| Rakshasa | |
|---|---|
 ' | |
| Information | |
| Alternate Names/Spellings | Kravyad, (shapeshifted female) Manushya-Rakshasi, Nri-chaksha, (female) Rakshasi |
| Origins | Hindu Mythology |
| Alignment | |
| Element | |
| Species | |
| Appearance | |
Origins
The Rakshasa is a creature with origins in Hindu mythology, legend and folklore, as well as Buddhist and Jainist tradition. In particular, accounts of their existence first arose in the Hindu tales called The Ramayana and the The Mahabharata.
Rakshasa were born from the breath of the creator deity Brahma himself, while he slept. Distraught with their aggressiveness, Brahma called to Vishnu, who banished those first Rakshasa to the mortal world. Their species is named for Brahma's cry to Vishnu for help ("Rakshama!", which is Sanskrit for "Protect me!").
It should be noted, however, that some mortals are said to have become Rakshasa, by certain depraved acts.
Names of Specific Rakshasa:
-Bhandasura:
-Bhasmasura:
-Daruka:
-Dhoomralochana:
-Durgam:
-Ghatotkacha:
-Hidimba:
-Hidimbi:
-Hiranyakashyapu:
-Hiranyaksh:
-Indrajit:
-Jalandhara:
-Khara:
-Kumbhakarna:
-Mahishasura:
-Mandodari:
-Mara:
-Maricha:
-Narakasura:
-Nishumbha:
-Prahasta:
-Rahu:
-Raktabija:
-Ravana: King of the Rakshasas
-Shukra: The guru of Rakshasas, and Asuras
-Shumbha:
-Soorapadam:
-Subahu:
-Tadaka:
-Tataka:
-Vibhishana: Ravana's brother, aligned good
-Viradh:
-Vatapi:
Appearance
Rakshasa are capable of assuming a number of different shapes, and so few have seen the true form with which they are associated.
Though, commonly, the form that a Rakshasa takes for its "normal" mien is that of a larger humanoid. This may mean the larger limits of human size, to the size of an Orc or an Ogre, to the size of a Giant, or even larger.
A common face for a Rakshasa's "normal" mien is animalistic, goblinoid or perhaps demonic in appearance, with wild red eyes, a pug nose, lolling tongue, serrated fangs and perhaps tusks.
Behavior
So ravenous was the hunger of the first Rakshasa that, shortly after their creation, the deity who created them (Brahma) called for help managing them, and had them cast by Vishnu down to the mortal realm.
That having been said, the Rakshasa are not mindless creatures, by far.
Abilities
- Magic- the ability to channel supernatural energy to induce and manipulate events and phenomena.
- Flight- The ability to propel oneself through the air.
- Illusion Casting- the ability to psychically distort others' perception of reality.
- Illusion Manifestation- the ability to impart substance and power into illusory sensory phenomena.
- Invisibility- the ability to psychically render oneself unavailable to the sense of sight.
- Life-Force Absorption- the ability to psychically draw life energy into oneself.
- Shapeshifting- the ability to alter physical appearance to assume a new form.
- Size Shifting- the ability to alter physical size, to become larger or smaller.
- Natural Weapons- the ability to make use of damaging physical features.
- Natural Fangs- the ability to make use of a set of sharp fangs.
- Natural Claws- the ability to make use of a set of sharp claws.
- Natural Tusks- the ability to make use of a set of sharp tusks.
- Superhuman Digestion- the ability to process ingested materials with power and efficiency beyond human norms.
- Superhuman Senses- the ability to perceive sensory stimuli with precision and range beyond human norms.
- Superhuman Smell- the ability to perceive olfactory stimuli with precision and range beyond human norms.
Weaknesses
