Herdsman Genie [Tasked]

Short, wiry and quick-handed, herdsman genies have heavy brows and dark, sun-creased skin. Jet-black curls bleach reddish-brown in those who go bareheaded. They smell of their animals and of the sour milk products they eat. Tireless and sociable, they can keep pace with a herd all day and live off it, sipping blood from small punctures or drinking its milk.

They fight only to protect themselves or their herds, armed with spears (40%), short swords (30%) or short composite bows (30%), and some tribes rope captives with lassoes. Once daily each they can use flame brand, dust devil, remove fear and phantom steed. Superb riders, they shoot from a galloping horse at no penalty. They keep foes away from the herd and the slower members of the group, and in desperation stampede the herd at attackers; if the herd fails a group save vs. spell, it charges as directed.

Usually solitary, they band together when herds grow large. The herd's welfare comes first, and they will disobey a master who orders them into dangerous or barren land. They drain blood carefully so as not to weaken an animal, drinking it at once, and turn milk into cheese, curds, yogurt and fermented drinks.

They adore races of every sort: footraces, sometimes chased by a stampede of goats, camels or bulls; horse and camel races; and rowdy all-day mounted games with complex scoring. Males love betting and haggling; young females run footraces but prefer trick riding, shearing, roping and branding. Groups can secretly drive their herds a whole night across the plains without harm once a week, which a lone herdsman cannot do. Some have embraced local faiths with a convert's zeal and pressure others, by force if need be, to join.

They crowd out rival herders and predators, move on before land is overgrazed and ignore the borders of sultanates, sheikdoms and farmers' fences, which leads to conflict unless their master tells them to behave.