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Why do all pskers except librarians seem to have an exceedingly pale, gaunt, and generally decrepit appearance? I know that 40k concept art tends to go over the top (such giving a host cybernetics to anything with a skull, when that's only supposed to be something the wealthy can afford). I also know that pushing your psychic powers can hurt you, physically or mentally, but none of that explains why most pskers seem to have this deathly look about them. Is there something written in the lore that specifically explains this, or is it just a trend amongst the concept artists?

EDIT: Also, what is that head gear they wear? Is it a focus? A protective piece? I've tried looking all these questions up and have found no answers. The lore is forbidden for the commoner, so it would seem.

The Dark Heresy main rulebook actually sheds some light on this stuff, because sanctioned psykers are one of the main classes.

The sanctioning process is extremely brutal. The book leaves specifics to the imagination, but basically the psykers get physically and mentally tortured to determine if they'll crack under pressure. If they stay strong, then they're worthy of life. If they start to show signs of behaving irrationally or letting their powers get out of control, they're Golden Throne chow. Psykers wind up with things like needle marks all over their body and parts of their skull missing during the sanctioning process.

This, combined with the fact that they basically have a gateway into hell in their brains, through which daemons can try to claw their way free, means that being a psyker is a seriously stressful and draining thing, physically as well as mentally. Things like sleeping disorders and mild mental problems are common among even more stable psykers. So it's easy to see how this could take a physical toll on a person and make them develop a frail appearance.

As for librarians, they already have a superhuman amount of durability, so it's not surprising that they don't look sickly.

TLR-It's directly related to the immense amount of stress that being a psyker causes.

As for the head gear, again one common thing that happens during the sanctioning process is that psykers blow out a piece of their skull. Psychic powers are a literal strain on the brain, and lots of psykers have various kinds of prosthetics and cybernetics on their skulls, wither to replace blown off bits or to try and relieve the pressure.

Being a psyker is fun.

Dark Heresy 1st edition had the following list of possible side effects of the Soul-Bonding ritual for Sanctioned Psyker players:


Reconstructed Skull: Some part of your sanctioning fractured your skull. Perhaps it was a form of psycho-surgery, instructive beating or blast of untrammeled power that split your head like a Malfian pus-grape. You have large metal plates in your head, some of which are clearly visible. Reduce your Intelligence by 3, but gain cranial armor as compensation.

Hunted: Your sanction-visions have induced a mild paranoia. You believe certain parts of your psyche, those amputated by the sanctioners, have gained sentience and are tracking you down. Whilst part of you realizes that this is foolish, you still refuse to sit with your back to the door, just in case. Gain 1d10 Insanity Points.

Unlovely Memories: Such was your sanctioning, that you visibly twitch and grimace whenever Holy Terra is mentioned. Gain 1d5 Insanity Points.

The Horror, the Horror: Your hair is pure white, you occasionally gibber quietly to yourself and you endure terrible nightmares every night. Gain 1d5 Insanity Points.

Pain through Nerve Induction: The skin on the back of your right hand is horribly scarred. You are uncomfortable around bald, robed women.

Dental Probes: You no longer have any teeth in your head. Perhaps they were shattered, or removed, or simply fled your skull in protest at the psychic agony within. You have a set of carven dentures, formed from the teeth of dead pilgrims.

Optical Rupture: Your sanctioning rituals have done great violence to your eyes. They have been removed and replaced with Common quality cybernetic senses.

Screaming Devotions: Your ruined vocal cords have been replaced with a vox inducer. This thumb-sized implant gleams in the flesh of your neck. Other than granting you a rather mechanical timbre to your voice, this has no game effect.

Irradiance: You have seen the true power of the Golden Throne. You have no hair anywhere upon your body, face or head.

Tongue Bound: Your lips, gums and soft palate are tattooed with hexagrammatic wards. You must make a Hard (–20) Will Power Test to speak the names of the Ruinous Ones. Additionally, you stutter terribly when speaking of daemons.

Throne Wed: You cleave only unto the Emperor. You gain the Chem Geld talent and a chattallium ring.

Witch Prickling: Your body is covered in thousands of tiny scars. You have a thorough dislike of needles. Increase your Toughness by 3.

Hypno-doctrination: Powerful conditioning causes you to chant the Litany of Protection in a whispered voice whenever you are asleep or unconscious. Increase your Willpower by 3.