Medium humanoid (gith), lawful evil
Armor Class 17 (half plate)
Hit Points 49 (9d8 + 9)
Speed 30 ft.
Proficiency Bonus +2
Proficiency Bonus +4 (5th Edition Advanced Mode)
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 12 (+1) | 13 (+1) | 13 (+1) | 10 (+0) |
Saving Throws Con +3, lnt +3, Wis +3
Senses passive Perception 11
Languages Gith
Challenge 3 (700 XP)
Innate Spellcasting (Psionics). The githyanki’s innate spellcasting ability is Intelligence. It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no components:
- At will: mage hand (the hand is invisible)
- 3/day each: jump, misty step, nondetection (self only)
ACTIONS
- Multiattack. The githyanki makes two greatsword attacks.
- Greatsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6 + 2) slashing damage plus 7 (2d6) 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 are a race of astral plane-dwellers who were once enslaved by the mind flayers. They are tall and slender humanoids with rough, leathery yellow skin and bright black eyes that are sunken deep in their orbits. They have long and angular skulls, with small and highly placed flat noses, and ears that are pointed and serrated in the back side. They typically grow either red or black hair, which they style in topknots. Their teeth are pointed.
The githyanki are fierce warriors who follow a strict code of honor and loyalty to their leader, the Lich-Queen Vlaakith. They are trained from birth to fight and raid other worlds, especially those inhabited by their ancient enemies, the mind flayers and the githzerai. They wield silver swords that can sever the silver cords of astral travelers, and wear half-plate armor that is adorned with symbols of their rank and achievements.
COMBAT
The githyanki are skilled combatants who use their psionic abilities to enhance their physical prowess. They can manipulate objects with their minds, leap great distances, teleport short distances, and shield themselves from detection. They also have the ability to plane shift and telekinesis, but only the most powerful knights and commanders can use these abilities.
The githyanki prefer to fight in groups, using tactics and coordination to overwhelm their foes. They often target spellcasters and psionicists first, as they pose the greatest threat to their plans. They also try to avoid fighting on the material plane, as they lose some of their psionic power there. They prefer to ambush their enemies on the astral plane or on other planes that are favorable to them.
HABITAT / SOCIETY
The githyanki live on the astral plane, where they have built massive citadels and fortresses on the corpses of dead gods and other astral debris. They also have outposts and bases on various planes that they use for raiding and exploration. The githyanki society is hierarchical and militaristic, with each individual having a defined role and duty. The Lich-Queen Vlaakith rules over all githyanki from her palace in Tu’narath, the largest githyanki city that is built on the remains of a dead god.
The githyanki have a complex relationship with dragons, whom they both revere and enslave. They believe that dragons are the children of Gith, their legendary progenitor who led them to freedom from the mind flayers. They also use dragons as mounts and allies in their raids, but they treat them harshly and force them to obey their will. The githyanki have a special bond with red dragons, who share their lust for power and conquest.
The githyanki are at war with the githzerai, their cousins who live on the plane of Limbo. The githzerai are more chaotic and spiritual than the githyanki, and they oppose their tyranny and expansionism. The two races have been fighting for millennia, ever since they split after their rebellion against the mind flayers. The githyanki also hate the mind flayers, whom they blame for their enslavement and corruption. They seek to exterminate them from the multiverse, as well as any other race that allies with them or stands in their way.
ECOLOGY
The githyanki are omnivorous, but they prefer meat over plants. They often hunt and eat creatures from other planes that they raid or capture. They also consume astral essence, a substance that is found on the astral plane and that sustains their immortality there. The githyanki do not age while on the astral plane, but they do age normally on other planes. They have an average lifespan of 72 to 120 years.
The githyanki reproduce sexually, but they do not form lasting bonds or families. They view reproduction as a duty to their race, not as an expression of love or affection. They send their offspring to communal creches, where they are raised and trained by caretakers and instructors. The githyanki do not have names until they reach adulthood, when they earn them through deeds or achievements. The githyanki value strength, honor, loyalty, ambition, and discipline above all else.