Background
An ardent gravitates toward a set of philosophical concepts suitable to their heritage, upbringing, and life experiences. Many mistake an ardent for a cleric or paladin, because they are often as enthusiastic about their personal philosophies as any divine missionary could be. Unlike divine spellcasters who gain their power through a deity, an ardent directly taps the concepts the deity represents, bypassing any connection to a conscious higher power.
An ardent's pursuit of these cosmic philosophies gives them access to psionic power in a unique way: through psionic mantles. Each mantle is tied to one of the universal true concepts that an ardent so admires, and is represented by a specific list of psionic powers and abilities. An ardent gains access to new mantles as they gain levels, representing his growing awareness of the interconnected nature of core truths and a growing understanding of how the multiverse works.
All ardents focus on two mantles, known as their primary mantles. These concepts are those that an ardent finds most appealing or that possess the most potential power in their eyes. Ardents consider all other mantles as secondary mantles - philosophies certainly powerful and worthy of study, but not considered as central to the universe as the character's primary philosophies.
Read more about this topic: Ardent (Dungeons & Dragons), Publication History, Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition (2000-2007)
Famous quotes containing the word background:
“... every experience in life enriches one’s background and should teach valuable lessons.”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)
“I had many problems in my conduct of the office being contrasted with President Kennedy’s conduct in the office, with my manner of dealing with things and his manner, with my accent and his accent, with my background and his background. He was a great public hero, and anything I did that someone didn’t approve of, they would always feel that President Kennedy wouldn’t have done that.”
—Lyndon Baines Johnson (1908–1973)
“Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment; that background which the painter may not daub, be he master or bungler, and which, however awkward a figure we may have made in the foreground, remains ever our inviolable asylum, where no indignity can assail, no personality can disturb us.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)