The Path of the Thunderbolt

1. Initiation: To become a Stormwalker, a Monk must survive a harrowing trial during a violent storm. They climb to the highest peak, where lightning dances across the sky. There, they face the elements head-on, channeling the energy of the storm into their very being. Those who emerge unscathed gain the title of Stormwalker.

2. Ki Infusion: Stormwalkers learn to infuse their ki with the essence of lightning. Their strikes crackle with electric energy, and their movements become swift and unpredictable. They can leap great distances, leaving behind trails of static electricity that disorient foes.

3. The Dance of Thunder: Stormwalkers practice a unique form of combat known as the Dance of Thunder. It involves rapid strikes, sudden shifts, and lightning-fast dodges. Their bodies become conduits for the storm’s power, allowing them to strike foes with bolts of lightning.

Philosophy and Purpose

1. Balance: Stormwalkers believe in the delicate balance between chaos and control. They embrace the wildness of storms but temper it with discipline. Their movements mimic the erratic dance of lightning, yet they remain centered and focused.

2. Protectors of the Skies: Stormwalkers see themselves as guardians of the natural world. They defend against threats that disrupt the balance—be it malevolent spirits, aberrations, or those who seek to exploit the storm’s power for destructive purposes.

3. Seekers of Enlightenment: Beyond combat, Stormwalkers meditate during thunderstorms, seeking enlightenment. They listen to the whispers of the wind, decipher the patterns of lightning, and learn to read the storm’s emotions. Some even claim to communicate with the spirits of lightning itself.

Appearance and Symbols

1. Clothing: Stormwalkers wear lightweight, flowing garments in shades of gray, blue, and silver. Their hoods often resemble storm clouds, and their belts hold small vials of captured lightning essence.

2. Tattoos: Many Stormwalkers bear intricate tattoos that resemble lightning bolts, which glow faintly during combat. These tattoos mark their connection to the storm’s power.

3. Weaponry: Stormwalkers favor simple weapons like quarterstaffs, daggers, and handwraps embedded with conductive materials. Their strikes resonate with the crackling energy of a distant thunderstorm.

Role in the World

1. Wandering Mystics: Stormwalkers rarely settle in one place. They wander the land, seeking storms, aiding villages during floods, and unraveling the mysteries of the skies.

2. Sky Temples: Some Stormwalkers establish monasteries atop storm-battered cliffs or within ancient lightning-struck trees. These temples serve as sanctuaries and training grounds.

3. Allies of the Elements: Stormwalkers often form alliances with druids, air genasi, and other elemental beings. They share knowledge about weather patterns, and their combined efforts protect the delicate balance of the natural world.

Electric Essence

• You learn to channel the essence of the storm within your ki. Whenever you hit a creature with one of your Flurry of Blows attacks, you can impose one of the following effects on that target:
  • It can’t take reactions until the end of your next turn.
  • If the target is wearing armor made of metal, your strike causes a jolt, dealing extra lightning damage equal to your Martial Arts die.

Gale Step

• Your mastery of air and lightning enhances your movement. You gain the following benefits:
  • Your jump distance is doubled.
  • As a bonus action, you can spend 2 ki points to ride a bolt of lightning. This allows you to fly up to your movement speed in a straight line without provoking opportunity attacks. You must end this movement on the ground or another solid surface.

Tempest Strike

• You can release a burst of electrical energy when you strike. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 3 ki points to deal an additional 2d10 lightning damage and push the creature up to 15 feet away from you if it fails a Strength saving throw.

Heart of the Storm

• You embody the heart of the tempest. You gain the following benefits:
  • You have resistance to lightning and thunder damage.
  • When you are hit by a melee attack, you can use your reaction to spend 1 ki point and release a shockwave of thunderous energy. The attacker must make a Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of their next turn.