Both institutions follow lots of rules, and it's in fact too much detail for one blog post, but I'll make sure to cover the essentials.
Monastery of the Peterian faith is located on Windenburg Isle. It's a tiny lot, which suits the purpose perfectly. Originally the monastery was on the Bluff, but after the great war, when both the monastery and a Jacobian cathedral at the old town ruins were condemned, the monks resettled here about Year 82. Today's Church in Gloomville was not opened until year 102.
The monastery's main purpose is to train new Priests for the church. It's a challenge as certain criteria must be met - having green eyes is just one of them. More about the hierarchy later.
The build contains the main house and a shed. In the yard there are various facilities like water, plants, animals and of course the sacred grave. This is off-the-grid, they grow all their food, keep one pig and a group of chicken. No, although most plants are green they are not vegetarians.
Downstairs are the eating room with simple kitchen facilities, the Nestor's office, where Monks are not allowed to set foot - except the chosen one to become the next Nestor. Office includes a locked off room with no windows, that the monks assume is a storage for old relics. There is also a room reserved meditation. Wellness is important in their everyday.
Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms, where only the Nestor has some privacy. The monks share the 2 other bedrooms, and there is some bathroom facilities for them in the stairs room. There are also two rooms up in the tower.
Outside the build there is a small section of ground for growing vegetables, in addition to herbs grown in pots in the monastery yard. The monastery holds no farm rights, so they grow just 1-2 plants of their favorites, plus grapes for the local nectar production, which is based on a secret recipe including Death Flower and Life Fruit, known by the Nestor, only. (Grapes is the official signature crop of Windenburg, btw). In my game crops can only be sold from the sales table, unless you have a Farm Right, which is quite expensive. So, what they don't eat will be used for canning, bait or fertilizing.
The monastery normally consists of a group of 3 to 5 men.
The Nestor is the boss of the house and will normally be the oldest person. His responsibility is to lead the group mentally, and he avoids daily duties like gardening, cooking and cleaning. He can not become Priest of the Church of Similius, but is responsible to train the candidate. However, he is allowed to step in to lead church ceremonies temporarily if there is a situation with no Priest. The training of a Priest takes 10 years, and should start while the candidate is still a teenager.
The Candidate - is preparing to become the next Priest of Church of Similius (in Gloomville), and is supervised by Nestor for 10 years. The Candidate will focus on skills like Charisma, Logic, Wellness and Debate & Research. He will rarely tend to daily tasks. It's currently less than 20 years since the current Priest was ordained, so there will most likely not be a Candidate in this Monestary in some time.
The Greans - Monks with green eyes are ranked above the regular monks, as they serve as a pool for future Priests and Nestors. They tend to the same daily tasks as the regular Monks do.
Monks - serve the Monastery by tending to daily duties. They can become Nestor if he is the oldest and all Greans accept, but he can not become Priest.
All Monastery members are bald and wear the same robe, but with different color details according to their rank. Basically, the more green, the higher the ranking.
Outside there is a fake holy grave that they tend to every night. It's a traditional ritual for all monasteries, based on a grave in Galucca that turned green over night and was seen as a holy sign - this symbolism is still very strong.
They all eat and pray in the living room. At this time the Priest at Church of Similius is rather young, and there is therefor no Candidate. Nestor is with good health and has not yet chosen his successor.
On this picture you see some versions of their robes. The more green, and the higher on the body, indicates a higher rank. Nestor (Wallort Rose) is the old man eating at high end of table, he is the only one with a green collar wrap. The two monks closest to him are Greans (twin brothers Matheus Grape and Hippold Grape, they descend from former Priest) - monks with green eyes. The left monk (Elevius Dipperwell, descends from former Priest) is a regular monk.
One of the tower rooms is their study. This is where they read up on required skills, or play a game of chess. The upper tower room is for practicing wellness next to a huge, glowing green plumbob.
It is also tradition that former Nestors get buried right outside the Monastery wall. Monks that stay Greans and Monks reaching the elderly life stage risk to get kicked out to give room for younger Monks, meaning they will not get buried at the Monastery grounds. There is a saying that when there are 10 Nestor stones, the Monastery is fulfilled and needs to move on to a new location.
It's a short walk down to the beach, and luckily there is a fishing spot near by. Although they can eat meat, fish is an easier accessed ingredient.
So, that's all for now. You might wonder how teens are required to the Monastery, but I'll save that for later ;)
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