Dao

* 5e
* 4e
* 3e
* 2e
* 1e

The **dao** (pronounced: /daʊ/ *dow*) were a variation of genie from the Elemental Plane of Earth. Dao often ran gem-mining operations there or on the Material Plane. They could especially be found in the wild regions of Zakhara.

Dao appeared as humanoids with bodies that had external physical characteristics that evoked their elemental nature, though some varieties were capable of shape-shifting into another form. They formed their own distinctive societies in their native planes. Because they had powerful supernatural or magical abilities, genies were sometimes called upon or summoned by spellcasters to grant wishes or perform services for them. The individual varieties have differing attitudes towards humanoid races native to the Material Plane.[*citation needed*]

The yikarian term for the dao was "earthservants."

## Organization

Genies literally carved out an empire from the Elemental Plane of Earth, called the Great Dismal Delve, based strongly on slave labor. They were ruled from their capital city of the Sevenfold Mazework by their Great Khan Kabril Ali al-Sara al-Zalazil.

## Appendix

### Appearances

Adventures

* *Princes of the Apocalypse*
* *Storm King's Thunder* (mentioned)
* *Tomb of Annihilation*
* *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*
* *Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus*

Video Games

* *Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse*
* *Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn*
* *Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer*
* *Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate*

### Further Reading

* David "Zeb" Cook, *et al.* (1989). *Monstrous Compendium Volume Two*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
* Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Monster Sheets)*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 978-1560763291.
* Gary Gygax (October 1982). “Featured Creatures”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #66 (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:20–21|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.

### References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). *Land of Fate (Monster Sheets)*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 978-1560763291.
2. ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). *Monster Manual 5th edition*. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:141, 143|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0786965614.
3. ↑ Doug Hyatt (February 2012). “Bestiary: Dao and Marid”. In Steve Winter ed. *Dungeon* #199 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:53–59|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). *Manual of the Planes 3rd edition*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:172–173|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
5. ↑ Gary Gygax (October 1982). “Featured Creatures”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #66 (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:20–21|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}.
6. ↑ Wolfgang Baur, Steve Kurtz (1992). *Monstrous Compendium Al-Qadim Appendix*. (TSR, Inc). ISBN l-56076-370-1.
7. ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. *Dragon* #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 26.
8. ↑ Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). *Arabian Adventures*. (TSR, Inc), pp. {{#regex:10–11|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-1560763581.
9. ↑ Tim Beach, Tom Prusa and Steve Kurtz (1993). *Al-Qadim: City of Delights (Golden Huzuz)*. (TSR, Inc), p. 51. ISBN 1-56076-589-5.
10. ↑ Wolfgang Baur (November 1993). *Secrets of the Lamp. Genie Lore*. (TSR, Inc.), pp. {{#regex:5–6, 11–17|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-1560766476.

### Connections

Genies
**Dao** • Djinn • Efreet • Jann • Marids • Qorrash
 **Tasked Genies**
Administrators • Artchitects • Artists • Deceivers • Guardians • Harim servants • Herdsmen • Messengers • Miners • Oathbinders • Slayers • Warmongers • Winemakers
 **Gen**
Daolani • Djinnlings • Efreetikin • Maridans
 **Related Races**
Great ghuls • Ghul-kin • Markeen