menial tasks or routine chores within the methodical manner that was taught to him. But outside the walls of the monastery he realizes the true meanings of them. Learning this new found realization of knowledge, he pushes forward with a single thought, that within each moment, the inifinite is in the finite of every instant.

Climb Check

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+2:	(7) + 2	Total = 9

Concentration

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+1:	(16) + 1	Total = 17

Listen

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+4:	(3) + 4	Total = 7

[Corwyn]

At first the treacherous slope unnerves the young monk, making him falter in his climb. Nearly falling twice, Tsabo finally focuses his wandering mind. As soon as he stops thinking about everything but the next foot or hand hold, the monk finds himself smoothly descending the slope and easily traversing the jagged rocks. Before long the monk is traveling along the flat ledge, walking aong the side of the mountain face. The ledge extends for some distance, always descending. It switches back once, further descending, but taking Tsabo north again. Its still quite a few hours from sunset but already the sky has darkened considerably, as the moutain is now between Tsabo and the setting sun. Even as the monk prepares to find a place to spend the night, realizing the folly of traveling tin this area in the dark, he notices that a shelf of rock above, affords a little shelter from the sky, but not much.

**Make a Survival check to find/create a suitable shelter for the night.**

[orco]

As best can be arranged according to the harmony of the environment, Tsabo arranges what shelter he can. He then meditates, thanking the holy ones for protecting him and asking they continue to guide him according to their will.

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+2:	(4) + 2	Total = 6

[orco]

*Should have been +3 for survival check, therefore 7 total.*

[Corwyn]

Tsabo spends the night sheltered under a thin covering of pine boughs, his back pressed against the cold stone of the cliff face. Come morning, he hinds himself, stiff, cold, wet and very hungry. The monk is unable to replenish his water supplies from the little snow that had collected on the ledge, so after breakfasting on cold, hard rations, he washes it down with the icy water from one of his two waterskins.
Today he will need to pay particular attention to what will be his next source of water and possibly warmth, since the chill mountain wind is already making his flesh numb, despite the shinning sun.


**Make another Survival for today and a Fortitude save to resist the elements. You have free actions.**

[orco]

Using the skills that was taught to him, Tsabo continues onward. Ever watchful for kindling or game, he remains mindful of the harsh terrain that he is in. Looking off into the horizon, he looks for signs of life, and humanity.

Survival
[dice]1d20+3


Fortitude

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+7:	(18) + 7	Total = 25

Spot [kindling (moss, twigs, etc) or game/eatible herbs,roots,etc.]

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+3:	(8) + 3	Total = 11

[orco]

Survival

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+3:	(11) + 3	Total = 14

[Corwyn]

Many years of hard labor and rigorous training has made Tsabo extremely resiliant, but the discomfort of traveling in this terrain threatens to crush his concentration with every step. The young monk struggles down the rocky slopes, trying to avoid patches of snow and ice, while keeping an eye out for anything edible. Tsabo manages to find a deep enough patch of clean snow, with which he fills his waterskin, but the effort leaves his fingers painfully numb.
By midday, the sun us nearly hidden by a great patch of fog and mist that turns the treacherous slope into a dream-like world of diffuse light and slippery footing. The icy wind whips at his damp clothes and Tsabo notices that there is frost building on his eyelashes and eyebrows. Parts of his wet robes are becoming frozen and when the wind blows harder, they whip against him, stinging his flesh. Thinking of the misery of the previous night anf looking forward to another cold, wet night, Tsabo tries to gather some kindling for fire. Everything is wet and there is little in the way of plant-life to choose from. The monk pulls apart some small coniferous bushes and collects a bit of dead grass and twigs wherever he can find some. Tucking a handfull of moist kindling into his robes, the monk hopes that the heat from his body will dry them out enough to be useful for starting a fire.


**You are tough enough to resist the worst effects (no mechanical penalties yet), but its damned uncomfortable. The best you can manage is to fill your waterskin, it would take some very serious survival skills to find a meal in this area of the mountains. The Survival check encompasses the full day's searching for anything edible or potable. You are still well above the treeline and the mist and fog is probably clouds. It will be some time before you reach a low enough altitude to find signs of human life or even game for that matter. The monastery is built high on the mountain to ensure privacy. Also, the easter slopes are even more treacherous and desolute than the western slope, so its no surprise that you have so far found nothing but stone, ice and fog. Make a Concentration check, a Balance check and a dexterity check.**