"Within each of us burns the triad flame—mind to guide, body to endure, and soul to shine. When they move as one, there is nothing you cannot overcome."
— Grandmaster Kael of the Inner Flame

Monks of the Inner Light seek harmony between mind, body, and soul. Their path is one of emotional clarity, not suppression. They turn inner struggle into radiant discipline — embodying balance, insight, and purposeful force.

The Monastery of the Inner Light is an ancient and enigmatic order of monks who believe true enlightenment can only be achieved through perfect harmony between the mind, the body, and the soul. Nestled atop remote peaks or hidden within shimmering valleys where the veil between the planes grows thin, the monastery pulses with quiet power and radiant serenity.

Initiates are taught the Dance of the Three Rivers, a symbolic practice reflecting the fluid interplay between thought, motion, and spirit. These monks do not fight with anger or ego—they strike with the clarity of insight, the grace of form, and the compassion of truth. Through meditation, rigorous training, and philosophical contemplation, they awaken a divine spark within themselves: the Inner Light.

This radiant force empowers their techniques. Some monks manifest it as blinding flashes of energy, others as soothing auras or silent pulses that disrupt foes with a touch. Their ultimate test—the Trial of the Triad—is a sacred ritual where they confront the balance of their own being and may, if pure and whole, reflect that balance upon others in moments of profound intensity.

 

Level 3: Dance of the Three Rivers

You learn to channel the triad of Mind, Body, and Soul into a harmonious flow of power. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to enter the Triad Form, which lasts for 1 minute or until you are incapacitated, fall unconscious, or until you choose to end it (no action required).

While in the Triad Form, you can choose one of the following dances at the start of each of your turns:

• Dance of Clarity: You focus your mental energy, enhancing your awareness and control. You gain a +1 bonus to AC and advantage on Wisdom saving throws.

• Dance of Resilience: You strengthen your physical form, bolstering your resilience. At the start of your turn, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Martial Arts die + Wisdom modifier.

• Dance of Radiance: You channel the radiance of your soul into your strikes. Your unarmed strikes deal radiant damage, and you add your proficiency bonus to the damage dealt.

You can switch between dances at the start of each of your turns without spending additional ki. You can refresh the duration by spending 1 additional ki before it ends.

 

Level 6: Wholeness of Light

You have gained access to your inner light.

Once per long rest, as an action, you may regain hit points equal to 3 × your Monk level. You may choose to spend two-thirds of that healing on yourself, and direct the remaining one-third to a creature within 10 feet of you. That creature regains hit points equal to your Monk level.

You can only share this healing if another creature is within range at the time you use this feature.
You can spend 1 Ki point to use it a second time between long rests.

Level 11: Inner Flame

Your mastery over the triad of Mind, Body, and Soul ignites a powerful inner radiance. While Dancing Three Rivers is active and you´re in Triad Form, you can spend 2 additional ki points to ignite your Inner Flame, enhancing your abilities for 1 minute, or until your Triad Form ends.

While Inner Flame is active, you gain the following benefits:

• All three Dances are active at the same time. Dance of Clarity, Resilience & Radiance.
• Your unarmed strikes deal an additional 1d8 radiant damage.
• You gain immunity to being charmed or frightened. 
• If you are reduced to 0 hit points (but not killed outright), you instead drop to 1 hit point. This effect ends your Inner Flame and Triad Form immediately.

You can activate Inner Flame when you enter Triad Form or on any turn while Triad Form is active.
If you activate Inner Flame, the duration of Dance of Three Rivers is refreshed, and both effects continue for 1 minute from that point.

Level 17: Trial of the Triad

You have mastered the Triad and can now test others.
When you hit with an unarmed strike, you may spend 3 Ki to implant a spark of light. Only one creature can hold a spark at a time and it lasts for days equal to your Monk Level.
As an action, ignite the spark. The target makes 3 saving throws (DC = Ki Save DC). It chooses which one to start:

• Wisdom (Mind) – On fail: 3d8 psychic dmg + disadv. on all WIS checks/saves.
• Constitution (Body) – On fail: 3d8 force dmg + speed halved, no Dash/Disengage.
• Charisma (Soul) – On fail: 3d8 radiant dmg + frightened of you.
• On success: 3d8 bludgeoning per successful save.
• Success on all three: take only 3d8 bludgeoning and gain one level of exhaustion.
• Fail all three: drop to 0 HP instantly.
• If multiple saving throws are failed, the creature suffers the damage from each but only the effect of the first failed save is applied.