Zhyen

Zhyen

(Creature)

Type

Outsider
(air, earth, fire, or water)

CR

½

Environment

Any desert or elemental plane

Alignment

LG	NG	CG
LN	N	CN
LE	NE	CE

Source: Qadira, Gateway to the East, pg(s). 30–31

Zhyen are a minor type of genie native to the elemental planes. Curious beings, they can most often be found freely wandering their home plane, but occasionally act as servants or messengers to more powerful beings. The Qadiran arcanists known as daivrat occasionally choose these creatures as familiars.

Appearance

Zhyen resemble muscular humanoids from the waist up and dissipate into their favored element from the waist down, similar to a smaller jaathoom.

Jocta

A jocta is a zhyen enslaved or bound to a cruel master who undergoes a physical transformation into a more humanoid form and sullen existence.

On Golarion

Planar scholars disagree on the nature and origins of zhyen. Some theorize that they are planar material that has separated and grown self-aware, others believe them to be a lesser form of genie, and still others postulate that zhyen are the wholesale creation of more powerful genies similar to the role a homunculus plays to a mortal spellcaster.