Githyanki

The githyanki are a race who reside within the Astral Plane. Survivors of a long enslavement by mind flayers, they went on to become ruthless pillagers and raiders of many worlds in the Prime Material Plane.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Like all gith, githyanki are tall and slender humanoids with rough, leathery yellow skin with symmetrical black splotches, and bright black eyes that are sunken deep in their orbits. They have long, angular skulls, with small and highly placed flat noses, and ears that are pointed and serrated in the back side. Their hair is typically reddish-brown or black. Their teeth are pointed.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Githyanki names are typically full of harsh tones, and often broken into more syllables than would be natural by the inclusion apostrophes when written down. Female names are typically longer than male names.

History

The origin of the gith race before their enslavement is largely unknown. Not even the original name of the race is remembered, but is referred to by some as "the forerunners". Some sources claim that they were originally humans from another world. In all accounts, the forerunners at some point became slaves of the illithid empire, and were transformed through selective breeding and genetic experiments for several millennia.
After eventually developing mental resistance to their masters' mind control, the slaves revolted. Led by Gith, the rebellious factions united, and a revolution ensued which resulted in the fall of the illithid empire.
Not satisfied with regaining their freedom and splintering the illithid empire, Gith advocated for a campaign of total annihilation of the mind flayers and the subsequent destruction of any race that could potentially enslave them again. However, a faction within the society fostered peace, arguing that the race should focus on rebuilding their society in seclusion instead of persisting in a tyrannical conflict. Led by Zerthimon, the splinter faction started undermining the githyanki's war efforts. After a long civil war, Zerthimon was killed and the githyanki moved to the Astral Plane. The defeated faction, who named themselves githzerai, retreated into a space between the Prime and the Astral Plane.
In the aftermath of the civil war, the once-slave race had been splintered into the githyanki and githzerai, the latter of whom were hated by the githyanki because their perceived betrayal allowed the surviving illithids to retreat to isolated subterranean strongholds. The two races then began pursuing their separate agendas, but a deep hatred grew between the two, and they have been at war ever since.
Years after their exile in the Astral Plane, during the continuing war with the illithids, Gith's advisor, Vlaakith I, suggested that she search for allies in the Outer Planes, in particular from Tiamat. Gith agreed to visit the Nine Hells for an audience, but never returned. Instead, a red dragon returned to the githyanki, with a pledge from Tiamat that all red dragons would be allies to the githyanki and that a small contingent of red dragons would serve them as steeds. The envoy also decreed that Vlaakith I and her descendants would rule the githyanki in Gith's absence. Vlaakith I also played a crucial role in securing the githyanki's position in the Astral Plane.
The latest descendant of Vlaakith I is Vlaakith CLVII, the Lich-Queen, who has no heirs. She is the first of her line to follow the path of lichdom, feeding off the souls of her most powerful knights. She seeks to ascend to godhood by siphoning some of the divine power of Orpheus, Gith's son and true heir, who was imprisoned in the Void by Vlaakith I.

Scientific Name

Homo Sinenesus Assecla

Lifespan

70-120 years, Immortal on the Astral Plane

Average Height

6'4"-7'

Average Weight

55-80kg