This module adds the Rakshasa entity, a desert-dwelling race of humanoids with animalistic features. They have an intricate warrior culture and can be seen operating as mercenaries within the ranks of the world’s armies.

Warning: no graphics. Use at your own peril.

Description
Rakshasa are tall and bulky humanoids, standing a few feet taller than humans. Many rakshasas resemble humans as well, however, the vast majority possess some sort of animalistic morph - some have horns, tusks, tails or trunks, with some very few having all four traits. Combined with their colourful skin tones and propensity for garish clothing, a rakshasa raiding band moving swiftly over the desert sands can be an astonishing sight indeed.

Rakshasas may revolve around violence, yet they have a complicated warrior code that sets them apart from the chaos-seeding actions of goblins. Combat is to be fought singly, in close quarters. Non-combatants are not to be harmed. By all accounts, when not on the battlefield, rakshasas are reputedly polite and sociable, but ruthless beyond measure when blades are drawn. As such, many rakshasas find employment as mercenaries, and can be found far afield from their desert homes serving in any military.

Gameplay

Rakshasas are intended to serve as the premier mercenary force in the game. Due to their size, they can wield the game's gamut of two-handed equipment with one hand easily, and possess absurd strength with which to turn enemies to pulp with. Rakshasa will have one or more animal features such as tusks, horns, tails, fangs and trunks, and will use these to their appropriate effect in battle. Rakshasa may come as monster hunters, independent mercenaries or in the service of invading armies.

Interactions with the actual rakshasa entity are rare, as they only build a single fortress in the middle of the desert. If you do manage to reach them, they are not outwardly hostile and will in fact trade with you. You will need to impress them with more than a few nick-nacks though.

Inspiration
The rakshasa’s appearance is inspired almost entirely from this one depiction of asura on Wikipedia. They fill the niche of the warrior culture trope and the brute trope while having more character and flair than boring old orcs.