Dungeons and Dragons has served as a basis for many wonderful games over the years. But many fans carry out their own campaigns virtually these days, too. As the editions have grown and changed, the races such as the Drow and Githyanki have grown in popularity.
In fact, the latter species made a huge splash thanks to one of the main characters in Baldur’s Gate 3. A Githyanki princess is seen held captive by the Mind Flayers while soldiers on red dragons try to rescue her in the game’s main trailer.
But this merely scratches the surface of the lore surrounding the Githyanki species in Dungeons and Dragons.
10 George R.R. Martin Technically Created The Githyanki
Known primarily for writing and then not finishing Games of Thrones, Martin also penned a novel called Dying of the Light in 1977. In it, he creates a form of life known as, that’s right – the Githyanki. A fan named Charles Stross created and submitted his homebrew version of the Githyanki for a D&D campaign to White Dwarf magazine.
The lore just took off from there with the Githyanki appearing in the Fiend Folio, Planescape Torment, and beyond. To Stross’ credit, the visuals of the Githyanki are not the same. However, Martin’s version was also an enslaved, humanoid, hostile alien race.
9 Githyanki Were Once Human
There are two main subspecies within the Githyanki known as the Githzerai and the Githyanki. Both are typically tall, lean, have green skin, and can live to about 100 years old. They also possess sharp teeth, flat noses, and serrated, pointed ears.
D&D Beyond has confirmed that the Gith species started out as humans. Curiously, the Githyanki reproduce by laying and hatching from eggs. It is not known if this was an adaptation during their enslavement or a natural occurrence.
Their physiology has changed over the generations since their rebellion against Illithids.
8 They Were Slaves To Mind Flayers
Some fans believe that the destruction of the Gith’s native planet gave rise to Mind Flayers. Others believe that the Mind Flayers created the Githzerai and Githyanki from corrupted hobgoblin or human stock. Regardless of their origins, one thing remains true: the Mind Flayers enslaved the Githyanki for a long time.
As a result, many Githyanki are hardened, cruel characters with a predilection toward aggression. But they now guard the Astral Plane against the Illithid menace and are respected for their service.
7 Githyanki Culture And The Astral Plane
The Githyanki serve as protectors of the Astral Plane. As a result of their rigid, xenophobic, and militaristic culture, the species often faces defectors or dissenters. The culture operated with three castes: g’lathk (those in charge of labor and food production), mlar (those who oversee crafts or special tasks), and the military. Their capital city is also their largest in the Astral Plane known as Tu’narath.
One of the biggest motifs in the Forgotten Realms setting is civilizations being built on the remains of another. For the Githyanki, they took the “remains” part a bit too literally. Instead of being built on a Dwarven or Elven city like Waterdeep, the main Githyanki city is built on the remains of a six-armed deity.
The long-dead creature is often simply referred to as “The One in the Void”.
6 They Ride Dragons Thanks To A Deal With Tiamat
Gith, the hero of the species, also helped attain the help of the dragons for the Githyanki. Her advisor Vlaakith brokered a deal between the species and the Queen of Dragons, Tiamat. This mission resulted in Gith, the hero, mysteriously not coming back from Hell. It also led to the appointment of Vlaakith as the first queen.
Many Githyanki preferred red dragons as they were native to the Astral Plane. But other dragons don’t enjoy the service in the Astral Plane as it prevents them from aging.
Usually, these dragons would serve the Githyanki in their younger years and be dismissed in adulthood. They got to keep any wealth or treasures they had amassed during service.
5 The Illithids Killed The Gith’s Original God
Some lore indicates that a dead god sits in Pharagos, but still exudes magical energy. In fact, the corpse operates as the source of all magical power on Pharagos. But it was the Mind Flayers who killed the original god of the Githyanki and Githzerai.
Essentially, once the species sought to rebel against the Illithids, the god began to lose power. She stood for perseverance and patience – two things that don’t exactly fit into a rebellion narrative. In her weakened state, a Mind Flayer demigod killed her, leaving her corpse on Pharagos.
4 Their Psionic Abilities Improve With Leveling
It is unknown whether the Githyanki developed their psionic abilities as a result of Illithid enslavement. But players can rest assured that those latent abilities will only grow stronger with time.
Initially, Githyanki players have access to the cantrip Mage Hand. The ability to control a giant floating hand can often come in handy early on. But, Githyanki psionics level up to allow for abilities such as Misty Step or Jump. In contrast, Githzerai psionics leads to spells such as Detect Thoughts or Shield instead.
3 Vlaakith, the Powerful Lich Gith Queen
Yes: Vlaakith the 157th – the one who brokered the deal between the Gith and Tiamat. Vlaakith, a Githyanki and Lich, has ruled for more than 1,000 years. Legend has it that the original never had any children, but still rules the capital city.
Overseeing the city of Tu’narath in the Astral void, she often consumes the souls of powerful, high-ranking Githyanki. Her magical focuses include necromancy, transmutation, and wizardry. She has stored up so much soul power, many believe her ultimate goal is to become a god.
2 The Githyanki vs. Githzerai Split
Zerthimon emerged as a dissenting voice preaching a less zealous approach to the Mind Flayers. He suggested that, instead of killing all of them, the Githyanki should study themselves and focus on rehabilitating their society and population.
The militaristic brood saw this as heresy and sedition against the rightful ruler of their species. Zerthimon and his followers dubbed themselves the Githzerai and a civil war began. While fighting a war against themselves, both sides also continued to fight against the Mind Flayers.
However, the diminished effort allowed the Mind Flayers to regain ground and grow stronger.
1 The Sha’sal Khou
As there is a civil war between the Githyanki and the Githzerai, there is yet another faction in Gith society. The Sha’sal Khou, as confirmed by Christopher Perkins at Wizards of the Coast confirmed, want to unite the species.
The group does not have any central leadership, but a warlord named Zetch’r’r is its highest-ranking member. Its operatives work within the other two factions to defuse tensions, discourage attacks, and broker peace.
The Sha’sal Khou also seek to refocus efforts against the Mind Flayers in the belief that they are the true enemy.
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