Sunn Monestary

[Saint Curious]

Sunn Monestary
Teaching the Art of Ataa:

The morning air was clear and quiet along the peaceful streets of Zinn’Sunn. A light, crisp and crisp breeze brought a lingering “Hei’yitss!” The shout was just soft enough to be only heard by those students or scholars up that early and on their way to the academy. For those that heard the now-familiar cry had just walked past a newly built wall of stone and marble that stood just high enough to keep out the hustling activities of the nearby academy and other distractions within the neighborhood. Not too mention keeping out most of the prying eyes that sought a curious glance or look of the recently built monastery within a new Zinn’Sunn.

A well-crafted and scrolled iron gate that was locked against the peak of the night’s moon and unlocked before the first rays of the new day’s sun rose, now stood open and inviting. When entering the main grounds it was like entering a whole new world. One of peace and harmony could with the balance of man and nature. Lawns that were well maintained lay at the feet of magnificently groomed trees such as cypress, oak, cheery blossom, and weeping willows. Broken shards of crystalline streams flowed to and from wondrous fountains of carved marble, centered in small ponds filled with colorful koi.

Off to one side of the main path gently erupts another, smaller trail that weaves into a beautiful garden filled with lush plants and exotic flowers. Small, secluded benches rest here and there along the trail, each sitting to a view of enchanting delight as well as crimson clad gardeners tending to their early morning labor.

“Hei’yitss!”

Came the shouting cry of several crimson-clad students mimicking the fluid movements of their instructor out in a fair-sized open field opposite of the gardens. They all moved in sync with one another while performing some complex but graceful maneuver that their crimson and gold instructor guided them through. “Hei’yitss!” came another explosion of breath and sound from the students as they all moved as one, oblivious to all.

The main building itself looked much like early kemite construction. Large stone walls began from the foundation but melded with gleaming dark wood to a tiered roof made of red-clay tiles. Though only a single level in height, it’s size was massive, made even more so by the outstretched patio of that same dark wood that completely surrounds the structure. Several, smaller buildings, perhaps bungalows built in the same fashion, sit unobtrusively in the back, behind the main building.

Inside, through great double doors carved in the likeness of both dragon and griffin on either side, comes a peace and harmony that matches the monastery’s outer lawns. Within the lobby its walls and floors glow almost golden from the oiling and polishing of exotic woods such as teak and mahogany. Decorative statues of mythical creatures in rearing or aggressive postures line the walls gracefully. Each statue carved from the purest jade found. Each statue also sat on a pillar of silver-veined marble of the purest black as well. Large paintings done with eloquent brush strokes hang counter to the statues, each representing Zinn’Sunn during more ancient times. More powerful times.

“Thwack!”

The sound could be heard echoing throughout the whole of the lobby. Its source vibrating from a room centered in the back, behind a large, cherry wood desk where a beautiful elf sat. She seemed to be reading something about five interlocking rings. Behind her there was no wall and yet, only the muffled sounds of two people sparring could be heard, as if some sort of glass covered the wall so as to show the prowess of the monks. Inside was a young human boy who couldn’t be older that 15 or 16 years of age. He stood motionless against his opponent, that of a muscular pantheri wielding a broadsword. Both where dressed similar save where the pantheri wore crimson, gold was added to that of the boy’s uniform. That and the boy held no weapon of any sorts.

The pantheri moved. Moved with the speed and grace inherited by his race and enhanced by the skills of much practice. As the katta swung the blade in an overhead blow meant for the boy’s head, fully committing to the action, did the boy move, or rather flowed into action.

The boy lifted his hands and pivoted at the same time, catching the wrist and hand of his opponent in one fluid motion while moving towards one side of the katta. With a deft maneuver and the shifting of hips and legs that seem to all come together as one single move, the katta could only follow the boy’s desire and moved much like a puppet on strings, the boy’s strings. Another move and shift and the pantheri found himself flipping up and over onto his back. His sword no longer in his hands but pointed at his throat by the boy who held it casually at his mercy.

With a smile and a nod the boy lowered the point and offered his opponent and student his other hand to help him up. The pantheri grinned back and took it; coming up and taking the now offered weapon back in hand where they repositioned themselves once again...

“He’s very good isn’t he.” It was a statement more than a question. The voice coming from the lovely elf woman at the desk. She put down her book and in a singsong voice that could make a man weep or grin; she spoke up with a devastating smile.

“The master believes that young Ethan there will become the youngest ever to hold the title of master. Should that we be so fortunate. But then, we are in fortunate times are we not friend? I am, well...I am called Lileth here. How may I serve you best this fine day?” He points to a table to his left.

A form on the table nearby serves as a sign-up sheet for any interested in studying the art of Ataa...

~Ataa~

Ataa is more philosophy than form. In its simplest terms it is an art that utilizes an oponent’s own strength and aggression against them. If one can understand such principle then it would be easily to conclude that the stronger one attacks the stronger the defense Ataa is against the attacker. Its philosophy is simply to turn with an attack, flowing until both defense and offense become one and there is but one universe in which you would control. We, as followers of Ataa, believe that harmony can only exist when body, mind, and soul are in balance with each other which we call Kh’chai, or potentiality. When we have reached Kh’chai we have perfect balance within and then, and only then, can we seek to harmonize our lives within the reality of the world we live in. This in turn is Khai’chei, or actuality. Few can reach their own potential, fewer still to reach their actuality. Yet it is the path of seeking such that is most important, whether we achieve such or not matters not.

Beginners will be instructed over a 10 day course in the following:
1. You will learn how to stand correctly
2. You will learn how to fall correctly
3. You will learn how to punch/chop/kick correctly
4. You will learn how to block and trap correctly as well.
5. You will learn how to flip/sweep
6. Finally you will learn how to flow with a punch or a kick so as to take less damage than normal.

Name:
Age:
Race:
Place of Birth:
Occupation:
Unarmed Combat Experience: Y/N
Armed Combat Experience: Y/N
A brief explanation in seeking to learn Ataa:

(Description compliments of Salsa & Kwiksylver)

[Caedes]

OOC: I guess I'll just take up where the last thread left off, ok?

IC: Taking a quill pen, Caedes began to fill out the form. His handwriting was a bit messy, as his unpracticed paw fumbled with the quill, but it was legible to a certain extent. The Katta only hoped the Elf would be able to read it.

Name: Caedes
Age: 21
Race: Lionoid Katta
Place of Birth: Zinn'sunn
Occupation: None Currently
Unarmed Combat Experience: No
Armed Combat Experience: No
A brief explanation in seeking to learn Ataa: I am interested in learning much about different philosophies, and I think that extensive training in Ataa would be an ideal way to learn about it's philosophical as well as physical aspects.

Caedes smiled again as he handed the form back to the woman with the quill he had used. The Lionoid rummaged around on his person until he found what he was searching for. 300 crowns appeared in his hand, then were suddenly stacked on the desk in front of the Elf.

A problem was soon presented to the Katta, however. The smile fell a bit, his face now much more serious. "I'm afraid I have no place to stay, miss. Would it be permissable for me to borrow a small room in the monastary until my time here has passed?"

[Yen]

OOC: This is my first post. Please forgive me if it’s a bit stiff.

IC: Tired of sitting in his small, threadbare hovel, Yen stepped out into the street and took a deep breath of air. It was the same air that he had breathed for his entire life, and yet, today it was different, for if everything went according to his hopes his life would begin anew.
He stepped up to the monastery gates and ducked in, looking up in awe at the jade statues and simple yet elegant architecture of the place. The serenity of the place had always been attractive for him, and as he stepped through into the lobby he marveled at the skill a boy about his own age displayed in defeating a fully grown katta. He swallowed hard. He was eager to begin his training after so many years, too many for the liking of his Kemite side. And yet, his itinerant elvish father had insisted he have a more relaxed childhood, one which was happy in the end, yet also filled with ridicule by his peers for not having devoted himself to Zinn’Ka sooner.
As the elven woman spoke, Yen’s heart beat faster. He looked into eyes that were like his, yet filled much more deeply with wisdom and grace that came with being fully elvish. He bowed deeply, wanting to make a good impression on the registrar, fully aware that she pretty much held his future education in her hands.
“My lady, my name is Yen.”
Without waiting for her reply (and hoping that he was not being presumptuous in doing so) his hand shook a little as he took up the quill to sign the register as she had indicated.

Name: Yen
Age: 15
Race: Half-elven
Place of Birth: Zinn’Sunn
Occupation:
Unarmed Combat Experience: N
Armed Combat Experience: N

He stopped at the last question and looked up.
“If it please my lady, I know I am older than many students here in the monastery. And yet, I wish to learn ataa to help achieve my calling in this life. I hope to learn as much as I can in order to wander the length and breadth of this land battling against evil in all its forms. I would not do so for my own glory or gain, but only to alleviate the suffering of the poor, the afflicted, and the downtrodden in the name of Aslan.”
The words that he had spoken to himself many times over felt a little hollow in the presence of this great lady. He meant them, oh yes, but he wondered how many others like him had passed through these doors with similar intentions? Surely he was only one of a million others who had come here with such altruistic ideals?
Yen was a person of few words and many thoughts, and now that he had finished speaking, he paused with baited breath for the lady’s reply.

[Salsa]

OOC: Sorry boys forgive me, I've been a tad bit busy lately, but I'm on this thread now

Caedes:

The woman ignored the crowns for a moment as she reached out with her slender hand to grasp the stiff paper of the form. As it crackled pleasantly in her hold, she ran her green orbs over it swiftly, just skipping over a few lines here and there, for it did not matter matter what he wrote on all the other questions, just the last one that counted. Nodding her beautiful head in satisfaction, he set his form aside, then laying her eyes upon the mound of crowns. Slowly raking them into a small brown bag that she pulled from behind her desk, she then finally turned her glimmering intense gaze towards the Lionoid, smiling warmly as she thought over his question. Her voice coming out clear and musical, she answered him swiftly.

"Yes of course you can have a room here at the monestary. You will be bunking with another student here though, since we have limited rooms, we have to place students in the same rooms with each other."

Lileth clapped her slender hands together as she called out some name in elvish. Immeadiately a tall elven man, or maybe it was a boy, hard to tell, approached her. Bowing low to the woman, he then watched Caedes with a curious gaze, his eyes darting from Lileth to the Lionoid back to Lileth.

"Aran, escort Caedes to your room. He is to be your new room-mate. By the way boys, you will have seperate lessons at 6 am sharp tomorrow morning. Don't stay up too late."

Aran gave Caedes a small yet shy smile as he motioned for him to follow. As the two sped away from the main room and the stunningly beautiful Lileth, the Elf fell into stride beside the Katta, whispering to him in a soft yet musical voice.

"So, you new here too? I just joined a few days ago. Things are pretty cool here."

Yen:

Lileth folded her slender hands as she watched the young Half Elf fill out the form. It was rare that she had such brave ones enter here trying to be students. Normally they waited for her to instruct them, but it was nice to find an independent one. That was always a good trait to have. Watching him with her intense orbs that could melt any man's heart, she took the form from him, glancing over it quickly before she turned her attention back to him, flashing the boy a warm smile.

"I thank you for your interest in Ataa young Yen, but to pay for the lessons, it will cost 300 crowns."

[Yen]

"Yes of course my lady." Yen blushed as he fished around in his tattered pockets for the 300 crowns. More than half of his inheritance was now gone. He could always sell his hovel, but for the moment, he would keep it. He counted out the coins carefully and stacked them neatly before the elven lady, whose intense gaze unnerved him even though his own father had the same sort of starlight in his eyes. He felt as though she was looking through him.
Yen stumbled on, the words coming out almost before he had a chance to consider them. "My lady, I do not know the end of such a request, but I am obviously not a very rich person..." He shifted his feet uncomfortably. "I was hoping that perhaps I could earn my meals and perhaps a little pocket money by helping with the upkeep of the monastery."
He knew it was a bold request, since he and the lady both knew he could probably find work elsewhere. Yet he wanted to immerse himself in the place as much as he possibly could, to watch the Grand Masters practice and to learn from them as much as he could. Although he knew such a request would mean holding a broom and accepting a lowly position in the monastery, he did not mind. He wanted to learn.

[Caedes]

Caedes nodded to Lileth and smiled. "It will be fine with me to share a room. Any company would be welcome." As Lileth clapped, the Lionoid looked around and noticed the tall Elf coming towards them.

"Serale Aran," he said to the Elf as they walked towards the building. "It does seem nice here. Have you had any lessons yet?" The Katta was curious as to what to expect here, and any chance to find out was what he needed.

[Salsa]

Yen:

The lovely Lileth smiled pleasantly, yes, this was a brave little bird. She would have to keep an eye on him, for sometimes, being brave also meant that there was a bit of arrogance there as well, not that Yen looked as though he was arrogant.

"Yes, that would be fine for you to work here at the Monastery. Your lessons will begin tomorrow at 6 am sharp, they will go one until 7:30. After your lessons you will then freshen up and report back to the Monastery to do any odd jobs that I can find for you. You will work until around 11 am when you will be fed lunch then you will be able to leave and report back here again at 5 pm. You will do some more odd jobs before you will be fed dinner then you can go home. Unfortunately, we will not provide you with breakfast but you will need to grab you something. It would not be wise to work on an empty stomach."

The Elf gave him a warm smile before waving at him with one of her slender hands, the pile of crowns on her desk still unnoticed.

"If you have no further questions then I will have to ask you to leave my bold little one for I am a very busy person. But do not forget to report back here at 6 am to start your lessons."

Caedes:

Aran smiled as he nodded quickly, reaching up to brush a few of his long brown locks from his face he then looked away from the Katta as they had come to a large door that had carvings all over its front. Most of the carvings were that of flowers and trees but then again the two didn't pause long to stare at these. Pushing the door open with a loud creak, Aran walked swiftly inside with long strides before shutting the door behind them. Motioning for Caedes to follow, the Elf began to hurry down a long hall with rooms on either side. It appeared to be a dormitory of some sort because there were students coming out of the rooms and pausing in the hallway talking, or hurrying off to their lessons, et cetera.

Finally coming to a stop beside one door, Aran turned the doorknob, pushing open the door slowly, he revealed a pleasant sized room behind it. The room had two beds in it and a large window overlooking the garden. There was a small door to one side that led to a tiny wash room where a basin sat along with a bucket to relief one's self. It wasn't very spectacular or anything, but it was nice. On the opposite side of the room from the beds there was a small desk with some papers scattered over it that were written in Elvish. Obviously Aran had been doing some homework.

"Oh no I haven't had any lessons yet. You're lucky, they normally don't give you lessons the next day unless they think that you are going to be an excellent student."

OOC: To both of you, I haven't had time to get around to your training threads, but I will be getting at it shortly so please be patient.

[Yen]

Yen smiled happily. It seemed as though everything was going his way so far.
"Thank you Lileth. I'll do my best." He said simply, ducking his head and backing out the door before skipping down the street.

[Mae Mundus]

OOC: Ah, finally, hand to hand combat training.

Mae read the descriptions set down. She didn't want to be defensless anymore. She wanted to be able to fight, hold her own ground. Not rely on others for help...

So, she took the pen and filled out the application.

Name: Mae Mundus
Age: 22
Race: Human
Place of Birth: Arkdun
Occupation: Clerk in shop of Andrea Marsilla
Unarmed Combat Experience: N
Armed Combat Experience: Y
A brief explanation in seeking to learn Ataa: I have been fascinated with Ataa for a good while of my life. Since now is the opportunity, I would like to learn it firsthand.

Mae smiled at the clerk and handed her back the paper. She will wait for her response and actions on this application.

OOC: Sorry if this is a crappy post, but I want to get it finished before my curfew takes over

[Caedes]

Caedes took a quick look around the room before turning back to Aran. "Really?" he asked, his eyes lighting up. The very idea that the monastery expected him to be a good student made him excited. He was looking forward to his training very much here and he expected to stay for quite some time.

Walking over to the wash room, Caedes scrubbed his hands and face in the basin and then made his way to his new bed. "Well, Aran. it's been quite a day for me, and if I am to get up early tomorrow, then I'll need some sleep." He lay back on the bed and felt his body relax. "So if you don't mind, I'll be catching up on some sleep."

The Katta pulled the blankets over him and closed his eyes, and before long, he was asleep.

[Salsa]

OOC: Okay, Caedes could you please do me a favor? I am so busy lately, could you please start a new thread for your training? Hey Mae! Could you do the same thing?

Caedes:

The Elf nodded, taking to his own bed as he himself fell asleep. He had a long day ahead, but Caedes day would be longer...

Mae:

Lileth gave the woman a small smile as she took the application from her. Looking over it swiftly, she then turned her stunning gaze towards Mae once more as she then smiled once more, amusement shining in her green orbs.

"The price for training is 300 crowns."

OOC: Forgive the crappy post! Like 20 more threads to go before I get caught up...

[Mae Mundus]

OOC: Salright, I'll begin to make a new thread after I pay and whatnot and I'm directed as of where to go.

IC: "Seems reasonable enough..." Mae said. She then reached into her crown pocket and all that she basically had. She managed to scrape out 300, but a little was left over...

"Here you go, 300 crowns." She said. So she handed the woman the 300 crowns and waited for further instructions as of what to do.

[Salsa]

Mae:

Lileth nodded, a warm smile creeping over her face as she took the 300 crowns, sliding them into a brown pouch that had been hiding behind her desk. Taking her time then to straighten up her papers laying beside her, to flip her long hair out of her face, to take a long yawn, for she had obviously been sitting here for a long time, she then spoke out to the woman in a strong yet clear voice.

"You will report back here at the gates of the Monastery at 6am tomorrow. Sharp. Do not be late. You will then be greeted by your trainer, and your training shall begin. Have a lovely day Mae Mundus."

Waving at the Human carelessly with one of her slender hands, Mae could then take that as her signal to leave.

[Mae Mundus]

"Aye, gotcha. Come at the gates at 6 A.M.....gotcha." Mae said. She then gave a walking salute and walked away. She would definetely come back at 6 to learn the art of Atta.

OOC: New Thread time.

[Yen]

OOC: Sorry if I'm "late" for work...I didn't forget. I just wanted to see how ataa training went so that my FT would be under control.

IC: Bruised but not broken, Yen limped up the steps to the monastery. His morning training still fresh in his mind, he constantly replayed everything that She'han Ryne had taught him-- and he had been taught a great deal. Despite the fact that his body was tired, his mind seemed sharper and more focused. Indeed, he felt a great measure of peace begin to descend upon him as he passed through the grounds of towering trees and fountains. He could get used to living in such surroundings, even if it meant being thrown on his back by She'han Ryne.

He approached the desk where Lileth usually sat, and bowed, noting to himself that he still had two minutes to spare before he reported for duty.

"Good morning Lileth." Yen said. "I am at yours and the monastery's service."