Way of the Jade Sanctum

Monks following the Way of the Jade Sanctum are the custodians, protectors, and warriors of the city-sized monastery known as the Jade Sanctum. Ancestral home to many, the safekeeping of the boundless knowledge kept within the Sanctum is left to these masters of body and soul. These monks master six different fighting styles, modeled after the six legendary warriors that helped found the Sanctum. At higher levels, Way of the Jade Sanctum Monks can communicate across any distance and dominate a battlefield.

Student of the World

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you have entered into the teachings of the Jade Sanctum. From dedication to their lessons, you begin to learn the inner workings of the world, and your place in the universe. You gain proficiency in History, if you aren't already proficient. You also have advantage on Intelligence (Religion) checks relating to recalling legends.

You have fashioned (or acquired) a small idol using jade from the Jade Sanctum. If you have a palm-sized amount of Jade from within the Sanctum, you can, as part of a long rest, carve another of these idols. The idol must always take the shape of one of the Jade Sanctum's six protectors (Dragon, Snake, Monkey, Tiger, Leopard, or Crane.) It could be placed on a ring, pendant, earring, or something else. 

Jade Stances

Starting at 3rd level, you have learned to manipulate your body into a delicate and balanced stance before each round of combat. Whenever your turn starts, you can enter one of the following stances to gain its benefits.

Monkey. A low, crouching stance, featuring strong "monkey palm" attacks and quick movements. While in this stance, you gain a climbing speed equal to your walking speed and have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks.

Snake. A coiled and defensive stance, featuring smooth, direct "snake-hand" strikes. While in this stance, whenever you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, they must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or have their speed reduced to 0 for the rest of the turn. 

Crane. An elegant and flexible stance, often featuring kicks or precise "beak" strikes with the hands. While in this stance, other creatures have disadvantage on opportunity attack rolls against you, and you gain the benefits of the Disengage action whenever you use your Flurry of Blows.

You are considered in a stance until you change it at the start of another one of your turns or until you leave the stance at any time on your turn.

Advanced Jade Stances

Starting at 6th level, you can manipulate your body into three new, advanced stances before each round of combat. These stances are added to the ones you can select at the start of each of your turns in combat. 

Tiger. A focused and powerful stance, featuring strong, concentrated "tiger claw" attacks to key joints. While in this stance, whenever you use Stunning Strike, you can spend 1 additional ki point (for a total of 2 ki per Stunning Strike) to impose disadvantage on the Constitution saving throw.

Leopard. An explosive and aggressive stance, featuring rapid combinations of "leopard fist" attacks. While in this stance, whenever you are targeting a stunned target with your Flurry of Blows, you gain an extra attack from it, for a total of three attacks.

Dragon. A masterful, majestic stance, characterized by sweeping body movements and the unification of attack and defense. While in this stance, when another creature within 5 feet of you hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the incoming damage and immediately make an unarmed strike against the attacker.

Defender of the Sanctum

At 11th level, you have earned your place as one of the Defenders of the Jade Sanctum. Whether through acts for the greater good within the world or purely through isolated study, you have created a place for yourself in the Jade Sanctum. Perhaps you have been granted a room or house within the Sanctum. You are known to those who know the Sanctum and are relied upon to help defend it in times of need.

Learn two new languages, and become proficient with Jeweler's Tools, if you aren't already proficient.

Jade Dreamer

By 11th level, You feel a strong connection to the Sanctum, even when you are far away from it. Through your connection to the Sanctum, you may use your Jade Idol to cast the Sending spell once per long rest. If you instead crush the Jade Idol and inhale/ingest the dust, you can cast the Dream spell, with yourself as the messenger for the spell. This destroys the Idol.

Legendary Protector

Starting at 17th level, you have mastered the combat techniques of the Jade Sanctum. Whenever you are in a stance, you can spend 2 ki as a bonus action to complete your stance, performing a finishing move based on your current stance. Using a finishing move exits your current stance, removing any benefits.

Monkey. Using a concentrated, forceful blow, you make an unarmed strike against a target creature. On a hit, the creature must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet away from you and knocked prone. 

Snake. By crouching low to the ground and then springing forward, you create a powerful strike that can cripple even the most steadfast of opponents. Make two unarmed attacks against a target creature within range. If either hit, the target creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. If both attacks hit, the creature has disadvantage on the saving throw.

Crane. Channeling the spirit of the Jade Crane, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed for 1 minute.

Tiger. By using both hands at once to tear at a creature's flesh, you can make your next unarmed attack deal additional slashing damage equal to the amount of ki you currently have, plus your Dexterity modifier. This damage counts as magical for the purposes of overcoming damage resistance.

Leopard. With immense speed, you unleash a barrage of blows into your opponent. Make two unarmed attacks against a target creature within range. If they both hit, you can spend 1 additional ki to make two more unarmed attacks against the same creature, as part of the same bonus action.

Dragon. Centering your ki in a flourish of spiritual energy, you can focus on targeting your enemies' weak points. Treat all attacks that hit on this turn as critical hits.