The Monk’s Habit

From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki

Title: The Monk's Habit

Author: Monk

The jingling of bells stirs through the quiet halls well before first light, as a brothers sandals scuff along the uneven cobblestone floor.

Accompanied by a flickering shadow, it draws near to my door.

With a creaaakkk the partition opens just enough to see the eyes of the hooded figure and then the full flame of the candle. I sit up and squint my eyes with an acknowledging subtle wave that helps block the glare. Then it starts to slink away with the clamoring of woolen cloth echoing against the door frame. Its trailing bells and footfalls linger away.

The day has begun.

Now adorned in my habit after morning prayer, i make my way to consult Father Alexander about the services i shall provide this day. Given my charge i make my way to the refectory to take my meal before starting out.

There is much to do today. Firstly i must water the flowers on Queen Dawns grave which is a daily task, then i must harvest some wheat to feed the bull beasts by the jail due to an injury the near sighted farmer received whilst attempting to gather milk from them.

All the sheep need to be shorn since spring is upon us, then the wool transported to the tailors for processing. Finally i must find a fellow citizen who I'm told lives across the bay on the peninsula to return a ring that was found on the shore by the crossing. However the patch on the boat isn't dry yet so i will have to take the long way around.

Father Alexander praised the young man who turned in the ring instead of keeping it for himself and then gave me the ring for safekeeping until i was able to find the owner.

"Honesty is the best policy" is what he stated after the young man left when he handed me the ring.

Then he said "You have progressed in this virtue, but still have much to do"

I admit at first i was a little taken back by what i thought at the time was a slight about my low born status as i was given the charge, and i remember thinking as i looked at the ring in its pitiful condition that it wasnt even worth the trip to return it. Its not like it was made of a precious metal.

It is clearly iron and it even had a sharp little burr on it which kept snagging on the threads of my pocket every time i i took it out to look at and sigh about the extra time it would take to return after i will have to put in a full day.

But late last night i couldn't help to think that the Father was right. I did still have much to do in proving my virtues and being found worthy of my robes.

The task is a daunting one ahead of me. In this first year of service to the abbey i have pledged to complete studies in Spirituality, Honesty, and Compassion Father Alexander said mastering these virtues along with Sacrifice and Humility are the core Virtues for any brother of the order.

As for the rest i am told even though they are important, they aren't a requirement to stay within the walls as they are more for the warrior and paladins classes. All monks of the abbey specialize in one or more of the studies, but no one is master of all, not even Father Alexander.

I shall strive to do by best. I am by

nature "of the land", part healer,herbalist, alchemist, scribe, cook and pretty good with a shepherds crook. I imagine that is why I'm always assigned to the sheep pens.

I shall be patient and be more diligent to my tasks.

Patience is a quality that i do admit i need to work on as well. Perhaps the greatest virtue of them all.