Monks

The bandits think they have found an easy score: an elderly woman
clad in white robes meditates alone by the cliffside by herself. Yet
this woman felt their approach before they even noticed her. As they Personality Traits
draw their blades, she stands to face them, alone, unarmed, and 1 I only speak when it is absolutely necessary that I do so.
unarmored. She deftly dispatches her assailants with hand and 2 I always have an anecdote to explain any situation.
foot, her strikes glowing bright with arcane energy. After they flee,
she breathes in deep and returns to her meditation. 3 I enjoy the beauty of this world and take every opportunity to
embrace it.

D Ideals
uring the age of the Arcane Empire, there was a revolt
against the rising Faith of the Sacred Flame. The sor-
cerer-kings destroyed many holy symbols and divinely 1 Open. I have much to learn from others, and I embrace every
empowered artifacts. The continent’s first monks were forged in opportunity to do so.
the rebellion against the sorcerer-kings, when a group of devout 2 Cunning. I know I am capable, and many who doubt me have
and faithful warriors channeled their divine powers into martial learned quickly not to do so.
practices. While these monks could not master true divine spell- 3 Suspicious. Question everything: nothing in this world is as it
casting, they discovered how the meditative disciplines merged seems, people especially.
with martial practices led them to a higher spiritual state.
These warrior-monks, imbued by the flame, led the devout
in a rebellion against the sorcerer-kings after the fall of Saint Bonds
Tarna. They sparked new hope into the Sacred Flame, when 1 The order of my faith or tradition has sent me and I must do
the sorcerer-kings thought they had squashed the rebellion by right by them.
removing holy relics and limited divine magic.
2 I am fascinated by new places, and this is my first time leaving
In the time since the fall of the sorcerer-kings, the Faith has
my home.
built many monasteries. These locations are holy places where
monks train to harness the light of the flame through deep 3 I was exiled, and cannot return until I prove myself worthy.
meditation. They practice martial arts and follow the sacred
texts of the Flame in their own way. The Isles of Skye houses
one of the largest and most notable monasteries to the Sacred Flaws
Flame, and many worshippers travel there to live a life in service 1 I am so devoted to my faith or tradition that it blinds me from
to the flame. Regardless of the faith they follow, monks dedicate seeing other points of view.
their lives to honing divine energy into themselves, perfecting 2 Sometimes I am so lost in meditation that I forget there are
their skills, mastering ancient combat techniques, and purifying others around me.
their body and mind. 3 I think less of the unconscious people who have not found the
While there are some ancient reports of druidic warriors who light within them.
could channel the natural elements into their fighting style,
most monks are dedicated to the Faith. Monks that meditate on
the powers of primal elements, or follow the Old Gods, might Personal Quest
very well be the first divine warriors of the lands. They share
1 I have traveled far in hopes of taking the Sacrament of the
a lot of similarity to barbarians in their ancient traditions and Falling Fire and joining their divine purpose.
paths, but with a dedication to control and calm, over brute
strength and rage. 2 I have heard a rumor of a temple of monks to the Sacred Flame
up in the Pale Teeth Mountains. I wish to visit their monastery.
3 I hope to travel to the Isles of Skye and find new traditions and
wisdom from the people there.

“I hear stories of distant monastaries and ancient

shrines that have unique religious traditions and
turn one’s body in to a weapon. the religious folks
already have enough weapons,”

160 Guide to Drakkenheim

 Monk:
Way of the Arcane Hand
Monks who practice the Way of the Arcane Hand have
trained their bodies and souls to be attuned to the weave
of arcane magic. They can harness those cosmic energies
and use them to fuel their martial practices. Monks of this
tradition, although not mageborn, have gained control over
the rawest and most natural forms of power.

Erudite Education
3rd-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature
You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. Whenever you make an
Intelligence ability check, you gain a bonus to the check equal
to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of +1).

Spellcasting
3rd-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature
When you reach 3rd level, you gain the ability to cast spells. See
Spell Rules for the general rules of spellcasting and the Spells
Listing for the wizard spell list.

Arcane Focus
You can use a monk weapon as an arcane focus for your spellcasting.

Cantrips
You learn two cantrips of your choice from the wizard spell list.
You learn an additional wizard cantrip of your choice at 10th level.

Spell Slots
The Way of the Arcane Hand Spellcasting table shows how
many spell slots you have to cast your wizard spells of 1st level
and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot
of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots
when you finish a long rest.
For example, if you know the 1st-level spell thunderwave and
have a 1st-level and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast
thunderwave using either slot.

Spells Known of 1st-Level and Higher Spellcasting Ability

Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your wizard spells, since
You know three 1st-level wizard spells of your choice. you learn your spells through contemplation and meditation..
The Spells Known column of the Way of the Arcane Hand You use your Wisdom whenever a spell refers to your spellcast-
Spellcasting table shows when you learn more wizard spells of ing ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when
1st level or higher of a level for which you have spell slots. For setting the saving throw DC for a wizard spell you cast and
instance, when you reach 7th level in this class, you can learn when making an attack roll with one.
one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.
Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus
of the wizard spells you know with another spell of your choice + your Wisdom modifier
from the wizard spell list. The new spell must be of a level for Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus
which you have spell slots. + your Wisdom modifier

Chapter3: Drakkenheim Characters 161

 Way of the Arcane Hand Spellcasting Arcane Empowerment
Monk Cantrips Spells — Spell Slots per Spell Level — 6th-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature
Level Known Known
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
While you are concentrating on a spell, you add twice the spell’s
3rd 2 3 2 — — — level to the damage rolls of your unarmed strikes and attacks
4th 2 4 3 — — —
made with monk weapons.

Focus Power
5th 2 4 3 — — —
6th 2 4 3 — — —
7th 2 5 4 2 — — 11th-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature
8th 2 6 4 2 — — When you cast a spell, you can expend ki points to increase
9th 2 6 4 2 — — the level of the spell as if you’d cast the spell using a higher-
level spell slot. You must use a spell slot as normal to cast the
10th 3 7 4 3 — — spell, then expend 1 ki point for each level you increase the
11th 3 8 4 3 — — spell in this way. You can increase the spell’s level higher than
your highest-level spell slot to a maximum level equal to your
12th 3 8 4 3 — —
proficiency bonus.
13th 3 9 4 3 2 — For example, if you’re an 11th-level Way of the Arcane Hand
14th 3 10 4 3 2 — monk, when you cast the spell scorching ray using a 2nd-level
spell slot, you could expend 2 ki points to cast the spell as 4th-
15th 3 10 4 3 2 —
level spell.
16th 3 11 4 3 3 —
17th
18th
3
3
11
11
4
4
3
3
3
3
—
—
Spell Resistance
11th-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature
19th 3 12 4 3 3 1
You have advantage on saving throws against spells and magical
20th 3 13 4 3 3 1
effects. Furthermore, you have resistance to damage from spells
and magical effects.
Eldritch Flurry
3rd-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature Meditative Casting
Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn, you can cast 17th-level Way of the Arcane Hand feature
one of your cantrips in place of one of those attacks. Starting at 17th level, when you cast a spell with a casting time
When you use your Flurry of Blows, you can cast a spell with of 1 action that requires your concentration, you can expend ki
a casting time of 1 action as a bonus action instead of making points equal to the spell’s level to modify the spell so that it does
unarmed strikes. Finally, when you use your action to cast a not require your concentration. Instead, the spell lasts up to 1
spell, you may treat this as taking an attack with a monk weap- minute, or its maximum duration, whichever is shorter.
on for the purposes of your other monk features.

162 Guide to Drakkenheim

 Monk:
Way of the Serpent
Master of the spear, this nimble warrior uses polearms not only as
a weapon, but as an extension of themselves. Using their weapon to
amplify mobility, maneuverability, and combat. Like a snake in the
grass, the Way of the Serpent hones one’s ability to predict oncoming
attacks, deflect from a distance, and strike with deadly precision.

Serpent Style
3rd-level Way of the Serpent feature
You gain proficiency with the glaive, halberd, pike, trident, and
similar spears and polearms. These weapons count as monk
weapons for you, even if they have the heavy or two-handed
properties. Furthermore, your grace and mastery of these weap-
ons does not limit your ability to make unarmed strikes while
wielding a two-handed weapon.
While wielding a spear, or quarterstaff in two hands, your
reach with that weapon increases by 5 feet.

Serpent Spring
3rd-level Way of the Serpent feature
You can use polearm weapons to vault into the air. While you
are wielding a spear, polearm, or quarterstaff, your jump dis- Serpent Stances
tance is doubled. 11th-level Way of the Serpent feature
While wielding a spear, polearm, or quarterstaff, when you ex-
pend a ki point to use your Step of the Wind feature, your jump At the start of your turn, you can adopt a serpent stance
distance is tripled for the turn, and if you end your movement (no action required). When you do, choose one of the following
adjacent to a creature you gain advantage on the first attack roll serpent stances, which last until you are incapacitated or use this
you make against that creature this turn. feature again.
h Anaconda Stance. While using this stance, increase the

Serpent Strikes reach of your melee weapon attacks and unarmed strikes by
10 feet.
h Black Mamba Stance. While using this stance, once per
6th level Way of the Serpent feature
turn when you miss with a weapon attack, you may make an
You learn the following techniques to augment your attacks: additional melee attack as part of the same action.
h Cobra Strike. When a creature you can see moves into h Couatl Stance. While using this stance, you gain a flying
your reach, you can use your reaction to make one attack speed equal to your walking speed.
against that creature. h Marilith Stance. While adopting this stance, you can take
h Python Strike. When you hit a creature with an two additional reactions each round.
opportunity attack, you can also use your Stunning Strike
on that attack without expending a ki point.
h Viper Strike. Once per turn when you hit a creature Supreme Serpent
with a melee weapon attack, you can expend 1 or more ki
points, up to a number equal to your proficiency bonus. 17th-level Way of the Serpent feature
The attack deals 1d6 poison damage, plus 1d6 additional When you adopt a Serpent Stance, you can instead remove
poison damage per ki point spent, and the target is adopt two serpent stances at the same time, gaining the benefits
poisoned until the end of your next turn. of both effects.

Chapter3: Drakkenheim Characters 163