The Role of Lycanthropy in Rajahstan
by AshtagonA significant number of rakasta in Rajahstan are afflicted with lycanthropy. There are two basic forms of lycanthropy among rakasta.
In both cases, it is initially hard for the lycanthrope to control the rage and bloodlust that strikes them when they transform. With time and experience, they can continue to maintain their rational rakasta mindset over the base animal instincts of their were-form.
Werewolf lycanthropy causes the unfortunate rakasta to take the form of a large wolf. Those unfortunates afflicted with this form are shunned among rakasta, and killed when discovered. They usually leave their communities for wilderness areas if and when they understand their curse.
Werecat lycanthropy causes the rakasta to take the form of a great cat. For those who understand and master their lycanthropy, they are revered as great warriors, as it enhances their fighting prowess. While they are not shunned in rakasta society, they are held responsible for any actions they take in great cat form. Several Rajahstani nobles are open about being werecats, and use it to great effect when leading their armies into battle.
Given that werecat lycanthropy is seen as a positive in Rajastani society, it may be asked why this kind of lycanthropy isn’t freely transmitted as a gift almost as soon as a rakasta is born. However, it takes considerable mastery of the self to be able to maintain the intellect over the base animal instincts, and most rakasta would remain bestial during their transformation, so it simply isn’t safe to do this. Transmission also requires significant injury and the adrenalin rush of combat; it can’t simply be done through a careful claw or bite.
Design Note: Andrew Thiesen proposed that werecat rakasta be called rakshasas. Rakshasas are a specific creature in Indian myth, as well as an already-existing D&D monster. As it happens, a werecat rakasta in control of their lycanthropy with access to illusion magic would duplicate nearly all of the powers of rakshasas from Indian myth. However, it may still cause confusion between these and the D&D monster (which is different enough from the mythological rakshasa to be its own thing). As such, I have chosen to describe them simply as werecat rakasta, but if you want to call them rakshasas in your game, go wild.
Just to be clear, I am not tying this Rajahstan to Sind. Saying Sind and Rajahstan are based on India is like saying that Soderfjord and Thyatis are based on Europe. While both statements are technically true, it is a very loose comparison which doesn't really inform the reader of anything much. After all, even though Thyatis and Soderfjord are both fantasy Europe, no one ever suggests that they are treading on or overlapping each other's cultural space.
India and Europe both have large regional differences, and both have even more differences if you compare different periods in time. Both also have notable regional differences in culture even today; consider that Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are all part of what has historically been called "India", and they aren't all that much alike.
According to Wikipedia, Sind is based on empire under the Mughal Empire. I would add that it more specifically is compared to the declining period, and 18th century Oudh. It is incredibly wealthy, but mismanaged, with a rigid caste system and massive wealth inequality, even by the standards of its time.
In contrast, I am basing Rajahstan more on early Indian epic stories such as Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Panchatantra. The kings are heroic and genuinely care for their people. The people, if not prosperous, are at least not suffering grinding poverty. Although social class exists, there is room for social mobility, and a peasant hero, through great skill or luck, can achieve nobility. The caste system is, at most, merely a description of someone's current status, rather than a plan for their entire life.
Because of this, I don't see a need to shoehorn in a migration between Sind and Rajahstan to explain a connection, any more than Thyatis and Soderfjord needs something to explain a connection. They are simply two cultures that happen to be inspired from one very broad region of the world.