"Ignore the voices that call to you, spinning tales of eldritch wonders. To listen is to be damned."
- Lady Vorensis, Discipline Master at the Scholastica Psykana M39.[2b]
The Scholastia Psykana, also known as the Scholastica Psykana,[2a] is one of two divisions of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, the other being the League of Blackships. The Scholastia Psykana reports directly to the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. It is a vast teaching institution devoted to the training of young psykers, who are taught how to develop and control their powers. Psyker recruits are drawn from the levy collected by the Blackships, others are handed over by the Inquisition, the Adeptus Arbites, or through other channels.[1]
Overview
The future of each psyker depends on his abilities and character. Initial evaluation divides the levy into several groups depending on their innate psychic power, character and willingness to learn. The youngest are preferred by the Scholastia Psykana, as these are easiest to train and indoctrinate. It is invariably those recruited as children that are given further training to fill important positions in the Imperium (one well known example is the Inquisitor Gideon Ravenor).[1]
Those deemed weak in character or psychic power, too dangerous or old are instead sacrificed to the Emperor, their souls leeched from their bodies to sustain the Father of Mankind.[1]
Those psykers who graduate from the Scholastica Psykana tend to look out for one another. Few know the prices paid when going through the Scholastia Psykana's mysterious trials and training.[2a] One discipline that must be mastered is that of mind-protection. Those that survive the battery of tests and trials to become a sanctioned psyker of the Imperium often remain haunted by what they have seen looking back at them from the hungry Warp. Those that fail are destined to become fodder for the Golden Throne.[2c]
The first ranking of pskyers (referred to as primary psykers) are those whose powers and strength of character are sufficient to resist possession and daemonic corruption under normal circumstances, and are chosen to serve the Imperium in the highest capacities. After receiving five years of basic training at the Scholastia, they are sent for further training and service in another Imperial organization depending on where their abilities are judged best suited. The very young may be indoctrinated into the Space Marines as Librarians; some may enter the Imperial Guard to begin their training as Primaris battle-psykers; the most talented may become Inquisitors or Grey Knights.[1]
The majority of the discovered psykers form the second ranking of psykers. They are trained for service as Astropaths (i.e. astro-telepaths), psykers specialised in interstellar communication, being able to send and receive telepathic messages over vast distances. The Astropaths perform one of the vital tasks in the Imperium; psychic communications is the only practical means of communications in the galaxy-spanning Imperium. Some primary and secondary ranking psykers are given over to the Adeptus Astronomica, a smaller organization in which the psychic recruits continue their training.[1]
See also
Sources
- 1: Codex Imperialis (Background Book), pgs. 36-37
- 2: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide:
