Theirs is the way of peace, solitude and tranquility. For a thousand years, they have been the counselors of samurai and shugenja, lord and peasant. But the armies of Yogo Junzo have assaulted the mountain temples of the Shintao, searching for the rumored descendant of Shinsei who will fulfill an ancient prophecy. Armed with only their wisdom, the Shintao monks fight against the darkness waiting for the time when the Seven Thunders will gather again, to face Fu Leng one last time.

Since the beginning of the war, Yogo Junzo has known that the real weapon of the Clans is knowledge. Over the many months, he has seen each of the Elemental Masters handle the Black Scrolls and he has allowed them to corrupt the Isawa family. But now a new force has caused the shugenja's attention to turn away from the Phoenix: the Brotherhood of Shinsei.

Rumors fly across the Empire that the descendant of the little man who brought the "new way" to Rokugan has emerged. A command from the palace has been issued: "Find Shinsei and destroy him at all costs" Junzo has followed his master's commands and has turned his forces to destroying the sacred shrines of the Empire as he seeks the descendant of Fu Leng's ancient enemy.

But Junzo did not count on the holy order of monks to react to his attacks. The yamabushi (fighting monks) of the Brotherhood of Shinsei have now entered the fray, protecting their temples and shrines against the dark armies of Fu Leng. They carry no weapons, have no armies to speak of, but their mastery of Shinsei's wisdom is all they need to face Junzo as they prepare for the return of Shinsei and the legendary Seven Thunders.

The Brotherhood of Shinsei is, in many ways, the most unique L5R starter deck yet seen. The monks have been seen wandering the countryside of Rokugan, but no-one anticipated they would be a real military force in the Emerald Empire. But their mastery of the Tao of Shinsei gives them a single advantage that no other deck can claim: one true path to enlightenment.

The Brotherhood's special ability is, perhaps, the most potent in the game. Whenever a Monk player performs series of actions that would allow him to play a Ring card, he may bow his Stronghold and go through his Fate deck to get that ring and put it into play.

In addition to their Stronghold's special ability, the Monks themselves prove to be mighty formidable. Granted, they cannot match with the tacticians and samurai of the Clans, but their special abilities augmen and complement the powers of the Rings, allowing for truly enlightened deck.

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