Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2016 13:30:56 GMT -6
The air was crisp and clear at the Monastery. The high plateau breeze occasionally brought with it the sounds from the city far below, bustling with worldly attractions. Looking out over one of the few large open areas of the Monastery, the courtyard posed a great view to the entrance to the Shrine of the Great Architect. Panning out, large trees cast their shadow on the courtyard from behind small dividing walls. Smaller buildings and open areas cropped up here and there in the largely forested monastery, and somewhere beneath all this nature, one could find several hundred monks in total, all reading, meditating, training, and refining their skill.
However, today was a quiet day at the Monastery. It had been three months since the passing of Renault, but for some the injuries ran deep. Fortunately, this was not the cause of the silence that so gently grasped the area.
Often, the sound of pilgrims could be heard from the main Court, but today the gates were shut – both to the inner and outer walls of the court. A small note was posted on the monastery door, and offerings and blessings were being left as a small stone obelisk not far from the beaten path beneath a gold-leafed tree. Already they were piling up, with the sun barely above the horizon. Inside the courtyard, all monks were gathered for today was a special day for the monks of Cela.
They all sat in neat row and column, with ages, genders, and races all intermixed, with no visible dividing lines. The occasional breeze would rustle a few leaves on the vast expanse of marble. A rainbow of warm color - mixes of yellows and orange, reds and browns - littered the space. It seems as though we are interrupting their morning meditation session. The sun, just barely cresting over the top of the east wall, has begun to illuminate some of the figures. As nearly an hour of silence passes by, the sun slowly climbs up the wall, until all heads are basked in the light of the sun eternal.
One monk amongst the others stood. Aside from an aged face, he bore no appearance of power or authority. Yet it was his unshaking, quiet voice that rushed to the ears of all the monks of Cela. “Today, we thank the Great Architect, for providing for us and the world, for the happiness and sadness he brings into the lives of the innumerable, and the infinite actions of these innumerable on the world and each other. It is this day that we begin our new year, as a temple and as a symbol. It is this day we remember those we have lost this past year, and recognize those new ones amongst our midst.”
He began taking small, slow steps through the crowd as he spoke, showing no clear path or direction. “It was two weeks ago some among you returned and took upon themselves our vows, and it comes time for these vows to be tested – for our lives to be shown once again to the world about us. We serve as an example not of a simpler or more complex life, but a different one. With the events happening in the world around us, even in some of our own homelands, we can represent difference and acceptance of the world around us.”
By this point, his random zig zags had lead him closer to the center of the group, and he was standing on one of the black squares of marble. “To this end, we will continue our tradition of attending the Vytal Festival.” A couple heads turned at this; no words were spoken, but given the age of those turning heads, it might have been a subject of conversation in the leadership of Cela. “Over the years, many have come to us, seeking the Great Architect and their designs of the world. Many, from many places in the world. For all that we represent, our former homes still leave an impact on our souls to this day, and may represent where we return to once we finish our lessons.”
“We shall send six Acolytes – not fully-initiated Monks – to the Festival. As established by Vytal, each Acolyte will have completed their full Chord. This year, we will be bringing an Acolyte from each Kingdom: Rift, Legion, Pinnacle, Setek, Menagerie. The sixth shall come from those who hail from beyond the Kingdoms. The High Council of our Monastery,” Twelve individuals stood from the seated individuals. “Represent each of these areas. To be considered, an acolyte must pass an observation conducted by both the Masters from your Home and one master from two other Kingdoms. Only four Acolytes from each will reach consideration.”
“To reach the consideration of our Council,” these twelve sat, “you must obtain recommendation from four of our Masters,” Of the remaining Monks, nearly half stood – some with more or less coordination than others. “For each Councilman.” These words were punctuated and divided clearly. “As any time, any initiated Monk may make a recommendation to a councilman for observation of any student.” Some of the Masters began to sit down, and the others followed suit – some taking note faster than others.
“At the sixteenth tone of the bell six days from today, the twenty four shall come before all those who have held the title of ‘Grandmaster’ of Cela.” Two incredibly aged women who were sitting in the shade of one of the trees, off to the side of the court raised their mostly white beaded wrists, refraining from standing. A silent nod went to the women from most of the gathered monks and acolytes– a recognition earned by few. “Of these twenty four, the six shall be selected to travel to Vytal Academy.” The details were not provided, but as was typical for such a thing, it would likely involve a night of observational meditation.
“With this, let the bell toll,” A soft, reverberating echo from within the main temple rippled across the Monastery. Between each resounding ring, the Grandmaster mad accentuated statements. “Let the new year begin, let our lost live in memory, let our living make memories, let us find ourselves, let the world find its peace, let those within us rise, let those without us learn, and let the Great Architect watch over us all.”
However, today was a quiet day at the Monastery. It had been three months since the passing of Renault, but for some the injuries ran deep. Fortunately, this was not the cause of the silence that so gently grasped the area.
Often, the sound of pilgrims could be heard from the main Court, but today the gates were shut – both to the inner and outer walls of the court. A small note was posted on the monastery door, and offerings and blessings were being left as a small stone obelisk not far from the beaten path beneath a gold-leafed tree. Already they were piling up, with the sun barely above the horizon. Inside the courtyard, all monks were gathered for today was a special day for the monks of Cela.
They all sat in neat row and column, with ages, genders, and races all intermixed, with no visible dividing lines. The occasional breeze would rustle a few leaves on the vast expanse of marble. A rainbow of warm color - mixes of yellows and orange, reds and browns - littered the space. It seems as though we are interrupting their morning meditation session. The sun, just barely cresting over the top of the east wall, has begun to illuminate some of the figures. As nearly an hour of silence passes by, the sun slowly climbs up the wall, until all heads are basked in the light of the sun eternal.
One monk amongst the others stood. Aside from an aged face, he bore no appearance of power or authority. Yet it was his unshaking, quiet voice that rushed to the ears of all the monks of Cela. “Today, we thank the Great Architect, for providing for us and the world, for the happiness and sadness he brings into the lives of the innumerable, and the infinite actions of these innumerable on the world and each other. It is this day that we begin our new year, as a temple and as a symbol. It is this day we remember those we have lost this past year, and recognize those new ones amongst our midst.”
He began taking small, slow steps through the crowd as he spoke, showing no clear path or direction. “It was two weeks ago some among you returned and took upon themselves our vows, and it comes time for these vows to be tested – for our lives to be shown once again to the world about us. We serve as an example not of a simpler or more complex life, but a different one. With the events happening in the world around us, even in some of our own homelands, we can represent difference and acceptance of the world around us.”
By this point, his random zig zags had lead him closer to the center of the group, and he was standing on one of the black squares of marble. “To this end, we will continue our tradition of attending the Vytal Festival.” A couple heads turned at this; no words were spoken, but given the age of those turning heads, it might have been a subject of conversation in the leadership of Cela. “Over the years, many have come to us, seeking the Great Architect and their designs of the world. Many, from many places in the world. For all that we represent, our former homes still leave an impact on our souls to this day, and may represent where we return to once we finish our lessons.”
“We shall send six Acolytes – not fully-initiated Monks – to the Festival. As established by Vytal, each Acolyte will have completed their full Chord. This year, we will be bringing an Acolyte from each Kingdom: Rift, Legion, Pinnacle, Setek, Menagerie. The sixth shall come from those who hail from beyond the Kingdoms. The High Council of our Monastery,” Twelve individuals stood from the seated individuals. “Represent each of these areas. To be considered, an acolyte must pass an observation conducted by both the Masters from your Home and one master from two other Kingdoms. Only four Acolytes from each will reach consideration.”
“To reach the consideration of our Council,” these twelve sat, “you must obtain recommendation from four of our Masters,” Of the remaining Monks, nearly half stood – some with more or less coordination than others. “For each Councilman.” These words were punctuated and divided clearly. “As any time, any initiated Monk may make a recommendation to a councilman for observation of any student.” Some of the Masters began to sit down, and the others followed suit – some taking note faster than others.
“At the sixteenth tone of the bell six days from today, the twenty four shall come before all those who have held the title of ‘Grandmaster’ of Cela.” Two incredibly aged women who were sitting in the shade of one of the trees, off to the side of the court raised their mostly white beaded wrists, refraining from standing. A silent nod went to the women from most of the gathered monks and acolytes– a recognition earned by few. “Of these twenty four, the six shall be selected to travel to Vytal Academy.” The details were not provided, but as was typical for such a thing, it would likely involve a night of observational meditation.
“With this, let the bell toll,” A soft, reverberating echo from within the main temple rippled across the Monastery. Between each resounding ring, the Grandmaster mad accentuated statements. “Let the new year begin, let our lost live in memory, let our living make memories, let us find ourselves, let the world find its peace, let those within us rise, let those without us learn, and let the Great Architect watch over us all.”
