Talk:New Malton Skete

I'm generally interested in Malton's religious life and my main survivor was a member of Malton's Orthodox Christian community before the outbreak (it appears that all other Orthodox Maltonites were evacuated). Malton seems a suitably barren wilderness to attract monastics. However; what does a monastic alone at a skete do? He prays, alone, a whole lot.

How would that be role-played? Presumably, the character would find an abandoned building in an uninhabited part of town, and each day would spend 50AP speaking prayers which would not be overheard by any other character in the game. Presumably the monastic would be indifferent as to his zombie/ human status; when human would pray in English and when zombie would pray in kiZombie.

There's not much of a role-playing element to that, especially in a game as heavily interactive as Urban Dead.

Somewhat more interesting might be a monastic community. Either one focused on a communal liturgical life, or one focused on the works of mercy. The former could arrange set times throughout the week when all community members are online at the same time to conduct liturgy or other services together. The latter could maintain and staff a safe house, revive clinic or hospital while steadfastly refusing to harm anyone-- human, PKer, or zombie-- who entered their doors. However, neither of these monastic communities really emulate the solitary skete life of St. Anthony.

Any ideas, comments, thoughts? Buddhagazelle 21:01, 25 April 2007 (BST)Buddhagazelle

One way to play might be to refuse to kill and to spend time reviving and patrolling/maintaining Church property. I agree that there is the potential for communities (and this would be more interesting) but this requires quite a high level of interest and organisation, which I suspect is best achieved by finding an easier interim system.

In the Orthodox Church... hermits live a life not only of prayer but also of service to their community in the traditional Orthodox Christian manner of the poustinik. The poustinik is a hermit available to all in need and at all times. (from Wikipedia on hermits)

Also...

Weekdays were spent in the cells, accompanied only by a rush mat, a small amount of food and palm blades with which to make ropes and baskets. On Saturdays they would bring their handiwork to the coenobium and take communion together, returning to their cells on Sunday evening. Cells were left open, and those in need could take whatever they wished from the cell if it were found empty. The lavra had a priest; the lavra’s contact with the outside world, and at least two ordained deacons. (from Wikipedia on lavras)

Seems to me that every hermit's path is individual and there is room to do more than simply sit and talk to God.

But then it can be dangerous to listen to Wikipedia.

What do you think?

- Fuster 21:19, 25 April 2007 (BST)

Yes, good point. This will require some level of cooperation/ communal life (and some degree of liturgical conformity) among skete members.

I thank Fuster for the invitation to this page, although at the moment I'm leading a team bent on freeing Yagoton from our hostile zombie neighbors at the moment, and will be unable to comply. Luckily, there's a church nearby one of our safehouses, so I may begin to hold weekly services there once I get the time. --Private Mark 22:11, 25 April 2007 (BST)