I still haven't worked up the actual character history of my character but I have done a bit of work to create the setting in which he was raised. Basically, he'll be a warrior monk that studies the style on page 208 of Martial Arts; Dragon-Man Kung Fu. Here's his setting so far. I'm open to criticism and suggestions.
Dragon Citadel
Overview
The Dragon Citadel, a sanctuary for monks, is named for its location high in the mountains and its respectable stone walls surrounding a small keep. A large tower projects itself from the center of the keep, reaching high into the sky. At the top of this tower is a statue of a great dragon, wings extended, looking upon the sanctuary below. Legends say that this statue watches over and preserves the innocent who seek shelter within the walls. The large icon also serves as reminder of the origin of the keep.
According to the records kept within the sanctuary, an ancient male dragon named Tyas directed the construction of the keep. Speculation concerning the motives of the dragon vary from one historian to another but the leading theories suggest that he sought to guide humankind. Whatever the case, the end result was an order of monks that strives to develop the mind and body of each individual. Some of the disciples are even taught to emulate the dragon that began their order.
The keep provides a variety of rooms with different purposes. It has some of the basic necessities such as bedrooms and bathing areas but also sports a few novelties. The sanctuary is home to a decent library with an assortment of topics. There are public study areas as well as private ones. There are gardens and courtyards filled with diverse plants that are able to survive in the high altitude. Finally, there are classrooms, some used for intellectual exercises and other for physical exercises. In summary, the keep acts as a sort of academy that teaches the philosophy of maintaining oneself.
Responsiblities within the keep are dispersed throughout a hierarchy of monks. Said hierarchy is divided into three basic tiers, lowest to greatest: students, warriors, and masters.
The Hierarchy
The students, in exchange for sanctuary and instruction, are expected to provide for the basic needs of the keep. They provide their talents in various crafts, they attend to the gardens, they forage and hunt for food, etc. In essence, they are the basic economy that allows the keep to survive.
Not just anyone can become a student. A student must gain the favor of a master first. Ways of doing this vary from one master to another.
The warriors are similar to the students in that they're often seeking enlightenment. However, their responsibilities are nothing alike. As would be suggested by their title, warriors are expected to protect the sanctuary. They act as guards for the structure and as bodyguards for its residents. Sometimes they'll even be employed for the protection of caravans that may be arriving to the keep and even those leaving it (Caravans were almost completely unheard of during the Dark King's reign.). Warriors feel it is their responsibility to protect others.
Warriors may have been students with a strong desire to protect others. However, it isn't a requirement. Most warriors are chosen by already existing warriors, with approval from the masters. Often times, warriors will have been children that were raised in the sanctuary. Whatever the case, warriors are trained to exceed the limits of their body. Through the exercise of both body and mind, they are trained to emulate the dragon using a style of martial arts strongly rooted in magic. In order to learn this style, they must also learn the draconic language. Most of their lessons are taken from books written and coded in that tongue.
The masters are scholars of the philosophy believed to have been taught by Tyas. Masters are former students and/or former warriors, usually the former. Their responsibilities are typically as the instructors within the keep, though some masters do very little teaching. Their methods vary from one master to another, depending on preference. Masters are given great flexibility in determining how they will instruct their students. To hold the title of master is more of a privilege than it is a responsibility.
One becomes a master when he/she is chosen and apprenticed by an already existing master. Once apprenticed, the to-be master will become a personal servant that's expected to serve his/her master's every command. This process usually endures for at least a few months but often extends itself over several years. Once complete, the sponsoring master will present his/her apprentice to the greatest masters, a council of seven that oversee the sanctuary. They will then decide if the apprentice is worthy or not of the new title and responsibilities.
Visitors are welcome to stay at the sanctuary. However, they're strongly discouraged from staying for an indefinite or lengthy period of time.
The End of The Dark King's Reign
The Dragon Citadel is far smaller and less influential than the blue, red, and white temples. Greatly due to this fact, it was allowed to exist during the Dark King's reign. Another contributing reason for its existence during that time is the sanctuary was very careful in not allowing most visitors to become students. In fact, it was very careful to not expose itself to outsiders at all. When an outsider did come across the keep, its residents were extremely particular about making sure they were doing nothing out of the ordinary so as to avoid catching the attention of the dark caste.
Those of the sanctuary didn't necessarily oppose the Dark King. They just didn't want to get involved with his affairs. They didn't want to give up their traditions. In many ways, they respected some of the results of his reign. Because of their seclusion, they didn't experience or witness much of his tight-fisted rule that so many despised. Instead, they saw that the roads were kept safe and that they didn't have to worry about thieves breaking into the sanctuary. Once the Dark King died, that began to change.
At first the masters of the keep thought the end of the Dark King would be beneficial. They would be able to take on more students and further spread their philosophies. However, with those new students came the problems of the world mentioned above. Sometimes those problems were the result of a student trying to escape his/her past but not quite being able to do so. Sometimes the student was a thief or a bandit that simply couldn't give up his/her ways. Then other times it had nothing to do with the students, just unwanted visitors.
As if compensating for the influx of population in the Dragon Citadel, many warrior monks began to leave the sanctuary. These felt their responsibilities were better fulfilled if they protected the keep from the source of the new problems rather than just the effects. They wanted to prevent the filth from ever reaching the keep in the first place.