A1 Monastery of the Reverent Brothers Rao

Temples of Rao are generally stately, open air affairs filled with incense, quiet chanting, and earnest philosophical discussion. Many have extensive libraries and learned sages on hand to answer even the most esoteric question. Greyfist is a rectangular castle built on a small hill in the centre of the city. Without a doubt, the palace of Viscount of Verbobonc is the finest surviving example of preserved elven work in the city. This is a large complex of buildings and gardens, is tastefully arranged to provide natural-seeming vistas from nearly any window. Its construction is typical of most of the elven buildings of Verbobonc. Many slender towers joined by airy, arched bridges grace the palace. The surrounding curtain walls rise to a height of 32 feet, and four round towers, reach a height of 40 feet.Nestled up against the north curtain wall and a curtain wall extension protecting the hill from the Velverdyva River are buildings of the Monastery of the Reverent Brothers dedicated to Rao. This grand monastery is set between Castle Greyfist, and the richest neighborhood in the city. It has been constructed with the finest stone and is almost an extension of the castle itself.

A Pillar of Peace and Power in Verbobonc

Nestled within the High Quarter of Verbobonc, the Monastery of the Reverent Brothers dedicated to Rao stands as a testament to the enduring faith and political acumen within the city's ancient walls. This grand monastery, positioned strategically between Castle Greyfist and the city's wealthiest neighborhood, plays a crucial role in the spiritual and political landscape of Verbobonc.

Architectural Majesty and Spiritual Haven

Constructed from the finest stone, the monastery is almost an extension of V1-3 Castle Greyfist, Citadel of the Viscount itself, mirroring the citadel's strength and grandeur. The complex comprises four main structures, each serving a distinct purpose in the life of the monastery and its inhabitants:

Layout & Key Areas

Use this as a quick overview; individual scenes can zoom into whichever part you need in play.

• Gatehouse & High Guard Post – The monastery gate is always open during daylight, flanked by two members of the Viscount’s High Guard who observe but rarely intervene. Their presence reminds visitors that this is a protected, semi-diplomatic site under the Viscount’s direct favor.

• Central Courtyard & Reflecting Pool – An open-air garden with trimmed hedges, a shallow reflecting pool, and stone paths. Scribes work at shaded tables while monks pace in silent contemplation. Soft Flan chants and the scent of sandalwood and frankincense define the “soundscape” here. This is the ideal meeting place for calm conversations, informal negotiations, or quiet character scenes.

• Tower of Reason: A sanctuary for meditation, topped with a permanent "Silence" spell, allowing the clergy of Rao to reflect in utter tranquility. A modest, many-windowed tower filled with scrolls, legal codices, and philosophical treatises. Petitioners are brought here for private counsel or doctrine study. Aelfwyn spends much of her time in this tower mediating disputes between nobles and commoners.

• Assembly Hall : The heart of worship within the monastery, adorned with stunning stained glass and high arched ceilings, where Verbobonc’s nobility and affluent gather to pay homage to Rao. A broad circular chamber where monks and lay faithful sit cross-legged on woven mats during the rites of Stillness and Insight. This is the stage for NSQ-05’s ceremony scenes, major sermons, or public announcements from Martiolus. Religion or Insight checks here can reveal the deeper tension beneath Rao’s outward serenity.

• Great Worship Hall – A more formal, columned sanctuary used for high holy days and audiences with important visitors. Verses of Rao, inscribed in Flan and Oeridian, ring the upper walls, including the famous meditation: “Reason is the greatest gift. It leads to discourse, which leads to peace, which leads to serenity…”.

• Halls of Peace: Cloisters & Cells, simple, white-plastered cells where the Reverent Brothers and their students live. These are excellent for quiet one-on-one scenes, late-night confessions, or secret visits from nobles wishing not to be seen at a public temple.

• Hidden Reliquaries (DM-Facing) – Beneath or behind the public halls lie restricted vaults and chambers said to hold relics from Emridy Meadows and older Velunese crusades: tomes of law, icons of Rao, and other holy items dedicated to Law and Good. These are protected by both monastic wards and the watchful eyes of Castle Greyfist above. Use them as a hook for rare magic, lost histories, or targeted theft attempts.

Political Ramifications and Influence

The Monastery of the Reverent Brothers and its clergy wield considerable influence within Verbobonc, navigating the delicate balance between spiritual authority and temporal power. Patriarch Martiolus Legeum, in particular, has emerged as a key figure in the city's political arena:

• Advisory Role to the Viscount: Patriarch Legeum's close relationship with Viscount Wilfrick Verdanhart and his predecessors underscores the monastery's role in shaping policy and governance.
• Endorsement of St. Cuthbert: By extending Rao's endorsement to St. Cuthbert, the monastery has effectively bridged the gap between different faiths, enhancing its authority and diplomatic standing.
• Legitimization of Leadership: The ceremonial investment of Viscount Wilfrick Verdanhart by Patriarch Legeum signifies the monastery's pivotal role in legitimizing the rulership of Verbobonc.

Challenges and Adaptations

Despite its esteemed position, the monastery and the worship of Rao face significant challenges, reflecting the shifting spiritual landscape of Verbobonc:

• Diminishing Congregation: The aftermath of the Elemental War and the appeal of more militant deities have led to a decrease in Rao's followers, compelling the monastery to adapt and seek new ways to connect with the populace.
• Isolation from Commoners: The increased focus on reason and diplomacy has, at times, distanced the monastery from the common people, highlighting the need for outreach and engagement beyond the nobility.

Spiritual Education and Training

The monastery serves as a center for spiritual education, where the brothers dedicate themselves to the teachings of Rao, focusing on peace, reason, and serenity:

• Monk and Cleric Training: Approximately half of the brothers at the monastery train as monks, while the other half follow the path of clerics. This dual approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of Rao's teachings, emphasizing inner peace and mediation over martial prowess.
• Emphasis on Meditation: The curriculum prioritizes quiet meditation and spiritual introspection, aligning with Rao's principles. This focus on non-violence and contemplation distinguishes the monastery from more militant religious orders.

Security and Protection

At first glance, the monastery's lack of visible security may appear as a vulnerability, especially given the presence of Verbobonc's wealthiest nobles. However, the monastery's proximity to Castle Greyfist provides an unspoken layer of protection:

• Castle Guard Oversight: The monastery benefits from the close watch of the castle guards, who ensure the safety of both the monastery's inhabitants and its noble visitors. This integrated security system underscores the symbiotic relationship between the monastery and the Viscount's stronghold.
• Rumored Catacombs: Whisperings among the faithful and the curious alike suggest the existence of ancient catacombs beneath the monastery. These hidden chambers are said to contain powerful relics and magics dedicated to the cause of Law and Good, protected by the monastery's guardians and the watchful eyes of the castle's sentinels.

Tone & Use at the Table

When you run A1, lean into contrast:
– Outside the walls, Verbobonc is noisy, political, and on edge; inside, voices are low, steps are measured, and even conflict is handled like a carefully argued case.

How to Roleplay the Reverent Brothers
• They rarely raise their voices; anger is met with patient listening.
• Default approach to problems: mediate, document, negotiate—only then, if all else fails, support measured force to restore peace.
• Simple greetings: “May Reason guide your steps,” or “Peace, in Rao’s name.”

Security & Law
• The monastery’s grounds are considered neutral but loyal—protected by the Viscount’s High Guard and respected by most nobles. The monks themselves have no Low Justice over the city, but they often act as arbiters or advisors in disputes brought before secular courts or temple authorities.

Adventure Hooks from this Location

• NSQ-05: On a Mission from Rao – The party is chosen in the Godsday procession and summoned here to receive a vision-driven mission involving Artus Kellan and the lost Chest of Rao. Use the courtyard and Assembly Hall as staging grounds for that briefing.

• Aelfwyn’s First Trial – Aelfwyn asks the PCs to escort her on her first diplomatic journey beyond the walls—to Nulb, to Emridy Meadows, or to recover a relic of Rao before it falls into darker hands.

• Secrets Beneath the Cloister – Rumors of hidden reliquaries and locked scriptoria draw thieves, cultists, or desperate nobles. The PCs might protect the monastery, investigate a theft, or negotiate the controlled release of a powerful holy item.

Prayer at the great worship hall of Rao

Causa est maximum donum. Ducit ad sermonis, quae ducit ad pacem, quae ducit ad serenitatem.Reason is the greatest gift. It leads to discourse, which leads to peace, which leads to serenity. If all could be convinced to reason with each other, the world would enjoy the harmony of benign order. Some refuse to use reason and instead resort to violence, at which time action—governed by reason and wisdom—is required to counteract their deeds and restore peace.The soul of man is divided into three parts, intelligence, reason, and passion. Intelligence and passion are possessed by other animals, but reason by man alone.Most people who lack peace simply have not taken the time to pursue it. Rao's peace comes to those with the personal discipline to stop in the midst of the maelstrom of life and take time to seek Rao. He commands, "Be still, and know that I am Rao". And to those whose minds are steadfastly fixed on Rao, he gives the gift of peace.Et iis quorum mentes sunt steadfastly fixum in Rao, qui dat donum pacis.