Githyanki in Eberron
The Githyanki origins are actually firmly tied to the planet Eberron for it was from the Demon Wars that the merciless Illithids were created. After the binding of their masters, the majority of them fled the planet to Xoriat or down into the deep caverns of Khyber. They did not go alone with such prizes, however, and took with them vast amounts of humanoid slaves.
Under the dread power of the Daelkyr, countless worlds were colonized and destroyed as they were converted to vast monstrouscities. Their slaves interbred in many fashions so that the modern Gith race is something of a peculiar combination of Elf, Goblin, Human, and other races. Ultimately as is want to happen, eventually a revolt suceeded out of the thousands that occurred throughout history.
This one, however, was a direct result of the majority of the Daelkyr being bound on the planet Eberron that immediately left the Illithids berift of their godlike masters for the first time in ages. The Daelkyr War had immediate and long lasting consequences for a vast multi-stellar and interdimensional Empire.
In the end, the Gith were bestowed upon the remnants of their masters devices and managed to reverse engineer some of the less obscene ones. Astral Dreadnoughts were created from Spelljamming devices and many devices that harnessed the power of psychic energies. The two sides of Gith and Zerthimon eventually fell to Civil War with half of the race fleeing to the Astral Plane and the other half leaving to the chaos of Kythri.
Ultimately, the Githyanki have been held in check from building their own vast interstellar Empire by a constant simmering low-grade war between the survivors of the the Githzerai, Illithids, the Neogi, and other powers that prevented them from building the vast realm they wished to construct.
Vlaakith has been researching the homeland for its potential as a vast interstellar crossroads for some time. Making contact with Erandis D'Vol, she has made a pact that neither intends to honor to start constructing a base for her race upon Eberron's moons as she makes preparations for a full scale invasion of the world by her people. Also, she's started kidnapping individuals onboard her smaller ships in order to vivisect them so that she can be familiar with the weaknesses of the Gith's homeworld.
Other Parties Interested
The Trust: The Trust have no interest in becoming slaves, so they've begun using their agents in the King's Citadel of Breland and other intelligence services to suppress all information regarding these frequent occurring events. Pretty typical "Men in Black" style events are occurring as they hope to gather samples of alien technology in order to dissect it for their own use.
The Twelve: House Cannith and House Lyrander have an especial interest in recovering any technology that may fall from the sky. Likewise, they want to build their own machines that will utilize Githyanki technology. This will be, of course, before it becomes a full blown fight fo survival.
The Dragons: Another party that has no desire to see the Githyanki transform Khorvaire into an outpost of their Empire. Likewise, they're able to pretty early repulse the Lich Queen's own incursions onto their Realm but refuse to move against the Githyanki as a whole....unless persuaded to.
I've wondered about the role of gith in Eberron. They must be interested in keeping daelkyr at bay, but they have no contact with Gatekeepers. If githiyanki live in Astral, what do they build on? There are no dead deities floating around.
But yes, good point about no deities in the Astral.
Maybe the Dead Bodies in the Astral are gigantic Dragon Corpses?
Problems with Githyanki as invaders:
1) Motivation. It's going to be really, really expensive. What could possibly be worth it?
2) Resources. Astral is a barren place. Where do they get their resources?
War of the Worlds? Make Xoriat or Dal Quor coterminous and you have one.
I don't want a Invasion where the Invaders are particularly "Alien." I want something where there's the possibility of eventual peaceful co-existence rather than Demonic hordes.
Also, no offense, but Quori and Demons would rip an average party to shreds wouldn't they? There's also no way to get the rest of the Twelve Nations in on this since no one they recruit could stand a chance against the average monster from those dimensions.
Githyanki are just people.
Problems with Githyanki as invaders:
1) Motivation. It's going to be really, really expensive. What could possibly be worth it?
2) Resources. Astral is a barren place. Where do they get their resources?
1) Dragon Magazine based it on the idea it was the Gith's original homeworld. I prefer the idea that Dragonshards are a majorly useful device to Githyanki and also possibly the idea that Eberron is a natural planar crossroads for invasion to the other worlds.
2) I think canonically, the Astral Plane is filled with stuff the Githyanki seize from the Prime Material to build their cities with.
What you're describing is more like vortingaunts (sp?) in Half Life.
The aliens in War of the Worlds are not "just people". Well, they themselves maybe are, but they pilot invincible walkers and detonate an EMP bomb (RL analogue of a Mordenkainen's Disjunction bomb) that destroys almost all electronics in the world. And the human defenders are completely helpless.
What you're describing is more like vortingaunts (sp?) in Half Life.
I don't mean exactly like War of the Worlds, merely that it will be an analogue to the invasion of H.G. Wells novel. However, clearly the fight will be far more even.
Hey, I'm working on an adaptation of the Githyanki in Eberron and was hoping to get people's insights into this. Please note that if you are Wrath of the Lich Queen player but not DM, the information here is meant to be confidential.
The official background of the Gith in Eberron is given in the Eberron Explorer's Guide in a sidebar. In keeping with most Eberron Alignment issues, the Githyanki are not automatically Evil, and in fact one small enclave in Breland is allied to the Brelish Crown (although loosely).
What's the Explorer's Guide's version in short?
I don't have the Explorer's Handbook thingy, but I read somewhere that after the Daelkyr/Goblin war the Gith rebelled against there weakened overlords and fleed to the Astral Plane. A few (key word there) stayed behind, and I believe those are the ones mentioned in the Explorer's Handbook.
I don't have the Explorer's Handbook thingy, but I read somewhere that after the Daelkyr/Goblin war the Gith rebelled against there weakened overlords and fleed to the Astral Plane. A few (key word there) stayed behind, and I believe those are the ones mentioned in the Explorer's Handbook.
Accentually that is correct. Although I think a key point to add is that the Mind Flayers made both the Githyyanki and Githzerai, not the Daelkyr.
I'd like to add more but then I might break a copyright.
Accentually that is correct. Although I think a key point to add is that the Mind Flayers made both the Githyyanki and Githzerai, not the Daelkyr.
I thought that was common knowledge...
Well here's my version for Eberron.
* Merrix III is Merrix the Younger's son in our game. He's sort of a nastier, meaner, and better looking version.
* The Authority is an Evil version of the Chamber.
I thought that was common knowledge...
It probably is, I just didn't want to summarize the entire passage.