Playing with some ideas for rakastas in 5e. Here is what I have so far...
Most of the "fluff" has just been copied/pasted from other sources, so it most likely needs rewriting.
Rakasta, 5E
by atzanteotl/katana_oneRakastas are a race of feline humanoids. Their culture is generally split between settled town dwellers and nomads who carry on rakastan ancient traditions. Rakastan culture is unique, somewhat mystical, and concerned primarily with battle and honor.
Agile and Fierce
A rakasta looks like a furry human with the head of a cat. Its short fur is usually soft and ranges in color from light tan to dark brown. Many rakastas have a darker hue on the ears and muzzle. Some specimens have white highlights at the ears and muzzle instead or even white or dark patches at the extremities (feet, hands, and tail). Older rakastas show a whitening around the face and ears. The creatures have cat eyes, with vertical pupils. The irises are usually green, but some are yellow or even blue or hazel; a few rare individuals have two colors, most commonly one blue and one green eye.
Rakastan hands and feet are like those of humans, except for the fur and retractable claws. Rakastas also have non-prehensile four feet long tails, most are covered with short fur. Rakastas are very proud of their tails and spend a great deal of time each day grooming them.
Proud and Curious
Rakastas are a proud and emotional race. They are renowned for their quickness to anger if they feel that they have been wronged or insulted and for their great tenacity and bravery in battle. They also place a great value in honour and reputation. Rakastas seek to prove their own valour and skill in combat. They are extremely interested in the world at large and this translates into a wanderlust that demands they explore and experience all things for themselves.
They have a feudal style of government mixed with their ancient ways, warrior traditions, and mystical predilection. Their architecture is elegant and ornate with light buildings, mostly made of wood. Their smiths are famous for the intricate and detailed tools, weapons, and armours they make. They are not miners so they rely heavily on ore trade between themselves and other nations in order to maintain a quality of life they demand.
Rakasta Names
Rakastas use two names, a personal name and a clan name.
Male Rakasta Names: Hirameki, Jiro, Kamaggi, Kaminari, Kenju, Myojo
Female Rakasta Names: Kitahara, Lyn, Tamokka
Rakasta Clan Names: Fuurifesu, Katamura, Katayama, Tomokato
Rakasta Traits
Your rakasta character has certain characteristics in common with all other rakasta.
Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Constitution score increases by 1.
Age. Rakastas age and mature at roughly the same rate as humans.
Alignment. Most rakastas are usually neutral, but good and evil individuals are more common than the rare lawful or chaotic rakasta, evil specimens being fully as common as good ones.
Size. Rakastas range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and average 130 lbs. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Keen Senses. You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Rakasta Weapon Training. You have proficiency with war claws (kasas).
Sense the Unseen. You always know which square an invisible creature is in provided it is within 5 feet of you. You still have disadvantage on attack rolls against invisible foes, and invisible foes still have advantage on attack rolls against you.
Stealthy. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Rakastan. The Rakastan language, which uses a writing system of around 3,000 ideograms, tends to be spoken in a purring voice with many rolled "R"s and hissed "S"s.
It's based primarily off Red Steel but it's an amalgamation of different sources.
I never liked the idea of different subraces for Rakasta (or Lupins). However, it would be easy enough to adapt this and add subrace stats for those who want to use them. I would probably start by taking away the +1 to Con and the Weapon Training and making that the core race and working from there.