Human (hyoo-man)

"I've never met a single human I didn't like. Except for most of them."
— Traveling Tokage Merchant

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humans are bipedal mammalians who populate the majority of the surface of Ardras. They are hairless for the most part with different varieties of hair at the top of their head and in several other patches on the body. They are equipped with multi-digit extremities which they use to grab and manipulate the world around them.

Biological Traits

Humans stand upright on two legs which make up the bulk of their height, their skin is dependent on the climate they reside in, ranging from very pale to very dark hues. They are equipped with two hands which they use to manipulate the world around them, and often (though not always) have a head of hair on top of their skulls.

Growth Rate & Stages

Humans typically live from anywhere between 60 -100 years, with some exceptions amongst those who heavily train their minds and bodies. They take on a diminutive form known as a child for the first seven to eighteen years of their life then spend the majority of their lives performing work and tasks as an adult. As they age their bodies begin to wear down, the skin on their faces begin to wrinkle and their hair begins to fall away and deteriorate.

Ecology and Habitats

Humans are happiest in temperate climates where the weather does not produce extremes in temperature.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Humans organize themselves in a variety of ways but most commonly with a single leader at the head of an organization who delegates tasks either for industrious work, a healthy home life, or towards an objective goal.

Facial characteristics

Humans have two eyes, one nose, and one mouth; these are used to navigate the world around them. Humans have a variety of expressions and gestures associated with the face.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Humans reside over most of the world of Ardras, mostly finding a comfortable life anywhere between softly rolling grasslands, rugged mountain terrain, and even barren deserts.

Average Intelligence

Humans may lack the cleverness of the tokage, or the stalwart determination of a fervorian, but they are excellent at carrying out complex tasks, crafting tools, and utilizing a variety of means to exhibit their intelligence. Many humans take up the arts, craftmanship, or scholarly pursuits.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Humans have various different naming traditions that change from region to region. Primarily the three core naming traditions are the Lithosian variant, which makes ample use of double consonants, the Oceos'lo'kai variant which incorporates breaks in the pronunciation of names, and the Aristoliant variant which incorporates commonly heard terms in the naming as well as evolutions of the Lithosian variant.

Major Organizations

Merchant's Guild

Mercenaries Guild

Beauty Ideals

Humans have a variety of different ideals when choosing their partners, primarily based on one of either two factors and sometimes both. The first factor being the physical appearance of their mate which is chosen by health and the likeliness that such a partnership will bring prosperity; and the second factor being the emotional reactions engaged between two individuals. Each culture has several more specific ideals, the aforementioned traits being more of a umbrella observation.

Gender Ideals

Human gender ideals range between conservative and liberal exhibits of behavior, men are expected to provide with resources like shelter and food, while the females are typically given the role of child-rearing and homekeeping. These are not always exclusively the case.

Courtship Ideals

Human beings have many different ways of expressing love and interest to one another, usually through the sharing of gifts, personal and private connections between two individuals, as well as a myriad of simple culturally oriented rituals such as flower giving or oath taking.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Common

Arrisdrian

Lithoi

Oceos'lo'kaiian

Common Etiquette Rules

Humans are ambitious and curious creatures, and they are most often happy to make new friends so long as they can find some degree of benefit from the relationship. They have a tendency to be mild-mannered when meeting new peoples, but they are often quick to reveal their true nature through their actions.

Common Dress Code

Humans are most comfortable when wearing cloth spun from materials like fur, wool, cotton, and other threads. Usually wealthier humans will wear multiple layers of clothing complete with various accessories from different lands. Poorer humans wear simple clothing and in more destitute cases, rags and threadbare cloths.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Humans are the most widespread of races across Ardras, and the many varieties of ways they that they live their lives changes from region to region; their cultures are directly linked to the environment that they develop in, and humans make skilled use of the resources and landscape to produce and develop trade and commerce.

History

The first humans appeared in Ardras during the Era of Light, establishing small settlements across the landscape. The mighty Essebu thought little of them at first, but over the centuries human populations would begin to spike and gradually rise to a position of global dominance with the establishment of the Kingdom of the First Men. It wasn't until humans began to learn magic that the Essebu began to consider them a threat to the continuation of orderly existence. Their power would be consolidated within the confines of their kingdom, with various other cities established. Among them were the ancient settlements of Garras and Hammas, as well as several others which have fallen into ruin in the icy reaches of Chillrend. Smaller human groups would expand outwards towards the south and east during this time. The Essebu and human races would war for many centuries, during this time the Essebu would pit the Tokage dynast-kings to the south and the newly crafted Fervorian warriors against the humans, but in time this alliance would crumble as the humans enslaved fallen fervorians and subterfuge between the tokage clans would bring them to ruin. Some human groups would perform dark rituals which would empower them to produce magic using their own bodies as a conduit for nura. Five god-kings, God King Arrliot, God King Barrony, God King Obrrin, God Queen Morrigan, and God Queen Verrid would lead the human races in the war with the Essebu. Each of them would establish their own lines of noble lineage who would rule over the human races after their deaths. Until the events of The Sundering, humans would grow to dominate the landscape of the world. Under her divine protection, the Sages of Verrid established their ancient order hidden amongst the groves of the Erudite Forest for God-Queen Verrid, their powerful magics proved to be an excellent ward from the prescience of the Essebu. God Queen Morrigan established the city of Garras and waged a bloody war with the world's divine architects with the aid of God King Obrrin. Their actions would be the driving cause for the Sundering. Following the aftermath of this cataclysmic event, the shattered human kingdoms would piece themselves back together during the Era of Dusk, in the west the Lithosians with their potent magics would be seperated from the rest of the human race; these others would go on to become the various cultures of Aristolia.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Humans are good at adapting to different situations and encountering new things, because of this humans are generally regarded as friendly with most other races.

by Harry Bogosian

Humans are by and far the most widespread of Ardras's denizens, ranging from artisan specialists, venerant scholars, and avid storytellers.

Lifespan

60 – 100 years

Average Height

Men – 5'4" to 6'2"
Women – 4'11" to 5'10"

Average Weight

Men – 110 to 180 lbs. | Women – 85 to 160 lbs.

Average Physique

Built, muscular, physically fit

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pale to dark skin

Related Organizations

Ozzara

Related Ethnicities

Related Myths

The Sundering

Human

Ability Score Increase

Size Medium

Speed 30ft

Ability Score Increase: When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. (You can't raise any of your scores above 20.) Size: Medium Speed: 30ft Languages: Common, (Any one other language)

Choose one Culture: Lithosian - The western mages of Lithos trace their bloodlines back to the ancient God-Kings from the Era of Light, magic comes more easily to them, and their cities are full of shops dedicated to magic and magical artifacts. Their lands are heavily forested and full of ancient mystery, their faith, Erudism focuses on preparing young minds for the use of magic.

Cantrip: You know one cantrip of your choice from the wizard spell list. Charisma, Wisdom or Intelligence is your Spellcasting Ability for these spells (you decide upon character creation)

Well Studied: Through dedication to study you pour yourself into developing skill in a field you're passionate about. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Aristolian - The wealthy merchants, mercenaries, craftsmen, artisans, and diplomats of the central plains and forests of Ardras. This diverse culture encompasses humans from three different major kingdoms, unified with their common roots as human beings. They are known for their engineering and crafting of all kinds of weapons and armor.

Engineer's Ingenuity: You have proficiency with artisan tools (tinker's tools). Using those tools, you can spend 1 hour and 10 gp worth of materials to construct a Tiny clockwork device (AC 5, 1 hp). The device ceases to function after 24 hours (unless you spend 1 hour repairing it to keep the device functioning), or when you use your action to dismantle it; at that time, you can reclaim the materials used to create it. At your DM's discretion, you may make objects with effects similar in power to the Prestidigitation Cantrip.

Silver Tongue: You have advantage on Persuasion and Insight checks.

Oceos'lo'kaiian - The seafaring peoples of the eastern coasts and archipelagos of Ardras. They are known for their freedom loving, rebellious nature and their diverse people groups. They believe they descended from a mythical jungle known as the Meinong Jungle, and their culture is full of many tales of great spirits. They speak in a strange and poetic dialect full of metaphors and cryptic sayings.

Natural Swimmers: You have a swim speed of 40ft speed

Seafarer:You are proficient in Nature and Water Vehicles

Meinongian - A semi nomadic people dwelling across deserts, jungles, and savannahs, they are known for their unique craft goods and warrior monk culture. Their rich ancestry has been lost to the sands of time; however ancient secrets often pass down from one generation to the next.

Mein'ong Influence: You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.

Caravaneer:You can move across difficult terrain without expending extra movement if you are using your walking speed on the ground or a floor.

La'taosian - The indigenous coastal folk residing on the eastern and southern edges of the Mein'ong Jungle; they are the direct descendents of the humans who traveled through the jungle's interior and came through to the other side. Their culture is led by shamanic leaders.

Heritage Weapons: Trident, Longbow, Blowgun, Net

Jungle's Lost: You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast the Darkvision spell with this trait. Once you cast either spell with this trait, you can't cast that spell again until you finish a long rest. Charisma, Wisdom or Intelligence is your Spellcasting Ability for these spells (you decide upon character creation)