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The Grey Order were an division of the Old Order from Utsukkuen.

The Grey Order was led by a Tortle, whose true name was long forgotten – but he adopted the name of Ro’shi (which loosely translates to “Wise Master” in the Utsukkuen language). Ro’shi had washed ashore at one of the Providences of Baranochi (part of the Utsukkuen continent of islands) where he was found by several members of the Old Order.

Ro’shi had been badly wounded – by the looks of it – by sea faring fishermen. He could not recall much of his life before being found. He was brought to the Old Order to see if the Monks there could help him. While there Ro’shi adopted the Monk’s way of life and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the head of an Abbot that was built for him to teach others.

Despite the scars that marked Ro’shi’s body, he did not believe the answer was violence. He wanted to teach the most important thing; which was balance. He developed The Grey Order, and taught the balance of good and evil; of fighting and passiveness; and the understanding and strength to know when to use violence and when to use peace.

During an assault by Minotaurs, the people of Utsukkuen banded together against the common seafaring enemies – and one among them was captured on land by the name of Narook Stormhoof – who explained he’d abandoned his position on the ship and came to warn the people of Utsukkuen of another assault, while the people of Utsukkuen were defending the western shores; another Minotaur assault was sailing for the eastern shore. His information proved to be true and saved the lives of hundreds of women and children, who would have otherwise been defenseless while their husbands were on the western shores fighting. Narook was accepted in Utsukkuen, because he’d forgone his honor as a Minotaur and could never return. However, his large size made him uncomfortable among a continent primarily made up of humans.

Ro’shi saw him one day and welcomed Narook to stay at the Abbot. Narook soon learned to turn away from the warlike ways he’d grown up knowing and quickly became one of Ro’shi’s most promising students. Ro’shi gave Narook the name of “Go’ken” which loosely translates to “savior” based on his actions that saved hundreds of innocent lives.

Ro’shi would continue to welcome unusual students, when two travelers aboard a ship called Destiny’s Courtship docked. Go’ken had originally been worried that the ship’s captain, also a Minotaur named Krella Wavebreaker was seen, that she might be a bounty hunter. She however, assured him – while, it’s true – from time to time, she dipped into piracy when times were tough on the open seas – she too had left the Minotaur way and took to chartering her vessel to bring passengers to different continents. She admitted that sometimes she knew some of the passengers she took were running from the law; but she obeyed no laws, save for those of the open sea; so as long as the coin was there, that’s all she cared about. Two of her passengers from this voyage; unusual friends, a Tiefling name Ri’yu and a goliath named Khen saw the Abbot and grew interested. They soon asked to become monks and quickly displayed a competitive nature between them, one always seeking to prove they were better than the other – but had done so in a friendly fashion. Ri’yu’s mother had originally been from Utsukkuen, and he’d returned to reconnect with his family; but he quickly learned his mother had fled because of Ri’yu’s demonic appearance which surfaced when he was but five years old. His family had believed that they were cursed and all of their honor was revoked. Now he’s returned to try and regain his family’s honor, while dragging his friend Khen along. Ri’yu learned he had a cousin named Da’un and reconnected with him in Utsukkuen. Wanting to learn more about his older cousin, Da’un also joined the Grey Order – however, he frequently boasts about how he is stronger than his cousin (having self taught himself the way of the Monk before joining the Grey Order). Ro’shi has made several attempts to reteach Da’un the proper ways, but Da’un insists that his way is the stronger way. (Ro’shi simply accepts that perhaps the gods have put Da’un in his path to either teach him or test his patience – he’s not sure which yet).

Things would turn violent when a human of some nobility came seeking revenge against Narook Stormhoof, now named Go’ken. The human noble claimed that before Narook “changed his ways” – he had been a slaver and captured his ship and sold him into slavery, where he was forced into a pit to fight against other Minotaur criminals. The noble named Veyga claims that his face was disfigured during one of the fights. Go’ken profusely apologized for his past, but Veyga was not accepting and would not settle until he fought Go’ken. Much to his dismay, realizing this was the only thing he could do to settle it, Go’ken agreed to the match with Veyga wanted it to be to the death. Go’ken, with the teachings of Ro’shi was able to defeat Veyga – but spared his life, explaining that he knew the difference of when to use violence, and when to use peace, as taught to him by his master. Veyga was furious that he’d been defeated and swore vengeance. However, Veyga never seemed to hold true to his threats.

Soon the Grey Order expanded further, taking in more and more students, such as Arhian Vos and Hartmut Helmsworth who began training under Go’ken. Other students came, and soon Ro’shin believed it was good to expand the school to other continents and teach the ways of the Grey Order.

The Grey Order encouraged their students to experience the spectrum of emotions; Joy, Rage, Empathy, Love, Fear – however, those emotions were to be tempered to help them find the inner calm they are looking for. If you can temper your emotions you can channel the spiritual energy and perform feats that otherwise would not be possible. Due to this a monk of this order may go from being a friendly passer by to a raging tempest to protect either themselves or others.

Their Code is as follows –

Flowing through the air, there is energy
We do not master that energy
We harness and imbue our spirit

There is no balance without understanding
There is no understanding without humility

Knowledge is gained through serenity
Power is gained by balance.

To pay honor to life
Is to understand the importance of death.

The cycle will complete, the energy shall flow.