Per an earlier request in this forum, here is a brief summary of the events that occurred in the adventure "The Lich-Queen's Beloved" that appeared in Dungeon Magazine 100. The purpose of this is to give everyone an overview of how this adventure would have changed githyanki history if one assumes that this adventure had been completed with the outcome scenario that Vlaakith has been destroyed. Which of course is critical to the discussion of what happened afterwards. I’d encourage you all to pick up back copies of Dungeon 100 (and Dragon 309) if you’re interested in getting the full story.
Thanks to clueless for the green light here. Suggestions and corrections are encouraged. Perhaps if this is useful enough, it might be worthy of being posted elsewhere on the site.
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SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
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Prior to the adventure: The githyanki are ruthlessly ruled by the jealous and paranoid Lich-Queen Vlaakith CLVII. The Lich-Queen is the legitimate descendant of Vlaakith, but has extended her reign indefinitely by becoming a lich. Her stronghold (Susurrus, the Palace of Whispers), is located in the githyanki capital city of Tu’narath, which is built on the remains of a dead god floating in the Astral plane.
Vlaakith jealously preserves her authority in many ways, primarily by devouring the essence of her most powerful followers, eliminating anyone capable of challenging her rule. She does this by means of a powerful artifact called the Crown of Corruption, which transforms devoured githyanki whom she favors into obedient undead servants. Transformed knights are called tl’a’ikith, ghostly warriors wielding spectral swords, and transformed warlocks and gish manifest as kr’y’izoth, beings of black flame wrapped in tattered wrappings. Those who earn the Lich-Queen’s wrath are transformed into mindless zombie minions. Githyanki neither earning particular favor nor wrath have their spirits trapped within the walls of Susurrus, their endless cacophony giving the Palace of Whispers its nickname.
Adventure background:
Vlaakith is not content to be a lich, and she has found a path that may lead her to godhood. She has discovered that the stony corpse of the dead god on which Tu’narath is built (a god whose name was lost long before Gith freed her people from the illithids) still retains a small spark of divine life. She has been attempting to capture that spark of godhood with thousands of wish spells cast over her long reign. It appears to be that she is close to finally taking the last step to godhood, as evidenced by the increasing numbers of tremors shaking Tu’narath in recent months. The Lich-Queen intends to capture the spark of divinity, become the revered god of the githyanki, cast off the teachings of Gith, and give birth to a new order ruled by her and the Ch’r’ai, a band of powerful githyanki spellcasters who aspire to be her priesthood. Vlaakith has also bolstered the ranks of her trusted minions by creating the Duthka’giths, brutal githyanki with red dragon blood. Most githyanki tolerate but secretly detest the Duthka’gith, many fearing that they are the Lich-Queen’s attempt to ‘perfect’ the githyanki race.
Unknown to the Lich-Queen, a surprising development has occurred in githyanki-githzerai relations. A small number of githyanki and githzerai radicals have overcome their ancient hatred and banded together to pursue the goal of reunifying the two races. They call themselves the Sha’sal Khou. Each side has been subtly discouraging attacks on other gith and carefully recruiting sympathetic individuals within their communities. They are currently led by the githyanki warlord Zetch’r’r, who hopes to dethrone Vlaakith and then further the plans of the Sha’sal Khou from the throne, to the greater good of the githyanki as a whole.
The PCs are contacted by representatives of Zetch’r’r and the Sha’sal Khou. They wish to recruit the PCs as assassins, with the goal of infiltrating Susurrus and utterly destroying the Lich-Queen. Zetch’r’r cannot rebel openly, but can lend aid before and after the assassination attempt. Several strong motivations are provided: a peace between the githyanki and githzerai would result in considerable resources being redirected towards exterminating the illithids, and Zetch’r’r is prepared to swear an oath to designate the PCs home world as off limits with regard to any future githyanki attacks. Zetch’r’r provides PCs with supplies and basic information about the palace.
Adventure synopsis: The PCs infiltrate Susurrus and destroy the Lich-Queen. Opponents include Duthka’gith, githyanki undead (including tl’a’ikith and kr’y’izoth), and Vlaakith’s head priest Xam’kras and his Ch’r’ai followers. Otherworldly traps and treasure abound.
As Vlaakith is a lich, the PC must destroy both her physical manifestation as well as her phylactery. The PCs must locate a four-piece key that is needed to gain access to the phylactery (and naturally, the pieces are spread out all over the palace). The phylactery is located far below Susurrus in a cavern, and is guarded by a two-headed red dragon named Dessakrul.
Vlaakith herself is well equipped. In addition to the Crown of Corruption, she holds the Scepter of Ephelomon, a relic given to the first Vlaakith by the red dragon Ephelomon as the physical manifestation of the treaty between red dragons and githyanki. Using her considerable powers and her arsenal of magic items, she does not provides the assassins with an easy target.
Conclusion:
Assuming the assassination of the Lich-Queen was successful, the following things occur.
- The earthquakes rocking Tu’narath cease
- All trapped souls are released from Susurrus, destroying the palace
- Githyanki everywhere lose their innate ability to plane shift. (This does not apply to warlocks and gish with the access to the actual spell.)
- Vlaakith’s removal results in an utter power vacuum.
- Zetch’r’r attempts to seize the throne. However, his beliefs are very radical, and he has many powerful rivals for the throne, so his success is far from guaranteed. His future and the future of the Sha’sal Khou are uncertain.
- Prophecies of Gith’s return in a time of peril lead many to look for her return.
- Any invasions of other planes (possibly the assassin PCs) come to a gradual end.
- The githyanki people are in turmoil due to unavoidable chaos and infighting for many years.
- Rumors that the Lich-Queen survived persist, despite all facts to the contrary.