–Ford Cruller explaining Psitanium to Raz
Psitanium is a psychoreactive quartz-like mineral, stated to be rarely-occurring and found in meteorites[1]. Prolonged exposure to it can cause emotional instability, mania, or even the development and strengthening of psychic abilities. It can be dangerous to look directly at Psitanium for long periods of time.[2] Psitanium is a valued material that is often used as currency between psychics.[3]
History[]
According to the Whispering Rock treelog timeline, 500 years before the events of Psychonauts, a meteorite bearing an enormous amount of psitanium crashed in Whispering Rock creating (what is stated to be) the largest known Psitanium deposit in the world. Approximately 200 years later, the indigenous people of the area made arrowheads out of the material, naming it to what is roughly translated as "whispering rock".
100 years later, settlers drove away the indigenous residents and founded the town of Shaky Claim in the area. Many were driven to madness by the mental effects of the underground psitanium deposit, leading Houston Thorney to build an asylum to house the victims, before becoming a victim of its effects himself. The asylum reportedly closed when the government evicted the last residents of Shaky Claim, flooding the area to create what is now Lake Oblongata. Many years later, Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp was created in the vicinity of the lake by the Psychonauts, and the psitanium arrowheads left by the previous indigenous residents of the area became used as currency at the camp store and between campers. Ford's Sanctuary was also built directly above the Psitanium deposit.
It is implied that Whispering Rock is not the only place where Psitanium can be found, due to its status as the "largest known" Psitanium deposit in the world, as well as the description of the dinosaur bone suggesting the existence of "levitating velociraptors", with velociraptor fossils having been specifically found in what is now Mongolia. The existence of other Psitanium deposits is further confirmed in Psychonauts 2, as the Psychonauts HQ is built on the remains of a Psitanium quarry.
Whispering Rock Psitanium Rush[]
The Whispering Rock Psitanium Rush was a type of "gold rush" where prospectors and miners came from all over the world to hunt the mysterious "Whispering Rock" (arrowheads made from Psitanium) in Whispering Valley. Some were killed in mining accidents, some in claim disputes, but many were simply driven mad by the powerful mineral, and wandered off into the mines, never to be seen again--except for the occasional skeletal remains[4] in the Whispering Valley cave systems.
Gameplay[]
Psychonauts[]
The dowsing rod can be purchased and used to find Psitanium hidden underground. Psitanium can be spent at Ford's shop for useful items. Psitanium can also be found in mental worlds.
Psychonauts 2[]
Psitanium can be found in mental worlds and non-mental areas. They can be spent at the Otto-Mattic for useful items.
Gallery[]
Psychonauts[]
Screenshots[]
Psychonauts 2[]
Screenshots[]
Trivia[]
- Psitanium can apparently become depleted of its own power, losing its distinctive purple glow and psychoreactivity, as seen in a backer-exclusive trailer[5] where the psitanium rock that Ford Cruller had strapped to his back earlier ceases functioning after his monologue in the Reception Area.
References/Notes[]
- ↑ Information from a tree stump carving at Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp reads: "500 years ago: An enormous, Psitanium-bearing meteorite strikes the Earth, leaving a giant crater."
- ↑ A sign at the entrance to the Psitanium mine near the Motherlobe bears a warning cautioning against staring directly at the psitanium.
- ↑ In Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2, Psitanium is used as currency to purchase valuable equipment.
- ↑ The Psitanium Rush description accompanies the Miner's Skull from the Whispering Rock Scavenger Hunt.
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLjPd-MvKJI