Manual of the Planes

is drawn in melee, the blade transforms into a column ofsilvery liquid, altering the weapon’s balance round byround as the blade’s shape flows and shimmers. In thehands of someone without the appropriate ExoticWeapon Proficiency feat, the weapon is clumsy (–4penalty on attack rolls)and possesses only itsenhancement bonus. Aproficient user on theAstral Plane, however, isable to attack the silvercord that connects theastral form to itsmaterial counterpart.The normallyinsubstantialcord is treatedas a tangibleobject withthe owner’sAC, hardness10, and 20 hitpoints (see Attackan Object page135 of the Player’sHandbook). A silvercord visibly trails 5feet behind anastral traveler beforefading intothe astral medium.Attacking it draws anattack of opportunityfrom the astraltraveler.When the cord isdamaged, the astraltraveler must succeedat a Fortitudesave (DC 13) or be immediatelyforced to returnto its body—whichmight be a goodidea anyway ifthe traveler isnot up to fighting githyanki on their home plane. Severingthe silver cord destroys both the astral form and thebody on the Material Plane.Silver swords with an enhancement bonus of +5 andvorpal characteristics exist, but these are minor artifacts,relatively few, and only handed down to heroes of therace. If a silver sword falls into the hands of a nongithyanki,githyanki kill the possessor if they can, stealthe weapon if they have to, negotiate if they must, or allywith the thief ’s most potent foe as a last resort.Caster Level: 11th; Prerequisites: Craft Magic Arms andArmor, creator must be a githyanki; Market Price: 98,350gp; Cost to Create: 49,000 gp + 3,920 XP.GITHYANKI SOCIETYIn eons past, the mind flayers enslaved entire races,including the forerunners of the githyanki. Centuries ofcaptivity bred hatred, nurtured resolve, and finallyinstilled psionic powers into these slaves. With mentalarmaments of their own and a powerful leader to rallybehind (the legendaryGith), theslaves instigated across-planar strugglethat, in the end, threwdown the mind flayerempire, bringing freedomto the survivingslaves. However, thesesoon split into the raciallydistinct githyankiand their mortalenemies, the githzerai(see the Githzeraientry, below).Each constantly attemptsthe extinctionof the other.This animosity hasburned through thecenturies, warpingthe githyanki into theevil, militaristic creaturesthey are today.Both peoples’ hatredof the mind flayers knows nobounds, though, and they breakoff hostilities to slay illithids ifthe opportunity presents itself.Githyanki live within massivefortresses adrift in the AstralPlane. Here they conduct commerce,manufacture goods,grow food, and live outtheir lives. Family dwellingsare nonexistent, sincemost githyanki prefer theirown abode; however, githyanki areoften found in groups, honing their fightingskills. A fortress contains noncombatants (mostlychildren) equal to 20% of the fighting population. Githyankimales and females may be found in almost any roleor class.The githyanki have no deity but pay homage to a lichqueen.A jealous and paranoid overlord, she devours theessence of any githyanki that rises above 16th characterlevel. As she eliminates potential rivals, the lich-queenenhances her power with the stolen life essence.Red Dragon Pact: Githyanki have a racial pact withred dragons, who sometimes serve githyanki as steeds.Individually, githyanki gain a +4 racial bonus on Diplomacychecks when dealing with red dragons. In largeIllus. by W. ReynoldsCHAPTER 9:MONSTERS175