Below is what occours as you advance along the order of voln in terms of what they say to you and teach you.
Meeting The Grandmaster
[Grandmaster's Chamber]
A variety of plants and murals decorate the light modwir paneled walls here. One wall is covered entirely with books while another wall, directly behind the Grandmaster's desk is almost entirely made of glass stretching from floor to ceiling. Where the modwir paneling is visible, it is intricately carved with scenes of the Lords of Liabo at rest, play or in battle. You also see the Grandmaster.
Obvious exits: north.
The Grandmaster takes you aside and says, "Welcome to the Order of Voln. I can see that one of our Masters has decided that you have displayed good potential for becoming a member of our order. I cannot say how much this pleases me. Before you are inducted into the Order though, there are some things that you need to know. Bear with me while I explain some things."
The Grandmaster continues, "The Order of Voln is made up of members who have dedicated themselves to assisting the Great Spirit Voln in his mission on Elanthia. Voln is a blessed servant of Lorminstra, and also enjoys the favor of the other Lords of Liabo. It is his mission to wander Elanthia, searching out undead beings wherever they may be and releasing them from the curse that binds them. As members of the Order of Voln, we assist Voln in his mission by making it our special task to dispatch any undead beings that we may find."
The Grandmaster smiles and says, "There are many sources of the curses that cause a being to become undead. Some are wretched servants of Chaos in their quest to dominate and destroy Elanthia. Others may have fallen under the influence of demonic powers from other planes of existence. In some cases, local gods or evil spirits may be the source of the curse. Regardless of the cause though, in each case the unfortunate victim can be released from their curse to find Lorminstra's mercy."
The Grandmaster says, "The mission sounds daunting, and indeed it would be so for mere mortals such as ourselves. However, we are fortunate to have the teachings of Voln to guide us, and with those teachings come the blessings of the Lords of Liabo. If you become a member of our Order, then you will learn many special skills as you walk the path to enlightenment. If you would like to join our order then confirm that desire by repeating this oath: "I pledge to aid and succor the Great Spirit Voln in his mission on Elanthia." By taking this oath, you will become a member of the Order of Voln."
You say, "I pledge to aid and succor the Great Spirit Voln in his mission on Elanthia."
The Grandmaster says, "Welcome to the Order. You are about to take the first step on the path to enlightenment. Go back out into the Hall of Brotherhood and proceed through the arch that is there and a Master of the order will begin your instruction. If at any time you wish to resign from the order just come back here and tell me that you resign. Be cautioned though, if you decide to resign you will never be able to join us again."
The Grandmaster says, "To begin your instruction you must go back to the Hall of Brotherhood and then through the arch, where you will take your first step along the Path to enlightenment. The Masters of the Order will instruct you in your duties and will train you to complete those duties. Again, welcome to the Order of Voln."
The First Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
You are standing under a covered walkway that extends in a wide circle surrounding a vast garden. Small trees, plants and flowers artfully adorn the area which is landscaped around several fountained terraces. Nearly taking your breath away, this part of the walkway is adorned with a brightly tiled mosaic of Tonis. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northwest, out.
The monk smiles and says, "The Order of Voln is an old and honored organization with a long history. The Order was founded in the year 1300 by Lord Fasthr k'Tafali. Lord Fasthr was the Manor Lord of an outlying province of the Kannalan Empire. The land was raw and wild, bordering areas that were not yet reclaimed from the ravages of past wars. Dread beasts and fell creatures harassed the pocket of civilization, coming down from their refuge in the surrounding mountains. Among these were an alarming number of cursed spirits and undead things, bound to the land through awful magic and unspeakable powers."
The monk continues, "Lord Fasthr and his men labored valiantly against the cursed beings that opposed them. Many good and honorable men lost their lives defending the homes of their family and friends. During these battles the Great Spirit Voln came to the aid of beleaguered men. Voln provided the men with special training that enabled the men to gain victory over the cursed beings. With Voln's teachings those men founded the first monastery of what has become the Order of Voln."
your dedication to this purpose you may return here to take the next step along the Path to Enlightenment. During this period of trial you will be able to recieve an indication of how favored you are with the Lords by going to the Meditation Chamber here in the monastery for a brief period of prayer. You should seek the aid and counsel of your fellow brethren in this undertaking. To help you in this, let me teach you the Symbol of Recognition."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
The monk says, "By concentrating on this Symbol of Recognition, you will be able to recognize others of our Order. This symbol will also reveal the nature of any cursed beings so that you may easily recognize their nature. Go now and do the work of our Order. Return when you are ready to take the next step on the Path to Enlightenment. At that time, more will be revealed to you.
The Second Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
A large chunk of iron shaped into an anvil is set carefully in the midst of some white sand. Beyond that is a slight incline decorated with pebbles and rocks of varying colors and sizes. After a moment, it dawns on you that the rocks are arranged to form a picture of Eonak. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northwest, southeast.
The monk says, "Welcome, Jaared. I see that Voln has favored you with his blessing. You are doing well in your dedication to the Order. Now there is more that I must explain to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Each step along the Path to Enlightenment is governed by a Lord or Lady of Liabo. Each of the thirteen Lords and Ladies governs two steps along the Path. The first step that you took was governed by Lord Tonis, and you did well in taking that step. Now you are ready to go onto the next step."
The monk continues, "The second step along the Path to Enlightenment is governed by Lord Eonak. Before you take this step you must perform a task to show honor to Lord Eonak. Lord Eonak is the Smith of Liabo. He is a master craftsman and weaponsmith of great skill. To show honor and service to him, seek out the raw material of his craft and feed it to the mouth at the base of his most prominent monument in the land. Return here when you have completed this task."
After you finish your quest
The monk says, "Welcome back, Jaared. It is good to see that you are taking your responsibilities seriously. The Order can always use dedicated members. Let me explain a little more about us and our history."
The monk smiles and says, "The Great Spirit Voln is an immortal power serving the Lady Lorminstra. Each of the Lords and Ladies of Liabo support his efforts to bring Lorminstra's mercy to the poor, cursed undead creatures that roam Elanthia."
The monk continues, "You must understand the nature of the undead in order to aid Voln in his mission. There are many false or misleading legends surrounding the undead. You must set aside all of your preconceptions and be ready to accept the truth. The first thing that you must know is that there are many causes of the cursed condition that undead beings endure. One obvious cause is the dreadful influence exerted by minions of Chaos. However, that is only one of many causes. As you progress along the Path to Enlightenment you will learn more about the causes of the curse and how to release the victims."
The monk goes on, "For now you have probably found it difficult to combat undead creatures. Normal weapons do not have any effect on them. To help you overcome this problem I shall teach you the Symbol of Blessing."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By taking a weapon in hand and concentrating on this Symbol you will be able to call upon the favor of Lord Eonak. The weapon will be instilled with his blessing, and it will become an effective tool to be used against the undead. Take note that some weapons will not be affected by this blessing, but you will know when your petition has been granted. This favor comes at a cost. You must continue to earn the favor of the Lords of Liabo by dedicating yourself to the Order's purpose. The favor granted by the Lords must be carefully nurtured. If you use their favors for aid in battling the undead then your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be slower. Think carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Third Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
Sunlight shines through several branches of a tree, warming everything it touches. Swaying gently in a breeze, a large garden of roses moves like a red blanket caught in the wind. Small birds can be seen chasing one another through the branches of the trees, while bees drink the nectar from the roses. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northwest, southeast.
The monk says, "Welcome, Jaared. I see that Voln has favored you with his blessing. You are doing well in your dedication to the Order."
The monk continues, "The third step along the Path to Enlightenment is governed by Lady Oleani. Before you take this step you must perform a task to show honor to Lady Oleani. Lady Oleani is the goddess of love and fertility. She blesses the unions that occur when two people join in love. To show honor to her, and to thank her for the blessings that she bestows upon us, seek out a symbol of love that one would give to another, and place it upon the altar where all of Lady Oleani's Blessings are bestowed. Return here when you have completed this task."
After the Quest
The monk says, "Well done Jaared. Your dedication is a good example of the dedication we desire from our members." The monk pauses for a moment then continues, "Before I reward your service to Voln, I would like to tell you a little story."
The monk smiles and says, "By now I am sure you know of how our order was started, so I will not repeat stories you have already been told. When our order was young, and limited to those started personally by Lord Fasthr k'Tafali we would communicate by courier or by projecting our thoughts mentally."
The monk continues, "Though we are not a secret order, we soon found there was still a need to be able to communicate with one another over great distances privately. We did not fear that those cursed to be undead would hear our thoughts or read our correspondence, but that the various forces that used the undead to increase their power in the world would."
The monk goes on, "Do not misunderstand this story to imply that our fight is against those that use the undead. Our order was and always will be devoted to releasing the unfortunate souls that are afflicted with this curse. To this purpose we petitioned to the Lady Oleani, and were granted the gift of thought so that all members would share a common bond forever. This gift is the ability to project ones thoughts mentally so that only members within our order can receive them. If there is a secret in this order it is that. This thought should not be used lightly, as it is a gift from the Lady Oleani herself. I shall teach you the Symbol of Thought."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By concentrating on this symbol, and a message you wish to project you will able to call upon the favor of Lady Oleani and relay the message to all members of the order of this rank or higher. If you try to use this Symbol without the favor left to use it, you will be aware that the message was not projected. This favor comes to you with a cost. You must continue to earn the favor of the Lords of Liabo by dedicating yourself to the Order's purpose. The favor granted by the Lords must be carefully nurtured. If you use their favors for aid in battling the undead then your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be slower. Think carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Fourth Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
You can hear the sound of stringed instruments, lutes and voices all blending into a series of merry songs. The garden here is designed with several varieties of grape vines. Beyond this is a small wine press with a narrow channel extending from it to a nearby vat. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northwest, southeast.
The monk says, "Welcome, Jaared. I see that Voln has favored you with his blessing. You are doing well in your dedication to the Order. Now there is more that I must explain to you."
The monk smiles and says, "You have made good progress on the Path of Enlightenment. You honored Lady Oleani in the third step. Now you must prepare for the fourth. Listen carefully and do not forget your instructions."
The monk continues, "The fourth step along the Path to Enlightenment is governed by Lord Cholen. As with the Lords before, you must perform a task which honors Cholen. Lord Cholen is the god of festivals. Possessed of a beautiful voice and a beautiful face, he is joyful and playful. To honor him, seek out the poorest and sing to them a song praising Lord Cholen. Then leave for them the means with which they might celebrate Cholen."
After the Quest
The monk says, "It is good to see you again, Jaared. Your dedication to The Order is a fine example for others to follow. Now, let me explain a little more about our order and its history."
The monk smiles and says, "The Great Spirit Voln came to the rescue of our founder, Lord Fasthr, and his men who were fighting a desperate battle against the undead. Voln took pity on their situation and taught them some of his personal secrets in fighting the undead."
The monk continues, "You have already learned some useful symbols. Now, it is inevitable when fighting the undead that you will be hurt and require healing. Voln showed his kindness when he taught us how to mend some of the hurts that are sure to befall you in this great conflict."
The monk goes on, "This symbol will not cure bleeding or mend mutilating wounds. However, it will return to you some of your health. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Recovery."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By concentrating on this Symbol you will be able to call upon the favor of Lord Cholen who will return to you some of the health you have lost.
This favor comes at a cost. You must continue to earn the favor of the Lords of Liabo by dedicating yourself to the Order's purpose. The favor granted by the Lords must be carefully nurtured. If you use their favors for aid in battling the undead then your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be slower. Think carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Fifth Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
Serious and stately, this part of the garden is decorated with a number of fine statues, each of them depicting a scene from Elanthian history and mythology. A black obsidian monolith catches your attention, as much for its striking beauty as for it being so different from the other elegant works here. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northwest, southeast.
The monk says, "Welcome, Jaared. Voln has favored you with his blessing. You are doing well in your dedication to the Order. Now there is more that I must explain to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Cholen, it is time to honor his twin brother, Jastev, and complete the fifth task. Listen carefully and do not forget what I tell you."
The monk continues, "The fifth step along the Path to Enlightenment is governed by Lord Jastev. As with the Lords before, you must perform a task which honors Jastev. Though he is the god of visual arts, he is partial to dark poetry. Though sullen, he is an artistic genius. Your task is to recite poetry before death's gate which both honors Jastev and reflects his demeanor."
After the Quest
The monk says, "You have done well, Jaared. Your dedication to The Order is a fine example for others to follow. Now, pause a moment and meditate on what I have to say."
The monk smiles and says, "When the Great Spirit Voln agreed to teach the founders of our order, they first made their home in Tafali Manor which became the site of the first monastery of our order."
The monk continues, "You have learned some useful symbols with which you may know your friends and prepare weapons to fight the undead, but Voln knew that this would not be enough and showed us how to increase our skill to hit the undead. Thus he taught us the Symbol of Courage."
The monk goes on, "This symbol grows in strength and time as you progress on the Path of Enlightenment. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Courage."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to call upon the favor of Lord Jastev who will grant you greater courage.
"This favor comes at a cost. You must continue to earn the favor of the Lords of Liabo by dedicating yourself to the Order's purpose. The favor granted by the Lords must be carefully nurtured. If you use their favors for aid battling the undead then your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be slower. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Sixth Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
Beautiful, stylish landscaping covered in flowers of all kinds and varieties characterize the garden here. Numerous sweet smells continuously waft by, soothing your body within the folds of their fragrant grace. In an almost healing way, you drink in what seems to be the promise of eternal peace. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: north, southeast.
The monk says, "Welcome, Jaared. Voln has favored you with his blessing. You are doing well in your your dedication to the Order. Now there is more that I must explain to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Jastev, it is time to honor Imaera and complete the sixth task. Listen carefully and do not forget what I tell you."
The monk continues, "The sixth step along the Path to Enlightenment is governed by Lady Imaera. As with the Lords before, you must perform a task which honors Imaera. She is mistress of living things and to honor her, you must plant a tree on her island."
After the Quest
The monk smiles and says, "You are doing nicely, Jaared. Your dedication continues to grow as you follow the path. Take a moment to relax and meditate on what I have to say."
The monk puts an arm around you, saying, "Voln taught Lord Fasthr and his men for three years. At that time and long afterward, the only members were Giantmen. That, of course, has since changed."
The monk continues, "You are learning well the symbols with which we fight the undead. Now you may learn the symbol of protection, whereby we may increase our ability to defend ourselves.
The monk goes on, "This symbol grows in its ability as you progress on the Path of Enlightenment. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Protection."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to call upon the favor of Lady Imaera who will grant you greater protection.
This favor comes at a cost. You must continue to earn the favor of the Lords of Liabo by dedicating yourself to the Order's purpose. The favor granted by the Lords must be carefully nurtured. If you use their favors for aid in battling the undead then your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be slower. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Seventh Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
Resplendent with a variety of coral, this part of the garden resembles a calm beach. Lapping up onto the beach is a sea-water pool in the middle of which is a statue of Charl carved out of a large chunk of coral. He appears to rise out of the water on a wave and with his trident raised, he is acting as the fierce protector of the seas. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: north, south.
The monk says, "Welcome, Jaared. Voln has favored you with his blessing. You are doing well in your your dedication to the Order. Now there is more that I must explain to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lady Imaera, you now must honor the Lord Charl. Charl is Lord of the seas and has a temperament befitting them. Listen carefully and do not forget what I tell you."
The monk continues, "The seventh step along the Path to Enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Charl. Be careful that you do not upset this Lord, as he is merciless in his anger. To please him, you must offer back to him that which was taken from his sea."
after the quest
The monk smiles and says, "I am pleased, Jaared, that you continue in your dedication to Voln. Now hear what I have to say and meditate upon it carefully."
The monk turns and looks directly at you, "We are not a secret society. We live in the open. Our dedication is to freeing the undead from their curse. We have no other agenda."
The monk continues with a smile, "Charl teaches us a special throw called Charl's Throw. The better able you are to fight without weapons, the more effective this skill will be. It will damage your opponent and possibly knock him down.
The monk goes on, "This power of this symbol is up to you and how you decide to train your skills. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol, Charl's Throw."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to damage your foe and perhaps knock him down. Charl grants this ability without requiring favors from you. Though this skill requires no favors, you must still carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and to dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quick. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The eighth monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
Here, the garden is more like an arena, with several statues of Kai engaged in a variety of athletic activities upon a garden of multicolored sands. All carved in pure white marble, they each suggest a promise of eternal youth. In all cases, Kai is bare handed and often he is shown locked in combat with fearsome beasts the likes of which you have never seen. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: north, south.
The monk says, "Welcome back, Jaared. Voln has favored you with his blessing once more. He is pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Charl and have survived, you now must honor Lord Kai. Kai is the master of weaponless combat and athletic skills. Listen carefully and do not forget what I tell you."
The monk continues, "The eighth step along the Path to enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Kai. Find the place which honors him and there challenge him to a competition. Remember to dress appropriately or he will not look upon you with favor."
After the Quest
The monk pulls you aside. "Very good, Jaared. You continue to make progress and that is an excellent thing. Now meditate upon what I have to say."
The monk puts a hand on your shoulder. "Never forget that we receive our strength and powers from the Lords of Liabo. You must continue to honor them if you wish to continue with our order."
The monk continues with a smile, "Kai has taught us how to punch with great strength. The better able you are to fight without weapons, the more effective this skill will be."
The monk goes on, "The full power of this symbol is up to you and how you decide to train your skills. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol, Kai's Punch."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to damage your foe depending on your brawling skill. Kai grants this ability without requiring favors from you. You must still carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Ninth Monk
[Path to Enlightenment]
Brilliant light dances upon everything here, and yet the light does not wash out the colors, but rather enhances them in a magical way. Every plant and flower seems to be a bit larger and a bit healthier than anything you've ever seen. Indeed, the longer you stay here, the better you feel. You also see a monk and an eternal lamp.
Obvious exits: south, northeast.
The monk says, "Welcome back, Jaared. Voln has favored you with his blessing once more. He is pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Kai and are still in one piece, you now must honor Lord Phoen. Phoen is god of the Summer and sun. He draws and gives strength from the light of day. Now, listen carefully and do not forget what I tell you."
The monk continues, "The ninth step along the Path to Enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Phoen. Bring the light and warmth of the sun into the depths of the earth where death sleeps cold."
After the quest
The monk pulls you aside, smiling. "It is good to see you again, Jaared. Everyone is pleased with your progress. Be diligent and your progress will continue without interruption."
The monk turns you around and looks in your eyes. "Many fearless warriors have made it this far. Few make it much further, unless they are careful and do not become overconfident."
The monk continues with a smile, "Phoen taught us a special kick which may do great damage. The better able you are to fight without weapons, the more effective this skill will be."
The monk goes on, "The full power of this symbol is up to you and how you decide to train your skills. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol, Phoen's Kick."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to damage your foe depending on your brawling skill. Phoen grants this ability without requiring favors from you. You must still carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
The Tenth Step
[Path to Enlightenment]
A soft almost imperceptible glow radiates from this portion of the garden making you feel at ease with all the world. Just to the left of the path, you catch a glimpse of a small tiered fountain hidden behind the foliage. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northeast, southwest.
look monk
The monk is dressed in simple black robes that seem to swallow up the details of his form. He is probably a Master of the order.
look fount
Crystal clear water cascades over the tiers on this simple fountain. The base has been engraved with a represention of Lorminstra, kneeling before a spring.
The monk says, "Welcome back, Jaared. Lorminstra has favored you with her blessing. She is pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Phoen, you now must honor Lady Lorminstra. Lorminstra is special to us because Voln is her servant. She guards the gates to oblivion. She takes special interest in our cause and is pleased when we release the captive spirits of the undead."
The monk continues, "The tenth step along the Path to Enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Lorminstra. Obtain an appropriate item and offer it up to her with supplication and if she is pleased, you will know it."
After the quest
The monk pulls you aside, smiling warmly. "I was speaking to a fellow initiate who knows you. It seems you have quite a reputation in certain circles." The monk chuckles a little before continuing...
The monk looks at you with a sparkle in the eyes. "You look seasoned enough to have experienced many unusual situations. One of the more problematic situations occurs when a friend has fallen to the undead and needs tending. In those times, a hostile undead is not desirable."
The monk continues with a smile, "So, Lorminstra taught us a way to calm the undead who are in the same area as you. This ability to calm the undead may affect every undead where you are, but you must not always expect this to happen, especially when you are still a young initiate."
The monk goes on, "The full power of this symbol is up to you and how you decide to train your skills. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Calming."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to calm the undead who are with you. Lorminstra does not grant this ability freely. She will require favors from you.
You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
[Path to Enlightenment]
The light along the path suddenly diminishes as if the night had descended to rest in this very spot but despite the sudden darkness, you feel as though nothing could ever cause you harm in this place. Fresh hoof tracks mark the edge of the path. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: east, southwest.
Look Monk The monk is dressed in simple black robes that seem to swallow up the details of his form. He is probably a Master of the order.
The monk says, "Hello, Jaared. Lorminstra has favored you with her blessing. This is good. We are pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lady Lorminstra, you now must honor Lord Ronan. Ronan rules over the world of dreams and visions. He wanders the night on his white unicorn steed in an endless quest to save the innocent from the hands of the undead."
The monk continues, "The eleventh step along the Path to Enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Ronan. Go and fall asleep in his shrine and then follow the vision he gives you. If he is pleased with you, you will know it."
The monk moves close to you and starts speaking. "Well done. Your progress is being observed with great interest. I trust that you will continue to move higher in the ranks of our good order."
The monk sizes you up a moment and then continues. "Ronan roams the lands of sleep and visions. He knows much that is beyond even our imaginings. From this knowledge he has taught us how we may cause the undead creatures to fall asleep."
The monk goes on, "When overwhelmed by superior odds, you will find this symbol useful. This ability to make the undead sleep can affect every undead where you are, but you must not always expect this to happen, especially when you are still a young initiate. You will also find that this symbol will cause other adventurers to fall asleep."
The monk goes on, "The full power of this symbol is up to you and how far you progress in our order. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Sleep."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to calm the undead who are with you. Ronan does not grant this ability freely. He will require favors from you."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Twelve
[Path to Enlightenment]
The taller plants in this section have been carefully placed away from the center leaving a full view of the sky. The lush surrounding greenery offers a quiet semblance of serenity, perfect for watching the stars. An ornate pedestal has been set up in the middle of the path. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: east, west.
The monk comes over to you and says, "Hello, Jaared. Ronan has favored you with his blessing. This is good. We are pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Ronan, you now must honor Lady Lumnis, wife of Koar and the goddess of learning and wisdom."
"I trust you are paying careful attention and learning well while walking the path of enlightenment. If you have not, then you may find this step to be more difficult than it should."
The monk continues, "The twelfth step along the Path to Enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Lumnis. Search out Rone Wehnimer and answer his question. If Lumnis is pleased with your answer, you will know it."
After The Quest
The monk draws you aside and says, "It is good to see you are progressing well in the order. Keep up the good work by continuing to release the undead from the evil prison of their corrupted bodies."
The monk continues. "Lumnis is the wife of Koar and is the patron of scholars and masters of Thought. She is also known as The Wise, spreading wisdom wherever she can. From her we have earned how to turn the undead, repelling them."
The monk continues, "The undead are vulnerable to all that is holy. This allows us to turn holy power upon them and repel them, even to their destruction. Lumnis showed us an effective way to turn the undead which may also affect all the undead with you. Do not expect this to work always, especially while your walk on the path is new."
The monk goes on, "The full power of this symbol is up to you and how far you progress in our order. Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Turning."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to turn the undead from your presence. Lumnis does not grant this ability freely. She will require favors from you."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Thirteen
[Path to Enlightenment]
A stiff breeze surges about you, swirling from every direction. You can feel the undeniable presence of essence flowing along with the wind intertwined in a dance of commanding power. Standing like a presiding presence over the powerful gusts, a statue of Koar dominates. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: east, west.
The monk comes to you and says, "Jaared! You are back! Lumnis has favored you with her blessing. This is good. We are pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lady Lumnis, you now must honor Lord Koar, her husband. Koar is pleased with our dedication to Voln and Lorminstra and the struggle to free the undead from their imprisonment."
The monk continues, "The thirteenth step along the Path to enlightenment requires that you perform a task which honors Koar. Find the place where a node is beneath a node and there say this, "I have come to honor Koar, master of mana." If he is pleased with you, you will know it."
After the Quest
The monk pulls you aside and says, "Congratulations, you have now learned half the steps on the path to enlightenment. May the second half bring you prosperity and satisfaction."
The monk continues. "Koar is Master of Mana. He, like no other, controls the pools of mana. This is why he leads the other Lords of Liabo. He has graced us with the ability to replenish the mana that lies within us."
The monk continues, "With a struggle as intense as ours can get, the pools within us often diminish faster than they can be replenished normally. This is why Lord Koar has taught us how to tap the mana around us so that we may regain our mana. This will cost you favors and two deeds each time it is used. However, Koar may decide to take fewer deeds if for some reason you have pleased him greatly."
"Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Mana."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to convert two deeds for mana. Koar does not grant this ability freely. He will require favors from you in addition to the deeds."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Fourteen
The monk comes to you and says, "Jaared! You are back! Koar has favored you with his blessing. This is good. We are pleased with your dedication to the Order. Listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Koar, you now must honor Lord Tonis, the messenger of the gods. He has a message which you must deliver. If you are successful and please Tonis, you will know it."
The monk continues, "To complete the fourteenth step along the Path of Enlightenment, find the rock with three messages enscribed upon it and deliver this message in that place. Say, "You have not been forgotten."
After the Quest
The monk pulls you aside and says, "Congratulations, you begin the second half of the path to enlightenment well. Keep up your good work and remain steadfast in your dedication."
The monk takes a deep breath. "Tonis flies through the lands delivering messages. Though often seen as a carefree youth, he has a serious side that he hides. Part of his duties tear at his heart and he, unlike the other male gods, perhaps, will weep."
The monk continues, "Tonis aids us further in our purpose by granting us the ability not only to communicate with others of our order, but also to see them and where they are for a short period of time. This is most useful when a member is in trouble or has died. You will be able to find out what is happening before you run in and perhaps find yourself facing foes greater than you can handle."
"Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Sight."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to see for a time what is happening in the same place as another member of the Order. This will require favors from you."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Fifteen
[Path to Enlightenment]
Shining from the skies, a single beam of light falls upon a fountain shaped in the form of a natural waterfall. Here, a quiet breeze crosses in front of you carrying with it a scent of kylan berry. Sparkling in a dance of light, the small pool at the waterfall's base teases you with thoughts of gold. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: east, west.
>look monk
The monk is dressed in simple black robes that seem to swallow up the details of his form. He is probably a Master of the order.
>l pool
Just underneath the surface, you spot a shimmering golden broadsword. The weapon glimmers and wanes in and out of existence with a soothing hypnotic rhythm.
The monk comes to you and says, "Welcome back! Tonis has favored you with his blessing. This shows that your dedication to the Order remains serious. Now, listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Tonis, you must once again honor Lord Eonak. He honors those who honor his work. Therefore, you must seek out an example of beautiful workmanship in a weapon that is worthy of his high abilities."
The monk continues, "To complete the fifteenth step along the Path of Enlightenment, you must touch the beautiful weapon beneath Wehnimer's Landing. If Eonak is pleased with you, you will know it."
after the quest
The monk moves over to you and says, "I see you have completed your task. Very good. Continue in your dedication and work toward releasing the undead from their terrible plight."
The monk continues. "Eonak, the master of weapons, taught us how to bless normal weapons and you learned that symbol in the second step. There are times, however, when this is not enough so he also taught us a way to bless many magical weapons."
The monk continues, "This blessing from Eonak not only allows us to bless many magical weapons, its blessing will be greater than the symbol you learned in the second step. But don't make the mistake that this blessing replaces the earlier one. You will still find the lesser blessing more suitable in most situations since it costs fewer favors."
"Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Holiness."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to bless a weapon, even many magical ones. However, this symbol will require favors from you."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Sixteen
[Path to Enlightenment]
Flowers dominate the path leading to a magnificent emerald green topiary of the goddess Oleani. A sweet unidentifiable scent hovers about the lovely shrub, tugging at memories buried deep in your subconscious. You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: west, southeast.
>l monk
The monk is dressed in simple black robes that seem to swallow up the details of his form. He is probably a Master of the order.
The monk steps aside with you saying, "I see you have pleased Eonak. This is honorable and good. Now, listen carefully as I explain more to you."
The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Eonak, you must once again honor Lady Oleani. Find the wedding chapel and place there a dozen perfect long stemmed roses. If she is pleased with your gift, you will know it."
The monk continues, "This then will complete the sixteenth step along the Path of Enlightenment. During this task, be sure to show kindness to lovers so that Oleani will be fully pleased with you."
After the quest
The monk moves over to you and says, "I see you have completed your task. Very good. Continue in your dedication and work toward releasing the undead from their terrible plight."
The monk continues. "Oleani found favor with us and our work and so taught us how to communicate with each other over long distances. You learned about this symbol on the third step. She also taught us something else."
The monk continues, "Lady Oleani taught us how to use the essence to master the undead and force their submission. When you use this symbol they will drop their guard completely and their ability to defend themselves will decrease by an amount equal to your walk along the Path."
"Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Submission."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to force the submission of the undead with you, whereby they will not defend themselves. Like other Symbols, this will require favors from you."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Seventeen
[Path to Enlightenment]
More of the elegant topiary extends along the path in the form of three small nymphs. The trio are poised over a mirror-like pond and you can tell by their expressions that they are viewing something quite humorous.
You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: northwest, southeast.
>Look Monk
The monk is dressed in simple black robes that seem to swallow up the details of his form. He is probably a Master of the order.
>look pond
Deep within the pond, you see your own reflection staring back at you blankly.
The monk steps aside with you saying, "It is good to see that you are continuing to free the undead from their prison. No matter how weary you become in this great struggle, you must remember that we have a noble quest. Without us, the undead will remain forever as they are. Now, listen carefully as I explain more to you." The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lady Oleani, you must once again honor Lord Cholen. Keep in mind always that Cholen is a lover of laughter and loves those who know how to laugh well. To complete the seventeenth task gather some friends or aquaintances and take them to the roof of the museum."
The monk continues, "There, you must ACT silly and cause them to laugh. If Cholen enjoys what you are doing, he will laugh with you. By this you will know that he is pleased with you."
After the Quest
The monk claps you on the back and says, "You did well in finishing your task. It must be hard work." Then he looks at you with a grin and winks. "I trust your sense of humor was in no way damaged?" The monk continues. "Well, Cholen is quite the prankster, but he also has a serious side and is a deadly foe. You would rue the day you were at the receiving end of his pale wood longbow."
The monk continues, "Lord Cholen taught us how to restore some of our physical vitality in the fourth task. That symbol, I'm sure, has often come in handy. He also taught us a stronger symbol which restores much more of our physical vitality. This symbol will require favors when used."
"Now watch carefully and I shall teach you the Symbol of Restoration."
The monk traces an intricate symbol in the air which seems to glow brightly. The image intensifies and burns itself into your memory.
"By concentrating on this Symbol, you will be able to recover much of your physical vitality. Like most other Symbols, this will require favors from you."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Eighteen
[Path to Enlightenment]
Shadows overtake this corner of the garden lending a somber mood to the atmosphere. A circle of red willow trees droop towards each other as if brooding over some unfortunate twist of fate.
You also see a monk.
Obvious exits: south, northwest.
Look Monk
The monk is dressed in simple black robes that seem to swallow up the details of her form. She is probably a Master of the order.
The monk steps aside with you saying, "You are progressing well, Jaared. I trust that you are also studying your notes on our order and have not thrown them away for someday you will need them. Now, listen carefully as I explain more to you." The monk smiles and says, "Now that you have honored Lord Cholen, you must once again honor Lord Jastev. You may remember that Jastev has the ability to foresee doom and often he has predicted plagues, destruction and wars. Now you must seek out for yourself a vision from him." The monk continues, "Seek out the brass shrine. Here you will receive your vision of the future and fulfill this task. You may wish to find a quiet place of meditation before doing this. And remember to hold fast for not every prophecy comes to pass."
After the quest
The monk this time is rather somber and he approaches you slowly but deliberately. "I trust you learned something from Jastev. Our lot in this world is beset with tragedy and it would do us all good to reflect on this from time to time."
The monk continues with a slight frown. "It is from tragedy that we gain courage. An easy life is for cowards. Jastev provided us with the Symbol of Courage in the fifth step. But, he also gave us another Symbol which may be used even in death."
The monk continues, "Lord Jastev knows what fear is and so at the times you are in trouble and fear for your life, you may use this symbol to send a picture of your location to all the members of our Order. You may use this symbol even in death. However, it will require favors when used."
"You must carefully nurture the favor of the Lords and dedicate yourself to the freeing of the undead so that your advancement along the Path to Enlightenment will be quicker. Consider carefully before you call upon the favor of the Lords of Liabo. Go now and continue your work."
Step Ninteen
To be posted eventualy
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