Rakastas of Glantri

Rakastas are quite rare in Brun, and they are almost unheard of in the Known World. Still, small tribes of these felines can be found in the Kurish Massif region. These Rakastas belong to the subspecies known as mountain rakasta (as per "Rakastas of Mystara" by Bruce Heard, Dragon Magazine, May 1998).

Mountain Rakastas

Mountain rakastas are stronger and taller than normal rakastas. They are hunters skilled in acrobatics and blessed with the ability to perform powerful leaps. Those who live on the Kurish Massif have reddish brown fur. Most mountain rakastas never leave their tribes, which are essentially large families led by an elder druid or ranger.

Some young rakastas are sometimes lured by the humans who explore their home mountains in search of monsters for Circus Lizzieni or for spell component trade. While some of them end up as gladiators in the Circus, or parts of them in a wizard's laboratory, others are hired as guards, hunters or scouts. A small number of these eventually leave the Kurish Massif, and reach the Principalities of Glantri. Most of them join a small clan, which acknowledges Sire Richard d'Ambreville as its patron.

Sire Richard d'Ambreville

Sire Richard "Coeur de Lion" d'Ambreville (F10, CN) is the older brother of Prince Étienne d'Ambreville of Nouvelle Averoigne. When the d'Ambrevilles were exiled into the Land of the Mists, Sire Richard was cursed into form that reflected his inner nature: an eight-foot lion-headed humanoid.

Since their return to Mystara, Sire Richard has become a protector of the rakastas from slave-hunters, werewolves and lupins, as he feels some sort of kinship with them. In turn, the rakastas often act as bodyguards or retainers for Sire Richard. He is also famous among tribal rakastas of the Kurish Massif since many of his retainers later returned to their tribes, and told great tales of their "Lion-Hearted" leader. Some of these rakasta even believe Richard is an Immortal who rules over the good humans, and opposes the evil slavers.

However, since the turn of the millennium, Sire Richard has undergone several major changes. First, he has regained his human form, when Prince Étienne lifted the curse. More importantly, Sire Richard has since acquired lycanthropy, and is now a werewolf!

This turn of events has caused the rakastas in Glantri to divide into three factions. Most of them think Richard has been cursed by some enemy wizard, and they are searching for a cure for their leader. A minority believes that Richard betrayed them and left him. Some of them have left him for (a delighted) Franz Löwenroth.

References:

X1 Isle of Dread

X2 Castle Amber

"Campaign Classics: Rakastas of Mystara" by Bruce Heard Dragon Magazine #247.

Author: Giampaolo Agosta