Way of the Cruel Demon

The Way of the Cruel Demon's teachings consist of brutal and fierce martial arts techniques and is built upon the idea that the only thing that matters in a fight is defeating your enemy, and not how you defeat them. A student of the Way of the Cruel Demon will do whatever they can to get the upper hand in a fight, and utilize underhanded tactics like eye-poking, striking after the groin or throat, choking, false surrender, concealed weapons and whatever they find viable at the moment.

To a student of the Way of the Cruel Demon, fighting with honor is just a fancy way of putting yourself at a disadvantage, and they will not hesitate to take advantage of an opponent's weaknesses if given the opportunity, even if they have to cheat.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Stealth skill if you don't already have it. Like a predator stalking its prey, a Way of the Cruel Demon student doesn't care whether or not the opponent is ready. You also gain proficiency with poisoner's kit if you don't already have it.

Forbidden Technique

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you gain access to a range of underhanded tactics to use in and out of combat. You gain the ability to perform the following actions:

• While out of combat, you spend 1 minute conceal a weapon, provided that it has the finesse property, and has a weight of 1 lb. and under. Once concealed, you can use a bonus action to unsheath and attack with it as a bonus action.
• While grappling a creature, you can spend an action to begin choking them, which will cause them to take 1 damage each round, and then fall unconscious after a number of rounds equal to its Constitution modifier.
• If a creature moves within your attack range, they provoke an opportunity attack in which you attempt to trip them over by blocking their legs, in which they must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the creature is knocked prone.

Environmental Advantage

At 6th level, you learn how to take advantage of your surroundings and utilize them in battle, and tip the odds of winning in your favor depending on your environment. While under certain conditions, you can spend 1 Ki point to perform the following actions:

• While in a muddy environment (jungle, marsh, rain), you can as a bonus action cast mud into the eyes or under their feet, in which they in both scenarios must make a Dexterity saving roll. On a failed save, the creature is blinded until the start of your next turn if thrown into its eyes and is knocked prone if thrown under its feet.
• While in a coarse environment (mountain, cave, dungeon), you can as a bonus action destroy nearby rocks, which creates large clouds of dust that cause the area to become heavily obscured, or to spread sharp caltrop-like stone pieces over the area.
• While in a sandy environment (desert, beach, ashlands), you can as a bonus action throw dust into the eyes of a creature, in which they must make a Dexterity saving roll. On a failed save, the creature becomes stunned and blinded until the start of your next turn.

Additionally, you also gain proficiency with Improvised Weapons, and have advantage on Investigation checks to find things you could use to your advantage while in a fight.

Mask of the Roaring Demon

Beginning at 11th level, you learn to mimic the manners of a demon, and to mask your true self behind that of a fierce and cruel beast. You can spend 2 Ki points to change your appearance for 1 minute, in which your eyes become solid white, your facial proportions become more akin to that of a demon, your voice becomes more demonic, and a slight dark purple aura covers your torso.

When activated, you can roll for Intimidation to frighten any creature within your line of sight, in which they must make a Wisdom saving roll. On a failed save, the creature becomes frightened and can roll another Wisdom saving roll to cancel the effect at the end of their turn.

Essence of True Cruelty

At 17th level, you have mastered the Way of the Cruel Demon, and have attained the ability to enter a state of mind where you throw away all your morals and ethics for the purpose of achieving your goal. One could argue whether or not you're even the same person while in this form. You can spend 4 Ki points to enter a trance-like state of mind where you perfectly mimic the cruelty and heartlessness of a demon. You gain the following benefits for 10 minutes.

• You gain advantage when rolling for Initiative.
• You become immune to being distracted, charmed, or frightened.
• If you reduce a creature to 0 HP with a melee weapon attack, you can make another weapon melee attack (no action required by you).
• Once per turn when you roll damage for a melee weapon attack, you can reroll the weapon's damage dice and use either total.
• Attack rolls ranging from 18-20 become critical hits.

When your trance ends, you suffer one level of exhaustion. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.