From apile10@alsvid.scu.edu.auWed Aug 16 18:02:18 1995 Date: Tue, 15 Aug 1995 13:45:53 +1000 (EST) From: Aaron John Pile Reply to: The wfrp mailing list To: wfrp Subject: WFRP: Djinni _Djinni_ Arabic Magicians are the most arrogant and sadistic in the world. This is not without reason as the civilization in Araby is one of the oldest (human) in the world and has cultivated the most incredibly powerful wizards in human history. They studied magic for the power it could give them and proceeded to perform any ritual which could provide it. As confidence breeds contempt, over the centuries wizards delved into the arts without moral thought. Studying magic and probing deamonic powers just because they could. Those that did not have the ability did not survive and those that did steadily became more powerful. At the height of their power they controlled incredible power and held pacts with the most powerful sources. Such was their contempt that they had no qualms summoning and enforcing there will on many of the greater deamons. Those who obeyed were used and dismissed to hold their grudges in the void. Those that fought and won kept the number of powerful wizards willing to try similar feats to a minimum. Some wizards died in terrible pain, some were transformed and taken back to the realms of chaos to suffer and serve their new masters. Those who fought and were overcome were imprisoned in nearby handy objects. - 'The titanic struggle was almost at an end. A being of blinding brilliance was facing an old wizard. They were both drained as a result of the battle of wills that was almost complete. The being had quickly escaped the pentagram and tried to overcome his summoner. The battle had raged long and hard, the laboratory was in ruins. The old man collapsed barely conscious as the being staggered over towards him. He knew he could not force this one to do what he had wanted. It was lucky that he had prepared for this. As the darkness began fogging his mind he uttered the word triggering his earlier prepared spell. The last thing he saw as he lost consciousness was the being yelling in distress as it was sucked into the crystal atop the magicians staff, there to fulfill three wishes to any man who held it until his release. Perhaps the claw that held the crystal on held the Djinni just as well.' It was soon common practice for the most powerful wizards to keep common objects such as lamps and bottles nearby for just this purpose. Mighty magics were then cast on these objects to punish those imprisoned inside for their insolent opposition. Some are tied to their prison for eternity, others until they complete an assigned task or are willingly released by their current master. These Unfortunate beings became known as Djinni or Effretti (Also as Genies to those outside of Araby). -Djinni Tasks_ Punishments varied according to the power and personality of the entrapped and the capabilities of the trapped, and were most often in the form of satisfying their masters desires. Djinni could be forced to carry out the desires of others, but due to the composition of the binding spells any one person could only force a trapped Djinni to do his bidding three times (unless the task was included in the binding spell), after which the Djinnis will was strong enough to overcome further demands. Djinni, being devious individuals, often stated to new masters that they were granted 3 wishes. This way it appeared that they fulfilled the wishes of there own free will, when in fact they were compelled to do so. Examples of tasks: Three Wishes Perpetual - Djinni are forced to grant three wishes to any master possessing the item he is bound to. After completing their third task the djinni object will activate the next portion of the binding spell. The object may do nothing, in which case the master is left with a useless object which would eventually cast aside. The next owner may by mistake rub the object and be granted his wishes. The object may be returned to a designated resting place (Such as the laboratory it was made or a tomb or necropolis). The only hope of release a djinni had was to lead his master to wish for their freedom. Three Wishes Once - The Djinni are forced to grant three wishes and upon completion of their task are released and banished once again to the void. Task perpetual - Every time the Djinni is summoned he must complete a set task (Built into the binding spell) and then return to his object. These tasks were most often the petty whims of their masters but some are dangerous to others. It was also a common practice for moderately powerful magicians to bind a djinni to protect their tomb. Robbers would enter the site to steal magical items and find a Djinni bottle. Hoping to achieve three wishes they would rub the object only to be agonizingly killed by its inhabitant. (Djinni return to their object rather than the void if killed during such a task). The only hope such a Djinni has of release is a magician (of the power of his binder) prepared to remove the binding spells and release him. - 'The dust subsided and the adventurers studied their handiwork. The rooms entrance was sealed and they were safe from the terrors that followed. Quickly they examined the artifacts before them that the wizard had commanded them to bring. A Staff with a crystal held in a claw, a sword with a mighty rune and a large beautifully crafted bottle. With all their hopes of escape placed on the bottle they carefully removed its cloth covering and gently rubbed it. A wisp of smoke escaped and a voice sounded from nowhere 'Your will shall be done'. Almost instantly a pair of red bedslippers appeared at the wizards feet. Stunned beyond belief, the group could do nothing but stare at the rubble blocking the doorway and the noise of many feet coming from beyond.' _Djinni Attitudes Djinni attitudes are as diverse as the tasks they perform. It depends on the time they have been imprisoned and their attitude before imprisonment. They are all strong willed, for else they would have served the magicians instead of futilely resisting. It is important to remember that the magicians called upon both the forces of chaos and law and powers great and small to achieve their tasks. Some Djinni are consumed with the need for revenge. They do all they can too twist the wishes of their masters to do them harm. Others are grateful to be free of their bottles and will willingly grant more than three wishes. Some will bargain for their freedom and others will agree to anything to escape their prisons. - 'I wish to have an apple with a golden appearance. A beautiful yellow apple appeared in his hands and he took a large bite. The apple was rotten to the core. He now knew the Djinni's attitude and cast the enchanted object into the sea. He knew that one day it might was ashore, but it would not be for a long, long time.' _Djinni Objects_ The objects that have Djinni bound into them are usually common place objects such as oil lamps, bottles or rings. It is not, however, unknown for them to be bound into mirrors or crystal balls. Even though the objects themselves are ordinary, the binding process and the power of their occupants renders them indestructible. Those who can recognize items of power will know it immediately (if they have knowledge of such) as a Djinni object. The objects cannot be destroyed even by arcane means unless the Djinni is first released. Even an item with a greater rune of smashing will not scratch it. All items will however have one weakness and it has been the object of more than one quest to find how to destroy it. These weakness may be difficult to achieve because of their danger or just their obscurity. For example A particular mirror may be destroyed by reflecting the image of a medusa, another by coating it in bees wax. _Djinni Bargains_ Many Djinni weary of their current existence will try to convince their masters to give them a better life. They may view it as better to undergo the gruesome spells and be bound to empower a magic carpet than spend the rest of their existence being reduced to fetching their masters bedslippers. Besides the carpet may one day be burned and they would have their freedom. - 'Djinni, you are willing to empower a magic carpet? Why not, I can easily fetch my slippers but with a magic carpet I could follow the witches on their brooms! I'll begin the rituals immediately.' Comments? >"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness..." >davisri1@pilot.msu.edu "No one knows my plan!" P.S Loved the Magic Carpet Article. -- .' '. Internet: apile10@scu.edu.au Southern Cross University Lismore NSW Australia