Zerthimon - Revision history

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2603:8001:3500:CB:64B4:5F9F:2A18:22AE at 04:10, 18 June 2021

2021-06-18T04:10:33Z

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	When the githzerai were first detailed in the Outer Planes Appendix for the Monstrous Compendium, Zerthimon was actually a ''mythical'' figure, said to have perished in battle against Gith and from there ascended to a demigod status. It was believed he was building his strength elsewhere in the planes, and would ultimately return to lead the githzerai to true paradise. This meant that the githzerai Zerths were not only [[gish\|multiclassed fighter/mages]], but also acted as priests of Zerthimon. This strange religion was an underground phenomena, as [[Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith]], wizard-king of the githzerai and their equivalent to [[Vlaakith CLVII]], saw it as a potential threat to his authority.		When the githzerai were first detailed in the Outer Planes Appendix for the Monstrous Compendium, Zerthimon was actually a ''mythical'' figure, said to have perished in battle against Gith and from there ascended to a demigod status. It was believed he was building his strength elsewhere in the planes, and would ultimately return to lead the githzerai to true paradise. This meant that the githzerai Zerths were not only [[gish\|multiclassed fighter/mages]], but also acted as priests of Zerthimon. This strange religion was an underground phenomena, as [[Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith]], wizard-king of the githzerai and their equivalent to [[Vlaakith CLVII]], saw it as a potential threat to his authority.

	Fate was to intervene when [[Bioware\|Black Isle]] created the CRPG [[Planescape: Torment]]. In it, they introduced the party member Dak'kon, stoic and grim Zerth, whose crisis of faith lead to the sacking of [[Shra'kt'lor]] by the [[githyanki]]. He presented Zerthimon not as a myth, but as a matter of fact, and removed all mention of both "The Great Githzerai" and Zerthimon's supposed death & ascension. Dak'kon's huge popularity went on to solidify Zerthimon's presence from mere religious belief to a full-fledged fact of the githzerai existence, especially as the githzerai became more atheistic as editions passed.		Fate was to intervene when [[Bioware\|Black Isle]] created the CRPG [[Planescape: Torment]]. In it, they introduced the party member Dak'kon, a stoic and grim Zerth, whose crisis of faith lead to the sacking of [[Shra'kt'lor]] by the [[githyanki]]. He presented Zerthimon not as a myth, but as a matter of fact, and removed all mention of both "The Great Githzerai" and Zerthimon's supposed death & ascension. Dak'kon's huge popularity went on to solidify Zerthimon's presence from mere religious belief to a full-fledged fact of the githzerai existence, especially as the githzerai became more atheistic as editions passed.

	4th edition, of course, stuck its oar in, with an extensive writeup of the githzerai in "The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos". Whilst making no mention of the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon, which outraged many Planescape [[grognard]]s, it asserted that Zerthimon was a real figure, who opposed Gith for her ineptitude as treating the gith as anything other than soldiers in her army. They fought, he defeated her, and then led to the githzerai to found their own civilization in the [[Elemental Chaos]]. It also presented three common beliefs as to what actually happened to Zerthimon; that he ascended to become a psionic entity analoguous to a god; that he ultimately died, was buried with honors, but then they forgot where; and, interestingly, a new option: that he became a [[lich]] to try and guide his people for all eternity, only to flee from them into the depths of the Chaos when he realized what a monster he had become. Amusingly, in-universe, this last option is widely regarded as heresy by githzerai ''and'' githyanki, with the latter objecting to the idea that their race's greatest enemy could become immortal, like their own beloved leader.		4th edition, of course, stuck its oar in, with an extensive writeup of the githzerai in "The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos". Whilst making no mention of the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon, which outraged many Planescape [[grognard]]s, it asserted that Zerthimon was a real figure, who opposed Gith for her ineptitude as treating the gith as anything other than soldiers in her army. They fought, he defeated her, and then led to the githzerai to found their own civilization in the [[Elemental Chaos]]. It also presented three common beliefs as to what actually happened to Zerthimon; that he ascended to become a psionic entity analoguous to a god; that he ultimately died, was buried with honors, but then they forgot where; and, interestingly, a new option: that he became a [[lich]] to try and guide his people for all eternity, only to flee from them into the depths of the Chaos when he realized what a monster he had become. Amusingly, in-universe, this last option is widely regarded as heresy by githzerai ''and'' githyanki, with the latter objecting to the idea that their race's greatest enemy could become immortal, like their own beloved leader.

1d4chan>SpectralTime: /* The Eighth Circle */

2020-08-01T21:32:48Z

The Eighth Circle

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	It takes the Nameless One 19+ [[Wisdom]] to understand this parable and convey its teachings to Dak'kon.		It takes the Nameless One 19+ [[Wisdom]] to understand this parable and convey its teachings to Dak'kon.

			This restores Dak'kon's faith by reassuring him that Zerthimon ''did'' have his people's best interests at heart; that he acted out of moral certitude and a refusal to compromise in the face of what he knew to be a deep and everlasting wrong. It also helps him to heal his own divided mind in the process through its teachings.

	{{Gith}}		{{Gith}}

1d4chan>SpectralTime: /* The Sixth Circle */

2020-08-01T21:30:18Z

The Sixth Circle

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	It takes the Nameless One 18+ [[Wisdom]] to understand this parable.		It takes the Nameless One 18+ [[Wisdom]] to understand this parable.

			This caused Dak'kon's crisis of faith; he considered the possibility that Zerthimon's will had been broken in earlier Circles and that he had been transformed into an unwitting sleeper-agent, that rather than splitting his race in an attempt at stopping his people from becoming like their adversaries Zerthimon was permanently dividing them in the service of secret and evil masters.

	===The Seventh Circle===		===The Seventh Circle===

211.7.242.253 at 05:22, 28 November 2019

2019-11-28T05:22:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:22, 28 November 2019
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	'''Zerthimon''' is a mytho-historical character in the [[Planescape]] setting of [[Dungeons & Dragons]], revered by the [[githzerai]] as their spiritual leader and founder, who fought alongside Gith to free them from the [[illithid]]s and then spoke up against her ~~tyrannous~~ plans, causing The Sundering Of Two Skies that divided the ancient gith-kin into the modern githzerai and [[githyanki]].		'''Zerthimon''' is a mytho-historical character in the [[Planescape]] setting of [[Dungeons & Dragons]], revered by the [[githzerai]] as their spiritual leader and founder, who fought alongside Gith to free them from the [[illithid]]s and then spoke up against her tyrannical plans, causing The Sundering Of Two Skies that divided the ancient gith-kin into the modern githzerai and [[githyanki]].

	Unusually, Zerthimon's status and to an extent his lore has actually changed in between edition.		Unusually, Zerthimon's status and to an extent his lore has actually changed in between edition.

1d4chan>SpectralTime at 19:35, 18 May 2018

2018-05-18T19:35:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:35, 18 May 2018
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	4th edition, of course, stuck its oar in, with an extensive writeup of the githzerai in "The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos". Whilst making no mention of the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon, which outraged many Planescape [[grognard]]s, it asserted that Zerthimon was a real figure, who opposed Gith for her ineptitude as treating the gith as anything other than soldiers in her army. They fought, he defeated her, and then led to the githzerai to found their own civilization in the [[Elemental Chaos]]. It also presented three common beliefs as to what actually happened to Zerthimon; that he ascended to become a psionic entity analoguous to a god; that he ultimately died, was buried with honors, but then they forgot where; and, interestingly, a new option: that he became a [[lich]] to try and guide his people for all eternity, only to flee from them into the depths of the Chaos when he realized what a monster he had become. Amusingly, in-universe, this last option is widely regarded as heresy by githzerai ''and'' githyanki, with the latter objecting to the idea that their race's greatest enemy could become immortal, like their own beloved leader.		4th edition, of course, stuck its oar in, with an extensive writeup of the githzerai in "The Plane Below: Secrets of the Elemental Chaos". Whilst making no mention of the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon, which outraged many Planescape [[grognard]]s, it asserted that Zerthimon was a real figure, who opposed Gith for her ineptitude as treating the gith as anything other than soldiers in her army. They fought, he defeated her, and then led to the githzerai to found their own civilization in the [[Elemental Chaos]]. It also presented three common beliefs as to what actually happened to Zerthimon; that he ascended to become a psionic entity analoguous to a god; that he ultimately died, was buried with honors, but then they forgot where; and, interestingly, a new option: that he became a [[lich]] to try and guide his people for all eternity, only to flee from them into the depths of the Chaos when he realized what a monster he had become. Amusingly, in-universe, this last option is widely regarded as heresy by githzerai ''and'' githyanki, with the latter objecting to the idea that their race's greatest enemy could become immortal, like their own beloved leader.

			Fifth edition instead sticks to one answer, that Zerthimon rose in rebellion against Gith, was killed by her, and the heavily-reworked Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith led them into Limbo to escape the wrath of the githyanki. It also goes back to the oldest version of the story, that the githzerai believe that all that died was Zerthimon's body, and, much like Zaerith Menyar-Ag-Gith exists in a kind of in-between state as a being of immense mystical and psychic power shackled to a decrepit meat-husk, Zerthimon's mind still exists in a transcendent being of pure psionic and magical energy that will one day return and lead his people unto freedom and paradise.

			To this end, there is no mention made of conflict between the newer, more-benevolent Menyar-Ag and Zerthimon.

	==The Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon==		==The Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon==

1d4chan>Biggus Berrus at 11:34, 4 November 2017

2017-11-04T11:34:59Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:34, 4 November 2017
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	It takes the Nameless One 19+ [[Wisdom]] to understand this parable and convey its teachings to Dak'kon.		It takes the Nameless One 19+ [[Wisdom]] to understand this parable and convey its teachings to Dak'kon.

	~~[[Category: Planescape]]~~		{{Gith}}

1d4chan>QuietBrowser: Replaced the asterisks with bolding, which is what they were basically supposed to invoke.

2017-08-21T17:09:16Z

Replaced the asterisks with bolding, which is what they were basically supposed to invoke.

Show changes

1d4chan>QuietBrowser: Got the 4e sourcebook wrong, and decided I might as well fill in the Unbroken Cirvle.

2017-08-20T22:47:13Z

Got the 4e sourcebook wrong, and decided I might as well fill in the Unbroken Cirvle.

Show changes