Samurai

The Golden Way can be a perilous place, especially when one travels far from Thesk and into the plains. There are a variety of reasons samurai might venture into the Realms -- forces they serve are sometimes defeated, their warriors taken prisoner; sometimes lords defect or are banished, taking their retainers with them; occasionally a samurai is dishonored or banished, becoming ronin. Regardless of the reason, most samurai look for a new patron to serve for their Bushido code. Those who do not become ronin.
Following the Tuigan invasion and the increasing number of Shou Towns popping up along the Golden Way, more and more samurai are serving Shou leaders. Samurai tend to follow their leaders without question. Thus, they can be found among both benevolent and corrupt Shou leaders. Samurai are found serving town elders, and ronin often bodyguard high-ranking yakuza of the Nine Golden Swords.
In addition to their presence in enclaves and embassies, Samurai and ronin are often sent on missions to far-flung corners of the Realms. They make connections and forge ties with Western characters, spreading their traditions, albeit slowly. Ronin sometimes act as mercenaries, working in Thay, Thesk, and even locations as far as Sembia.
Samurai rarely form organizations. They are almost always in the service of a feudal lord, Shou elder, or another person in a position of authority. Ronin often join mercenary companies, but it is almost unheard of to find them congregating together. More often, when ronin meet each other (or a samurai), only one ends up leaving the meeting alive.
==Samurai Weapons==
The classic image of the samurai wielding katana and wakizashi is exclusive to the nations of Wa and Kozakura. An equivalent character from Shou Lung would wield a jian (longsword) or yari/uma-yari (spear/horse-spear or lance) as ancestral daisho. While the concept of the samurai in the real world is innately Japanese, it's quite possible to establish warriors that serve lords, lieges, or other powers in any of the areas of Kara-Tur. For that matter, such characters are even possible in the Unapproachable East where Eastern concepts often meld with Western ideals.