Page 160 - Monster Manual [11th Print]

existence. A silver sword is equivalent to a greatsword, Githzerai fortress-monasteries stand resolute against
and takes on the properties of a + 3 greatsword in the the chaos that surrounds them, virtually impervious
hands of its creator. to the turmoil of their surroundings, because the
In the eyes of the githyanki, each silver sword is a githzerai will it. Each monastery is overseen by monks
priceless relic and a work of art. Githyanki knights that impose a strict schedule of chants, meals, martial
will hunt down and destroy any non-githyanki that arts training, and devotions according to their own
dares to carry or wield a silver sword, reclaiming it for philosophy. Behind their psionically fortified walls, the
their people. githzerai embrace thought, learning, psionic power,
Red Dragon Riders. In the uprising against the order, and discipline above all other things.
illithids, Gith sought allies. Her adviser Vlaakith The social hierarchy of the githzerai is based on merit,
appealed to Tiamat, the goddess of evil dragonkind, and those githzerai who are the wisest teachers and
and Gith ventured into the Nine Hells to meet with her. the most skilled at physical and mental combat become
Only Tiamat now knows what passed between them, leaders. The githzerai revere great heroes and teachers
but Vlaakith returned to the Astral Plane with the of the past, emulating those figures' virtues in their
Dragon Queen's red dragon consort Ephelomon, who everyday lives.
proclaimed that his kind would forever act as allies to Disciples ofZerthimon. Githzerai revere Zerthimon,
the githyanki. Not all red dragons honor the alliance the founder of their race. Although Gith won their
kindled so long ago, but most at least don't consider the people's freedom, Zerthimon saw her as unfit to lead.
githyanki their enemies. He believed that her warmongering would soon make
Outposts in the Mortal Realm. Since creatures her a tyrant no better than the mind flayers.
that dwell on the Astral Plane don't age, the githyanki Skilled githzerai monks that best exemplify the
establish creches in remote areas of the Material Plane teachings and principles of Zerthimon are called zerths.
to raise their young. Doubling as military academies, These powerful and disciplined monks can shift their
these creches train young githyanki to harness their bodies from one plane to another using only the power
psychic and combat abilities. When a githyanki grows of their minds.
to adulthood and slays a mind flayer as part of a sacred Beyond Limbo. Though githzerai rarely deal with
rite of passage, it is permitted to rejoin its people on the the realms beyond Limbo, advanced monks of other
Astral Plane. races sometimes seek out a githzerai monastery and
attempt to gain admittance as students. More rarely, a
GITHZERAI githzerai master establishes a hidden monastery on the
Focused philosophers and austere ascetics, the Material Plane to train young githzerai or to spread the
githzerai pursue lives of rigid order. Lean and muscular, philosophy and teachings of Zerthimon.
they wear unadorned clothing free of ornamentation, As disciplined as they are, the githzerai have never
keeping their own counsel and trusting few creatures forgotten their long imprisonment by the mind flayers.
outside of their own kind. Having turned their backs As a special devotion, they organize a rrakkma-an
on their warlike githyanki kin, the githzerai maintain a illithid hunting party-to other planes, not returning
strict monastic lifestyle, dwelling on islands of order in to their monasteries until they slay at least as many
the vast sea of chaos that is the plane of Limbo. illithids as there are hunters in the party.
Psionic Adepts. The progenitors of the githzerai
adapted to-and were transformed by-the psychic
environment imposed on them by their illithid
overlords. Under the teachings of Zerthimon, who
called on his people to abandon the warlike ambitions
of Gith, the githzerai focused their mental energy
on creating physical and psychic barriers to protect
them from attack, psychic or otherwise. Fighting is
personal to a githzerai, which uses its mind to daze
and incapacitate opponents, leaving them vulnerable to
physical punishment.
Order amid Chaos. The githzerai willingly dwell in
the heart of utter chaos in Limbo-a twisting, mercurial
plane prone to manipulation and subjugation by
githzerai minds strong enough to master it. Limbo is
a maelstrom of primal matter and energy, its terrain a
storm of rock and earth swept up in torrents of murky
liquid, buffeted by strong winds, blasted by fire, and
chilled by crushing walls of ice.
The forces of Limbo react to sentience, however.
Using the power of their minds, the githzerai tame the
plane's chaotic elements, causing them to settle into
fixed and survivable forms and creating oases and
sanctuaries within the maelstrom.

GITH
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