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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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Normal [[psyker]]s are unable to transmit telepathic messages across vast distances through the [[warp]]. Astropaths are [[Sanctioned Psyker]]s who undergo special training with the [[Scholastica Psykana]] over many years before taking part in this special rite, where their minds are brought before the great psychic might of the [[Emperor]] himself. During this process, a portion of the Emperor's vast essence is transferred into that of the Astropath. The transference process is a traumatic experience, with not all being successful despite many years of training, with some not surviving and many that do lose much of their sanity. The most visible result of the Soul Binding is damage to the sensitive nerves of the eyes, which leaves almost all Astropaths blind. However, the ritual imparts them greater psychic skills which tends to make up for their lost eyesight and they tend to not act as if they are blind.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|7}}
This traumatic transference of energy often damage damages the sensitive nerves of the eyes or other sensesenses. Although almost all astropaths are blind, some might instead lack a sense of smell, hearing, taste or touch.{{Fn|7}} Sometimes Soul Binding will not take an Astropath's sight, but will take their other senses instead. Such was the case with [[Callus Zane]], who lost his sense of smell, taste and the sense of touch in his left hand.{{Fn|6}}
Astropath training ultimately ends with this rite which is a techno arcane initiation ritual that greatly opens their minds to the warp.{{Fn|2}} The ritualistic soul binding to the Emperor also provides added protection against the [[perils of the warp]].{{Fn|5}}{{Fn|8}} The entities of the warp are a hideous threat to those psykers who have not undergone the Soul Binding ritual.{{Fn|3}} According to legend in [[M41]], the first psyker to take part in the Soul Binding ritual with the Emperor was [[Malcador (Character)|Malcador the Sigilite]] who became forever linked to the Master of Mankind.{{Fn|4}}
