Way of the Sword

The Way of the Sword is a monastic tradition forged in rebellion—not against kings or countries, but against the heavens themselves. Monks who follow this path undergo rigorous physical and spiritual training until their blade is no longer a tool, but a living extension of their soul.

 

These warriors wield not only sharpened steel, but sharpened will. They channel their ki through the blade, allowing it to cut not just through armor and flesh, but through lies, darkness, and even fate itself. To follow this path is to accept solitude, discipline, and a vow to remain unwavering in the face of despair.

 

Monks of this tradition often craft and maintain their own weapons, believing the bond between soul and sword must be forged by their own hand. Their strikes are precise, silent, and spiritual — as much an expression of philosophy as combat. Over time, these monks become legends: lone wanderers, protectors of balance, or blades of vengeance.

 

The Way of the Sword is not about war. It is about resolve.

When the heavens falter… the sword remains.

Level 3: Ki sword

You can infuse a nonmagical longsword with your ki over the course of a short or long rest, turning it into your Ki Sword. While you are wielding your Ki Sword:

 

You gain blindsight out to 10 feet.

You add your proficiency bonus to Insight, Perception, and Investigation checks.

Your unarmed strikes deal slashing damage, and you may replace them with slashes from your Ki Sword that deal damage equal to your Martial Arts die.

You gain proficiency in longswords.

All subclass features require you to be wielding your Ki Sword.

If the sword is ever lost or destroyed, you can infuse a new nonmagical sword during a rest.

Sword Domain

As a Bonus Action you can enhance your senses and body. For 1 minute you gain the following benefits:

• Your Blindsight increases to 30 feet (increases to 60 feet at 17th level)
• While Sword domain is active when you take the Attack action you can replace one of your attacks with a wave of sword energy
  • Choose either a 20 foot cone or a 30 foot line that is 5 feet wide
  • each creature in the area must make a dexterity saving throw against you Ki save DC
  • On a fail save a creature takes 2 martial arts dice of slashing or force damage (your choice) or half as much on a success. This damage increases to 3 martial dice at level 11
  • This wave of sword energy can be used a number of times equal to your Proficiency modifier. Once you've used all your waves of sword energy you can expend 2 ki points to use this feature again. All uses recharge on a long rest.

You can enter your sword domain a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.

Piercer of the Heavens

You channel your Ki through your sword with enough force to pierce the heavens

• Your Ki sword gains a 10-foot reach and becomes a +1 weapon. It is also consider magical for the purpose of ignoring resistance to non magical weapons.
• When you hit a creature with your Ki sword you can spend 1 Ki point to deal additional slashing or force damage equal to 1 martial arts dice + your wisdom modifier. This extra damage can be applied to every hit
• When you reduce a creatures to 0 hit points you can drain their life force to regain 1d4 ki points (2d4 at 11th, 3d4 at 17th). These temporary Ki points disappear at the end of a short or long rest. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest

One with the Blade

You and your weapon are one. 

• Your Ki sword becomes a +2 Weapon and your attacks ignore resistance to Slashing and Force Damage
• At the start of your turn, Choose one creature within your Blindsight range, Make an attack roll against that creature. On hit that creature takes slashing or force damage equal to your proficiency bonus. 

Swordgod

You have become a sword deity in motion.

• Your Ki sword becomes a +3 weapon and Your sword domain becomes permanently active.
• You no longer age and magic cannot magically age you.
• As an Action you may enter Sword God form for 1 minute by spending 3 ki points. While in Sword God form you gain the following benefits:
  • All your melee attacks deal extra slashing or force damage equal to your Martial arts die .
  • Your Attacks ignore immunity to slashing and force damage. Also Creatures hit by your attacks cannot regain hit points until the start of your next turn.

Sword Cracks

When you roll a natural 1 or natural 20 using your Ki sword, it may crack. Make a wisdom saving throw (DC = 12+ number of existing cracks). A natural 1 on this save automatically fails.

• On a failure your sword gains 1 crack. Upon 3 cracks your sword shatters and cannot be repaired
• Per crack your sword gets -1 to hit and damage rolls.