Very little is known about the life cycle of the Djinn. It is presumed that they are born from other Djinn, but there has never been any record of children among them. However they have been known to take mortal lovers in the usual way, with the usual consequences. Such children are mortal, though they are almost always powerful magicians or otherwise magically enhanced. Djinn blood can run in a family for centuries, and sometimes lies latent until it shows itself in a child generations later. Many magical creatures in the desert are the result of Djinns' couplings with lions, scorpions, and other creatures.

It is not known if Djinn live forever, but they have been known to survive for millennia, at the very least. Killing Djinn is even more in doubt. While some have vulnerabilities to some kinds of metal, these have not ever been said to strike a killing blow against them. There are only cryptic references to the slaying of Djinn, and these are always from seemingly harmless actions. These include throwing such things as a verbal curse, or throwing a small stone or plum pit near them.

Djinn live in a very different state from mortals. Whereas a mortal may consider things that have not and will never be, for a Djinn to think something means to do it. If something has not happened, they do not know about it. If they consider something, it happens. Where a Djinn goes, reality is bent. Thus, for Djinn to interact with a mortal can be extraordinarily dangerous. The best tactic to take is to cut the encounter as short as is possible. Do not negotiate. Asking Djinn to consider a situation is asking for suicide--if you're lucky. However it may be possible for strong-willed individuals to resist a Djinn's inherent influence on reality.

It is possible for an exceptional individual to bind Djinn to an object or focus. However, this is both extremely difficult and very dangerous. First, the binder must know the Djinn's true name, and possess a piece of his or her person. Both these are very difficult to obtain. Magicians who have tried this have often ended in deadly riddle contests with Djinn, wherein the object is to guess the other's name. Only Padishah Ishaq bin Asad is known to have succeeded. The object to which the Djinn is to be bound must be made of the metal to which the Djinn is vulnerable, in its purest form.

The binding itself is accomplished with a very complex magical ceremony. The potential for error is huge, and the cost of making a mistake tragic. Once the Djinn is bound, it may either be active or dormant. Active Djinn may be forced to perform acts for the master of the object. However there is always some request which the Djinn is prevented from doing.

Asking this of it will result in its freedom. In addition, destroying the focus results in the Djinn's freedom. In both cases, it will probably be very angry at its former master.

A dormant Djinn simply adds to the enchantment of the object in some substantial way. This can be much safer than having active Djinn, but destruction of the object can still result in disaster.

When a Djinn dies, its soul infuses the area of its death. If this can be somehow harvested, it can be used to create magic of great curative properties. It is said that such magic can raise the dead, greatly extend life, and bestow great powers.