GITHYANKI GISH – 5e stats

Medium humanoid (gith), lawful evil

Armor Class 17 (half plate)
Hit Points 123 (19d8 + 38)
Speed 30 ft.

Proficiency Bonus +4
Proficiency Bonus +8 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)

STRDEXCONINTWISCHA
17 (+2)15 (+2)14 (+2)16 (+3)15 (+2)16 (+3)

Saving Throws Con +6, Int +7, Wis +6
Skills Insight +6, Perception +6, Stealth +6
Senses passive Perception 16
Languages Gith
Challenge 10 (5900 XP)

Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The githyanki’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:

Spellcasting. The githyanki is an 8th-level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The githyanki has the following wizard spells prepared:

War Magic. When the githyanki uses its action to cast a spell, it can make one weapon attack as a bonus action.

ACTIONS

  • Multiattack. The githyanki makes two longsword attacks.
  • Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) slashing damage, or 8 (1d10 + 3) slashing damage if used with two hands, plus 18 (4d8) psychic damage.

5th Edition Advanced Mode
Limiting the power of a character and making the overall difficulty of the game harder, does not reduce the creativity, indeed it does quite the opposite. The Game Master has the option to use any and all of the instances proposed in this guide, or just some of them according to their preference.

It is the lack of something that move and motivate characters, not the abundance of it

DESCRIPTION

The githyanki gish are a specialized group of githyanki warriors who combine martial prowess with arcane magic. They are trained in the use of swords and armor, as well as spells that enhance their combat abilities and hinder their enemies. They are often employed as assassins, spies, or raiders by the githyanki leaders, who value their versatility and skill.

The githyanki gish are distinguished by their half-plate armor, which is decorated with symbols of their allegiance and achievements. They wield longswords that are imbued with psychic energy, allowing them to inflict additional damage to their foes. They also have innate psionic abilities that allow them to manipulate objects with their minds, jump great distances, and travel between planes.

The githyanki gish are proud and ruthless, loyal to their race and their queen. They have a deep hatred for the mind flayers, who enslaved their ancestors for millennia, and seek to destroy them whenever possible. They also despise the githzerai, their former kin who chose a different path after the rebellion against the illithids. They view other races as either potential allies or enemies, depending on their usefulness and alignment.

COMBAT

The githyanki gish are formidable opponents in battle, using a combination of swordplay and magic to gain an advantage over their enemies. They typically start a fight by casting spells that enhance their speed, strength, or defense, such as expeditious retreat, haste, or blur. They then close the distance with their foes, using misty step or jump if necessary, and strike with their longswords. They can also cast spells that damage or hinder their enemies, such as fireball, thunderwave, or counterspell.

The githyanki gish are adept at using their war magic feature, which allows them to make a weapon attack as a bonus action after casting a spell. This gives them an edge in melee combat, as they can deal more damage or finish off wounded enemies. They can also use their telekinesis ability to disarm, grapple, or push their foes, or to manipulate objects in the environment. They are not afraid to use their plane shift ability to escape from a dangerous situation or to surprise their enemies from another plane.

The githyanki gish are loyal to their comrades and will fight to the death if ordered by their superiors. They will also try to protect any red dragons that accompany them on raids, as they have a special bond with these creatures. They will not hesitate to kill any mind flayers or githzerai they encounter, as they consider them mortal enemies. They will also attack any other races that oppose them or interfere with their plans.

HABITAT / SOCIETY

The githyanki gish live in the Astral Plane, where they have built vast cities and fortresses on the corpses of dead gods and other astral phenomena. They are part of the githyanki society, which is ruled by a lich-queen named Vlaakith CLVII. The githyanki are organized into a strict military hierarchy, where each rank has its own duties and privileges. The gish are among the higher ranks of the githyanki army, serving as elite warriors and officers. They are respected and feared by their peers, who recognize their skill and power.

The githyanki gish often participate in raids on other planes, where they seek to plunder magic items, resources, and slaves. They use astral ships or portals to travel between planes, sometimes accompanied by red dragons that serve as allies and mounts. The gish are especially suited for these raids, as they can use their magic to overcome various obstacles and challenges. They also act as emissaries or envoys for the githyanki queen, negotiating with other races or factions that might be useful or dangerous for the githyanki’s goals.

The githyanki gish have a strong sense of honor and duty, following the orders of their queen and superiors without question. They also have a fierce loyalty to their race and culture, which they consider superior to all others. They have a code of conduct that dictates how they should behave in combat and in society, such as never showing fear or mercy, never surrendering or retreating, and never betraying or dishonoring their comrades. They also have a tradition of dueling, where they can challenge each other or their enemies to a one-on-one fight to settle disputes or prove their worth.

ECOLOGY

The githyanki gish are omnivorous, eating a variety of foods that they obtain from their raids or from their astral cities. They have a preference for meat, especially that of mind flayers, which they consider a delicacy and a trophy. They also enjoy drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages, which they use to celebrate their victories or to relax after a battle.

The githyanki gish are immortal while on the Astral Plane, where they do not age or suffer from disease. However, they can still die from violence or other causes. When they die, their souls are claimed by their queen, who uses them to fuel her phylactery and prolong her undeath. The gish do not fear death, as they believe that they will serve their queen in the afterlife and be rewarded for their loyalty and service.

The githyanki gish reproduce sexually, like most humanoids. They have a mating season that coincides with the alignment of certain astral phenomena, which they believe enhances their fertility and vitality. They do not form lasting bonds with their mates, as they value their independence and duty more than romance. They also do not raise their own offspring, as they entrust them to communal nurseries where they are trained and indoctrinated from a young age. The gish take pride in their lineage and ancestry, which they trace back to the original followers of Gith.