Psychic magic

Psychic magic manipulates the mind, emotions and perception. Its practitioners do not need visible manifestations — their weapon is the thought itself.

The Essence of Psychic Magic

Psychic magic draws from the Essence of Mind — the streams of energy that connect the consciousness of living beings. Every thought, emotion, and memory leaves an imprint in Essence, and psychic mages learn to read and manipulate these imprints. Unlike elemental magic, psychic magic has no visible manifestations. The victim often does not realize they have been affected until it is too late. That's why psychic magic is considered the most insidious — and the most feared.

Traditions and schools

Psychic magic is most developed by Exalted Elves, who consider it the highest form of magical art. Their mentalists can communicate at a distance, share memories and, in extreme cases, completely control the mind of another being. The Imperial Secret Service employs trained psychic mages—the Whisperers—who serve as interrogators, spies, and diplomatic advisors. Their existence is officially denied.

Use in combat

Psychic spells in combat are used to weaken, confuse, and control enemies. It can cause headaches, hallucinations, fear, confusion or temporary paralysis. Advanced psychic spells can completely control an enemy or erase their short-term memory. Psychic magic is most effective against creatures with low wisdom and weak will. It is less effective against trained minds or creatures with natural resistance (such as dwarves).

Spells of psychic magic

The caster disrupts one enemy's ability to strike at full force. For 3 rounds, the target deals reduced damage based on the caster's Intelligence divided by 3. Best used against enemies that hit too hard to ignore. It is not meant to end a fight quickly; its strength is in cutting the edge off an enemy that would otherwise hit too hard. On the table it is quiet, practical magic, the kind that saves lives without looking heroic.

The caster applies psychic pressure that spreads over 3 rounds and deals a total base damage of 9. It is a steady pressure spell for wearing down tough targets while the caster handles other threats. Use it when steady pressure matters more than a single dramatic hit, especially against tougher targets that still need to be worn down. It feels less like a hammer blow and more like a headache sent by the gods themselves.

The caster challenges the target in a contest of minds. Damage equals the Intelligence difference between the caster and the target; if the target is equally intelligent or smarter, the spell has no effect. The spell rewards reading the enemy correctly and choosing a target that is genuinely weaker in the relevant contest. When it works, it is an elegant way to prove that the sharpest weapon in the room was never made of steel.

The caster removes all negative debuffs from themself and regains control of their condition. It is strongest when several restrictions have stacked at once. It is strongest when several penalties have stacked at once and the caster needs to return to the game immediately. Sometimes the greatest victory is simply no longer being broken by everyone else's plans.

The caster dispels all positive buffs on one enemy, stripping away the advantages the target was relying on. It is especially useful against enemies that rely on preparation, layered defenses, or stacked offensive boosts. When a target looks too confident, this spell politely removes the reasons for that confidence.

The caster disrupts an enemy's focus and imposes -3 to attack and defense rolls for 3 rounds. It is a broad control spell against almost any opponent. Because it weakens both offense and defense, it works against almost any kind of opponent. Many enemies are frightening only until they stop being sure which way they are supposed to be facing.

The caster twists probability around one enemy, applying a penalty to all rolls for 3 rounds. The value is broad pressure: attacks, defenses, and risky actions all become less reliable for the target. When everything starts going wrong at once, this spell is usually the reason.

The caster launches a direct psychic attack whose damage is based on mental force. It is a focused single-target strike. The spell rewards choosing the right stat and understanding where the target is weakest. It is not magic for random button pressing; it is for players who enjoy pretending, accurately, that they are thinking.

The caster focuses Wisdom into a direct strike against one enemy. It favors characters whose strength comes from insight, calm, and spiritual certainty rather than pure intellect. When it lands, the target learns that being wrong can hurt in a very literal way.

The caster weakens one enemy's defenses for 3 rounds, applying a defense penalty that opens the target to follow-up attacks. It is a preparation spell for harder attacks and coordinated party pressure. If brute force cannot break the enemy, breaking their defensive certainty first is often the smarter answer.

The caster forces a target into a worse roll state, reducing the effectiveness of its next roll or outcome. It is strongest as a reaction to an important enemy action, where one changed roll can decide the whole exchange. Few things are more satisfying than watching a confident plan collapse because the caster was just clever enough.

The caster enters an empowered magical state for 3 rounds. During the effect, the caster's spells deal double base damage. It rewards timing and planning, because the caster wants to spend the empowered rounds on meaningful spells. When used well, it turns an ordinary magical sequence into a short, frightening surge.

The caster channels destructive psychic force around themself. Enemies in the area take 10 base damage each round and suffer -3 to attack until the caster ends the effect or fails Concentration. It asks the caster to hold concentration, but rewards that risk with continuing damage and pressure around them. The spell feels like standing at the center of a storm that has chosen sides.

The caster controls one enemy's mind for 3 rounds, turning the target's actions against its own side. It is one of the clearest forms of battlefield domination: the target acts according to the controlling character's commands. Used well, it turns an enemy resource into a temporary tool, which is as dangerous as it sounds.