Psionics, mainly known in Faerûn as the Invisible Art or ki and colloquially known also as mind magic is practiced by psionicists.
Practitioners[]
The most notable Psionicists belong to the powerful illithid race (which has earned the nickname "mind flayers" due to its considerable psionic powers), possessed of a communal intelligence.
Few members of any other race besides aboleths are psionicists and they tend to be less powerful than illithids. Notable non-illithid psionicists include the members of the fallen drow House Oblodra, of which only Kimmuriel Oblodra survives.
Some sages and arcane scholars call someone who has developed some power in both spellcasting and mental workings a “panurge” but this is by no means a universally-accepted and widely-used term.
While psionic organizations are uncommons in Faerûn, a few do exist:
- The Kaliesh'erai: an association of elves based in Evereska
- Stray Thoughts: an adventuring company based in Sembia and lead by the human wilder Jacenelle Traen
- Forak-Erach-Naek: a group of duergar soulknife/assassins based in the Underdark
- The College of the Eclipse: a society dedicated to the advancement of psionic abilities based in Riatavin in Tethyr
- The Hall of Mental Splendor: a group of psionic mercenary spies based in Skullport and lead by the human psion Vhondryl
In the south of Faerûn existed a whole realm ruled by powerful human psionics, known as Jhaamdath. It existed between -5800 DR and -255 DR, when it became under the tyrannic emperor Dharien a threat for the elves of Nikerymath. As a kind of vengeance for their crimes against the wood and its inhabitants, the high magi of the elves unleashed a gargantuan tidal wave and destroyed the whole realm.
Nature of Psionics[]
Use of psionic power does not require spell components. Psionic power can be more quickly activated than either divine or arcane magic. Psionicists must possess formidable mental discipline in order to use their psionic powers.
Although it has never been explicitly detailed, the range of Psionic powers is far smaller than the range of divine and arcane powers. However, psionicists do not need to "remember" their powers for later use; they can be called up at any time.
Before the Time of Troubles, psionics was more common in the realms. Briefly afterward, there was no psionics in the Realms, save for those that used a spelljammer to take them to Realmspace.