Vlaakith
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, Vlaakith is the name of the first ruler of the githyanki
race after the disappearance of Gith
, the rebel leader that united them against the illithid
s. Vlaakith CLVII, also known as the Lich-Queen (or, by her followers, as the Revered Queen), is the current ruler of the githyanki, and is a fictional character and adversary in the game.
, which gave her full game stats for the first time.
In an adventure entitled "The Lich-Queen's Beloved" in Dungeon #100, Vlaakith CLVII was presented as a direct adversary who could be defeated and slain by adventurers. The adventure also revealed that she had been siphoning off the power of a dead god (now resembling rock) on which Tu'narath was built, which she accomplished, rules-wise, by killing githyanki that had risen above character level 16. This in turn gave her enough experience points to cast thousands of wish spells and come a fraction closer to getting the dead god's power and becoming a deity. The adventure takes place just as Vlaakith is about to ascend to godhood, and describes the consequences if the players allow her to succeed .
, died after ascending the throne without giving birth to an heir, but (like her predecessor) returned as a lich
, a type of undead
. Vlaakith CLVII has ruled the githyanki for well over a thousand years, making her the longest-reigning monarch the githyanki have ever had. Her home, the Castle Susurrus, is in the githyanki capital city, Tu'narath
, which is built on the god-isle of a deceased power known only as "The One in the Void.".
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Vlaakith is the name of the first ruler of the githyanki
Githyanki
The githyanki are a fictional humanoid race in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. They are cousins to the githzerai. In the Dark Sun setting, they are simply called gith...
race after the disappearance of Gith
Gith
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Gith is the fictional leader of the thrall rebellion that toppled the illithid empire thousands of years in the past, and founder of the githyanki and githzerai races.-History:...
, the rebel leader that united them against the illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
s. Vlaakith CLVII, also known as the Lich-Queen (or, by her followers, as the Revered Queen), is the current ruler of the githyanki, and is a fictional character and adversary in the game.
Publishing history
While the concept of a githyanki lich-queen dates back to their original description, Vlaakith was first mentioned by name in A Guide to the Astral Plane (1996) by Monte CookMonte Cook
Monte Cook is a professional table-top role-playing game designer and writer. He is married to Sue Weinlein Cook.-Roleplaying:Cook has been a professional game designer since 1988, working primarily on role-playing games. Much of his early work was for Iron Crown Enterprises as an editor and writer...
, which gave her full game stats for the first time.
In an adventure entitled "The Lich-Queen's Beloved" in Dungeon #100, Vlaakith CLVII was presented as a direct adversary who could be defeated and slain by adventurers. The adventure also revealed that she had been siphoning off the power of a dead god (now resembling rock) on which Tu'narath was built, which she accomplished, rules-wise, by killing githyanki that had risen above character level 16. This in turn gave her enough experience points to cast thousands of wish spells and come a fraction closer to getting the dead god's power and becoming a deity. The adventure takes place just as Vlaakith is about to ascend to godhood, and describes the consequences if the players allow her to succeed .
Appearance
Vlaakith CLVII resembles an aged, blackened corpse of a githyanki, with glowing green eyes. She wears fine purple robes embroidered with gold thread, covered in a black cloak embroidered with a silver star. She wears a headdress of gold and rubies, and carries a golden scepter topped with rubies and the head of a dragon.History
Vlaakith I was an advisor to Gith and helped seal the pact between red dragons and the githyanki. All subsequent queens of the githyanki have been named after her. Vlaakith CLVI, the immediate predecessor of the current lich-queen, ruled for over six centuries, becoming a lich at some point during her reign, before being destroyed by Xinfyrit, first of the devourers. The last queen of the githyanki, Vlaakith CLVIIRoman numerals
The numeral system of ancient Rome, or Roman numerals, uses combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet to signify values. The numbers 1 to 10 can be expressed in Roman numerals as:...
, died after ascending the throne without giving birth to an heir, but (like her predecessor) returned as a lich
Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lich is an undead creature; a spellcaster who seeks to defy death by magical means.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
, a type of undead
Undead (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, undead is a classification of monsters that can be encountered by player characters. Undead creatures are most often once-living creatures, which have been animated by spiritual or supernatural forces....
. Vlaakith CLVII has ruled the githyanki for well over a thousand years, making her the longest-reigning monarch the githyanki have ever had. Her home, the Castle Susurrus, is in the githyanki capital city, Tu'narath
Tu'narath
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Tu'narath is the capital city of the githyanki, a race of humanoids descended from slaves who overthrew the illithid empire thousands of years ago. The city is located on the Astral Plane, where it was built atop a god-isle, the corpse of a forgotten...
, which is built on the god-isle of a deceased power known only as "The One in the Void.".
Additional reading
- Stephens, Owen K.C.Owen K.C. StephensOwen K.C. Stephens is a game designer who has worked on a number of products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game and other games.-Works:...
"The Ecology of the Devourer." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#355. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007. - Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend FolioFiend FolioFiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(TSRTSR, Inc.Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, 1981). - Wyatt, JamesJames Wyatt (game designer)James Wyatt is a game designer and a former United Methodist minister. He works for Wizards of the Coast, where he has designed several award-winning supplements and adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
. "Incursion: A World Under Siege." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#309 (Paizo PublishingPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
, 2003).