The Way of The Decaying Fist

 

In the forbidding depths of the Way of the Decaying Fist, monks abandon the comforts of light and embrace the chilling embrace of darkness. They descend into the abyss of decay and corrosion, where the very essence of life is corroded by the relentless passage of time. With each step, they imbibe the malevolent whispers of forgotten evils, weaving these insidious forces into the fabric of their being.

Through relentless discipline and unwavering dedication, these monks become conduits for the darkest aspects of existence. They commune with the shadows, delving deep into the recesses of their own souls to unearth the raw, primal power of decay. With each meditation, they sharpen their focus, honing their mastery over poisons with chilling precision.

Their strikes, once mere extensions of flesh and bone, now drip with venomous malice. Each blow carries the weight of centuries of decay, a testament to the inexorable march of time and entropy. With every movement, they unleash waves of corrosive energy, rotting and enfeebling their adversaries from within.

Yet, it is not just physical decay that they wield, but the erosion of the spirit as well. Their presence is suffused with an aura of malevolence, instilling fear and despair in all who dare to stand against them. They are harbingers of relentless decay, agents of entropy who leave behind a wake of lingering, tormenting deterioration.

Though their path is fraught with peril and darkness, these monks embrace their role as guardians of the natural order. They understand that decay is not merely destruction, but a necessary part of the cycle of life and death. And so, they walk the Way of the Decaying Fist with a solemn purpose, knowing that in the end, all things must return to the earth from whence they came.

 

Corrosive Strikes

You can spend 1 ki point to imbue your unarmed strikes with corrosive energy, causing them to deal an additional 1d4 poison damage on hit. Each subsequent successful hit with Corrosive Strikes against the same target increases the poison damage by 1d4 (up to a maximum of 1d12). This damage resets after the target completes a long rest. Additionally, whenever you use Corrosive Strikes, you take half of the poison damage dealt (rounded down).

Lingering Affliction

When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 1 ki point to inflict a lingering effect on them. At the start of each of their turns, they take an additional 1d6 poison damage for a number of turns equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). This effect ends early if the target succeeds on a Constitution saving throw against your ki save DC.

Virulent Strikes

As practitioners ascend to greater heights of mastery, their unarmed strikes become even deadlier. By channeling additional ki, they augment the potency of their Corrosive Strikes, increasing the poison damage inflicted and prolonging the duration of Lingering Affliction. Furthermore, victims of Corrosive Strikes find themselves at a disadvantage when attempting to resist the persistent poison's effects, further ensuring their gradual demise.

Master of Decay

You have mastered the art of decay, and your strikes are now infused with the deadliest toxins. Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 3 ki points to force the target to make a Constitution saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, the target takes 15d10 poison damage and is poisoned for 1 minute. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on a success. Additionally, if they fail the saving throw by 10 or more, they drop to 0 hit points instantly if they are below 100 hit points.