GURPS 4th edition. Traveller. Psionics Institutes

41 Pages·2005·1.13 MB·English

by  Amanda Dickerson

P
SIONICS
I
NSTITUTES
An e23 Sourcebook for GURPS® Traveller® from Steve Jackson Games
Based on the award-winning Traveller science fiction universe by MARCMILLER
Written by AMANDADICKERSON
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I
NTRODUCTION
The official Travellersetting has two their government. Psionics Institutes institutes, as well as psi-using corpora-
basic approaches to psionic powers: the enables Travellerplayers and gamemas- tions, mercenary units, and psi-friendly
Third Imperium and its allied client ters to explore both approaches in their societies,worlds, and government agen-
states officially suppress them, but games, in greater detail than ever before. cies. Underground pro-psi societies
secretly support psionic training insti- The book covers the institutes and types (both within and outside the Imperium)
tutes and the undercover use of psions. of institutional training available in both are detailed. Using Psionics Institutes,
The Zhodani Consulate and its allied the Consulate and Imperium, as well as players and game masters can add a
clients embrace psi powers, and character templates and character cre- sixth sense to their campaign.
promote psions to the highest levels of ation information. It gives several sample
A T C
BOUT HE REATORS
Amanda Dickerson has played
Traveller for years, and GURPS
A T
Psionics for much longer than that. BOUT HE
After several articles she wrote for the J
OURNAL OF THE
Journal of the Travellers’ Aid Societywere
T ’ A S
published, she moved on to roleplaying RAVELLERS ID OCIETY
books. Her first book, Dead Sea Murder, For several years, Steve Jackson Games has published the Journal of the
is a complete RPG campaign for the Travellers’ Aid Societylocated online at jtas.sjgames.com/. In addition to the
FUDGE Terra Incognita game. More current issue,
information is available from her subscribers can
website at www.angelfire.com/md/ access the exten-
meadowlark. sive archive of
Amanda lives in Ohio with her hus- previous arti-
band. Together they care for a dog (who cles. From the
apparently suffers from attention deficit JTAS website
disorder) and three cats (who have yet to subscribers can
find an earthly use for the dog). Her life- talk with each
long interest in the paranormal led to other, guest
her hobbies of tarot reading, magick, speakers, and the
and psychic research. Her obsession staff in Brubek’s,
with the latter finally found an outlet in the live internet
this book. chat room, or
Loren Wiseman has worked with using the online
Travellerin all its forms since the game’s discussion
creation in 1977. He is currently GURPS boards.
Traveller line editor for SJ Games, and
editor for the Journal of the Travellers’ Aid
Society, and was recently inducted into
the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts
and Design’s Hall of Fame.
A GURPS
BOUT
Steve Jackson Games is committed to reached by e-mail: [email protected]. many more top games – and other Steve
full support of GURPS players. Our Resources include: Jackson Games releases like Illuminati,
address is SJ Games, P.O. Box 18957, Pyramid (www.sjgames.com/ Car Wars, Transhuman Space, and
Austin, TX 78760. Please include a self- pyramid/). Our online magazine more. Pyramid subscribers also get
addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) includes new GURPSrules and articles. opportunities to playtest new GURPS
any time you write us! We can also be It also covers the d20 system, Ars books!
Magica, BESM, Call of Cthulhu, and
2 P I
SIONICS NSTITUTES
New supplements and adventures. GURPSnet. This e-mail list hosts Wherever a page reference includes a
GURPScontinues to grow, and we’ll be much of the online discussion of GT, it refers to a page in GURPS
happy to let you know what’s new. For a GURPS.To join, point your web brows- Traveller; e.g., p. GT54 refers to page 54
current catalog, send us a er to mail.sjgames.com/mailman/ of GURPS Traveller. P refers to
legal-sized SASE, or just visit listinfo/gurpsnet-l/. Psionics, B to the Basic Set, T:AI to
www.warehouse23.com. Traveller: Alien Races 1, T:FT to
e23.Our e-publishing division offers PAGE Traveller: Far Trader, T:GF to Traveller:
GURPSadventures, play aids, and sup- R Ground Forces, T:RF to Traveller: Rim
EFERENCES
port not available anywhere else! Just of Fire, T:SM to Traveller: Star Mercs
head over to e23.sjgames.com. GURPS Compendium I lists all the and T:ST to Traveller: Starports.
title abbreviations for GURPS titles.
R
ESOURCES
The foundation for every GURPS A Thousand Words For Stranger, The Stars My Destination Aka
Travellercampaigns builds on the infor- Julie E. Czerneda. Tiger! Tiger!,Alfred Bester.
mation in GURPS Basic Set, GURPS Mind Game, Christine Feehan. Additionally, these series are recom-
Compendium I, and GURPS Traveller. Shadow Game, Christine Feehan. mended:
The following are recommended: Mind of My Mind, Octavia E. The PegasusSeries, Anne McCaffrey.
GURPS Traveller: Alien Races 1 Butler. The RowanSeries, Anne McCaffrey.
includes information on the psionically Kinsman’s Oath, Susan Krinard. The Darkover Series, Marion
gifted Zhodani race and the initial Forge of the Titans, Steve White. Zimmer Bradley.
detailed look at psionics in the Traveller TNT: Telzey and Trigger, James H. The Commonwealthseries, Alan Dean
universe. GURPS Psionics is the com- Schmitz. Foster.
plete resource for creating and playing Gates of Hell, Susan Sizemore. And several novels of the Babylon 5
psionic characters. series.
Additional useful resources: GURPS
Traveller: Rim of Fire discusses the
Imperium’s psionics institutes and the
psionically empowered society on the
Red Zone planet Heironymus.
Depending on the type of campaign,
GURPS Traveller: Star Mercs, GURPS
Traveller: Starports, GURPS Traveller:
Ground Forces, or GURPS Traveller:
Far Tradermay be useful.
For inspiration from fiction, there are
many psi-themed SF novels to choose
from. This brief list is a good starting
point:
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Digging Through Religious Institutes . . . . . . . . . . 19
the Underground . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Specialized
ABOUTTHECREATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Red Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Psionics Institutes . . . . . . . . . 21
About the Journal of the
Travellers’ Aid Society . . . . . . 2 SECONDARYSOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
ParaPsionics and Religion . . . . . . 8 3. PSIONICS WITHIN
ABOUTGGUURRPPSS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Page References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Media Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 THE IMPERIUM . . . . . . . . . 22
Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
RESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PUBLICSERVICE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Politicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Law Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
1. FINDING A Scientific Community . . . . . . . . . 9 Military . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
PSIONICS INSTITUTE . . . . . . 4 ALTERNATIVESTO Political . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
JOININGANINSTITUTE . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Scout Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
PRIMARYSOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
It Runs in the Family . . . . . . . . . . 4 2. PSIONICS INSTITUTES . . . . . 10 PRIVATESERVICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Colonial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Outside Looking In . . . . . . . . . . . 5
OVERTINSTITUTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Commercial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Zhodani Institutes . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Institutes in the Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
They Find You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Zhodani Consulate . . . . . . . . 11 Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Join the Military,
Red Zone Institutes . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mercenary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Learn Psionics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
COVERTINSTITUTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Mercenary Recruiters . . . . . . . . . 6
Imperial Institutes . . . . . . . . . . . 15 4. CHARACTER TEMPLATES . . 40
Underground Institutes . . . . . . . 16
P I 3
SIONICS NSTITUTES
C O
HAPTER NE
F
INDING A
P
SIONICS
I
NSTITUTE
Finding a psionics institute depends leaders were imprisoned. Whole families These worlds are socially isolated (by
on who you are, where you are, and faced persecution and many fled to more choice or by tech level) from the
what year it is. Children of the psionical- sympathetic worlds outside the Imperial community. In these cases, the
ly gifted Zhodani noble and indentant Imperium or to the Zhodani Consulate. Imperium often interdicts these systems,
classes (see p. GT 78-80) begin psionics The psions that remained in the declaring them Red Zones.
training soon after they learn to speak Imperium went underground, changing The underground psionic community
and receive a comprehensive psionics their names, their occupations, and liv- within the Imperium established many
curriculum in their schools. Although ing double lives. In the nearly 300 years secret psionics institutes shortly after the
average Zhodani citizens (called proles) since, the use of psionics has remained end of the Suppressions. Citizens of the
may possess latent psionic abilities, they ostensibly illegal and psionics institutes Imperium hear rumors of such facilities
do not receive training. Upward mobili- officially banned. However, the from time to time, but very few know
ty is possible for prole children who Imperium secretly established two psion- where they are. Just as psions in the
demonstrate considerable psionic apti- ics institutes of its own, disguising them Imperium are searching for a place to
tude during standard testing. These for- as military installations, and continues learn and belong, the psionics institutes
tunate few are adopted into an indentant the covert use of psions. are searching for their next crop of stu-
family, and with that comes all the rights Worlds outside the Imperium and the dents. The first of many challenges for a
and responsibilities of that class. Consulate vary from oppression to psion in the Imperium is to locate a
Even within the Imperium prior to acceptance of psis, and everything in psionics institute, a quest on which only
the Psionic Suppressions (800 to 826), between. the most persistent succeed (see p.
finding an institute for psionics was no A few isolated worlds within the GT:AR1 137). Those who fail must devel-
more challenging than locating any mun- Imperium developed cultures tolerant – op their talents in some other way – or
dane college. During the Suppressions, or even supportive – of psionic abilities, not at all.
institutes lost their charters and their despite the official ban on psionics.
P S
RIMARY OURCES
The first step is to find someone who the matter of finding a psionics institute community as kites.Kites created the first
knows where a psionics institute is locat- to attend is vastly simplified. post-Suppressions psionics institutes and
ed. Primary sources have direct knowl- Traditionally, youngsters attend the they remain one of the central influences
edge either of an institute’s location or alma mater of their gifted relative. Like- regarding curriculum, protocols, and
how to contact its representatives. minded institutes pool resources so their policies. One or two kites generally domi-
students and graduates are aware of nate the board of directors of any given
IT RUNS IN THE some of the other programs. Children of institute. It is common for most of the
F psionic families in the Imperium are faculty of an institute to be related by
AMILY
sheltered from the hostilities faced by blood or marriage to the controlling kites.
Scientists believe there may be a most psions. They are encouraged from a In less blessed families, a relative who
genetic factor determining who has psi young age to discover and develop their is secretly psionic watches the younger
potential. The existence of families with unique capabilities, and trained in hiding generation for signs of psionic talents.
several generations of psions is evidence their talents from their persecutors. That relative will approach such a child
that this is true. For those lucky enough The most powerful and prestigious at the right moment to guide them
to be born into one of these bloodlines, families are known in the psionics toward one of the institutes.
4 P I
SIONICS NSTITUTES
Newly emerging psions who trace An Imperial citizen doesn’t necessari- Consulate for that purpose is in violation
their family lineage to the Suppressions ly have to travel all the way to the of the law and subject to arrest and pros-
may discover ancestors who attended Consulate for this information. ecution. The Imperium maintains
the original institutes. Further investiga- Approximately 20 percent of Zhodani records of citizens believed to have
tion of the direct descendants of those live outside the Consulate (although few attended or have been employed by an
relatives may reveal distant cousins live in the Imperium) and may confide institute while in Zhodani territory, and
dwelling within the Imperium or in psions who gain their trust. will charge them with those crimes if
Zhodani Consulate with ties to present they are caught within the Imperium’s
day institutes. ZHODANI borders. Hundreds of psions who have
I faced the risks and expense of travel to
OUTSIDE NSTITUTES the Zhodani Consulate have been arrest-
L I In Zhodani culture, only individuals ed en route. Starship crews caught trans-
OOKING N
born or adopted by noble and indentant porting passengers to the Consulate for
The deep-seated distrust of the families receive psionic training. Upper psionics training are subjected to severe
Zhodani held by most Imperial citizens class Zhodani have on occasion adopted fines and risk having their ships and
arises from a fear of the Consulate’s overt individuals from other races of cargo impounded.
use of psi, even in violation of the so- Humaniti, making them eligible for
called right to privacy and free thought. training. All other non-Zhodani and pro- THEY FIND
Zhodani believe in neither. Their les (Zhodani of the lowest class) are not
Y
OU
“thought police” (called Tavrchedl’) are eligible for psionic training in the
responsible for maintaining “right Zhodani system. A little indiscriminate use of psi goes
thought” among the population (see p. During the Psionic Suppressions in a long way. Rumors start flying and
GT 78-80). the Imperium, uncounted thousands before there is time to regret the indis-
Due to this inability to lie to trained fled to the Zhodani Consulate. These cretion, someone comes knocking. The
Zhodani telepaths, what is a secret with- early immigrants established psionics only problem is that there is no way to
in the Imperium is common knowledge institutes for their children and future know who will show up first: an angry
in the Zhodani Consulate. Many of the generations of persecuted psions escap- mob, a squad of well-armed police offi-
refugees who fled to the Consulate dur- ing the Imperium. Within the Consulate, cers wearing dark face shields, or a pair
ing the Suppressions kept in contact non-Zhodani can legally receive training of supportive psions offering relocation.
with the companions they left behind. at these institutes. Zhodani, including Anywhere inside the Imperium, local
Imperial psions aren’t bothered by the proles, may attend these special insti- law enforcement will arrest citizens sus-
lack of privacy within the Consulate and tutes provided they get permission from pected of using psionic abilities. This is
frequently travel there. A few Imperial the local world governing council. While just the first step; Imperial military serv-
psionics institutes even participate in the nobles and indentants receive first con- ices try to get these individuals into
Psionics Games (see p. GT:AR1 18) held sideration, few bother because they have their custody fairly quickly. Even if a
every three years within the Consulate. already received similar training in psion manages to get out on bail before
Because the existence and location of school. There are waiting lists of proles the military arrives, unscrupulous mer-
psionics institutes within the Imperium petitioning to attend these institutes. cenary units eager to shanghai a prom-
are well known secrets in the Zhodani Admission policies at institutes outside ising psi for their own purposes lurk in
Consulate, a sincere individual can find both the Imperium and the Zhodani the shadows. For those who manage to
an institute with only mild difficulty. Consulate vary with local custom and avoid these dangers (and occasionally
Imperial spies are unable to disguise regulations. for those who don’t), the psionics insti-
their intentions and always return Because Imperial law forbids its citi- tute’s scouts will arrive as quickly as
empty-handed. zens from seeking psionics training, any- possible to recruit them.
one traveling toward the Zhodani
P I 5
SIONICS NSTITUTES
Unfortunately, the scouts are not guise of military installations. (see p. Locating a possible psion and referring
everywhere, and even if they should hear T:RF132) Among the initial testing new them to an institute only happens a few
of a psion’s plight, they may be in a dif- recruits endure after joining the times in a recruiter’s career, but it is
ferent system several jumps away. Imperial military services are covert lucrative enough to keep him on the
Scouts spend less time chasing high pro- psionic aptitude tests. Recruits that pass lookout for promising potentials. The fee
file psions in the center of an all-out the screening are transferred to one of the recruiter can charge a psion for a
manhunt, and more time quietly testing the psionics institutes for training. referral is just a fraction of what an insti-
the masses. Genetic testing can reveal The military also selects promising tute will pay. The Jims won’t know the
the potential for certain psi abilities. individuals who’ve been arrested for exact location of an institute, but they
Aptitude tests disguised as memory or using psionics. Criteria for drafting those will know how to send one a message,
intelligence tests and administered psions into service include health, fit- and a scout will contact him to arrange
under false pretenses to young adults net ness, age, the usefulness of their psionic to meet the prospective student.
the lion’s share of new students for the talent, and the likelihood of successfully The fee a recruiter charges varies
institutes. Test participants, whether reforming the personality into a soldier. according to the character’s ability to
they realize they possess psionic abilities Once individuals are identified as pay, but most Jims are willing to take it
or not, may receive admission into an psions they are given a choice. Either in trade, especially if they can make use
institute. The scouts themselves have decline the training and return to the of the psion’s unique abilities. In these
psychic talents, which they can use to ranks (or prison), knowing that from cases he won’t ask an unreasonable
narrow their search. now on they are on the Imperium’s tenure of service, because he is just
Each scout has a specific territory to watch list, or accept the training and the delaying his big payoff from the insti-
work, covering several inhabited sys- lifetime commitment to military service tute. He will only demand the psionic
tems. As many as five scouts work in the that comes with it. services until the scout arrives.
most densely populated subsectors.
Within their territory, scouts maintain a M DIGGING
ERCENARY
network of informants to clue them in T
on potential recruits. Some informants RECRUITERS HROUGH THE
U
are graduates of the institutes them- NDERGROUND
A mercenary recruiter (they are often
selves, working in a variety of fields
nicknamed Jim)earns his living by hook- The psionic underground is a subcul-
while keeping their talents secret. The
ing up mercenaries and units desperate ture rarely glimpsed by the outside
majority are not psionic, but are either
to replace the casualties of the last mis- world. Only existing in significant num-
sympathetic to the cause or easily
sion. While profitable in itself, recruiters bers in large population centers, the
swayed by bribes.
handle more than just mercenaries. underground itself is a kaleidoscope of
The network includes school coun-
selors, planetary law enforcement, job
placement advisers, hospital staff, mem-
Memo to Core Sector leader of the Imperial
bers of the media, and mercenary
recruiters. To protect the scout from Special Prosecutor’s office:
exposure, the informants only know
how to send him a message, but not his Pursuant to your most recent report, I agree
real identity or how to locate him. Even
with your assessment of prisoner L1298-Johobitz.
if a lone adventurer seeking admission
to a psionics institute knew of such net- His minor animal empathy and advanced age dis-
works, it is nearly impossible to identify
qualifies him as a candidate. Proceed with standard
their members. The informants them-
selves don’t know who else is in a prosecution of his case.
network.
Dropping hints or confiding in indi- Prisoner C8521-Kelt may be young, but her clear
viduals who may be informants is one
way for a potential psion to initiate con- potential overcomes my usual hesitation. Transport
tact with a scout. Unfortunately, it is also
her to Terra at the earliest convenience.
a good way to attract the attention of the
informants working for the military or
Recommend telepathic evaluation of prisoner
mercenary units.
S3947-Grazer to determine if rehabilitation of his
J
OIN THE
deviant personality is possible and of prisoner
M ,
ILITARY
A2773-Yulii’s possible status as a precognitive.
L
EARN
– Collin Richar, Imperial Special Prosecutor,
P
SIONICS
Psionic Crimes Division
The Imperium maintains two psion-
ics institutes of its own, both under the
6 P I
SIONICS NSTITUTES
Facing the Gauntlet
Don’t blow a neural cluster about the gauntlet. Almost no one gets maimed on
the first level. The kinetics face off with zapbots. Mentals take the psibots. You
better take a practice round in the cellar to get the hang of them if you don’t want to
shred in the first 30 seconds like most pupas.
Level one is an elimination arena bout. Five challengers and three bots. Kinetics
dodge paint projectiles. You can use fancy gymnastics and other physical moves, but
the glory is in the kinetics. Last kinetic standing goes to round two, and if you got by
on your luck before, it won’t help you in the one-on-one kinetic duels of level two.
Mentals get the same treatment except people operate the psibots. You got to
read the drivers and make them miss or predict their moves. You’ll get the stink
scared off you in level two, no matter how good you are. The Ether is no joke, and
if you’ve never even seen one before you better pray you don’t win level one. I’ve
seen grown men drool in the corner after level two, even when they won! In the
worst cases, straightening them out can take months of ’pathic rehab.
And if you think that’s abrasive, be grateful you aren’t on Deneb. They toss the
pupas right into level two combat without even screening them for potential. It’s a
slaughter. You best jump clear of gauntlets run by mercenaries in general. They
collect scalps, psionically speaking.
overlapping factions. A gathering among of working for the authorities. Telepathic imposed for psionics. Unofficially, how-
the psionic underground can vary from combat is especially dangerous, and is ever, is an entirely different matter.
wild “psychic raves” to militant activist the cause of the most severe and Psionics-tolerating planets that lack the
meetings to small support group set- enduring injuries. interest or technology to interact with
tings. Never meeting in the same place Pupas, wannabes, and other hangers- Imperial community are classified Red
twice, the community is nearly impossi- on drift on the fringes of the under- Zones. The Imperium enforces this sta-
ble to track unless you are psychic, ground. Earning trust among the natu- tus as fervently as if these worlds har-
which is the whole point. rally suspicious psions requires both bored deadly plagues. Heironymus in
Self-regulation, or lack thereof, pro- patience and a willingness to prove one’s the Solomani Rim (see p. T:RF90), for
duces a variety of social attitudes from self. An adventurer has to establish a example, became a Red Zone after the
one planet to the next. While some com- place in the community before asking Scout Service determined that ghost sto-
munities will embrace emergent psions them for help, especially with regard to ries about the planet really evolved from
into the fold, others are not so benevo- the actual location of a psionics insti- the prevalence of psionics in the previ-
lent. Some groups have adopted hazing tute. Openly speaking of an institute, ously undiscovered culture. They pos-
rituals for would-be psions. These activ- particularly how to find one, is taboo. sessed the ability to hide their entire civ-
ities evolved from the traditional Psionic Asking about one is a sure way of getting ilization from a reconnaissance mission
Games held in the Zhodani Consulate (p. censored, violently. Scouts patrol the from the nearby world of Ludmilla,
11). In some locations the rites are spiri- fringes of the underground, and once whose rulers were alarmed by stories of
tual in nature and allow the petitioner to they are satisfied with the sincerity and an entire psionic civilization so nearby.
demonstrate their worthiness to join the potential of a pupa, they will initiate Psions learning of the planet’s true
collective. More often, inexperienced contact. nature and hoping to find refuge or
challengers, called pupas,run a gauntlet training are detained as soon as they
against more skilled psions while the jump into the system. The few who man-
R Z
ED ONES
onlookers lay bets on the outcome. age to reach the planet’s surface find
Death has occurred on several occasions, Of all the worlds given a Red Zone escape almost impossible.
especially if the contestant is suspected classification, none are officially
P I 7
SIONICS NSTITUTES
S S
ECONDARY OURCES
When primary sources are unavail-
able, a potential student can find people
who know the people in the know. These
secondary sources can point the PCs in
the right direction, or lead them into a
trap. Using psionics is illegal, but so is
harboring fugitives and withholding
information from the authorities.
Secondary sources keep their knowledge
secret for more than just self-preserva-
tion, and very few will part with it
merely from the goodness of their
hearts.
P P
ARA SIONICS
R
AND ELIGIONS
The supernatural isn’t just the
province of psionics. Religions and
superstitions across the galaxy believe in
everything from ghosts to gods to the
primal forces of nature and space.
Pontiffs proclaim their gods have shown
them the future, channellers claim to be
in communication with the dead, and
old customs detail ways to “read” every-
thing from bumps on the head to wrin-
kles of the skin to allow a peek into
someone’s soul.
As long as the source of their power is
However, just because they don’t journalists may lead adventurers down a
not psionics, they are free to practice
publish the information, it doesn’t mean couple of blind alleys before eventually
their trade. Among the charlatans and
they wouldn’t talk about it. A little leading to a real psionics institute.
the believers are some genuine psions.
friendly coaxing, or telepathic probing,
These gifted few walk a fine line to pre- and journalists will banter about the LAW
vent arousing suspicion. Even if they
rumors and suspicions they’ve heard, E
have not trained in an institute, they NFORCEMENT
giving a few hints about locations or
may have acquaintances in the under-
contacts to check out. Planetary Law Enforcement: Like
ground.
Independent Media: While main- the media, law enforcement knows more
stream media may turn a blind eye to the about the psionics institutes in their
M
EDIA
institutes of higher psionics, independ- jurisdiction than they reveal. Officers
SOURCES ent media sources aren’t so easily intim- face more than enough serious crime
idated. Their small circulation, inaccu- every day; they have better things to do
Main Stream Sources: Unless a
rate reporting, and wild conspiracy the- than to go digging for trouble with the
psion has been caught or suspected of a
ories leave their credibility so low it pro- psionics institutes. Like other types of
crime, mainstream media sources
tects them from repercussions from the organized crime, the institutes face the
remain conspicuously mute about
institutes. occasional sting operation, but the psy-
psionics in general, and with good rea-
An adventurer seeking information chics always see them coming so far in
son. More than one reporter has van-
from the independent media should pay advance that the operations are fruitless.
ished while investigating a suspected
close attention to the slant they give their The police have all but given up trying to
psionics institute. To survive in a society
stories. Paranoid groups who fear and catch them. Some planetary law
hostile toward them, those gifted with
hate psionics sponsor many of them. enforcement agencies unknowingly
supernatural abilities value their priva-
Strangers approaching one of these employ psions, who ensure continuous
cy, and the faculty and students of an
sources may be taken for infiltrators and misinformation campaigns keep the
institute have more than enough power
disposed of accordingly. police far from the institutes.
to back it up. So even when reporters
The information from independent The last thing the cops want is to
suspect a location secretly houses an
sources consists of three parts specula- send another lawbreaker to one of these
institute, they keep the information to
tion to one part fact. Tips from these illegal institutes. Boldly approaching an
themselves.
8 P I
SIONICS NSTITUTES
officer to inquire about the location of these politicians represent a planet or SCIENTIFIC
the nearest institute will land the ques- system in which a psionics institute is
C
OMMUNITY
tioner in jail. The police aren’t stupid, located, and they receive the aid of the
and any mention of psychic abilities will institute in exchange for a blind eye. If Even though the use of psionic
raise their suspicions. Such attempts will one suspects a certain duke or archduke talents is illegal, scientific research on
gain the inquirer a tail and succeed in employs such illegal methods, their ter- those abilities is not. The Imperium, as
getting his communications bugged, but ritory is a good place to search for an well as a few planetary governments,
will produce no information. If a seeker institute. sponsors research into ways to detect or
manages to identify a fellow psion on the In one example, a psion approached suppress (or even increase) psychic pow-
force, he may get a sympathetic nudge in one of these shady politicians for assis- ers. Law enforcement eagerly awaits
the right direction. Additionally, psions tance. In exchange for a referral to a new developments to make prosecuting
finding themselves in jail may catch psionics institute, she ended up inden- psionic offenders easier.
some rumors from the other criminals, tured to her benefactor for life and Some members of the scientific com-
but the accuracy is questionable. blackmailed with the threat of exposure munity view paranormal capabilities as
Local Law Enforcement: While the and arrest. The life she led was one of an evolutionary advancement, which
planetary law enforcement agencies may wealth and luxury, but it was a silken should be studied and encouraged rather
have some idea where a psionics institute prison from which she couldn’t leave. than feared and suppressed. Institute-
might be, most local agencies are clueless. When she escaped, she became branded sponsored research has resulted in high-
The chances of a psionics institute being a criminal and a traitor with nowhere to ly sophisticated techniques for identify-
located in any particular district are so hide. The underground couldn’t risk pro- ing psi potential in individuals, but these
remote that the possibility isn’t even con- tecting such a high profile fugitive, so advances are seldom publicized. The
sidered on the local level. These smaller she had to fend for herself. technology used by local governments
agencies may be aware of underground Politicians not fortunate enough to and law enforcement is two generations
psionic communities or clubs in their have an institute in their region may free behind what is available to the institutes
area that stay mobile to avoid capture. a criminal who is charged with using (including the Imperial ones).
psionic abilities in exchange for services. Contacting a scientist without exten-
POLITICIANS A long-term arrangement sometimes sive investigation is risky. Not all psi
results, but more often these rogue researchers are sympathetic to psions –
Certain politicians, especially those in
psions either escape or are killed in the some are committed to saving society
the planetary, interplanetary, or
attempt. from the abuses of psi and those who
Imperial political arenas, secretly avail
possess it, and will report any psion who
themselves of psionic talent. Some of
contacts them to the authorities.
A
LTERNATIVES TO
J I
OINING AN NSTITUTE
Not all psions attend an institute. Just companions may quietly trade him to a emerging psions among their classmates
because someone possesses a talent, it crew with a more experienced psion, more accurately than anyone else can.
doesn’t automatically mean that they hoping that he’ll be in good hands. Publications: Three underground
will find the resources to develop it. Gangs: Urban communities, espe- publishers produce handbooks that the
Psions can teach themselves through cially those far removed from an insti- Imperium ban immediately. These
trial and error how to control their abili- tute, give rise to psionic gangs. Outcast books include instructions for develop-
ties, but the learning process is longer teenagers band together for mutual sup- ing psionic potential, ways to avoid
(see p. GP8). While this is an option for port, and the gang environment provides detection, activist political commen-
those unable to find an institute, most them with identity, safety, and a sense of tary, and diaries of famous (and infa-
who choose this route are not the belonging. Members of the gang quickly mous) psions. Copies of these books
“institute type,” finding structured learn the basics and advance to special- pass from hand to hand and have been
environments suffocating. ized uses of their talent. So not only are confiscated in every corner of the
Apprenticeships: Informal appren- they using their talents illegally, but they Imperium. Activists from the psionic
ticeships are another option. An older also use them to commit illegal acts, like underground leave copies of these ille-
psion can take a younger one under his theft and vandalism. Local law enforce- gal publications in schools, libraries,
wing. This arrangement is more frequent ment acts decisively against such gang and other public places. Interested
on planets off the major jump routes and activity, and uses lethal force if neces- readers can glean enough from these
in rural communities that aren’t even sary. Gangs that are less aggressive and works to learn some of the basics of
aware that secret psionics institutes exist. can stay out of trouble have lasted more mastering their powers, and even
Starship crews, which can become a than a generation. Psionics institute uncover clues on how to psionically
community unto themselves, also tend scouts recruit from the ranks of these locate the underground.
toward the apprenticeship option. A crew gangs, and even encourage them to con-
discovering a psionic talent among their tinue; the gangs invariably pick out the
P I 9
SIONICS NSTITUTES
C T
HAPTER WO
P
SIONICS
I
NSTITUTES
For creating and playing psionics roleplaying this testing is provided in spread his character points across sever-
characters, GURPS Psionics is the GURPS Traveller: Alien Races 1. al skills. Some psionic powers only offer
definitive roleplaying resource. GURPS Individuals with at least one psionic a few skills, such as teleportation, which
Traveller: Alien Races 1 includes an power at level 1 or greater can ask to enables the psion to concentrate on
overview of psionics institutes and the attend the institute. them to reach a high level of power and
nature of psionics in the Travellergame Institutes charge an additional skill. With the many skills available to
universe. This chapter builds on the Cr100,000 for the required four month telepaths, the psionics institute could
foundation of those texts. training period. This price includes provide training in several areas to give
Psionic characters created for the room and board. Students unable to pay the psion a solid base on which to build
Traveller universe must follow certain for the training may arrange to work off with later experiences.
guidelines, which include accepting dis- the debt by performing certain “favors” To roleplay psionics institute train-
advantages in exchange for the advantage for the institute. ing, the personality of the institute
of psi (see p. GT84-85). Briefly, all psions Psi powers can be improved as long comes into play. Some institutes (partic-
begin with Social Stigma. To acquire as a character already has at least one ularly mercenary, military, and some
psionic powers and skills a character point. Psionic skills can be acquired and underground institutes) will focus their
must take a 10-point Unusual improved like any other skill, through training primarily on combat applica-
Background disadvantage. By increasing experience or study (see p. B82). tions. Others will allow the psion more
that to a 15-point Unusual Background, Students at the institutes train 14 hours freedom of choice. Instructors discuss
the psion can gain access to a psionics a day. At that rate a character point is the student’s power and skill options so
institute. All other psions must embark earned every two weeks. By the end of the training can be tailored to his per-
on a quest to locate one. Without psionics four months the newly train psion has sonal goals. For the player and game
institute training, characters can only earned eight character points for master, this means dedicating a solid
purchase latent powers limited to +1 – improving psionic powers or skills. two weeks of game time during training
and they are unreliable at that. Additional Additional training with a qualified on a single skill for each point that it will
psionic advantages, disadvantages, limi- instructor adds one character point per be increased.
tations, enhancements, and quirks are 200 training hours. They can also be In addition to skills training, other
covered in detail in GURPS Psionics. earned through self study at a rate of 400 dynamics can come into play during the
Once an institute has been located, a hours per point. Later, if the psion used four month training period. Student
potential student must pay for the test- his powers on an intensive daily basis, rivalries, Imperial raids, underground
ing that will determine what powers (if he can gain an additional two and a half faction wars, gauntlets, psionics games,
any) he possesses. This testing is con- character points in that power or skill and training missions are just a few of
ducted over a period of two weeks and annually (see p. P8). the challenges adventurers may
costs Cr5,000 (which may be refunded if While attending the institute, a psion encounter during their stay at an insti-
the results are inconclusive). Details for can focus on one or two specific skills or tute. Every institute has its own person-
ality, and that gives its students a differ-
ent experience. The following sections
explore more deeply the differences
between various types of psionics insti-
tutes and what their students can expect.
The names and other details of all of
the sample institutes contained here
may be revised and adapted to suit an
individual campaign. Many locations
have been only been generally sketched
in, to make it easier for a game master to
fit them in where desired.
10 P I
SIONICS NSTITUTES