Owl Clan Duelist

The Owl Clan are the diplomats and court administrators of the Empire, and their samurai are renowned duelists and yojimbo for the Imperial family.

Bonus Proficiency

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: History, Insight, Performance, or Persuasion. Alternatively, you learn one language of your choice.

Intercession

Owl Clan Duelists quickly learn the art of interceding with their blade and body against attacks meant for others, especially those they are charged with protecting. When a character within reach of you suffers damage, as a reaction, you may take the damage instead. If you do, you gain resistance to nonmagical slashing, bludgeoning, and piercing damage from that attack.

Duelist's Challenge

Owl Clan Samurai are renowned duelists but also orators. They learn cunning ways to say the right things to goad an enemy into focusing only on them, even to the detriment of their fight with others. Starting at 7th level, as a reaction, you issue a dueling challenge to an enemy creature that can see and hear you. Until you or the creature goes unconscious or dies, you and that creature each have disadvantage on attack rolls against any other creature except each other. You may only issue a challenge to one enemy at a time.

Defensive Style

Owl Clan Samurai learn to bide their time in combat, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike and how to turn enemy blows aside until it is time to finish the fight. Starting at 10th level, you may use your reaction to impose disadvantage on melee attack rolls against you until the beginning of your next turn.

Strike Like Air

Owl Clan Samurai learn the deadly Strike Like Air technique, whereby they descend upon their foes with blistering speed and deliver a single powerful strike. Starting at 15th level, you may take the Strike Like Air Action. You may move up to your full move distance and make a single melee weapon attack. If it hits, it deals an additional damage die to the type it would normally deal.

Hamstring

Owl Clan Samurai learn that the swiftest way to victory is to continually strike an opponent's exposed areas, leaving them reeling in pain and unable to respond until the killing blow can be dealt. Starting at 18th level, once per round, when hitting with a weapon attack, you may choose to attempt to hamstring your foe. The enemy must make a Constitution saving throw with a DC of 1/2 of the damage dealt or 10, whichever is higher. If they fail, they are Stunned until the beginning of your next turn.