The Giths are a race of humanoids that have a long and tragic history of enslavement, rebellion, and division. They are divided into two main subraces: the githyanki and the githzerai, who have been at war with each other for millennia. The githyanki are ruthless warriors who dwell in the Astral Plane and raid other worlds with the aid of red dragons. The githzerai are ascetic monks who seek enlightenment and harmony in the chaotic plane of Limbo. Both subraces share a common enemy: the mind flayers, who once enslaved the gith and subjected them to unspeakable horrors. The gith are also known for their psionic abilities, which they use to augment their physical and mental prowess.
The gith are a fascinating and complex race that can offer many roleplaying opportunities for players and DMs alike. They can be allies or enemies, depending on their goals and alignments. They can also be a source of mystery and intrigue, as they have secrets and lore that span across the multiverse. The gith are not a monolithic race, and there are variations and exceptions among them. Some githyanki and githzerai have renounced their hatred and sought to reunite their people, while some have embraced other paths and cultures.
No other race in the multiverse has triumphed over hardship as the githyanki and the githzerai. In many ways, the two are inextricably linked. Yet none can deny that they are the bitterest of foes. The githyanki race has been shaped by their hardships, their hatred, and their environment.
In a time before most of the prime worlds known today were born, the gate-towns of the Outlands all went by different names, when beings could recall days before the creation of then-bejeweled Sigil still existed, the illithids held an ancient empire.
This great empire stretched throughout many prime worlds, infested both Astral and Ethereal, and threatened the borders of many of the Outer Planes.
The mind flayer dominion was so powerful that vast planar armies marshaled to defend their respective realms. Even the fiends paused in their eternal Blood War long enough to determine if the illithids would attack the Lower Planes as well.
Despite the fact that most tomes of historical lore make no mention of it (for truly ancient was this time, and older still the roots of the illithid empire), never has there been a time since then when the entire multiverse has been so vexed by a single threat.
Githzerai and the Legend of Zerthimon
The githzerai are a race of humanoids who live in the chaotic plane of Limbo, where they have learned to shape the reality around them with their minds. They are descendants of a people who were enslaved by the mind flayers for countless generations, until they rebelled and fought for their freedom.
The githzerai revere Zerthimon, a prophet and a leader who opposed Gith, the rebel leader of the original race. Zerthimon believed that Gith was consumed by hatred and vengeance, and that she would lead the people to ruin. He advocated for a path of balance and harmony, and challenged Gith’s authority.
A great civil war erupted between the followers of Gith and Zerthimon, which split the race into two factions: the githyanki and the githzerai. The githyanki sided with Gith, and pursued a war of extermination against the mind flayers and other enemies. The githzerai sided with Zerthimon, and sought to escape the cycle of violence and hatred. Zerthimon died in the final battle, but his sacrifice inspired the githzerai to flee to Limbo, where they would find peace and enlightenment.
The githzerai believe that Zerthimon ascended to a higher plane of existence, and that he still watches over them and guides them through visions. They also believe that one day, Zerthimon will return and lead them to a new paradise, where they will be reunited with their lost kin.
Zerths are special among the githzerai, acting as focal points for the attention of Zerthimon. They are highly skilled in martial and psionic arts, and can travel between planes with their minds. They are respected and honored by their peers, who see them as potential leaders and messengers of Zerthimon. The githzerai believe that when Zerthimon returns, he will first gather all the zerths and take them to their new home.
However, not all githzerai share this faith in Zerthimon. The wizard-king who rules over a large city of githzerai in Limbo is highly superstitious and paranoid. He sees the legend of Zerthimon as a threat to his power, and he has tried to suppress it many times. He fears that the zerths are plotting against him, and he has ordered his agents to spy on them and eliminate them if necessary. He also distrusts any outsiders who show interest in Zerthimon’s teachings, and he has banned any books or artifacts related to him.