Way of Internal Alchemy

Monks following the Way of Internal Alchemy use a mystical practice to transmute their ki that mirrors traditional alchemy. Along with practicing traditional and internal alchemy, these monks subscribe to a life philosophy that emphasizes harmony and spontaneity. Some practitioners ingest alchemical reagents designed to extend their lives or enhance their mystical powers.

Level 3: Alchemical Cauldron-Body

You learn a special meditative practice that allows you to refine your ki. When you regain your expended ki at the end of a short or long rest, divide your ki points into two pools: bright ki and dim ki. Unless a feature or ability specifies it requires a dim ki or a bright ki, you can spend either to activate the ability.

Additionally, some of your ki features gain additional benefits depending on the type of ki used to activate them.

Flurry of Blows. When you use bright ki to activate this feature and you miss with at least one of the attacks, you can make one additional unarmed strike as part of the same bonus action. When you use dim ki to activate this feature, each creature hit by one of these unarmed strikes cannot take reactions until the start of its next turn

Patient Defense. When you use dim ki to activate this feature, you also roll your Martial Arts die and gain that many temporary hit points. You lose any remaining temporary hit points granted by this feature after 1 minute.

Step of the Wind. When you use bright ki to activate this feature, you can use a bonus action to take the Disengage and Dash action instead of having to choose just one.

Level 3: Bonus Proficiency

You gain proficiency with alchemist’s supplies.

Level 6: Imbalance Enemy

When you deal damage to a creature with an unarmed strike or monk weapon, you can spend 1 ki point to afflict the creature with an energy imbalance for 1 minute.

If you spent dim ki, while the creature is imbalanced and uses any of its movement on its turn, it has disadvantage on all ability checks and attack rolls it makes until the end of its turn.

If you spent bright ki, while the creature is imbalanced, it has disadvantage on all ability checks and attack rolls it makes on its turn until it has used all of its movement.

The creature can use an action on its turn to end the energy imbalance early, taking 1d6 + half your monk level damage when it does so. This damage is necrotic if you spent dim ki or radiant if you spent bright ki.

Level 11: Breath Mastery

Your spiritual essence has been refined to the degree that you need only suspire the pure energy of the multiverse. While you have 1 or more ki points, you have a flying speed equal to your walking speed and you do not need to breathe.

Level 17: Perfect Balance

You have learned to temporarily enter a state of total alchemical balance. As a bonus action on your turn, you can enter this state for 1 minute. While in a state of alchemical balance, the first time you spend ki each turn, you gain 1 ki point. If you spend a bright ki, you gain a dim ki. If you spend a dim ki, you gain a bright ki. After you use this feature, you cannot use it again until you complete a long rest.

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