Way of the Steel Hand

Fists of Cobalt

Monks of the Steel Hand hail from the Kahlt mountains, a series of cobalt reserves that lie on the northern reaches of Bast, before the burning deserts of Ra'ztik. Clad in heavy armours mined from the earth, these monks emphasise philosophies of endurance, strength and retribution against those who would strike them down, allowing them to survive against the roaming clans of mountain orcs and frost giants who also make the Kahlt mountains their home.

Lacking a centralised monastery, and instead forging their armour in secretive forges littered throughout the landscape, Monks of the Steel Hand value the tenets of individualism, survival and personal strength above all else. Often, a Monk of Kahlt will simply exist on his or her own, occasionally taking apprentices when the time is right. In times of great need however, the Monks of Kahlt have marched down from the mountains to strike at threats that would endanger the world.

The Legend of Kahlt

Kahlt was the first of the Monks of the Steel Hand, and one of the five heroes of Bast that confined the bulk of the titan threat to the Worldhole & the Not-Lands. Legend tells of a young blacksmith's child who, when their homestead was destroyed by a lesser titan during the Rebirth, took their father's suit of armour and travelled to the mountains. They returned an adult, donned in this armour, and joined the fray without a single word - baffling the resistance at the time.

After Ragnar was slain in the seas to the north-east of Bast, creating the land mass that is now Titanfall, it is said that Kahlt returned home and raised a generation of monks to go and spread their word in their absence. Some believe that Kahlt still lives, sealed away within the cobalt peaks for a time when they are needed again.

Steel Coating

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with light, medium and heavy armour, and you may now make use of your martial arts feature whilst wearing any armour

However, whilst you are wearing armour, you may only use your Strength modifier for your unarmed strikes and monk weapons.

In addition, you no longer gain an unarmoured movement bonus. Instead, when you are wearing armour your movement speed cannot be reduced or slowed by any effect, including difficult terrain. Being grappled is the exception to this rule, and still reduces your movement speed to 0ft.

The Best Offence

Additionally, when you choose this tradition at level 3, you become trained in a martial art that emphasises a defensive posture. You forge yourself in the unending endurance of Kahlt themself, allowing you to absorb and avoid blows that might damage others.

When you use your Flurry of Blows feature and hit a creature with at least one of your attacks on the same turn, you gain an additional 2 AC until the start of your next turn.

Kahlt's Endurance

At 6th level you gain the ability to endure blows that would topple other creatures. When you take damage, you may use your reaction and spend an amount of Ki points up to half your monk level (rounded up) to absorb the blow.

When you do so, you reduce the damage taken by 1d8 per Ki point spent + your Wisdom modifier. This increases to 1d10 per Ki point spent at 11th level.