Gith
The Gith, sometimes called Githyanki or Githzerai, are a species of single sex alien humanoids native to The Astral Sea. They are known to be dangerous combatants, possessing innate Psionic abilities, and potentially hostile depending on what Gith faction you are dealing with.
The Gith are survivors of millennia of enslavement and experimentation by the Illithid. They eventually revolted and against their masters, freeing themselves from the Illithid's control. The revolution was lead by Gith, a great warrior and the individual that inspired the species name. The Gith either refuse to speak or have long forgotten the original name of their species.
While the Gith appear humanoid, they are classed as Aberrations, their original ancestry traits stripped and altered by countless generations of experimentation by the Illithid, transforming them into beings that are probably unrecognisable to their ancestors. Some scholars have attempted to speculate what species the Gith may have been descended from, with many concluding that they were of Amphibian origin, while others argued that their original species was probably wiped out by the Illithid, and lost to time.
Gith could historically be found within The Astral Sea, and even among the space colonies founded among the stars during the Age of Arcanum. Unfortunately these colonies were destroyed during The Fall of Arcanum, and there have been no record of any Gith existing since the Fall.
Polarising Factions
After the Gith won their freedom from control of the Illithid Empire, two major factions rose among them, each holding to a different ideology and forging a separate civilisation for themselves, splitting the species in two; The Githyanki and the Githzerai.
While both factions despise Illithid, and strive to hunt them down and kill them on sight, they don't see eye to eye on much else. Encounters between the two factions often end in hostility, with the Githyanki seeing the Githzerai as traitors to their kind, as well as weak cowards, while the Githzerai see the Githyanki as tyrants, no different from their former Illithid overlords.
Githyanki
("Children of Gith" or "Followers of Gith" in the Gith language)
The Githyanki, lead by Gith herself, continue their war effort against the Illithid, striving to hunt down and kill every last member of the species, eradicating them for good. To do this they established the empire of the Githyanki, an empire built on strength and conquest, where they believe that only under the protection and control of the Githyanki can the universe be free of the threat of the Illithid and the other horrors that lie at the dark corners of reality.
The Githyanki became ruthless warriors, pillagers and raiders, expanding their control and influence across the Astral Sea, spreading fear and hatred along with them. While unconfirmed, it was speculated that the Githyanki believed that their kind was superior to other, and was deserving of their superior status as payment for the suffering their species went through.
Githyanki society is extremely well organised and orderly. They have a martial and meritocratic structure, with no regard for blood ties, and where all their members undergo heavy training in Psionic and martial combat. Raiding Illithid colonies is considered a rite of passage for the Githyanki.
Githzerai
("Those who spurn Gith" in the Gith language)
After winning their freeing from their Illithid overlords, the Githzerai has no interest in continuing a life of hardship and bloodshed, believing that the path forward for their species was one of peace. The Githzerai strove to create an enlightened civilization of seclusion, not conflict, travelling to and making their home within the Plane of Chaos.
The Githzerai are an ascetic and spiritual people, many of whom follow a lifestyle of monachism and meditation. Though they were not defenceless, the Githzerai were known to train in a form of martial combat with a focus on self-defence, often described as a mix between dance and meditation. The Githzerai were also known to train their innate Psionic abilities so they may utilize it in self-defence.
Though the Githzerai teach pacifism by nature, they were said to send out squads to destroy Illithid outposts and oppose Githyanki military expansions.
Appearance
Gith were described as thin, emaciated-looking humanoids, androgenous, with pale, slick, and sometimes slimy skin. In the place of head hair or facial hair, Gith had long tentacles of varying numbers that could be styled and even trimmed like hair. Their heads were long and angular, with deep-set eyes, small, sharp teeth, and no noses nor ears, only small nostril and ear holes in their place. Their fingers and toes were long and clawed, often with webbing in between them.
Complexion: Gith tended to have yellow skin and tentacles, sometimes with greenish, orange or brownish tones. They also often had black, spot-like markings across their skin.
Eyes: Gith usually had yellow or green coloured eyes, with slit-like pupils.
Maturity
Gith mature much faster than Humans do, reaching adulthood by the age of 15.
Reproduction
Gith hatch from eggs. Select Gith can asexually produce an egg annually without the need for a mate. This egg is then kept in a warm, humid environment for 7 months before it hatches.
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