School of the Gentle Fist

[TheRingBearer]

(( In my infinite plus one wisdom; I actually made a record of and saved many posts because I knew the spam would make it impossible to use the forum. Although I have the watchers and the school... I don't have the CC one :/ ))

Originally posted by Saxjamm


Comfortably hidden from prying eyes and the passing adventurer in Arbeck's Woods, the School of the Gentle Fist is home to an exotic troupe of warriors, each carrying skills that would be deemed unordinary by the denizens of the Vast.



Purpose



The School of the Gentle Fist is a school originally designed and catered for monks. However, it serves a greater purpose than simply exotic bare-fisted training, as it is also home to an impressive training floor, a full-compliment of weapons, both live and trainers, local to the lands of the Vast. It is meant as house of training for both Gentle Fist students and other passing warriors who seek to defend the Vast from its many surrounding threats. Zato, servant of Ilmater, established the school in Arbeck's Glen after many conversations concerning the creation of an adequate school meant for the training of local adventurers traveling in the Vast. Though he had hoped to address local concerns, he also wanted to impart his knowledge of the Gentle Fist, the style of fighting taught to him by his master, Ichi, a monk once affiliated with the Yellow Rose monastary in Damara.



As master and owner of the establishment, Zato is always searching for new, potential monks to join his school and learn the Art he posseses, or to share their own skills and abilities with others. Monks that join are not required to share Zato's faith, but are expected to respect and follow the beliefs and doctrine of the Gentle Fist.



The School of the Gentle Fist follows a simple hiearchy of members. Not all members are monks, and the school is"martial-only." However, the school is more likely to attract characters that are principle-oriented, looking to perfect a fighting art of their own, or lead a lifestyle of committed service to the people of the Vast, specifically of the Dale and River Vesper. While many other organizations exist, the Gentle Fist is probably for those who do not necessarily fit into the other organizations, and share a more similar lifestyle to that of the monks within this small school.



Membership



Members need not be monks to join, but should have a genuine motive for following a monk of Ilmater and his school. Members also need not be combat experts. The School of the Gentle Fist is more likely to employ the services of monks and various kinds of healers that don't necessarily fit into the common archetype. To join the School, a character need only inquire about the Gentle Fist, eventually requesting a meeting with Zato. It is Zato who ultimately decides who will become an official member of the Gentle Fist.



What if I'm not a member? Can I still use the School?



The Gentle Fist has recently opened its doors to the general public and other organizations. The training floor is meant for any type of character -- even those not officially affiliated with the school.



There are a variety of rules regarding training at the Gentle Fist. No armor or "shoes" are to be worn on the training floor (NOTE: customizing your clothing to have no shoes is unnecessary, but please, no armors on the training floor). Two practice dummies can be used, as well as the archery target. There is a weapons room where all manner of weaponry can be found. It is the school's policy that weapons, especially live weapons, are to be borrowed, not kept. All school equipment should be returned.



Characters may also engage in "sparring." The training floor has the special "subdual" setting, allowing characters to engage in pseudo-PVP combat. "Sparring" should be carried out in-character, with the proper character motivation.



The school is always locked. Look for a member of the Gentle Fist to get you access inside.



The second floor of the school has rooms for lodging and recovering from training sessions. All characters that rest on the upper floor will recover 3hp/level, instead of the usual 1hp/level.



Organizations are welcomed and encouraged to make use of the School of the Gentle Fist for training sessions with its own members. Though armored training may have to occur outside of the, any kind of weapons work may occur inside. The school even has training weapons; weapons that are dummied to inflict no damage upon striking another target or character (though your strength modifier will always be applied, plus 1 damage. It's simply impossible to inflict 0 damage). This can be used for lengthened sparring matches, or for whatever training persons a character may have.



Council Room



The School of the Gentle Fist has a council room on the second floor. This room is locked; only members can gain access. Inside is a study area, complete with library (we store actual books, some bought from the library in Vesper), as well as storing chest (members can use this chest as a storing area for whatever items or equipment they wish to keep within the school).



At the other end of the room is a crescent formation of chairs, established like a council room. It is Zato's hope to use the Council Room for important meetings or discussions concerning the Vast. It is not meant strictly for the members.



Organizations are invited to inquire about holding meetings within.



What is the Gentle Fist



The Gentle Fist is Zato's fighting art, and his philosophical way of living life. The Gentle Fist bases a majority of its principles off of the tenets of Ilmater, the Crying God, dedicated to easing the suffering of the weak, if not also taking the place of the weak and willingly suffering for them. Though the Ilmatari may appear to be pain loving masochists, they really are concerned with the suffering of others, and are willing to go to extremes to protect the innocent.



The Gentle Fist seeks to generate an inner peace within the practitioner, channeling all of their anger, guilt, and violence into learning and perfecting the bare-fisted art. It employs the use of little to no weapons (though Zato is seeking to learn to use the weapons found commonly in the Vast) and no armor. It is heavily based on on cultivating the mystical energy, known only as ki to the monks, to enliven their combat skills.



Pracitioners of the Gentle Fist are usually peaceful, but are more than willing to resort to violence in self-defence, or when pursuing missions to protect the innocent and stave off evil legions. Commerce and adventure are generally not a priority.



As an Ilmatari, Zato seeks to keep the best interests of all those that he meets. His school is the place to come to for comfort and safe haven.