On the dark and densely forested island of Lanka, Rakshasas, demon ogres from an earlier era, still linger. Gifted with tremendous strength, they once fought the Devatas of Kailasa, but since then the most powerful of the Rakshasas have left this world for the Nether Realms. The remaining Rakshasas have captured and enslaved the monkey people of Kailasa and made them serve as warriors, hunters or food. The Rakshasas had no use for the peaceful White Ones and Kala-Mukhas, Rakshasa halfbreeds, lead the monkey people of Lanka. Since the enslavement of the apes, the ancient conflict between the Devatas of Kailasa and the Rakshasas of Lanka has been renewed. Rakshasas have an affinity for blood magic and in times of strife they are drawn to the blood of innocents.

"The latest addition to the monkey business was Lanka, the mythical kingdom of Ravana. The nation is in many ways similar to Kailasa, but rakshasas of various forms replace the yakshas and yavanas, and blood magic and cannibalism is prevalent. I confess to having a weakness for great ape sorcerers and necromancers in semi-civilized apparel, preferably raging and howling with gory mouths. Hindu myth is rich and you could probably make a Dominions game based entirely on Hindu nations, beings and gods." -Illwinter

If you are considering picking this nation to play, what should you know?

Turmoil Limit + 1
Heat Limit + 1

Prefers Heat Scale + 2

Reanimation: National priests can reanimate the dead.
Better Blood Hunts: Blood hunts give more blood slaves in turmoil and less in order.

For the purposes of readability, Lanka's ritual summons are organised by theme.

• Headdress of the Bull (Construction 5)
  1 for 5
  A free buffalo is useful on both ends of an assassination battle, and provides a bit of chaff otherwise.

See Magic Access. These guides supplement the summaries at the top.

• No Fire magic
• 3 on one-in-three Raksharajas (capital-only)
• No Water magic
• No Earth magic

• No Astral magic
• 3 on one-in-fourteen Rakshasis (capital-only, 2 is much more common), 1 on Yoginis off-capital
• 3 on one-in-fourteen Rakshasis (capital-only), 2 on Yoginis off-capital
• 3 on one-in-fourteen Rakshasis (capital-only, 2 is much more common)

• 3 on one-in-three Raksharajas (capital-only), 2 on one-in-three Kala-Mukhas off-capital
• 2 on Kala-Mukhas

Notably, Lanka lacks access to magic paths that provide Fire Resistance (and Cold Resistance).

No native access. 5 can Bind Heliophagus for 1 in 4 of 4.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 2 in 6 of at least 4.

3 Raksharaja (~1 in 3), will need to be empowered into 4.

No native access. 3 can Summon Spectre for 7 in 16 chance of 1.

25 can Contact Lamia Queen for 7 in 16 chance of at least 1.

14 can Faerie Court Not in Cold for 1 in 3 1. Faerie Court in Cold gets 3.

No native access. 14 can cast Faerie Court Not in Cold for 1 in 3 1 or in Cold for 1 in 2 1.

3 can Forest Troll Tribe for 1 in 4 of a 1.

5 can Awaken Treelord for 1 in 3 of a stationary 1.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 1 in 6 of at least 4. The other Demon Lords also provide useful paths.

No native access. 3 can Summon Spectre for 7 in 16 of at least 1.

8 can Bind Demon Lord for 1 in 6 of at least 4. The other Demon Lords also provide useful paths.

3 Rakshasi (1 in 16) is hard to get with so expensive a mage, so 2 Rakshasi (7 in 16) or 2 Raksharaja (1 in 3) might be the best available. Only the Blood path is potentially helpful.

EA Lanka can potentially create Abominable Arms, which are helpful for holding multiple Death boosters.

3 or 22 Rakshasi (1 in 16 for either) is hard to get with so expensive a mage. Otherwise, the Yogini is just as useful as a Rakshasi. With Blood boosters to get it to 3, the mage can create Armor of Twisting Thorns.

EA Lanka can potentially create Abominable Arms, which are helpful for holding multiple Nature boosters.

3 Rakshasi (1 in 16) is hard to get with so expensive a mage, so 2 Rakshasi (7 in 16) might be the best available. The crosspaths are not helpful. Multiple empowerments will be necessary.

3 Raksharaja (1 in 3) needs one more Death path to make the unique The Black Book of Secrets. Without it, a level of empowerment is necessary.

How to win as the nation. Feel free to use the following sections, or delete them, or change them.

Different expansion options.

Early game options.

Mid game options.

Late game options.

What are the nation's weaknesses?

Add links to guides or other overviews for this nation here.

Nations
Early Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Ulm • Pyrène, • Marverni • Sauromatia • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Mictlan • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Agartha • Tir na n'Og • Fomoria • Vanheim • Helheim • Niefelheim • Muspelheim • Rus • Kailasa • Lanka • Yomi • Hinnom • Ur • Berytos • Xibalba • Mekone • Ubar • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Therodos
Middle Ages	Arcoscephale • Ermor • Sceleria • Pythium • Man • Eriu • Ulm • Pyrène • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Machaka • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Asphodel • Vanheim • Jotunheim • Nidavangr • Vanarus • Bandar Log • Shinuyama • Ashdod • Uruk • Nazca • Xibalba • Phlegra • Phaeacia • Ind • Na'ba • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Pelagia • Oceania • Ys
Late Ages	Arcoscephale • Pythium • Lemuria • Man • Ulm • Marignon • Mictlan • T'ien Ch'i • Jomon • Agartha • Abysia • Caelum • C'tis • Pangaea • Midgård • Utgård • Bogarus • Patala • Gath • Ragha • Xibalba • Phlegra • Vaettiheim • Feminie • Piconye • Andramania • Pyrène • Zemaitia • Atlantis • R'lyeh • Erytheia