Way of the Currents Embrace

Monks who follow the Way of the Currents Embrace are as elusive as the wind and as unpredictable as a storm. They master the art of turning an adversary's force against itself, embodying the principle that the most effective defense is to use an opponent's own offense to your advantage. Through a blend of martial prowess and ki manipulation, they bend the momentum of enemy attacks, creating opportunities for counterstrikes and control.

Bonus Proficiencies

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, You gain proficiency in the Slight of Hand skill if you don't already have it. Your training in the way of the Currents Embrace teaches you the importance of flowing with the energy around you.

Harmonious Deflection

Upon entering the Way of the Currents Embrace at 3rd level, you become adept at bending the energy of your enemies' attacks to undermine their efforts. When you engage in your Flurry of Blows, you now infuse a target with a Flow of Tranquility, leaving them open to a Ripple Counter.

- Flow of Tranquility: As you strike with the attacks from your Flurry of Blows, you infuse your hits with disruptive ki that unsettles your foe's form. Should you land a blow, the target is caught in the flow of your tranquility, suffering a penalty to their next attack roll against you equal to your proficiency bonus until the beginning of your next turn. If that creature compels you to make a saving throw, your proficiency bonus fortifies your saving throw against that specific attack or effect. This effect does not stack.

- Ripple Counter: If a creature under the influence of your Flow of Tranquility fails to hit you with a melee attack, your keen senses allow you to redirect their missed strike. With your reaction, you may guide their attack to another creature within 5 feet of you, potentially even turning their own force against them. The redirection targets a creature of your choosing within range of those available, the damage dealt is the creature's roll plus your WIS modifier.

Tranquil Restraint

By the time you reach 6th level, you may infuse your Flow of Tranquility with a subtle ki bond (1 ki point) that ensnares the will of your opponents. An enemy struck by your Flow of Tranquility finds their desire to escape your presence severely hindered.

The creature cannot willingly move to increase the distance between themselves and you until the end of your next turn. This binding effect does not inhibit other forms of movement, such as being pushed or teleported away by external forces.

Should you move away from the creature, the bond breaks, and their mobility is restored.

Ki Attunement

At 6th level, your connection to your ki deepens, allowing you to recover your inner strength with a meditative focus. During moments of peace, you may spend one minute in meditation to reclaim half of your expended Ki points, rounded up. This rejuvenating trance can only be entered once per long rest.

Kiweave Arcanery

At 11th level, your kinship with the flow of ki extends into the weave of magic itself, granting you the prowess to bend enemy spells as you would a river's current. When a creature affected by your Flow of Tranquility casts a spell while within 5 feet of you, you may use your reaction and expend ki to alter the spell's trajectory if they are within range of your attacks.

- Spell Redirection: You can spend 3 ki points to attempt to redirect a spell of 3rd level or lower. For each level above 3rd, the cost increases by 1 ki point for every 2 additional spell levels, up to a maximum of 6 ki points to affect a spell of 9th level. 

- Kiweave Challenge: If the spell's level is equal to or less than the ki points spent, you may redirect the spell. If the spell's level is higher, you must make a Wisdom ability check against a DC of 10 + the spell's level. On a successful check, you may redirect the spell to a new target within range or choose a new point of origin within the spell's range, if it targets the original caster, you may choose to negate the spell completely. On a failed check, the spell is cast as the original caster intended.

- Ki Resurgence: If you successfully redirect a spell, the currents of ki return to you, replenishing your reserves. You regain ki points equal to the level of the redirected spell (rounded down, to a maximum equal to the ki points spent on the redirection). This represents your ability to harness and recycle the spell's energy.

Ki Imprint

Upon attaining the 17th level in the Way of the Currents Embrace, you gain the ability to alter the very essence of your adversaries' being with a well-placed strike. When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, you can choose to spend 5 ki points to leave them at 1 hit point instead as a reaction. This act forges a temporary ki bond that reshapes their memories and loyalties.

- Altered Perception: You can alter the creature's memories and personality, making it neutral or friendly towards you. You could cause it to forget the reasons for its aggression or even believe it has led a different life entirely.

- Temporary Alliance: You may command it to cease hostilities or, if you wish, fight alongside you. The creature must understand a language you speak, or you must be able to communicate with it telepathically or through other means for it to follow your complex commands.

- Fading Influence: The altered state lasts for 7 days until the creature falls unconscious, or until it is subjected to a *greater restoration* spell or a similar effect. Once the effect ends, the creature remembers its original memories and personality but does not recall the events that transpired while under the influence of Ki Imprint.

- Creature's Will: Creatures with an Intelligence of 3 or lower are immune to this effect, as are creatures that cannot have their minds changed by magical means. This ability has no effect on undead, constructs, or creatures immune to being charmed.