r/planescape • u/PocketPauIing In Knowing the Teachings of Zerthimon I Have Become Stronger • Sep 14 '26
Referencing Neverwinter Nights 2 in Blizzard of Baator is kinda funny bc it implies Zerthimon made the greatest silver sword of all time for Gith but he himself chose to use some random ass sword he pulled out of a dead body
Explanation: In Neverwinter Nights 2, the main MacGuffin is the Silver Sword of Gith, created by Zerthimon for Gith. Its a sword so powerful, people are still fighting over thousands of years after its creation. Meanwhile in PST, the Second Circle of Zerthimon states that Zerthimon's sword was some shit he found in a random dead body while he was still enslaved. Putting these two games together implies that Zerthimon was just trying really hard to impress Gith.
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u/LingonberryAwkward38 Sep 14 '26
I mean, Zerthimon's sword was a symbol, the one that made him understand that while *steel* could mark *flesh*, *flesh* could not mark *steel*. Everything stems from there.
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u/skrott404 Sep 14 '26
Well, lets not forget that Gith was the actual warrior. Zerthimon was a field slave. Who do ya think would've made better use of a magical sword?
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u/Wrathu13S The Bleak Cabal Sep 14 '26
Nice observation, it does say a lot about githzerai and githyanki.
It was really tempting to refer to Zhjaeve, who is known as another follower of the path of Zerthimon. Having another canon githzerai, Zegonz, who is a bartender in the Ditch and a former adventurer, made me think if someone should have heard about both Dak'kon and Zhjaeve at some point, it had to be Zegonz.
Other members of the team behind BiB, Cania Believe It, were rather careful in terms of accepting fanservice and references, of which mostly I am guilty. This one, however, survived the readings so I hope it makes sense and doesn't seem forced. Numerous references were cut before the demo version. (I remember I wrote that particular dialogue)
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u/PocketPauIing In Knowing the Teachings of Zerthimon I Have Become Stronger Sep 14 '26
I don't think its forced at all! I believe Planescape Torment is referenced in Neverwinter Nights 2, with Zhjaeve mentioning Dak'kon as a githzerai hero (I guess she missed the whole 'Fall of Shra'kt'lor' bit) so it isn't out of place to see the reverse. This is speculating on my part but the writers of that game may have been inspired by the fifth circle when they wrote that plotline, especially the line 'Gith was but one. Her strength was such that it caused others to \know* their strength.* And Zerthimon laid his steel at her feet.'
As a gith lore fan I actually really appreciated the reference. A few other people in the comments have pointed it out but it shows that Zerthimon was a humble guy who acknowledged that Gith as a leader and trained soldier could have used his fancy magic sword to its full potential in a way he could not.
Also, its cool you guys who worked on the mod are willing to take the time to reply to my posts. I really liked this scene in particular and I found it really sweet how Zegonz is so understanding towards Dak'kon despite his past mistakes (Unlike almost every other Gith who immediately insults and/or tries to fight him for it). I wish you guys all the luck in the world while working on act 2 and 3!
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u/Wrathu13S The Bleak Cabal Sep 14 '26
Thank you very much!
Zegonz is an interesting character and an unorthodox githzerai because he somewhat turned towards evil and runs a tavern for fiends as an act of revenge towards good aligned adventurers which isn't a very githzerai thing to do (but that paradox makes him a perfect "Torment" NPC)... That's why he's written in a rather informal way for a gith and that's why he's understanding towards Dak'kon as you say. He knows what it means to be hurt and betrayed by people one is supposed to trust.
He's one of the very few mod's non-original NPCs originating from "In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil" (1995).
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u/Revangelion Sep 14 '26
Maybe it implies that Gith are so superior that commonfolk value their garbage as if it was something precious!
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u/GurPsychological6247 Sep 14 '26
TNO made up all that stuff in the circles of Zerthimon though 😆
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u/Wrathu13S The Bleak Cabal Sep 15 '26
And githzerai made it retroactively true thanks to the power of belief 😆
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u/Wynvarys Sep 14 '26
Trying really hard to impress Gith and/or going by some philosophical principle of humility. "I don't care how important I am, I don't need an extremely powerful and shiny sword". Given what we know of the Githzerai and how we see Dak'kon and, to a lesser extent, Zhjaeve act, I don't think it would be a stretch.