The Code of the Githyanki Knight

TheCode of the Githyanki Knight

Githwarriorsare infamous for their cruelty and ferocity in combat, although there are nonemore feared among the githwarriors than the knights. Fanatically loyal to theirorder and to Queen Vlaakith CLVII, the knights serve two functions. Firstly,they are an elite division within githyanki society. Second, they serve aquasi-religious purpose. Arguably, the gish also have something of a religiousfunction too, although the two groups are focused on different aspects ofculture. While the gish concentrate on the remembrance and reverence of Gith,the knights are always, first and foremost, loyal to the Queen.

 In a way, the knights could beseen as a corruption of the paladins found throughout the planes; they act aswarriors and inquisitors and their influence pervades almost every level ofgithyanki society. It is worthy of note, however, that over the millennia thegithyanki have stubbornly resisted the influence of other cultures. Then again,the knightly order came about directly as a result of Vlaakith's influence (AGuide to the Astral Plane, p 49), so it is possible that either explanationcould be true.

Alsoworthy of note is the fact that most of the silver swords in theMultiverse are in the hands of knights. The matter of the silver swordis easily a subject for lengthy discussion. Since knights are the main users ofthese weapons, is it the case that they were first created during VlaakithCLVII's reign? if so, why are githzerai occasionally caught using them, whenthey are more famous for karach weapons? The easy answer, I think, is that thesilver swords are created by the githyanki, but stolen by the githzerai. Themetals from which the silver swords are made are mined from the bodies of theDead Gods, located on the Astral, to which the githyanki would have far greateraccess than their evolutionary cousins. The fact that the githzerai seem tohave so many could easily be attributed to their thieving orders (q.v.).

 Besides the Astral, the twoplanes in which knights are most likely to be found are the Prime MaterialPlane and the Grey Waste; the Prime is the usual focus of their holy warsagainst the illithids, while the Grey Waste is the home of the nightmares.Although nightmares are comparatively slow on the Astral, knights have beenknown to ride them because of their ability to fight. It is rumoured that thereis a sect of 'cavaliers' within the knightly ranks, representing the best ofthe best; it is said that this gith cavalry is sent to the Outer Planes or thePrime, depending on the enemies identified at the time.

 The knights harbour githyankifrom all walks of evil, although they are predominantly chaotic evil inalignment, matching the alignment of Vlaakith herself. The cavalry, however,tend to be neutral evil, because their temperaments allow them a greaterunderstanding of their unpleasant steeds. Despite the usual lack of rulesrecognised by that alignment, the knights do in fact have a code of conduct.

• All knights shall obey the edicts of the Queen.
• Knights are the judges of heresy; to keep a secret from a knight is tokeep a secret from the Queen.
• A knight loves no being but the Queen and no activity but war; allknights shall be celibate and chaste.
• Knights shall not take prisoners; they are the merciless hand ofVlaakith.
• The knight has power of life and death over every other creature in theMultiverse; they shall not hesitate to exercise this power.
• The knight shall not permit other githyanki to associate with outsiders.