It sits on a mountain, shrouded in dense white mist. The temple seems as if it were spit from the very rock on which it sits; a single spire stabs the sky to the left of the topless dome (the dome itself looks as if the fist of God was once thrown down here, and the jagged edge of the wall curves to suggest this was once a whole; inside the fragments of the ceiling are scattered about, on which can be discerned the idea of a mural, and a Goddess with sad eyes), both built of rough-hewn stone and covered in creeping vines which bloom bright red flowers of succulent scent. Surrounded by trees and the dark shadows between, there is light - it does not flicker flickle like candles, but glows with steady, calm intensity.

Inside the great wooden doors, the mist has trickled in the open roof and clings to the spaces between the stones, the curls of vine, the cups of flowers. The floor is cobbled and vast - much more so than the outside suggests. Along the curved wall runs a row of door; but it is hard to get a count on them, for when you start you find yourself suddenly lost, never quite returning to the first (once an arrogant man painted a red stripe on the first door, thinking he was clever, and after weeks of counting was finally led to the inner garden where he lived out his days mumbling numbers from a drooling, twisted mouth).

In the center of the arena sits a diminutive black figure with long ears and a swishing tail. His short legs are cross over each other in full lotus, and his hands are folded together in prayer.

"Welcome," says the strange creature without moving. The voice compells succour from any who hear it; it says Peace, friend, lay your troubles at the door.

"You are here to learn. But what you learn is your choice. I shall teach technique, if you ask, offer advice, should you want it, guide skill, if it be requested. I shall set the stage for battle when you are ready, and those of you who are worthy, shall pass. Remember that you determine your own worth; in the hands of Purpose, everything is possible."

***

This is my training school. What I hope to do is strengthen the level of sophistication that already exists within the battlers, and give advice on writing techniques that are successful both for the arena, and for writing in general.

Sign-up begins today. We'll start as soon as we have an interested party - once you declare that you want to be a member of the Monastery and learn the Way of the Imp, please post your character bio and we'll work from there.

Enrollment:
Fireball [graduated]
SearanoX [in training]
Bobslob
dekuaxelmage
DivineDragoon

NOTE: ENROLLMENT IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO'VE ALREADY SIGNED UP ACTUALLY GET THEIR TRAINING.