Equivalent to Banded for Newbie Monks?

[GardylooGubbins]

I just started up an Iksar for the first time and chose to play a monk. I'm essentially starting fresh with this character, since I don't have anything suited for a monk on my main, so I'm wondering if there's a newbie armor/weapons for monks that I should be saving/questing for.

I've done the Curscale quests so far, and that's better than straight cloth, but is there anything equivalent to what banded is for other melees that I can be saving for? Also weapons: I'm currently using a couple 1hb weapons bought off merchants in FOB.

Clarification: I'm not expecting to run to EC anytime soon (I would have to save up stuff to sell first) so is there anything in Kunark to look for?