An order of dwarven and gnomish monks devoted to the principle that any evil being's strength is false, and enlarged through an imposing, undoing intimidation. The belief is that confidence in oneself is beyondf physical ability, and assurance of action and steadfast legs will breed victory over any evil foe. In the order, Earth Genasi are typically held in high regard for their ability to perform the fighting style, however no fighter that does not grasp the mental side of the Order of the Stone will progress far. The Order trains heavily to develop mental and bodily resilience, and so feats catering well to monks of the Stone Order include: Strong Soul, Toughness, Bullheaded, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Discipline), and Skill Focus (Concentration). Monks of the Stone are always Lawful Good or Lawful Neutral, as a result of the strong teaching within the order that evil comes from a weak and cowardly mind. The Order of the Stone is typical of worshippers of the dwarven deities Clangeddin Silverbeard and Moradin; the gnomish deities: Callarduran Smoothhands, Flandal Steelskin, and Gaerdal Ironhand; and the Major Deity Torm the True.

Fighting styles taught by the Order of the Stone include the primary fighting style of Crouching Rock, an upper-cut, close-fist centered hand fighting technique. It revolves around sturdily planted feet, a rotating waist, and powerful alternating lower and upper-body blows to exhaust an enemy into making more errors and baring his body to real wounding.

The secondary fighting style taught is the Falling Boulder style, however this is a fighting style that relies on both the Improved Knockdown, and Improved Expertise, feats, and as such is not widely taught. ((My character hasn't even created it yet, and may or may not at all))

If a monk of the Order of the Stone uses any monk weapon it is typically a club which symbolizes simplistically blunt intollerance for all evil.

Commentary welcome, I wrote this up myself for my next character. ;)

Monks of the order of the Stone may multiclass freely with Dwarven Defender,

All PrC's need an app... Just so you know

I'm guessing any non-canon monk orders need an application too.

Well, if it's a pure monk I doubt it will get the necessary BAB for DD.

I have no plans on taking DD anyways. My dwarven monk is going to become the teacher of the Crouching Rock fighting style, not the Falling Boulder.

<3

Edit: And wouldn't it be okay to just play as being in this order without applying for it? Because... frankly, any monk can start a monk order and if someone tried to tell me that the typical Canon monk orders are the only monks of the land then I'd say that was completely ridiculous.

Well, I'll be the first to say, its not ridiculous.

Canon implies it is the only official word. You can not add your own 'canon' because you are not official.

Not just any monk can create an order. The monk orders would only be something that a true master, a deity, or a creature with the power of a deity could create.

I'd talk to a DM to make sure, but otherwise, people will just make up convenient 'canon' for themselves like:

The Order of the Tree Druid/Monks of Silvanus able to multiclass freely as either.

Bob God of Adventure Granting Trickery and Travel Domain!

Joe God of Smitage Granting Air and Magic Domain!

IE: People could just come up with their own 'canon' group or create their own group to play combinations that are frankly not allowed *by* the setting. That's part of why people play in a setting, it comes with its own drawbacks, adaptations, and rules that you adhere to and can't just change willy nilly entirely on your own without DM input.

I'm not changing anything. My character is the only monk in the order. This is the planning behind the order, and frankly if you don't like the bit about dwarven defender I can take that out, because it's something I created.

As for there being a grand total of eight monastic orders in all of Faerun? Yes, that is ridiculous.. because frankly, it takes a set of ideals and a monk willing to train others around them, to make an order. It doesn't take a god. It might take a god or a master monk to make a LARGE order, like the ones presented by Canon, but it certainly doesn't take anything more than a set of values and a fighting style that appropriately trains and emphasizes them to start anew.

EvilPig I'm not changing anything. My character is the only monk in the order. This is the planning behind the order, and frankly if you don't like the bit about dwarven defender I can take that out, because it's something I created.

As for there being a grand total of eight monastic orders in all of Faerun? Yes, that is ridiculous.. because frankly, it takes a set of ideals and a monk willing to train others around them, to make an order. It doesn't take a god. It might take a god or a master monk to make a LARGE order, like the ones presented by Canon, but it certainly doesn't take anything more than a set of values and a fighting style that appropriately trains and emphasizes them to start anew.

Well, Logically, you make points. But EfU is D&D, So, we follow D&D rules, usually. That doesn't mean you cant have this though, It just means you'll want to send a PM over to a DM and ask about it. Don't feel as though people are attacking you, we just are careful with whats allowed to keep this realistically non-realistic.

EvilPig I'm not changing anything. My character is the only monk in the order. This is the planning behind the order, and frankly if you don't like the bit about dwarven defender I can take that out, because it's something I created.

As for there being a grand total of eight monastic orders in all of Faerun? Yes, that is ridiculous.. because frankly, it takes a set of ideals and a monk willing to train others around them, to make an order. It doesn't take a god. It might take a god or a master monk to make a LARGE order, like the ones presented by Canon, but it certainly doesn't take anything more than a set of values and a fighting style that appropriately trains and emphasizes them to start anew.

Hey, I can't say I don't like your idea. I rather do. I'd just say, talk it out with a DM because the setting is theirs. Therefore, they would be the ones to rule who and what can create a new order.

I'm offering help to see your idea fly, please bear that in mind.

I would just remove the point of dwarven defender freely multi-classing within the order. It really makes no sense. Dwarven defenders use weapons, shields, and heavy armor to fight. They also employ shield walls and advanced military tactics. The two classes do not mesh at all, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't both be very present within the order.

I do like the idea of a 'rock' themed monkish order for primarily dwarves. Very stylish in the setting.

Does this fighting style involve screaming "I'm a rock!", whilst simultaneously curling one's self into the foetal position?

9lives Does this fighting style involve screaming "I'm a rock!", whilst simultaneously curling one's self into the foetal position?

I'm so in.

EvilPig

As for there being a grand total of eight monastic orders in all of Faerun? Yes, that is ridiculous.. because frankly, it takes a set of ideals and a monk willing to train others around them, to make an order. It doesn't take a god.

Just to clarify, there are more than 8 monastic orders. You have to read the WHOLE thread. Not just the first half.

https://efupw.com/efu1-forum/topic/28/283/monk/index.html

Bah, once again my research is inadequate. Are the additional ones presented below Canon monk orders?

Well, 20 or so is more realistic than 8 but I still believe a monk should be able to vary in what ideals he follows, thus making the growth of an Order if others follow his teachings possible.

Also the bit I added with Dwarven Defender on the Order of the Stone write-up, I did so without any great knowledge of the specific class mechanics (I've never played one in NWN or looked more than once or twice at just what they get as they level. I remembered damage reduction which was the primary motive for allowing that class as a multiclass option.)

With this discussion, are any DMs willing to share things they like/dislike about what's in this thread? I of course would encourage other people to make monks for this order if anyone's interested, and so I'd prefer DM discussion on it to be had publically on the forums instead of through PMs.

I think it's fine to create a new monk order, however, you can't give multiclass perks to your order unless it's canon. Barring that, I like this idea alot and wish you the best with it. It's a very solid monk concept. Better then many canon orders.

"Speed of the huge boulder!" *Collapses*

There we go, the Dwarven Defender bit is officially gone.