Name a cool way to permanently kill a rakshasa

[Vicar In A Tutu]

So, the players in my campaign recently captured a rakshasa. (Note that even though we play 4E, this thread can be useful to DMs in any edition of D&D.) In 4E, there is no such thing as a blessed crossbowbolt auto-slaying a rakshasa. In fact, the monster vault says nothing of how to permanently kill one of them. My players want to do that.

Any cool suggestions for how to kill a rakshasa (stopping it from just reincarnating again)?

 

[shadzar]

The bolt only does it instantly not permanently. New ones will be reproduced later to replace the ones dead in any event.

That being the case reduce its HP to zero, and not be around when they are replaced with new ones?

Why not create a ritual for blessing equipment and ammo, just to give it the "blessed" special keyword that only means it is a minor one time use holy item?

 

[Scott DeWar]

do you have holy water?

 

[Vicar In A Tutu]

The bolt only does it instantly not permanently. New ones will be reproduced later to replace the ones dead in any event.

That being the case reduce its HP to zero, and not be around when they are replaced with new ones?

Why not create a ritual for blessing equipment and ammo, just to give it the "blessed" special keyword that only means it is a minor one time use holy item?

The blessed crossbow bolt-thing is kinda boring. I'm thinking more of "The poorest man in the land must give the rakshasa a kiss on the forehead, and if the rakshasa is killed by sinking a blessed dagger into its forehead no more than a day after, the fiend is permanently destroyed"

 

[Mark Hope]

Eat the rakshasa.

 

[DrunkonDuty]

Since you need to release it from Samsara (the cycle of birth-death-rebirth) you must help it achieve Nirvana. Which in gaming terms can be translated as a shot gun blast to the head.

 

[Nymrohd]

You don't kill creatures with guaranteed reincarnation. You imprison them, bind them or trap their souls.

 

[Kingreaper]

Being eaten by the Tarrasque.

It's got a long history of permanently destroying nigh indestructable things.

 

[FireLance]

Let them try to redeem it back to the side of Good (possibly by running a skill challenge). If they succeed, not only will it no longer be a threat, it will also reincarnate as a deva.

EDIT: Just noticed that you are the DM.

 

[Tuft]

Redemption sounds like a very interesting option with lots of challenges and RP opportunities. It is after all a major part of both many religions and many stories.

A similar de-monstrification would be something like "Buffy"'s Angel: Curse it with a soul/conscience.