Maharaja Arijani

Arijani is the Rakshasa Darklord of Sri Raji. He is the son of the Rakshasa deity Ravana and Mahiji.

Although he is a talented illusionist, Arijani cannot disguise himself in a pleasing form, as most rakshasa do. Instead, he can only assume despicable aspects, such as that of the viewer's worst enemy.

Maharaja Arijani resides in Mahakala, in Bahru. There, he is served by the Dark Sisters, who through him, must provide a daily human sacrifice to Kali.

Background

Arijani is a traitor to his kind and to his father Ravana (or rather, the Avatar of Ravana), having received the scorn of the rakshasa for most of his life. Although Ravana is a deity venerated by the rakshasa, Arijani's mother was Mahiji, then high priest of the hated goddess Kali and a leader of the Dark Sisters. To compound things, the Avatar of Kali delivered Arijanni to a home of low caste rank. He lived as an pariah shunned by his fellow rakshasa and languished in a position of low social importance. This alienated Arijani from his own kind, such that he arranged the death of many rakshasa in the conflict with humans. Gradually, Arijani's manipulations became so great that the people of Bahru began hunting their former hunters.

Arijani's depredations climaxed with the rakshasa staging a retaliatory siege against Bahru. Although the city fell, the cost was massive casualties on both sides. The city was left in ruins. Angered and disgusted by Arijani's actions, Ravana sent his avatar to dispatch his prodigal son. However, Arijani conspired with Mahiji and lured the avatar into a trap. Thus rendered helpless, Ravana offered Arijani a wish in return for his release. Ravana accepted the offer, wishing to become immune to the attacks of rakshasas. The wish was granted, but Arijani slew the avatar anyway. Such was the level of this treachery that the Mists brought Sri Raji into the Demiplane of Dread.

Current Sketch

Arijani dwells high on the Yahasha Mountains, in the ruins of Bahru, now known as the Accursed City. Arijani serves Kali in order to stave off the wrath of Ravana, whom Arijani mistakenly believes has imprisoned him in the Land of Mists. Despite Ravana's seeming punishment, Arijani receives some small consolation with the command of the Dark Sisters as his minions.

The Dark Powers cursed Arijani never to use his shapechanging abilities to take on forms other than those that frighten and disturb. Ever adaptive, Arijani has come to exult in his ability to terrify his lessers. He is less joyful in the knowledge that Ravana's Bane, the weapon he used to murder his father, is somewhere out there in the wilds of Sri Raji. It may very well be used to kill him just as it did his father before him.

Statistics

2nd Edition

male rakshasa Illusionist 13/Priest of Kali 9; Hit Dice 13+39; Chaotic Evil

3rd Edition

Male Rakshasa Cleric 6 of Kali / Sorcerer 5, Chaotic Evil, CR 20

References

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Data from the Ravenloft Catalogue

		Ravenloft Third Edition Web of Illusion
		Ravenloft Campaign Setting - p50 Web of Illusion - p56, cover
		Ravenloft Campaign Setting - p49 Web of Illusion - p58
		Ravenloft Third Edition - p162 Secrets of the Dread Realms - p7 Ravenloft Campaign Setting:Domains and Denizens - pp41,49-52 Web of Illusion - pp58-61 Realm of Terror - p85