It is actually really cool as I was reading the monster manual and It was cool, because I was reading after I watched the realistic Aladdin. (Warning; this has spoilers for the realistic Aladdin. move on if you have already watched the movie, or you just don't care about spoilers)
I did some research in the monster manual and I actually came across this:
Proud, sensuous genies from the Elemental Plane of Air, the djinn are attractive, tall, well-muscled humanoids with blue skin and dark eyes. They dress in airy, shimmering silks, designed as much for comfort as to flaunt their musculature. Airy Aesthetes. Djinn rule floating islands of clouds tuff covered with enormous pavilions, or topped with wondrous buildings, courtyards, fountains, and gardens. Creatures of comfort and ease, djinn enjoy succulent fruits, pungent wines, fine perfumes, and beautiful music. Djinn are known for their sense of mischief and their favorable attitude toward mortals. Among genies, djinn deal coolly with efreet and marids, whom they view as · haughty. They openly despise dao and strike against them with little provocation. Masters of the Wind. Masters of the air, the djinn ride powerful whirlwinds that they create and direct on a whim, and which can even carry passengers. Creatures that stand against a djinni are assaulted by wind and thunder, even as the djinni spins away on that wind if outmatched in combat. When a djinni flies, its lower body transforms into a column of swirling air. Accepting Servitors. The djinn believe that servitude is a matter of fate, and that no being can contest the hand of fate. As a result, of all the g(genies, djinn are the ones most amenable to servitude, though they never enjoy it. Djinn treat their slaves more like servants deserving of kindness and protection, and they part with them reluctantly. A mortal who desires the brief service of a djinni can entreat it with fine gifts, or use flattery to bribe it into Gompliance. Powerful wizards are able to forgo such niceties, however, if they can summon, bind into service, or imprison a djinni using magic. Long-term service displeases a djinni, and imprisonment is inexcusable. Djin resent the cruel wizards that have imprisoned their" kind in bottles, iron flasks, and wind instruments throughout the ages. Betrayal, particularly by a mortal whom a djinni trusted, is a vile deed that only deadly vengeance can amend. (I apologize for typos, I pasted this off of My internet version)
Hm. this sounds like the genii in Aladdin. Blue skin. Check. Cool and Collected. Check. When They fly, they have the lower half of a swirling winds. check.
Then later in the movie when Jafar wishes to become all-powerfull, and the genie turns him into a genie. huh. But wait! Jafar Looks different! thats because he became a different Genie!
This is what I found in the monster Manual:
Hulking genies of the Elemental Plane of Fire, the efreet are masters of flame, immune to fire and able to create it on a whim. Fine silk caftans and damask robes drape their magma-red or coal-black skin, and they bedeck themselves in brass and gold torcs, chains, and rings, all glittering with jewels. When an efreeti flies, its lower body transforms into a column of smoke and embers. Haughty and Cruel. The efreet are deceptive, cunning, and cruel to the point of ruthlessness. They despise being forced into servitude and are relentless in pursuit of vengeance against creatures that have wronged them. Efreet don't see themselves in this light, naturally, and regard their race as fair and orderly, even as they admit to an enlightened sense of self-interest. Spiteful Slavers. Efreet view all other creatures as enemies or potential serfs. They raid the Material Plane and the elemental planes for slaves, which they capture and bring back to their homes on the Elemental Plane of Fire. The efreet rule as oppressive tyrants, promoting only the cruelest among their slaves. Those overseers are given whips to help keep the rank-and-file slaves in line. Planar Raiders. Most efreet reside on the Elemental Plane of Fire, either in great domed fortresses of black glass and basalt surrounded by churning lakes of fire, or in the fabled City of Brass. Additionally, efreet military outposts thronging with their minions and slaves can be found scattered throughout the planes. On the Material Plane, efreet dwell in fiery regions such as volcanoes and the burning expanses of the world's deserts." their love of the dessert brings them into conflict with the djinn that ride the desert whirlwinds, and with the earthbound dao. Efreet utterly despise marids, with whom they have maintained a passionate conflict throughout the history of both races. (I apologize for typos I pasted this off of my internet version)
Hm. Haughty and Cruel. Check. Deceptive, cunning, and cruel. Check. magma red skin. Check. lower half of body is a mix of Smoke and embers. check!
Well, that is all my thoughts, and I just thought it was cool how Disney Worked out the different types of genies. If you disagree, or want to talk more on this subject, post bellow! Thats what a forum is about after all!
It is no secret that D&D draws inspiration from multiple sources. Disney is no different for that matter as Aladdin is based on one of the stories from Arabian Nights. And the djinn and efreeti are referenced in a few legends.
Even the Genies are a collection of legends and religious interpretations, re-interpreted over the ages with various biases and such.
Go back far enough and Genies (or Djinn or, originally, Jinn) are any invisible spirit-like entities, neither good or evil. Over time, different cultures mixing with other cultures changed them into their various forms akin to angels or to demons or to wispy blue wish-granting friends or to little magical housewives in oversized perfume bottles (late 1960s television).
While D&D equates an Efreeti to be a fiery kind of Djinn (or inversely, a Djinni being an airy kind of Efreet), Ifrit was used as a description of any powerful evil beings and has no equivalency to Jinn.
As mentioned, Disney's basis for the tale of Aladdin is from One Thousand and One Nights (aka Arabian Nights despite the stories in the long-collected work having far-ranging geographic origins, not just the Arabic region). The stories from 1001 Nights regarding Jinn are linked to tales originating after the concept of Jinn was already influenced by religions coming from outside the region as well as Aladdin's story having no historic evidence of being Arabic folklore - added to the Nights when translated into French. Funny enough, Aladdin's story often took place in China in its earlier tellings and translations.
D&D's influences on Djinn pulls from more sources, including stories about elemental spirits - something not part of the Jinn Folklore, Quran, or Nights.
I would not say Disney's and D&D's Jinn can be claimed to have enough comparable influences upon each other. They chose different paths for their creations.
EDIT: Disney's version simplifies the two Djinn into the "good" Djinni and the "Jafar" Djinni. In the oldest tellings, there was the weaker "Ring" Djinni and the stronger "Lamp" Djinni - neither good nor evil, just bound to the will of the item's bearer. Instead of a Jafar Djinni, the bad sorcerer dude (Mustapha) gains possession of the Lamp but never becomes a Djinni himself. Disney's version is itself based on a variant where there was one Djinni only and the Djinni was angry from being imprisoned and had to be tricked into serving Aladdin (just like Disney's "The Genie" was tricked into letting Aladdin out of the cave sans wish). The tricks in each are similar in that Aladdin shows doubt in the Djinni's power, re-trapping the Djinni in the earlier version and replacing the Ring Djinni's wish in Disney's.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider. My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong. I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲 “It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
It is actually really cool as I was reading the monster manual and It was cool, because I was reading after I watched the realistic Aladdin. (Warning; this has spoilers for the realistic Aladdin. move on if you have already watched the movie, or you just don't care about spoilers)
I did some research in the monster manual and I actually came across this:
Proud, sensuous genies from the Elemental Plane of Air, the djinn are attractive, tall, well-muscled humanoids with blue skin and dark eyes. They dress in airy, shimmering silks, designed as much for comfort as to flaunt their musculature. Airy Aesthetes. Djinn rule floating islands of clouds tuff covered with enormous pavilions, or topped with wondrous buildings, courtyards, fountains, and gardens. Creatures of comfort and ease, djinn enjoy succulent fruits, pungent wines, fine perfumes, and beautiful music. Djinn are known for their sense of mischief and their favorable attitude toward mortals. Among genies, djinn deal coolly with efreet and marids, whom they view as · haughty. They openly despise dao and strike against them with little provocation. Masters of the Wind. Masters of the air, the djinn ride powerful whirlwinds that they create and direct on a whim, and which can even carry passengers. Creatures that stand against a djinni are assaulted by wind and thunder, even as the djinni spins away on that wind if outmatched in combat. When a djinni flies, its lower body transforms into a column of swirling air. Accepting Servitors. The djinn believe that servitude is a matter of fate, and that no being can contest the hand of fate. As a result, of all the g(genies, djinn are the ones most amenable to servitude, though they never enjoy it. Djinn treat their slaves more like servants deserving of kindness and protection, and they part with them reluctantly. A mortal who desires the brief service of a djinni can entreat it with fine gifts, or use flattery to bribe it into Gompliance. Powerful wizards are able to forgo such niceties, however, if they can summon, bind into service, or imprison a djinni using magic. Long-term service displeases a djinni, and imprisonment is inexcusable. Djin resent the cruel wizards that have imprisoned their" kind in bottles, iron flasks, and wind instruments throughout the ages. Betrayal, particularly by a mortal whom a djinni trusted, is a vile deed that only deadly vengeance can amend. (I apologize for typos, I pasted this off of My internet version)
Hm. this sounds like the genii in Aladdin. Blue skin. Check. Cool and Collected. Check. When They fly, they have the lower half of a swirling winds. check.
Genie pic #1
Then later in the movie when Jafar wishes to become all-powerfull, and the genie turns him into a genie. huh. But wait! Jafar Looks different! thats because he became a different Genie!
This is what I found in the monster Manual:
Hulking genies of the Elemental Plane of Fire, the efreet are masters of flame, immune to fire and able to create it on a whim. Fine silk caftans and damask robes drape their magma-red or coal-black skin, and they bedeck themselves in brass and gold torcs, chains, and rings, all glittering with jewels. When an efreeti flies, its lower body transforms into a column of smoke and embers. Haughty and Cruel. The efreet are deceptive, cunning, and cruel to the point of ruthlessness. They despise being forced into servitude and are relentless in pursuit of vengeance against creatures that have wronged them. Efreet don't see themselves in this light, naturally, and regard their race as fair and orderly, even as they admit to an enlightened sense of self-interest. Spiteful Slavers. Efreet view all other creatures as enemies or potential serfs. They raid the Material Plane and the elemental planes for slaves, which they capture and bring back to their homes on the Elemental Plane of Fire. The efreet rule as oppressive tyrants, promoting only the cruelest among their slaves. Those overseers are given whips to help keep the rank-and-file slaves in line. Planar Raiders. Most efreet reside on the Elemental Plane of Fire, either in great domed fortresses of black glass and basalt surrounded by churning lakes of fire, or in the fabled City of Brass. Additionally, efreet military outposts thronging with their minions and slaves can be found scattered throughout the planes. On the Material Plane, efreet dwell in fiery regions such as volcanoes and the burning expanses of the world's deserts." their love of the dessert brings them into conflict with the djinn that ride the desert whirlwinds, and with the earthbound dao. Efreet utterly despise marids, with whom they have maintained a passionate conflict throughout the history of both races. (I apologize for typos I pasted this off of my internet version)
Hm. Haughty and Cruel. Check. Deceptive, cunning, and cruel. Check. magma red skin. Check. lower half of body is a mix of Smoke and embers. check!
Well, that is all my thoughts, and I just thought it was cool how Disney Worked out the different types of genies. If you disagree, or want to talk more on this subject, post bellow! Thats what a forum is about after all!
It is no secret that D&D draws inspiration from multiple sources. Disney is no different for that matter as Aladdin is based on one of the stories from Arabian Nights. And the djinn and efreeti are referenced in a few legends.
Even the Genies are a collection of legends and religious interpretations, re-interpreted over the ages with various biases and such.
Go back far enough and Genies (or Djinn or, originally, Jinn) are any invisible spirit-like entities, neither good or evil. Over time, different cultures mixing with other cultures changed them into their various forms akin to angels or to demons or to wispy blue wish-granting friends or to little magical housewives in oversized perfume bottles (late 1960s television).
While D&D equates an Efreeti to be a fiery kind of Djinn (or inversely, a Djinni being an airy kind of Efreet), Ifrit was used as a description of any powerful evil beings and has no equivalency to Jinn.
As mentioned, Disney's basis for the tale of Aladdin is from One Thousand and One Nights (aka Arabian Nights despite the stories in the long-collected work having far-ranging geographic origins, not just the Arabic region). The stories from 1001 Nights regarding Jinn are linked to tales originating after the concept of Jinn was already influenced by religions coming from outside the region as well as Aladdin's story having no historic evidence of being Arabic folklore - added to the Nights when translated into French. Funny enough, Aladdin's story often took place in China in its earlier tellings and translations.
D&D's influences on Djinn pulls from more sources, including stories about elemental spirits - something not part of the Jinn Folklore, Quran, or Nights.
I would not say Disney's and D&D's Jinn can be claimed to have enough comparable influences upon each other. They chose different paths for their creations.
EDIT: Disney's version simplifies the two Djinn into the "good" Djinni and the "Jafar" Djinni. In the oldest tellings, there was the weaker "Ring" Djinni and the stronger "Lamp" Djinni - neither good nor evil, just bound to the will of the item's bearer. Instead of a Jafar Djinni, the bad sorcerer dude (Mustapha) gains possession of the Lamp but never becomes a Djinni himself. Disney's version is itself based on a variant where there was one Djinni only and the Djinni was angry from being imprisoned and had to be tricked into serving Aladdin (just like Disney's "The Genie" was tricked into letting Aladdin out of the cave sans wish). The tricks in each are similar in that Aladdin shows doubt in the Djinni's power, re-trapping the Djinni in the earlier version and replacing the Ring Djinni's wish in Disney's.
Human. Male. Possibly. Don't be a divider.
My characters' backgrounds are written like instruction manuals rather than stories. My opinion and preferences don't mean you're wrong.
I am 99.7603% convinced that the digital dice are messing with me. I roll high when nobody's looking and low when anyone else can see.🎲
“It's a bit early to be thinking about an epitaph. No?” will be my epitaph.
Funny, that's exactly what I thought when I saw the movie! I was like, "oh, he's an Efreeti." :-)
Also, good for the O.G. genie winning that poll!
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
I was happy that The O.G Genie won, but you have to give credit to realistic genie jafar. (He looks so cool)
you want to check out the 2nd Edition book "Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures" which, incidentally, was published in 1992
the ebook is available on Drive Thru RPG