Many a damaged soul have sought monkhood in order to repair their shattered state of mind. However, sometimes the path to enlightenment leads one even further into the darkness of the world.

Monks of the Way of The Nihilist go far beyond a simple belief that the world is meaningless, their minds are filled to the brim with endless pessimistic thoughts, a fixation on the grim realities of the universe, and a belief that nothing can truly be known.

Many of them are enlightened and aware of ALL of the suffering in the world, and have, one way or another, found a way to live with it. Be it through existential detachment, falling in love with the darkness of the world, or any other number of other ways which leave them a grim yet resilient being.

Stabilized Agony

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level you become accustomed and callused to the horrors of the world around you.

You become immensely resilient to emotional effects other than one permanent instance of madness gained at some point in your choosing of this tradition.

You gain one of the following Madness traits, this trait cannot be cured by any possible means, communicate with your DM if there are any other flaws you wish to use instead.

Indefinite Madness

1d4	Flaw (Incurable)
1	“I find it hard to care about anything that goes on around me.”
2	“Being drunk keeps me sane.”
3	“I can’t take anything seriously. The more serious the situation, the funnier I find it.”
4	“I’ve discovered that I really like killing people.”

In addition to this you gain the following traits

• Other than your permanent madness granted by this feature, you cannot be induced with any other madness effects.
• You are immune to being frightened
• You have advantage on any wisdom saving throw made to resist your emotions being swayed including charms.
• You cannot be granted levels of Exhaustion by way of a magical effect.

 

The Abyss Stares Back

Beginning at 3rd level, your mind has been scarred by the cruel realities of the world around you. While you are numb to these, if ever other creatures view your thoughts they are harmed by it.

If ever a creature reads your mind, it must immediately make a wisdom saving throw equal to your Ki save DC, on a failed save they take a number of d6s of psychic damage equal to half your monk level rounded down. If they read your mind for more than 1 turn, they must re-attempt this each turn.

In addition, you can utter crushing words of discouragement and dread. As an action you can force a creature within 60 feet of you to make a wisdom saving throw equal to your Ki save DC, on a failed save they gain disadvantage on ability checks and saving throws made until the start of your next turn and take 1d4 of psychic damage. They must be able to hear you but needn't understand you.

This die changes as you gain monk levels, as shown in the Martial Arts column of the Monk table.

This can be done as a bonus action if targeting a creature immediately after attacking them with an unarmed strike or monk weapon.

Lastly, you may expend any number of ki points when using this feature to target additional creatures within 60 feet for each ki point expended.

Radical Skepticism

At 6th level your tendency to doubt and question everything has caused you to view the world in a different way.

You gain proficiency in the insight skill, if you already have it you gain expertise in the skill instead.

In addition if you are prompted to make an ability check or saving throw to see through an illusion or to resist the effects of an illusion spell you may attempt the check/save using your insight modifier.

Afflicted Mind

At 11th level you become immune to psychic damage and you have advantage on any saving throw that deals psychic damage as a part of its effect (such as Vicious Mockery or Feeblemind).

Meaning in Suffering

Beginning at 17th level, your being has become so intertwined with suffering that physical pain can restore your Ki.

Anytime you take 30 or more damage from a single source you regain Ki points equal to the total damage taken divided by 30 rounded down.

This still occurs even if the damage reduces you to 0 hp.