| Chapter 2: Psionicists of the Tyr Region |
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| Psionicists of the Tyr Region |
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Balic · Draj · Gulg · Ledopolus · Makla · Nibenay · Ogo · Raam · Tyr · Urik · The Order |
The Order is a society of high-level psionicists from all over Athas. It exists to ensure that strict neutrality and balance are maintained by masters of the psionic arts. In the Order's view, psionics can be an unbalancing force and must therefore be monitored carefully. Only those with the wisdom to restrain themselves from interfering in Athasian society can be allowed to continue using mental powers past a certain point.
The Order is composed of psionicists of 21st level and higher. The members follow a common agenda, but rarely try to coordinate efforts. There is one exception to this rule—when the Order decides that a rogue psionicist must be hunted down and destroyed. Members of the Order never speak of the society's existence to anyone except another member or a psionicist being approached concerning membership.
At this time, the Order is suffering the worst internal turmoil in its centuries-long history. Two years ago the leader of the Order. a powerful telepath named Pharistes. subdued the other leaders and launched a campaign of psionic purification across the entire Tyr region. Using a mystical gem known as the Psionatrix, he created a psionic suppression field that prevented anyone but members of the Order from using psionics.
Pharistes was defeated by a group of rebels. The Psionatrix was destroyed. and the psionic suppression ended. The cost was high-almost half the Order died in a single day of fighting in Pharistes' fortress in the Dragon Crown Mountains.
Since the Dragon's Crown incident, the Order has been very unsure of itself. Its agenda is under review, and policies concerning new members and organizational leadership are still in question. For now, the Order as a whole is defunct, although individual members still try to carry out business as usual.
The senior member of the Order in the Tyr region is a human named Mandalis—who lives in the city of Tyr itself. He is a mediator, or supervisor. of the Order. Five entrants, or low-level members, are assigned to him. The entrants include members in Nibenay, the Forest Ridge, Kled. Altaruk. and the Great Alluvial Sand Wastes.
While Mandalis tries to keep an eye on local happenings. the Order's leaders continue to meet in the ruined fortress of Dasaraches to debate the organization's future. Some of them argue that the Order should disband completely, others believe that the Order should openly declare itself, and still others think that they should return to the old methods.