The Way of Cruelty

If altruism were universal, the knowledge gained from such discipline would only be used for healing and personal growth, but that’s simply not the case. A sect of monks realized that their knowledge of the body and its optimization also came with the forbidden knowledge of how to harm it. Sadistic curiosity was greatly rewarded with macabre discoveries on the nature of pain and suffering. It was only a matter of time before the heretical monks were discovered and hunted for their blasphemies and crimes against life. Fleeing from the many who hated them, the monks thought their extinction was near

Bonus Proficiency

When you select this tradition at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. In addition, if you deal damage to your target as a part of the skill check, you add double your proficiency bonus.

Sadism

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to subdue your foes’ will as you overpower them with your attacks. If you hit a creature with both strikes from your Flurry of Blows ability, it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your ki save DC or be frightened of you until the start of your next turn.

Exploitation

Beginning at 6th level, whenever you hit a creature that’s stunned from your Stunning Strike ability, that creature takes additional damage equal to your Wisdom modifier

Masochism

At 11th level, whenever a creature hits you with a critical hit, you may expend 2 ki points as a reaction to turn it into a normal hit.

Cruelty Incarnate

When you reach 17th level in this class, you may spend 5 ki points as an action to become an avatar of cruelty for 1 minute. While in this state, you gain the following benefits:

• Your first Stunning Strike on your turn costs no ki points.
• Creatures must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw equal to your ki save DC whenever they attack you or be frightened of you until the start of their next turn.
• You may move an additional 20 feet on each of your turns as long as you end your movement closer to a hostile creature.