Way of Xianghua (5e Subclass)
Way of Xianghua[edit]
Monk Subclass
The way of xianghua (像花), literally meaning "to be like a flower", embodies the perfect system of flowers and plants. Within some practices of faith, the turbulence of sentience and sapience are seen as unsustainable currents that render a being imperfect. Pulled to and fro by desire and whimsical existence, animals and people are far too temperamental and thus rely on other beings to complete themselves. Plants, however, are much more serene and within a closed system. They can perpetuate themselves and sustain their systems through a feedback loop of particle exchange. Monks who follow this way are known to be highly resilient and able to fight for long periods of time by replenishing their ki much as how a plant sustainably maintains itself. They are on the way to perfection, but not there quite yet.
- Xianghua Technique
Starting when you choose this monastic tradition at 3rd level, you can efficiently make better use of your ki by elongating and expanding its uses.
The techniques you learn from your ki feature have the following changes:
- Patient Defense. You can use the ki technique to give your AC a +1 bonus until the end of your next turn so long as you do not use your movement speed this turn. You can do this as an alternative to the usual effects of the technique.
- Step of the Wind. When you take the Dash option as per this ki technique, you can move an additional 10 feet. When you take the Disengage option, attack rolls against you have disadvantage until the end of your next turn.
- Flurry of Blows. You make three unarmed strikes as a bonus action instead of two. Additionally, when you gain the Extra Attack feature, flurry can be used for any of the attacks you make as part of the Attack action instead of just a bonus action.
- Replenishment
Starting at 6th level, you have joined together your ki and your corporeal body to become one, seamless entity that is you. Filling up for you is no longer simply a matter of the body, but also of the soul. For every pound of food you consume, you regain 1 ki point. You cannot regain ki points over your ki point maximum with this feature.
- Sustained Self
Starting at 11th level, your body becomes trained in the art of self-mending with your own energies, much like how a tree heals bark over its wounds. As a bonus action, you can expend 1 ki point to regain hit points equal to three times your monk level.
- Sage Form
Starting at 17th level, you attain the perfected state of sagehood, a meditative state maintained by a closed system within the body that makes one a force to be reckoned with in combat. You can expend 3 ki points as an action to enter sage form for 1 minute. While in sage form, you have a +1 to all unarmed attack and damage rolls and your unarmed strikes are considered magical for the case of bypassing resistance. At the start of each of your turns, you regain hit points equal to 5 + your Wisdom modifier, but you cannot regain hit points over your hit point maximum. However, due to the amount of focus this form takes, you cannot use any ki techniques other than Patient Defense, Step of the Wind, or Flurry of Blows while in sage form.
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