Sorcerous Origin: Psionic Mind

Credit: Public Domain

I never saw anything like it. She came from the North, the weirding woman, and moved the boulder with nought but the power of her mind

- Merath of the Sands

The psionic is a mortal who has inherited instinctive psionic powers. Perhaps they have Aberrant heritage, such as many Changelings, or were the victim of experimentation by a Beholder or an Illithid Elder Brain. With effects similar to magic, psionic powers spring from the very mind of the practitioner, rather than from somatic and material components or ancient knowledge or bloodline. Despite being capable of great power, many psionics inspire fear or mistrust, and some risk their very sanity to create powerful effects.

Psionics and magic are different, but for practical purposes their effects are identical. Detect magic, for instance, will detect spells cast using psionics, and Dispel Magic will dispel them. Counterspell will counter a psionic ability, although remember that psionic spells do not use components, so knowing that the spell is being cast may require an insight roll. Spells which give information about a magical effect will reveal that the effect is psionic in origin, and a spellcaster who dispels a psionic spell will be able to tell that the caster was psionic.

Roleplaying a Psionic Many psionics may manifest some sort of outward sign of their power. Perhaps those around you are prone to nightmares, or discomforting flashbacks to past bad experiences. You may find yourself incapable of experiencing strong emotions, or be afraid of having close emotional bonds with others. A psychokinetic may inadvertently move objects during times of high emotion. You may find yourself unable to avoid letting slip details from another person's mind that you have gleaned but should not know. Regardless, it is difficult for most people to hide their psionic powers forever.

Psionic Awakening

You do not require components to perform Sorcerer spells, as they are psychic abilities that come from within. Where a spell would have a spectral or arcane component that would be visible to others, such as Mage Hand, it is invisible. Physical effects, such as the flames from Fireball, remain visible.

This ability does not extend to spells you have gained through multiclassing. For the purposes of choosing new spells, Psionic spells are part of the Sorcerer spell list and are Sorcerer spells for you.

Spells that would normally require material components instead require the expenditure of sorcery points equivalent to half the level of the spell (rounded up). You may choose instead to empower the spell by placing your sanity at risk. Instead of spending sorcery points, you can choose to take psychic damage equal to twice the level of the spell being cast.

If you choose to take psychic damage then the effect on the spell may be unpredictable. Roll on the Psionic Feedback table to see how the spell, and your mind, are affected.

Any time psychic damage would render you unconscious, on regaining consciousness roll 1d6. On a 1-5, roll on the Short-Term Madness Table. On a 6, roll on the Long-Term Madness Table.

Minor Telepathy

You can speak telepathically to any creature you can see. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time. Additionally, as an action you can attempt to infiltrate their senses. They must make an intelligence saving throw against your spell DC; on a fail, you can see and hear what they can see and hear for up to one minute, as well as gleaning an idea of their surface thoughts. An ally can choose to fail this saving throw. The creature is aware of your presence in their mind. You can use this feature a total of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). You cannot use this feature again until you finish a long rest.