Way of the Ki Body (5e Subclass)
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Way of the Ki Body[edit]
5th Edition Monk Subclass
A Tiefling Monk has her back to the dungeon walls, sweat glistening on her skin, threatening to give her position away if they drop onto the floor, her breath hardly controlled enough to be silent, the pounding of her heart in her ears. She closes her eyes when she confirms that she has a moment, and centers herself before roaring to life again as her ki flares around her. Her Stamina renewed, and she runs back into the fray to finish the fight.
A Young Human Male stands before a band of highwaymen, sure of his skill and mercy in his soul. warning them but three times. And when they ignore it, the ki around him alights like a flame, as his mercy falls upon deaf ears, and the hope that he does not have to kill dwindles
A aged master walks along the beach to find a young couple being assailed by a monk fallen from grace. The moment his eyes set upon this injustice, the old man approaches as his ki looms from behind. the laws of nature dictate that evil deserves no mercy, and no holding back.
As the ages go by, the technique that a Ki Body Monk uses has fallen into mystery. Those who seek it know it by hearsay when they seek it. Very few Monasteries exist that can teach this technique, and even fewer that can teach you much more than the basics. The rest falls upon the students to rediscover the applications of this art. For the use of this, is intense, but rewarding.
Ki Body[edit]
When you take this subclass at level 3, you find it easier to cloak yourself in your ki. This allows your body to process its upper limit by expending 3 ki points. When you make a successful unarmed attack, you do an extra 1d4 of damage, your initiative bonus increases by +1, and your AC increases by +1 in this form This increases a damage die, +1, and +1 respectively each new feature gained by Ki Body. Lastly it takes 1 Bonus action to activate this effect, and 1 bonus action to end it.
Harsh Cloak[edit]
At level 6, you've learned how to take the cloaking of your ki to the next level in a pinch. If you expend 5 ki points you can enter an risky advanced form of Ki Body as a bonus action (You cannot end this early). This however has its disadvantages. When you finally unveil yourself from your ki, you are subjected to 2 levels of Exhaustion as your body is wracked with immense pain from the strain you put it under and unlike normal exhaustion, this is not remedied by magical means, the only way to remove these two levels are through a long rest (which will eliminate both levels). However, the extra damage dealt starts at 1d8, and scales up like normal. Instead of an AC bonus, you gain advantage on unarmed attacks. You cannot be subjected to Fear effects. Finally this form can only last 3 rounds, as the stress of the technique is unbearable past this.
Ki Body improvement[edit]
At Level 11, you notice how the Ki in your body leaks out and diminishes the effectiveness of your technique, you now find yourself able to use that to your advantage. When ending the Ki Body feature, you are able to expend 1 ki point to make a ranged unarmed attack as you let the last of the turn's ki expel from you, hitting the enemy for your monk unarmed damage upon a successful hit.
Perfected Ki Body[edit]
At level 17, you have learned how to perfect your Ki Body Technique. You are able to enter Ki Body freely as a free action, however Harsh Cloak still requires a bonus action to begin. At this level, your Ki gains new properties. If you are Lawful, your ki visibly clings to your body, like a wrapped watery veil. If you are Neutral, your ki flows from you normally, if you are Chaotic, your Ki radiates from your body in a vivacious display of freedom. As well as the color of your ki shows through your Moral Alignment. If you are Good Aligned, your ki becomes a shimmering gold. If Neutral Aligned, your ki takes on a personal color of choice. If Evil, your Ki radiates a deep foul Purple with black impurities.
Aside from Aesthetic changes you are now resistant to Bludgeoning, and Force Damage as your ki will shield your body somewhat from familiar damage.
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