How obvious are the effects of Sanctioning? Is it possible to hide the fact that you're sanctioned to normal humans?

I always assumed that it changed your very soul in some way - so that another Psyker (or a Daemon) could detect that with the Psyniscience skill. Is that true, or is it just worthless headcanon?

I do know that many sanctioned Psykers go blind and such, but that's not 100% obligatory - others suffer less visible consequences (insanity, changed faith, loss of specific memories, coloration changes in hair/eyes/nails/ect, a few OCDs...). So this kind of thing does not really suffice to really prove that a psyker is sanctioned.

Second: Is it possible to be Sanctioned without going to Terra/seeing the Emperor in person? As in, can a large-scale Adeptus Astra Telepathica/Inquisition facility simply declare someone "sanctioned" if they have the power and knowledge to run all of the appropriate tests?

I always thought that the sanctioning mark was kinda like having a tattoo, a mark that could be more less visible from psyker to psyker. I also think that I saw in some fluff that this mark is a location where when stabbed would shut down the psyker the fastest, so a servant/guard could prevent a demon from taking over the psyker - though I cant find any references for this.

Using psyscience does not reveal if psyker is sanctioned, though it is possible to get a sense of how much in control the psyker is. I.e. a rogue psyker with no control over his power could be detected as unstable or flickering through psyscience. In the case of the psyker in control you wouldn't know if its from sanctioned training or from training somewhere else.

Loosing the eyes happens in the special soul binding process, which is normally used on psykers that are strong, but not strong enough to manage on their own, hence they get soul bound to the emperor. These become astropaths, and often they just wear a piece of cloth concealing their eyes, so it is clear to everyone (who knows a little) that they are psykers, but also absolutely necessary for the survival of the Emperium.

Second: Yes, the inquisition has the power to accelerate a chosen individual through the sanctioning process aboard a black ship without going to Terra.

DH1 dealt with this in greater detail and had a Sanctioned Psyker's player roll on a chart to determine the effects of their Sanctioning. Most of the effects were psychological, but there were some possible physical consequences as well - from missing body hair all the way to burst eyes replaced by cybernetic implants. Nothing that would actually identify someone as a Psyker to an unschooled observer, however.

I would say that normally all Sanctioned Psykers receive a brand, but an Inquisitor recruiting a Psyker would probably see to its (likely painful) removal in the interests of secrecy. It would depend on the Inquisitor, though.

As for getting sanctioned in the first place - all I've read in books from both GW as well as FFG indicates that this is happening on Terra only, as is also pointed out in the DH2 rulebook on page 138. An Inquisitor could of course "steal" a Psyker from a Black Ship, but in this case they would not be sanctioned. The DH1 supplement Inquisitor's Handbook even introduced the "Nascent Psyker" advance which would take a character out of the game (due to being sent to Terra) if their psychic potential is discovered and they do not choose to go rogue.

That being said, if there is a brand, it can almost certainly be faked...

I always assumed that it changed your very soul in some way - so that another Psyker (or a Daemon) could detect that with the Psyniscience skill. Is that true, or is it just worthless headcanon?

Headcanon is the only canon in 40k. The books constantly make up contradictory statements on almost anything - you have the same privilege.

I believe my group usually goes with some combination of a brand, a tattoo and an electoo. Usually in some place that can be covered but that is still easily accessible, like back of the neck or on their arm. Occasionally someplace more obvious like forehead. Generally players choice.
As has been mentioned other physical signs of sanctioning can occur but nothing about them screams sanctioned psyker. Just minor physical deformities or signs of injuries.

Sanctioning is not something directly detectable with things like psyscience.

Also worth noting that as Inquisitors technically have unlimited authority they are really not required to be sanctioned. Might make them some enemies out of other inquisitors but their rosette can get them out of psyker related trouble in many situations. Few are going to ask to see a sanctioning brand after seeing a rosette. Acolytes not working directly in the presence of their inquisitor obviously wouldn't have that protection though.

I'm not sure all psykers have to go to terra. They definitely all have to go to the black ships to be sanctioned but does the sanctioning actually take place on terra?
I know the ones that are too weak to be useful and the ones to powerful to control go to be fed to the golden throne and that astropaths have to go to Terra to be soul bound but I'm really not sure about the others.

I'm not sure all psykers have to go to terra. They definitely all have to go to the black ships to be sanctioned but does the sanctioning actually take place on terra?

I always thought that the sanctioning process requires you to be tested before the Emporer Himself. If that's the case you absolutely have to go to terra.

I'm not sure all psykers have to go to terra. They definitely all have to go to the black ships to be sanctioned but does the sanctioning actually take place on terra?

I always thought that the sanctioning process requires you to be tested before the Emporer Himself. If that's the case you absolutely have to go to terra.

That's my understanding as well.

Sure, an Inquisitor can probably pull a few strings to speed up the process, like getting the psyker a ride on a ship heading on a more direct route. Maybe skipping ahead of the queue once the psyker gets there. Probably training the psyker in things that would normally being taught during sanctioning. But the trip to terra is a required part of sanctioning.

First of all, yes, you SHOULD go to Terra for your sanctioning. Yes, EVERY damned sanctioned witch was on Holy Land of Holy Terra, standing proud in EMPEROR OWN PALACE and have seen EMPEROR HIMSELF. Just to notice - we're speaking about society where it's counted as holy pilgrimage just to see Solar Light from beyond Pluto orbit. Black Ships don't testing psykers. They hoard it under the supervising of blank girls with bolters and power armors. Testing is passing on Terra, because it's very dangerous to do it in space (and there are special protected environments in City of Sights), and Sisters of Silence blocks psyker potential anyway. I can find some cites from here and there.

Every sanctioned psyker is bound, including astropaths and librarians (that's that rulebook tells us on page 195). Astropaths are passing additional conditioning, making their kind of protected from Warp. Astropaths are the worst self-controled of psykers, though, so they needed additional shielding. That's kind of implantation of Emperor's Own Soul echo. Eyes burn.

Yes, I believe somebody with Psyniscience can detect it, but to realize what it is he need to roll psyker Lore. And it's forbbiden lore.

Main occupation for psykers is astropathic corps. Well, tbh main occupation is fueling the Astronomican, but it's grim.

And yes, for mundane Imperial citizen it's supposed to differ sanctionite psyker by symbols of AAT on his wearings and sanctionite brand. There was some topics on 1st edition forum what is brand exactly, but I personally believe that it's kind of, well, brand on your carpus (easy to show), that have form of AAT symbol and PIN. Well, Psyker Identification Code - something about number Terra puts on any psyker with known structure, containes his Assignment results (results of the evaluation as psyker), current appointment and so on. To read it you need to roll AAT lores.

Yes, I looked it up and the book (p50) says that every Psyker gathered on the Black Ships is moved to Terra for testing.

In my experience, fluff describing how Psyker-recruitment works in general always has all sanctioned Psykers coming from Terra, while backstories of already-established characters who just so happen to be Psykers often seem incompatible with this. In the Eisenhorn novels, for example, the titular character is a reasonably powerful Psyker. Throughout all three books, he is never once specifically described as unsanctioned. Yet several descriptions of his life story rule out the journey to Terra.

The fluff is so inconsistent on this that you'd probably do best to just make something up. In my campaigns, Psykers can get Sanctioned locally, in one of several Adeptus Astra Telepathica bases spread throughout the Sector, while Astropaths have to be Soul-Bound on Terra specifically.

Sorry but what's wrong with Eisenhorn travelling Terra?.. I don't like that novels, so I could forgot, but I believed Eisenhorn passed Sanctioning, was assigned to Hapshant and just passed all his trials uncommonly fast (and it's pointed - Eisenhorn speaked about himself "young for Inquisition" or something similiar in the first novel).

P.S. And we have a source that should be considered as primary, I believe: "This obliges the rulers of every Imperial planet to set aside a levy of young psykers for transport aboard the Black Ships to Terra. " Core Rulebook, 6th Edition, p. 165, selection is mine. But of course not every sanctionite is Soul Bound.

From what I can gather; it seems that all Astropaths do in fact have to make the complete journey to Terra. As do the "Sacrifices". From what I've read though, the Sanctioned Psyker is a special breed of VERY rare individuals. They are Independently powerful enough to be effective as something other than a battery and yet possess the singular will to control their awful power! It is entirely possible that these individuals (For which their is ALWAYS a need!) may be identified, trained and branded while enroute on the Black ships to Terra. A Journey that may take several years! It seems likely that some of these most promising candidates would be dropped off enroute and assigned where needed while some would actually complete the journey.

It bears mentioning that the rite of Sanctioning does not require a visit to the Golden throne (That would be Soul binding!). So it is entirely likely that some of the Sanctionites are dropped off enroute while others Tithed at those stops are picked up!

It is entirely possible that these individuals (For which their is ALWAYS a need!) may be identified, trained and branded while enroute on the Black ships to Terra.

Nope. You can't test and train psyker abord Black Ship. Black Ships are equipped with psydampers and Sisters of Silence (well, it's really needed when you want to carry a horde of psykers against their will, and it's mentioned in Core Rulebook of Warhammer 40K). It's a moving prison, not training facility.

I always asumed you'ld want people to see that you are sanctioned. Now ofcourse hiding you're a psyker is all well and good if you want to stay undercover. But once you (have to) start wielding your powers in public it's nice to have something to show people that you have a "licence to psy." *

One day at a local hive market:

Psyker: "Take that! Heretic scum!" *TK pushes a ganger into a wall."

Everybody in the market square: "It's a witch! BURN HER!"

Psyker: "Wait it's okay! I'm a sanctioned psyker using my powers for the good of the imperium and Him on Earth!'

Everybody: *silence*

Guy in crowd: "We don't care! WITCH! BURN HER!"

Psyker: "Ah netbunnies!"

* I didn't say it would work...

I always asumed you'ld want people to see that you are sanctioned. Now ofcourse hiding you're a psyker is all well and good if you want to stay undercover. But once you (have to) start wielding your powers in public it's nice to have something to show people that you have a "licence to psy." *

One day at a local hive market:

Psyker: "Take that! Heretic scum!" *TK pushes a ganger into a wall."

Everybody in the market square: "It's a witch! BURN HER!"

Psyker: "Wait it's okay! I'm a sanctioned psyker using my powers for the good of the imperium and Him on Earth!'

Everybody: *silence*

Guy in crowd: "We don't care! WITCH! BURN HER!"

Psyker: "Ah netbunnies!"

* I didn't say it would work...

You know I have a character who start his Inquisitorial career just in such situation. He managed to convince crowd he IS sanctioned psyker using his powers for the good of the imperium and Him on Earth.

It was natural 1 on Fellowship roll, yes.

I got a character idea a while back for an Ecclesiarch priest with psychic powers (ad ministorum + Mystic) who claims his powers and any psychic phenomena/ perils of the warp are "miracles and/or the power/will of the Emperor made manifest."

The only problem is that might imply the inquisitor he works for is a radical, as i don't see a puritan inquisitor, a) falling for that nonsense and b) being ok with me passing of a dark summoning as the a miracle of the Emperor.

I got a character idea a while back for an Ecclesiarch priest with psychic powers (ad ministorum + Mystic) who claims his powers and any psychic phenomena/ perils of the warp are "miracles and/or the power/will of the Emperor made manifest."

The only problem is that might imply the inquisitor he works for is a radical, as i don't see a puritan inquisitor, a) falling for that nonsense and b) being ok with me passing of a dark summoning as the a miracle of the Emperor.

I'm sorry, but do your cleric himself thinks about a dark summoning as the miracle of the Emperor?

His Name is Elder Alpion Ngyuen Seth... What do you think? Yeah he's a creepy bastard who in D&D terms would be considered Lawful Evil. (I based him on charatcers from Dark Future and Fear to Tread) So i might possibly have to dial him down a notch.

Yes he fully knows that his psy powers do not come from the emperor, and actually enjoys messing with peoples perception of his powers.

Spire guard: "His lordship wants to be left alone. He sends us to bar thee entrance."

Acolyte:" Now look here, we are servants of the throne and-"

Spire guard: "None shall pass!"

Elder Seth (to acolyte): "Let it be childe, here is needed the voice of Him on Earth."

Elder Seth (to guard): "There is but one lord and that is the almighty Emperor of mankind! KNEEL before those who do his devine will!"

*PK shoves hive guard into a wall and rolls unholy stench for psychic phenomena.*

Other Hive guards:* start retching* "What is this gastly smell?"

Elder Seth: "T'is the corruption in your souls made manifest! Repent or be damned! Let us in!"

Hive guard: "ack, koff, ok you go in now!"

Elder Seth: (with smug smile) "Bless you, my son."

Acolyte: "Euh Seth-"

Elder Seth. "Quiet you!"

To prove that you're sanctioned, you can always get an electoo that can change shape from something nondescript to something indicating your sacntioning (I believe that's possible, although I'd rule that it's a bit more expensive).

If the fact that they HAVE to go to Terra is debatable, I'll work around the issue this way: [Character] went to Terra and got Sanctioned. However, [Character] also accomplished most of their training in an Adeptus Astra Telepathica base in the Sector, making it somewhat logical that they know people there (Influence score).

Or maybe [Character] could have been born amoung the menials on the station, explaining why she was trained there for a time.

That way, I'll have done both!

But unless I'm an Astropath, I'm not "Soul-Bound" - so I have not actually seen the Emperor, and I have less physical side-effects of training.

But what are the characteristics of the rite of Sanctioning? Do we know anything about the kind of tests?

I always assumed it was just "we check your powers and control with other telepaths going full mindrake and divination on you, you go see the Emperor for a fraction of his control, and voila !".

PS: I love the priest. What kind of powers does he use? Nothing too overt I suppose...

Second is nonlawful and VERY STUPID - to teach psyker who have not passed his test and proved his will is powerful enough to control his teaching.

Depends on the teaching. If the teaching involves a lot of teaching the psyker to discipline his mind to better control his powers, then that teaching would seem to be a good idea. Even if all it does is make it more likely he survives long enough to get put on a black ship. Some planets have decades between each black ship visit and they don't want psykers going bad before then.

Well, in my opinion it's not some psyker teaching. This is something you can learn even non-psyker; nothing bad can be from this skills possesed.

By the way, I believe "Psyker" aptitude and "A constant threat" ability aviability for non-psyker chars is definitly this kind of teaching.