How do the Djinn live?

[Jack99]

So, in my campaign (4e), players will soon be infiltrating/attacking a Djinn Noble. In case they decide to take the fight to where he lives (in the City of Brass), I need some sort of place for him to live.

I have however no cool ideas on how he could live. I mean, djinns all fly, so the place should reflect that, right? My first thought was a huge tower with no stairs, but that seems a tad lame.

So, I was wondering if anyone out there had a good idea that could help my creative process along. It could be a few words or a writeup, at this point, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Derulbaskul]

What about using the stereotypes of the Ottoman Empire at its height for inspiration? The djinn would be wealthy and educated. Much of their time would be spent telling stories, listening to music, bathing, "hareming" (I know that's not a word), practising swordplay, creating works of art etc....

His house/tower/palace would have, inter alia, a steam room, another room for scimitars and other swords, an art gallery and a harem. I would include slaves in the harem that want to be rescued just to throw a complication into the adventure. The slaves could include genasi of the various elemental types. At least one of the slaves should be able to sing like the proverbial nightingale.

 

[Somebloke]

Cloud city with Miranets? I mean, as a starting point. The palace is likely to have some access for land creatures, but the main halls (yes, this is spelt incorrectly. No I am not going to fix it) should be 1001 nights-decor meets the blueprints for a zero-g space station.

 

[Piratecat]

What's important here isn't tactics, it's style. You need a massive manor house with lush carpets, walls of shimmering water, scuttling servants, scimitar-weilding guards, fabulous workmanship in the building itself, and fastastical foods served by flimsily-dressed slaves. It should scream decadence and wealth. And like any proper trap, it should be easy to enter and very, very hard to escape from.

 

[ferratus]

Rent Aladdin. Politically incorrect, but gives that sense of what a D&D Djinn court should look like.

Particularly the "Prince Ali" musical number.

 

[Dragonbait]

All great ideas. While the Djinn can fly, their slaves can not. They would have stairs leading everywhere. I doubt that they would have any rooms where non-flyers could reach since they would want their slaves to always be at their beck and call.

Djinn nobles that entertain guests from other planes might have a lot of water in their guest quarters (or their guest wings of the palace) to keep the temperature cooler and let people soak themselves on a regular basis after walking through the hot and dry streets of the city of Brass.

 

[ExploderWizard]

Just like every other monster. Pretty well for about 5-7 rounds.

 

[Jack99]

Thanks guys - seems consensus is to stick close to a more traditional Arabian style, just perhaps in a castle in the clouds. Sounds great.

Cheers

 

[Piratecat]

I think that's best if you're presenting him as a djinn. If you're just using the stats and presenting him as an unknown monster without all the (admittedly very nifty) cultural baggage, the sky's the limit.

 

[Jack99]

I think that's best if you're presenting him as a djinn. If you're just using the stats and presenting him as an unknown monster without all the (admittedly very nifty) cultural baggage, the sky's the limit.

Nope, it is indeed a noble Djinn (not just the stats). I liked the part of the palace being a trap, easy to get in, hard to get out. Its the complete opposite of what I envisioned originally, but I will definitely give the idea a spin and see if it doesn't turn out to be better.