Way of the Inevitable: Predator Castigant

Magic use has the chance to provoke incursions by otherworldly beings known as the Aetherok Cyphons.  They are believed to be the living incarnations of phlogiston.  These creatures are drawn to magic and will try to either steal spellcasting ability (by removing spell slots) or draining life force (exhaustion) upon touch. It is unknown whether this drive is from instinct, design or edict.  To manifest in a physical plane (or any heavenly body contained in within the crystal spheres), Aetherok Cyphons must assimilate hosts.  Hosts may have been taken previous encounters or may even be from different realms.  With these parasitic infections, the phlogiston can exist inside of crystal spheres.  In this seemingly living form, the normally flammable phlogiston is no longer combustible nor dissipative.

Aetherok Cyphons appear as any creature would in the realm— but in shape only.  Distinctive features, colors, eyes and orifices are nothing more than smoothed over surfaces and indentations.  Cyphon base color is a dull luminescent white with a black and red fluidic “lava lamp”-like flow emanating from the dorsal part of the creature that coats approximately 60% of its body, but never fills in the front or underbelly.  The luminescent parts glow in the dark.

While the incursion of the Aetherok Cyphons has only happened recently, there are accounts of mysterious monoliths fitting current descriptions appearing throughout history as far back as -339 DR.

Underground black and red crystalline lattices were discovered in a radius around the monoliths.  This was accompanied by the death of local fauna and flora.  While they were a curiosity to most, the crystalline formations were studied fervently by an order of monks.  The monks believed that these mineral formations were a crystalline form of phlogiston—the flow that permeates the heavens. 

Following a decade of study, the monks noticed that the monoliths were appearing with increased frequency.  Up until now, there may have been one appearing every few years.  The frequency was increasing.  Around this time, they encountered geometrically shaped creatures (known as [Tooltip Not Found] from the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus).  They, like the monks, were drawn to these monoliths.  The monks could not understand the Modron language as it was an incomprehensible combination of clicks and whirring noises.  Though as fate would have it, a duodrone and a human monk named Vixh’ Holstan simultaneously touched the same crystal and became telepathically connected.

Vixh’ was able to integrate his thoughts into the Modron hive-mind.  He learned of their order that their orders from Primus to observe the monoliths and to prevent the incoming incursion of chaos.

These mineral formations were thought to be inert, but now the monks worked feverishly to mine and study as many of these crystals as possible.  They were able to craft communication stones that facilitated telepathic links with the Modron hive-mind.  As time went on, the Modrons were able to understand the monks’ devotion to law and their willingness to drive out the oncoming chaos.  A Secundus, one of four Modrons second in command only to Primus, visited the monks.  Secundus warned them of the Aetherok incursions as the Modrons had seen these in other realms.  The monks, under Vixh’ were willing to commit to bring order against this new threat and pledged an oath to submit to Nirvana and the will of Primus. 

Primus would now have “living Inevitables” to battle the chaos in the realms.

Monastic Tradition:  Way of the Inevitable (The Order of the Predator Castigant)

Please see PHB pages 76-79 for information on starting a monk character.

This tradition has grown to span the multiverse.  According to teachings, the Aetherok incursions are steps toward chaos.  Through the Way of the Inevitable, the Order of the Predator Castigant seeks to embrace the clockwork perfection of body and mind.  The monks of this Order hone their skills to hunt Aetherok Cyphons and to smite them from all the realms.

 

The lifeless now lives and hungers.

It invades, disrupts, and invites chaos.

The time has come to bring back order.

To use their essence against them is a fitting punishment.

We are the living Inevitables…

 

In lieu of magic, monks following this path harnesses crystalline phlogiston as a source of ki.  This substance can be mined from underground areas within 100 feet of any Aetherok monolith.  When it is ground down into a powder, it can be used to incrementally tattoo the body.  Ingestion of this powder or rapid tattooing is harmful and even deadly.  Through training and time monks of this tradition have built up a tolerance the crystalline phlogiston and eventually obtained significant immunity to its harmful effects.  Tattoos can start on hands, feet, arms, and legs and as the character advances in level the tattoos can even be drawn to the entirety of the body, including the neck, head, and face.  As monks grows in this tradition some physical features become altered.  The eyes, for example, will change to have a dull white illumination with black and red tendril-like flames around the borders.  Tattoos will also appear to move and shimmer as if they were alive.

Monks of this order are resistant to Cyphon Strike.

Empty Shell Technique

When you choose to become a Predator Castigant at level 3, you gain the ability to identify the pre-assimilation creature type of any Cyphon that you physically strike.  Additionally, any strikes made by Flurry of Blows will have the following effects:

An Aetherok Cyphon struck by Flurry of Blows must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or have its movement speed reduced to half on its next turn.  This effect lasts until the end of your next turn.  It also applies to other soulless creatures, undead and constructs.

A creature other than an Aetherok Cyphon will have to succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or be put in a state of soul disjunction.  This effect weakens the anchor of the soul to the body. The creature will have to make attacks rolls and saving throws with disadvantage on its next turn.  The effect then ends.  Soulless creatures, undead and constructs are immune to this effect.

Selfless Defense

At 6 level you gain the ability to channel your life force as a bonus action into a ki pulse that provides +1d4 AC to any 3 other allied creatures within 15 feet of you for a 10-minute duration. To apply the pulse, you will have to spend 2d4 hit points (HP) of your life force.  This effect can be repeated as a bonus action, once per turn as many times as desired if your hit points allow.  It is not a cumulative effect (The +1d4 AC bonus does not stack upon itself, so reapplying this effect will reset the 10-minute effect time.). The effect will stack with any other non-ki bonuses of the same effect (such as Shield of Faith).  You may not perform this bonus action without both adequate ki and hit points.  You cannot ki pulse down to 0 HP.  HP sacrificed for Selfless Defense can only be recovered by resting.

Modron March

Beginning at 11 level you can spend 3 ki points as a bonus action to summon Modron allies to fight by your side.  At level 11 you may summon 1d4 monodrones.  At level 14 you may summon 1d6 monodrones and 1d4 duodrones.  At level 19 you may summon 1d8 monodrones , 1d6 duodrones and 1d4 tridrones.  The Modrons are a deadly force, but each effectively only has 1 HP.  Any successful hit to a summoned modron will cause it to teleport back to the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus.  You may perform this bonus action a maximum 3 times per short rest as long as you have adequate ki.

Indominable Marut

At level 17, you may spend 4 ki points as a bonus action to transform into a Marut Inevitable once per long rest.  This transformation lasts 1d4 rounds or until you willingly end the transformation.  Once changed, you possess all of the HP, attacks, abilities and immunities of this entity.  Taking on such a grand form is taxing.  Upon returning to your original form, you will suffer 1 level of exhaustion for each round that you existed as the Marut Inevitable.  After you change back into your original form, the exhaustion will decrease by one level for each round that follows.  A short rest, long rest or restorative magic will remove all exhaustion related to this bonus action.  Entering into this transformation with at least 2 levels of exhaustion has the potential to result in your death if you have a total of 6 levels of exhaustion when the transformation ends.