Way of the Crimson Cord

Crimson Cord practitioners understand pain not as a something to avoid, but as a tool through which the world strengthens them. They endure punishing rituals and intense psychological training to strengthen their flesh and their soul against all forms of harm. Monks of this tradition can withstand blows for far longer than anyone of similar fortitude ought to be able, and they use this to defend others with little regard for their own personal comfort. 

Vigilant Trance

At 3rd level, you can channel your ki to enter a heightened state of protective focus. As a bonus action, you can spend 2 ki points to enter a vigilant trance that lasts for 1 minute, or until you are incapacitated, knocked unconscious, or choose to end it (no action required). You decide what it looks like when you enter this trance.

While in your vigilant trance, you gain the following benefits:
Hardened Soul. At the start of each of your turns, you can choose to gain temporary hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). These temporary hit points last until the start of your next turn.

Protective Reflex. While in your vigilant trance, when a creature within 5 feet of you is hit by a weapon attack, you can use Deflect Missiles as a reaction and reduce any Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage taken by the target by 1d10 + Dexterity modifier + monk level. 

You can only catch and return missiles when you reduce damage from a ranged weapon attack to 0.

Level 6: Taut Avenger

Starting at 6th level, once per turn when you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or monk weapon, you can deal extra damage equal to your Dexterity modifier (minimum of 1) if an ally within 10 feet of you is missing any hit points.

Level 6: Interwoven Soul

Also from 6th level, your ki is so sensitive to those around you that others can draw upon it for strength.
While you are in your vigilant trance and another creature you can see within 30 feet rolls a saving throw, immediately after the roll but before the DM tells you the result you can roll 1d8 and add the number to the creature’s saving-throw total (no action required). You then take necrotic damage equal to the number rolled; this damage ignores resistance, immunity, and temporary hit points.

You can use Interwoven Soul once per turn, and you can do so a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain all expended uses when you finish a short rest.

Level 11: Retaliatory Strike

At 11th level, when another creature you can see is hit by a melee attack, you can spend 1 ki point to use your reaction to move up to your speed in a direct path towards the attacker, without provoking opportunity attacks. If you end your movement within 5 feet of the attacker, you can make an unarmed strike or monk weapon attack.

If you are in your vigilant trance, you can also use your Protective Reflex as part of the same reaction, reducing the damage taken by the creature that triggered this ability.

Level 17: Cord of Life

At 17th level, you have learned to draw upon the deepest reserves of your strength and ki to shield others from devastating harm. When a creature you can see within 30 feet of you is reduced to 0 hit points by a damage-dealing effect, you can use your reaction and spend 1 ki point to take the damage from that effect instead.

When you do so:

• You take all of the damage the triggering creature would have taken, and they take none.
• You have resistance to this damage.
• This ability cannot prevent effects that reduce a creature to 0 hit points without dealing damage (such as Power Word Kill).

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest. You regain all uses when you finish a long rest.