Way of the Bounding Bolt

Followers of the Way of the Bounding Bolt value energy and boisterousness, believing that life is sudden, short, and should be enjoyed. This principle of levity makes finding their center simple, and allows their ki to flow freely. This flow is used in the unique techniques they practice, that allow them to harness the sudden and exhilerating power of lightning, in order to move quickly and strike with the flowing power of electricity.

Songbird's Current Technique

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can infuse your blows with electric currents. When you use your Flurry of Blows feature, choose one of the following effects:

Arcing Bolts. If you hit with your first attack, you can use your second attack to target a creature up to 15 feet away with an unarmed strike. This strike deals lightning damage.

If you hit with your first attack, you can use your second attack to target a creature up to 15 feet away with an unarmed strike. This strike deals lightning damage. Phase Jumps. If the target is within 5 feet of you, you may teleport anywhere within 5 feet of the target of your attack after each of your attacks.

If the target is within 5 feet of you, you may teleport anywhere within 5 feet of the target of your attack after each of your attacks. Kinetic Flash. If a target is hit by both attacks, that target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be blinded until the end of its next turn.

Become Lightning

At 6th level, you gain the ability to freely convert your body to and from lightning. As an action, you may spend 2 ki points to designate a straight line that is 5 feet wide and up to 60 feet long. You instantly teleport to the end of the line, or the nearest free space from the end of line. A creature of your choice in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the creature takes 2d6 + your Wisdom modifier lightning damage, or half as much on a successful save.

Starting at 11th level, once per round, immediately after using this ability, you can choose to use it again as a part of the same action. If activated this way, Become Lightning costs 1 ki point instead of 2.

The Stuff of Sparks

At 11th level, a follower of the Way of the Bounding Bolt learns that levity is electrostatic, allowing them to use their natural energy to bolster themselves and those around them. You gain resistance to lightning damage. Additionally, as a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to imbue a creature within 15 feet with innervating energies. Until the start of your next turn, the target gains movement speed equal to your unarmored movement speed bonus and your next attack deals additional lightning damage equal to your martial arts damage die.

Power Surge

At 17th level, you gain the ability to manipulate electricity that extends beyond your body. Whenever you deal lightning damage to a creature, choose a creature within 15 feet of it. That creature takes lightning damage equal to your Wisdom modifier. This can happen any number of times per round, but a creature can only be hit by this effect once per round.

Environmental Boons, Variant If you want your Bounding Bolt monks to have a little more situational oomph, consider adding these options at levels 11 and 17, respectively: Starting at level 11, if you are outdoors in stormy weather conditions any lightning damage you deal is increased by 1d6. You also gain this benefit if a spell or effect causes a storm in an enclosed area, such as with the call lightning spell.

Starting at level 17, when you are dealt lightning damage by a spell or effect that requires a save and you succeed on the save by 5 or more, you may choose to negate the lightning damage and regain hit points equal to the amount of ki points in your pool, or regain 1 ki point.

Version 1.2, 10/25/2017 By Izzy/InfKore

Art by Simon Loche

Credit to the Discord of Many Things for feedback Special thanks to Vileo Sufora and QalarValar and

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