Monasteries are special locations in Viking Conquest, home to Christian monks and abbots.

Recruitment

You can recruit by using the "Ask if somebody want to join you" dialogue option in the main monastery screen. This will allow you recruit refugees initially, but possibly due to obtaining higher relation with the Christian faction or renown, you might get instead priests and young warriors.

Learning to read

This is the only place where you can learn how to read for 4000 penningas. You may view whether or not you are illiterate by clicking on the character tab (Can Read field)

Abbot

Speaking with the abbot allows one to purchase some wine from them at around the same price as in towns (towns where you sell it, so not a good bargain unless you specifically need wine for giving it to lords, see wine connoisseur; if you want a good price, only buy at Dorestad), and can occasionally give you quests to fetch pallets to lumber. Visiting the abbot is unavailable at night. Note that if you trade with one, the same amount of money left will show for any other abbot/monastery in the trading screen even if you trade with another monastery next.

You can donate 500 penningas to him for a boost of morale.

You can ask him about conversation tactics, which will again cost you 500 penningas for no game impact.

Convert to Christianity

You can convert to Christianity here if you are Pagan (using the option directly from the monastery screen).

Donation

You can pay 500 penningas from the monastery screen which will give you a boost in the relation with the Christians "faction" and some reputation.

Wait here for some time

This allows you to hide from any units on the overland map (with no cost) even if they are following you.

Pillage

Monasteries are also often a target of easy pillage by the player, an extremely easy battle as the monastery is defended only by monks.

This can yield you decent amounts of silver, amber, ale, foods, money and others. Be warned that doing so will draw the ire of most Christian nations (in essence, all Britannia and Hibernia save for Northhymbre).

This will increase your renown but decrease your reputation. This will also decrease your relation with Christians by 10, will increase the relation with Pagans by 1, and also decrease the relation with one town, one castles in the vicinity and their dependent villages.

Pillaging is the only way to obtain the Monk troops, by capturing and then recruiting them.

Attacking the same monastery will not yield identical results.

Examples of yield early game:

A) 1 amber, 1 ale, 4 beef, 1 butter, 2 smoke fish, 1 sausage, 2 bread.

B) 1 ale, 4 honey, 3 dried meat, 3 chicken, 1 fruit, 1 bread, 1 wheat.

List

Generally, there is a monastery close by to any christian starting faction, though this is the whole list:

Britannia

Alban

Aporcrosan (North from Scuin, close to Bal Muirchol)

Apurnethige (South-East from Scuin)

Petrus (North-East from Scuin, close to Bal Duim)

Alt Clut

Ad Candidam Casam (South from Dun Breatann, close to Tref Cuil)

Cornubia

Petrockstow (South from Bosvenagh)

East Engle

Dommoc (North from Dunwic)

Gwynedd

Derhurst (East from Caer Dyf)

Llanteulyddog (North-West from Brycheiniog)

Ynys Enlli (South from Ynys Mon)

Mierce

Briudun (South from Tomtun)

Clofesho (North-East from Cirren Ceaster)

Cocheham (North from Lundenwic)

Eveshomme (South-West from Tomtun, close to Tom Ham South.

Gudlac (East from Tomtun, close to Lincylene)

Medeshamstede (South-East from Tomtun, close to Lincylene)

Ythan (East from Lundenwic)

Northhymbre

Hagustaldes (North from Bebbanburh)

Inderawuda (South-East from Jorvik)

Lindisfarne (close to Bebbanburh)

West Seaxe

Waerburh (West from Cantwaraburh)

Wochingas (North from Witan Ceaster)

Eriu

Aileach

Daire Calgaich (South from Aileach)

Connachta

Patricius (Close to Cruaghan)

Laigin

Gleann Da Loch (East from Maistiu)

Mide

Finian (North of Temair) - the Abbot in Finian is one of the main characters in The Last Tuatha De Danann Quest.

Mumain

Carthach (South-East from Caiseal)

Raithean (North-East from Caiseal)

Scelic Mhichi (West from Caiseal on the coast of Eriu)

Frisia

Friese

Willibrord (North from Dorestad)