Barkhang Monk

The Barkhang Monks are a group of monks that that reside in the Tibetan Foothills and are responsible for protecting the Talion, an ancient artifact that grants access to the resting place for the Dagger of Xian. They will go to great lengths to protect the Talion to the point where they must sacrifice innocent lives. Lara comes across these group of monks while searching for the Talion.

History
The monks have always protected the Talion, a sacred key that unlocks the entrance to the resting place of the dagger. Prior to the story of Tomb Raider II, a mobster named Giovanni Bartoli, the late father of Marco Bartoli, managed to get a hold of the Seraph, a key artifact needed to unlock the gate protecting the Talion. In desperation, the Barkhang monks bombed Bartoli's luxury ship, the Maria Doria, killing everyone aboard the ship and plundering the Seraph to the bottom of the sea. Since the lost of the Seraph, the monks could only pray that no one will could get their hands on the Seraph.

Tomb Raider II
Lara first comes across a Barkhang monk in 40 Fathoms, where she comes across Brother Chen, who is badly injured and bruise to death. He explains to Lara about the Seraph and how Marco Bartoli is after their prized artifact. Before finishing his story though, he is assassinated by Bartoli with Lara barely escaping his gun fire.

After Lara finds the Seraph from the Maria Doria wreck site, she travels to Tibet in search for the Talion. She eventually comes across the Barkhang Monastery, where she encounters the Barkhang monks brotherhood. In addition, she also comes across a group of Bartoli's mercenaries that are in search of the Talion. While in the Monastery, the monks will assist Lara in combating Bartoli's henchmen. They will attack his henchmen using spears and knives, and will often assist Lara in combat.

If Lara chooses to or accidentally wounds a monk, they will turn their backs on her and will treat her as an enemy including attacking her. This can be avoided by letting the monks engage in combat while fighting the henchmen.