Way of the Ethereal Soul

Monks of the Ethereal Soul follow a tradition that taps into the beings of shadow beyond the material plane. They are imbued with the essence of the ethereal spirits to seemingly fade between shadow and light, incorporeal and physical. Like creatures that walk the spirit realm (wraiths, shadows, and specters), these shadowy monks are attuned to the life energy connecting all objects and creatures and can tap into these forces to evoke powerful supernatural abilities – often at a cost of their own life essence. They often serve as spies and assassins, with an innate ability to travel unseen and access the inaccessible. They can be members of a ninja monastery, forming a clan sworn to secrecy about their arts and missions. Other monasteries are more like thieves’ guilds, hiring out their services to nobles, rich merchants, or anyone else who can pay their fees. Regardless of their methods, the heads of these monasteries expect the unquestioning obedience of their students.

Like most monks, Ethereal Soul Monks are in peak physical form and can push their bodies beyond the limit of most mortals. However, monks of this tradition are equally adept communing with the spirit realm and can tap into this life force in themselves and others to achieve unnatural powers.

As a result, the Way of the Ethereal Soul Monk subclass uses two distinct mechanics to embolden their abilities.

• Ki: Representing the monk’s heightened physical and mental prowess.
• Soul Siphon: Representing the subclass’ spirit-based abilities. When using the Soul Siphon feature, the monk may take necrotic hit point damage equal to a roll of the martial arts die to endow the character with supernatural talents. This damage cannot be reduced in any way. Unless specified otherwise, the Soul Siphon ability may only be used once per turn.

Bound by Shadow

3rd-level Way of the Ethereal Soul feature

You gain the Chill Touch cantrip if you don't already know it. In addition, your eyes now permanently pierce the ethereal veil. You have Blindsight up to 20ft.

Soul Siphon

3rd-level Way of the Ethereal Soul feature

Soul Siphons powers the subclass’ unique spirit-based abilities. When using the Soul Siphon feature, the monk may take necrotic hit point damage equal to a roll of the martial arts die to endow the character with supernatural talents or enhance an existing physical skill. This damage cannot be reduced in any way. Unless specified otherwise, the Soul Siphon ability may only be used once per turn.

Soul Siphon abilities are used by consuming Soul Siphons “points”, sharing some similarities to the Sorcerer’s Sorcery points. Each siphon represents a soul “consumed”; stored to later power the character’s supernatural abilities. Each Soul Siphon ability has an associated point cost which must be met to execute the ability. Unless stated otherwise, Soul Siphon abilities are free actions, enhancing an existing action or bonus action. Soul Siphons are created in two ways

1. By using a bonus action to consume the soul of a recently expired NPC within 30ft of the player character, storing it for later use in the character’s soul gem
2. By extracting one’s own life force (hit points) on your turn to create one or more siphons to power an ability enhancement. For each Soul Siphon created in this manner, you take a roll of your Martial Arts die as necrotic damage. You cannot reduce this damage in any way. You can create as many siphons as you would like in this manner on a turn but must suffer the full amount of damage for each siphon created.

The maximum number of Soul Siphons a player can store at once increases by monk level and is equal to the following table.

Monk Level	Maximum Soul Siphons
3rd	2 Soul Siphons
5th	3 Soul Siphons
9th	4 Soul Siphons
13th	5 Soul Siphons
17th	6 Soul Siphons

Phantom Warrior

Starting at level 3, you may Soul Siphon an unarmed strike with one of the following options:

Reaping Scythe: You siphon life essence to imbue your attack with added power. When you hit a creature with the next unarmed strike, a spectral scythe forms around your fist, empowering your strike. The creature takes additional necrotic damage equal to your Martials Arts die + Wisdom modifier.  (Cost: 1 Siphon)

Spectral Malaise: Your attack saps the target of its life essence, causing it to be overcome by a wave of lethargy. When you hit a creature with your next unarmed strike, the target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature suffers from the effect of the Bane spell until the end of your next turn. You also gain [resistance on the first attack made by this creature. (Cost: 1 Siphon) 

Clarity of Body

3rd-level Base Monk Ability (Quickened Healing moved from 4th level to 3rd level and improved)

As an action, you can spend 1 Ki points and regain a number of hit points equal to a roll of your Martial Arts die plus your Wisdom modifier. For each Ki spent, you can increase your healing by an additional Martial Arts die. The maximum Ki you can spend is based on the table below:

Monk Level	Maximum Ki Spend
3rd	1
5th	2
11th	3
17th	4

Shadow Step

6th-level Way of the Ethereal Soul feature

At 6 level, you gain resistance to necrotic damage (excluding the damage received from your Soul Siphon ability).

Additionally, you gain the ability to step from one shadow to another. When you are in dim light or darkness, as a bonus action you can teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see that is also in dim light or darkness. If you Shadow Step during combat, you may still make your bonus action unarmed strike on your turn.

 You can also use your Soul Siphon ability to enhance your Shadow Step.

Wraith Strike:  You spend a Soul Siphon to change your Shadow Step into a free action on your next turn. Additionally, if you are attacking at least two different creatures, you can Shadow Step a second time an additional 20 feet to attack another creature if both targets are in dim light or darkness. (Cost: 1 Siphon)

Phantasmal Flurry

11th-level Base Monk Ability (Added incremental enhancements)

By 11th level you channel your connection to the ethereal plane to enhance your martial prowess. Your Flurry of Blows makes three unarmed strikes instead of two.

Embodiment of the Wraith

11th-level Way of the Ethereal Soul feature

Your unarmed strikes can now do necrotic damage. 

You also learn new uses of your Soul Siphon ability.

Cleaving Scythe: Upon a successful melee attack, your Reaping Scythe can now strike in a wide arc, extending to up to two additional targets within 5 feet of you. Each additional creature takes {{scalevalue}} necrotic damage. (Cost: 2 Siphons)

Greater Spectral Malaise: Your Spectral Malaise can now act as an area of effect. As an action, select up to three targets within 15 feet of you. Each target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature suffers the effect of the Bane spell for one minute. The creature makes the save at disadvantage if in dim light or darkness. While under the effect of the Bane spell, you gain resistance to all attack damage except psychic from that creature. (Cost: 2 Siphons)

Visage of the Specter

At 17th level, you have gained mastery over the realm of the spirits. You may now use two Soul Siphon abilities per turn, unless both abilities require a full action to activate.

You also learn new uses of your Soul Siphon ability:

Ethereal Self: As a bonus action, you use an intense concentration of mind to you will your body into a spirit-like form, allowing you to step into the border regions of the Ethereal Plane, in the area where it overlaps with your current plane. You remain in the Border Ethereal for the spell duration, or until you use your action to dismiss the spell effect. During this time, you can move in any direction. If you move up or down, every foot of movement costs an extra foot.

You can see and hear the plane you originated from, but everything there looks gray, and you can’t see anything more than 60 feet away. You ignore all objects and effects that aren't on the Ethereal Plane, allowing you to move through objects you perceive on the plane you originated from. You can only affect and be affected by other creatures on the Ethereal Plane as long as you do not make an attack action. Creatures that aren't there can't perceive you or interact with you, unless they have the ability to do so.

If you make an attack action on your turn, your concentration begins to waiver.  You return to physical form to make your attack but must roll a 1d20 at the end of each of your turns for the next minute. On a roll of 11 or higher, you vanish from your current plane of existence and appear in the Ethereal Plane. At the start of your next turn, you return to an unoccupied space of your choice that you can see within 10 feet of the space you vanished from. If no unoccupied space is available within that range, you appear in the nearest unoccupied space (chosen at random if more than one space is equally near). The spell immediately ends after one minute, as your concentration finally falters. (Cost: 3 Siphons) 

Soul Taker:  As an action, you attempt to gain control over the soul of a humanoid that you can touch though a battle of wills. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature suffers the effect of the Dominate Person spell for one minute. 

In combat, the target can make an additional Wisdom saving throw at the end of each turn to attempt to break the possession. If the target rolls a critical success on its saving throw, you become stunned for a round, as your spiritual influence is violently jettisoned from the target’s soul. If the creature is brought to 0 hit points while under your influence, you recover a Soul Siphon.  (Cost: 4 Siphons)