Rakasta

Rakasta ( ) were a race of intelligent catlike humanoids, non-magical cousins of rakshasas, native to the world of Mystara and found inhabiting the Vast on Toril.
==Description==
Rakasta were humanoids with feline features who walked on their legs in a manner similar to that of humans but showing grace and fluidity in their movements. Their bodies were covered in soft fur of orange-brown, light tan, or dark brown colors. They had feline heads and bright green feline eyes with vertical pupils. They had furry nonprehensile tails from to long. Rakasta heights carried from to .
Apart from the most common rakasta breed, called a "basic rakasta" or "moggie," there existed a multitude of rakasta breeds found in different parts of Mystara and different worlds or planes. Each breed had its own distinct feline appearance, size, physical and mental traits, and various levels of fear of water. Generally, across all breeds, males were larger than females.
==Personality==
Rakasta were proud nomads and barbarians, many of whom were peaceful warriors who retaliated swiftly if provoked.
All rakasta breeds were also great at hiding and concealing themselves, even the larger breeds. Just like domestic cats, rakasta were affected by catnip. The plant was hard to resist, prompting rakasta to compulsively roll around in catnip and rub it all over in a state of ecstasy.
==Abilities==
All rakasta breeds that belonged to the "greater rakasta" group had the ability to emit a great terrifying roar that could affect their opponents. Another notable ability of all rakasta breeds was granted to them by their feline physiology. All rakasta except for the basic rakasta but "moggies," was their feline physiology that allowed them to tense their muscles like a fine spring, releasing it in a burst of strength. In order to have energy for such feats, rakasta had to sleep for 12 hours each day and supplement it with regular catnaps. Being deprived of the long sleep left them unable to focus such bursts of strength and could result in physical weakness, and dimmed mental acuity. Non-adventuring rakasta normally slept 16 hours a day. Sleeping rakasta were not defenseless. They had a highly sensitive sleep that kept them alert to even the most muffled suspicious sound. They were hard to surprise during rest, and rakasta were not disturbed by snoring companions, howling wind, or any other type of white noise.
Rakasta whiskers were an important sensory organ that granted them vibrissae, a natural boost to dexterity through air-current detection. If their whiskers were damaged, it affected rakasta's nimbleness and agility until the whiskers grew back within one to four weeks.
== Combat==
When provoked, rakasta were fearsome warriors rarely using normal weapons. They needed no tools when rakasta claws and bites were as deadly as any blade, especially with the claw argumentations coming among these felines. Rakasta wore kasas – a special type of metallic clawed gauntlets. Their back claws were just as dangerous. If a rakasta warrior landed two slashes on a target, they could also land a lightning-fast rending with their rear claws.
The closest alternative to a cavalry among rakasta were hatra – warriors who rode saber-toothed tigers into battle. Hatra were considered to be the bravest and the strongest of the pride as only the most valiant rakasta could commend saber-toothed tigers' respect. Hatra's saber-toothed tigers were equipped with a special variety of saddles designed especially for the cats' leaping abilities. These saddles kept hatra on the mount's back without a chance of falling off and giving them the ability to use both hands in battle while on the tigerback.
Rakasta were also known to keep magical creatures called ebon tigers, using them as guards.
==Society==
Rakasta were nomadic people who lived in prides of between six and 60 adults with an additional 25% of the total number of adults being rakasta young, led by a single chief whose word is the absolute law. Additionally, a single rakasta pride could keep up to 12 saber-toothed tigers. Six hatra always accompanied a pride's chief, keeping them safe. Each pride had at least one cleric and, on occasion, a mage. When not moving, the felines erected temporary tent cities of many colorful pavilions.
The colorfulness of rakasta tent cities was the evidence of their artistry and admirable skills at weaving rugs, silks, tapestries, and masterfully crafted and decorated bowls, cups, and other receptacles. Rakasta valued such items of great quality and esthetics more than gold and gems, making their treasuries filled with objects of art and products of master-crafters.
Rakasta society valued warriors' prowess and kept their hatra at the top of the rakasta society. Apart from the chief's words, rakasta followed the Sri'raka, the code of conduct. Some of the tenets dictated by Sri'raka included the laws of no combat challenge ever to be refused; no wounded to be ever left behind, warriors were to transport the wounded to safety or grant them honorable death; all rakasta strove to die in battle and never in their sleep; no mere would be given to the enemies, and no mercy was to be expected in return; the only time rakasta were allowed to retreat – under orders to regroup and attack again within two sunrises; and lastly, rakasta never surrendered, those who were taken prisoners were not rakasta anymore.
Rakasta had their own language that carried in dialects depending on the pride's culture. More primitive rakasta prides learned to speak Common with a thick purring feline accent of rolling r's and hissed s's.
==Ecology==
In the lands populated by the rakasta, the feline hunters served to control the game herd populations. Those who allied with rakasta earned themselves reliable trading partners.
==History==
The history of rakasta on Toril remained unrecorded; however, the rakasta creation myth on the World of Mystara was quite ancient. It was a poem about a clever cat named Ba-steh who fell in love with her human master – Kum-rah, a shaman who worshipped The Immortal Ka. The cat protected her master and served Ka. Eventually, the deity-like Immortal rewarded the cat with a transformation into a human woman. Ba-steh married Kum-rah. Subsequently, Ka tested the couple by sending out a mouse to Kum-rah's cave shrine. Ba-steh followed her instincts and pounced on the rodent, killing it. The shaman witnessed his wive's animalistic behavior in dismay. Ka was upset with the test's outcome. The Immortal wanted to transform Ba-steh back into a cat but realized that it would be cruel, and instead, he transformed both lovers into cat-folk, the first rakasta.
After Kum-rah's ninth death, Ba-steh was given a place by Ka's side to distract her from pain and grief. She learned to use magic, discovered the Outer Planes, and eventually left Ka behind on a quest for knowledge across the universe and achieved immortality. By the time Ba-steh left Mystara, she had already had countless children. As a final gift to her, Ka transformed the most loyal cat followers of his into rakasta, effectively creating a new race that spread to a Mystaran moon – Patera, which became the largest rakasta empire in all the stars. According to the legends, Ba-steh traveled across the planes and time and eventually found a world where she could be worshipped as a deity, becoming Bastet. Centuries passed, and the civilization that worshipped Bastet collapsed, sending the imp portal feline back to Mystara, where she found her rakasta flourishing, becoming the main Immortal patron of the rakasta people.
By the late 14 century DR, a group of hatra from a Vastar rakasta tribe found themselves owing much to certain unnamed rakshasa Rajahs. In turn, the Rajahs owed favors to the individual only known as the Sewer Lich, lending the undead service of the indebted hatra. The Sewer Lich used a duo of rakshasas – Blevins and Abdulthe, and the rakasta as its assassins.
==Appendix==
===See Also===
* Paka
* Tabaxi 
===Appearances===
===References===
Category:Humanoids
Category:Felines
Category:Creatures found on Mystara
Category:Creatures found in temperate climates
Category:Creatures found in plains
Category:Creatures found in deserts
Category:Year of Manuscripts