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)
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