Githzerai
Encyclopedia
The githzerai are a fictional race of creatures in the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

.
Githzerai are extraplanar humanoid
Humanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, humanoid is a type of creature, or "creature type". Humanoids are any creature shaped generally like a human , of Small or Medium size, with few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities...

 creatures that reside on the Plane of Limbo.

Publication history

The githzerai were created by Charles Stross
Charles Stross
Charles David George "Charlie" Stross is a British writer of science fiction, Lovecraftian horror and fantasy. He was born in Leeds.Stross specialises in hard science fiction and space opera...

 for the Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...

 Tome of Creatures Malevolent and Benign
(1981). They were originally introduced as monsters, but they are a playable character race in the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...

 campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

, and have been detailed further in D&D 3.0 and 3.5.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The githzerai first appears in the first edition Fiend Folio (1981). In the indexes Charles Stross is listed as the creator of this fictional race.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The githzerai appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Outer Planes Appendix (1991), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993), which includes the githzerai rrakkma band and the githzerai zerth.

The githzerai was further detailed in the first Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994). The Planewalker's Handbook (1996) presented the githzerai as a player character race.

The githzerai is also presented as a playable character race in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by Douglas Niles and Dale Donovan...

(1995).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The githzerai first appears in the Psionics Handbook (2001), and then in this edition's Manual of the Planes
Manual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....

(2001).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The githzerai appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), and was further detailed as a player character race in the Expanded Psionics Handbook (2004) (along with the psionic githzerai) and as a character class in Complete Psionic
Complete Psionic
Complete Psionic is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast released in April 2006...

(2006).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The githzerai appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the githzerai cenobite, the githzerai zerth, and the githzerai mindmage.

The githzerai player race was first detailed in the back of the Monster Manual. A more balanced version of the race was previewed in in the August 2009 issue of Dragon Magazine, and the Githzerai was officially released in March 2010 in the Player's Handbook 3.

Licensing

The githzerai is considered a "Product Identity" by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...

 and as such is not released under its Open Gaming License
Open Gaming License
The Open Game License may be used by game developers to grant permission to modify, copy, and redistribute some of the content designed for their games, notably game mechanics.-Language of the licence:The OGL describes two forms of content:...

.

Description

Githzerai are descended from the same race of ancient illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...

 thralls as their cousins, the githyanki
Githyanki
The githyanki are a fictional humanoid race in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. They are cousins to the githzerai. In the Dark Sun setting, they are simply called gith...

. Their name means "those who spurn Gith
Gith
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Gith is the fictional leader of the thrall rebellion that toppled the illithid empire thousands of years in the past, and founder of the githyanki and githzerai races.-History:...

."

Ecology

Githzerai hunt within the wild chaos of Limbo, and grow thin but hardy crops within the islands of stability they create with their mental powers. They live about twice as long as humans
Human (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...

. It isn't specified if they lay eggs or give birth to live infants.

The githzerai are distrustful toward all other races. They hate githyanki and illithids above all else. They have a bitter rivalry with the slaad
Slaad
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, slaad are a fictional race of Outsiders that resemble giant humanoid toads of various colors.-Development and licensing:...

i who share their home plane, but will cooperate with the froglike monsters against common threats.

Environment

Githzerai primarily live in fortresses, monasteries, and cities on the plane of Limbo, though they also maintain fortresses on the Prime Material Plane
Prime Material Plane
The Prime Material Plane is the central plane of existence in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...

. Foreigners in githzerai settlements will find themselves constantly watched and scrutinized, and they are never permitted outside of prescribed areas unless accompanied by a githzerai escort.

Shrak'kt'lor is the largest city of the githzerai, with a population of around two million. It is the military center of the race. In the background of the computer game Planescape: Torment, Shrak'kt'lor fell due to a division in the beliefs of the githzerai there, and the city drowned during a githyanki assault.

The Floating City is the spiritual capital of the githzerai, home to Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith, the immortal wizard-king who rules the githzerai people. Zaerith is served by spies and infiltrators, so the Floating City is a center for both the magical arts and the roguish arts.

Arsanith is a legendary githzerai monastery deep within the chaos. All those who have glimpsed enlightenment are welcome there, even githyanki.

Sanzerathad is another githzerai settlement, this one barely surviving in the chaotic wilds.

Zerth'Ad'lun is a monastery that teaches the art of zerthi or zerthin, in which monks are said to be able to peer into the future. In the 4th edition Manual of the Planes, the monastery of Zerth'Ad'lun has become the city of Zerthadlun, now the largest of all githzerai cities.

Githzerai fortresses on the Material Plane are particularly strong, with walls of adamantine rising from plains that have crumbled to dust, with no plants or animals for miles. This may be because of the land's reaction against the chaotic matter of the fortresses, or some effect conjured by githzerai wizards.

Typical physical characteristics

Githzerai resemble humans
Human (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...

, but they're slightly taller and thinner. Their features are sharper, their faces are longer, and their eyes range from gray to a catlike yellow color. They stand a little over six feet tall and weigh approximately 160 pounds. Their skin is rough and yellow (occasionally shading to brown or green) and their hair is russet, although males commonly shave their heads or retain only a single braid in back, with carefully controlled facial hair. Females often keep their hair in tight buns or braids. Their ears are pointed.

Alignment

Githzerai are pragmatic to a fault, but unlike their githyanki cousins they are not evil. They are usually chaotic neutral, neutral, or lawful neutral. As focused as they are, some find it difficult to see them as chaotic, but while they are fiercely loyal to their race and their leaders, theirs is the loyalty of free beings, not the servility of slaves. They prize individual freedom above all else.

"Better the heartfelt devotion of a free soul than the grudging obedience of a slave" is a common githzerai saying.

Society

The githzerai are a severe people. They dress in somber colors, eschew jewelry, never smile, and care nothing for art or music. They're a closed-mouthed, xenophobic people, seldom trusting other races with their secrets. Seldom will they use two words when they can make do with only one. Beneath their stoic facades, though, fierce passions burn: their hatred for illithids and their githyanki cousins, and their desire to protect their race on their adopted home plane. To the githzerai there are three truths: the githyanki and illithids will be their mortal enemies forever; no one will ever be permitted to threaten the survival of their people; and no one will ever enslave them again.
  • Rrakkma bands (rrakkma means "vengeance" in the githzerai tongue) are bands of warriors who roam the planes, searching for and destroying illithids.
  • Gith-attala, loosely translated as cousin-hunters, are githzerai devoted to hunting githyanki.


Monastic traditions unite the githzerai race, emphasizing rigorous training for their bodies, minds, and souls.

Religion

Githzerai seldom worship any gods. When their ancestors were slaves, the only "higher" beings they were permitted to know of were their illithid masters. The gods their ancestors worshiped before then are long since forgotten. In the present day, they primarily seek inner enlightenment rather than relying on other beings to grant it to them. They believe that by mastering the chaos of their plane they can create perfect internal order, which will lead them to enlightenment. They honor the immortal wizard-king of their race, but do not worship him.

Githzerai do revere the spirits of their ancestors. Of those, the greatest of their ancestors is Zerthimon
Zerthimon
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Zerthimon is the prophet-leader of a group of humanoids called the githzerai, cousins of the githyanki.-History:...

, who some believe dwells in the realm of the spirits, leading his people to greatness through visions. Others believe he may return one day to lead them in person. Zerths are a major religious sect led by fighter-mages who preach Zerthimon's return, believing they will be the first chosen to assist him when he comes.

Githzerai see religion as an entirely personal choice, and do not seek to impose their beliefs on others. They rarely worship any deity, but some few may revere deities such as Zuoken
Zuoken
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Zuoken is the Baklunish god of Physical and Mental Mastery...

 (most commonly), or sometimes Kord or even Vecna
Vecna
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Vecna was a powerful wizard who became a lich. He was eventually destroyed, and his left hand and left eye were the only parts of his body to survive...

.

History

Githzerai history was the same as githyanki history until shortly after the ancient illithid empire was thrown down under the leadership of the legendary heroine, Gith
Gith
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Gith is the fictional leader of the thrall rebellion that toppled the illithid empire thousands of years in the past, and founder of the githyanki and githzerai races.-History:...

. When Gith announced an Eternal Crusade that would lead her people to conquer the planes in an fanatic attempt to exterminate the illithids once and for all, however, many of the githyanki dissented. The most vocal among these was the war hero Zerthimon, who said that no war could end the illithid threat forever. Instead, the people should retreat into introspection, seeking to learn more about themselves so that they could grow in wisdom and strength. He claimed that Gith had become a tyrant no better than the illithid slavemasters she replaced. For a time, Gith tolerated Zerthimon's dissent, but her hand was forced when the loyalists of Gith came to blows with Zerthimon's followers, and a civil war erupted that vastly reduced the githyanki population and reduced at least one world to ashes. Gith and Zerthimon met in single combat, and some say Zerthimon fell that day, while others say he triumphed and elected to spare Gith's life. In the end, neither faction was able to continue the war any longer, and the githyanki retreated to the Astral Plane
Astral plane
The astral plane, also called the astral world, is a plane of existence postulated by classical , medieval, oriental and esoteric philosophies and mystery religions...

, while Zerthimon's followers, the githzerai, retreated to Limbo.

Githzerai in other media

  • One of the key characters of Planescape: Torment
    Planescape: Torment
    Planescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and released on December 12, 1999 by Interplay Entertainment. It takes place in Planescape, an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy campaign setting...

    is a githzerai warrior/mage named Dak'kon.
  • One of the key characters of Neverwinter Nights 2
    Neverwinter Nights 2
    Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game...

    is a githzerai cleric named Zhjaeve. Dak'kon is also mentioned in passing.

Additional reading

  • Cook, David "Zeb"
    David Cook (game designer)
    David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years.-Early life:...

     Planescape Campaign Setting
    Planescape Campaign Setting
    The Planescape Campaign Setting was a boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The set was designed by David "Zeb" Cook and published in 1994, and introduced the Planescape setting.-Contents:...

    .
    Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.

  • Cordell, Bruce R. "Calm Amid the Storm." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #281. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
  • -----. Dawn of the Overmind. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.
  • -----. The Illithiad. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1998.

  • Grubb, Jeff
    Jeff Grubb
    Jeff Grubb is an author and game designer. He has worked on a number of computer and role-playing games and has written a number of successful novels, short stories and comics...

    . Manual of the Planes
    Manual of the Planes
    The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....

    . Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1987.

  • Kemp, Paul S. Dawn of Night. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.

  • Marmell, Ari
    Ari Marmell
    Ari Marmell is an American novelist and freelance role-playing game writer.-Novels:His first novel, Gehenna: The Final Night, was published in 2004 by White Wolf Publishing...

    , Bruce R. Cordell, and Luke Johnson. The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009.

  • Pramas, Chris
    Chris Pramas
    -Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Slavers , Guide to Hell , Apocalypse Stone , Vortex of Madness , as well as some work on the third edition Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide .He has also done work for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.He quit Wizards of the Coast in 2000 to...

    . "Exiles from the Vault." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #298. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
  • -----. "Underground Scenarios." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #294. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.

  • Schwalb, Robert J
    Robert J. Schwalb
    -Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells , Drow of the Underdark -Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells (2006, with Robin Laws), Drow of the Underdark -Career:His works for Dungeons &...

    ." "Githzerai." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #378. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009.
  • -----. "Tu'narath, City of Death." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #377. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009.

  • Sims, Chris. "Playing Githzerai." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #378. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2009.

  • Smith, Lester W., and Wolfgang Baur
    Wolfgang Baur
    Wolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...

    . Planes of Chaos
    Planes of Chaos
    Planes of Chaos was a boxed set for the Planescape campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Planes of Chaos is an expansion set for the Planescape campaign setting which details the five chaotic Outer Planes: Arborea, Ysgard, Limbo, Pandemonium, and the Abyss...

    . Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.

  • Tweet, Jonathan
    Jonathan Tweet
    Jonathan Tweet is a game designer who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, Over the Edge, Talislanta and the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as the Collectible Miniatures Game Dreamblade.-Early life:Jonathan Tweet started playing D&D in...

    , Rob Heinsoo
    Rob Heinsoo
    Rob Heinsoo is an American tabletop game designer. He has been designing and contributing to professional roleplaying games, card games, and board games since 1994. He has also designed and contributed to miniatures games and a computer game.-Career:...

    , and Chris Pramas
    Chris Pramas
    -Career:His works for Dungeons & Dragons include: Slavers , Guide to Hell , Apocalypse Stone , Vortex of Madness , as well as some work on the third edition Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide .He has also done work for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.He quit Wizards of the Coast in 2000 to...

    . Chainmail Miniatures Game: Blood and Darkness - Set 2 Guidebook. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.

  • Thomasson, Chris. "Killing Cousins: Githzerai Hit Squads." Dragon
    Dragon (magazine)
    Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...

    #306. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2003.

  • Williams, Skip
    Skip Williams
    Ralph Williams, almost always referred to as Skip Williams, is an American game designer. He is married to Penny Williams, who is also involved with the games industry...

    , Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook
    Monte Cook
    Monte Cook is a professional table-top role-playing game designer and writer. He is married to Sue Weinlein Cook.-Roleplaying:Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, working primarily on role-playing games. Much of his early work was for Iron Crown Enterprises as an editor and writer...

    . Monster Manual: Core Rulebook III v.3.5. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2003.

  • Winter, Steve
    Steve Winter
    Steve Winter is a game designer who has worked on numerous products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR and later Wizards of the Coast.-Early life:Steve Winter was born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 8, 1957...

    . The Complete Psionics Handbook
    The Complete Psionics Handbook
    The Complete Psionics Handbook is a supplemental rulebook for the 2nd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991 by TSR Inc. It contains a variety of information useful to playing psionic characters in the game....

    . Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.

  • Wyatt, James
    James Wyatt (game designer)
    James Wyatt is a game designer and a former United Methodist minister. He works for Wizards of the Coast, where he has designed several award-winning supplements and adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...

    . "Knights of the Lich-Queen
    Vlaakith
    In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Vlaakith is the name of the first ruler of the githyanki race after the disappearance of Gith, the rebel leader that united them against the illithids...

    ." Dungeon
    Dungeon (magazine)
    Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...

    #100. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2003.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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