Rakshasa

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Template:Infobox Greyhawk creature Rakshasas are a type of evil outsider. They are powerful sorcerers and, although they disdain physical fighting as ignoble, can be dangerous in close combat as well.

Ecology

As malevolent spirits encased in flesh, rakshasas are virtually immortal. If slain, they wander the world as tormented, bodiless spirits for days, months, or sometimes years before reincarnating in some random spot. It is said they can only be permanently slain with blessed weapons that pierce their hearts. They produce a new generation every century to replace those rakshasas who have been slain in battle. There are 1-3 rakshasa females for every male. Females raise rakshasa young alone, alternating doting praise with harsh discipline.

Rakshasas are at constant war with humanity, both to feed themselves and because they believe such battle is the only way to gain honor.

Environment

Rakshasas prefer tropical or subtropical forests. A group of rakshasas has taken control of the settlement of Newtemple on the Wild Coast because they believe an artifact sacred to their kind is buried there. Many rakshasas dwell on the planes of Acheron and the Nine Hells. Some also dwell on Fraz-Urb'luu's layer of the Abyss, where powerful chaotic evil rakshasas known as the Hollow Rajahs see to the governance of the realm.

On Acheron, rakshasa clans rule several hidden cubes throughout the plane, all led by their deity Ravanna. The clans vie for his attention by kidnapping souls and mortals from other realms to serve as slaves in their mansions and palaces. Rakshasa realms are cloaked with powerful illusions.

Physical description

A rakshasa's natural shape is relatively humanoid, although they are clearly not human as they have the head of beasts (most commonly tigers, although other predatory cats, apes, mantises, and crocodiles are only slightly less common). Their eyes glow with a slight infernal light. They stand 6 to 7 feet tall and weigh between 250 and 300 pounds. Their hands also look disturbing to most humans, as their palms are where the back of the hands would be in humanity. Rakshasas are capable of hiding their disturbing appearance at any time, as they can choose any humanoid form at will.

In the novel Artifact of Evil by Gary Gygax, Gord the Rogue fights a rakshasa who has taken the form of a gigantic boar. This rakshasa claims to be a "true" member of its kind, hailing from the Nine Hells.

Subraces

Ak'chazar
These rakshasas have the heads of white tigers and are skinnier than the more common breeds. They are unusually powerful spellcasters and specialize in necromantic magic. To use their necromantic powers to their full potential the ak'chazar often use graveyards or old battlefields as their headquarters. When working on one of their dark schemes they often let their undead do the physical work while they stay behind the scenes themselves.
Naityan
These are shapeshifters with the ability to utilize different supernatural combat styles based on their current forms.
Naztharune
Naztharune have the heads of black tigers and are covered in black fur. They have few magical powers but compensate by being strong fighters, specializing in assassination. They lack most rakshasas' need to be the leader of any organisation that they are part of, often working for other rakshasas.
Zakyas
Zakyas resemble standard rakshasas, but rather than focusing on sorcery, they are skilled melee combatants and weapon masters. They use their weak magical powers to supplement their martial prowess.

Society

Rakshasas are solitary beings, although they do occasionally cooperate with each other. Since rakshasas are ambitious beings, as well as being solitary, sorcerous shapeshifters, they typically hold leading positions in whatever undertaking they are involved in. rakshasa knights focus on hunting paladins on behalf of Ravanna, while rakshasa lords serve as his high priests.

Rakshasa society is bound by rigid castes. Each rakshasa is born into a particular caste and cannot advance, though within their castes rakshasas constantly rank one another based on their honor, fighting prowess, subtlety, and ruthlessness. Females (known as rakshasi) are considered to be fit only to be consorts, honored for their faithfulness and the fighting ability of their children. A rakshasa's life varies in cycles of wild self-indulgence in times of prosperity and strict fasting and sacrifice in times of trouble or before a battle. Rakshasas are honorable in their own terms, though they will twist the wording of an agreement to further their sinister goals.

Rakshasas relish fine clothing, weapons, and jewelry, and enjoy music, art, and works of literature.

Castes

Commoner
Most rakshasas belong to this caste.
Knight (rukh)
About 15% of rakshasas are greater rakshasas or rukhs (knights). They act as guardians of a rakshasa community.
Lord (rajah)
About 15% of rakshasa rukhs are rakshasa rajahs, or lords. Each rajah is the patriarch of his local clan.
Duke (maharajah)
About 5% of rakshasa rajas are maharajahs, or dukes. A maharajah is the leader of either several small, related clans or a single powerful clan. Maharajahs dwell on the Outer Planes, where they rule island communities of hundreds of rakshasas and serve as minions of even greater powers.

Religion

Most rakshasas revere Ravanna, King of Rakshasas, a ten-headed lesser deity who can only be harmed by non-deific creatures from the Material Plane. A large number of them have been swayed over to the worship of Fraz-Urb'luu instead.

Language

Rakshasas speak Common, Infernal, and Undercommon.

History

No one knows where rakshasas originate; the 2nd edition Monstrous Manual claims they are the embodiment of nightmares. Dragon #84 suggests the rakshasa race originated on the plane of Acheron. Planes of Law confirms they are "truly native" to Acheron. One theory in Dragon #326 has it that they were the result of interbreeding between devils and fiendish animals. The 4th edition Manual of the Planes posits that they are descended from the beast-headed yugoloths known as arcanaloths.

Bibliography

  • Baker, Keith. Eberron Campaign Setting. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
  • Baker, Richard, Rob Heinsoo, and James Wyatt. Manual of the Planes. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2008.
  • Baker, Richard, Matthew Sernett, and Frank Brunner. Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2006.
  • Burlew, Rich, Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, Andrew J. Finch, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Rich Redman, Matthew Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and P. Nathan Toomey. Monster Manual III. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004.
  • Cagle, Eric. "The Ecology of the Rakshasa." Dragon #326. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2004. Page 68.
  • Gygax, Gary. Artifact of Evil. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1986.
  • -----. Monster Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1977.
  • -----. Monster Manual II. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
  • Jacobs, James. "The Demonimicon of Iggwilv: Fraz-Urb'luu." Dragon #333. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2005.
  • -----. "Twilight's Last Gleaming." Dungeon #35. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
  • McComb, Colin, and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Law. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.
  • Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1994.
  • 3.5 D&D stats: [1]

    Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Against The Giants: The Liberation of Geoff 32, 95
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus, D&D 5e 9, 51, 75, 91, 109, 127, 130
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Deities & Demigods (1st & 2nd printing), AD&D 1e 133
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Dragon magazine #075 21
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Dragon magazine #113 11
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Dragon magazine #351 26
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders 39, 40
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, GDQ1-7 Queen of the Spiders: Map/Monster Booklet 16
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, MC1 - Monstrous Compendium Volume 1 Insert (Rakshasa)
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, MC5 Monstrous Compendium Greyhawk Adventures Appendix Encounter Tables
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Monster Manual 1, AD&D 1e 81
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Monstrous Manual, AD&D 2e 299
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Monstrous Manual, AD&D 2e (Premium Edition) 299
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Monster Manual 1, D&D 3.5e (Premium Edition) 211, 212
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Monster Manual 1, D&D 4e (Deluxe Edition) 216-218
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Monster Manual 1, D&D 5e 257
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Manual of the Planes, AD&D 1e 65, 66, 103
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Oerth Journal #14 13
Rakshasa Monster Native of: Material Plane, Astral, Spelljammer Boxed Set: Lorebook of the Void 11, 20
Rakshasa, Greater Monster MC1 - Monstrous Compendium Volume 1 Insert (Rakshasa)
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