Slave Vessel

Slave vessels are items the ifrit use to enslave a djinn, to be controlled by humans and forced to grant their master's every wish.

## Description

Taking various forms, the vessels are generally made from battered iron, and feature a single emerald that will house the djinn's soul. Those forms include rings, lamps, bangles, and jeweled collars.

## History

When the Prophet Suleiman passed judgment on the ancient daeva, those who submitted were transformed; becoming the ancestors of the current daeva and djinn tribes. Those who refused became the ifrit. Stripped of their magic and trapped in their original forms while still living for millennia, they believe humanity to be a parasite and the djinn traitors for submitting to Suleiman.

The ifrit enslave djinn as a form of revenge. Revenge against the humans that will create untold chaos through the enslaved djinn's raw, unchecked power, and against the djinn who will be driven mad by their enslavement and the actions they commit.

## How it works

**Step one:** The ifrit place the slave vessel on the djinn to be enslaved.

**Step two:** A curse is put upon them, which requires the true name of the djinn to be enslaved. This curse significantly weakens the djinn and cancels out all magic ability.

**Step three:** The djinn is then murdered. The curse binds the soul to the vessel, leaving the body empty.

**Step four:** The ifrit collect the slave vessel to give to humans. They may also drop the bodies near djinn settlements to terrorize those who find them; it is apparently a horrifying sight.

## Cursed effects of slavery

The slave curse returns djinn to their original state of powers, but with the catch of only being able to use said abilities in service of a human master. The enslaved djinn are entirely bound to them and their every whim.

### Physical traits

Eye color is changed to a brilliant emerald green, and facial features are made frighteningly beautiful to make them more alluring to their human masters.

### Tattoos

A record of the human masters killed appears on the djinn's body, as it amuses the ifrit to see it add up. Beginning as a small spiral on the left palm, it can eventually wrap up the arm and over the back if long enough. A single black line for each master killed, it climbs up the limb like rungs in an unsupported ladder.

### Wish-granting

Once the human master wishes for something, the enslaved djinn must grant it. There is no fighting it. In addition, as long as the wish is active, the djinn is bonded to it and cannot leave their master's side.

> "*His wishes settle heavily on my shoulders, wrapping around my limbs. Energy surges through my fingers.*"
> ― Dara
>
>

However, a carelessly worded wish can result in the djinn turning the situation in their favor, able to kill the human master if they choose to.

## In-between masters

When an enslaved djinn does not have a human master, they are trapped within the vessel, asleep and unable to come out. If holding the vessel or very close to it, one can feel the energy within, pulsing like a heartbeat or breathing.

## Recovered Vessels

Vessels found after the Nahid siblings deaths are kept deep in the Grand Temple, in a small room that also houses Anahid's original fire alter.

## Freedom

For a djinn to be released from their enslavement, the vessel must be reunited with the djinn's relic and given to a Nahid, who can conjure up a new body for the djinn's soul to inhabit.
Their eyes remain emerald green, their bodies are not technically alive as they do not bleed or breathe, and their magic powers are again limited like a djinn's though are still be formidable.

## Notable Members

* Darayavahoush e-Afshin : Had been enslaved for around 1400 years, though does not retain memories from that time. His cursed tattoo goes all the way up his arm and over his back. His slave vessel is a battered iron ring with a perfectly cut, enormous emerald set in it.
* Razu Qaraqashi : Gave herself up to her ifrit cousin so they could hunt for treasure. Her cursed tattoo has three lines; when her third master died, she was buried under the sand for two millennia. Her slave vessel is an emerald studded iron cuff on her wrist. Was freed by Rustam e-Nahid.
* Elashia : Was enslaved for 500 years, but does not talk about it or in general. Possibly freed by Rustam's grandfather.
* **Ustadh Issa** : Was a scholar traveling the Nile copying books for the Royal Library when he was caught by ifrit.

## Trivia

* In a deleted scene, when Dara "first saw himself under the curse and was shocked and horrified to see his features changed" he "promptly dealt with it by seducing then tricking his master into getting themselves killed."

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 The City of Brass, ch. 22, pg. 397
2. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 5, pg. 107-108
3. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 21, pg. 378
4. ↑ The Kingdom of Copper, ch. 37, pg. 554
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 The City of Brass, ch. 9, pg. 173
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 The City of Brass, ch. 21, pg. 379
7. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 21, pg. 377
8. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 16, pg. 290
9. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 18, pg. 330-331
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 The City of Brass, ch. 5, pg. 94
11. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 5, pg. 95
12. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 9, pg. 172
13. ↑ The Kingdom of Copper, Prologue, pg. 18
14. ↑ The City of Brass, Epilogue, pg. 525
15. ↑ The City of Brass, ch. 21, pg. 378-379
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 The City of Brass, ch. 3, pg. 50
17. ↑ The Kingdom of Copper, ch. 1, pg. 44
18. ↑ The Kingdom of Copper, ch. 1, pg. 46
19. ↑ The Kingdom of Copper, ch. 1, pg. 43
20. ↑ The Kingdom of Copper, ch. 18, pg. 296
21. ↑ Shannon/S.A. Chakraborty Twitter - February 1, 2020