"Enigmatic Entities that are Half-Spirit and Half-Earthly" (quoted from the Everlasting, Book of the Spirits, page 211, © 1997-98 by Steven C. Brown)
The following quote is being re-printed from pages 212 and 213 of The Everlasting, Book of the Spirits, and describes what these amazing beings with strange inhuman abilities:
There exists a race of creatures that are half-earthly and half-spirit in nature; for they are composed of the Smokeless Fire, which is not unlike the "subtle matter" of angels. Mortals rarely see these entities, and those mortals who do see them usually wish they had not, for they are a race possessing great power and the capacity for great violence. They are the Preadamites, roaming the earth before humanity, and they once were the masters of a vast empire called Ubar. It is said that their ancestors came from the stars and were the slaves and offspring of Elder Lords. They are called the neutral angels: the hoary reverie dwellers known best as the Djinn. They are well known in The Arabian Nights, but there is far more to the djinn than just being spirits bound into Aladdin's lamps.
In antediluvian times, even before the adapans built the dragon cities, the djinn ruled their own half-earthly and half-astral kingdom called both Ubar and the Empire of Kaf. It was a land located totally in the reverie, surrounded by a mountain ring, called the Emerald Mountains, which kept them isolated from all manner of threats for a very long time. Their great empire was built using captured spirits and earthly creatures as slave labor, just as the earliest djinn had served as slave labor in building the extra-dimensional dwellings of the Elder Lords. Despite their isolation, the djinn were eventually forced into a conflict with the adapans and merodachs that became known as the War of the Ruby Sword. From that point on, many djinn forsook their self-imposed isolation and became active travelers, traders, and adventurers in the world.
When the first of the Destiny Wars began, many djinn tried to remain neutral, but some joined with the dark legions in hopes of extending the influence of their empire, as well as their own personal power. Later on, during the second of the Destiny Wars, the djinn split into factions- some serving light, few preferring neutrality, and a great many serving darkness.
The djinn get their power from a source called the Smokeless Fire, or Thal. This energy is said to erupt from the astral Void and may come from the Elder Lords or Old Ones themselves. In addition, the djinn know their own form of magick called Sihr Halal. This magick involves a special form of geometry, called Secret Geometry, which differs from Gematria (Sacred Geometry). Language, however, is one of their strongest sources of magickal power. The djinn have their own secret language called the Ashen Tongue, understood only by the dragons and angels, yet unspeakable by either. This "forbidden language" consists of an alphabet of letters that hold great power. Some magicians have suggested that the ashen tongue may be connected to the sephirot of the Kabbalah, but the two systems do not seem to be linked in any known way. In addition, djinn possess raw strength, the ability to change forms, and the ability to fade in and out of the earthly realm.
Djinn are creatures of intense emotions, far more so than mere humans. They are best known for their pride, hedonism, courage, vengefulness, and cunning. They consider themselves far superior to the talking monkeys, and some djinn even keep humans as slaves, considering it fair since some of them were once enslaved themselves by King Solomon or Suleyman. King Solomon supposedly bound 72 djinn to his own magick ring of copper and iron through the use of secret geometry. However, Solomon was not the first to bind djinn into their service; the worldsingers had learned the secret of doing so long before. In fact, many of those djinn that served the forces of light and darkness during the Great Wars had been bound against their will into service by powerful mages. Today there are still slaves of the lamps and slaves of the rings, as djinn call the enslaved members of their own race.
Djinn are credited as "neutral angels" and are said to have brought the Holy Grail to earth from heaven. It has been suggested that there is some sort of connection between the djinn and angels physiologically. It is believed that the djinn's progenitors- and even the first djinn- were once six-dimensional creatures, and that they had knowledge of the higher realms of the angels.
Djinn have also been linked to the Elder Lords mentioned in the Al Azif, (better known as the Necronomicon) supposedly written by Abdul Alhazred the "Mad Arab" in 730 A.D. In fact, the djinn are believed to be the watchers who are mentioned in the Necronomicon.
It is said that they were summoned to watch over sorcerers and to provide them with things they needed in their magick-work. In hushed tones, the other eldritch way that some among the djinn are actively looking for the Keys to the Void, which will unleash the Old Ones onto earth. It is unknown as to what these "keys" may be; they might be actual artifacts, but they might also be formulae, individuals, places, or anything else.
The djinn are not simply creatures of Arabian folklore, they are mentioned as the spirit tribe in the folklore of several Native American tribes. They are also known as demons in Europe superstition. The djinn were considered gods in pre-Islamic Arabia. Many Muslims believe in the djinn, for the djinn are included in the Koran, and belief in them is considered "orthodox". It is said that Muhammad first though that his visions might have been the work of evil djinn, and that later on the assigned the verdant upper lands to the good and faithful djinn and the desolate lower wastelands to the evil and disbelieving djinn. There are even details in custom and law concerning relations between humans and djinn, such as in marriage and inheritances. The real reason the djinn are best known in the myths and folklore of North Africa, Egypt, Syria, Persia, and Turkey is because the Empire of Kaf was once located in that geographical region.
The empire of the djinn was vast and powerful. During the time of their civilization, the djinn bred with mortal creatures and produced the dhabi, a large group of earthly, astral, dream, and half-earthly monsters. Some have even linked the legend of Melili, "queen of the night monsters", to the djinn's perverse breeding practices.
The djinn consist of two factions- the malaika (or solarians) and the shaitan (or lunarians). Today the lunarians work both with and against demons in whatever capacity best increases their own power and influence, while the solarians continuously work against the demons for fear that the demons will take over Irem- the djinn's city- if they succeed in taking over the Earth. These two factions are also divided in terms of their support of the forces of light and darkness; as many lunarians have joined the Army of Doom in the Doomlands of Zurgoth. Two are even lunarian Doomlords. In addition, there are several tribes of djinn, including the hatif, marids, and efrits. These tribes are like clans or families, and some of them have members among both factions.
Due to the nature of Djinn mentality and their thought process, they are not recommended as characters, however if someone wants to play the part of a Djinn and can show that they have a firm understanding of their culture and a really good character concept that will work within the story, it might be allowable. They are an exceedingly arrogant race of beings who's emotional range far exceeds that of humans. They can be unbearable to be around due to their incredible ego and emotions. Nor are they a race to be trifled with due to their incredible powers and unpredictable reactions to situations.
The Djinn suffer from a torment, just as all other eldritch do. Their torment is called Hubris. Due to their overly emotional minds and extreme pride, they slowly slide into a state of obsessive and megalomaniac behaviors. The further towards this state that they slide, the less human-like they become, developing such strange physical features as horns, brazen hooves, clawed hands, metallic sounding voices, and strange changes in coloration.
Djinn tend to have several forms that they can take on, including a human form (used on earth as well as the in the Astra and the reverie), an elemental form, and an animal form. There are about 40 or so different tribes of djinn that exist, with the nine most powerful briefly described below.
Ajam- are the third most powerful tribe of djinn and comprise 90% of lunarians and only 10% of solarians. Their earthly/astral/ and reverie form is that of caucasian skin; with deep purple, deep green, or purple eyes and nails; as well as hair that is typically black, steel, or blue-grey in color. They are able to take on animal forms of a jackal or black camel. Their elemental form is that of a cloud of smoke. They tend to be treacherous, deceptive, hedonistic, power-hungry, greedy, and manipulative. They also detest the Maris tribe and are very politically minded. Their tribal colors are purple and silver and as such can often be seen wearing these colors.
Dalhan- are the sixth most powerful tribe of the djinn with about 80% of their members siding with the lunarians and the remainder with the solarian beliefs. Their elemental form is that of a ball of lightning, while their animal forms include rats and a gigantic and grotesque worm (often 25 feet or more in length). When in their normal form (humanoid) their hair color ranges from bone white, through grey, metallic blue, blood red, dark pupel, to black. With their eyes and nails tending to be similar colors. They are all thin of build with either jet black or chalky white skin. They often associate with ghuls and even partake of the eating of human flesh. They are a very morbid and vicious group with a strong love of causing death and dead things in general. They are very cunning, mysterious, and hedonistic. They often wear their tribal colors which are black and bronze.
Efrit- are the most powerful of all the djinn tribes and all are completely of the lunarian mind-set. They can take on the forms of an ashen tornado (elemental form) as well as several animal forms: giant serpent, large dog with a black coat, or a swarm of scorpions. Their human form typically has swarthy skin; with hair ranging in color from bronze, through red, and into black; with nails and eyes of black, gold, bronze, or brass colors. There are a small portion of the Efrit that have albino skin with red eyes. They are the leaders of the Lunar side of Irem Zhat al Imad. They are evil and cruel, as well as cunning and prideful. They rule over their side of the City with totalitarian cruelty and an iron fist. They detest humans and are deeply involved in Zurgoth's plans for a new Destiny War. They work with the Demons and occasionally the Abominations in their attempts to take control of the earthly realms.
Hatif- ranked fourth in power within Djinn society with roughly 90% of their numbers being Solarians and 10% being Lunarians. Their elemental form is that of a pillar of black flame, while their animal form is a black bull. When in the earthly realms as well as in the reverie and Astra they tend to have hair that is black, blackish-blue, bronze or gold colored hair; with very dark or even black skin; and red, gold, bronze, or purple irises and nails. They tend to be serious, prideful, vengeful, unforgiving, and warlike. They also tend to be very spartan in their outlooks and lifestyles. They generally dislike Djinn of the Ajam tribe and hate those of the Efrit tribe. As a tribe they are very stoic, honorable, spartan, and far less hedonistic than other Djinn tribes; and as such they are primarily bodyguards, marital artists, duelists, warriors, and mercenaries. They are very adept at placing their emotions in iron cages, moreso that most other Djinn. Most hatif actively support humans as a race, respecting their strength and spirit.
Jann- are the fifth most powerful of the Djinn tribes, with 75% being of Solarian and 25% being Lunarian bent. Their form when on earth and in the reverie and Astra they tend to have ice blue, golden, brown, brass, or deep red eyes and nails; as well as metallic, blond, or deep crimson hair. Their complexion ranges from swarthy to caucasian. Otherwise they take the form of a ball of black flame or a cyclone of sand in their elemental forms, or of a large eagle or a white camel when in animal form. They are an honest and good tribe, working with angels but still avoiding humans. They tend to be very conservative and honorable in personality and hate Ghuls and Shaitan. They try to avoid the wranglings of politics but will pursue their beliefs even to the point of having more and more contact with humans due to their fighting against the demons attempts to infiltrate their earthly realms.
Marid- are the second most powerful of the tribes of Djinn with their numbers comprised entirely of 100% solarians and dedicated to the pursuits of good. They tend to have a strong affinity and love of water and the sea, as can be seen by their elemental form being that of a waterspout. When they take on their animal form it is usually that of a dolphin or a hawk. Their normal form on the earth, in the reverie or in the Astra has hair of black, white, golden, deep green, or platinum color. With eyes and nails of silver, gold, or platinum; and lightly tanned to caucasian skin, with about 6% actually being albinos with ice-blue eyes. They are a regal, honorable, courageous, and prideful tribe, with a love of the sea and a hatred for abominations and demons. They had been the most powerful tribe long ago, but where defeated by the Efrit in a long feud that showed all that they were weaker than everyone had previously suspected. While they have been displaced as the leading tribe, they are still more than a match for any other two tribes combined other than the Efrit. Despite being loners, they actively work to battle against the Army of Doom, Demons, the Abominations, and the Lunarians (evil Djinn).
Nasnas- are the engineers, builders, mechanics, inventors, electricians, and perform other needed operational positions that keep the city of Irem operating. They are a very organized and structured in their tribal structure, and despite being only the eighth most powerful of the tribes, they have a lot of pull due to their positions within Djinn society giving them the ability to literally shut down the Djinn city. They tend to be very curious and inventive, yet also tend to be socially inept and naive. They are evenly divided between the two factions (50% Solarians and 50% Lunarians), and have tribal colors of Metallic steel gray and orange-yellow. Their appearance when in the earthly realms is that of black, grey, metallic, steel, or silver hair with eyes and nails to match; and pale white or blue-grey skin. They are the only tribe that has wings in their humanoid form, usually of black or steel grey feathers. Their elemental form is that of a ball of oily substance (non-flammable) that can change shape at will, while their animal form is that of a swarm of rats or spiders.
Serim- are the seventh most powerful of the Djinn tribes, and are the most animalistic of the tribes. They are active breeders of dhabi animals, though they avoid using humanoids in their strange breeding experiments. Thier hair is black, brown, or gold, with nails that are bone white. Their eyes usually have brown or gold irises and their skin is typically dark bronze in color. Beards and moustaches as well as long hair are also common among them. While they tend to have a good sense of humor and are usually good natured, they are also very fierce in battle due to their animalistic and aggressive manner. Members of this tribe sit on both sides of Oreth Deghal or the black razor wall, which is a black field of energy that is impassible except for at the Sirat or the darkway bridge. With 60% of the Serim living in the Solarian side of Irem and 40% living in Lunarian Irem. They are nomads and travel the natural and remote lands of earth often, they also tend not to get involved with the dealings of the other Djinn tribes as long as they are not themselves threatened. Their animal form is that of a wolf or a "war-beast" which resembles a cross between a gorilla, bear, and a lion with saber-length claws; while they have no elemental form at all.
Sutekh- the ninth most powerful of the Djinn tribes with their numbers split evenly between Solarians and Lunarians. Their hair color varies quite a bit being black, brown, blue-black, bronze, red, or gold and usually somewhat short and orderly. Their eyes and nails are typically light brown, bronze, or red; while their skin is usually a pale yellow or bronze coloration. They specialize in genetics and medical areas of knowledge as well as being accomplished makers of pharmaceuticals and poisons, often taking on the role of physicians and psychologists. They are typically cold and calculated when working, enclosing themselves within their "iron cage", but when not working they are very hedonistic. Many of the larger or more powerful families of other tribes hire them to act as personal physicians or slave caretakers. Their animal form is usually either a swarm of giant leeches or locust, while their elemental form is that of a blob of blood that can change shape and solidity.
NOTE: Due to the nature of Djinn society, the below relations have been left vague. This is due to the fact that each tribe has different views as to who their enemies are as well as to who their allies are. There is also a lot of variation within a tribe due to the two different factions that exist within many of the Djinn tribes. To get a better feel for the relations, it is highly recommended that you read up on the various Djinn tribes, as well as each of the two factions and how they relate to one another, as well as to other races of Everlasting that exist.
Abominations: variable
Angels: variable
Daevas: variable
Dead Souls: variable
Demons: variable
Djinn: 1-9*
Dragons: variable
Elves: variable
Faerie: variable
Gargoyles: variable
Ghuls: variable
Manitou: variable
Osirians: variable
Possessed: variable
Questers: variable
Reanimates: variable
Revenants: variable
Vampires: variable
Wer: variable