For those of you more interested in seeing Canon Monastic Orders fleshed out, choose the one that would be your most preferred. This poll is not a promise of inclusion, but will give me an idea of what is most popular and some ideas for incorporation and where to focus detailing.

(If you voted for Custom in the other poll, you can still vote here as well!)

I have to admit my interest in seeing a representation of any of them that'd make regional sense would be my preference.

Long Death, for Jergalite ties

Sun Soul. Because we need more lawful sun-followers.

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Aernoud Van Brabant: Heir of the House. Proprietor of the Beer Wagon.
"Go to the Mayfields, have a pint, and wait for this to blow over."
Aurelius: Sunmaster of Amaunator. Contemplative. Aspirant to Transcendance.
"Sol Invictus"

Iron Guantlet, because we need more 'evil' instead of every NPC being goodie goodie.

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The Peacock wrote:

[GreatPigeon] is better than me.

Which one did Grimgnaw from the campaign be a part of? - That one I want!

It's interesting that the most popular orders (thus far) are the church-affiliated ones. Particularly since there isn't really an active religious organisation for any of them. I wonder if people are voting for what they'd like to participate in or just what they want to see around (in which case, the votes for Dark Moon make me laugh - the whole point of them is that you don't see them!).

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@Thanatopsis#6293

He was Long Death.

Taking this literally, it would benefit some characters to see the Darkmoon around.

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I want to make a few blanket statements that will absolutely infuriate at least seven people, but I sincerely hope that those seven will prove me wrong.

In my research, both recently and in the past, my conclusion regarding the Order of the Long Death is that, while intriguing, actually playing one is tantamount to playing a lawful worshipper of Urdlen. Except that a worshipper of Urdlen would probably accept a raise dead spell ifwhen they died. They simply don't have the level of depth and complexity that actual monastic orders of the death gods possess, because not only do they have a narrow focus, but they are also a solid example of yet another incredibly hypocritical faction. Even sources admit that they don't know what exactly their long-term goal is, which means trouble for a class that lives and breathes actualization of one's self and one's goals.

I will freely admit that I have hard feelings against the Long Death because my only IC encounter with them ended almost immediately with PvP. But my problem wasn't the combat itself - my issue arose when I realized that I bore no ill will towards the player because that is how the Order should be played. It's like turning Dr. Lecter's psychiatric methods into a college, except Hannibal's students are less absurd because they actually do something useful with the remains.

At least some of the purpose of a monastic order in Faerun also tends to come from the deity to which they are bound; however, the Order of the Long Death has no deific affiliates because they have no respect for the Eternal Cycle and are, well, evil (which excludes Good death gods like Osiris and the former of which offends Kelemvor, who has an enmity with the order as mentioned in virtually any source you might care to name), and they entirely reject the concept of undeath which purposefully outcast themselves from the more evil deities with that sphere (such as Jergal and Velsharoon).

And now comes the part where, like the Long Death, I actively contradict myself.

Clearly something is very, very attractive about this specific Order. Not the ideals they embody, not their connections, but the concept in itself. One thing I CAN say in favor of it is that, like the Old Order (which has zero votes, funnily enough), it has its own guiding principles regardless of any host god they might be connected to (which I maintain they are not). Thusly, I want to hear from the players themselves what makes it such an attractive option. It has room for improvement, certainly (and I feel that some changes must be implemented if it is to survive as a player-run organization, or at the very least have some player followers), but I'd like to know what captivates our minds and souls in the here and now. As I said above, while I despise the concept, I don't exactly have fun despising anything, and thus would appreciate a new perspective.

As for me, I'm in favor of going against the mold...to a degree. Pick a deity, concept or faction, and the odds are good that someone will have established a monastery revolving around it at some point (which is part of the reason I am confused by monkish alignment restrictions - a monk who studies and embodies chaos, for example, would not only be highly flavorful, but awesome). And most of these orders are already canon - Clangeddin's Silver Monks, Mystra's Weave Treaders, the Dustmen (which, I'd like to point out, could serve as an alternative or basis for the Long Death very easily), among others.

The core consideration here, in my view, should be this: What are players A) interested in seeing and B) interested in participating in, wholly aside from the issue of monks entirely? Crafting a monastic exemplar for the zeitgeist should be the first step, not confining us to the few loose orders already established. After that, it is pitifully easy to find an order that can represent these wants of the playerbase, even one that's canon for Faerunian lore.

Or we could just establish an Order of the Wanton Spirit that espouses powerleveling. While a terrible meta-joke, that would actually fit fairly snugly into basic monkish ideals.

I would like to conclude with this final note about my relationship with monks. I like monks. I have never played one effectively, do not understand how they operate, nor how their world view works in the slightest, and hate their absurd mishmash of real-world influences with a passion. But I do like monks. This disparity above all, I think, is what drives me to seek more information in this case and, while the premise is argumentative, I feel that it will allow me to better comprehend each point as it comes. So thank you for your patience in reading this and, if applicable, your consideration in responding.

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Contents subject to change without warning, reason, necessity, or logical imperative.

I'll be closing this poll on December 31st, so if you have an interest in this and haven't voted yet, do so before then!

I voted "Other" for the order of the Blackened Fist, it originates from the drow city of Undrek'Thoz. They are basically a male drow order of monks (assassins/sd's) in the service of Lloth.

Using the Long Death is something I favour. They are a unaligned order and care for only one thing. Numerous faiths have tried to sway them to see their cause but failed so their presence could be a good pivot for RP.

Also with the massive deaths on the Amian isles I think they would indeed take some interest in it

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Life should be prolonged only when it serves the greater cause of the death of the world.

What were the other two "Other" votes for?

I believe I was one of them and pretty much wanted to note I'd like to see a number of them , some of them already mentioned. (Sun Soul, Long Death) ..

Obscure as they are, Carmendine Monks making an appearance would be awesome.

I accidentally voted for the Old Order when I meant Long Death.

Scratch the only Old Order vote.

Those guys are lame...

...like pasta for christmas.

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Gerald Edmund
Discord: Metal Viking Guy #5433

DC taxation is theft!

Old Order here. We need some more freaky Ao folk on Amia. I was considering making a 30 Fighter cleric of Ao for a while.

Thanks for casting your votes!