Githyanki dragon pact

[avin]

Somebody out there knows where this Red Dragon pact comes from? Is it a 3E thing?

I was wondering if it has some older meaning, because I can't see what a planar race and red dragons share in common.

Any clue?

 

[Klaus]

It's straight out of the 1e Fiend Folio:

"Githyanki have a pact with a group of red dragons (see AD&D MM - Dragon, Red) which, in return for shelter, food and treasure, assist the githyanki when on the Prime Material Plane by acting as steeds. The dragons transport 4-6 and 1-5 githyanki each according to size/age (above sub-adult) <...> These red dragons will obey the githyanki when the latter are on the Prime Material Plane."

So its not an all-encompassing pact, but a pact between the githyanki and a sect of red dragons, making the dragons glorified mercenaries. They get gold, food and shelter (read: probably githyanki-built lairs) and in return pledge to help the githyanki when they need troop transport and aerial artillery.

 

[I'm A Banana]

It's older than 3e. IIRC, it dates back to the appearance of Githyanki in their original form in one of the designers' home games.

I kind of like it because it's so unexpected, and it helps pull dragons into planar adventure, where they usually play second fiddle to demons and devils, instead putting them near the center.

I'm not sure where it comes from, but it is a very old thing for the Githyanki to have.

 

[questing gm]

In 3E however, the pact was supposedly forged by the liberator Gith who went to meet with Tiamat after the civil war with the Githzerai.

Whatever happened between Gith and Tiamat was unknown but in the end, Ephelomon, Tiamat's red dragon consort returned to meet with Vlaakith, Gith's advisor and gave her the Spectre of Ephelomon which seals the pact between red dragons and the githyanki.

The Scepter actually allowed Vlaakith to command and even summon a elder red in game terms.

 

[avin]

Thank you guys for the clarification.

 

[Shemeska]

In 3E however, the pact was supposedly forged by the liberator Gith who went to meet with Tiamat after the civil war with the Githzerai.

Whatever happened between Gith and Tiamat was unknown but in the end, Ephelomon, Tiamat's red dragon consort returned to meet with Vlaakith, Gith's advisor and gave her the Spectre of Ephelomon which seals the pact between red dragons and the githyanki.

And those details date to some of the Planescape details regarding the gith in 2e.

 

[kenmarable]

It's older than 3e. IIRC, it dates back to the appearance of Githyanki in their original form in one of the designers' home games.

I kind of like it because it's so unexpected, and it helps pull dragons into planar adventure, where they usually play second fiddle to demons and devils, instead putting them near the center.

I'm not sure where it comes from, but it is a very old thing for the Githyanki to have.

Actually, bit of trivia here, that "designer" who came up with the githyanki... popular SF author Charles Stross. (Also the githzerai, slaad, and death knight.)

From an interview Planewalker did with him years ago:

What gave you the idea to tie the githyanki to red dragons or was that just something to spice them up.

Probably Michael Moorcock echoes -- if you've read his Elric books you'll get the picture. (I was a bit of a magpie when designing monsters -- grab something from here, something from there!)

Another interesting note is that the race's name was lifted from George R R Martin.

And we were lucky to get the interview with him when we did. I'm not sure he'd have time now to talk about D&D material he wrote 20 some odd years ago. Re-reading the interview, I found this amusing:

And if there's one thing I've been singularly unsuccessful at, it's selling novels. (Which is weird. I've earned a living as a tech author for years, published non-fiction books under my own name, regularly sell short stories, and write a couple of magazine columns.)

 

[Piratecat]

One of the most rewarding adventures of my last campaign was when the PCs journeyed to hell and shattered the allegiance between the red dragons and the githyanki. Great adventure fodder in that backstory.