Air Monk

Air monks typically appear to be physically weak. Air monks are shorter and thinner than most other races, having the appearance of physical vulnerability. Quite the opposite, however, air monks live in some of the most inhospitable places in the world, and are well-equipped to deal with such adversity, where others might suffer.

Air monks are usually around 5 feet tall and have skin that ranges from fair to dark. Air monks have varying hairstyles, but very important to their culture are the bald heads of airlacing masters. To form a closer connection with the air, master lacers will shave their heads, often tattooing culturally important symbols onto their skin. Airlacers like to wear light orange and yellow robes, and don't typically have more than a single type of outfit that they wear.

Of the human races, air monks are the most likely to be long-lived. A simple life of asceticism and spiritualism allows an air monk to live for a century or even longer. While air is the element of freedom, air monks do have many traditions that help to dictate the way they live their lives. The monks typically live in solitude, meditating on the balance of the world and the nature of the Spirit World.

Almost all air monks hail from the great sanctuaries, which are scattered in the tallest mountains of the world. Airlacing temples are usually separated by gender, each temple only having males or females present. Several festivals take place each year where the temples come together to make new friends, rekindle relationships, and move those young air monks who are ready for a new home.

While the air monks are known and encountered occasionally by others, they are the most secluded of the human races. As an entire society made up of simple monks, there is almost no industry to speak of amongst the air monks. The only things created by air monks are those that are needed for daily life (ceramics, bowls, utensils, etc.), and simple trinkets with spiritual significance. It would be very rare to encounter an air monk curio anywhere aside from the temple where it was made, or on the person for whom the monk created it.

All air monks are trained in their temples in simple ascetic life, but any air monk can choose to hit the open road. Not abandoning their temple life, but taking its teachings and traditions abroad, spreading knowledge and culture with them. Air monks who choose to leave are not shunned by their society, but instead are seen as important messengers, bringing the customs and culture of the air monks to other peoples who have no other way to learn about them.

Air monks receive their names at birth. These names are taken from oral tradition and history, and each name has an important meaning. Some are the names of spirits in creation stories or other lore, while others are more recent inventions. Many air monk names also feature repeating vowels, often called an "extra bit of love" from the monk's mother.

Male Names: Azata, Azumu, Daichi, Daizuke, Goro, Hachiro, Haruto, Haruzi, Hayato, Hideyoshi, Hinaza, Izuki, Jiro, Kaede, Katashi, Kazuo, Mazaru, Minoru, Noboru, Nori, Ozamu, Ryo, Shiro, Taro, Yazu, Yoshi, Zaburo, Zota

Female Names: Aizo, Aimi, Azuko, Chizako, Chinatsu, Etsuko, Haruna, Hina, Hiroko, Izumi, Kazue, Kazuko, Kazumi, Mei, Midori, Mizuki, Natsuko, Rei, Satomi, Sayuri, Shizuka, Suzu, Suzume, Tomiko, Yoko, Yumi, Yuzuki

While air monks practice simple life in their temples, they are no strangers to life's pleasures, and think that one must experience life fully to be able to pass on to the Spirit World in a state of enlightenment. How they deal with other races depends on the reactions they get upon meeting.

Fire Folk. "Everyone says the fire folk are always fighting, but I've never seen it. All the fire folk I've met have always been warm and inviting. And their festivals are the best! Honestly we should start having some of those festivals back at the temple!"

Water Clan. "People from the water clan can be initially frosty, and not just because they're from the north pole! They can be a little closed off and untrusting. But once you really get to know them, they'll come to regard you as closely as they do their own families."

Earth Kin. "Everyone says the earth kin don't know how to have fun, but that's just not true. It's just that they need structure, but coming from temple life, structure can add a lot of fun. Rules to help control the fun!"

Obake. "I think it would be amazing to meet an obake. Between you and me, I think I did meet one once. There was a new guy in town, coming in with all of these stories of his travels and adventures. The weird part is that the tanuki stature that used to stand in the middle of town disappeared the very same day he appeared..."