| Category | Races |
| Type | medium-sized humanoid |
| Creation | 5 Saunas 2219 DE |
| Language | Githyanki |
| Native | Astral Sea, Bal-Kriav, others |
In the Dawn Era, a Lith-Crillion named Githyon served as a close advisor and student of the Covenant archangel Ptah. Githyon's study of psychic energy led to the conception of Energy Exchange. On 5 Saunas 2219 DE, in a clandestine laboratory on Ghífthauk, utilizing earth archons as subjects, Githyon created the inaugural Githyanki by exchanging the archons' Earth Energy with life energy. The precise origin of their distinct appearance remains shrouded in mystery, though some speculate that the talented sculptor Ptah may have molded the malleable forms of the earth archons as their earth energy was supplanted by life energy.
In the Creation War, spanning from 1486 DE to 8777 DE, the Githyanki served alongside the Nawirrûs Covenant, battling the primordials. In the subsequent Demon Spawn War, from 89 GE to 269 GE, they fought under the Quara'tun Covenant, combating demon invasions and other disruptive elements detrimental to the Mortal Systems. After these conflicts, the Githyanki established their own civilization in the Asteraoth System. On the world of Ghífthauk, their greatest rivals were the Githzerai, another race created by Githyon, with whom they were in constant warfare over limited resources. This final great war lasted nearly a century, severely crippling their economies and armies. At this vulnerable time, the Suellk Empire from Ráglauth invaded Ghífthauk, enslaving both the Githyanki and Githzerai, subjecting them to 14 centuries of servitude, during which they were exploited and harvested like cattle.
In the Incarsabec Rebellion ( 1531 HE - 1544 HE ) , the Githyanki and Githzerai, putting aside their deep-seated animosities, rose up in unison in the Suellk capital city. This rebellion then spread across Ghífthauk and to the planet's moons. During the conflict, tens of thousands of githyanki and githzerai managed to escape their oppressors through the Suellk's Silver Mirrors. These mystical portals transported them to the Astral Sea, where they slowly rebuilt their ancient civilization.
Many of the githyanki found on the world Bal-Kriav hail from the Har'kish Empire. Those who depart the empire are typically branded as separatists. The largest contingent of githyanki to break with this empire occurred during the Har'kish Civil War ( 1292 - 1312 ) . The civil war was driven by a desire for greater political and religious freedom. Many of those who left the Astral Sea came to Bal-Kriav, and after a time, some proceeded to Paradomea. The Council of Nine declared that these separatists were free to join their empire as citizens, and they would provide protection. As a militaristic people, numerous githyanki joined Paradomea's armed forces, with the most skilled soldiers becoming part of an elite guard known as the Githlarâk.
The githyanki of Har'kish and other githyanki empires are typically governed by lich empresses, a Vla'akith. These leaders reign for as long as they remain stronger and more astute than their peers. Most githyanki societies under the Vla'akith have strict, albeit draconian, laws, and their free citizens are mandated to serve in the armed forces for a minimum of five years.