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For monks, much of one's backstory is tied up in the monastery from which they hail, the master under which they trained.
I am attempting to collect here information on all named monastic traditions, along with a short description. Not all of these traditions are of a martial nature; some are strictly peaceful.
Vudrani Traditions
Those Vudrani traditions most clearly described are those that are passed down on monasteries on the island nation of Jalmeray. These practitioners are sometimes referred to as the "Genie Wrestling Monks of Jalmeray". To join their ranks, it is rumored you must: "race a djinni, wrestle a shaitan and outwit an efreeti." Typically, these monasteries also double as temples to Irori, Vudrani god of self-perfection..
The monks of Jalmeray possess great skill in ranged combat, as well as the ability to channel their ki to shatter various metals.
Of the various Vudrani traditions, the major major branches are the "Houses of Perfection"
Monastery of the Untwisting Iron
These monks focus on a style where they are both mentally and physically centered, controlling motion on the battlefield while they remain unmovable.
Monastery of the Unfolding Wind
Monastery of the Unblinking Flame
In addition, the ruined monastery of Tigers Eye may be found in northern Jalmeray.
Tian Traditions
Tian Xia is a great land to the east where numerous traditions of unarmed or exotic combat are practiced. So far, only a few have been named.
In the swampy Tian region of Nagajor, naga lords command the Order of the Poisoned Fang.
Chelaxian Traditions
In the vassal state of Isger, the Sisters of the Golden Erinyes practice Hamatulatsu. Their recruitments methods involved taking orphans, and viciously beating them to strengthen their resolve. Males often join the ranks of the Hellknights; females (who survive) are trained in the ways of Hamatulatsu and turned into fighting monks.
In addition, street fighting pits are common among the back alleys of Egorian, Westcrown and other cities. A rough and ready, if undisciplined, training is to be found among the various street fighters of that crowd.
In the eastern part of the Menador Mountains, Monks of the Third Stone Abbey strip the inessential to focus on bare truth
The Island Nation of Hermea
In the peaceful, artificial utopia of Hermea, ruled by the gold dragon Mengkare, there is The Golden House of Hermea. This school practices mysterious techniques of self-perfection and awareness expansion.
Taldane Traditions
In eastern Taldor, in the World's Edge Mountains lies the Monastery of the Seven Forms. It is actually an underground city, composed of monks overlooking the empire. The Order of the Stalwart fist combines the fighting styles of Tian and Qadira traditions.
In Cassomir, in Western Taldor, monks are trained by the evil Cult of Nature's Cataclysm, followers of Groetus, god of the end-times.
Osirani Traditions
In general, many of the Osiranis traditions practice the technique of blade binding, the Osirani art of ensnaring an opponents weapon in your khopesh or temple sword. (A monk may select blade binding as his 6th level feat.)
The Ouat Caste contains a group of shaven-headed dwarven monks.
There are various abandoned monasteries in Osirani, which house forgotten traditions.
In the Brazen Peaks between Osiria and Katapesh, there is the abandonded monastery of the All-Seeing Eye (Abandoned), a former place of worship to Nethys.
Closeby is the abandoned monastery of St. Vardishal, dedicated to Sarenrae
Katapeshi Traditions
In Katapesh can be found all things, including followers of Irori, Nethys and Iomedae.
In the Katapesh side of the Brazen Peaks are rumored to be ascetics who practice teachings of living lightning and beings of moving stone
Qadiran Traditions
In Katheer, a nameless monastery (perhaps dedicated to Irori) is often visited by Vudrani travelers on Pilgrimage.
In the foothills of the Zho mountains near Katheer, there Open Palm of Sheehad. The monks there work the land for fruit sent to Irori temple in Katheer
Also fo note are the Monks of the White Feather, heralds of peace, a cult that grows in power in Qadira. They follow a mysterious guiding spirit, and are self-proclaimed pacifists.
Various other traditions may be found, including monks of Sarenrae,
Ustalavan Traditions
In Ulcazar, high in the Hungry Mountains, there is the monastery of the Veil. It is at the headwaters of the Vhatsuntide River, where silent Pharasmin monks of great wisdom reside
Lastwall Traditions
In Lastwall the Vythded Monastery exists, rumored to have bronze dragons among it's practitioners.
Molthunian Traditions
In Molthune, bordering Lastwall, liest the Palace of Virtue. It too is rumored to house contemplative bronze dragons disguised among its practitioners.
Thuvian Traditions
In Thuvia there is mention of the Whirling Masters
Varisian Traditions
In the strange city of Kaer-Maga, militant monks of the Brothers of the Seal hold a great deal of respect and power. They guard the secret ways into Kaer-Maga.
The wilderness city of Korvosa is home to the Order of the Fire Ghost
Elsewhere in Varisia, the Shoanti tribesmen of of Sklah-Quah and Skoan-Quah traditions practice unarmed combat. However, they have neither monastery nor formal traditions.
There also exists various places in Varisia inaccesible to most humanoids. In Belkzen, in the Kodar Mountains, is the Brimstone Haruspex, where orc clerics and monks chronicle make drug induced prophecies and chronicle orc history.
There is also the Hanging monastery, Sech Nevali, suspended on chains above a mile deep chasm. Little is known of the monks there or their mysterious activities.
In ancient times, the Therassic Monks of the Black Tower and Library kept their order, in what is now known as Jorgenfist
Galtan Traditions
The tumultuous land of Galt is not home to many traditions; however, the hooded monks known as the Grey Gardeners protect and the execution blades which kill and trap the souls of the many who are sent to the butcher blocks of Galts revolutions.
Andoran Traditions
An abandoned monastery which in ancient times housed dwarven monks is located near the mining town of Falcon's Hollow. This place is known as Droskars Crucible, and was dedicated to the evil dwarven god of toil.
Unaligned Traditions
Red Mantis Assasins
The Red Mantis have among their ranks many who practice the martial ways and self-discipline of monks
Disciplines of Zon-Kuthon
Although a scattered lot, Disciplines of Zon-Kuthon are feared. Those who worship Zon-Kuthon often become monks specializing in torture (of themselves and others). They often become the strange discipline known as pain tasters, and include a certain number of drow monks among their ranks. The nation of Nidal, a client nation of Cheliax which openly worships Zon-Kuthon, may be home to more Disciplines the elsewhere.
Don't forget the Kusari-Gama of Tian Xia in the Faction Guide.
Don't forget the Kusari-Gama of Tian Xia in the Faction Guide.
Could someone write here a bit more about them? I don't have that particular resource...
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Always on the lookout for more monk fluff. :D
Two favorites from the boards that have made it into my Golarion:
Part performer, part eternal celebrant, part deadly serious combatant, the order of Monks in service to Shelyn are easily identified by their signature weapon style, which revolves around the use of the glaive, the favored weapon of their goddess. Travelling in troupes of up to a half-dozen, usually accompanying missionary Clerics and Adepts of the faith, the Shelyn Monks precede the entourage into a community performing breath-taking feats of athleticism, using the weapons that are said to never leave their hands to vault into the air and engaging in ritualized mock combats that instill lessons about the triumph of the beautiful over that which is bleak. The Monks perform these combination morality plays and ritualized combat performances clad in revealing garments, to show off their exercise-hardened physiques, attempting to impress their viewers not just with the technical beauty of their combat arts, but also with the sensual beauty of their toned and sculpted bodies. Men and women alike wear their hair long (although the men are clean-shaven), often in wild unruly manes that flow behind them as they step through the motions of their dance, but sometimes in elegant braids that whirl and snap in the air as they move.
The most impressive demonstrations, sometimes involving a dozen or more Shelyn Monks moving in a carefully choreographed display, is during the annual Salute to the Dawn, held at night, in the dead of winter. The Monks attach triangular pennants of colorful and exotic feathers to special rings on the back of their glaive-blades, and these pennants are lit by continual flame. As the Monks whirl through the celebratory motions of the performance, their glaives spin faster and faster, until it seems that each Monk is surrounded by a snapping, hissing ring of fire!
While the Monks may sometimes be dismissed as entertainers or 'pretty people,' they are quite serious in defending the faith, and the faithful, from attacks by followers of Zon-Kuthon, as the genesis of their order lay in an organized resistance movement to that dark faith in Nidal, and after their expulsion from that land, they have taken their mission to Lastwall and Mendev, where they are an unorthodox, but welcome sight in the endless battles against orc and demon alike.
Sidebar – The 'flame pennants' are only used for ritual displays and to impress onlookers. Even the scant weight of the silk and feathers is enough to create drag and slow the weapon’s passage through the air and confer a -2 circumstance penalty to attack rolls. Removing or attaching such a banner is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Cost 150 gp, weight ½ lb.
Shelyn Monk (General Feat)
Prerequisites: Monk level 1, LG or LN, patron deity Shelyn
Your training in the favored weapon of your patron deity allows you to treat the glaive as a ‘special monk weapon,’ and use it as part of a Flurry of Blows. At the completion of this training, you are also awarded a finely-crafted (but not masterwork) glaive, at no cost.
Additionally, while wielding a glaive, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Balance, Climb, Jump and Tumble checks, due to your specialized training in using the haft of the weapon to ‘vault’ obstacles, catch onto protrusions and swing your body around corners.
Cloud-Parter
Said to have been the first weapon of it’s kind, wielded by the legendary founder of the Shelyn Monks, this ornately decorated weapon is a +2 flaming keen glaive that functions as a silver weapon for the purposes of penetrating damage reduction. It has the traditional fiery pennant of colorful feathers trailing from it’s blade, but these feathered ribbons are a permanent illusion and do not hinder the weapons function.
A priest/monk of Irori came up with a way to rescue these people from their eternal condemnation. He established a monastic order called the Khivatri that would pull in members of that caste during childhood and reshape them in Irori's image.
The idea is this: People are born to the lowest caste because of their personal weaknesses, mostly their selfishness to some degree or another. The only way to rise above the sins of your past lives and to cleanse your karma is to abandon the self and the needs of the self. You give up your freedom(and the lowest castes barely even really have that as it is) and personal desires for the sake of self-improvement, and only through service to another can you transcend to higher level in Vudra's religious/caste system.
Untouchables who are brought into the Khivatri order are no longer considered untouchables, but instead are Khivatri. It's a higher mini-caste than the untouchables, but they're still at the bottom of Vudran society and are still considered by many to not be people.
Khivatri train until early adulthood under the monasteries' harsh tutelage. They're are trained in the martial arts, to serve without question, to supress all personal desires, and to protect their future owners. After their training is over, they are sold off into Vudran society(at very cheap rates).
According to their code, Khivatri must serve and obey their owners, no matter their orders. If a khivatri's owner tells him to jump off a cliff, he will jump off the cliff. And a Khivatri must have a master. If a Khivatri's owner passes away without selling or giving him or her to another, the Khivatri must take their own life(the traditional way is to break one's own neck). This has also caused trouble for a lot of good people who came into possession of a Khivatri; as soon as they told the slave that they were free and refused to take them as a slave, the Khivatri will kill themselves.
Some Khivatri serve one owner their entire lives. Some serve a succession of many owners. They can be sold or given away, and as soon as the transaction is done the Khivatri must serve their new owner with absolute loyalty.
Most Khivatri serve primarily as bodyguards, as that is the primary training for all of them. But some serve their masters in other ways, as entertainment(often fighting, multiple owners arranging Khivatri duels aren't uncommon) and menial labor. An odd few are even kept in harems or even taken into marraige by their owners(though this is extremely rare and nearly unheard of in Vudra itself).
There is no stigma in Vudran society against selling or giving a Khivatri to non-Vudrans, for a few reasons: Khivatri "aren't really Vudrani", and the unshakable loyalty they display serves only to impress upon other cultures the strength of Vudran society(after all, if these are the lowest of their castes, then how great must the higher castes be?)
A Khivatri has no possessions except what their owner chooses to give them and let them keep.
Khivatri remember their given birth names, but always refer to themselves with the humble "this one" unless ordered to do otherwise by their owners. And even then, they will call themselves whatever their owner wishes.
In the monastery and when not told to do otherwise, Khivatri are dressed simply. And in another demonstration of emulating Irori and giving up their previous selves, they all go hairless save for a single braid of hair at the back of their skulls. Again, they will dress however their masters demand. A number of Khivatri have died in the past due to their owners dressing them in showy, impractical attire or even ornamental armor.
While a Khivatri told that he is free will try to take his own life, they can be ordered to "act free" to whatever degree their owner wishes. In countries where slavery is illegal, this is how Khivatri owners keep their property without drawing suspicion. This is also how kind and good owners often treat a Khivatri under their care. Their behavior is still highly ordered, and their greatest responsibility is still to ensure the safety of their owner, but a Khivatri can eventually "come out of their shell" when treated this way. It can be frightening and even traumatic for many Khivatri to suddenly have so much leeway in their lives, however.
A Khivatri who betrays the code and does not kill himself will usually be hunted down by the training monks of the order, but traitorous monks are exceedingly rare as they understand that the way of the Khivatri is the only path to transcendance available to them.
Khivatri can turn up almost anywhere, having been sold in the slave markets or changing from hand to hand elsewhere. The majority of them are owned by merchants or spellcasters, and the adventurous examples of the latter cover a lot of ground.
A Khivatri can be given to another in exchange for other goods or as a gift, and it is acceptable to pass ownership of one to another after death in accordance to one's will.
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Other options, for those who like to use homebrew;
In the Asmodean-sponsored monastaries of Cheliax, devils are called to Golarion to instruct the faithful in arts of combat forged in the fires of Hell itself. Noble sons and daughters, often having lobbied and sacrificed for the opportunity to train here, are tutored alongside foundlings and pardoned criminals, for the devils keep their own counsel who they choose to train in the arts of Hell.
Hamatsula Style
Your teaching came from monks who studied under the cruel tutelage of a Hamatsula, also known as a ‘Barbed Devil.’
Benefit: You are trained to wear a special harness of leather straps over wrists, hands, forearms, shoulders, chest, waist and legs that are adorned with deadly steel spikes. (Cost 60 gp, Armor Bonus +1, Max Dex Bonus +6, Armor Check Penalty -1, Arcane Spell Failure 10%, Lt armor, 12 lbs, time to don/remove as breastplate) Because of your special training, you can wear such armor (but no other!) without impeding your Monk class abilities, and you ignore the Max Dex Bonus and Armor Check Penalty of such a harness. A Spiked Harness mainly serves as a platform to mount Armor Spikes, which you can use proficiently as a special Monk weapon (although you do not gain the ability to use the kama, nunchaku, sai and siangham as special Monk weapons as a result of this training, and you are not proficient with these weapons). Your body has been toughened to constant puncture wounds, during this torturous training, and you suffer two less point of hit point damage per round from any bleed effect (to a minimum of zero damage). Ability point damage inflicted by a bleed effect is not mitigated by this training.
Prerequisites: 1st level Monk
Spiked Harness (Cost 60 gp, Armor Bonus +1, Maximum Dex Bonus +6, Armor Check Penalty -1, Arcane Spell Failure 10%, Light Armor, Weight 12 lbs. Time to don/remove as breastplate.)
Improved Hamatsula Training
Benefit: If you confirm a critical hit with an unarmed attack, you can rake your armor spikes across the victim to add +1d6 damage to the overall damage (this damage is not multiplied). You have learned to throw spikes as well, which are treated as darts (with which you gain proficiency), and as special monk weapons for the purpose of flurrying. You gain the benefits of the Quick Draw feat, but only for readying these spikes for throwing.
Prerequisites: 2nd level Monk
Advanced Hamatsula Training
Benefit: You can now choose to inflict your unarmed attack damage with your armor spikes (the damage remains Piercing). Your continued exposure to puncturing wounds has toughened your body so that you now suffer one less point of ability damage from any bleed effect.
Prerequisites: 6th level Monk
Kyton Style
The lessons of the so-called ‘Chain Devils’ have been imparted during your oppressive instruction.
Benefits: You have been trained to use the spiked chain or scorpion whip (choose one) as monk weapon, and gain exotic weapon proficiency in that weapon (you do not gain the ability to use kama, nunchaku, sai and siangham as special Monk weapons in the process, however, and you are not proficient in these weapons). You also gain a +2 bonus to Escape Artist checks to escape ropes, chains or manacles.
Prerequisites: 1st level Monk
Scorpion Whip (Legacy of Fire Players Guide, as Whip but 5 gp, 3 lbs and inflicts 1d4 lethal Slashing damage. Uses same proficiency as Whip.)
Improved Kyton Training
Benefit: Your gain a +2 to your CMB and CMD for all grapple checks, and gain a +4 to your CMB for the purposes of determining the DC for others to escape bindings you have placed upon them (see Escape Artist, p. 95). You gain the equivalent of the Quick Draw feat, but only for the purposes of readying a spiked chain (or scorpion whip, if you chose that option at 1st level).
Prerequisites: 2nd level Monk
Advanced Kyton Training
Benefit: You have been trained to fight while draped in chains, which are treated as a Spiked Harness (above) for statistics, minus the Armor Spikes. (As with Hamatsula style, you are trained to ignore the Max Dex Penalty and Armor Check Penalty that anyone else would suffer wearing chains in this manner, and can wear this ‘armor’ without impeding your Monk class abilities). Unlike a Spiked Harness, you have also been trained to don/remove such chains swiftly, and treat these protective layers as Studded Leather, for time to put on / remove purposes. Otherwise, statistics are identical to the Spiked Harness, save that weight is 10 lbs. Finally, and most importantly, you can choose to use your unarmed attack damage with your spiked chain (or scorpion whip, if you chose that weapon at 1st level) attacks (although the damage remains Piercing or Slashing, as appropriate).
Prerequisites: 6th level Monk
Chains as armor (Cost 45 gp, Armor Bonus +1, Maximum Dex Bonus +6, Armor Check Penalty -1, Arcane Spell Failure 10%, Light Armor, Weight 10 lbs. Time to don/remove as studded leather.)
Gelugon Style
The cold teachings of the ‘Ice Devils’ have taught you to keep your foes at arms’ length, while strengthening your flesh against the ravages of winter’s fury.
Benefit: You gain longspear proficiency, and can use the short spear, halfspear or longspear as special monk weapons (but lose the ability to use kama, nunchaku, sai and siangham proficiently or as special monk weapons). Finally, you gain a +2 to Fortitude saves vs. the effects of exposure to extremes of cold, and ignore the first 2 points of nonlethal damage from exposure to extreme cold.
Prerequisites: 1st level Monk
Improved Gelugon Training
Benefit: You can use a spear to conduct the effects of a Stunning Fist, and when you successfully strike with a Stunning Fist attack (whether from a spear or unarmed attack), you can choose for the victim to be slowed for 1d6 rounds instead of stunned for 1 round. Whenever you confirm a critical hit with a spear or unarmed attack, you deal extra Cold damage equal to that attacks critical multiplier.
Prerequisites: 2nd level Monk
Advanced Gelugon Training
Benefit: You can now use the Unarmed Damage rating for your Monk class levels when you hit with a spear, instead of using spear damage (although the damage remains Piercing). You can also spend a point of ki as a swift action to give your spear the Frost property for 1 round. You gain a +2 to all saving throws against lethal or nonlethal Cold damage, and 2 points of Cold Resistance (which stack with the benefits of Gelugon Style).
Prerequisites: 6th level Monk
Bezikara Style
Benefit: You sacrifice the training to use kama, nunchaku, sai and siangham proficiently or as special Monk weapons to instead learn to proficiently use Clawed Gauntlets (treat as spiked gauntlets, but as light martial weapons that inflict 1d4 S / 19-20, cost 10 gp each and weigh 2 lbs each) as special Monk weapons. Your training allows you to use your Unarmed damage in place of the clawed gauntlets (the 1d4 damage number therefore only applies to other users), but you retain the improved critical range (and slashing damage). You also gain a +2 bonus to all Stealth checks.
Prerequisites: 1st level Monk
Clawed Gauntlets (Martial Weapon, Cost 10 gp each, Dmg (S) 1d3, Dmg (M) 1d4, Critical 19-20 / x2, Range -, Weight 2 lbs each, Type Slashing)
Improved Hellcat Training
Benefit: You gain the ability to rend someone that you have hit with at least two of your attacks during a Flurry, inflicting an extra 1d6 damage for each attack after the first that hit from that Flurry (extra attacks from TWF, haste or other means are not counted in this calculation). For the purpose of passing through Damage Reduction, this extra damage is added to the last successful attack from that flurry. Your bonus to Stealth checks increases to +4.
Prerequisites: 2nd Monk
Advanced Hellcat Training
Benefit: You can now use a Flurry of attacks as a standard action at the end of a Charge. This does not allow you to take advantage of full-attack actions such as the additional attack(s) gained from two-weapon fighting or a haste spell, nor does it apply to a Flurry attack when you are not taking the Charge action. Your bonus to Stealth checks increases to +6.
Prerequisites: 6th level Monk
