The Way of the Living Saga Class for Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e)

Base Class: Monk

As life continues its inexorable march forward, change is inevitable. Every person wakes up anew thanks to yesterday’s experiences. Without their history, they would not be the same person, and yet everyone’s story changes and old chapters fade from memory. Certain orders of Monks seek to honor the evolving story of the world, not only copying books on parchment but transcribing legends to flesh. Certain orders of Monks seek to honor this notion by embodying that change in order to tell life’s story. Some adorn themselves in tattooed images depicting the epic struggles of heroes long passed. Others pierce their flesh as a reminder of the suffering undertaken by martyrs, showcasing their sacrifice in the process. More rare are those who design their canvas of flesh as a monument of devotion to an individual they find particularly significant. No matter the focus of these stories, the method is always the same: modification of the body. From their physical alterations, Way of the Living Saga Monks are able to draw power from the stories they seek to honor. Thanks to their force of will, the changes that these Monks undergo are permanent other than by the greatest of magic. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for their bodies to heal from a grievous wound without scarring, so that the story’s depiction remains intact. Monks who undertake this path should think carefully both about the permanence of each adjustment they make and also how it will enlighten those who perceive it.

From Advanced Kinks and Cantrips by T.S. Michaels

Unbreakable Tale

3rd-level Way of the Living Saga feature

Any modifications you make to your body through the features presented to you by this subclass option cannot be altered or removed once they are applied, other than by the Wish spell. This does not apply to amputations, but other wounds that would obstruct such a modification will heal without leaving a scar. Similarly, piercings from your class features may not be removed from your flesh, and magic cannot heal any scars you have applied to yourself for these features. The intent of this feature is to allow a magical preservation of body modifications rather than a mechanical invulnerability. It is left to the GM’s discretion when and how to apply this feature as necessary.

Journey’s First Step

3rd-level Way of the Living Saga feature

You have taken note of the story you wish to tell with your body and have undergone the initial steps to make it a reality. Choose one of the following modifications to your body. You gain the associated effect.

• Replicate Moment (Tattoos). As a Reaction when you witness another willing creature make an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may spend a Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and store that result for that type of roll via depicting the moment it happens in your tattoos. For example, if you use this ability when a creature gets a result of 23 on an Intelligence saving throw, you store an Intelligence saving throw result of 23. When you are called upon to make that type of roll, you may use that result instead. This expends the stored roll. You may only have one result stored at a time but may replace your previously stored result when you use this ability while you already have one stored. The tattoo changes appearance to suit the moment that you witnessed along with your relationship to it.

• Weighted Countenance (Piercings). The increased weight of your body, thanks to the amount of metal that adorns it, affords you an edge in contests of mass. When you are Grappled by a creature that is Large or smaller, rather than your Speed becoming 0, your Speed is reduced by half. If you move during your turn, the creature grappling you is moved with you and your movement does not cost 1 extra foot for every foot of movement. You also have Advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws for effects that would push or shove you, or that would knock you Prone.

• Ritualistic Scarring (Scarification). When you complete a Long Rest, you may choose two spells with the Ritual tag from any class spell list to imbue into your scar patterns. You may cast each of these imbued spells as a Ritual, using your Wisdom as your spellcasting ability for these spells and adding your Proficiency Bonus to any related checks or DCs. Once you’ve cast that spell this way you may not cast it again until you finish a Long Rest. You may only have two spells imbued in your scars this way at a time and you may replace unused spells when you imbue a new spell. The maximum level of a spell you may imbue into your scars is equal to your Proficiency Bonus and the DC for those spells is equal to your save DC for abilities that use Ki Points ([2024]: Focus Points).

Replicate Moment (Tattoos)

As a Reaction when you witness another willing creature make an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may spend a Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and store that result for that type of roll via depicting the moment it happens in your tattoos. For example, if you use this ability when a creature gets a result of 23 on an Intelligence saving throw, you store an Intelligence saving throw result of 23. When you are called upon to make that type of roll, you may use that result instead. This expends the stored roll. You may only have one result stored at a time but may replace your previously stored result when you use this ability while you already have one stored. The tattoo changes appearance to suit the moment that you witnessed along with your relationship to it.

Ritualistic Scarring (Scarification)

When you complete a Long Rest, you may choose two spells with the Ritual tag from any class spell list to imbue into your scar patterns. You may cast each of these imbued spells as a Ritual, using your Wisdom as your spellcasting ability for these spells and adding your Proficiency Bonus to any related checks or DCs. Once you’ve cast that spell this way you may not cast it again until you finish a Long Rest. You may only have two spells imbued in your scars this way at a time and you may replace unused spells when you imbue a new spell. The maximum level of a spell you may imbue into your scars is equal to your Proficiency Bonus and the DC for those spells is equal to your save DC for abilities that use Ki Points ([2024]: Focus Points).

Weighted Countenance (Piercings)

The increased weight of your body, thanks to the amount of metal that adorns it, affords you an edge in contests of mass. When you are Grappled by a creature that is Large or smaller, rather than your Speed becoming 0, your Speed is reduced by half. If you move during your turn, the creature grappling you is moved with you and your movement does not cost 1 extra foot for every foot of movement. You also have Advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws for effects that would push or shove you, or that would knock you Prone.

Continue the Narrative

6th-level Way of the Living Saga feature

Building upon the previous work you have done to your body, you continue the story by expanding upon it. You may choose to continue with the same method you previously chose or to add a new modification type. If you choose to continue with the modification type you’ve already undergone, gain the effect of the appropriate modification type from the list below. Otherwise, if you choose to add a new modification type, gain the appropriate effect from the Journey’s First Step feature.

• Depiction of Power (Tattoos). As a Reaction when you witness a spell being cast, you may magically shift the contents of your tattoos to depict the essence of its casting and thereby store a copy of it. You may cast the spell you have stored as though you know it, but you must spend Ki Points ([2024]: Focus Points) in lieu of spell slots when you do so at a ratio of 1 point for each spell level. You may store a spell in this way with a maximum level equal to or less than your Proficiency Bonus, to a maximum of 5th level. You may only have one spell stored this way at a time.

• Adorned Defense (Piercings). This feature can be used instead of determining your Armor Class according to your Unarmored Defense feature. While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a Shield, your AC equals 16 + your Dexterity modifier.

• Curing Cicatrix (Scarification). When you regain Hit Points due to a spell, as a Reaction you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and choose a number of creatures equal to your Wisdom modifier that are within 60 feet of you and that you can see. Those creatures regain Hit Points equal to half the amount you regained.

Adorned Defense (Piercings)

This feature can be used instead of determining your Armor Class according to your Unarmored Defense feature. While you are wearing no armor and not wielding a Shield, your AC equals 16 + your Dexterity modifier.

Curing Cicatrix (Scarification)

When you regain Hit Points due to a spell, as a Reaction you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and choose a number of creatures equal to your Wisdom modifier that are within 60 feet of you and that you can see. Those creatures regain Hit Points equal to half the amount you regained.

Depiction of Power (Tattoos)

As a Reaction when you witness a spell being cast, you may magically shift the contents of your tattoos to depict the essence of its casting and thereby store a copy of it. You may cast the spell you have stored as though you know it, but you must spend Ki Points ([2024]: Focus Points) in lieu of spell slots when you do so at a ratio of 1 point for each spell level. You may store a spell in this way with a maximum level equal to or less than your Proficiency Bonus, to a maximum of 5th level. You may only have one spell stored this way at a time.

Replicate Moment (Tattoos)

Replicate Moment (Tattoos). As a Reaction when you witness another willing creature make an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you may spend a Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and store that result for that type of roll via depicting the moment it happens in your tattoos. For example, if you use this ability when a creature gets a result of 23 on an Intelligence saving throw, you store an Intelligence saving throw result of 23. When you are called upon to make that type of roll, you may use that result instead. This expends the stored roll. You may only have one result stored at a time but may replace your previously stored result when you use this ability while you already have one stored. The tattoo changes appearance to suit the moment that you witnessed along with your relationship to it.

Ritualistic Scarring (Scarification)

Weighted Countenance (Piercings)

When you are Grappled by a creature that is Large or smaller, rather than your Speed becoming 0, your Speed is reduced by half. If you move during your turn, the creature grappling you is moved with you and your movement does not cost 1 extra foot for every foot of movement. You also have Advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws for effects that would push or shove you, or that would knock you Prone.

Raise the Stakes

11th-level Way of the Living Saga feature

In the pursuit of authentically conveying your story to those who perceive your modifications, you may choose to undergo an extreme alteration appropriate to your tale. If you do so, choose one of the modifications below and gain that effect.

• Arcane Eye. You have tattooed an arcane sigil upon your eyeball that bolsters your visual perception. You have Truesight and can see into the Ethereal Plane out to a range of 120 feet.

• Magnetic Digits. You have implanted naturally magnetic stones within your fingertips. This, combined with honing your senses via your Ki ([Focus]), has expanded your perception to include detecting the presence of metal. It also gives you a moderate ability to manipulate metal. You innately know the location of all metallic objects within 120 feet of you. You also have Advantage on attack rolls you make when throwing a metallic object of 10 pounds or less and you double the damage such objects deal. This bonus only applies to the damage from the object itself impacting and not any additional effects upon it.

• Predator’s Teeth. You have filed your teeth into a facsimile of a fearsome predator. Once per turn, in place of an attack made during the Attack action, you may make a biting attack with your teeth. This attack functions as an Unarmed Strike but deals Piercing damage instead of Bludgeoning. When you hit a creature with this attack, you may choose to clamp your jaws upon it and impose the Grappled condition upon it without the use of your hands. When a creature attempts to break free of this grapple, regardless of whether they succeed, they take Piercing damage equal to what you would deal if you had hit them with your biting attack.

• Split Tongue of the Byways. By splitting your tongue, you gain the ability to weave words to control the flow of language. When you speak or a creature speaks to you, you may prevent any other creature from discerning the meaning of that speech. In addition, as a Reaction when a creature within 30 feet of you is casting a spell that has a verbal component, you may spend 2 Ki Points ([2024]: Focus Points) in an attempt to disrupt that spell. The creature casting that spell must make a saving throw with their spellcasting ability against your Ki save ([2024]: Focus save) DC. On a failure, the spell is disrupted and is not cast, but the creature does not lose any spell slots they would have spent to cast it.

• Subdermal Retribution. The hardened implants under your skin act as a potent countermeasure against those that would strike you. When a creature hits you with a melee attack, you may have them suffer Piercing damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. This damage counts as magical for the purposes of overcoming Resistance and Immunity.

• Tightened Torso. Utilizing corsets and similar devices, you have altered the physique of your torso into a significantly slimmer shape. Enduring this process has made you hardier than most people, giving you proficiency with and Advantage on Constitution saving throws.

• Woven Corset of Piercings. You have woven an enticing display of ribbon and piercings into a segment of your torso. While that segment of your torso is visible, you have proficiency in all Charisma based skills, double your Proficiency Bonus for those skills if you would not already from another feature, and gain Advantage on Charisma ability checks you make against creatures that can see you.

You may instead choose to continue with one of the modification techniques from a prior feature or start a new one altogether. If you are continuing a modification for the third time, gain the appropriate modification effect from the list below. Otherwise, gain a new modification type’s effect from the Journey’s First Step feature or the Continue the Narrative feature (if you have already gained the same modification type’s Journey’s First Step effect).

• Inspiring Canvas (Tattoo). As a Bonus Action, you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and bare yourself. All creatures of your choosing within 30 feet that can see you are inspired by the artwork upon it. Roll a d6. Those creatures gain a bonus on the next ability check or attack roll they make equal to the result. This effect is not cumulative with itself and fades after 1 minute if not used. When you use this ability, you may choose to gain 1 point of Humiliation to increase the dice to a d10.

• Dangling Shield (Piercings). You have learned to angle your foe’s blows to land amongst an area of your body well protected by your numerous piercings. As a Reaction when you would be hit by an attack, you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and gain 1 Pain to add a +5 bonus to your AC when determining whether that attack hits.

• Echoing Engraving (Scarification). As a Reaction when a creature that is adjacent to you is missed by a spell attack or succeeds on its saving throw for a spell that is 5th level or lower and has a duration of “Instantaneous,” you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) to store a copy of that spell in your scars. As an action ([2024]: Magic action) during your next turn, you may cast that spell (regardless of its normal casting time). However, the spell is cast at its base spell slot level and may only target the creature that cast the triggering spell on its last turn. If an area of effect spell is cast in this way, all creatures other than the original target are ignored. If the spell requires you to make a spell attack roll, use your Unarmed Strike modifier for that attack roll. If the spell requires a saving throw, use your Ki ([2024]: Focus) save DC for that spell. You may only have one spell stored this way at a time, and storing another spell replaces the previous spell. If you choose not to cast the stored spell during your next turn, the stored spell is lost.

Adorned Defense (Piercings)

Arcane Eye

You have tattooed an arcane sigil upon your eyeball that bolsters your visual perception. You have Truesight and can see into the Ethereal Plane out to a range of 120 feet.

Curing Cicatrix (Scarification)

Dangling Shield (Piercings)

You have learned to angle your foe’s blows to land amongst an area of your body well protected by your numerous piercings. As a Reaction when you would be hit by an attack, you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and gain 1 Pain to add a +5 bonus to your AC when determining whether that attack hits.

Depiction of Power (Tattoos)

Echoing Engraving (Scarification)

As a Reaction when a creature that is adjacent to you is missed by a spell attack or succeeds on its saving throw for a spell that is 5th level or lower and has a duration of “Instantaneous,” you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) to store a copy of that spell in your scars. As an action ([2024]: Magic action) during your next turn, you may cast that spell (regardless of its normal casting time). However, the spell is cast at its base spell slot level and may only target the creature that cast the triggering spell on its last turn. If an area of effect spell is cast in this way, all creatures other than the original target are ignored. If the spell requires you to make a spell attack roll, use your Unarmed Strike modifier for that attack roll. If the spell requires a saving throw, use your Ki ([2024]: Focus) save DC for that spell. You may only have one spell stored this way at a time, and storing another spell replaces the previous spell. If you choose not to cast the stored spell during your next turn, the stored spell is lost.

Inspiring Canvas (Tattoos)

As a Bonus Action, you may spend 1 Ki Point ([2024]: Focus Point) and bare yourself. All creatures of your choosing within 30 feet that can see you are inspired by the artwork upon it. Roll a d6. Those creatures gain a bonus on the next ability check or attack roll they make equal to the result. This effect is not cumulative with itself and fades after 1 minute if not used. When you use this ability, you may choose to gain 1 point of Humiliation to increase the dice to a d10.

Magnetic Digits

You have implanted naturally magnetic stones within your fingertips. This, combined with honing your senses via your Ki ([Focus]), has expanded your perception to include detecting the presence of metal. It also gives you a moderate ability to manipulate metal. You innately know the location of all metallic objects within 120 feet of you. You also have Advantage on attack rolls you make when throwing a metallic object of 10 pounds or less and you double the damage such objects deal. This bonus only applies to the damage from the object itself impacting and not any additional effects upon it.

Predator’s Teeth

You have filed your teeth into a facsimile of a fearsome predator. Once per turn, in place of an attack made during the Attack action, you may make a biting attack with your teeth. This attack functions as an Unarmed Strike but deals Piercing damage instead of Bludgeoning. When you hit a creature with this attack, you may choose to clamp your jaws upon it and impose the Grappled condition upon it without the use of your hands. When a creature attempts to break free of this grapple, regardless of whether they succeed, they take Piercing damage equal to what you would deal if you had hit them with your biting attack.

Replicate Moment (Tattoos)

Ritualistic Scarring (Scarification)

Split Tongue of the Byways

By splitting your tongue, you gain the ability to weave words to control the flow of language. When you speak or a creature speaks to you, you may prevent any other creature from discerning the meaning of that speech. In addition, as a Reaction when a creature within 30 feet of you is casting a spell that has a verbal component, you may spend 2 Ki Points ([2024]: Focus Points) in an attempt to disrupt that spell. The creature casting that spell must make a saving throw with their spellcasting ability against your Ki save ([2024]: Focus save) DC. On a failure, the spell is disrupted and is not cast, but the creature does not lose any spell slots they would have spent to cast it.

Subdermal Retribution

The hardened implants under your skin act as a potent countermeasure against those that would strike you. When a creature hits you with a melee attack, you may have them suffer Piercing damage equal to your Proficiency Bonus. This damage counts as magical for the purposes of overcoming Resistance and Immunity.

Tightened Torso

Utilizing corsets and similar devices, you have altered the physique of your torso into a significantly slimmer shape. Enduring this process has made you hardier than most people, giving you proficiency with and Advantage on Constitution saving throws.

Weighted Countenance (Piercings)

Woven Corset of Piercings

You have woven an enticing display of ribbon and piercings into a segment of your torso. While that segment of your torso is visible, you have proficiency in all Charisma based skills, double your Proficiency Bonus for those skills if you would not already from another feature, and gain Advantage on Charisma ability checks you make against creatures that can see you.

Enduring Legacy

17th-level Way of the Living Saga feature

Not only do the modifications to your body tell the story you have depicted upon it, but the sight of the masterpiece you have created leaves a lasting legacy on all who behold it. When a creature perceives you, you may choose to grant them a +3 bonus to all ability checks they make without adding their Proficiency Bonus. This effect lasts so long as that creature remembers you. In addition, as a Bonus Action, you may choose to bare the entirety of your bodily tapestry to amplify this effect for a short time. For the next minute, all creatures with whom you have discussed your body modifications and that perceive you have Advantage on all attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws they make, so long as you remain conscious. You may use this ability once and regain all spent uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Soulairis

Comments

To post a comment, please login or register a new account.