Bibliography: "Goblin City", The Giant Crab, and Other Tales from Old India by W. H. D. Rouse, Goblin City
A long, long time ago, on a large island off the southern tip of India, a city of powerful, female shape-shifters thrived for many years. The shape-shifters were born as goblins, and are called Rakshasis, but almost never choose to be in their goblin form as it is quite frightening. While their goblin form is their default form, it did not take a lot of effort to sustain other forms. In their day to day time, they usually pose as beautiful women and use their magic to transform themselves into any animal form for whatever they need to do. For example, they may become monkeys to climb a tree and pick fruit, or a mermaid to go and a catch fish. They loved their beautiful forms and trained themselves to focus and maintain their form even when unconscious.
The Rakshasis, however, have a limited amount of magic. The only way for their magic to be restored is for them to consume human flesh, which reveals their goblin form as this is the only way for them to absorb the power. To give themselves enough to power to last one year, the Rakshasis had an annual, random sacrifice in which one among them would transform into a human and be eaten by the rest. While they felt great sorrow and loss for the sacrificed person, they did not have a lot of control over themselves when feeding. Just as a vampire cannot stop themselves once they've tasted blood, feeding intoxicated the women into a frenzy. They deeply loathed this barbaric practice, and constantly sought new ways to recharge their power.
Then, one day, the Rakshasis heard a crash off the coastline. After transforming themselves into eagles, they quickly discovered a shipwreck with over one hundred injured soldiers. "Leave them," remarked one of the eagles. "We have lived in solitude for years and can take care of ourselves."
"We must help them," cried out another eagle. "They will surely die without us!"
They felt conflicted, as they suspected the men were un-pure and would try to court them, but finally used their magic to transform into mermaids and save the men.
That night, after the men were dry and in fresh clothes, they gathered around a fire and the Rakshasis generously fed the men fish. The Rakshasis were forced to tell the sailors of their powers, but did not reveal that their true from is a hideous goblin or the fact that they get power from human flesh. "We can change into anything," shared one of the shape-shifting women. "While being an eagle or a mermaid is fun, we choose to make our human forms the default."
As various statements were shared around the fire, the Rakshasis exchanged looks of concern to one another. While the men seemed harmless, the women understood the dangers of sharing their secrets about their goblin forms and need for human flesh. The men would surely organize an attack if they knew what the Rakshasis were capable of. Then, seeing as there were almost equally as many men as there were Rakshasis, each of them was given a sailor to house temporarily.
In the morning, the Rakshasis gathered at the coastline and shared stories of the sailors' ghastly home-etiquette. "That man was quite an awful guest," exclaimed one of the goblin-women. "He threw his clothes all over my house and left his stench in every corner." Others shared similar stories of the sailors' loud snoring and grotesque language. After discovering that a few of the men had even claimed they were going to force the Rakshasis to marry them, they decided to confront the men and tell them to leave the island.
As they approached the sailors, now gathered outside the residential area, they overheard a plot to take the shape-shifters by force and bring them back to India for marriage. The Rakshasis, now furious, then realized they could solve all of their problems at once. The men heard soft chanting approaching their group: "Man's mean, man's meat... that's what goblins like to eat!" So, they transformed into their goblin forms and tore the men to shreds, consuming an entire human each. Seeing as none of them had eaten that much before, they one by one realized their magic was now limitless and never had to sacrifice themselves ever again.
Author's note: I based this story off of "Goblin City," a story from our Indian Epics anthology. The translator of the original story is W. H. D. Rouse and the story is based on a Buddhist Jataka. The Rakshasis in the original story are antagonists, and are planning to marry the sailors with the ultimate intention of eating them gruesomely. Here, I have portrayed the Rakshasis as beautiful, innocent creatures that live a pure life. The men are shipwrecked, as they are in the original story, and make plans to taint the wonderful life of the powerful shape-shifters. While Rouse was likely making an attempt to adhere to the original story of the Rakshasis, I chose a more controversial angel that parallels to modern discussions and issues such as objectification of women. I hope you enjoy this witty twist on the original, "Goblin City," by W. H. D. Rouse.
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Photograph of a Rocky Coastline