Psionics Psionics , known in Faerûn as the Invisible Art and sometimes ki , and colloquially known also as mind magic was practiced by psionicist s . Nature of Psionics . Use of psionic power did not require spell components . Psionic power could be activated much faster than either divine or arcane magic . All psionicists possessed formidable mental discipline in order to properly use their psionic powers . Psionics was more common in the Realms before the Time of Troubles . Psionics vanished for a brief period after the Time of Troubles , with the exception of those travelling Realmspace in spelljammer ships . During the 1360s DR , one who studied psionics and cultivated its powers was known as a " psionicist " , while one who was naturally gifted with psionic powers or the necessary mental energy was called a " wild talent " . Their powers were categorized as " sciences " or " devotions " , which were in turn grouped into " disciplines " . Known disciplines included : Psionic Items . Psionic items were objects that had been " empowered " through psionic techniques , being imbued with the mental energies of their creators . The process of empowerment of a psionic item paralleled the enchantment of a magical item in many ways . Quality materials were required , as well as the psionic power , devotion , or science required to be installed in the object . In the 1360s DR , it was considered that all sciences and devotions to be placed in the item must come from the same discipline ( in contrast to magical items of the time that could have spells of different schools ) . Finally , the creator , a psionicist , must concentrate to imbue the object with the psionic power and mental energies , which was an involved process . Unlike magic items , psionic items of the 1360s DR were invariably intelligent to some degree and had a personality of some form . The shape of this personality was mostly unpredictable , but Daltim Flamefist theorized it arose from a fragment of the creator ' s own psyche and was influenced by what was high in their thoughts during creation , such as the aim of their work or their dreams or desires . Such intelligent empowered items could communicate with their owners , who needed to communicate with the item in order to gain the use of its powers . This was much like any relationship : one had to become familiar with the item ' s intelligence , earn its trust , and persuade it function when required . A good owner spent several minutes a day communicating with such psionic items in order to maintain and strengthen the bond . Fortunately , most were relatively friendly and quick to bond , being similar to semi - intelligent pets or familiar s . Daltim even intended to research the possibility of using a psionically empowered as a familiar . Psionic items of the 1360s DR behaved much like regular magical items , yet they did not register as such to traditional divination s . Hence , they were sometimes known as " not - magical items " by puzzled mages at a loss to identify them . Nevertheless , divinations designed specially to identify psionic emanations could did work on them . Many magical items could be duplicated in function by a psionic item . A psionic item could also be enchanted as a magical item , with no clash or interference . However , if the magic was activated by mental command , thanks to the innate intelligence , the item could well activate itself . Practitioners . The most notable psionicists belonged to the powerful illithid race , who had the nickname " mind flayers " , owing to their considerable psionic powers , and appetite for brain matter . Illithid communities possessed a communal intelligence . Few members of any other race besides aboleth s and duergar were psionicists , and they tended to be less powerful than illithids . Notable non - illithid psionicists included the members of the fallen drow House Oblodra , of which only Kimmuriel Oblodra survived , and the half - fiend son of Mephistopheles , Magadon . Organizations . As psionic talent arose only rarely , in some lands the psionically gifted tended to gather around a critical individual . Others banded together to provide a needed service or to work toward tolerance and ultimately acceptance . Many psionic groups were found among the duergar . Nevertheless , psionic organizations were often mistakenly considered to be orders of mages devoted to divination , enchantment , or some other school of magic . Many were small , reclusive , close - lipped about their activities , and even outright secretive . While psionic organizations were uncommon in Faerûn , a few did exist : The Hands of the Glade : A group of itinerant psychic healers and sangehirn s in Turmish . Regions . Jhaamdath , located in the south of Faerûn , was ruled by powerful human psionicists . It existed between - 5800 DR and - 255 DR , when it became under the control of the tyrannical emperor Dharien who was a threat to the elves of Nikerymath . As a kind of vengeance for their crimes against the wood and its inhabitants , the high magi of the elves unleashed a gargantuan tidal wave and destroyed the whole realm . Despite the widespread usage and training of arcane magic in Halruaa , there was also a higher than expected number of people with psionic potential . The most prominent were members of the Destroyers , including their leader , Daltim Flamefist . Even the Wizard King himself , Zalathorm Kirkson , possessed a number of psionic powers for seeing the future , which he used in concert with traditional divination magic to foresee threats to the realm . History . Psionics were unknown in the ancient magocratic empire of Netheril ( −3859 DR to −339 DR ) . It was even theorized that the Netherese ' s great focus and dependence on traditional magic atrophied the parts of the brain that enabled psionics . However , its abjuration magic was so potent it also protected against psionics . Meanwhile , outside the empire ' s borders and floating enclaves , psionics was known and practiced . The noted Halruaan psionicist Daltim Flamefist gave a landmark lecture on his research into psionically empowered items at a symposium of mages in Halruaa in the mid - 1360s DR . He presented a lengthy and detailed description of psionic item empowerment , as well as a spell of " detect psionics " , and urged his peers to become familiar with psionic powers , if only to protect themselves from them . His lecture was recorded in his spellbook , " Daltim ' s Tome of Fire " . Attitudes . Even the greatest wizards of the 14th century DR were ignorant of the fundamental principles of psionics . There were also a number of pejorative terms for those who practiced psionics .