The Hakurah Monastery

Overview

The Hakurah Monastery is a temple to Jalassa on the western side of the Ryarl, just north of Krilin Fortress. Its origins predate the War of Night, constructed by caladaran ascetics during the Republican period. Its creation was a trial of hardship for the early monks, who were unused to the brutal northern climate. They struggled to finish the temple under the leadership of Hakurah, the sect's leader. The legend says that with the dome only partially complete, he prayed fervently to Jalassa for aid. The result was miraculous; she completed its construction with a massive crystalline window, a spectacularly intricate snowflake etched onto its surface.

The temple has remained in the ages since-- defended from shuddeni attack during the War of Night, and sealed to travelers for much of the modern age. However, with the resurfacing of Jalassa's religion in the mainstream, the monastery has again allowed open visitation. In addition to a place of worship, it also serves as a school for assassins and psionicists, as well as a refuge for those seeking peace after the War of the Eyeblight. While tolerated by the Girikhan pack on the nearby plains, they are mostly disconnected from one another.

Notable NPCs

These NPCs are important characters in the Hakurah Monastery, and may be involved in quests, guilds, or hold powerful items that PCs may want to obtain. This section will review each of these mobs and describe their mechanical role and any pertinent fight details or items. The roles of these NPCs can be understood by reading their descriptions, or reading lore on the items they carry.

Hurgas

Hurgas is a human, and is a retired soldier from Earendam. He is connected to Cidone Rotheld, in that he was Hurgas' commanding officer. He is a technically a fighter but has only some of their most remedial combat skills. He carries the following limited item:

• a crested diamond ring

Vergis

Vergis is aelin, and is one of the monks training under Ral Kordarran. He is (unsuccessfully) pursing a relationship with Ellirae. He is an assassin, and uses some assassin skills in combat. He carries the following item:

• a dagger inlaid with mother-of-pearl

Ijjaka

Ijjaka is shuddeni, and a member of the Ral Kordarran's guild. He is a former merchant and unwelcome in shuddeni circles. He is an assassin and has limited assassin abilities in combat. He carries the following special item:

• a cozy pair of quilted slippers

Tiqara

Tiqara is ethron, and is the head cook at the monastery. She is friends with Siqeth in Kor Thrandir. She is a remedial psionicist, using their passive deflection skill only. She carries no special items.

Ialjimar

Ialjimar is caladaran, and tends customers at the Hakurah distillery (see also-- Shops). He deals with merchants and also manages deliveries. He is a remedial psionicist, using their passive deflection skill only. He carries no special items.

Ellirae

Ellirae is aelin, and watches the counter at Hakurah Balms and Salves (see also-- Shops). She is one of the friendliest and most popular people at the monastery. She is a remedial assassin, using limited abilities in combat. She carries no special items.

Maicine Prara

Maicine is human, and produces the catalyst used in Hakuran poisons (see also-- Shops). She is standoffish and will only assist assassins. She is a druid, and behaves like one in combat. She carries no special items.

Karsi Elann and Millard

Karsi is human, and a traveling salesman who moves between the Hakurah Monastery and Krilin every two game days. He uses bit-based combat skills instead of imitating a specific class. Millard is Karsi's best friend and pet, and is a bjorcha. He travels with Karsi at all times and if they are separated they will eventually find one another. Neither carry special items.

Alian Ashana

Alian Ashana is aelin, and a traveler who meditates within the Hakurah temple. He is a swordmaster and behaves like one in combat-- additionally, his combat routines are quite extensive, changing tactics based on what sorts of opponents he is facing. He occasionally smokes cigars during his meditation. He carries a number of unique items:

• the slender rapier, "Moonlight" / a black-bladed rapier
• the thin shortsword, "Starlight"
• a long, black silk robe
• a pair of loose black pants
• a pair of leather sandals

Drajasi

Drajasi is caladaran, and the healer for the Hakurah temple (see also-- Services). She is a sigiled follower of Jalassa (tier 1). She is a water scholar and behaves like one in combat. She carries no special items.

Ral Kordarran

Ral Kordarran is kankoran, and the assassin guildmaster for the Hakuran Order. He is a sigiled follower of Arikanja (tier 1). He is an assassin and behaves like one in combat. Because he is a renowned, if he is killed, a rumor will circulate about his death. He carries the following unique items:

• a pair of tasseled black leggings

Iskasal

Iskasal is caladaran, and the master of the Hakuran Order. He is a sigiled follower of Jalassa (tier 3) as well as the psionicist guildmaster. He imitates the powers of a high level psionicist via prog. Because of his position, if he is killed, a rumor will circulate about his death. He carries the following unique items:

• a pair of gloves set with crystal
• a peacock-feather quill
• a small purple cushion

Guilds

The Hakurah Monastery can be selected as a hometown by assassins and psionicists. It is therefore home to two guilds-- one for both respective classes.

Guildmasters

• Assassin: Ral Kordarran
• Psionicist: Iskasal

Graduate Rewards

Each of these guildmasters rewards native students for reaching level 20 by giving them a useful, but not particularly powerful, commemorative item. None of these items are progged.

• Assassin: a carved bone knife
• Psionicist: a silver filigree ring

Psionic Tests

The psionicist guild is home to four psionic test items, based on the following foci:

• Shove
• Levitation
• Ignore pain
• Adrenaline rush

The ability of a character to perform these tests is based on their skill percent in each respective skill. As they improve (71-80%, 81-99%, and 100%, respectively), they will gain Hakurah faction (50 for adrenaline rush, 25 for the others). Each test may be attempted once per game day, and if the character has not perfected the skill, they will gain experience for trying it.

Hero Rewards

At hero, native characters are given an option to be retitled by their guild. This means speaking to their guildmaster after reaching level 51, and acknowledging the offer given to them. For assassins, this results in an immediate title change to the one listed below; for psionicists, it allows them to bathe in the ritual pool beneath the shrine (which, in turn, titles them). This is not a requirement, merely an option. If the PC would rather not accept the title, they can keep the one they already have. If their title is changed, a rumor will be logged about it.

• Assassin: the Master/Mistress of Silence
• Psionicist: the Luminary of the Hakuran Order

Shops

The monastery contains a small selection of shops for characters to visit.

Ellirae

• Salves
• Hours: 6 to 22
• Sells:

• a jar of relaxing salve
• a jar of herbal balm

Ialjimar

• Alcohol
• Hours: 6 to 22
• Sells:

• a stamped bronze flask
• a wooden case of liqueur
• a bottle of Hakuran liqueur

Maicine Prara

• Catalyst
• Hours: 0 to 23
• Sells:

• a vial of catalyst

Karsi Elann

• General goods
• Hours: 0 to 23
• Sells:

• a paper-wrapped piece of candy
• a thin black notebook
• a brown cigarette package
• a long, fur-lined coat
• a green glass bottle
• a pair of tinted spectacles (limited)
• a cluster of chazrethi grapes (limited)

Schedules

Additionally, shopkeepers change their descriptions when their shop closes, to suggest what cleaning they do after hours. However, they do not leave their shops, and may still provide other services even when closed.

Services

The monastery has services or quests available to PCs, either for nothing, payment, or as a result of friendship with the Hakuran Order. There may be additional prerequisites for characters to receive certain services.

Drajasi

• Healer (paid)
• Prerequisites: No faction enemies

Ialjimar

• Quest: Delivery to the Four Flowers School (repeatable 1/game week)
• Prerequisites: No faction enemies

Ellirae

• Scripted information
• Prerequisites: None

• Active rumors
• Prerequisites: Friend of Hakurah faction, purchased a salve

Tiqana

• Quest: Herbs for Siqeth
• Prerequisites: Friend of Hakurah faction, no void classes, no shuddeni

Other Features

There are miscellaneous features of the monastery which don't fall into any of the prior categories.

Sunrise at the temple

Each morning at 6am, Drajasi prepares a sacrifice upon the altar of Hakurah (if she is present). When the sunlight strikes it, it bursts into flames. Any PCs nearby when this happens will be healed if they are a faction friend, and injured if they are a faction enemy.

The temple library

Beneath the temple, there is a library containing a variety of texts, most of which relate to Jalassa in one way or another. These include stories, histories, and other salient bits, to help characters understand what the area's backstory is, and what belief in Jalassa may entail.

Creation gift package

Characters who create in the Hakurah Monastery will spawn a gift when they arrive in the Armory (one time only). This gift is a container which includes the following items:

• a wrapped black face-mask
• a layered black robe
• some black cloth leggings
• a pair of phona slippers
• a hand-made idruusa (assassin) OR a long fir staff (psionicist)

These items constitute what a person who actually lived at the monastery would already possess. Since there are no shops which sell robes of the Order or masks, this is the only way to obtain one without using request or killing another monk.

The ritual pool

Characters who are sigiled by Jalassa may bathe in the ritual pool beneath the temple, and gain the effect of bless (level 60). If an assassin recalls to Hakurah Monastery, they can anoint the idruusa they received upon creation at the pool, giving it the benefit of grace's die scaling while (only) they wield it.

Looking out from the battlements

Much like the Tower of Aramril, a PC can stand on the highest point on the battlements and look out over the Ryarl, allowing them to use where in that area without leaving monastery grounds.

Arrow barrages

Much like Kor Thrandir, there are archers who watch the battlements of the Hakurah shrine. If a faction enemy approaches the entrance to the area, they will be shot by arrows, and the amount of damage dealt will be dependent on how many of the three archers are present at that time. There is a chance to avoid this damage based on a multiplication of the character's dexterity stat.

Millard features

Millard has a number of flavor progs, which include feeding him (with echoes based on the vnum of the food given to him) and petting him. He also has a few special interactions with Karsi that happen on a greet_prog.

The rock garden

Inside the psionicist guild, there is a rock garden where PCs can use a rake to make patterns in the sand. The patterns they make are randomized and triggered by using a verb_prog.

The monastery bell

At the highest point on the battlements is a bell, which a PC can ring by way of verb_prog. It echoes the area when this happens.

The salvemaker's lab

Inside Hakurah Balms and Salves, there is a side room which contains the salvemaker's laboratory. This is flagged as a lab for use with the alchemist class.

The vegetable garden

The garden on the temple grounds has food items which can be taken by players, irrespective of their faction standing. Once taken, these items will restring themselves to look appropriate in a PC's inventory.