Monks! That's an awesome version too. Another plausible explanation for the dot on his head. He must feel terribly out of place with the Turks then, I imagine.

I didn't initially go with the royalty card either. I have so many versions of Tseng in my head. One is the youngest son of a poor farmer who went looking for a brighter future. Another is Tseng as a student who during the early days of the war with Shinra teamed up with a bunch of fellow students to try to infiltrate and sabotage Shinra in an idealistic, but naive attempt. They are found out and Veld gives him the choice to join his comrades in the prison camp or join the Turks, because he has potential.

I like putting different kinds of Asian cultures in Wutai as well. I'm only a little worried sometimes that the island/continent is too small for so many different ones.

Scifi/Fantasy is perfect for that. :)