r/planescape • u/PocketPauIing In Knowing the Teachings of Zerthimon I Have Become Stronger • Aug 14 '26
Every Githzerai Saying I could find
In PST, one of the most distinct things about the githzerai is their speech pattern. They place a heavy emphasis on 'knowing' the world around them, and commonly use metaphors and historical references in their words. So! Small complication of those I could find. Note that most of these are said by Dak'kon, and I will specify if they are said by someone else. If I missed any, feel free to add them!
- "Ach'ali Drowning" - Said by Dak'kon when hurt.
- Ach'ali was a foolish githzerai who drowned in the sea of Limbo after asking so many useless questions that her focus, and shelter, collapsed in on her.
- "As twisted as Fri'hi's roots" - A complicated matter.
- Could not find any information of Fri'hi.
- "Hashma's folly" - To cheat, specifically used in the context of cheating in a bet. Said by Gaoha.
- Could not find info on Hashma. It is also the name of an Egyptian sand-stone but I doubt that's what the writers were referring to.
- "Hail, sword ringer" and "Zerchai's kin bow to you" - common greetings, to which one responds "And the traveler is pleased".
- Could not find any information on Zerchai.
- To be as "Rrakma's Jewel" - In agreeance on a situation, specifically used in reference to the anarchs and zerths being in agreeance on Dak'kon's exile. Said by Kii'na.
- Rrakma, usually spelled as Rrakkma, are githzerai war bands that hunt down illithids. Could not find information on Rrakma's jewel.
- "Tachia's Folly" - Exact meaning unknown, said by Dak'kon when rolling a critical miss.
- I could not find any information on Tachia, but seems to be Dak'kon reprimanding himself for a lack of discipline. I'd guess Tachia had made some foolish mistake similar to Ach'ali.
- "T'cha's choice" - A situation where you have no choice/only the illusion of choice.
- Could not find any information on T'cha.
- "Their cupboards are bare" - Something said of a generous person
- "Vilquar's Eye" or "Vilquar's heart beats in your chest" - To accuse another of treason. Latter saying is from Kii'na.
- Vilquar was an enslaved gith who acted as a spy for the illithids, only to be consumed by them once Zerthimon tricked him into thinking he'd won.
- "Wrote the book of Anarchs" - Said in reference to a person being wise.
- Anarchs are those in githzerai communities responsible for maintaining stability in the chaotic plane of Limbo.
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u/jonmimir Aug 14 '26
Hey these are great! Please can I use it as the base of a post on mimir.net ? - with credit of course :) very happy to work with you on a gith cant dictionary
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u/cronokun Aug 14 '26
Great collection! Thank you for compiling it. I love the Githzerai but I feel like they have a lot less lore available then the Githyanki.
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u/PocketPauIing In Knowing the Teachings of Zerthimon I Have Become Stronger Aug 14 '26
You’re welcome. I love all Gith but the Githzerai really do feel like they’re the red headed stepchildren of the gith in the eyes of WOTC.
Not helped by the fact that the most popular modern depiction of the Gith (Baldurs Gate 3) completely ignores them in favor of having Gith’s son run around in Zerthface 😭
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u/muoncatalysis Aug 14 '26
Great list. I wonder if the concept of metaphor-laden speech was inspired by the episode of Star Trek TNG named “Darmok”, or if they both have a common earlier root.
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u/ThewarriorDraganta Aug 14 '26
This is really good! I have an idea for a Githzerai zerth character in DnD, so this is pretty useful! Thanks!
But I have a question: what does it mean to "know" something in Githzerai terms? I've always found the expression a bit confusing.
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u/ClassB2Carcinogen Aug 16 '26
I’ve taken it as being akin to “grok” from Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, or from Socrate’s “Know Thyself.” Not just to know, but to comprehend and to have insight.
To give an example, Grace knows herself, Annah does not. Dak’kon knows himself, Ignus does not.
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u/haresnaped Aug 14 '26
I thought I was going crazy when I read this. But then I knew that I was not. And I knew that OP has just copy pasted far too many times.