1 New Monk Subclass - The Way of Stillness
1 NPC Statblock for an Ascetic Monk
1 new magic item for Monks
These monks take meditation to extremes, often remaining still for long periods of time in order to better focus on achieving enlightenment. Some monks following the Way of Stillness deliberately remain still in conditions that cause minor damage, laying on beds of nails, sitting on blocks of ice or other inventive ways of causing themselves to feel pain. This training grants those following the Way of Stillness greater resistance to damage and a higher tolerance for pain and discomfort during these periods of stillness.
The life of quiet and stillness led by these monks does not mean that they never move, indeed they are equally capable of astonishing feats of physical dexterity and sudden motion as other monks. They just choose their moment, never wasting energy unnecessarily, but making it count when they do. These ascetic monks will act - but only when the time is right. In their view most things in life resolve themselves given time and the best action to take is often no action.
The more extreme monks of the Way of Stillness often neglect their bodily needs, eating and drinking, washing and changing clothing infrequently. Their ragged look and calm serenity, coupled with their purposeful use of stillness in potentially injurious situations, can lead others leading more active lives to question the sanity of these monks. However they are completely rational in their choices, deliberately channelling their discomfort and stillness into their pursuit of enlightenment.
- from the publisher's blurb