For this new Get the Look blog, we want to show another DnD inspired look. This time, we took inspiration from the class Monk, or more precisely, a Monk of the Way of Shadow.
Monks of the Way of Shadow generally serve as spies or assassins, as their tradition is about stealth and subterfuge. They’re often compared to ninjas, so for this look, we mixed elements associated with monks and ninjas.
Kaito Shadowsong hails from a remote village in the mountains of the Eastern Realms, where a secret order of shadow monks trained in the ancient arts of stealth and combat. Orphaned at a young age, he was taken in by the order and raised as one of their own.
One fateful night, a powerful artifact was stolen from the order's hidden temple, and Kaito swore to recover it. His quest for the artifact led him on a journey through treacherous lands and into the heart of a dangerous conspiracy that threatened the entire realm.
Tunic
The item of clothing most people think of when they try to picture a monk, is some type of robe. How exactly these robes look, will vary from country, culture and associated religion. Since the Shadow Monk is similar to a ninja, we’ve aimed for a look with a similar feel to the robes Japanese ninjas wore. This sleeveless tunic has a split in the front, which helps with mobility in a way similar to the wrapped robes ninjas used to wear. This tunic not having sleeves also helps with mobility, but should you want to cover your arms, you can easily layer it over a shirt or sleeved tunic.
This particular tunic, unfortunately, is no longer part of our collection, but we do still have the wool version.
Tunic Meril, wool, blue: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/tunic-meril-wool-blue.html
Other options and additional layers:
Sleeveless coat Assassins Creed brown-black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/sleeveless-coat-assassins-creed-brown-black.html
Tunic Mainard, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/tunic-mainard-black.html
Tunic Leif, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/tunic-leif-black.html
Medieval shirt, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/medieval-shirt-black.html
Trousers
It’s not easy being stealthy, and one of the things you need to be stealthy is a good range of movement. Both ninjas and Shaolin monks, who are experts in martial arts, wear very wide legged trousers that are wrapped with cloth below the knees. This way, movement is neither limited by the trousers being too tight around the upper legs, nor by excess fabric around the lower legs.
This can be easily recreated using wide legged trousers that are gathered into a band at the knee and leg wrappings. Of course you can also use full length wide trousers and wear leg wrappings on top of those.
Viking Rusvik pants, black:
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-rusvik-pants-black.html
Leg wrappings Hamond cotton: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leg-wrappings-hamond-cotton.html
Alternatives:
Viking trousers Rollo, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-trousers-rollo-black.html
Viking trousers Ketill, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-trousers-ketill-black.html
Leg wrappings Hredulf, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leg-wrappings-hredulf-black.html
Leg wrappings Aki, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leg-wrappings-aki-black.html
Arm wrappings
Fully bare arms pose an increased risk for injury. This can either come from weapons or climbing rough surfaces. The forearms are especially prone to these kinds of injuries. A quick and easy way to remedy this, is by wearing arm wrappings. It reminded us a bit of boxer’s arm wraps as well.
Arms wrappings Hamond canvas: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/arm-wrappings-hamond-canvas.html
Arm wrappings Hamond wool, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/arm-wrappings-hamond-wool-black.html
And to complete the set, Kaito is wearing leg wrappings as well:
https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leg-wrappings-hamond-cotton.html
Belt
Referring back to the ninja attire, ninja robes were actually wrap robes. This means they needed a belt to be kept closed. Fabric belts were used for this. Even though we’re using a closed tunic, using a fabric belt will add to the image of a stealthy, thieving Monk. We also used the belt to add a bit of a colour contrast to the outfit, but you could also choose to have the belt blend in more.
Viking belt Elina, red: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/viking-belt-elina-red.html
This belt is available in multiple colours
Another option:
Waistband Hedwig, dark blue: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/waistband-hedwig-dark-blue.html
This belt is also available in multiple colours
Shoes
Monks are rarely depicted wearing heavy footwear. The same goes for ninjas and monks versed in martial arts. This is why we decided to go for sandals instead of closed shoes or boots. The sandals we chose for this look have nails on the sales, to minimize the risk of slipping.
Deepeeka Roman Caligae with hobnails, Castleford/Valkenburg type: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/roman-caligae-with-hobnails-castleford-valkenburg.html
Sandals alternative
Roman Caligae Neptunus: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/roman-caligae-neptunus.html
Leather Iron Age sandals brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leather-iron-age-sandals-brown.html
Staff
A common weapon in martial arts is the staff, so we decided to equip Kaito with one. A staff is a versatile weapon with better reach than a sword. It’s also a lot less obvious a weapon when you’re trying to sneak in somewhere in disguise, as it can pose as a walking stick.
Wooden Quarterstaff, 150cm, Foam Weapon: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/wooden-quarterstaff-150-cm-foam-weapon.html
Some more staffs
LARP Ready For Battle Staff: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/larp-ready-for-battle-staff.html
LARP Staff with metalwork: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/larp-staff-with-metalwork.html
Dagger
Although the aforementioned staff is a good choice of weapon, it does come with some downsides. Staffs are not the most effective against armour and they are difficult to fight with in narrow hallways or other tight spaces. Therefore it can be better to choose a different weapon for certain missions. A dagger is easy to hide due to its size and is a lot easier to use when there is little room to move around in. It’s also a much stealthier weapon than the staff.
LARP Persian dagger: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/iron-fortress-larp-persian-dagger.html
Alternatives
Tanto dagger, LARP weapon: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/tanto-dagger-larp-weapon.html
Rubber main gauche: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/cold-steel-rubber-main-gauche.html
Solingen Main Gauche Antiqued: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/solingen-main-gauche-antiqued.html
Dark short seax: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/dark-short-seax.html
Hood
When you’re trying to sneak into places, you want to be able to conceal as much of yourself as possible. Pulling up a good quickly covers your hair and makes it easier to hide your face when needed. Ofcourse, a large cape would only get in the way, so that’s not a great option. A Shadow Monk would fare much better with just a hood that can be added to their attire. This hood can also be folded down to function as a high collar.
Chaperon Alex black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/chaperon-alex-black.html
Other options
Chaperon Frodi black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/chaperon-frodi-black.html
Medieval chaperon Walt, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/medieval-chaperon-walt-black.html
Mask
Another way to conceal (part of) your face is by wearing a mask. In feudal Japan, the samurai and ninja often wore a mask called Mempo. The Mempo covers the lower half on the face as well as the nose, without causing issues with breathing. It’s not only for concealing your face, though. It was originally introduced to samurai as protective gear, to prevent facial injuries.
Leather Mempo half mask, black: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leather-mempo-half-mask-black.html
Brown: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leather-mempo-half-mask-brown.html
Red: https://www.celticwebmerchant.com/en/leather-mempo-half-mask-red.html