Genies? can grant wishes. Why? How?

Genie society is a hierarchy, with each race of genies being ruled by their respective sovereign (the Great Khan of the dao?, the Great Caliph of the djinn, the Grand Sultan of the efreet?, and the Great Padishah of the marids?). But genie society is also a complex web of relationships, involving noble houses, freeholds, settlements, military units, provinces, learned societies, and various other units, with fealty, duty, debt, alliance, and support owed by each genie to many others in the hierarchy, depending both on their ancient society’s laws and traditions, and each genie’s past actions.

In many ways this resembles human nations and countries; but genie society is both older and more stable than any human civilization, and larger, more all-encompassing; all djinn ultimately owe loyalty to their Great Caliph, for example. And so this structure is of the utmost importance, given the nature of the most well-known and simultaneously the most mysterious of genie magic: the wish.

The power to work wishes is a genie’s status made manifest. The source of the magical power upon which a genie’s wish-granting ability draws is tied, in deeply mysterious ways, to the fundamentally magical nature of each genie race, and their close tie to their respective elements; but each individual genie’s wish-granting ability is linked to their status in society.

Status, acclaim, and advancement may be earned by a genie through deeds—acts of conquest or success in battle; the creation of works, artistic or magical; the discovery of knowledge, secrets, or new experiences not known to geniekind—and these things bring with them also a greater reserve of wish-magic.

A more pervasive source of wish-granting power, however, is having influence, hold, or station over one’s fellow genies. A genie to whom many other genies owe alliance or debt; one to whom, in virtue of his position, others pay fealty; such a genie has more power of wishes at his disposal. Debts and favors are discharged, too, through the granting of wishes, and called in thusly as well—a genie cannot use his own wish magic to grant himself boons. Thus a genie is loath to expend the wishes he can grant, as that means that he can offer fewer wishes in trade to other genies, and must instead owe a favor or swear service, should he need another’s aid—and that empowers the other genie, allowing them to elevate their station through the wish-enabled bargaining of favors.

So, for instance, among the djinn, their Great Caliph (called also the Commander of the Four Winds, the Defender of the Heavens, and many other titles besides) commands the fealty of all djinn—from the viziers and sheiks to the lowliest warrior of the freehold militias—and to his noble House a great many djinn owe duty and obedience. Thus he is a wish-crafter of such might as to rival and exceed the power of gods; but he uses that magic sparingly, as what should happen if the Caliph cannot offer the power of wishes to reward his followers and allies for their service? Re-negotiation of agreements would follow, and the unfavorable trade of favors, and forgiving of debts; the balance of obligation and status would shift, and the Caliph’s power would diminish.

As these matters concern mortals, it is insofar as they offer a bargaining chip for those who wish to ask for wishes: give a genie a way to gain status among his peers, to elevate his station above them, and the power of wish will be yours to ask for in return.