Adept of the Eternal Spring

This is an archetype for the Unchained Monk class for the Pathfinder First Edition TTRPG. The flavor text and abilities of this class are listed below.   Though it has gone by many names over the centuries and even millennia of its practice, the martial path of "Eternal Spring" - known in the Seogharan tongue as "Wing Chun" - was an art whose origins have been long since lost to public knowledge after multiple diasporas of Seogharan martial arts stretching back thousands of years. Regardless of its origins, it is a martial art with deep roots in pacifism, freedom, and fighting against oppression - its practitioners taught to fight with open palms and use their surroundings against their foes, Adepts of the Eternal Spring rarely strike first, but are always ready to counter the iron fist of tyranny should it strike. Perhaps moreso than any other Seogharan martial art, the way of Eternal Spring has spread far and wide across Zheng-Kitar on the backs of cultural diasporas of the Seogharan people - who have taught the martial art in countless villages, towns, and cities across the continent to those who have needed its discipline and pacifistic resolve most(Most often to those who are under oppressive goverments or regimes), in whatever ways they can; even if that means teaching a downtrodden populace in abandoned slum housing, teaching in the sewers, or any other number of out of the way places the art may be taught in private beyond the prying eyes of the oppressors who may much prefer their populace to remain unable to defend themselves.

 

Bonus Feat

An Adept of the Eternal Spring replaces the normal monk bonus feats with the following:

• Agile Maneuvers, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Dodge, Improved Reposition, Improved Trip, Nimble Moves, and Weapon Finesse.

  At 6th level, the following feats are also available:

• Acrobatic Steps, Bodyguard, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Ki Throw, Mobility, Second Chance, and Sidestep.

  At 10th level, the following feats are added:

• In Harm’s Way, Repositioning Strike, Snatch Arrows, Spring Attack, and Tripping Strike.

 

Redirection(Ex)

At 1st level, by expending an attack of opportunity when attacked by a creature that the Adept of the Eternal Spring threatens in melee, they can perform one of the following actions. Using this ability does not negate or affect the damage from the triggering attack, as it resolves after the attack has hit or missed and dealt damage appropriately.

• Attempt a Reposition Combat Maneuver against the attacker.
• Attempt a Trip Combat Maneuver against the attacker.
• Deal their STR or DEX modifier(Whichever is used for their unarmed strikes) to the attacker. Treated as the same as their Unarmed Strikes for overcoming DR.

  The Adept of the Eternal Spring gains a +2 bonus on the combat maneuver check and/or a +2 to the damage dealt to the attacker if they use power attack or are charging when attacking and triggering this ability. These benefits double if both apply.   At 4th level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring can use this ability when a foe they threaten attacks an ally in their reach with a melee attack.   At 8th level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring can use two of the above actions when this ability is triggered.   At 12th level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring can use this ability against any foe that attacks them in melee, even if they do not threaten the attacker.   This ability replaces Stunning Fist.  

Unbalancing Counter(Ex)

At 2nd level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring’s attacks of opportunity render a struck creature flat-footed until the end of their next turn (Reflex DC 10 + 1/2 the Adept of the Eternal Spring' Monk level + their Wisdom modifier negates).   This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 2nd level.  

Flowing Dodge(Ex)

At 3rd level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring gains a +1 dodge bonus to AC for each enemy he threatens, up to a maximum bonus equal to his Wisdom modifier (minimum 1).   At 7th level, this bonus applies to each enemy threatening him that he is not himself threatening as well(Such as creatures with reach).   This ability replaces fast movement.  

Economy of Motion(Ex)

At 5th level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring can, by spending 1 ki point as an immediate action, enhance the effect triggered off their Redirection ability in one of the following ways. No matter which option they choose, they may make a free 5ft step afterwards. They may only use one of the following abilities, even if they trigger multiple effects on Redirection at once.

• If they triggered Redirection to use a combat maneuver check, if that check is successful the damage from the triggering attack is halved. Any associated effects from the attack (such as bleed, poison, or spell effects) apply fully even if the attack deals only half damage.
• If they triggered Redirection to deal automatic damage to the attacker, they can deal additional instances of that damage each time their Base Attack Bonus would grant them an additional attack. Unchained Monks add their additional flurry attacks to this total.

  This ability replaces Purity Body and the Unchained Monk's 8th level Ki Power.  

Maneuver Expert(Ex)

At 7th level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring doubles all conditional bonuses to her CMB for a single maneuver(Such as those from Improved Grapple, Greater Grapple, Etc) chosen when this ability is gained. She may choose another maneuver at 12th level.  

Greater Economy of Motion(Ex)

At 11th Level, an Adept of the Eternal Spring further enhances their ability to push and pull the flow of battle. When using their Economy of Motion ability, they can spend 2 ki points instead of 1 to improve the effects in the following ways:

• When using the ability to halve damage on a successful combat maneuver check, they entirely negate the damage and all associated effects instead if their combat maneuver check was successful. If they successfully negate an attack in this manner and the attacker was flanking them with another foe, the non-attacking foe becomes the new target of the attack.
• When using the ability to deal instances of automatic damage to the attacker, they may move the struck creature 5ft in movement that does not provoke for each instance of damage they deal. They may take free 5ft steps to follow their target, but must keep them in thier melee reach until the last 5ft movement, which can push the target outside their reach.

  This ability replaces the Unchained Monk's 10th Level Ki Power.  

Spell Resistance

An Adept of the Eternal Spring must take the Diamond Soul Ki Power at 12th Level or acquire the Diamond Soul Monk ability through the Qinggong Monk Archetype via the Qinggong Power Ki Power at 14th Level.  

Volley Spell(Su)

At 15th level, when a targeted spell or spell-like ability fails to overcome an Adept of the Eternal Spring’s spell resistance, he may reflect the effect onto its caster as spell turning by spending a number of points from his ki pool equal to 1/2 the spell’s level (minimum 1).   This ability replaces The Unchained Monk’s 16th-level ki power.