Semi-human psionic race of baroque warriors native to the Astral Plane
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From the Silver Void, the githyanki guard their empire with a furious zealotry. They have sacrificed much to gain their freedom, and they would die a thousand times over before they would allow themselves to be controlled again. The githyanki are the descendants of illithid slaves in eons past, the followers of the legendary Gith. The culture that they built has instilled them with an intense pride of their accomplishments and also an intense feeling of superiority over other races which have not proven themselves.
Githyanki have been warped by their experiences, by their long history of blood and destruction. They were once a very humanlike race, but their sadistic illithid masters transformed them into something darker. Through generations of hardship, unnatural manipulation by the mind flayers, exposure to exotic Astral energies, and ages of burning hatred since their emancipation, the githyanki have become quite distinct from whatever they may once have been. They stand typically above normal human height, with gaunt forms and rough, yellow skin. Their eyes have sunken back into their skull-like faces and their noses have become small and high on the face. Their ears are pointed and given small serrations during initiation ceremonies. Their dress is ornate and elaborate, designed to accentuate the beings' natural superiority. They create distinctive items of morbid beauty. Like everything githyanki, though, they focus their crafts on weapons of war.
Githyanki life revolves around battle. Both males and females train in tactics, physical training, and magic from an early age. Their training occurs in small bands who live together to work with perfect efficiency in bringing down their people's enemies. Githyanki live their lives through duty, but they are equally dedicated to individual freedom. Their society is built on loyalty, but they have no laws, instead they function by following orders from superiors. They have been taught throughout life that existence is strife, and preservation comes before all else. The githyanki strive to emulate Gith, their ancient leader and savior, and they promote their race's propagation by any means. Githyanki have nothing but revulsion and hatred for the illithids who once enslaved them and for the githzerai, whose betrayal of Gith's glorious victory allowed the illithid tyrants to survive. They make frequent attacks on these two whenever the opportunity arises. If forced, githyanki will put aside their hatred for the githzerai to put down a mind flayer threat, but will then immediately resume their blood feud. Enemies are everywhere to the githyanki, and no one is to be trusted. If anyone or anything means you harm or means the githyanki people harm, it must be destroyed, and a githwarrior learns one thing very well: There is no mercy. There is only weakness. Strength exists within.