It was a cool spring morning, a fresh layer of chilled dew lay heavily
upon the grass. Many of the flowers and plants of the grove were beginning
to bloom, green buds giving way to hidden colors beneath. The sounds of
training monks could be heard past the courtyard, originating from deep
within the Monastery. Normally Jhinn would have been there with them,
already having completed his morning mediation and engaged in the teachings
of various stances. Not that day though, that specific day was different.
Jhinn was to be celebrated as a man, shedding his boyish dreams of traveling
the world and seeing all that existed beyond the grove where his Monastery
lay hidden. However, he would be unable to realize his childhood dream for
he was to eventually be appointed head monk of the monastery, providing a
safe haven for all the younger monks in training. Before the ceremony was
to take place a ritual of old was to be followed. As part of his coming of
man ceremony Jhinn set out, deep into the woods in search of a mystical
cave. The cave was said to be able to manifest your greatest fear and use
it against you. After traveling for quite some time Jhinn stumbled upon the
entrance to a cave, hidden behind the moss of a great tree. Healing paused
for a moment at the entrance, taking a moment to calm himself and ready his
mind for whatever may come. Taking a deep breath he pushed aside the moss
and steadily walked into the mouth of the cave. Left in darkness, he felt
his way along the walls of the damp rocky cave, drops of water could be
heard every few seconds as he continued the path. Small screetches could be
heard coming from deeper within. A small gust of air surged past as a flock
of bats flew past him, he realized night must have fallen outside. After
wandering for what seemed like ages he eventually came to a small pond
within the middle of a room, stalagmites hung low from the ceiling and small
stones lined a path to the middle of the pond. Healing began to cross the
path, contemplating what could await him at the center. Upon reaching the
center he discovered a small strand of beads laying upon a flat stone.
Unsure of what to do he reached out a hand and grasped hold of the beads.
As soon as his hand touched the beads however, his mind went blank. A voice
called out to him and visions of fiendish creatures attacking innocent
people crawled into his mind. As much as he tried he was unable to move,
frozen amidst the chaos he wept for the innocents that were slaughtered as
though they were lambs. Finally when the last person fell and the fiendish
creatures began to howl their praise a bolt of lightning lit the sky. When
his vision returned he saw a holy figure clad in heavy armor, it rampaged
across the battlefield laying waste to the fiends in a moments time. When
the figure had slain all of the creatures of darkness it locked eyes with
Jhinn, and walked toward him stopping within mere arms length. It raised
it's sword toward the heavens and a beam of light fell, encompassing his
being, it was the warmest and most welcoming light Jhinn had ever felt in
his life. And then it was gone. The bright light receeded and once again
he was within the cavern holding the prayer beads tightly in his fist.
Healing stood after a moments time, wrapped the beads around his wrist and
began out of the cave. When he arrived back to the monastery he explained
his encounter and told his father what he believed he was meant to do. His
father only smiled, bowed his head and blessed his only son, telling him to
go forth and bring light to the land much like the figure in his vision.
Jhinn bowed before his father, gathered his belongings and stepped foot
outside the grove for the first time in his life.
Description:
A quaint looking human stands here before you, his eyes gaze out into the
distance he looks lost in thought or perhaps meditation. A sense of
serenity and calmness seems to roll off the monk in small pulsating waves.
Sandy soft looking hair is pulled back away from his face and tied into a
topknot, it is kept at bay by a leather ribbon which is cinched down
tightly. Eyes as green as clean cut emeralds scan the room every few
moments, gliding gently from side to side. A small crooked looking nose
leads into soft thin lips which pull back into a smile as he notices your
gaze. His broad shoulders are pulled back tightly, lending to his well
maintained posture. Muscular arms lead into hands with long slender
fingers, a set of jaded beads can be seen tightly wrapped about his right
wrist. Long legs support the weight of this monk, his calves flex regularly
as if he is ready to move at a moments notice.