So…there are four elements: earth, air, fire, water. Corresponding to these are four different types of genie: Dao, Djinni, Efreeti, and Marid. All four have similar cultures, abilities, and themes, but vary significantly in temperament and in some cases anatomy/appearance. We see a similar thing with giants.
On the topic of giants, we have an origin story for the different types of giants in the form of a common ancestor. We do not have a stat block for this ancestor (as far as I know), but we know a little in regards to this history:
When the giants’ ancient empires fell, Annam, father of all giants, forsook his children and the world. He swore never to look upon either again until the giants had returned to their glory and reclaimed their birthright as rulers of the world. As a result, giants pray not to Annam but to his divine children, along with a host of hero-deities and godly villains that make up the giants’ pantheon.
Chief among these gods are the children of Annam, whose sons represent each type of giant: Stronmaus for storm giants, Memnor for cloud giants, Skoraeus Stonebones for stone giants, Thrym for frost giants, Surtur for fire giants, and Grolantor for hill giants. Not all giants automatically revere their kind’s primary deity, however. Many good cloud giants refuse to worship the deceitful Memnor, and a storm giant dwelling in the icy mountains of the north might pay more homage to Thrym than Stronmaus. Other giants feel a stronger connection to Annam’s daughters, who include Hiatea, the huntress and home warden; Iallanis, goddess of love and peace; and Diancastra, an impetuous and arrogant trickster.
-Monster Manual
And yet, we have nothing like this for the genies. There doesn’t seem to be any legends of a common ancestor, a bridge between the elements, a primal genie.
Per the MM entry, genies arise when a mortal soul melds with the raw energy of an elemental plane. They have no ancestors, they just come into being. Which is fairly typical for non-mortal beings; giants are born, age, and will eventually die of advanced age. Technically even dragons can die of advanced age, though it takes a long time in their case.
So…there are four elements: earth, air, fire, water. Corresponding to these are four different types of genie: Dao, Djinni, Efreeti, and Marid. All four have similar cultures, abilities, and themes, but vary significantly in temperament and in some cases anatomy/appearance. We see a similar thing with giants.
On the topic of giants, we have an origin story for the different types of giants in the form of a common ancestor. We do not have a stat block for this ancestor (as far as I know), but we know a little in regards to this history:
And yet, we have nothing like this for the genies. There doesn’t seem to be any legends of a common ancestor, a bridge between the elements, a primal genie.
Thoughts? Concerns? Criticisms? Notes? Ideas?
Per the MM entry, genies arise when a mortal soul melds with the raw energy of an elemental plane. They have no ancestors, they just come into being. Which is fairly typical for non-mortal beings; giants are born, age, and will eventually die of advanced age. Technically even dragons can die of advanced age, though it takes a long time in their case.
Mmm, got it