Rakshassa

The rakshassi (singular: rakshassa) are fictional creatures featured in Andy Lane's novel All-Consuming Fire, named after a type of demons from Hindu mythology.
In the novel, the rakshassi are not a naturally-occurring species, but the final result of a transformation process that all worshipers of "Azathoth" go through, regardless of whether they start off as human, shlangii, etc.
==Description==
The rakshassi are winged crustacean-like creatures with crimson red armour and a long segmented tail ending in a spiked club. They are the servants of a massive slug-like alien who identifies herself as "Azathoth", although the Doctor believes that she is just using the name of a more powerful being to back up her claims of goddesshood.
Rakshassi walk around on their membranous clawed wings like a bat. Their heads are faceless, with no eyes or mouth to be seen, and covered in a multitude of mobile spikes. Despite the absence of a visible mouth, the rakshassi can produce high-pitched screams and even speak human languages when they want to. Conversely, they are completely incapable of singing. They can use their tails as a spring to leap at their victims, or coil the tail around them and lift off. Their blood is a pink water-like fluid.
The Doctor has speculated that the slug-like "Azathoth" might be the larval form of her species, and that the rakshassi might perhaps resemble the adult form of the race. (: All-Consuming Fire)
==Behind the Mythos==
The physical appearance of the rakshassi is somewhat similar to the Mi-Go, another race of winged crustacean-like creatures with featureless heads covered in a multitude of antennae or protuberances. However, a notable difference is that the Mi-Go can't fly properly on Earth, being only suited for interstellar flight. The rakshassi, in contrast, can fly over long distances even while carrying the weight of an adult humanoid.
==External links==
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Category:Species Originating From Expanded Mythos Works
Category:Extraterrestrial Species
Category:Sapient Species