The term 'magic' is often applied incorrectly to the abilities that
monks exhibit. They often seem like magical spells or priestly prayers
to the uneducated masses. However, a monk's abilities are not powers
granted by the whim or a god, nor are they dependent on a magical force.
They are based on the monk's inner strength and mental discipline. The
skills governing this phenomenon are as follows.
Discipline: This skill is the central factor in a monk's power. All of
the abilities a monk may gain stem from the monk's self-
discipline and their ability to control their own body.
Each of the other skills represents a way this discipline
may be used to achieve specific results, but in general the
broader, mixed effects will depend fully on discipline.
Punches: This skill covers most attacks that are executed with the
arms and hands. Contrary to the specificity of the name, it
includes such things as open-handed strikes, double-fisted
blows, and attacks with the edges of hands or with elbows.
These attacks will usually be fairly average in their effect,
but tend to be simple enough that they do not usually leave
the monk in an undesirable position.
This skill is associated with the Talon Clan.
Throws: This skill relates to the ability throw people. Usually, the
desired results include both knocking the opponent down and
doing some damage. These are powerful abilities, but tend to
be a little more spectacular when things go awry as well.
This skill is associated with the Feather Clan.
Mind: This skill involves a monk's ability to use their mind to
produce a few kinds of effects. One is to influence and
control their own body in more specific and drastic ways
than most people are able to. Another is to produce a
heightened mental state that allows the monk to better
perform some tasks.
This skill is associated with the Spirit Clan.
Sweeps: This skill controls those abilities that center around
knocking someone to the ground by moving their feet straight
out from under them. Of course, there are many variations
and combined effects that depend on their victim being
swept first, and many of those also fall under this skill.
This skill is associated with the Tail Clan.
Kicks: This skill governs most attacks that are executed with the
lower body--generally feet, though they may strike with the
heel or with the blade of the foot. Kicks tend to use more
power, and so they get some impressive effects, but they are
also more succeptable to spectacular error as well.
This skill is associated with the Hoof Clan.
These skills are related to each other according to the following
diagram of associations. The skills which are adjacent on the wheel
are closely related, and those across from each other are distantly
related. Discipline, at the center, is the skill that controls them all.
/----Mind----\
/-- --\
/ \
Sweeps Discipline Throws
\ /
\ /
Kicks---------Punches
See also: monk, traits
ShadowMUD
18:55, Darkday, Ketralki 19, 212 AD.
