Monastic Orders

Unlike knightly orders, monastic orders tend to be small, often limited to a single monastery. They also rarely include other disciplines than their primary, to say nothing of other classes. Some may worship deities, others may not; the nature of monastic life is highly variable.
Jedi - Way of the Open Hand, Way of the Drunken Master, Way of the Kensei The Jedi strive to bring nations and peoples to peaceful mediation of problems, particularly in republics. They aren’t a naive bunch, and know that a great many conflicts are between people with egos and personal goals, for which their subjects suffer. Jedi are often credited with inventing sunblades; most of the kensei create blue blades, while drunken masters forge green. Open hand Jedi are rare, but craft white blades. Creating sunblades is a rite of passage for the Jedi, and completion of their blade symbolizes a promotion to Jedi Knight. The order prides itself on being in tune with the ways of the world, and the energies that flow through it. They speak of something called the Force, their name for chi or prana or magic, and have good relationships with druid circles.
Sith - Way of the Long Death, Way of the Kensei Formed in opposition to the Jedi, the Sith believe that tranquility and attempting to rise above emotions is a fool’s errand, and that only by embracing emotion can one tap into their full potential. While emotion itself isn’t necessarily bad, the Sith also focus on power and exerting their will on others, which puts them in direct opposition to the Jedi. Conflict between the two orders has been constant since the Sith were born; their principal monastery was destroyed, and much smaller monasteries pop up from time to time. Sith in general favor red stones for their sunblades (when they use these), kensai especially. Long Death monks occasionally use black stones (which produce a purple blade).
Grammaton Clerics - Way of Kensei Grammaton Clerics are so named because of their devotion to knowledge and the written word, which they guard with a unique martial arts style using guns. Grammaton Clerics must take pistols, rifles, and longswords as their chosen weapons (any who are already proficient in one or more of these, due to racial proficiencies or anything else, may choose whatever else they want). It is HIGHLY recommended that Grammaton Clerics take the Crossbow Expert feat (which applies to pistols and muskets as well). The monastery-library is part of vedalken lands.
Iron Shadows - Way of Shadows Both the True and Holy Empires have monasteries throughout their territories to train the Iron Shadows, discreet secret police who answer only to the senators and enforce the edicts of the republic they serve. Some go on to join the legions, though most occupy their time in the cities, watching for insurrection and weeding it out quietly. Iron Shadows are recruited from orphans, and come to love the empire as their parents, part of a carefully calculated regimen meant to breed loyalty. Most are hobgoblin or human, but any orphan is welcome.
Daughters of Oya - Way of the Open Hand The Threefold Mother is a fierce protector of women, and the Daughters are her hands in this world. Born in a time when their kingdom was under particularly despotic rule, the Daughters take this protection very seriously, and often have lives outside of the eight monasteries where they train. Recruitment of potential monks is done by the monks themselves, and while some Daughters have been asked to guard the royal family itself, others prefer to remain incognito, letting their reputation and this element of uncertainty do some of their work for them. Only women are recruited into the Daughters, though they can be of any species.
Tattooed Monks - Way of the Elements, Sun Soul, or Open Hand The mysterious Dragon Clan of Rokugan has a family of monks who are infused with the blood of their immortal founder in mystical tattoos, which unlock their incredible powers. Unique among the Clans, the Togashi family will accept any applicant who can find their monastery, high in the mountains; even gaijin can find a place here. The tattoos manifest on their own, but unlike some monks who take the Five Elements path, Togashi monks may not change their selected powers as they progress through their levels. Unlike most monasteries, the Togashi family includes three different disciplines, though all receive tattoos.
Kokujin Family - Way of the Long Death Living in the shadowlands, this former disciple of Togashi has established an eponymous family, and directs them in unlocking secrets of life and death. Though he tattoos his new ‘family’ members, Kokujin is not Togashi, and his disciples invariably unlock the same abilities, much to Kokujin’s frustration. His monks are still effective though.
Goju Family - Way of Shadows Formerly beholden to an alien entity known as the Lying Darkness, the Goju family has never full escaped its grasp, and serves the Spider Clan as spies and assassins. Unlike most monasteries, the Goju also train rogues (assassins) alongside their monk brethren, with frequent multiclassing between the two.
Shosuro Family - Way of Shadows Long ago, Shosuro made a pact with the same entity which held the Goju family in thrall, though Shosuro didn’t doom her people to eternally serve the Lying Darkness. There is still an undeniable connection however, and Shosuro spies and assassins are feared throughout the Empire; though all daimyo employ spies, the ninja of the Shosuro family are the most effective. In addition to spying and assassination, Shosuro monks are adept at sabotage.
Monks of Osano-Wo - Way of the Kensei Many monks in Japan often serve the kami and the Tao as Five Elements monks, Open Hand monks, or Tranquility monks, but the monks of Osano-Wo honor mighty hero’s memory by training in the use of massive weapons., typically the greatclub, warhammer, and greataxe. Osano-Wo is a divine hero and son of the storms themselves, and he favored these weapons when he lived among the mighty Crab Clan; the few Crab who retire to a monastery almost always retire to this one, and half-orcs make up the vast majority of these monks.
Goliath Scorpions - Way of the Kensei Goliath Scorpions are the only orc clan with a monastic tradition, and their kensai train in harsh climes. The paired curved blades favored by this clan are scimitars, which the kensai study in addition to other weapons of their choice. Their efficacy is undisputed, as few can match them in personal combat using the traditional dueling method.
Green Dragon Brewers - Way of the Drunken Master In a quiet hobbit community, the Green Dragon Inn stands as the landmark establishment for the whole of the Shire, and their ale is famous among halflings. The monks who brew the ale also practice martial arts, and serve as quiet guardians of this sleep community. Though little policing is necessary within the Shire, others who would take advantage of a seemingly innocent people learn swiftly that the hobbits can be a fierce lot, particularly when they’ve had a pint or two.
Elven Orders - All Each subrace of elves claims to have invented a unique monastic style, and though there is dispute about this as ever, no one can deny that the elven monastic traditions are ancient and potent. Wood elves train the deadly Moonshadow monks, who use the Way of Shadows. High elves have Sunfire monks, employing the Way of the Sun Soul. Sea elves employ the Way of the Drunken Master, blood elves the Way of Long Death, the shadow elves use the Way of the Open Hand, and drow employ the Way of the Kensei (using traditional ancestral weapons). Lastly, eladrin use the Way of the Four Elements.