Githyanki

GITHYANKI

FREQUENCY: Very rare
FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Astral Plane])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Dungeon Level IV])

NO. APPEARING: 1-4 <%01-95=1-4, 96-00=party>
ARMOR CLASS: Variable
MOVE: Variable, <Astral Projection to the Prime Material> <to?> <12" base, take armour into account> <96" on the Astral Plane> <10" per point of Intelligence on the Astral Plane: D67>
HIT DICE: Variable (upper limit of 11)
% IN LAIR: 40% <(Fedifensor: level 7+, 6-8 characters)>
TREASURE TYPE: Individuals [N]; lair [A], [Z] (x 2)
NO. OF ATTACKS: Variable (as human)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional or genius <(14 + d4)>
ALIGNMENT: Variable but always evil <(Violent, Malicious)>
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: 150-250
Attack/Defense Modes: All / all but J
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV and up | variable

Millenia ago the mind flayers (see AD&D MONSTER MANUAL -- Mind Flayer) <e> conquered a race of evil humans and bound them to service,
usually employing them as slaves but from time to time selecting particularly choice victims for food.
The humans harboured deep resentment for centuries but could not summon up sufficient strength to free themselves from the mind flayer yoke.
Gradually, in secret, they developed their powers and strength.
Then under the leadership of the supreme leader Gith, they rebelled against their captors and, after a long and vicious struggle, succeeded in gaining their autonomy.
From that moment, the race became known as the githyanki and they quickly gained a reputation as powerful psionicists and deadly fighters with an instinct for violence. <psi, D78> <GT=violent>

The githyanki now dwell in the Astral Plane but from time to time
project themselves to the Prime Material Plane (an innate ability now
common to all members of the race) and set up temporary refuges
underground, using these as bases from which they mount raids on
humans and mind flayers alike. (If githyanki encounter humans and
mind flayers simultaneously they will destroy the mind flayers first
and may appear to be co-operating with the humans, but as soon as
the mind flayers are killed, the githyanki will TURN on the humans
and attempt to destroy them too.)

The githyanki worship a lich-queen said to have powers at the 24th level of magic-use or even higher. <psionicist?>

Githyanki progress as [fighters], [magic-users], or fighter/magic-users; <l> <add cavalier, et al?>
they have no ranger, monk, druid or assassin class though illusionists are infrequently met (5%) and there is a form of the anti-paladin class --
the knight. <revise this if cavaliers are called knights> <ilrigger (D106?)>
They have never been known to progress beyond the 11th level of experience <e> and rarely beyond the 9th -- it is assumed that the
lich-queen destroys any githyanki who become powerful enough to risk challenging her supremacy. <they is unclear, following 'knight': change to 'all githyanki?'>

The githyanki dwell in huge castles on the Astral Plane, each castle being ruled by a supreme leader --
a fighter/magic-user of 10th/8th or 11th/9th level. The supreme leaders have power over life and death
all under their rule. Each castle will also contain 40 knights (anti-paladins of 9th level) --
the supreme leader's elite supporting force and personal guard -- and up to 1,000 githyanki of lower status.

They use armour and weapons as men do, though the ornateness of
their design is often a distinguishing feature. When on war expeditions
they wear +4 splint mail (AC0) but do not carry shields. Fighters and
fighter/magic-users of 5th level and above will usually (50% chance)
carry two-handed swords of +1 bonus, otherwise using normal two-handed swords.
A githyanki fighter of 7th level and above will usually (60%) carry a +2 or +3 longsword,
while a knight of 7th level and above will have (100%) a silver sword -- a +3 two-handed sword
which, if used astrally, has a 20% chance per melee round of cutting the silver cord (this does not affect mind barred victims).
A supreme leader will wield a special silver sword which is +5, fully vorpal and affects mind barred victims.
The silver swords are non-aligned, though they have intelligence of 8 or more and appropriate powers.
Githyanki will go to almost any lengths to prevent any of these silver swords from falling into
human hands and the loss of a special silver sword will promote the immediate formation of a very powerful raiding
party of githyanki whose task is to recover the sword -- failure to do so means instant death.

Outside their Prime Material Plane lairs, githyanki will rarely be encountered
in parties larger than 4, a typical party consisting of two
trainees of any of the three classes (level 1-3), one fighter of level 4-6 and
a leader fighter/magic-user of 7th/6th level. Rarely (10%) the
githyanki parties encountered will have a special mission in which
case there will only be one trainee and the party will be led by a
knight of 8th level.

If a lair is found it will house 21-30 githyanki with typical distribution as follows:--

1 supreme leader 11th level fighter or 7th/8th level fighter/magic-user

2 captains 8th level fighter and 7th/6th level fighter/magic-user

1 knight 8th level anti-paladin

2 warlocks magic-users of 4th-7th level

3 sergeants fighters of 4th-7th level

2 'gish' fighter/magic-users of 4th/4th level

10-19 lower levels evenly distributed between the three possible classes and with experience levels 1st-3rd.

Party: Very infrequently, githyanki parties larger than four in #number# will
be encountered (5% chance). These will be on particularly purposeful
missions (though not in SEARCH of a lost silver sword -- that activity
promotes an even larger and stronger party) and will be stronger than <Quest Band?>
normal; 5-10 individuals can be expected, led by the supreme leader
of the lair, supported by one of the captains, the knight and 2-7
'lower ranks', evenly distributed. Both in the lair and in a large party,
there is a 5% chance that there will be an illusionist of 6th level instead of one of the lower level types.
<>
there is a 5% chance that there will be a Visionist (I6), instead of one of the lower level types.

Githyanki have normal human chances for magic item distribution other than swords.

A Prime Material Plane lair will contain 5-10 magic items, selected
as being particularly appropriate to the mission. In a small githyanki
party there will usually (75%) be <1> magical item and a larger party will have 1-10.

Githyanki have a pact with a group of red dragons (see ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS MONSTER MANUAL -- Dragon, Red) <><colour:red>
which in return for shelter, food and treasure, assist the githyanki
when on the Prime Material Plane by acting as steeds. The dragons <l=wsg>
transport 4-6 and 1-5 githyanki each according to size/age (above sub-adult);
thus a small young adult dragon could transport 5 githyanki (4 for size, 1 for age),
an average-sized old dragon could transport 8 (5 for size, 3 for age)
and a huge ancient dragon could transport 11 (6 for size, 5 for age).
These red dragons will obey only githyanki when the latter are on the Prime Material Plane.

Githyanki move at 96" movement on the Astral Plane.

MP: The details of this fell race of natives to the Astral
plane are given in the FIEND FOLIO tome. For raw maliciousness,
these creatures rival their former masters, the mind flayers.

The githyanki abilities exist as noted in that tome, with several
comments and modifications. The reason for their rapid (96")
movement through the Astral plane is as yet undetermined, but
does not indicate god-like Intelligence. It is apparently a special
ability of the monsters in their native plane. Githyanki knights are
not anti-paladins, but rather evil cavaliers, with all the abilities of
that human class modified for the Astral plane. These knights
often ride nightmares, though this tends to slow them down.

The githyanki are found mainly in the Prime Material and Astral
planes--almost never on the adjacent outer planes. This is due to
the fact the race operates under a continual form of [probability travel] that
renders color pools unusable to them. This fact may be
useful to parties seeking to escape a posse of the fast-moving
creatures. They may enter the outer planes with outside help,
and in that fashion pursue their githzerai enemy (see the Plane of
Limbo for notes on the githzerai). <revise>

Githyanki lairs are huge castles built on islands of matter in the
Astral. The githyanki often seek to colonize and collect these islands
for future bases. A githyanki city may number up to 1,000 of these
foul creatures, ruled by a supreme leader. As far as combat ability,
magic use, and regaining spells, the githyanki are treated
as normal humans experienced in the Astral plane.

The greatest danger of the githyanki are their silver swords and
special silver swords. The former are +3 two-handed broad swords,
while the latter are similar weapons of +5 with vorpal
abilities. These swords can sever the silver cords of astrally projecting travelers.
To do so, the wielder of the silver sword must hit
the silver cord (AC 0) and then has only a 20% chance of severing
the cord (this results in the instantaneous death of those attached
to the cord). The psionic ability [mind bar] prevents silver swords
(though not special silver swords) from cutting the astral cord.
These are the only physical weapons that are known to sever the
cords. Their method of construction and how they function are
mysteries. Mysteries, it should be noted, that the githyanki are
willing to wage major warfare across the planes to keep hidden.

The githyanki have no clerics, but their lich-queen, whose
reputed level of magic use varies from 24 to 30 depending on the
source, is treated as a Demi-Power who makes her home in the
Astral plane. She cannot grant spells (yet), but her power is
rumored to be waxing.

- Manual of the Planes

PSIONICS
In the table: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11

The Queen (Githyanki Witch-Queen)

FREQUENCY: Unique
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: Variable
MOVE: Variable
HIT DICE: Variable (upper limit of 11)
% IN LAIR: 40%
TREASURE TYPE: Individuals [N]; lair [A], [Z] (x 2)
NO. OF ATTACKS: Variable (as human)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional or genius
ALIGNMENT: Variable but always evil <(Violent)>
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: 150-250
Attack/Defense Modes: All / all but J
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV and up | variable

Githyanki Castle Lord: King -- Supreme Githyanki Leader (Githyanki Witch-King)

FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: Variable
MOVE: Variable
HIT DICE: Variable (upper limit of 11)
% IN LAIR: 40%
TREASURE TYPE: Individuals [N]; lair [A], [Z] (x 2)
NO. OF ATTACKS: Variable (as human)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional or genius
ALIGNMENT: Variable but always evil <(Violent)>
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: 150-250
Attack/Defense Modes: All / all but J
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV and up | variable

Githyanki Castle Lord: Rook -- Supreme Githyanki Leader (Githyanki Witch-Lord)

Githyanki Castle Lord: Knight -- Supreme Githyanki Leader (Githyanki Witch-Knight)

Githyanki Outpost Lord: Supreme Githyanki Leader (Githyanki Lord)

Githyanki Outpost Lord: Supreme Githyanki Leader (Githyanki Witch-King)

Captain Githyanki (Githyanki Superhero)

Githyanki Captain (Githyanki Enchanter)

Githyanki Knight (Githyanki Villain)

Githyanki Warlock (Githyanki Theurgist)

Githyanki Warlock (Githyanki Thaumaturgist)

Githyanki Warlock (Githyanki Magician)

Githyanki Warlock (Githyanki Enchanter)

Gish (Hero/Theurgist: F4/MU4) (Githyanki Bladesinger)

FREQUENCY: Very rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: Variable
MOVE: Variable
HIT DICE: (4d10/4d4)/2
% IN LAIR: 40%
TREASURE TYPE: Individuals [N]
NO. OF ATTACKS: Variable (as human)
DAMAGE/ATTACK: By weapon type
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Exceptional or genius
ALIGNMENT: Variable but always evil <(Violent)>
SIZE: M
PSIONIC ABILITY: 150-250
Attack/Defense Modes: All / all but J
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: IV and up | variable
SAVES, MU: d14, p13, r11, b15, s12

SPELLS: 3 1st, 2 2nd

Githyanki Veteran

Githyanki Warrior

Githyanki Swordsman

Githyanki Prestidigitator

Githyanki Evoker

Githyanki Conjurer

Githyanki Bladesinger (Veteran Prestidigitator)

Githyanki Bladesinger (Evocative Warrior)

Githyanki Bladesinger (Conjured Swordsman)

by Charles Stross

SA: How do native astral races like the githyanki recover spells they CAST?

Quote:
Originally posted by Daiymo
Greetings Gary!

You spoke earlier about mind flayers, so I have a question about the Gith races, my favorite outisder type monster race(no doubt due to their being prominently featured on the cover of the old Fiend Folio).

I dont know how much input you had in the gith's development, but where did the idea of these two warring races(the yanki and zerai) come from?
Where are Steve Jackson (the Brit) and Ian Livingston when you need them? Likely living it up in Spain...

The FIEND FOLIO was compiled by those two, then the owners of GW, from submissions published in WHITE DWARD MAGAZINE, and brought to TSR as material for an additional book of monsters. I culled some, saw that other creatures were added, and then Lawrence Shick, the man in charge of project left in the monsters I'd said must be cut--he was leaving the company so...

Anyway, I agree that the Gith are an interesting racial pair. Only their creator, or Steve & Ian possibly, can give you the inside information you seek.

Cheerio,
Gary

Quote:
Originally posted by tsadkiel

Here's an interview with Charles Stross about the origins of the Gith races.

http://www.planewalker.com/loz/mi_stross.shtml

Thanks for the URL.

Interesting that he has become a pro SF author, and too bad he has left gaming.

Mr. Stross' observations in regards to what inspired him to create the various monsters he did is pretty much the same as how I have done a number of them.

Although I know Larry Niven, I most certainly wasn't reading his material for monster ideas, then or now. As noted, the inspiration for the mind flayers came from a piece of cover art on a book in the Lovecraftian Cycle, Lumley's THE BURROWERS BENEATH. I still have that paperback in my libreay, too

Gary

1 supreme leader	11th level fighter or 7th/8th level fighter/magic-user
2 captains	8th level fighter and 7th/6th level fighter/magic-user
1 knight	8th level anti-paladin
2 warlocks	magic-users of 4th-7th level
3 sergeants	fighters of 4th-7th level
2 'gish'	fighter/magic-users of 4th/4th level
10-19 lower levels	evenly distributed between the three possible classes and with experience levels 1st-3rd.