Genies (Part 5): Marid

The marid poured out of the flask like water and said, “Your wish is my command.” The halfling, overjoyed, wished for immortality, so the marid polymorphed him into a fish that flopped around humorously until, finally, it expired. It’s a cautionary tale that has survived through the ages, so I suppose the halfling got his wish.

Kesto Brighteyes, gnome proprietor of The Painted Veil, a bookshop in Sigil

Lore: Lazy Fish Boy

The mightiest of all the genies, even the lowliest of marids is more powerful than its peers. They are masters of water, capable of controlling it in any way they desire. Though they are rare on the Material Plane, they frequent the Elemental Plane of Water, residing in palaces of coral, which are filled with air for both guests and slaves. Though they have slaves, they expect little from them, having them around more for the symbol of it than the actual service.

Each marid considers themselves a noble. Many of the titles are mere pretense, simply something to stroke their egos. They treat their peers, both of their own kind and of other genie races, as either annoyances or blemishes upon their lives. Humanoids are the lowest that they tolerate, though they’ll sometimes deal with one they consider an equal. While bribery and flattery often work to soothe them, they often find dealing with mortals a mistake, resulting in their enslavement.

If there is one thing a marid loves, it is telling stories. They consider themselves among the finest storytellers in all the multiverse. To interrupt one is the highest insult of all. To do so would earn the being’s swift and unrestrained wrath.

Is… is that all? Really? I thought it was gonna be some kind of mischievous monster after that quote at the beginning! He can’t seriously just be a laid-back fish dude!

Design: Magic Fish

Knife goes in, guts come out. Knife goes in, guts come out.

Five bucks to you if you understood that joke.

This is another design I really like. In fact, out of the four genies, this one is my personal favorite. It’s unique, it’s interesting, and it gives you plenty of hints as to its personality and abilities just by looking at it. Overall, a very solid design.

I especially love the fish-man approach to it. They could’ve easily just made it a translucent blue dude; y’know, like what we expect from a genie. Instead, they took a more aquatic approach. It’s super interesting and unique from the others.

Plus, he looks super chill. At least, as chill as you can get when you’re a powerful magic wish-granting… thing. His posture isn’t threatening and his clothes look baggy and comfortable. Sort of like a traveling merchant.

I really like this design. It’s simple, it’s unique, and it’s fun. Describing this guy to your players must be a hell of a lot of fun. I’m gonna have to try it sometime.

Stats: This Fish Is Gonna Gut You

If One Piece has taught me anything, it’s that you don’t mess with the fish dude. Also that piracy is super cool, but that’s a topic for another day.

Defensively speaking, this guy’s about on par with the other genies. His HP is just above the 200 range and his AC sits at a strong 17. Although his being resistant to acid, cold, and lightning is certainly a point in his favor. This dude could become trouble real quick.

Especially thanks to his spell list.

At will: create or destroy water, detect evil and good, detect magic, fog cloud, purify food and drink
3/day each: tongues, water breathing, water walk
1/day each: conjure elemental (water elemental only), control water, gaseous form, invisibility, plane shift

I’m sensing a theme there.

Offensively speaking, it’s got a few more options than its peers. Its trident isn’t all that interesting (oh wow, you can stab with it twice? How interesting). But Water Jet is pretty interesting. This massive cone of water can push anything Huge or smaller back 20ft and knock ’em prone.

It’s not an especially complex monster (spells aside). But if you play your cards right, your players are in for a rough time. Just be sure not to drown too many of them.

Placement

This monster is pretty strong overall. But it doesn’t have anything especially incredible. Every aspect of it is just… good. Acceptable lore, a good design, and some good stats.

With all that in mind, let’s put the Marid on the Best of the Bestiary!

1. Beholder
2. Death Tyrant
3. Dragon Turtle
4. Green Dragons
5. Red Dragons
6. Blue Dragons
7. Black Dragons
8. White Dragons
9. Silver Dragons
10. Couatl
11. Behir
12. Aboleth
13. Bronze Dragons
14. Brass Dragons
15. Copper Dragons
16. Gold Dragons
17. Chuul
18. Chimera
19. Death Knight
20. Fomorian
21. Bone Devil
22. Dracolich
23. Faerie Dragon
24. Ankheg
25. Empyrean
26. Efreeti
27. Dao
28. Drow (all four of ’em)
29. Shadow Demon
30. Marilith
31. Drider
32. Aarackockra
33. Azer
34. Demilich
35. Spectator
36. Marid <——————————
37. Cambion
38. Animated Armor
39. Banshee
40. Basilisk
41. Yochlol
42. Bulette
43. Cloaker
44. Darkmantle
45. Doppelganger
46. Ettin
47. Pit Fiend
48. Erinyes
49. Chain Devil
50. Bearded Devil
51. Barbed Devil
52. Spined Devil
53. Ice Devil
54. Djinni
55. Nalfeshnee
56. Glabrezu
57. Chasme
58. Barlgura
59. Horned Devil
60. Balor
61. Shadow Dragon
62. Vrock
63. Dretch
64. Goristro
65. Hezrou
66. Manes
67. Duergar
68. Quasit
69. Dryad
70. Flumph
71. Planetar
72. Imp
73. Flameskull
74. Displacer Beast
75. Carrion Crawler
76. Rug of Smothering
77. Bugbear Chief
78. Bugbear
79. Vine Blight
80. Twig Blight
81. Needle Blight
82. Bullywug
83. Ettercap
84. Gas Spore
85. Cockatrice
86. Lemure
87. Solar
88. Deva
89. Cyclops
90. Centaur
91. Fire Elemental
92. Water Elemental
93. Air Elemental
94. Dinosaurs (All six of them)
95. Earth Elemental
96. Galeb Duhr
97. Flying Sword
98. Crawling Claw
99. Violet Fungus
100. Shrieker
101. Gargoyle