Editing Githyanki (section)

=Castes=
As the githyanki race is basically one giant army, they have divided themselves into a number of different ranks, which function effectively as castes. These first debuted in "A Guide to the [[Astral Plane]]" for [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], and continued over to 3rd edition, where they were discussed in the [[Polyhedron Magazine]] #159 part of the [[Incursion]] campaign tie-in. In 4th edition, they explored in the article on [[Tu'narath]] in Dragon #377, and in "The Plane Above: Secrets of the Astral Sea".

Precise details have fluctuated over the editions as certain titles have risen and fallen in favor; this has also prevented a concise list of ranks from every being established. Still, these are the various castes that have appeared over the many editions...

'''Knights:''' Also known as ''Antipaladins'', githyanki knights are the direct servitors of [[Vlaakith CLVII]], and their devotion to her gives them a number of [[paladin]]-like abilities, but reversed to evil - they were some of D&D's first [[blackguard]]s.

'''Githwarriors:''' Also called simply "Warriors", these are the mainstay of the githyanki culture, representing the [[fighter]]s and other martial types. Known ranks include ''Sarth'' (Sergeant), ''Kith'rak'' (Captain) and ''Supreme Commander'' (District Ruler) - 4th edition renamed the Sergeant-equivalent rank to ''Terrth'', and the Captain-analogue to ''Kithrak''. In 3rd edition, it was established that [[barbarian]]s, [[monk]]s, [[ranger]]s, [[rogue]]s and [[assassin]]s are all considered part of this caste.

'''Warlock:''' Created before the [[warlock]] became a class, this is the caste of the githyanki's users of [[magic]] and [[psionics]] - back in AD&D, this meant [[Wizard]]s, but the term has grown as the editions have grown. Most obviously, from 3rd edition on, this caste included the [[Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)|Sorcerer]] and the actual [[Warlock]].
* Githyanki sorcerers in 3e were stated to trace their ancestry to similar unions as the [[duthka'gith]], which resulted in their tendency to manifest distinctly draconic traits as they matured. This was presented as a mechanical option called "The Path of the Duthka'ariy" in Polyhedron #159.
* In 3rd edition, the '''[[Blackweave Warlock]]''' was introduced as a particularly elite sub-caste of warlock, building from AD&D lore on the unique approach githyanki [[necromancer]]s had of focusing on necromantic damage-dealing spells over the traditional "master of the undead" archetype. Presented as a prestige class in Polyhedron #159. They retained this status in 4th edition.

'''[[Gish]]:''' These are multiclassed warrior-mages - specially Fighter/Wizards back in AD&D, but the term again has grown more diverse since 3rd edition. These guys are considered particularly elite. In 3rd edition, [[bard]]s are considered part of the gish caste. The [[Gish Mindslayer]] is a gish class prestige class featured in Polyhedron #159, as is the [[Holocaust Warrior]] and [[Sword Stalker]]

'''[[Mlar]]:''' One of noncombatant castes, mlar are basically [[artificer]]s, but existed before that class became a thing. Their role is using magic to create and repair all the various physical goods that githyanki society needs. This is also the "artisans" caste, covering sculptors, painters, and other artistic types. In Polyhedron #159, they were presented as a 16-level NPC class, similar in nature to the [[Magewright]] of [[Eberron]].

'''Hr'a'cknir:''' These inpronouncable bastards are githyanki mages who have learned to manipulate astral energies, giving them access to certain spells and abilities closer in nature to divine magic or otherwise used for utilitarian purposes that aren't covered by the Mlar. There are several subcastes of Hr'a'cknir:
* '''[[Ghustil]]:''' Healers. These were presented as a prestige class in Polyhedron #159, and as a monster for 4th edition in "Secrets of the Astral Sea". 
* '''Var'ith'n:''' Arcane engineers who work with the Mlar to create things like astral ships.
* '''Senja'si:''' Seers.
* '''Y'rn:''' Masters of teleportation able to carry large quantities of goods through the [[Astral Plane]].
* '''Varsh:''' The caretakers for githyanki eggs and younglings, as well as their tutors. These were described as their own caste in AD&D, but became part of the Hr'a'cknir caste in 3e.
* In 3e, the Y'rn were removed from this caste (disappearing entirely), and whilst both Ghustil and Senja'si were still mages (arcane healers for the former, [[diviner]]s for the latter), the Hr'a'cknir and Varsh were considered to be made up of [[Expert]]s and [[Commoner]]s.
* In 4th edition, they were renamed the '''Hracknir''' and made a subcaste of the Mlar. The term became almost synomynous with the Ghustil (who appeared as monsters in Secrets of the Astral Sea), and the caste becamse loathed and scorned for its connection, however dim, to the gods.

'''G'lathk:''' The farming caste of the githyanki, who study special ways of manipulating astral energy in order to make it possible to grow food on the Astral Plane. Since said plane prevents the githyanki from needing to eat, they aren't very respected. In 4th edition, they were renamed the '''Glathk''', and defined as the farmers and laborers, as well as the thrall overseers.

'''Ch'r'ai:''' Introduced in Dungeon #100 for 3rd edition, the Ch'r'ai are warlocks who have either cottoned onto Vlaakith CLVII's plans to achieve godhood and want to throw in with her, or who have become so devoted to her that they're already worshipping her as a goddess. She thinks of them as being spineless toadies, but eagerly exploits their fanaticism, using them as her special inquisitors. They remained in 4th edition.

==Hierarchy==
The clearest and most explicit outline of the githyanki appeared in 4th edition, as part of the article "Tu'narath, City of Death" in Dragon #377. Prior to this, the castes had generally been described as pretty much equal, although the militant castes were more important. 
In the 4e version of the hierarchy, the caste system goes like this, from greatest authority to least:
::'''Military Caste:''' Combines the ''Githwarrior'', ''Warlock'' and ''Gish'' castes of past editions. Githwarriors are the base of this caste, led by terrths (sergeants) who serve under kithraks (captains), who serve Supreme Commanders. Gish and Warlocks are generally ranked analoguous to terrths and kithraks. Githyanki knights are the elite of the sect, and hold equal rank to the Supreme Commanders.
::'''Mlar Caste:''' The "civilian" caste, defined by at least limited access to magic. Their writeup cites "landowners, crafters, mages, seers, healers and artisans". The '''Hracknir''' are the closest thing to divine magic users in githyanki society, and whilst this makes them technically a subcaste of Mlar, it also earns them the scorn of their antitheistic fellows.
::'''Glathk Caste:''' Farmers, laborers and thrall-overseers, completely lacking in magical/psionic talent or unsuited for military life. They are the lowest of the githyanki, but at least they have it better than the...
::'''Thralls:''' The githyanki's multitude of slaves, who serve as labor, sport, and even food.

==Githyanki Sects==
'''Sha'sal Khou:''' This is a secret and slowly growing faction devoted to mending the age-old rift between githyanki and [[githzerai]], arguing that their two races restored as one would be finally able to end the [[illithid]] threat and know true peace at last.

'''Gul'othran:''' Only mentioned in 4th edition's "Secrets of the Astral Plane", this is a githyanki sect that is marked by its extreme militantism; they are devoted to the "Eternal Crusade", an endless ongoing search-and-destroy mission against the entire [[illithid]] race.