Whether in a cloitered monastery or learned from some wandering warrior-scholar, your character has time studying the art of zerthin, which is the theoretical, mystical, and martial study of the interplay between time and space, thought and substance. Those who embrace these teachings professionally are called zerth cenobites.

The core of a zerth cenobites' studies involve strict meditation on the nature of time and the body's movements through it, culminating in a martial art known as zerthin. Zerthin was first used at a special githzerai monastery called Zerth'Ad'Lun, located deep in the chaos-boil of Limbo. The chronal art has since been disseminated more widely, however.

Zerthin teaches that though the passage of time allows events to become chaotic and uncontrolled, a disciplined mind filled with a reservoir of psionic power can view the time stream as just one more dimension of space. This privileged point of view allows a zerth cenobite to see a moment or two into the past and future, thereby gaining insight as to where to place her next blow and how to best dodge the next blow of her foe. Practitioners of zerthin claim to be able to peer into the future, enhancing their martial expertise to unmatched heights.

Almost all zerth cenobites are monks who have gained the knowledge necessary to begin studying the rarefied art of zerthin. However, other professions may make use of such insights and leverage the manipulation of time and space in interesting ways (e.g., Echo Knights, Chronurgy and Graviturgy Wizards, Psionic Mind Sorcerers, etc.). Many are githzerai, since zerthin was developed first in Zerth'Ad'Lun on Limbo, but after the first zerth cenobite broke the stricture and began teaching zerthin to nongithzerai, all the censure and displeasure of Limbo couldn't keep zerthin a purely githzerai psionic ability.

Skill Proficiencies: Choose two skill proficiencies that best reflect your particular application of the teachings of zerthin. Many githzerai students of zerthin gain a strong understanding of the teachings of Zerthimon (best represented by Religion) or the history of their people's long struggle (best represented by History). Others with a more academic mindset focus more on the actual manipulation of space and time (represented by Arcana) or perhaps ground their understanding in theoretical physics (represented by Nature).

Some take a more practical approach: given that zerthin is ultimately a form of study applied to martial arts, plenty of zerthin students focus their studies on Acrobatics and Athletics. Still others focus on quiet meditation, silencing their own thoughts to better understand the flow of time (perhaps represented by Perception or Insight).

Tool Proficiencies: Zerthin is a physically and mentally demanding field of study. Students are encouraged to quiet their more theoretical wanderings (and to reduce stress) via a variety of hobbies--oftentimes, students achieve major insights during these quieter, simpler moments.

Choose one Artisan's Tool that represents your field of study. Amongst githzerai, Calligraphy is a common choice.

Languages: Zerthin was originally a githzerai oral tradition, thus many non-Githzerai students learn Gith to gain a clearer understanding of its teachings freed of translation errors. Other languages might represent a practical necessity for daily trade with the strange creatures that occasionally conduct business in Limbo: Giant, Primordial, Celestial, or Abyssal, as well as any number of more common languages. Perhaps you studied under the tutelage of an enigmatic time dragon where you learned draconic.

For those students who were preparing to someday join a Rrakkma (Vengeance Band) to strike against the Illithids, Undercommon or Deep Speech might have been practical for navigating the Underdark.

Equipment: A bottle of black ink, a quill, an abstract clock that helps you contemplate the nature of time (yet serves no practical purpose), a copy of the Unbroken Circle of Zerthimon, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp.