LOTRfan
2013-02-03, 02:31 PM
Brief History
The early era of the Material Plane was rife with violence and chaos; during this time, the walls between dimensions were at their weakest, and creatures of insanity of the highest magnitude (like the Great Old Ones of the Far Realm and the Obyrith of the Abyss) roamed across entire worlds unchallenged. This was not part of the greater scheme of things, however, and soon the Heavenly Hosts were unleashed upon the world in order to drive these heinous beings out.
During this Great War, the forces of all Celestial armies combined into a Host of a size that shall not be seen again until the End of Days, with representatives of all Upper Planes marching side-by-side to fight the nightmares that awaited them on the Material Plane. Even the Gods, marching under the orders of their creator, joined in this assault. And so began a war that would last for untold millennia, taking place on distant worlds that just finished forming around their newborn suns. Even this world was part of the struggle. In fact, the worst of the fighting occurred on it.
This battle would ultimately be won by the Celestials, as it was preordained to happen, but at great cost. Most know of the loss of one third of the Angelic Host, who were warped by the war with the demons and corrupted into betraying their brethren by the greatest among them. These became the Baatezu, the greatest of the devils and rulers of the Nine Hells. Others would mention the dead gods whose forms float in the Astral Plane, sleeping for all eternity after being mortally wounded by the Great Old Ones. A much fewer number know of the sacrifice of a select few gods who, while not dead, certainly gave up a lot for the cause of Good. These gods are known today as the Devas.
During the Great War, especially after the initial appearance of the Tanar’ri, things were not going well for the Celestials. The demons were infinite in number, and the Great Old Ones were comparable to gods in terms of power. The ranks of demons replenished at a rate that the Celestials just could not match. As a result, some of the gods took drastic action; together, they reshaped themselves, making themselves truly immortal. Whenever one of their number would die, they would instantly reincarnate. Unfortunately, for this to happen they had to permanently bind themselves to the Material Plane and give up their divinity. They became the Devas, and with their help the Celestials were able to tip the tides of the war.
Eventually the Tanar’ri rebelled against their Obyrith masters, and the Eladrin laid waste to the already shattered demonic forces. Once the Great Old Ones were laid to rest in the deepest recesses of Material Plane worlds, the Celestials went home. All the Celestials with the exception of the Devas, of course. The Devas, now bound to this cycle of constant reincarnation, were destined to spend the rest of their many lives on the Material Plane until either they regain their divinity or the End of Days arrive. Since then, they and the Couatls (who were descendants of a god rather than gods themselves) have served as defenders of the Material Plane against all sorts of fiends.
Of course, just as all the angels had not remained true to their nature, neither did all of the Devas; some of them were corrupted and brought to evil, and those who were found their once beautiful forms warped into deformed tiger-like ones once they reincarnated. These became the Rakshasa, who quickly became bitter enemies with the Devas and their Coualt allies. These beings, twisted by the evilness they were born into, have no qualms about harassing the mortals they once protected. In fact, most enjoy causing sorrow as they try to scheme new ways in which they can achieve their former godhood.
The Reincarnation Process
Unlike other native outsiders, Devas and Rakshasas cannot be resurrected after death. In fact, once they die, there is no body left to use for such a spell. When such a creature is mortally wounded, it undergoes a very special process. Golden glowing energy erupts from the arms and face of the creature, erasing distinct features and eventually dissolving their whole body. This process usually takes one round, during which the creatures cannot take any action. At the end of this action, all that is left of the Deva or Rakshasa is its clothing.
Almost instantaneously, the creature is reborn in a far away location, appearing in a ball of golden energy. The Deva doesn’t remember the exact details of their previous lifetime, though usually the Deva has a very similar personality and general alignment of their previous past life. What they do remember, however, is the reason why they are bound to the Material Plane and the name of the god they were before their reincarnation cycle began. In addition to this, the Deva is also given a name by some unknown force; this name is the first thought that a Deva ever thinks during its life, and it will usually go by this name for the rest of it. Each life has a different name, and as a result Devas tend to be remembered by many names.
Physically, the Deva looks different than how it used to look; the exact details vary from Deva to Deva, but there are times where the change has been so extreme that even the gender of the Deva has been switched. In less extreme cases, eye color, skin color, and arrangement of facial features change. Devas who reincarnate into Rakshasas usually reincarnate into the standard form of Rakshasa, while Rakshasas who reincarnate tend to reincarnate into the specialized form of Rakshasa most closely related to the advancement choices it made during its previous life.
Both Devas and Rakshasas can be of any alignment. Devas with a good or neutral alignment reincarnate as another Deva upon death, while Devas with an evil alignment become Rakshasas. Rakshasas with an evil or neutral alignment reincarnate as another Rakshasa upon death, while Rakshasas with a good alignment become Devas.
Rakshasa Stats
Rakshasa Rajahs are Rakshasas who have almost regained their divinity. Rajahs tend to have at least 20 HD, ten or more class levels, and are given Divine Rank 0. Rakshasa Rajas can be a member of any of the Rakshasa variants, though the Ack’Chazar tend to be the most common and powerful of the Rajahs.
Rakshasa, Standard (SRD)
The standard Rakshasa is the one found in the SRD. When an evil Deva or unskilled Rakshasa dies, they usually reincarnate into this type of Rakshasa. Keep the statistics listed in the SRD, but change the following;
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: +3
Rakshasa, Ak’Chazar (Monster Manual III)
When a Rakshasa advances in spellcasting classes and is then slain, it is usually reincarnated as an Ak’Chazar, a master of necromancy. Keep the statistics listed in the Monster Manual III, but change the following:
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: (to be determined later)
Rakshasa, Naztharune (Monster Manual III)
Rakshasas who specialized in tactical strikes (Ninjas, Rogues, Scouts, etc.) in their previous lives are usually reborn a Naztharune. Naztharunes are absolutely ruthless stalkers who act very much like the animals they resemble. Keep the statistics in the Monster Manual III, but change the following;
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: (to be determined later)
Rakshasa, Zakya (Eberron Campaign Setting)
This type of Rakshasa is born after a Rakshasa who took class levels in a martial class (Fighter, Samurai, Barbarian, Monk, etc.) dies and is reincarnated. Keep the statistics listed in the Eberron Campaign Setting, but change the following:
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: (To be determined later)
The early era of the Material Plane was rife with violence and chaos; during this time, the walls between dimensions were at their weakest, and creatures of insanity of the highest magnitude (like the Great Old Ones of the Far Realm and the Obyrith of the Abyss) roamed across entire worlds unchallenged. This was not part of the greater scheme of things, however, and soon the Heavenly Hosts were unleashed upon the world in order to drive these heinous beings out.
During this Great War, the forces of all Celestial armies combined into a Host of a size that shall not be seen again until the End of Days, with representatives of all Upper Planes marching side-by-side to fight the nightmares that awaited them on the Material Plane. Even the Gods, marching under the orders of their creator, joined in this assault. And so began a war that would last for untold millennia, taking place on distant worlds that just finished forming around their newborn suns. Even this world was part of the struggle. In fact, the worst of the fighting occurred on it.
This battle would ultimately be won by the Celestials, as it was preordained to happen, but at great cost. Most know of the loss of one third of the Angelic Host, who were warped by the war with the demons and corrupted into betraying their brethren by the greatest among them. These became the Baatezu, the greatest of the devils and rulers of the Nine Hells. Others would mention the dead gods whose forms float in the Astral Plane, sleeping for all eternity after being mortally wounded by the Great Old Ones. A much fewer number know of the sacrifice of a select few gods who, while not dead, certainly gave up a lot for the cause of Good. These gods are known today as the Devas.
During the Great War, especially after the initial appearance of the Tanar’ri, things were not going well for the Celestials. The demons were infinite in number, and the Great Old Ones were comparable to gods in terms of power. The ranks of demons replenished at a rate that the Celestials just could not match. As a result, some of the gods took drastic action; together, they reshaped themselves, making themselves truly immortal. Whenever one of their number would die, they would instantly reincarnate. Unfortunately, for this to happen they had to permanently bind themselves to the Material Plane and give up their divinity. They became the Devas, and with their help the Celestials were able to tip the tides of the war.
Eventually the Tanar’ri rebelled against their Obyrith masters, and the Eladrin laid waste to the already shattered demonic forces. Once the Great Old Ones were laid to rest in the deepest recesses of Material Plane worlds, the Celestials went home. All the Celestials with the exception of the Devas, of course. The Devas, now bound to this cycle of constant reincarnation, were destined to spend the rest of their many lives on the Material Plane until either they regain their divinity or the End of Days arrive. Since then, they and the Couatls (who were descendants of a god rather than gods themselves) have served as defenders of the Material Plane against all sorts of fiends.
Of course, just as all the angels had not remained true to their nature, neither did all of the Devas; some of them were corrupted and brought to evil, and those who were found their once beautiful forms warped into deformed tiger-like ones once they reincarnated. These became the Rakshasa, who quickly became bitter enemies with the Devas and their Coualt allies. These beings, twisted by the evilness they were born into, have no qualms about harassing the mortals they once protected. In fact, most enjoy causing sorrow as they try to scheme new ways in which they can achieve their former godhood.
The Reincarnation Process
Unlike other native outsiders, Devas and Rakshasas cannot be resurrected after death. In fact, once they die, there is no body left to use for such a spell. When such a creature is mortally wounded, it undergoes a very special process. Golden glowing energy erupts from the arms and face of the creature, erasing distinct features and eventually dissolving their whole body. This process usually takes one round, during which the creatures cannot take any action. At the end of this action, all that is left of the Deva or Rakshasa is its clothing.
Almost instantaneously, the creature is reborn in a far away location, appearing in a ball of golden energy. The Deva doesn’t remember the exact details of their previous lifetime, though usually the Deva has a very similar personality and general alignment of their previous past life. What they do remember, however, is the reason why they are bound to the Material Plane and the name of the god they were before their reincarnation cycle began. In addition to this, the Deva is also given a name by some unknown force; this name is the first thought that a Deva ever thinks during its life, and it will usually go by this name for the rest of it. Each life has a different name, and as a result Devas tend to be remembered by many names.
Physically, the Deva looks different than how it used to look; the exact details vary from Deva to Deva, but there are times where the change has been so extreme that even the gender of the Deva has been switched. In less extreme cases, eye color, skin color, and arrangement of facial features change. Devas who reincarnate into Rakshasas usually reincarnate into the standard form of Rakshasa, while Rakshasas who reincarnate tend to reincarnate into the specialized form of Rakshasa most closely related to the advancement choices it made during its previous life.
Both Devas and Rakshasas can be of any alignment. Devas with a good or neutral alignment reincarnate as another Deva upon death, while Devas with an evil alignment become Rakshasas. Rakshasas with an evil or neutral alignment reincarnate as another Rakshasa upon death, while Rakshasas with a good alignment become Devas.
Rakshasa Stats
Rakshasa Rajahs are Rakshasas who have almost regained their divinity. Rajahs tend to have at least 20 HD, ten or more class levels, and are given Divine Rank 0. Rakshasa Rajas can be a member of any of the Rakshasa variants, though the Ack’Chazar tend to be the most common and powerful of the Rajahs.
Rakshasa, Standard (SRD)
The standard Rakshasa is the one found in the SRD. When an evil Deva or unskilled Rakshasa dies, they usually reincarnate into this type of Rakshasa. Keep the statistics listed in the SRD, but change the following;
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: +3
Rakshasa, Ak’Chazar (Monster Manual III)
When a Rakshasa advances in spellcasting classes and is then slain, it is usually reincarnated as an Ak’Chazar, a master of necromancy. Keep the statistics listed in the Monster Manual III, but change the following:
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: (to be determined later)
Rakshasa, Naztharune (Monster Manual III)
Rakshasas who specialized in tactical strikes (Ninjas, Rogues, Scouts, etc.) in their previous lives are usually reborn a Naztharune. Naztharunes are absolutely ruthless stalkers who act very much like the animals they resemble. Keep the statistics in the Monster Manual III, but change the following;
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: (to be determined later)
Rakshasa, Zakya (Eberron Campaign Setting)
This type of Rakshasa is born after a Rakshasa who took class levels in a martial class (Fighter, Samurai, Barbarian, Monk, etc.) dies and is reincarnated. Keep the statistics listed in the Eberron Campaign Setting, but change the following:
Alignment: Usually Lawful Evil
Level Adjustment: (To be determined later)