[Banestorm] Fleshing out the Djinn Lands

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by LoneWolf23k

So, one thing that's always puzzled me in the Banestorm setting, has been the Djinn Lands. The Mysterious land in the south-east of Ytarria ruled by "Djinn" who are actually powreful human mages, each with their own castle in a small high-mana area. Who actually turn out to be the vessels for Ascended Elven super-mages.

There's never been that much detail about what Djinn Land society is like, aside from the idea that the Djinn rule over a population of wandering tribesmen, in a manner that reminds me of the Goa'uld from the Stargate universe. Only somewhat nicer. We do find out the Djinn occasionally engage in proxy wars with each other, via their numerous tribal servants.

But I think this could use more fleshing out. For one thing, we don't have a single example of a named Djinn. For another, we don't get much information on the various tribes in service to the Djinn. So, let's riff on ideas for the Djinn Lands.

To get started, let's name a Djinn. Should the name be a composite of the Ascended One's name and the human host? Should the host simply adopt the Ascended One's name? Would the Ascended One even use it's original Elven name, or would it have adopted a new name to represent it's new state of being?

Each Djinn's castle (actually a fortress complex enclosing a smallish town) follows it's own rules. The Elves realized that humans are used to social hierarchy ( plus they think it makes humans more tractable) so they use the memories of their human host to set up loose informal communities. There will be a cluster of farming villages around the seat of power. These supply food to the Djinn's court. There are also small mining and manufacturing comunities. The Djinni keep these communities in line with a combination of threats and blessings. Bless Crops is very useful toward keeping the villages loyal. Given the fact the Djinni have no problem controlling the local weather and using Earth and Water magics to create springs and wells are also easy tasks, the Djinni use these also keep the villages grateful and dependent.

Trade is limited, both by low population generally and the fact that only the Djinni have anything worth a merchant's time.

There are other human and nonhuman communities in the Djinn lands. But these fall into three categories. First, those that are weak or trivial, and beneath notice of the Djinni. Second, those that make themselves useful to the Djinni. Third, those the Djinni are trying to destroy or conquer.

What further details are needed.