Telepathy

Spell — see Magic and Spellcasting for the rules and the Spell Index for the full list.

Arcane 4 Type: detection, esoteric

Range: 180’ Duration: 1 turn

This spell can enable the spellcaster to engage in direct mind-to-mind communication with other sapient creatures without need for a shared language. When the spell is cast, the caster can request a telepathic link with a target sapient creature. The target “feels” its mind being “touched.” The target can either accept the telepathic link or attempt to refuse it. If the target accepts the link, it is automatically established. If the target attempts to refuse the link, it must make a Spells saving throw. If the save fails, the link is established despite its refusal. If the save succeeds, the link is not established.

Once the link is established, the caster can read all of the target’s surface thoughts and can send thoughts of his own to the target. Note that this is asymmetrical: the caster can read what target is thinking, even if the target doesn’t want him to, while target can only read what the caster chooses to send.

Since telepathy only allows the caster to read the target’s surface thoughts, the target’s deeply held secrets, private concerns, or suppressed memories cannot usually be accessed with telepathy unless they are somehow brought to the surface of the target’s mind. A clever caster might transmit cues, reminders, or triggers to try to bring certain thoughts to the surface or might even have a nearby accomplice provoke the target to expose what it thinks. Such shenanigans are left to the Judge’s discretion to decide.

The caster must maintain stationary concentration to keep a telepathic link active. The caster does not need to maintain concentration to sustain the spell. For instance, he can concentrate for one round to communicate with a target, take another action the following round, and then establish a new link with that or another target on the subsequent round. The caster can change the creature with which he is linked each round that he concentrates, if desired. However, if the caster breaks his telepathic link with an unwilling creature, then wants to link with that creature again later, the creature receives a new saving throw to resist the link.