Gith

Gith are a lanky race of reptilian humanoids that, when erect, stand close to seven feet tall, but who spend most of their time, bent-over in a crouch that makes them appear to be only five feet tall. Their powerful legs allow them to make great leaps, which they use to move about, walking in an awkward waddle only when they cannot jump or when sneaking up on prey.

Gith Warrior
''Standing hunched before you is a vaguely reptilian humanoid with hairless, greenish-gray skin and jet black lidless eyes. With clawed hands and feet and a fanged pronounced underbite, the creature's appearance is rendered all the more strange by its bowlegged waddling gait.''

Tactics
Gith combat tactics usually involve ambushes. They prefer to have a distinct advantage in numbers, and so attack in mass. Their weapon of choice is an obsidian spear designed for chopping and slashing rather than piercing, but they will use any weapon they have access to. They disdain the use of range weapons, since they enjoy watching the pain and fear of their opponents.

Gith Captain
''This wiry and hunched humanoid is clad with inix chitin armor. The creature also wears an arm bracelet made from bones of fallen prey, and carries an obsidian spear.''

Tactics
If possible, the gith attack in mass, usually starting with a psionic attack from one of their tribe leaders. Then the entire party moves in quickly to melee. They often accomplish this by springing up into one giant leap to close in with their enemies.

Gith Tribe Leader
''This extremely gaunt and lanky humanoid has long gangling arms and spindly legs. Her hands have three fingers with no opposable thumb, yet she carries a spear and a wicked grin.''

Tactics
Gith combat tactics usually involve ambushes. They prefer to have a distinct advantage in numbers, and so attack in mass. Their weapon of choice is an obsidian spear designed for chopping and slashing rather than piercing, but they will use any weapon they have access to. They disdain the use of range weapons, since they enjoy watching the pain and fear of their opponents.

Description
Gith speak their own language, which has no alphabet but can be expressed in Elven script. Gith are oviparous, but prefer to eat meat, preferably uncooked. They are just as effective during the day as at night.

A gith’s life span is around forty years, though an individual that reaches such an advanced age is a remarkable specimen. Most gith die in their twenties while in battle or from the rigors of the Athasian life. Gith females gestate for six to seven months before giving birth to two or three children. A gith reaches adulthood at twelve. Mothers care for their children for half this time.

Mountain gith live in underground lairs, claiming a particular canyon or valley as their territory. Gith inhabiting the Tablelands tend to organize their society more along the lines of a nomadic hunting clan, going wherever the game takes them.

A typical gith stands approximately 7 feet tall when erect and weighs around 180 pounds. Females are smaller than males, but no less agile.

Their lower jaws jut forward and, while toothless, they have sharp, bony ridges that they use to crush and grind their food.

Society
Gith organize themselves into tribes, with the most powerful member acting as leader. All authority comes from the chief, who has the power of life and death over any member of his tribe. If the chief is killed, the strongest members of the tribe will fight to the death in order to determine who will be the new leader. This trial‐bycombat occurs immediately, even if the gith tribe is currently in the middle of a battle with another force.

Most gith tribes inhabit mountainous regions, coming down only to raid the villages of other humanoids or to attack a passing caravan. They are usually interested in entertaining themselves with the suffering of others and with the prospect of a good meal (gith will eat anything organic, preferring meat), but know the value of treasure, especially of psionic and magical items.

Gith as Characters
Within a gith tribe, most leaders will be rogues or psions. Gith clerics usually follow the elements of Fire or Air.

Gith possess the following racial traits:
 * +2 Dex, –2 Int, –2 Cha. Gith have keen reflexes but are slightly dim and aggressive in their behavior.
 * Medium size. Gith have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
 * Humanoid (gith): Gith are humanoid creatures with the gith subtype.
 * Gith base land speed is 30 feet.
 * Low‐light vision.
 * +10 racial bonus to all Jump checks. Gith have powerful bowed legs that allow them to leap great distances.
 * +4 racial bonus on all Hide and Move Silently checks. Gith are sly and stealthy.
 * Natural Armor: A gith’s tough hide and heavy bones provide it with a +2 natural armor bonus.
 * Natural Weaponry: A gith can rake with its claws for 1d4 points of damage.
 * Automatic Languages: Gith. Bonus languages: Common, Elven, and Saurian.
 * Favored Class: Rogue.
 * Level Adjustment: +1.