The Rakshasa, once fearsome conquerors, arrived in Phoor long before human and elven civilizations took root, drawn by its twisted jungles and mystical energy that echoed their distant homeworld, Lanka. In their early days, the Serpentmen and Rakshasas coexisted as powerful empires, each regarding humanity as little more than pests. For centuries, these elder races controlled vast territories with ease, wiping out early human tribes and using their arcane might to maintain dominance. However, both empires eventually began to decline as internal decadence set in and external threats rose.
When humans began to spread across Phoor, they found many of the Serpentmen's cities abandoned, with only remnants of the Rakshasa Empire remaining. The elven armies, spearheaded by forces from the Empire of Drakkar and the Empire of Bamasuj, launched campaigns to crush the rakshasa strongholds. The Rakshasa leader, Ravana, summoned a horde of demons from a dark dimension to turn the tide of battle, marking their last great victory in Phoor. This pyrrhic triumph, while impressive, signaled the beginning of the rakshasa's decline.
Despite their demonic reinforcements, the rakshasas could not withstand the relentless assault of the elven armies and the Immortals of Karsis, the elite dragonborn warriors tasked with purging the ancient races. After costly battle after battle, the rakshasas were driven from their last bastions in Phoor, forced to flee across the Ravaged Sea to isolated isles and the Sultanate of Sahar. Though they escaped total annihilation, their defeat left them bitter and hungry for vengeance.
In the shadows of their hidden towers, the rakshasa rajas plot their return. No longer relying on open war and demonic armies, they have turned to subterfuge and manipulation. Through spies and infiltrators, they work to destabilize the great city-states, gathering intelligence, corrupting key figures, and subtly eliminating those who pose a threat to their ambitions. Rakshasas now operate in secret, revealing their true nature only when their victory is assured or when they are within the safety of their hidden strongholds.
Though scattered and weakened, the rakshasas remain a grave threat to Phoor. Their cunning, patience, and immortality make them formidable foes as they weave intricate webs of deceit, slowly regaining power and preparing to reclaim their lost empire. Many fear that Phoor will once again see the dark return of these malevolent beings, their eyes set on revenge and the restoration of their ancient dominion.