# Way of 18 Dragon-Subduing Palms This style is mysterious and jealously guarded, reserved as a hidden weapon against evil by a secret society dedicated to protecting the downtrodden. Usually, only the highest ranking members of the sect are trusted with this power, but the style has found its way into the hands of outsiders before. For a young wanderer, gaining this knowledge will change their destiny forever, as envy, curiosity, and the lure of challenge will inevitably attract strong warriors.<br> It's fitting that the first tradtion here is the magificent 18 Palms, perhaps the world's most famous fictional martial art. The description above roughly outlines what role the palms play in their own story, but they can fit in any setting that requires a mysterious and powerful style. Even in its source material, the style remains a mystery to readers other than its connection to the I Ching, so its powers here were themed around that, with powerful divination abilities and emphasis on latent potential. ## 3rd level ### Thunder at the Well **You gain proficiency in Intelligence (Arcana) and the True Strike cantrip.** You understand the basic physical forms of the palms and the timeless wisdom they're based on. <br> ## 6th level ### Neither Facts nor Power **You may cast Nondetection or Stoneskin on yourself for 4 or 5 ki respectively.** You have already achieved a high level of harmony with the universe. Any child can make a ripple in a pond, but you understand that true strength lies with one who can stop the ripple. By concentrating, you can shade your aura, making you difficult to find, and the effect can pass into your body, making you hard to hit. <br> ## 11th level ### Quality of Ambiguity **Whenever you land a critical hit with an unarmed attack, you gain one of the benefits of the Enhance Ability spell. This spell has no concentration requirements, but its duration is only a number of minutes equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1). Picking an effect while its already active refreshes the duration but doesn't stack it.** You are an uncarved block. Like water, you take the shape of your container. You appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak. Your unconscious is conscious, and it provides power when you need it most. \columnbreak ## 17th level ### The Book of Changes **You may spend 10 ki to cast Foresight on yourself. If the spell is active on you and has at least 2 hours left, you may decrease its remaining duration by 2 hours to make your next successful unarmed attack a critical hit.** Your mastery is wordless, thoughtless, and holistic. You may sublimate the greater part of your internal energy into the universe, connecting yourself to it and the multiple paths of your fate, and when the opportunity arises, you may commit yourself to the path of destiny that you desire.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> > ##### Want more like this? > This style draws on a vibrant tradition of Chinese martial fantasy, as do several other archetypes here. Alphabetically, the next one in this book is the Way of the Ancient Tomb Sect, which focuses on mobility and debuffing.<br> If you enjoy the idea of a divinely inspired martial discipline with a lot of raw power, the next archetype, Way of All-Power, should also interest you.