Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Fri, 07 May 2004 16:19:07 GMT In: alt.startrek.creative From: "Jay P Hailey" Subject: NEW Profile Monks of T'Zal (OCC, Outwardly Mobile) Title: Profile: Monks of T'Zal Author: Jay P Hailey Series: OCC, TNG era, Outwardly Mobile Appearance: Suval's Uncle is said to be a member of this sect in ST-OM. No monks of T'Zal appear as PCs but this could change. Availability: Suval's Uncle, no. The order and any other member of it? Sure, go ahead. Group Name: Monks of T'Zal Created By: Jay P Hailey Number of Members: Less than 10,000 Nature of Members: Vulcans and a handful of others who seek wisdom in the way of T'Zal Organization: There is a hierarchy among the monks of T'Zal based on classical Ancient Vulcan ecclesiastical ranks. But this is rarely used. Game Role: A source of quirky, adventure prone Vulcans World Role: The Monks of T'Zal feel that the Universe is, on some level conscious and some level attempting to communicate with it's residents via phenomenon and the laws of nature. They explore the far reaches of space and obscure sciences in an attempt to listen to and piece together what the Universe may be trying to say to us all. Relative Influence: This is a small sect of Vulcans who have an odd philosophical/religious outlook. As such they have next to no political influence and little financial influence. However as a group that studies arcane science for messages from the divine, they have had a disproportionate effect on the Science of the Federation, randomly advancing it or adding randomized input to the process. Public or Secret: The Monks of T'Zal do not proselytize their philosophy; they feel this would interfere with their ability to listen to what the universe has to say to them. When asked they answer questions freely and as openly as possible. So they are public, but not widely known or understood. Publicly Stated Goal: To know the mind of the universe by studying it's revealed secrets. Relative Wealth: Small. The Monks of T'Zal feel that the pursuit of wealth interferes with prioritization of listening to the universe. Some monks of T'Zal have developed technology and science that wound up being lucrative, the profits have often gone to fund more research. Group advantages: Monks of T'Zal tend to be adventurous and skilled at improvised survival techniques. Contacts: Advanced scientists and engineers in numbers of fields have contact with Monks of T'Zal as do freelance interstellar scouts and Starfleet Special Abilities: Monks of T'Zal are good at traveling and understanding alien cultures. They are good at survival skills under improvised and difficult conditions Group disadvantages: They tend to be poor, and isolated. Special Disadvantages: They tend to be disliked by hide bound and hierarchically minded people. Who belongs: Vulcans and other Sentients who travel to the temple of T'Zal and undertake the orders and training of the Monks of T'Zal. Those who favor them: Scientists, explorers, free thinkers, Starfleet Officers who know of them. Scouts, vagabonds and adventurers Those opposed to them: People who feel that knowledge should be restricted, or that travel should be restricted. Area of Operation: All over known space and then some. Headquarters Location: The Temple of T'Zal in the high desert of Vulcan. Public Face: Curious seekers after the truth. Notable Members T'Zal the Vulcan priestess who founded the order. History of the Group: Not determined at this time. Typically a monk of T'Zal will be wearing robes or sturdy traveling clothing, he will be packing all he owns in a back pack, with a few multi-purpose tools slung for easy access. Monks of T'Zal are excellent travelers and good at interacting with local cultures. They often develop contacts in high and low places. Most Monks of T'Zal specialize in Anthropology and Archaeology. Think Indiana Jones with pointed ears and you're about there. Monks of T'Zal believe that the universe is using IDIC very literally to communicate with its residents and smaller creations. They tend to be very hand-on scientists and believe very strongly in objective truths. They tend to have a very practical set of survival skills and experiences, as well as their academic credentials. Old Monks of T'Zal retire to colleges on Vulcan or Vulcan Colonies and teach the young the skills and ways of the Monks. To become a member of the Temple of T'Zal one must have an academic specialty. Then one must serve an apprenticeship with an older Monk. (Apprentices are called Acolytes) Then one must travel to the temple and take part in the ritual addition of knowledge where the works and biographies of monks and acolytes are their findings are stored. Many ancient artifacts are stored and studied at the Temple of T'Zal. Acolytes then perform routine duties at the temple, cleaning, cooking, support as well as research assistant. They are also trained in survival and adventuring skills, as well as cross trained in other fields of science besides their own. When one is acclaimed ready one leaves the temple to wander the universe and uncover its secrets, to learn what the universe has to say about any given specific thing, and how this might relate to other things Non Vulcans are welcome into the order but few have the self discipline and desire to make it. Monks of T'Zal generally (but not always) eschew organized forms of service and exploration,. However Starfleet and other space going peoples who are willing to put up with a free thinking free lance science officer can do very well with a monk of T'Zal Starfleet officers who have worked with them on the Frontier, and Independent scouts and explorers swear by their friends who are monks of T'Zal, When they aren't swearing *at* them. Jay ~Meow!~ --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.677 / Virus Database: 439 - Release Date: 5/4/2004 -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Awards Tech Support http://www.trekiverse.us/ASCAwards/commenting/ No Tribbles were harmed in the running of these Awards ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek.creative or directly to the author. Yahoo! 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