Marid-Djinn

**Marid-djinn** are a type of afrit, and are desert dwelling and Unseelie. The most notable marid-djinn is Eran Iliakambar, who is a marid-djinn afrit and ambaros hybrid.

## Physical Description

They have characteristic horns that distinguish them from other species of afrit. They have bright red eyes and brown skin. Some paint their beards with wax, and some paint their horns with gold at the tips when they are particularly respected by family and fellow warriors.

## Characteristics (culture, habits)

Some marid-djinn afrit and ambaros live together in a mixed-alignment community.

Iliak was the recognised King of both the marid-djinn and afshin afrit. He was the brother of Ifir, a marid-djinn afrit, who was the War General of the marid-djinn and afshin military alliance, and Ifir served on Gwyn ap Nudd's Unseelie Court until his death.

Eran called the marid-djinn people 'war-hardened'. The marid-djinn military is so highly respected that Gwyn believed that in the case of civil war, the marid-djinn alone would be powerful enough to destroy the weakened Unseelie Court during *The Court of Five Thrones*: 'We can’t have civil war. We *can’t.* There are already enough civil skirmishes, but something of the scale the marid-djinn could inflict? We’d be *through.'*

The emblem of the marid-djinn is the black Marid lion, which is emblazoned on their shields. It is also where their name comes from.

*(For more information, please see the afrit page, which talks at length about abilities and characteristics)*

## Folklore/Mythology

The use of the word 'djinn' indicates that marid-djinn are connected to more stereotypical genies, and the djinn of mythology. 'Marid (Arabic: مارد‎ '**mārid'**) is a type of devil in Islamic traditions. The Arabic word meaning *rebellious* is applied to such supernatural beings.'

'Jinn (Arabic: جن‎, '**jinn'**)—also romanized as **djinn** or anglicized as genie (with the broader meaning of spirit or demon, depending on source)—are supernatural creatures in early pre-Islamic Arabian and later Islamic mythology and theology. Like humans, they are created with *fitra*, neither born as believers nor as unbelievers, but their attitude depends on whether they accept God's guidance. Since jinn are neither innately evil nor innately good, Islam acknowledged spirits from other religions, and was able to adapt spirits from other religions during its expansion. Jinn are not a strictly Islamic concept; they may represent several pagan beliefs integrated into Islam.

In an Islamic context, the term *jinn* is used for both a collective designation for any supernatural creature and also to refer to a specific type of supernatural creature. Therefore, jinn are often mentioned together with devils (*shayāṭīn*). Both devils and jinn feature in folklore and are held responsible for misfortune, possession and diseases. However, the jinn are sometimes supportive and benevolent. They are mentioned frequently in magical works throughout the Islamic world, to be summoned and bound to a sorcerer, but also in zoological treatises as animals with a subtle body.

. . . Some scholars of the Middle East hold that they originated as malevolent spirits residing in deserts and unclean places, who often took the forms of animals; others hold that they were originally pagan nature deities who gradually became marginalized as other deities took greater importance. Still, jinn had been worshiped by many Arabs during the Pre-Islamic period, though, unlike gods, jinn were not regarded as immortal.

Although their mortality ranks them lower than gods, it seems that the veneration of jinn had played more importance in the everyday life of pre-Islamic Arabs than the gods themselves. According to common Arabian belief, soothsayers, pre-Islamic philosophers, and poets were inspired by the jinn. Their culture and society were analogous to . . . pre-Islamic Arabian culture, with tribal leaders, protected their allies and avenge murder for any member of their tribe or allies. Although the powers of jinn exceed those of humans, it is conceivable a man could kill a jinni in single combat. Jinn were thought to shift into different shapes, but were feared especially in their invisible form, since then they could attack without being seen. Jinn were also feared because they had been thought to be responsible for various diseases and mental illnesses. . . .

When Islam spread outside of Arabia, belief in the jinn was assimilated with local belief about spirits and deities from Iran, Africa, Turkey and India. . . . In Sindh, the concept of the jinni was introduced when Islam became acceptable. Since then, jinn have become a common part of local folklore, also including stories of both male jinn called *jinn* and female jinn called *Jiniri*. Folk stories of female jinn include stories such as the *Jejhal Jiniri*. While, due to the cultural influence, the concept of jinn may vary, all share some common features. The jinn are believed to live in societies resembling those of humans, practicing religion (including Islam, Christianity and Judaism), having emotions, needing to eat and drink, and [they] can procreate and raise families. Additionally, they fear iron, generally appear in desolate or abandoned places, and are stronger and faster than humans. Since the jinn share the earth with humans, Muslims are often cautious not to accidentally hurt an innocent jinn by uttering "destur" (permission), before sprinkling hot water. Generally, jinn are thought to eat bones and prefer rotten flesh over fresh flesh.'

## Image Gallery

Fanart of Eran Iliakambar's true-form by Em / Papayaparty https://thedoublepp.tumblr.com/post/179851252086/dont-look-concept-for-erans-true-form-i-love
## References

1. ↑ *The Court of Five Thrones*, Chapter 37: Explosion. Accessed 01 May 2021.
2. ↑ *The Court of Five Thrones*, Chapter 4: Suspicions. Accessed 21 April 2021.
3. ↑ *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire*, Chapter 16: Leave Be. Accessed 24 March 2021.
4. ↑ *The Court of Five Thrones*, Chapter 38: Realisations. Accessed 24 March 2021.
5. ↑ *The Ice Plague: Book 1 - The Forest of Fire*, Chapter 15: Isn't This Better? Accessed 07 June 2021.
6. ↑ "Marid". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marid. Accessed 01 May 2021.
7. ↑ "Jinn". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinn. Accessed 12 June 2021.