Way of the Snake
A Way of the Snake Monk is a Monk focused on becoming less like a Humanoid and more like a Snake, a Monk that uses precision to strike an opponent painfully, then combining their Ki with toxins to inflict an enemy with poisons. These monks are often very flexible, sometimes even unnaturally so. It is said that the strongest of these monks have ki that is as poisonous as a Viper's venom and as flexible as a Python. These monks make good assassins, but many find themselves as doctors, using their knowledge on poisons to make antidotes. It is believed that this form of Monk first appeared in Yuan-Ti temples as warriors under the Snake Gods.
Snake-Like Ki: Starting at third level, your ki begins changing to become more venomous and snakelike, even changing your body to become more flexible. Once per a round on your turn, you can apply one of the following effects to an unarmed attack that hits. Additionally you can spend one ki to empower it:
Poison Ki: You combine your strike with your poisonous Ki, dealing an additional amount of poison damage equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die. If you empower it, then the target must make a Constitution saving throw, on a fail they are poisoned for one minute. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of their turns, ending the poison on a save
Snake limbs: You apply your ki to your arm, making it flexible and wrap around the creature you striked. The creature you striked must make a Dexterity saving throw being grappled on a fail, and the escape DC is your Ki DC. If you empower it, then the creature is restrained while grappled.
Reptilian Features: At level 6, your Ki further changes your body. You gain resistance to poison damage, advantage on saving throws against the poisoned condition, advantage on checks to escape grapples or restraints, and a new action. As an action, you can have your snake senses activate, you gain 20 ft blindsight for 10 minutes, you can use this once and regain it on a long rest, or you can spend 3 ki to use it again.
Snake Bloodline: At level 11, you gain a special buff based on what type of snake you are mostly connected to. The choices are Python, Viper, and Rattlesnake.
Python: When you use your Snake Limbs part of your Snake-Like Ki feature, you do not need to spend ki to activate the empowered effect, instead if you apply Ki the following effect happens: Every Turn the creature starts grappled, they take 1d8+Str or Dex Mod bludgeoning damage as you try to squeeze them to death.
Viper: When you use the Poison Ki part of your Snake-Like Ki feature, you do not need to spend ki to activate the empowered effect, instead if you apply Ki the following effect happens: A creature that is poisoned gains disadvantage on Str saves and Checks.
Rattlesnake: You gain a tail with a rattler at the end of it and a special reaction. When a creature moves to a spot within 10 ft of you, you can use your reaction to rattle your rattler. All creatures within 30 ft must make a Wisdom saving throw, on a fail they are frightened until the end of your next turn, while frightened like this you have advantage on attack rolls against them and their movement speed is 0. A creature that passes this is immune to it for 24 hours.
True Serpentine Form: When you reach 17th level, you are able to take a form that perfectly fits your Serpentine Ki. You can use an action to take this form for one hour, your entire body covers in scales, you gain fangs and a long thin forked tongue, and cold eyes. You gain the following effects while transformed:
You are Immune to poison damage and resistant to non magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage
You gain Immunity to the poisoned condition, and advantage against the paralyzed condition
You gain a swimming speed equal to your walking speed and can hold your breath for 10 minutes.
You deal an additional 1d6 poison damage on a hit with unarmed or melee weapon attacks
Your AC increases by 2
You gain 20 ft Blindsight and 60 ft darkvision
You can take this form once per a long rest, or spend 6 Ki to activate it after you have activated it once.
Snake-Like Ki: Starting at third level, your ki begins changing to become more venomous and snakelike, even changing your body to become more flexible. Once per a round on your turn, you can apply one of the following effects to an unarmed attack that hits. Additionally you can spend one ki to empower it:
Poison Ki: You combine your strike with your poisonous Ki, dealing an additional amount of poison damage equal to one roll of your Martial Arts die. If you empower it, then the target must make a Constitution saving throw, on a fail they are poisoned for one minute. They can repeat the saving throw at the end of their turns, ending the poison on a save
Snake limbs: You apply your ki to your arm, making it flexible and wrap around the creature you striked. The creature you striked must make a Dexterity saving throw being grappled on a fail, and the escape DC is your Ki DC. If you empower it, then the creature is restrained while grappled.
Reptilian Features: At level 6, your Ki further changes your body. You gain resistance to poison damage, advantage on saving throws against the poisoned condition, advantage on checks to escape grapples or restraints, and a new action. As an action, you can have your snake senses activate, you gain 20 ft blindsight for 10 minutes, you can use this once and regain it on a long rest, or you can spend 3 ki to use it again.
Snake Bloodline: At level 11, you gain a special buff based on what type of snake you are mostly connected to. The choices are Python, Viper, and Rattlesnake.
Python: When you use your Snake Limbs part of your Snake-Like Ki feature, you do not need to spend ki to activate the empowered effect, instead if you apply Ki the following effect happens: Every Turn the creature starts grappled, they take 1d8+Str or Dex Mod bludgeoning damage as you try to squeeze them to death.
Viper: When you use the Poison Ki part of your Snake-Like Ki feature, you do not need to spend ki to activate the empowered effect, instead if you apply Ki the following effect happens: A creature that is poisoned gains disadvantage on Str saves and Checks.
Rattlesnake: You gain a tail with a rattler at the end of it and a special reaction. When a creature moves to a spot within 10 ft of you, you can use your reaction to rattle your rattler. All creatures within 30 ft must make a Wisdom saving throw, on a fail they are frightened until the end of your next turn, while frightened like this you have advantage on attack rolls against them and their movement speed is 0. A creature that passes this is immune to it for 24 hours.
True Serpentine Form: When you reach 17th level, you are able to take a form that perfectly fits your Serpentine Ki. You can use an action to take this form for one hour, your entire body covers in scales, you gain fangs and a long thin forked tongue, and cold eyes. You gain the following effects while transformed:
You are Immune to poison damage and resistant to non magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage
You gain Immunity to the poisoned condition, and advantage against the paralyzed condition
You gain a swimming speed equal to your walking speed and can hold your breath for 10 minutes.
You deal an additional 1d6 poison damage on a hit with unarmed or melee weapon attacks
Your AC increases by 2
You gain 20 ft Blindsight and 60 ft darkvision
You can take this form once per a long rest, or spend 6 Ki to activate it after you have activated it once.
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