Efreeti

Efreeti

Efreeti (singular: efreet) are unpredictable creatures with fiery forms and spectacular magical powers.

Physical and Magical Traits Efreeti are humanoid in appearance. They are very tall, generally reaching heights of eight to ten feet, although their lower parts often seem to dissolve into mist and float above the ground, rather than actually touching it with feet. They are well-muscled, and have red skin which is always burning. For this reason, they resemble many demons, and are often mistaken for them. Nonetheless, they are real, living creatures.

As water is to most life forms, so is heat to efreeti. Heat and flame sustains their bodies. For this reason, they tend to reside near fumaroles, volcanoes, and other large natural heat sources.

Efreeti magic is comparable to that of other powerful creatures, such as demons and liches, and is quite versatile. One area in which it is pre-eminent is in magical weaponsmithing. Efreeti are particularly renowned for their ability to create flaming weapons.

Culture and Behavior Very little is known about efreeti society or culture. Two related concepts, however, are foremost in the mind of an efreet: honor, and acquisition.

Efreeti are born traders, always looking to acquire more: more wealth, more power, and most of all more honor. They use their magical skills to further these goals. The efreet known as Kimzahn reportedly explained the concept of honor as follows:

"The concept of honor to beings such as I is sure to be alien to you, and hard to understand. For example, when my kind decides to grant one of yours a wish, it is our way of amassing honor for our race. When we grant a human a wish, it shows that the things you desire most are things that we can freely discard. Thus, we feel our race has gained honor. What else would an efreet need?" Efreeti names are also part of this concept. They are exceedingly long, and contain history, and respectful details of lineage. When interacting with lesser creatures, they will normally take on a simpler name.

It should also be noted that mages occasionally attempt to enslave efreeti in order to harness their considerable power. Such binding, while of a very different nature than that involved in the binding of demons, is equally difficult, and just as likely to result in the wrath of the bound creature, should the attempt end in its escape.