Sigil: The City of Doors

The Transcendent Order (Ciphers)



The Transcendent Order, whose members are called Ciphers, seeks the purity of action without thought, and adhere to a philosophy of intuitive connection to the “cadence of the planes.” They include monks, esoteric warriors and mages, and those who seek inner peace. In Sigil they are based in the Great Gymnasium, while on the planes they call Elysium home.

Philosophy: Be impulsive, follow your instincts. Once you sync up your body and mind, you will be in tune with the multiverse.

Plane of Influence: Elysium

Headquarters: The Great Gymnasium

Benefits: Bonus to initiative.

Restrictions: Must be neutral. Players of Ciphers can't change their mind once they commit to an action. They should not pause to consider or debate pending actions.

Rising in the Ranks:

• They don't have factotums or factors, they have "masters." It takes 3-4 months of intense exercise and meditation to achieve each rank.

Lore:

• Mauvignon Fragments: Pieces of a tome known as the Mauvignon Codex that can expand your consciousness.
• Pinnacle of Perfect Knowledge: A place where perfect knowledge is attained. Might not be a physical place.

Background:

Skill Proficiencies: Athletics, Insight
Languages: Any two
Equipment: An hourglass, a set of common clothes with the faction symbol sewn into them, and 50 gp.
Feature: Aspirant of the Transcendent. Your membership in the Transcendent Order gives you free and unfettered access to the Great Gymnasium in the Guildhall Ward, where you can train body, mind, and spirit to act as one in various gyms, classes, paths, and chambers. There, you can seek to align your body with the harmony of the multiverse that faction members call the Cadence. You also know of a location of a portal to Release from Care, the faction's unofficial home on Elysium, and a key that will open that portal.
Inspiration: Action, no Thought. If you gain a point of Inspiration for adhering to your faction philosophy, you may use it to increase your Initiative to one above the creature who currently is before you in initiative order.
Suggested Characteristics: Ciphers don't talk much, really, and convey their mood and their thoughts more through what they do than what they say. At the worst, this can manifest like a toddler - no self-control, all hedonism and violence. Those who elevate themselves above that behavior do so through meditation and introspection, allowing them to hear what the planes want them to do, and respond.

Renown Cipher Restriction. Ciphers act without hesitation. Should you pause to consider or debate a pending action, or waver in your course of action, you cannot gain Inspiration until you atone or otherwise prove yourself to your faction’s cause.
Action Trance. You can spend Inspiration to enter an action trance as an action. This trance lasts for up to one minute, and while in trance you win all initiative ties, can take reactions even when surprised or a monster’s ability expressly would prevent you from taking reactions, and you gain advantage on Strength (Athletics) and Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks.
Initiative Bonus. You add your proficiency bonus to Dexterity checks for initiative.
Precognition. During a long rest in which you meditate for at least an hour, you receive fleeting visions of the future that grant you information equivalent to an augury spell.
Greater Action Trance. Entering an action trance no longer requires an action on your part; instead, you may enter it automatically when initiative is rolled. While in trance, your saving throws against mind-affecting spells and effects (like charm person, a monster’s fear aura, or a harpy’s song) are advantaged, and you are immune to detect thoughts and other forms of mind-reading.