Way of the Serpent

A monk who follows the Way of the Serpent does not often follow it by choice, but due to a curse they have been saddled with by the gods. Those possessing true beauty, that which surpasses mortal capacity, are punished out of jealousy. However, this curse can be harnessed and honed by certain individuals, to turn their monstrous bodies into weapons of vengeance or justice--striking back as surely as a snake.

Strike of the Empowered Vipers

At 3rd level, when you deal damage to a creature with an unarmed strike, you can choose to inject a poison using your bonus action, causing it to make a Constitution saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, it is poisoned until the end of your next turn.

Invocation of the Serpent

At 3rd level, your mastery of your curse allows you to empower your unarmed strikes with serpentine accuracy. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to awaken the snakes that writhe from your head. When you do so, each creature of your choice that you can see within 10 feet of you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take force damage equal to two rolls of your Martial Arts die.

For 10 minutes, your empowered snakes hover near your shoulders, and they become normal again early if you choose to end them as a bonus action, are incapacitated, or die.

While the empowered snakes are present, you gain the following benefits:

• You can use the snakes to make unarmed strikes.
• When you make an unarmed strike with the snakes on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal.
• The unarmed strikes you make with the snakes can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls, and their damage type is force.
• When you use your Flurry of Blows, you can make one additional attack with your empowered snakes. The number of extra attacks increases when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to two at 11th level and three at 17th level.

Visage of the Tranquil Cobra

When you reach 6th level, you can summon the visage of a meditative cobra. As a bonus action, or as part of the bonus action you take to activate Strike of the Empowered Vipers, you can spend 1 ki point to summon this visage for 10 minutes. It vanishes early if you are incapacitated or die.

The snakelike visage covers your face like a helmet or mask. You determine its appearance.

While the spectral visage is present, you gain the following benefits.

• You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet.
• You have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
• When you speak, you can direct your words to a creature of your choice that you can see within 30 feet of you, making it so only that creature can hear you. Alternatively, you can amplify your voice so that all creatures within 300 feet can hear you.
• When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 1 ki point to assail it with fear, causing it to make a Wisdom saving throw against your ki save DC. On a failed save, it takes psychic damage equal to one of your Martial Arts die and becomes frightened of you until the end of your next turn. If a creature succeeds on this save, they are immune to the fear effect of this ability for 1 hour.

Body of the Impervious Constrictor

Starting at 11th level, when you have both your empowered snakes and visage summoned, you can cause the body of your snake-like armor to appear (no action required). This spectral body covers your physical form like a suit of armor, connecting with the visage. You determine its appearance.

While the body is present, you gain the following benefits.

• When you take acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, poison, or thunder damage, the damage you take is reduced by one of your Martial Arts die.
• You have advantage on Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.
• When you are hit by an attack, you can use your reaction to add your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) to your AC, including against the triggering attack. This effect lasts until the start of your next turn.

Awakened Snake

Starting at 17th level, your connection to your snakes is complete, allowing you to unleash their full potential. As a bonus action, you can spend 4 ki points to summon the strike, visage, and body of your snake self and awaken them for 10 minutes. This awakening ends early if you are incapacitated or die.

While your snake self is awakened, you gain the following benefits.

• Your reach for your snakes is 10 feet greater than normal.
• Whenever you use the Extra Attack feature to attack twice, you can instead attack three times if all the attacks are made with your snakes.
• When a creature within 10 feet of you is reduced to 0 hit points, you can use your reaction to regain ki points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).