Page 89 - Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes Deluxe

obey her willingly. But when they aren't otherwise occu-
pied, many of the citizens of the city spend their time in
self-indulgent activities.
For all her seeming invincibility, Vlaakith finds herself
half-built sculptures, partially completed frescoes, and
in an awkward situation that- in her paranoid mind-
has no easy resolution. If she keeps her people busy other unfinished works of all sorts. The githyanki simply
more often by ordering an increase in raids, she risks abandon personal projects that bore them, and every
her best warriors and marauders becoming experienced such endeavor they undertake ends in this manner.
and powerful enough to challenge her rule. Also, if she
A BLADE KEPT SHARP
sends out too many raiding parties at one time, the Despite the decadent lifestyle the githyanki indulge in,
security of Tu'narath might be compromised. So she ad-
dresses the problem by not dealing with it directly, but they remain in fighting shape. All are required to attend
by trying to encourage her indolent followers to find pur- weapon and combat drills, which serve as a brief respite
from their boredom.
pose in meaningful activities that don't involve plunder-
ing and killing. S he isn't always successful in that effort. Vlaakith, of course, stands atop the githyanki military
hierarchy. Under her serve the supreme commanders,
MERCILESS MARAUDERS each of whom oversees a regiment of one thousand
When Vlaakith decrees that another githyanki raid is githyanki warriors. Ten kith'rak, each responsible for a
in the offing, Tu'narath comes alive with anticipation. company of one hundred, answer to a commander. Each
The knights and other soldiers selected for the mission kith'rak in turn commands ten sarths, each of whom
consider it a high privilege. All the raiders do their best leads a party of ten warriors. A githyanki war leader
to honor Vlaakith by savaging their target- killing crea- retains that status in times of peace, looking after her
tures indiscriminately, taking whatever treasures catch underlings and maintaining their discipline and com-
their fancy, and leaving destruction in their wake. bat training.
When one of the githyanki's astral vessels returns
home after a raid, it is laden with the spoils of the incur- KNIGHTS: A BREED APART
sion. Vlaakith makes no specific demands but allows
I AM HER WILL MADE MANIFEST.
each individual raider freedom of choice in what they
bring back. Some might seek exotic spices and herbs, I am her unsheathed sword.
while others pillage to find scrolls or tomes of knowl- I am a master of dragons.
edge. As a result, Tu'narath is cluttered (if not crowded) I am thefate of all worlds.
by a nearly infinite variety of objects that the githyanki I am a knight of Vlaakith.
have pirated from other planes, ranging in size from
enormous buildings down to the smallest pieces of ex- Ever may she reign.
quisite jewelry. - Battle hymn of the githyanki knights

INDOLENT DILETTANTES
Githyanki knights are warriors, spellcasters, and scouts
As a race bred and shaped by the mind flayers for a life
of fighting, the githyanki never knew anything else while of exceptional ability devoted to the unflagging service
of Vlaakith. Knights report directly to the queen and
they were enslaved. Now that they aren't constantly at
aren't part of the military hierarchy. The personnel for
war, keeping her people occupied is perhaps the great- any important mission includes at least one knight, and
est challenge Vlaakith faces.
every githyanki fortress or outpost across the multiverse
When githyanki aren't on raids or other missions for
is administered by at least one knight in residence.
Vlaakith, they enjoy a languid existence in Tu'narath. Knights are selected for their roles based on their mar-
Since time doesn't pass on the Astral Plane, the tial and psionic potential, and young githyanki who pass
githyanki have no need to labor for food or water. To muster are inducted into service soon after they enter
keep their minds sharp, Vlaakith orders them to pursue Tu'narath for the first time.
a variety of arts and studies. She regularly arranges con-
Knights are always involved in important decisions,
tests, scavenger hunts, and other trials to keep her ser- and it is forbidden to keep secrets from them. They act
vants involved in purposeful activity, but the attraction as commissars and enforcers ofVlaakith's will. They
of such diversions wears off after a brief time. Most of are the rough equivalent of religious figures in githyanki
the citizens ofTu'narath, when they haven't been called
for duty on a raid or for some other mission, indulge
themselves in any way they see fit. TH E S POI LS OF WAR
Githyanki, with an infinite amount of time on their An individual githyanki's weapons and armor are ornate
hands, crave novelty. They expect every returning raid to and decorated with trophies taken on raids. With each
provide new forms of entertainment. This preoccupation new victory, a warrior brings home a token to serve as a
~emento. Anything might strike a githyanki's fancy, from a
with newness stands at the hollow center of githyanki
Jewel taken from the pommel of a fallen opponent's sword
culture. They dabble in creating art, but never master to colorful banners taken from a plundered castle that,
it. They stand among treasures taken from countless preserved by the timeless nature of the Astral Plane, keep
worlds but are never truly appreciative of them. The their original vibrant hue for centuries. The more baroque
githyanki flit from topic to topic, craft to craft, never set- and ostentatious a raid token is, the more likely it is to be
tling on one endeavor for long. Tu'narath is littered with admired by one's fellow warriors.

88 CJJ APTER 4 I CJTH AND TIIEJ R ENDLESS WAR