Tasked Genies are a now-obscure subfamily of the genie in Dungeons & Dragons invented for the Al-Qadim setting. Realizing that the four genies created largely to mirror the four element split was a bit underwhelming for a setting inspired by the notion of "Fantasy Arabia", TSR decided to expand the genie family by creating this broad family of lesser genies, who each exist largely to serve a specific role in the services of both "true" genies and Sha'ir. Most if not all of the Tasked Genie species were originally part of the big four genie races - dao, djinn, efreet, marid - but were reshaped by generations of servitude and magical manipulation until they became very distinct physically, mentally and culturally. In fact, tasked genies are so bound up in their working identities that a tasked genie prevented from working at its defined role will eventually sicken and die. Tasked genies fall into two main categories: those bound by their profession to a certain location and those kept inactive in some way for long periods between bouts of servitude. The first group comprises the helpful tasked genies, those who create fantastic foods, art, and monuments. The second group has nothing to do when not called upon by genie nobles or powerful sha'irs. They are slowly driven insane by their magical isolation, and for this reason, they delight in shedding blood when released from service. These include the warmonger, slayer, guardian, and deceiver genies. In Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, a sha'ir could research a ritual to bind a tasked genie in much the same way a normal wizard might research a new spell, with the caveat that they could only bind one tasked genie to their service per year, for fear of the wrath of the true genie nobles. Fortunately, bound-tasked genies are free to call upon their friends and family to help them in their tasks, and these still-free genies will serve for no cost to hasten the freedom of their bound kinsman. Like normal genies, it's possible (though rare) for a tasked genie to fall in love with a human and even produce children; such genie-kin have the stats of markeen, save for the fact they have no human double to worry about. Most of the tasked Genies - specifically the Architect/Builder, the Artist, the Guardian, the Herdsman, the Slayer, the Warmonger and the Winemaker - debuted in the first Al-Qadim Monstrous Compendium Appendix. The remaining six all debuted in different adventures; Secrets of the Lamp giving us the Messenger and Miner, City of Delights giving us the Administrator and Harim Servant, and finally Assassin Mountain giving us the Deceiver and the Oathbinder.
