Yamabushi

The Yamabushi (vhalar. 'Star Priests') are an ancient sect of the Celestial Order of Khii, ancient priests who live in the cold, misty peaks of the northern isle. It is said that a Yamabushi is marked by the stars, and their births have been predicted and influenced by all Yamabushi before them, dating back to the first of their order: Hun, the father of celestials. Those born under the mark of the stars have legendary patience and wit, and while not immune to the emotions that come with their own free will, gifted with the wisdom to reflect and grow from all encounters.

The name Yamabushi means ‘They Who Prostrate On Mountains’, and was coined by the earliest farmers and warriors of the nation. Their connection to the stars and respect for the self lead them to extended periods of meditation, usually outdoors and as close to the sky as possible. This deepens their understanding of the world around them through clarity of self, and they are not above sharing these insights with those around them. As the nation of Khii evolved, so did the understanding and respect of the Celestial Order and the average Khiiar views them with an air of wisdom.

The connection to the heavens themselves blesses the Yamabushi with mystical gifts, similarly to the Clerics and Monks of their order. But instead of harnessing these energies as raw magic, the Yamabushi’s role is one of cleansing and healing. Emitting auras, protecting those around them, and weaving starlight as a tool is shown to be as effective as any other tools. To Yamabushi, peace is preferable to violence.

The Serpentkin of Khii were first offered to the Celestial Order as gifts from the stars themselves, and through time it has been shown that their gifts for these arts far surpassed their human counterparts. It was met with neither surprise nor ire that the stars began choosing these creatures, who would wander to the mountains from unknown hatcheries, predicted by the heavens with unerring accuracy. By this time, the order is almost entirely of Serpentkin, the human members of the order being some of the oldest and rarest of them all. The high priest of the Yamabushi, Zan Qin, spends days of his week in deep meditation on the highest peak of the Khiiar Celestial Temple, and nearly all of his responsibilities are handled by Guo Sun, the first and oldest Serpentkin of Khii. Both are over a century old, though Sun shows no signs of age.

## Cleric: Yamabushi

At first level, you are able to select Yamabushi in place of any Divine Domains listed in other sources. This grants you spells and other features when you choose it at 1st level. It also grants you additional ways to use Channel Divinity when you gain that feature at 2nd level, and additional benefits at 6th, 8th, and 17th levels.

**Fidelity Bonus**: Serpentkin and Khiiar (elves or humans) receive Inspiration at the start of every session.

**Kuoshu**: Yamabushi can choose to add their Wisdom to Hit and Damage rolls when using Unarmed Attacks.

**Unarmored Defense**: While you are not wearing any armor, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Wisdom modifier. If you cast a spell during your turn, you add 2 to your Armor Class until the start of your next turn.

**Spellcasting Focus**: Yamabushi use a **Star Brace** as their spellcasting focus. This must be crafted from a fine non-metal, typically ivory or dragonbone. This is worn on their right wrist and leaves their hand free. At 6th level, a Yamabushi can create a **Star Bangle**. This acts as an upgraded version of the Star Brace, and adds 5ft to the range of any aura and area of effect spells. The Brace consists of an ivory bracelet, and three gold rings attached by fine jeweler’s chain to the bracelet itself. Each ring must have a gemstone, and the brace itself must contain 3 small or one large gemstone. The total cost for the item is 100g.

### Starsigns

Based on the trimester the Yamabushi is born in, their connection with the heavens is altered. Based on the current number of each within the Yamabushi order, the existing leaders of the organization influence the births of new Yamabushi to fill the gaps in their order. In this way, almost all Yamabushi are pre-destined for a role and their impact on the world around them.

At first level, choose one of the below.

* Those born in the winter are sired under the **Sign of the Evening Star.**
* Those born in the Spring are sired under the **Sign of the Twins**.
* Those born in the Summer are sired under the **Sign of the Red Moon**.

### Channel Divinity

Starting at 2nd level, you can use Channel Divinity based on your Starsign:

* **Voidforme** (Sign of the Evening Star): As an action, the Yamabushi can influence their body to appear as the dark, star-flecked nature of the cosmos. For 1 minute, any attack against the Yamabushi is made with Disadvantage. If Darkfall is affecting you, you count as invisible.
* **Twin Stars** (Sign of the Twins): If a Yamabushi is maintaining a concentration spell, they can use their Channel Divinity to cast a second and maintain them both. For the duration of the spells, you have disadvantage on concentration checks, and must take one for each spell (specify before each roll).
* **Bloodmoon** (Sign of the Red Moon): As a bonus action, the Yamabushi can bathe their surrounding 50ft with the red light of the Bloodmoon. All melee attacks within this range are made with advantage, and any werebeast immediately is forced into their wereform. This aura does not move with the Yamabushi, and can be dismissed as a bonus action or when the Yamabushi spends 1 minute outside of its light.

### Prostrate

Starting at 6th level, the Yamabushi can prostrate in place and begin to meditate in the heat of battle. While prostrating, the Yamabushi doubles their Wisdom bonus. When casting a spell that allows them to select one target, they are able to target a number equal to their Charisma bonus instead. The prostrate can continue as an Action, as long as the Yamabushi does not move. While prostrating, the Yamabushi cannot react, and counts as blind and deaf unless required to cast or target a spell. Stopping the prostration counts as a move action. If attacked, the Yamabushi will not break their prostration, but any attack that causes them to move will automatically break their prostration. You cannot add your Dexterity to your Unarmored defense while prostrating, and automatically fail any Dexterity saves you are called to make.

### Starlight Weapons

Starting at 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse weapons with celestial energy. The Yamabushi needs to be in physical contact with the item to infuse it, and the infusion takes 10 minutes. They can infuse a Star Bangle to allow the unarmed attacks of its bearer to receive this bonus. This lasts until dawn, and they can maintain a number of items equal to their Wisdom bonus, and have the below effects:

* **Singularity Strikes** (Sign of the Evening Star): A target that takes damage from a Singularity strike must pass a Str Save (Spell Save DC of the casting Yamabushi) or be pulled 5ft closer to their attacker. If they are already within 5ft of their attacker, they fall prone.
* **Link Strikes** (Sign of the Twins): Any character who attacks a target that is within 5ft of a character who also has Link Strikes has advantage on their attacks.
* **Sanguine Strikes** (Sign of the Red Moon): Any target that takes damage from a Sanguine Strike must pass a Con Save (Spell Save DC of the casting Yamabushi) or count as poisoned.

### Celestial Saint

Starting at 17th level, the Yamabushi is so in tune with the frequency of the heavens that they are able to not only channel the power of the celestials, but begins to display their physical properties.

* **Blankgaze** (Sign of the Evening Star): The Yamabushi's eyes are constantly replaced with windows into the great void. They have Truesight, and can cast Detect Magic at will without spending a slot. They also have advantage on any Insight checks, and can pass this advantage to any willing target they can see.
* **Living Starlight** (Sign of the Twins): The Yamabushi's body shifts between the white light and darkness of the Twins. They can cast Cure Wounds and Inflict Wounds at level 1 without spending a spell slot, and can cast it at higher levels for a cost of 1 level each. They can shift their light to add +10 to any stealth checks they make, and can emanate light as if they were under the effects of the Light spell as a bonus action.
* **Redbleed** (Sign of the Red Moon): The Yamabushi's eyes and fingertips constantly bleed a red-tinged fog that rests on surfaces as crimson soot before dissipating. The Yamabushi can tear into their own body with their fingers and use their life essence as a sacrifice to the Red Moon, taking damage equal to their Con bonus plus a roll equal to their highest Hit Die and choosing one of the following effects as they cast the spell:
	+ Duplicate a single damage or healing die that was rolled as part of the spell.
	+ Grant disadvantage to any saving throws made
	+ Ignore a number of targets equal to your Wisdom modifier when casting a spell with an area of effect.
	+ Cast the spell as a Bonus or Move action.