Zerthimon
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game, Zerthimon is the prophet-leader of a group of humanoids called the githzerai
, cousins of the githyanki
.
s. The rebel leader Gith
is responsible for the names of both the githzerai
and githyanki
. The game Neverwinter Nights 2 explains that Gith's sword was forged by Zerthimon. The sword was said to never stop until its foe lay dead, and, as other silver swords, it held the power to sever the astral chords of outsiders and aberrations, killing them instantly. Gith wished to lead the people in destroying all illithids and any other species she deemed would be a threat, but Zerthimon rose up and opposed her, believing that this evil would lead them to destruction. Civil war erupted, and when Zerthimon was killed by Gith his people fled to Limbo
. There, they would learn to refine a sense of calm in the middle of Limbo's endless chaos.
A popular tale has it that Zerthimon achieved enlightenment, transcending his mortality to become a being of pure mental energy. From this exalted state, he continues to subtly guide his people to follow him into a similar state of transcendence. Other sages insist that Zerthimon simply died as all mortals die.
A darker legend, deeply offensive to the githzerai, claims that Zerthimon became a lich
in order to stave off his inevitable demise. Horrified by what he had done and afraid that, if discovered, his people would reject all his teachings, he fled to some forgotten place where he still wrestles with the evil of his unnatural state. From there, he still attempts to guide his people, but in secret.
, one of the potential party members, Dak'kon, is a Githzerai follower of Zerthimon, and it is possible to learn the basic tenets of Zerthimon's teachings (referred to as the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon) through conversations with him (which unlocks special wizard spells for the protagonist and the githzerai). According to Planescape: Torment, Zerthimon's teachings can be summarized as following.
When in the Fortress of Regrets, talking to the Practical Incarnation reveals that he forged the Circle of Zerthimon owned by Dak'kon. As such the teachings contained within it may not be accurate. The Practical Incarnation says that they may be true, but he doesn't know.
In the game Neverwinter Nights 2
, the player meets a githzerai zerth named Zhjaeve that espouses a similar belief to that shown in Planescape: Torment
. One commonality is the emphasis on "to know".
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...
roleplaying game, Zerthimon is the prophet-leader of a group of humanoids called the githzerai
Githzerai
The githzerai are a fictional race of creatures in the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons.Githzerai are extraplanar humanoid creatures that reside on the Plane of Limbo.-Publication history:...
, cousins 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...
.
History
The githzerai and githyanki, originally a single race known as "forerunners," escaped enslavement by the plane-spanning illithidIllithid
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. The rebel leader 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:...
is responsible for the names of both the githzerai
Githzerai
The githzerai are a fictional race of creatures in the roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons.Githzerai are extraplanar humanoid creatures that reside on the Plane of Limbo.-Publication history:...
and 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...
. The game Neverwinter Nights 2 explains that Gith's sword was forged by Zerthimon. The sword was said to never stop until its foe lay dead, and, as other silver swords, it held the power to sever the astral chords of outsiders and aberrations, killing them instantly. Gith wished to lead the people in destroying all illithids and any other species she deemed would be a threat, but Zerthimon rose up and opposed her, believing that this evil would lead them to destruction. Civil war erupted, and when Zerthimon was killed by Gith his people fled to Limbo
Limbo (Dungeons & Dragons)
In Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy role-playing game, Limbo or more fully, the Ever-Changing Chaos of Limbo, is a chaotic neutral-aligned plane of existence...
. There, they would learn to refine a sense of calm in the middle of Limbo's endless chaos.
The fate of Zerthimon
While many accounts say that Zerthimon was killed in the civil war, others (for example, The Plane Below) suggest he defeated Gith in single combat and spared her life before leading his people to their new home. Githzerai histories claim that Zerthimon led his people for many decades, training the first githzerai monks, before he mysteriously disappeared.A popular tale has it that Zerthimon achieved enlightenment, transcending his mortality to become a being of pure mental energy. From this exalted state, he continues to subtly guide his people to follow him into a similar state of transcendence. Other sages insist that Zerthimon simply died as all mortals die.
A darker legend, deeply offensive to the githzerai, claims that Zerthimon became 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 :...
in order to stave off his inevitable demise. Horrified by what he had done and afraid that, if discovered, his people would reject all his teachings, he fled to some forgotten place where he still wrestles with the evil of his unnatural state. From there, he still attempts to guide his people, but in secret.
Zerthimon in other media
In the computer role-playing game Planescape: TormentPlanescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and released on December 12, 1999 by Interplay Entertainment. It takes place in Planescape, an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy campaign setting...
, one of the potential party members, Dak'kon, is a Githzerai follower of Zerthimon, and it is possible to learn the basic tenets of Zerthimon's teachings (referred to as the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon) through conversations with him (which unlocks special wizard spells for the protagonist and the githzerai). According to Planescape: Torment, Zerthimon's teachings can be summarized as following.
- Strength lies in knowing oneself; those who do not know themselves are lost and open to the manipulations of others.
- A willingness to learn is a sign of strength.
- Endure. In enduring, grow strong.
- Learn to see the whole, or be blinded to the truth.
- Many in unison can accomplish more than many alone.
- Seek balance, or lose sight of your goal.
- Patience is a virtue.
- Focus and discipline are the key to strength; diversion is the key to weakness.
When in the Fortress of Regrets, talking to the Practical Incarnation reveals that he forged the Circle of Zerthimon owned by Dak'kon. As such the teachings contained within it may not be accurate. The Practical Incarnation says that they may be true, but he doesn't know.
In the game Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2
Neverwinter Nights 2 is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is the sequel to BioWare's Neverwinter Nights, based on the Dungeons & Dragons pencil and paper fantasy role-playing game...
, the player meets a githzerai zerth named Zhjaeve that espouses a similar belief to that shown in Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment
Planescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and released on December 12, 1999 by Interplay Entertainment. It takes place in Planescape, an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy campaign setting...
. One commonality is the emphasis on "to know".