Githyanki Quotes, Proverbs, and Sayings
[While githyanki can use gender-specific language, they do so less often than many races. References to 'him,' 'brother,' etc. in the quotes below can be similarly rendered in Common as 'her,' 'sister,' and so on.]
Some quotes and sayings derived from the plays of Sar'yel-Reth:
"Behold what a thrall is the barbarian -- even in the absence of a master! The graith builds the walls of a thrall-pit around his mind and never leaves it. He is not content unless he has either enslaved his fellows, or is the servant of his fellows. He makes sacrifices to unclean spirits rather than relying on his blade and the strength of his will. Nor can he truly call any man 'brother,' even those of his own city. Loneliness* and terror are his lot."
[*The githyanki word used here means "the isolation which results from being unable to trust others," and does not translate precisely into Common. It has been translated variously as 'loneliness,' 'distrust,' 'isolation' or 'solitude.' It is often used to describe the mental state of barbarians and Githyanki exiles.]
"What a pleasure it is, to put down a bag of silver and know that it will be here when I rise!"
[Spoken by a githyanki traveler coming home in one of Sar'yel-Reth's plays.]
"What do these heathen Venerators know save gold and blasphemies?"
[Commentary on the occasional cultural practice of allowing mercenary barbarian priests to heal Githyanki troops. The word 'Venerator' is more often used to describe members of the illithid Venerator Creed, and thus is particularly insulting.]
Fune-Zaad wrote various texts on Githyanki morality and orthodoxy; the following are only a few of the sayings attributed to him.
"Only foolishness and blasphemies come forth from the mouth of the barbarian."
"No object is more dear than honor. Not only does the thief proclaim his own honor to be of little value, he demonstrates a lack of trust in his brothers and shows himself to be a barbarian."
[On Githyanki thieves. Fune-Zaad refers to 'lack of trust in his brothers' because because a githyanki in good standing may reasonably expect other githyanki to help him with regard to basic physical needs, i.e., food, water, shelter, weapons.]
Some quotes and sayings from Ezad'ara's writings:
"Our shij is the quality that distinguishes the Githyanki from all other races. Even those children of Gith who have fallen into sin and heresy must, in the absence of genuine faith, cleave to some idea or principle, some heathen idol. Compare to the barbarian, who is oft content with his own survival, comfort, and pleasure! Even the most vile Githyanki renegade is incapable of living an aimless and purposeless life."
"A Githyanki cannot reject the shij he owes without destroying a vital part of himself. How long can one last without a heart, without a liver? What enjoyment can one experience, in such a life?"
"No contradiction exists between our liberty and our faith. Can the man call himself free who knows neither purpose nor direction? Can he even call himself a man?"
[From Ezad'ara's reflections on the nature of shij.]
"*Know* this about yourself, that there is an intrinsic part of the mind of the Githyanki, that desires most ardently to serve, that cannot rest content if it does not subordinate itself."
[From one of Ezad'ara's more inflammatory texts, this one concerning the Githyanki mind, and written for the edification of his own students. Ezad'ara himself believed that the desire to submit to another was itself morally neutral (rather than universally negative) and an intrinsic part of the githyanki character. He explicitly states that this desire can be expressed positively in the form of loyalty to those one knows are superior to oneself -- i.e., more intelligent, more clever, more skilled with the sword, more morally virtuous, more experienced in general, etc. (i.e., one might assume in the context of githyanki society, to superior officers and particularly to members of the royal house).]
Very nice work!