How did Genasi end up in Faerun?

[A2Z]

I thought Genasi, along with Tieflings and Aasimar, were Planescape creations. So how did they become a fixture of the Forgotten Realms? I'm reading through the Genasi Planetouched article in the new Dragon and to read it makes it seem that the Genasi have always been part of that setting. Am I wrong about the planetouched races? Were they around before Planescape?

 

[Squire James]

I guess there was enough of a "critical mass" of plane-touched characters running around on Faerun that they decided to open them up as PC races, even though the pre-3e sources for those races had little to do with FR. Then again, maybe they just wanted an excuse to include the Drow and Duergar, so they felt they had to come up with a few more ECL races to disguise this fact.

 

[Hattersai]

Faerun and ancient Greece have one thing in common. The Gods and by association the Planes, like messing around quite a lot. Plus it helps when bunches of portals are in Faerun spread out everywhere.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

The Fanboy says:

Becuase the Forgotten Realms has the best of every kind of cool race EVER! So obviously gensai are in.


The Realist says:

Multiple game settings don't sell well, so they slammed everything they could into the FR and sell everything as one big package.

 

[Schmoe]

I thought genasi were originally from Al-Qadim, which was set somewhere on Toril.

 

[Tylias]

Because Faerun has a larger number of 'portals per square mile' than any other place in the multiverse with the exception of Sigil.

You'll find anything, everything, and everyone somewhere in the Realms at some time or another.

I'm willing to bet that the socks that disappear every time I do a laundry load eventually end up somewhere on Toril.

 

[AmerginLiath]

That's why I hate Elminster -- he's been stealing my socks for years!

 

[Victim]

Wasn't Calimshan ruled by genies or efreets a million years ago? Perhaps gensai are leftovers from that age.

 

[Ulrick]

Because Faerun has a larger number of 'portals per square mile' than any other place in the multiverse with the exception of Sigil.

You'll find anything, everything, and everyone somewhere in the Realms at some time or another.

I'm willing to bet that the socks that disappear every time I do a laundry load eventually end up somewhere on Toril.

Yeah, once I fell asleep driving for moment. I was awakened by a distinct "thump" as if I had run over something something soft. But it was too late. I crashed into a stone tower.

Getting out of my car I noticed I wasn't in Kansas anymore. I looked upon a Shadowy Dale with a small village down below. From knowledge gained from reading books and playing D&D, I realized I had crashed into a wizards tower. Then I noticed a still smoking pipe and I greyish hat lying on ground nearby.
As I picked them up a scrawny dual scimitar wielding elf with dark skin approached.
"YOU KILLED ELMINISTER! YOU KILLED HIM!"

Indeed I had. I saw sticking from from beneath my car two narrow sickly legs.

I laughed and I laughed. Because I knew I had done the impossible. The elf got angry. But since I knew I was in the Forgotten Realms, I DO ANYTHING MUNCHKIN!

I picked up two bastard swords, claimed that my strength was 25, my Dex was 23, that I was Elminister's Nephew with a dose troll blood in me so I had regenerative powers, that I was a Ftr16/Wiz19/Clr 20/god and proceeded to slaughter the dark elf with great vigor.

But that is another story....

Ulrick

 

[Trellian]

Wasn't Calimshan ruled by genies or efreets a million years ago? Perhaps gensai are leftovers from that age.

You're absolutely right.. that's actually one of the FRCS explanation of Air and Fire Genasi, they are descendants of the genies inhabiting Calimshan