Adeptus Astra Telepathica

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The logo of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.

The Adeptus Astra Telepathica is the most important organisations within the Imperium of Man. They are responsible for the training of nearly all psykers. Because of their expertise, they often work alongside. Because of the organisation, the Adeptus Astra Telepathica is a permanent High Lords of Terra.

Overview

The Adeptus Astra Telepathica consists of two separate bodies: the League of Blackships and the Scholastia Psykana. These are respectively responsible for the acquisition and training of Psykers.

The League of Blackships is the fleet of the Adeptus. It is a very large fleet that continuously visits every world in the Imperium every century or so to gather the tithes of Psykers of the worlds they visit. They are equipped with psi-shielded cargo holds that prevent their cargo's escape, at the cost of being very traumatizing to both the cargo itself and the crew, so only the strongest of minds can crew these vessels. It should be noted that these vessels are not to be confused with the Inquisitorial Black Ships, special Strike Cruisers that are, as the name suggests, completely black and lightless and serve as an intimidating extension of the Inquisitor's (and by extent, the Emperor's) will.

When the Blackships drop collected psykers off, they are sorted by power and insanity: the least useful get a one-way trip to the Golden Throne, where their souls are burned up to fuel the Astronomican. The ones which are better able to keep their powers under control are sent to the Scholastia Psykana for training. Young children are a favorite because they are the easiest to train and indoctrinate. After five years of basic training (given they survive, of course) they become Primary Psykers and are evaluated. A vast majority of them become Astropaths, while others (depending on potential, dedication, intellect and physical abilities) can become Sanctioned Psykers or Inquisitors, and the truly remarkable might become a Librarian of the Space Marines or even be inducted into the Grey Knights.

Astropaths

Astropaths are the email of the Imperium, and probably the most common type of psyker in the Imperium. They can psychically send information across vast distances to other astropaths. This is the only way the many worlds of the Imperium can stay in contact with each other. However, at longer distances it becomes nearly impossible for astropaths to communicate with each other. To solve this problem, many astropaths can link their minds together to form an Astropathic Choir. Using their combined psychic might, a choir of astropaths can send an inquisitor's hate mail across vast distances, ensuring that the condemnation of heretics goes on.

When their training is complete, Astropaths are brought before the Emperor 100 at a time to engage in a ritual called Soul Binding to help protect them from daemons. They all kneel before the Emperor who proceeds to reshape their very minds so they become true Astropaths. This ritual goes on for several hours during which the Astropaths experience great Daemons. Those who survive their sanity are then inducted into the order of the purple robes.

Astropath Transcendent

Despite what is commonly believed, not all Astropaths are relegated to the those of weaker ability.

There ARE very powerful Astropaths abound in the the Imperium and usually find work either as the sole Astropath upon starships that travel alone in the Imperium, the head of psychic choirs, or as advisors to planetary governors or important Imperial commanders.

Abilities

While ostensibly their duties remain as glorified psychic telephones, because their power is increased they generally have equivalent or longer ranges than choirs of lesser Astropaths.

Not only that, but they can branch into psychic disciplines other than Telepathy, but because of their specialised nature they don't get access to the full range of abilities a Sanctioned/Primaris Rsyker would, however due to the nature of their Soul-Binding they do get access to powers unique to themselves:

• Telepathy
• Divination
• Telekinesis
• Theosophamy - pretty much a form of Sanctic Daemonology, though because they are Soul-Bound, the Astropath can use their link to the Emperor to add Holy effects to their psychic powers.
• Soul Ward - undoubtedly another Sanctic sub-discipline, more focussed on protection and enhancement than Theosophamy
• Void Frost - a unique discipline that manipulates those spaces devoid of the Astronomican's warmth.

Beyond all of this, Astropath's Transcendent can use their powers in more unique fashions as well. Because their psychic range is determined in hundreds of thousands, (in not billions of kilometres) rather than metres or kilometres as per regular Sanctioned/Primaris Psykers. they can find use in ship-to-ship combat, being able to control the minds of enemy crews using Telepathy powers, or even setting enemy vessels on FIRE THROUGH enemy shields and hull plating using a form of Telekinesis, making them far more useful than simple messengers.