Way of the Bulwark

There are many instances where the discipline of self-improvement overlaps with multiple sects. A clergy that hopes to embody their god's sense of protection will have some ideological similarities with a martial artist that strives to perfect their technique so that they may better fight for others. After all, their end goals are the same: to defend others.

The Way of the Bulwark takes this sentiment to heart, asking how one with only their body and mind can best stave off blows meant for others. Monks of this teaching learn that what one can do alone pales in what one can do with a team, so preserving members of said team is of top priority. Followers of the Guide, the Nothing, and Dorian will often choose this discipline, each for their own reasons.

Sidewinder
At 3rd level, you've seen combat enough to know that you must keep an eye on all threats, and your allies are your strongest weapon. Once per turn, when you hit a creature, you can choose to mentally hone in on the target and they become *threatened* by you. This effect lasts until the beginning of your next turn or until another creature becomes threatened. While threatened, if the creature makes an attack or casts a spell against one of your allies, you can use your reaction to make a special melee attack against them. If the creature's attack or spell deals damage, its damage is reduced by the damage you dealt to the creature with this special melee attack.

Additionally, if a threatened creature makes an attack or casts a spell while within 30 feet of you, you can spend a ki point and use your reaction to immediately move up to half your movement speed directly towards the creature. You can make the special melee attack against them as part of this reaction if the attack or spell is targeting a creature other than you and you're within range after the movement.

Shouldering the Burden
At 6th level, you can spend 2 ki points to cast warding bond on a creature within range. You do not need the material components to cast this spell. Additionally, each time your target of warding bond takes damage, you reduce the damage it receives by one of your martial arts dice. While a creature is benefitting from Shouldering the Burden, you gain an extra reaction each round. This extra reaction can only be used for Sidewinder, and only if the target of the attack or spell that triggers the ability is your target for Shouldering the Burden.

Fervent Dedication
At 11th level, your ability to protect your allies empowers them to throw their full force into the fray. When you successfully reduce a creature's damage using Sidewinder, the ally that was hit by the creature can use their reaction to make a melee attack against them.

Revelation
At 17th level, you make sure that you are able to react to danger at a moment's notice, no matter where it comes from. You are able to spend a ki point to gain an additional reaction at any point in time. Additionally, in moments of duress, your heart quickens and vision sharpens. You can spend 3 ki points as a bonus action to tap into this supernatural sense. For the next minute, all enemy creatures are considered threatened.