Sohei

Sohei were special warrior-priests that could be found in Kara-Tur and the Hordelands. In Shou Lung, they were called no-sheng. Sohei were similar to paladins found in Faerûn.

Culture
Sohei usually served as guardians for monasteries. While they were clerics similar to shugenja, they focused more on their military training. They structured their lives around religious principles, but not as strictly as a shugenja. These principles included vegetarianism and discipline. Sohei were often dedicated to their duties to the point of fanaticism. An individual from any caste may train to be a sohei. Upon entering the service of a monastery, they shed all family or clan connections. A soheis status is based on the power and importance of their monastery, and honor is very important to a sohei, similar to ninjas. Most sohei are human or hengeyokai, although some monastaries have accepted korobokuru, nezumi and vanara into their orders.

Abilities
To defend their monasteries or temples from attacks, Sohei trained extensively with weapons as well as martial arts. They also possessed limited magical powers. Sohei can access their ki abilities to go into a berserker-like frenzy. Sohei were able to cast some divine spells, but did not have access to as many divine spells that a shugenja had. A sohei who was dismissed from their order lost the ability to cast divine spells.

Notable Sohei

 * Akirakeiko was a sohei adventurer in Miyama Province in Kozakura in 1357 DR.
 * Changchub Zangpo was the Sergeant of the Guard for Saikhoi in Ra-Khati during the mid–14th century DR.
 * Hoseki was a disguised sohei follower of the dai-oni in Kozakura in 1357 DR.
 * Ichi, a sohei leader who lead over 420 comrades in Miyama Province.
 * Kidera Ujisato was the commander of the sohei of the Winter Sect in Nakamaru around 1357 DR.
 * Shyarn Feng was a sohei adventurer in Shou Lung in 1358.
 * Tsao Ho was a sohei adventurer in Shou Lung.
 * Tu-shun was a sohei who administrated a shoen of the Konjo school near the Itsuki village in Kozakura.