Well, I guess in a ways it isn't *really* a concession, as it's going to be canonical that Baba Yaga has a young apprentice, and together they go hunting demons, monsters, and humans that would ally themselves with them.
OH!!!
THE DJINN.
...
So, initial research is... interesting. Djinn were not immortal. In fact, they were very human in appearance and nature. They lived in communities, had families, and needed to eat and drink. I would also imagine that they were immensely powerful, magically speaking.
Djinn, however, live much longer lives than humans. And I think that an idea sort of 'coming of age' experience that young Djinn must undertake is to find a human they can befriend, and be their boon companion for the next ten years.
Djinn communities would be few in number and not terribly populouse. This is kind of a good thing since having too many of them running around could be... troublesome. (I would hazard to say that at most given moments there are around fifteen or twenty in all that are undertaking this rite.) The purpose of this journeying out into the human world? So that they don't lose touch with humanity.
Although with the advent of radio and television, this became much easier. However, it also filled the hearts of young djinn with wanderlust and a strong desire to see the greater world in-person. Thus, the coming of age ritual continued to serve a purpose as a means to satisfy a young djinn's desire to see the world - much like the Amish and Mennonite Rumspringa.
Somewhere out there is a young prince - the son of a sheikh, thus granting him the title of sheikh as well - whose family was exterminated by a rival tribe. Almost. He remains, along with his infant sister. A young Djinn on his rite of passage meets the boy and his infant sister and feels a great sorrow for the young boy, for this Djinn was a very empathic person and only too easily imagined a similar fate befalling their community.
I'm sorry, did I say Djinn? I meant Djiniri. [dealwithit.gif]
She helps the boy raise his sister while they slowly take steps towards attaining revenge against the rival tribe. The boy traveled, visiting ancient tribes of Africa that had strong warrior traditions, and then traveling with reputable mercenaries to learn modern combat and tactics.
However, revenge never really came. In an ironic twist of fate, the rival tribe awakened a demon and sought to control it, like the stories of old.
Instead, the demon shrugged off the shackles, devoured the entire tribe, and became immensely powerful from the 'human sacrifice'. It was only a frantic effort to locate other Djinn on their Rite of Passage and bring down the monster.
It's a damn near thing. The Demon had its sights set on a large town that would have made it nearly unstoppable - after which it would have started going after the Djinn settlements and then Earth would have REALLY been fucked.
In the aftermath, our young Sheikh of a near-extinct tribe feels he's at a loose ends. So, after finding someone to care for his sister, he goes on and joins up with a mercenary group he'd heard whispers of. real paragons of virtue, these people. And they will only take the best of the best.
And our Prince had gotten pretty damn good.
But with a Djiniri at his side? This is definitely gonna be setting the cat amongst the canaries.
OH!!!
THE DJINN.
...
So, initial research is... interesting. Djinn were not immortal. In fact, they were very human in appearance and nature. They lived in communities, had families, and needed to eat and drink. I would also imagine that they were immensely powerful, magically speaking.
Djinn, however, live much longer lives than humans. And I think that an idea sort of 'coming of age' experience that young Djinn must undertake is to find a human they can befriend, and be their boon companion for the next ten years.
Djinn communities would be few in number and not terribly populouse. This is kind of a good thing since having too many of them running around could be... troublesome. (I would hazard to say that at most given moments there are around fifteen or twenty in all that are undertaking this rite.) The purpose of this journeying out into the human world? So that they don't lose touch with humanity.
Although with the advent of radio and television, this became much easier. However, it also filled the hearts of young djinn with wanderlust and a strong desire to see the greater world in-person. Thus, the coming of age ritual continued to serve a purpose as a means to satisfy a young djinn's desire to see the world - much like the Amish and Mennonite Rumspringa.
Somewhere out there is a young prince - the son of a sheikh, thus granting him the title of sheikh as well - whose family was exterminated by a rival tribe. Almost. He remains, along with his infant sister. A young Djinn on his rite of passage meets the boy and his infant sister and feels a great sorrow for the young boy, for this Djinn was a very empathic person and only too easily imagined a similar fate befalling their community.
I'm sorry, did I say Djinn? I meant Djiniri. [dealwithit.gif]
She helps the boy raise his sister while they slowly take steps towards attaining revenge against the rival tribe. The boy traveled, visiting ancient tribes of Africa that had strong warrior traditions, and then traveling with reputable mercenaries to learn modern combat and tactics.
However, revenge never really came. In an ironic twist of fate, the rival tribe awakened a demon and sought to control it, like the stories of old.
Instead, the demon shrugged off the shackles, devoured the entire tribe, and became immensely powerful from the 'human sacrifice'. It was only a frantic effort to locate other Djinn on their Rite of Passage and bring down the monster.
It's a damn near thing. The Demon had its sights set on a large town that would have made it nearly unstoppable - after which it would have started going after the Djinn settlements and then Earth would have REALLY been fucked.
In the aftermath, our young Sheikh of a near-extinct tribe feels he's at a loose ends. So, after finding someone to care for his sister, he goes on and joins up with a mercenary group he'd heard whispers of. real paragons of virtue, these people. And they will only take the best of the best.
And our Prince had gotten pretty damn good.
But with a Djiniri at his side? This is definitely gonna be setting the cat amongst the canaries.