Psionics

Psionics, known in Faerûn as the Invisible Art or ki and colloquially known also as mind magic was practiced by psionicists.

Practitioners
The most notable psionicists belonged to the powerful illithid race, which earned the nickname "mind flayers" due to its considerable psionic powers, and appetite for brain matter. Illithid communities possessed a communal intelligence.

Few members of any other race besides aboleths 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.

While psionic organizations were uncommons in Faerûn, a few did exist:
 * The Kaliesh'erai: an association of elves based in Evereska
 * Stray Thoughts: an adventuring company based in Sembia and lead by the human wilder Jacenelle Traen
 * Forak-Erach-Naek: a group of duergar soulknife/assassins based in the Underdark
 * The College of the Eclipsee: a society dedicated to the advancement of psionic abilities based in Riatavin in Tethyr
 * The Hall of Mental Splendor: a group of psionic mercenary spies based in Skullport and lead by the human psion Vhondryl

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 tyrannic emperor Dharien who was a threat for 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.

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.

Although it was never been explicitly detailed, the range of Psionic powers was far smaller than the range of divine and arcane powers. However, psionicists do not need to "remember" their powers for later use; they could be called up at any time.

Before the Time of Troubles, psionics was more common in the realms. Psionics vanished for a brief period after the Time of Troubles with the exception of those travelling Realmspace in spelljammer ships.

Deities of Psionics

 * Auppenser - a sleeping deity
 * Deep Duerra - a duergar demigod (a Dead Power, post Spellplague)
 * Ilsensine - the illithid god
 * Memnor - a giant deity

Disciplines
Psionic powers are known as disciplines. Known disciplines include :
 * Clairsentience
 * Metacreativity
 * Psychokinesis
 * Psychometabolism
 * Psychoportation
 * Telepathy

Miscellaneous Abilities
Listed below are just a few uses for psionics:
 * The opening of dimensional doorways.
 * The emission of psionic blasts of force.
 * The ability to dominate those with weaker minds by force of will.
 * Telekinesis.
 * The ability to walk through solid things.* The ability to absorb many "hits" (physical or magical) and then release their power at once.
 * The ability to "excite" the latent energy within an object, causing it to explode.
 * The ability to travel in astral form to the Astral Plane.