Way of the Penitent

In the eyes of both man and god, there are some sins so unforgivable, and some sinners so evil, that the only proper punishment is death. However, so too are there many who believe even the most evil sinners can redeem themselves through devoting their lives to others. Those who commit grave offenses are given a choice: To die or to serve. Those who choose to serve walk the Way of the Penitent.

Many who walk this path do not reach the end. They may forsake it, and return to their evil ways, often ending in their painful and/or slow death. Why? Because the negative karma they accumulated comes back to bite them. Those who reach the end of the path are not forgiven by mortals nor celebrated for their deeds, but in death are absolved of their sins by the gods and given eternal peace.

Chain of the Penitent

At 3rd level, you obtain the ability to summon a spectral chain tipped with a blade. You can expend 1 ki point to make up to two of these attacks. It is a ranged weapon attack with a range of 30 feet. You are proficient with it, and you add your Dexterity modifier to its attack and damage rolls. Its damage is piercing, and its damage die is a d4. This die changes as you gain monk levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table.

When you hit a creature with this attack and the creature is up to one size larger than you, it must make a Strength saving throw or be moved in a straight line to an empty space within 5 feet of you.

“The chains that bind you are more than your punishment. They are your purpose; your reason for living. But most of all, they are your weapon.”

Blood of the Penitent

At 6th level, you have learned that your suffering uplifts others and gives them strength. As a bonus action, you can consume two ki points to roll two martial arts die, and take damage equal to the number rolled that cannot be reduced in any way. Then, choose a friendly creature within 30 feet. You transfer the ki to that creature, giving them a bonus to any saving throw that creature makes within the next minute equal to the amount of damage you took.

Alternatively, you can heal a friendly creature for the damage you took. You can roll up to 3 additional die to increase the damage taken and healed.

”Our pain is to be embraced. It is through our suffering that other’s burdens are lightened. We bear not only our chains, but theirs as well.”

Love of the Penitent

At 11th level, you can summon your chains to control the battlefield. As an action, you can expend 4 ki points, then choose a point within 60 feet that you can see. Spikey spectral chains shoot down from thin air in a 20 foot radius and 20 foot tall cylinder centered on that point. These chains seemingly move on their own to make help allies and hamper enemies.

In this cylinder, hostile creatures take 2d6 slashing damage for every 5 feet traveled as the chains cut them. This circle is also difficult terrain for hostile creatures, as the chains do their best to impede enemies. Weapon attacks made by hostile creatures have a -3 to attack rolls and friendly creatures have a +3 to saving throws.

This ability lasts for one minute and functions like a spell that requires concentration, so if you take damage while using this ability, you must succeed on a concentration check to keep the cylinder from disappearing.

”We Atoners are reviled for our sins. They want to beat  and break us, but we must bear it all and give them love, for that is our path to absolution.”

Judgement of the Penitent

At 17th level, having become a true atoner, you have obtained the right to judge the wicked. As an action, you can expend 5 ki points to summon spectral chains within a creature's within 60 feet of you's mind, forcing them to make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, they take 5d10 psychic damage, have their movement speed halved, and gain disadvantage on attack rolls and saving throws. On a successful save, the creature takes half of the damage. The creature may attempt the saving throw again at the end of each of their turns, and on a success, the effect ends. You may expend additional ki points, up to a maximum of 3, to deal an additional 1d10 psychic damage for each ki point spent.

”We who have mastered the Way of Penitence have carried mountains on sin upon our backs. We have suffered for the sake of the many, and we have learned once more to tell right from wrong. As such, we have once again gained the right to judge the wicked and cruel such that they too might walk our path.”