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==History==
 
==History==
 
During [[Goge Vandire]]'s [[Reign of Blood]], he quickly ascended to the position of controlling the Imperium. However, one of the few obstacles in his path was his attempts at gaining control of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. This was because the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, Lord [[Phaedrus]], was a potent psyker and thus not swayed by Vandire's charisma. This allowed him to see through his deceit and machinations which was troublesome for Vandire as he used his abilities to stay one step ahead of him. Thus, he attempted to find a means of dealing with this threat as he could not assassinate Phaedrus as he would be replaced with an equally powerful psyker. This led to him using a [[Culexus]] [[Assassin]] of the [[Officio Assassinorum]] to rob the psyker of his abilities whilst using a life support system to keep him alive. Robbed of his power and prevented from killing himself, Lord Phaedrus agreed to follow Goge Vandire on the condition that none knew of the loss of his psychic abilities which led to the subversion of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.<sup>7-p24</sup>
 
During [[Goge Vandire]]'s [[Reign of Blood]], he quickly ascended to the position of controlling the Imperium. However, one of the few obstacles in his path was his attempts at gaining control of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. This was because the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, Lord [[Phaedrus]], was a potent psyker and thus not swayed by Vandire's charisma. This allowed him to see through his deceit and machinations which was troublesome for Vandire as he used his abilities to stay one step ahead of him. Thus, he attempted to find a means of dealing with this threat as he could not assassinate Phaedrus as he would be replaced with an equally powerful psyker. This led to him using a [[Culexus]] [[Assassin]] of the [[Officio Assassinorum]] to rob the psyker of his abilities whilst using a life support system to keep him alive. Robbed of his power and prevented from killing himself, Lord Phaedrus agreed to follow Goge Vandire on the condition that none knew of the loss of his psychic abilities which led to the subversion of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.<sup>7-p24</sup>
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In the [[Age of the Imperium]], the destruction of the planet [[Tyran]] led to the growing discovery of the extragalactic aliens that became known as the [[Tyranid]]s. Among the mounting evidence being assembled included scraps of tissue from the [[Thandros]] Telepathica Matrix.<sup>1-p90</sup>
  
 
==Organization==
 
==Organization==
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==Sources==
 
==Sources==
*<sup>1</sup>:[[Codex Imperialis]] (1993), by [[Rick Priestley]], p. 36
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*<sup>1</sup>:[[Codex Imperialis]] (1993), by [[Rick Priestley]], p. 36, 90
 
*<sup>2</sup>:[[White Dwarf 140 (UK)]] (1991), ''Space Fleet'', by Jervis Johnson, Andy Jones, Simon Forrest and Rick Priestley
 
*<sup>2</sup>:[[White Dwarf 140 (UK)]] (1991), ''Space Fleet'', by Jervis Johnson, Andy Jones, Simon Forrest and Rick Priestley
 
*<sup>3</sup>:''[[Tales of Heresy#The voice|The Voice]]'' by [[James Swallow]]
 
*<sup>3</sup>:''[[Tales of Heresy#The voice|The Voice]]'' by [[James Swallow]]

Revision as of 10:14, 2 June 2011

Symbol of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica

The Adeptus Astra Telepathica is an organization of the Adeptus Terra, responsible for the recruitment and training of psykers into the service of the Imperium. The Adeptus Astra Telepathica trains the majority of Imperial psykers, which become known as Sanctioned Psykers.

Overview

The Adeptus Astra Telepathica is divided into a recruitment body (the League of Blackships) and a training body (the Scholastia Psykana). These two are united under the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica and his advisory council of several hundred senior officials from the two divisions. They are responsible for the specially trained Astrotelepaths who use their mysterious powers to communicate with others of their kind across vast interstellar distances which separates the worlds of the Imperium.5-p94 Their ranks consist of psychic servants of the Imperium and these psykers have undergone the Soul Binding ritual with the Emperor. This process passes on some of the Emperor's strength of will into his servant thus protecting him from evil, psychically attuned enemies. The ritual ultimately results in blindness though there is a rare few Astropath's who are judged strong enough to warrant them not taking part in the Soul Binding with these individuals considered the lucky ones as they do not have partake in the agonising process that most Astropath's must follow.6-p134 It is through the righteous persecution of the Inquisition combined with the careful testing of the Coven Masters of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica which purges any deviant mutations that are commonly associated with those beings that develop psychic potential.1-p24 Under Imperial edict, they are allowed their own operatives but they were prohibited from serving as wardens aboard their own vessels. This is because it was far too easy for a malignant psyker to coerce the mind of another telepath. Thus, they used the Sisters of Battle or Inquisitorial Storm Troopers to serve as custodians aboard the Black Ships where their faith was used to protect them from the predations of the mind-witches they guarded.4-p3

Before the end of the Horus Heresy, this division within the Imperium held the City of Sight as its headquarters where psykers were taken to its mindhalls for testing. Inside these iron clad halls, the psykers took their first steps in the soul binding ritual and further recruitment into the astropathic choirs.3

Due to their duties, the Adeptus Astra Telepathica works in conjunction with the Adeptus Astronomica.5-p94

History

During Goge Vandire's Reign of Blood, he quickly ascended to the position of controlling the Imperium. However, one of the few obstacles in his path was his attempts at gaining control of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica. This was because the Master of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, Lord Phaedrus, was a potent psyker and thus not swayed by Vandire's charisma. This allowed him to see through his deceit and machinations which was troublesome for Vandire as he used his abilities to stay one step ahead of him. Thus, he attempted to find a means of dealing with this threat as he could not assassinate Phaedrus as he would be replaced with an equally powerful psyker. This led to him using a Culexus Assassin of the Officio Assassinorum to rob the psyker of his abilities whilst using a life support system to keep him alive. Robbed of his power and prevented from killing himself, Lord Phaedrus agreed to follow Goge Vandire on the condition that none knew of the loss of his psychic abilities which led to the subversion of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.7-p24

In the Age of the Imperium, the destruction of the planet Tyran led to the growing discovery of the extragalactic aliens that became known as the Tyranids. Among the mounting evidence being assembled included scraps of tissue from the Thandros Telepathica Matrix.1-p90

Organization

League of Blackships

Template:Lex-De The League of Blackships forms the recruiting division, consisting of a substantial fleet charged with collecting and transporting psykers.

The Blackships are feared transports filled with mournful psykers held in cavernous, psi-shielded holds to be taken back to Terra to feed the voracious psychic appetite of the Emperor. Only those with the strength of mind to withstand the constant soul-numbing despair that permeates the Blackship may crew it, so mentally traumatic is such duty.

The Blackship fleet travels constantly throughout the Imperium. Each Imperial world is visited every hundred years or so by a Blackship. When a Blackship nears a planet, its governor is instructed to prepare the customary levy - a tithe of psykers. Once the levy has been collected, the Blackship Captains make an initial evaluation of their cargo before proceeding to the next world in their circuit. When the ships are full they return to Terra and the psykers are transferred to the Scholastia Psykana before the ship leaves again to continue in their eternal search. It is common for Inquisitors to travel on board these ships, as this gives them a good opportunity to investigate a planet's potential for psychically-based corruption.

Scholastia Psykana

The Scholastia Psykana, the training division of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica, is a vast teaching institution devoted to the training of young psykers, who are taught how to develop and control their powers.

Most of the 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.

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).

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.

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.

The majority of the discovered psykers form the second ranking of psykers. They are trained for service as Astropaths (i.e. astro-telepaths). Astropaths are 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.

Sources