Oriental Prestige Class : Shintao Monk

Shinsei is a figure in the history of Rokugan whose nature and true identity are shrouded in mystery and legend. He spoke for many days with the first emperor Hantei, and his words are recorded in the Tao of Shinsei, a text that guides emperors and samurai as well as humble monks. Shinsei also led the Seven Thunders - the greatest heroes of the seven Great Clans - into the Shadowlands to combat the evil of Fu Leng, creating the Twelve Black Scrolls that bound the Evil One's power for a thousand years. Shintao monks are dedicated to following his teachings, both to further their own quest for enlightenment and to continue his crusade against the evil in the Shadowlands.

Shintao monks must advance at least a few levels in the monk class before learning the unique skills and supernatural abilities of the Shintao monk. Monks of Shinsei come from a wide variety of backgrounds, however many are retired samurai who become multiclass samurai/monks and then adopt the Shintao monk prestige class. Virtually all Shintao monks are human, and they come from all seven Great Clans as well as the common caste.

NPC Shintao monks serve as teachers and guides on the path of enlightenment. Many are advisors to daimyos or lesser nobles, but most live fairly reclusive lives in their monasteries and temples. A very few take Shinseis crusade to the very borders of the Shadowlands, risking death and Taint to combat the evil that infests that foul place.

Class Requirements

To qualify to become a Shintao Monk, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Class Skills

The Shintao monk's class skills are Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Heal, Jump, Knowledge (all skills taken individually), Listen, Perform, Profession, Spellcraft, Swim, and Tumble.

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features

The following are class features of the Shintao monk.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shintao monks gain no additional weapon or armor proficiency. They suffer the same penalties for wearing armor that monks do.

Monk Abilities: A Shintao monk has the unarmed damage, AC bonus, and speed of a monk with as many levels as her Shintao monk levels plus her monk levels.

Add the Shintao monk's base attack bonus derived from monk levels to that derived from Shintao monk levels and consult Multiple unarmed attacks

Touch the Void Dragon (Su): Once per day, a Shintao monk can raise one ability score by 1d4+1 points for a duration of 1 hour per level. This ability is similar to the spells bull's strength, cat's grace, and endurance, and to the effects of a potion of Intelligence, a potion of Wisdom, or a potion of Charisma.

Bonus Feat: At 1st level, and every two levels thereafter, a Shintao monk receives a bonus feat. This feat must be selected from the following list: Defensive Throw, Deflect Arrows (Grappling Block), Eagle Claw Attack, Expertise (Karmic Strike, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Defensive Strike, Superior Expertise, Whirlwind Attack), Fists of Iron, Great Throw, Improved Grapple (Choke Hold, Earth's Embrace), Stunning Fist (Falling Star Strike, Freezing the Lifeblood, Unbalancing Strike, Pain Touch).

Detect Taint (Sp): A Shintao monk of 2nd level or higher can use detect Taint as a spell-like ability, at will. Outside the featured campaign setting of Rokugan, the Shintao monk can use detect evil instead.

Smite Taint (Su): Once per day a Shinrao monk of 2nd level or higher may attempt to smite a Shadowlands opponent with one unarmed attack. She adds a ±4 bonus on her attack roll and deals +1 point of damage per class level. A Shadowlands opponent is a monster with the Shadowlands descriptor or a character with a Taint score. If the monk accidentally smites a creature that is not Tainted, the smite has no effect but it is still used up for that day

Outside the featured campaign setting of Rokugan, this ability applies to evil in general: The Shintao monk can smite any evil opponent.

Speak to the Soul (Sp): Once per day, a Shintao monk of at least 2nd level can use detect magic as if cast by a sorcerer of the Shintao monk's level.

Grasp the Earth Dragon (Ex): A Shintao monk of a least 3rd level is immune to stunning, sleep spells and effects, and slow spells and effects.

Purity of Shinsei (Sp): At 4th level, a Shintao monk can cause her entire body to become suffused with a heatless fire that sheds light as a light spell, as if cast by a sorcerer of the monk's level. The monk can use this ability once per level per day.

Channel the Fire Dragon (Sp): Once per day, a Shintao monk of 5th level or higher can use protection from elements (fire or cold only) as a sorcerer of the monk's character level.

Great Silence (Su): At 6th level, a Shintao monk gains a gaze attack. The Shintao monk can use this ability once per day, targeting one creature within 30 feet. When the monk's chosen target meets his gaze the target must attempt a Will saving throw (DC 10 + monk's class level + monk's Charisma modifier). If the target fails this save, he is struck mute for 1 minute per level of the monk. A mute character cannot speak or cast spells with a verbal component.

Steal the Air Dragon (Sp): Once per day a Shintao monk of at least 7th level can use improved invisibility as a sorcerer of the monk's character level.

Ancestral Guidance (Sp): At 8th level, a Shintao monk can use commune with greater spirit once per week as a cleric of the monk's character level. She need not pay the XP component cost for the spell.

Ride the Water Dragon (Ex): At 9th level, a Shintao monk's wounds heal extraordinarily quickly. She recovers 1 hit point per level per hour, without needing to rest for the healing to take place.

Kukan-Do (Su): At 10th level, a Shintao monk gains a second gaze attack. The monk can use this ability once per day, targeting one creature within 30 feet. When the monk's chosen target meets her gaze, the target must attempt a Will saving throw (DC 10 + monk's class level + monk's Charisma modifier). If the target fails this save, he and the monk are locked in a kind of elemental stasis, preventing both of them from mustering their spiritual energies. Neither the target nor the monk can use any spells, spell-like or supernatural abilities. Either character can attack or use skills and exceptional abilities, including the monk's unarmed attacks and stunning attack.

Code of Conduct: Shintao monks must follow certain rules of life in order to maintain the purity of their souls and continue their advancement toward enlightenment. They are forbidden to eat meat (though they may eat fish), commit murder or theft, or marry. Shintao monks are expected to avoid causing violence, though circumstances can make that impossible. Gluttony and drunkenness are vices to be avoided, and holy places must be treated with respect. Shintao monks cannot accumulate wealth or become involved in politics. A Shintao monk who violates this code of conduct or strays from a lawful good alignment cannot gain new levels as a Shintao monk but retains all monk class abilities. Assuming he remains lawful, he can continue to advance in the monk class.

Shintao MonkHit Die: d8
CLBABFortRefWillSpecial
1st+0+2+2+2Monk abilities, touch the Void dragon, bonus feat
2nd+1+3+3+3Detect Taint, smite Taint, speak to the soul
3rd+2+3+3+3Grasp the earth dragon, bonus feat
4th+3+4+4+4Purity of Shinsei
5th+3+4+4+4Channel the fire dragon, bonus feat
6th+4+5+5+5Great silence
7th+5+5+5+5Steal the air dragon, bonus feat
8th+6+6+6+6Ancestral guidance
~th+6+6+6+6Ride the water dragon, bonus feat
10th+7+7+7+7Kukan-do

Source: Oriental Adventures

Older Prestige class adapted to 3.5

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Monster Prestige Classes