Oath of the Sohei

In the mountains of the north in the Emerald Kingdoms, there are a small string of Shingon monasteries tucked away in the heights of the summits. These great temples train all manner of warrior monks, but a few of these warriors are tasked with a far more martial purpose: defending the monasteries from warring Samurai and their soldiers. As such, they are trained in all manner of armor and weapons, in addition to the fundamentals of unarmed training. The Sohei are also tasked with some of the most dangerous missions the masters of the Shingon monasteries need done, even if it involves traveling all over the kingdoms. These dramatic episodes are different from the Sohei's normal life, which is that of an ascetic disciple, removed from any other civilization, with years spent in training and quiet contemplation. Most Sohei hardly ever see such action, but those that have are reknowned already for such fearsome skill that the nearby regions' Samurai warlords know full well that to invite warfare to the Shingon monasteries is an effort that will be deadly and highly draining to their resources.

TENETS OF THE SOHEI

The tenets of the Oath of the Sohei taught by the Shingon masters, and reflect the core tenets of that belief system. This oath emphasizes strict self-discipline, ascetic focus, and commitment to one's goals.

Cultivate the Buddha-Nature. Through your meditation, focus, and discipline, bring forth the state of the "shining mind," that which is enlightened, compassionate, and wise.

Master the Three Mysteries. The Three Mysteries are the pinnacle achievements of the perfect body, perfect mind, and perfect spirit. A Sohei strives constantly for these ideals of pure expression.

Practice the Mantras. The sacred mantras are words and thoughts that are repeated constantly to reinforce the divine philosophies of the mind and spirit. The use of mantras, and to the lesser extent, the mudras (special poses and hand gestures) and the observance of the mandelas (two very special picture icons to be reflected upon) creates the right thoughts in the mind to reach enlightenment.

Strive for Oneness With the Universe. Understand the concepts of emptiness, Buddha-nature, and all phenomena, and that all are unified in oneness within this universe. Understanding this means that you would seek to do no harm to others, for indeed, you would be harming yourself. Those that seek to harm you are much like a disease or imbalance in your body, and must be excised or cured as such.

 

New Fighting Style:  When you choose your Fighting Style at 2nd level, you may choose the Unarmed Fighting fighting style.
Unarmed Fighting: Your unarmed strikes can deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier. If you strike with two free hands, the d6 becomes a d8.  When you successfully start a grapple, you can deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage to the grappled creature. Until the grapple ends, you can also deal this damage to the creature whenever you hit it with a melee attack.

Channel Divinity

3rd-level Oath of the Sohei feature

At 3rd level when you take this oath, you gain new options for your Channel Divinity. You gain the following options:

Martial Arts Prana. You can use your Channel Divinity to breathe in divine energies which fortify your body against attacks. As an action, you engage in deep breathing and mudras which cause you to temporarily increase your hit point total by an amount equal to your Paladin level, and you instantly gain that many hit points. Additionally, your unarmed strikes count as magic for the purposes of overcoming resistance, and are treated as weapon attacks for all purposes. You maintain these benefits for a number of hours equal to your Charisma modifier. Your body can only hold one such prana at a time, and you cannot use this Channel Divinity option while you are under the effects of a previous use.

Turn the Undisciplined. You can use your Channel Divinity to utter ancient mantras that befuddle and terrify those with undisciplined minds. As an action with both hands empty, you perform a mudra, and each creature with a Chaotic alignment that can see you with current hit points less than your current hit point total must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is turned for 1 minute or until it takes damage.

A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

If the creature’s true form is concealed by an illusion, shapeshifting, or other effect, that form is revealed while it is turned.

Oath Spells

3rd-level Oath of the Sohei feature

You gain Oath Spells at the Paladin levels listed on the Oath of the Sohei Spells table.

Oath of the Sohei Spells

Stunning Strike

7th-level Oath of the Sohei feature

Starting at 7th level, you can interfere with the flow of ki in an opponent’s body. When you hit another creature with a melee weapon attack or unarmed strike, you can attempt a stunning strike. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier or be stunned until the end of your next turn. You may use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1) before you must complete a long rest to use it again, and due to the precise mental focus required, it may not be used with any other feature you may have to augment your strikes, such as your Divine Smite feature or a Sneak Attack feature, although it may be used with magic spells that improve attacks.

Perfect Prana

15th-level Oath of the Sohei feature

At 15th level, you are closer than ever before to mastering the Three Mysteries, and it is beginning to show through in moments in which you become nearly superhuman for a short while. As a bonus action, you rapidly inhale a prana, and gain a number of benefits: if you make an unarmed attack on your turn you may make an additional unarmed attack as part of the attack action, you deal additional damage with your unarmed strikes equal to your proficiency modifier, and you have advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws. You gain these benefits for a number of rounds equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). You may use this feature twice before you must finish a long rest to use it again. When you become 20th level in this class, if you have no uses of this feature remaining when you roll initiative, you regain one use of this feature.

Shining Mind Meditation

20th-level Oath of the Sohei feature

You become able to demonstrate the principles of Buddha-mind, and in doing so, you gain an extraordinary mystical clarity and profound understanding. You may cast your choice of the Antipathy/Sympathy, Astral Projection, or Mind Blank spells once without using a spell slot. Once you have cast one of these spells using this feature, you cannot cast another spell using this feature until you finish a long rest.

Additionally, you are immune to the charmed condition, your hit point maximum cannot be decreased, and you cannot be magically aged.