To be a Monk is to unify the body with the mind.  Monks are the epitome of physical discipline.  They are the masters of unarmed combat, and each and every Monk is a perfect physical specimen, their bodies honed by strict discipline.  They have no facility for magic, but they have studied long and hard, and can perform physical feats that others could not repeat without the use of mana.  Monks tend toward an ascetic lifestyle, as the requirements of their order, and their discipline, include traveling light.  In fact, it is rare to see a Monk carrying more than the armor he wears, a few choice weapons, and the bare necessities of survival.  Most Monks hold a formal bearing, not necessarily courtly, but a life of rigid discipline doesn't breed many slouches.

Type:

Melee

Class Skills:

Monks are masters of the martial arts.  Their training allows them to fight ambidextrously the moment their guild sends them into the world.  They learn many physical attacks, and their fists are deadlier than any class.  An unarmed Monk is never in as much danger as any other physical profession.  The abilities they gain focus on control of their bodies.  Early on, they learn to mend their wounds, and soon after that, they can slow down their bodily processes to appear dead.  This ability to feign death allows Monks to avoid the real thing when situations become difficult.  Monks also study the use of blunt instruments, like staves and clubs, claws, handwraps, and weighted gloves, as there are weapons in the world imbued with power far beyond what can be achieved with skin and bone.

Other Names:

Disciple, Master, Grandmaster, Transcendent, Swifttail (Iksar)

Armor:

Monks require light armor that does not restrict their movements.  To that end, they don't wear anything more restrictive than leather.  There are special fighting armors that are as light as cloth, but made with special materials that make it much tougher.  Monks prize these armors.

Religion:

Monks come in three distinct flavors.  The Human Monks are split between two camps.  In Qeynos, the Monks are Agnostic, worshipping no gods at all.  They focus their studies on personal self-empowerment.  In Freeport, the Monks worship Quellious The Tranquil.  They are peace loving and nomadic, wandering Norrath and helping those in need.  They fight when they must, but are not violent.  The Iksar are all worshippers of Cazic-Thule.  Monks from the Court of Pain are destructive tools of their god of fear, and live to spread terror and mayhem among the outsiders that plague their land.  Despite this, they are just as disciplined as their Human counterparts.

Questing:

All Monks embark on quests that will give them new insights into their physical mastery.  The Iksar follow a darker, more vicious path than the Humans.  In the Court of Pain, Iksar advance along a path of enlightenment that requires them to go far and wide, proving their worth.  At each stage, they attain a shackle of rank.  Likewise, Humans of the Ashen Order (Freeport) and the Silent Fist (Qeynos) have their own ranks, denoted by belts and headbands.

Culture and Training:

Monks are organized.  The most knowledgeable are sought after for training, and a Monk is as aware of his station in regards to others of his order as he is about his own body.  Monks treat their elders with respect, and expect those beneath them to work to prove themselves.  The training of Monks involves days of rigid practice, and hard discipline.

Interaction:

Many Monks are nomadic, but that does not necessarily mean they are loners.  Monks are supremely self-sufficient and they have the patience and resolve to go it alone.  Because of this, they may not even consider the need for another's company, until the Monk is asked to join or help them.  Groups look for Monks for various reasons.  Given their abilities, Monks are capable of tricking enemies into ambushes set by the group.  Monks are capable of doing a good deal of physical damage, given their speed and special attacks.

Alignment:

Any Orderly, as a Monk's life is structured and regimented.  Monks of Qeynos tend to be neutral, as they don't worship any gods.  Monks of Freeport, as worshippers of Quellious, act toward the good.  Monks of Cabilis are evil.

Roleplay Tips:

Your teachings have filled you with the knowledge of discipline's importance, and while you may not have reached full control over your mind and body, you strive for it.  This does not necessarily mean you are stiff and formal.  It means more that your every action is in harmony with the essence of who you are.  Nothing is forced; everything should flow from everything else.  For a monk, thought is action.  You travel light, as that affords you full freedom.  Likewise, you free your mind as best you can from the weights that others allow to bog them down.  Because of this, you may not natter on about the weather, but what you do say will be direct and to the point.

Quote:

"You augment your physical prowess with steel.  Now, see how the mind is more suited to the task."