The uncanny power of the Sublime Way springs from a blend of physical skill, mental self-discipline, and adherence to distinct martial philosophies. Many of the maneuvers of the various martial disciplines aren’t magic at all — they are simply demonstrations of near-superhuman skill and training. Although many of the maneuvers and methods taught by the Sublime Way are mundane in execution and effect, their results can sometimes rival spells. The warriors who study the nine schools are capable of battlefield feats beyond those that a traditionally schooled and trained warrior can hope to accomplish.

Crusader

Devoted knight, divine agent, instrument of vengeance, peerless fighting machine—the crusader is a warrior dedicated to good, evil, law, chaos, or some other cause. They seek out and destroy the enemies of they chosen faith. Strengthened by prayer or absolute devotion to a principle, armored by unshakable faith, and driven by their convictions, a good crusader is a mighty weapon against injustice and malice. An evil crusader, on the other hand, is a cruel and fearsome warrior of darkness. A crusader who embraces a religion or holy faith is similar to a paladin in that they command a number of holy (or unholy) powers. However, a crusader has no skill with divine spellcasting; they are a martial adept whose maneuvers are unpredictable gifts of divine power. Trusting in the power of their chosen deity, they allow faith and intuition to guide them through battle. Many crusaders receive the call to their cause early in life, but never study formally at a temple or monastery. These warriors are gifted with a natural ability to channel the divine energies of their cause, but in a raw, untamed manner. A crusader has absolute faith in their ability to draw on the source of their power, but they never quite know how that power will manifest.

Steely Resolve Beginning at 2nd level, your supreme dedication and intense focus allow you to temporarily set aside the pain and hindering effects of injuries. When an opponent strikes you, the injury does not immediately affect you. You have a delayed damage pool that allows you to forestall the effects of many injuries. This pool begins at 0 with each encounter. When you are attacked, any hit point damage the blow deals is added to your delayed damage pool. At the end of your next turn, you take damage that can not be resisted equal to the total stored in your delayed damage pool, which then resets to 0. Any healing you receive can either increase your current hit point total as normal or reduce the total damage in your delayed damage pool. When you receive healing, you choose whether it affects your damage pool, your hit points, or both (you can split the amount of healing as you wish). Most crusaders opt to keep as much damage in their delayed damage pool as possible to maximize the benefit of their furious counterstrike ability. Special effects tied to an attack, such as drains, stun, and so forth, still affect you as normal, and their effects are not delayed by this ability. For example, if you are bitten by a venomous spider, you must still attempt a Constitution save against the poison immediately, even though the bite damage shifts into your delayed damage pool. By the same token, any other special attack that imposes a condition, such as a medusa’s petrifying gaze, takes immediate effect on you. Your delayed damage pool holds a maximum amount of damage equal to your proficiency bonus x 5.

Furious Counterstrike At 2nd level, you can channel the pain of your injuries into a terrific rage that lets you lash out at your enemies. When you hit with a melee weapon attack, you can deal additional damage equal to half of your delayed damage pool rounded up. You can only deal this damage once per turn.

Zealous Surge Beginning at 6th level, your boundless energy and dedication to your cause allows you to throw off the effect of a special attack, spell, or other attack that would otherwise hinder or harm you. You can reroll a saving throw that you fail. If you do so, you must use the new roll, and you can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Indomitable Soul At 10th level, you draw upon the power of your unwavering faith to steel yourself against the enemies you face. Your personality, energy, and dedication to your faith make it possible for you to shrug off attacks that target your willpower. You add your Charisma bonus (if any) as a bonus on Wisdom saves. This bonus does not stack with that from a paladin’s aura of protection ability.