Monks of the Way of the Four Winds draw upon the boundless energies of the natural world, embodying the unfettered force and fluidity of the elements. They understand that the winds carry more than air—they convey energy, change, and life itself. These monks often serve as protectors of sacred places, harnessing the power of the gusts, gales, and squalls to defend the natural balance.

Adherents of this way often wear garments that flow and flutter with their movements, adorned with symbols of the four cardinal directions. Their philosophies are as varied as the breezes, with some following the path of the solitary hermit, seeking enlightenment in the eye of the storm, while others act as the wandering zephyrs, traveling where the winds take them, lending aid like a refreshing breeze on a sweltering day or standing firm like a steadfast gale against chaos.

The Way of the Four Winds teaches that flexibility and adaptation are the keys to true strength. Its followers learn to shift seamlessly between the stances of the roaring north wind's defense, the sharp east wind's attack, the enduring south wind's resilience, and the purifying west wind's clarity. In battle, a monk of this tradition is as unpredictable as a sudden storm and as relentless as the trade winds, changing tactics like the shifting breeze and bending but never breaking.

Windward Defence

3rd-level Way of the Four Winds
In the tradition of the Way of the Four Winds, you have attuned your senses to the subtle shifts of the air, allowing you to react with the swiftness of a sudden breeze. When a melee attack strikes you, you may use your reaction to reduce the damage by an amount equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die + your Dexterity modifier + your monk level, as you deflect the blow like leaves in the wind.

Should your swift movement negate the attack's impact entirely, you may spend 1 ki point to lash out with a counterstrike as fluid as the gusting wind. This immediate riposte can be an unarmed strike or an attack with a monk weapon, embodying the unpredictable strike of a tempest.

Zephyr's Whisper

3rd-level Way of the Four Winds feature

The essence of the wind imbues you with extraordinary sensory acuity. You become attuned to whispers on the breeze and the faintest disturbances in the air, allowing you to detect threats and secrets alike that would elude most.

As the wind grants you its vigilance, you gain the following benefits:

• Your awareness transcends sight, granting you advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing or detecting air movements. The wind delivers to you distant murmurs and subtle shifts, from overheard whispers to the silent tread of an approaching foe.

• The wind carries scents to you with the same ease, enhancing your ability to detect creatures and substances by smell, whether tracking the faint odor of a creature’s passage or the distant aroma of a campfire.

• Your bond with the wind keeps you perpetually alert to danger. You cannot be surprised while you are conscious, as the wind provides constant whispers of warning and foresight.

Embracing Zephyr's Whisper, you walk with the confidence of one who hears the secrets and senses the intentions carried upon the wind, always one step ahead, ready for what's to come.

Vital Winds

6th-level Way of the Four Winds
As a follower of the Way of the Four Winds, you've learned to draw upon the restorative essence of the gentle zephyrs. When you receive healing, you regain additional hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier plus half your Monk level (rounded down). This healing whispers through you like a soothing breeze, knitting together wounds and bolstering your vitality.

Windborne Whispers

11th-level Way of the Four Winds feature

You have learned to weave your voice with the currents of the wind, sending messages on the breeze or causing sounds to emanate from distant locations. Your mastery over the wind allows you to leave behind whispered messages or sounds that linger in the air, waiting to be heard by those who pass by.

• As an action, you can speak a message of up to 20 words and set it to linger in the air at a point you can see within range. The message remains for a number of hours equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1 hour) and is audible to any creature within 5 feet of the point. Alternatively, you can cause the wind to carry a sound you make, such as a whistle or a clap, to a point you choose within 120 feet. The sound occurs once at that point and then dissipates.

This skill can be used to send covert signals to your allies, confuse your enemies with sounds coming from unexpected directions, or leave behind messages that can only be heard by those who know where to listen.

Mastery of the Four Winds

17th-level Way of the Four Winds feature

Attaining the pinnacle of your elemental understanding, you channel the essence of the winds through your martial practice. When you engage in the foundational techniques of your order, you automatically enter a stance infused with the power of the winds, each enhancing a specific monk ability and reflecting the character of a cardinal wind.

Guard of the North Wind (Enhanced Windward Defence): When you use Windward Defence to reduce damage from an attack, you automatically enter the Guard of the North Wind stance. The chill wind from the north hardens your resolve, allowing you to roll an additional Martial Arts die for damage reduction.

Fury of the East Wind (Enhanced Flurry of Blows): Upon using Flurry of Blows, you enter the Fury of the East Wind stance. Your strikes mirror the relentless assault of an eastern gale, each punch guided by wisdom, adding your Wisdom modifier to the attack and damage rolls.

Aegis of the West Wind (Enhanced Patient Defense): Invoking Patient Defense sees you adopt the Aegis of the West Wind stance. The calming winds from the west bolster your defenses, adding your Wisdom modifier to your AC for the turn.

Stride of the South Wind (Enhanced Step of the Wind): Utilizing Step of the Wind initiates the Stride of the South Wind stance. The warm embrace of the southern breeze enhances your movement, conferring the benefits of both the Disengage and Dash actions simultaneously.

Shifting Winds: Adapting to the battlefield like the unpredictable wind, should you switch stances by using a different triggering ability on your next turn, you regain 1 ki point, reflecting the wind's rejuvenating breath. This benefit can only be obtained once per round and only if you expended ki on the previous turn.

These stances are intrinsic and require no additional ki points to activate. They last until you use another monk ability that triggers a different stance or until the start of your next turn, embodying the fluidity and responsiveness of the winds.