Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Menexenus's Age of Worms Campaign Journal
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Menexenus" data-source="post: 3305842" data-attributes="member: 8951"><p><strong>Katawan's backstory</strong></p><p></p><p>At the beginning of the campaign, Katawan is 18 years old. His younger years were spent in Diamond Lake. He left town to join the local monastery at the age of 15 and has not been seen in town for those 3 years. As a boy growing up he was an inquisitive child, always asking why things were as there were and wondering why things happened as they did. He was an average child in relation to size and stature, only about 5 feet 6 inches tall and rather slim at about 150 pounds. Even though seemingly smallish his 3 years of training among the monks would eventually make him into a hardened, quick and worthy adversary. He is a quiet person saying little but meaning what he says. He has courage but also knows that at times the "best fight is one that is not made".</p><p> </p><p>Katawan's family - the name of which was Caine before he was given a new name among the monks - still lives in Diamond Lake, although he has not seen or heard from them over these past 3 years. When he left three years ago, his father and mother were still living along with his younger sister. His family had been living on a small farm on the outskirts of the town where they were just able to make ends meet. </p><p></p><p> Throughout young Caine's childhood, he has occasionally seen monks in town, buying goods at the market. While most of the townsfolk seemed to despise the monks, he admired their quiet wisdom and sense of peace. Eventually he learned why the townsfolk despise the monks. Twenty years ago, a mob of out-of-work miners stormed the local monastery, demanding that the mistress of the monastery use her mystical powers to help them find new sources of ore. When she refused, the miners attacked. The monks were able to repel the invaders, and only 15 miners returned to town to tell the tale. That very night, each of those 15 townspeople were murdered in their sleep. The monks had infiltrated the town at night and assassinated every last miner who had participated in the raid on the monastery. Since then, the relationship between the town and the monks has been very tense. The monks are allowed in town only to sell the exotic herbs and spices that they cultivate in their clifftop compound and to buy provisions for themselves. Otherwise, they are not welcome in town (which is fine with them).</p><p> </p><p> About 3 years ago, when he was 15, Caine felt a strong calling to join the monastery and become a monk. He left Diamond Lake in hopes of beginning training at the Twilight Monastery. He traveled 8 hours north until he came to a towering crag called the Griffin's Roost, atop which is perched foreboding edifice known as the Twilight Monastery. (It is called the Twilight Monastery because the monks inside it are heard chanting at dusk.) Caine climbed the steep rocky hill and knocked on the large double doors of the compound. At first there was no answer, but then after a few minutes, the doors swung open. Behind them stood a man with a shaved head dressed in poor quality clothing. He looked at Caine and beckoned him wordlessly to follow. The shaved monk led the teenager into a large building and up some stairs. He pointed at a doorway and motioned that Caine should enter. He opened the door and found an elderly woman sitting alone on the floor of a relatively unadorned room. Incense was burning in a small censer before her, and her eyes were closed. </p><p></p><p>For a while, Caine stood there waiting. After a few minutes, he seated himself across from the woman, waiting for her to speak. Caine sat there with her in silence for about 20 minutes. Suddenly, with eyes still closed, she began speaking. "Greetings. My name is Izenfen. I am the mistress of this monastery. I have been expecting you. The stars told me of your arrival. Your are to be trained for a great test. When you face this test, the fate of untold multitudes will depend upon your actions. Therefore, if you choose to undertake the training that we offer here, you must do so with the utmost seriousness and devotion. Are you willing to devote your entire body and spirit to our teachings?"</p><p></p><p> Although this experience had been a bit unsettling for the young man, Caine decided there was no point in turning back now. "Yes," he replied.</p><p></p><p> "Are you willing to follow my every instruction without question and without fail?"</p><p></p><p> "Yes"</p><p></p><p> She paused for a moment, as if trying to gauge the truth of his responses. At long last, she opened her eyes and looked directly at him with a penetrating stare. "Good. Welcome to the Twilight Monastery. Henceforth, you will be known among us as Brother Katawan. Your previous name is of no significance. You will never use it again. Leave me. Follow Brother Watano. He will show you where you will stay and prepare you for what is to come. He will be your instructor. Follow his every instruction as if they were my own." She closed her eyes again, and Katawan left her, as instructed.</p><p> </p><p> The training was brutal. Every day the boy went to bed bruised and hungry. There were times when he thought he couldn't endure the physical and mental punishment any more. But then he remembered Izenfen's words. The fate of multitudes will depend on him. These words inspired him to withstand more punishment than he ever thought possible. Eventually, he saw that his skills were indeed growing, and he came to appreciate his instructors and their teachings, despite their harshness.</p><p> </p><p> Almost 3 years to the day of Katawan's arrival at the Twilight Monastery, he was summoned to Izenfen's quarters for only the second time. Again, she was seated and meditating. He knelt across from her and pressed his forehead to the ground, as he had been taught to do out of respect for those who had mastered the martial arts. He asked, "How may I serve you, Sensei?" </p><p></p><p> She responded, "Brother Katawan, the day of your departure has arrived."</p><p></p><p>He was so shocked by this sentence, that, for a moment, he began lifting his forehead away from the ground. He quickly replaced it and replied, "But Sensei, I still have so much to learn. I am not yet ready for the great trial you spoke of."</p><p></p><p> "Nevertheless, the day of your departure has arrived. You will leave us and join your childhood friends. They are exploring the Whispering Cave about 5 hours south of here. You know the one. You will join them. Together you will face many challenges, and these challenges will make you stronger. And it is together, with your friends, that you will face the great test that I told you about when you first arrived here. Remember your teachings and you will grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit. When the time comes, you will be ready." </p><p></p><p>Izenfen stood, so Katawan stood up as well, with his head bowed. She gave the young man a short, curt bow. This unnerved him a bit, because it was not customary for the master to bow to the student. She said, "Our prayers go with you, Katawan."</p><p></p><p> Katawan gave a deep bow in reply, signifying his great respect and lower station. Then, even though his head was still filled with questions, he turned and left the room, as commanded. Brother Watano was standing at the door carrying all Katawan's worldly possessions (which fit easily into a small tattered cloth sack). Watano handed the sack to him as he left the room, escorted him to the main gate of the compound, bowed deeply, and closed the gate behind him. Katawan had not left the compound in 3 years, and it seemed strange to be standing outside the walls of the place that he had called home for so long. After a few moments looking around and experiencing the strangeness of it all, he began walking toward the Whispering Cave to meet up with his friends.</p><p></p><p> It was thus that a great adventure was begun...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Menexenus, post: 3305842, member: 8951"] [b]Katawan's backstory[/b] At the beginning of the campaign, Katawan is 18 years old. His younger years were spent in Diamond Lake. He left town to join the local monastery at the age of 15 and has not been seen in town for those 3 years. As a boy growing up he was an inquisitive child, always asking why things were as there were and wondering why things happened as they did. He was an average child in relation to size and stature, only about 5 feet 6 inches tall and rather slim at about 150 pounds. Even though seemingly smallish his 3 years of training among the monks would eventually make him into a hardened, quick and worthy adversary. He is a quiet person saying little but meaning what he says. He has courage but also knows that at times the "best fight is one that is not made". Katawan's family - the name of which was Caine before he was given a new name among the monks - still lives in Diamond Lake, although he has not seen or heard from them over these past 3 years. When he left three years ago, his father and mother were still living along with his younger sister. His family had been living on a small farm on the outskirts of the town where they were just able to make ends meet. Throughout young Caine's childhood, he has occasionally seen monks in town, buying goods at the market. While most of the townsfolk seemed to despise the monks, he admired their quiet wisdom and sense of peace. Eventually he learned why the townsfolk despise the monks. Twenty years ago, a mob of out-of-work miners stormed the local monastery, demanding that the mistress of the monastery use her mystical powers to help them find new sources of ore. When she refused, the miners attacked. The monks were able to repel the invaders, and only 15 miners returned to town to tell the tale. That very night, each of those 15 townspeople were murdered in their sleep. The monks had infiltrated the town at night and assassinated every last miner who had participated in the raid on the monastery. Since then, the relationship between the town and the monks has been very tense. The monks are allowed in town only to sell the exotic herbs and spices that they cultivate in their clifftop compound and to buy provisions for themselves. Otherwise, they are not welcome in town (which is fine with them). About 3 years ago, when he was 15, Caine felt a strong calling to join the monastery and become a monk. He left Diamond Lake in hopes of beginning training at the Twilight Monastery. He traveled 8 hours north until he came to a towering crag called the Griffin's Roost, atop which is perched foreboding edifice known as the Twilight Monastery. (It is called the Twilight Monastery because the monks inside it are heard chanting at dusk.) Caine climbed the steep rocky hill and knocked on the large double doors of the compound. At first there was no answer, but then after a few minutes, the doors swung open. Behind them stood a man with a shaved head dressed in poor quality clothing. He looked at Caine and beckoned him wordlessly to follow. The shaved monk led the teenager into a large building and up some stairs. He pointed at a doorway and motioned that Caine should enter. He opened the door and found an elderly woman sitting alone on the floor of a relatively unadorned room. Incense was burning in a small censer before her, and her eyes were closed. For a while, Caine stood there waiting. After a few minutes, he seated himself across from the woman, waiting for her to speak. Caine sat there with her in silence for about 20 minutes. Suddenly, with eyes still closed, she began speaking. "Greetings. My name is Izenfen. I am the mistress of this monastery. I have been expecting you. The stars told me of your arrival. Your are to be trained for a great test. When you face this test, the fate of untold multitudes will depend upon your actions. Therefore, if you choose to undertake the training that we offer here, you must do so with the utmost seriousness and devotion. Are you willing to devote your entire body and spirit to our teachings?" Although this experience had been a bit unsettling for the young man, Caine decided there was no point in turning back now. "Yes," he replied. "Are you willing to follow my every instruction without question and without fail?" "Yes" She paused for a moment, as if trying to gauge the truth of his responses. At long last, she opened her eyes and looked directly at him with a penetrating stare. "Good. Welcome to the Twilight Monastery. Henceforth, you will be known among us as Brother Katawan. Your previous name is of no significance. You will never use it again. Leave me. Follow Brother Watano. He will show you where you will stay and prepare you for what is to come. He will be your instructor. Follow his every instruction as if they were my own." She closed her eyes again, and Katawan left her, as instructed. The training was brutal. Every day the boy went to bed bruised and hungry. There were times when he thought he couldn't endure the physical and mental punishment any more. But then he remembered Izenfen's words. The fate of multitudes will depend on him. These words inspired him to withstand more punishment than he ever thought possible. Eventually, he saw that his skills were indeed growing, and he came to appreciate his instructors and their teachings, despite their harshness. Almost 3 years to the day of Katawan's arrival at the Twilight Monastery, he was summoned to Izenfen's quarters for only the second time. Again, she was seated and meditating. He knelt across from her and pressed his forehead to the ground, as he had been taught to do out of respect for those who had mastered the martial arts. He asked, "How may I serve you, Sensei?" She responded, "Brother Katawan, the day of your departure has arrived." He was so shocked by this sentence, that, for a moment, he began lifting his forehead away from the ground. He quickly replaced it and replied, "But Sensei, I still have so much to learn. I am not yet ready for the great trial you spoke of." "Nevertheless, the day of your departure has arrived. You will leave us and join your childhood friends. They are exploring the Whispering Cave about 5 hours south of here. You know the one. You will join them. Together you will face many challenges, and these challenges will make you stronger. And it is together, with your friends, that you will face the great test that I told you about when you first arrived here. Remember your teachings and you will grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit. When the time comes, you will be ready." Izenfen stood, so Katawan stood up as well, with his head bowed. She gave the young man a short, curt bow. This unnerved him a bit, because it was not customary for the master to bow to the student. She said, "Our prayers go with you, Katawan." Katawan gave a deep bow in reply, signifying his great respect and lower station. Then, even though his head was still filled with questions, he turned and left the room, as commanded. Brother Watano was standing at the door carrying all Katawan's worldly possessions (which fit easily into a small tattered cloth sack). Watano handed the sack to him as he left the room, escorted him to the main gate of the compound, bowed deeply, and closed the gate behind him. Katawan had not left the compound in 3 years, and it seemed strange to be standing outside the walls of the place that he had called home for so long. After a few moments looking around and experiencing the strangeness of it all, he began walking toward the Whispering Cave to meet up with his friends. It was thus that a great adventure was begun... [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Menexenus's Age of Worms Campaign Journal
Top