Markeen

A markeen, or genie double, is a lesser form of genie exiled from the majority of their kind. Each genie double is cursed at birth to be the spitting image of a Human from The Seven Deserts. The genie double is not magically linked to or even necessarily friendly toward that person; they don't share thoughts, memories, place of birth (though they are always born at the same instant), or any other traits besides their outward appearance. The confusion that results when the genie double of an important personage finds out who it resembles can be monumental.

A genie double superficially appears to be entirely Human. They are born, live, and die in the same period of time that a normal Human passes through life, and their apparent age always matches that of their Human double (unless the Human has somehow been magically altered to appear younger or older). A genie double may outlive its human double, but may also die before its human double does; the two are not spiritually linked in any way. Not everyone has a genie double. Generally only famous, wealthy, beautiful, gifted, holy, or utterly villainous individuals have genie doubles.

It is commonly believed that genie doubles are the result of a genie rebellion which ended in the losers being forced to live forever as humans, with only tiny traces of their former power. Markeen avoid all other genies and distrust them at best.

Although they rarely use the ability near Humans, genie doubles also retain geniekind's ability to fly, and they will escape from awkward situations this way. At other times, they will impersonate mages so as not to arouse suspicion. In all other respects, genie doubles fight with the tactics of humans.

The markeen are merchants, tinkers, sailors, and horse traders, living by their wits in small communities that are isolated socially to prevent the discovery of their identities. Despite (or because of) the knowledge that they are genies and thus superior to those around them, the markeen are affable, friendly, and perfectly willing to live among humans without a trace of outward patronizing or haughty behavior.

Genie doubles form shadow societies within the human settlements of the Seven Deserts with their own sets of beliefs, leaders, and rituals. Genie doubles will go to great lengths to silence anyone who uncovers the secret of one of these communities.

Note: Markeens originally appeared in this form in the Al-Qadim Monstrous Compendium supplement for the AD&D game from TSR. Their use here is for the purposes of providing context for the campaign only.