Description
The Monks of Eldath are a spiritual order living in a monastery hidden somewhere in the Sword Coast. Not much is known about them, as they are extremely secretive and almost never leave their home. It is said that they protect an object of great importance. The only accounts of their kind known to outsiders are from the few merchants that rarely trade with them. Even though some information has leaked to the outside world over the years, no one has ever been able to pry the location of their monastery out of anyone that has seen it.
History
Earliest accounts of the order’s existence go back as far as the 9th century, but it is unclear when exactly it was founded. It is believed that the order came into existence when the monastery was built, which would explain its continued secrecy.
DM Note
The order was indeed founded on the same day as the monastery, 837 DR. It was built by the First Master, who then recruited like-minded disciples. See Monastery of Eldath for a more detailed history.
Teachings
From what has been discovered, the Monks of Eldath mainly train in the spiritual arts, and prefer a peaceful and pacifist lifestyle. They are however, far from frail according to rare encounters with some of their members, and it is rumoured that they have developed a unique martial art only known to them.
DM Note
The monks train in a self-developed martial art aimed at exploiting their strengths. It is a form of hand-to-hand combat called the ‘Way of the Open Hand’. It closely resembles similar martial arts, yet is kept in secrecy to give the monks an edge in combat.
Monastery
The Monastery of Eldath is where the Monks of Eldath grow up, live, and die. Their entire life is dedicated to the order and their goddess. It is said that the monastery has its own secret fighting style, that is taught to the monks as early as their childhood. No one has ever divulged the monastery’s location, or what it hides within.
DM Note
The monastery is hidden deep within the mountains to the west of Proskur. Within its inner sanctum sits it’s greatest treasure: The Tree of Enlightenment. It is a gift bestowed by the goddess Eldath herself, which, along with the Fountain of Life, spreads fertility to the surrounding arid region.