Tiger Warrior (Barbarian variant)
by Marc SaindonAs an island-kingdom, Ochalea lacks the recuring raids of barbarian riders and the need for a Great Wall, thus Barbarians, even as bought-off mercenaries, don't show up. However, the class could still use as a marginal school of martial arts: the Tiger School.
These guys aren't Monks/Mystics.
The Tiger School perhaps originates from a distinct, forgotten, ethnic group that was long ago assimilated into mainstream Ochalean culture, with a few cultural artefacts surviving. Men grow thick beards, their warriors deliberately choose to cultivate a Yang imbalance: unlike monks, they'll eat lots of meat, and the rice they consume will be fermented into alcohol. Tiger School training is brutal, and students leaving as quitters or corpses is expected. Tiger style focuses on offense and takes a cue from Cobra Kai that the best defence is even more offense. Rather than ascetism and humility, practitioners will be loud, boisterous and have an ostentious display of wealth (although they do waste a lot of it in taverns). Think of them as the Chinese version of Brian BLESSED.
Tiger Warriors work as enforcers, prize fighters, guards, and in times of war, rush in battle first as linebreakers against spearmen and shield walls.
(image from: https://www.deviantart.com/kingofsupremechaos/art/Zhang-Fei-Biography-752548161)