Humans
Humans are hard to categorize easily as they vary greatly by country and region and have spread out across the world. Anthropologists believe humans to be descendants of a long-gone race known as Rorchos. Goblins, Orcs, and Naga are also believed to share this ancestor. Not much is known of that ancient race, but humans today are by far the most populous race within Fetreon. They are ambitious and often live vibrantly despite their shorter lifespans. Many humans believe this shorter life is because their divine spark found in all things burns brighter than in any other race, making them more capable of greatness in a shorter amount of time. Other races don't buy into this theory, but it does explain a fair amount of arrogance among humans. There are three main, distinct human cultures though even among these cultures there is variation and diversity. These more distinct groupings can be labeled as Athos Humans, Keswar humans, and North Meldran Humans.
Age. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.
Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write some variation of Common and one extra language of your choice.
Skills. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.
Feat. You gain one Feat of your choice.
Human Features:
Age. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.
Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write some variation of Common and one extra language of your choice.
Standard
Ability Score Increase. Your ability scores each increase by 1.Variant
Ability Score Increase. Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1.Skills. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.
Feat. You gain one Feat of your choice.
Naming Traditions
Family names
Athos
Humans tend to have 3 names, each relatively short that are strung together for their full, common name. The first name is the elder's chosen name. It reflects the elder that you were born under, as well as the community you were from. The second is their given name (usually given by parents), and their third name is the name they choose for themselves when they reach adulthood (around 16). Some families do feature nontraditional naming conventions and give their children Elvish style names if they live near the border.Baarish
Humans tend to have 3 names as well, their first name, their religious name, and their family name (in that order). Their religious names are usually chosen by the church and indicate social ranking, which can only be changed by the church. However, most people are referred to by their first name, or their first and family name. The religious name is used in formal settings, and it is against the law to give a false religious name. For groups that lay outside the power of the church, they tend to simply drop the religious name, having only 2 names.Meldran
Humans are given a name at birth based on the deeds of their parents. When they get older, they are given a name that sticks with them by the community, not just the immediate family. This is considered their community name and is usually connected to something in the natural world. When they reach adulthood, they can choose their own name which is most often the name they will give others and use after that point. Therefore most adults have at least 3 names. However, as one does more deeds, they tend to add more titles to their name.Culture
Common Etiquette rules
Athos
People in this continent tend to value the respect of elders, and respect of the wisdom of others. They are always interested in hearing outside ideas and concepts and are willing to adjust their ways to a society, but also expect the same in return. To immediately disrespect another's culture or way of doing things is considered rude. Even if someone doesn't agree with another culture's way of life, the people of Athos will generally stay quiet and be respectful during their time interacting with them. Most of their interactions, however, tend to be with fairly peaceful societies giving them a slightly naive worldview. Among their own communities, they may be a little more critical of others' ideas, but still never maliciously so.Baarish
People of this territory are expected to respect nobility as a divine influence and follow Saat. Baarish is also a very "clean" culture with wide gaps between social classes. Peasants are seen as unclean and if they aren't actively following the faith, they are automatically considered to be hosts of the Iniquities. Because the lower class doesn't want to be seen as demons or unclean, they often strive to greatly represent the virtues of Saat and follow the faith. Baarish has a sense of elitism as well and tends to clash, violently, with those of Yazzarak. Any worship or following of the Fey are considered to be Pagan ideals due to their inherent dislike for changelings and the negative influence of the Archfey. However, plenty of the lower class celebrates yearly festivals that are sometimes considered Pagan. The territory still has a good relationship with elvan culture despite this.Meldran
This culture has a wide variety of tribes and cultures within it that value various types of etiquette, however most agree on the idea of respecting and bringing honor to your elders, ancestors, and parents. Boasting and displays of self-pride and confidence are not only common but encouraged; however, it's important to have someone confirm these boasts in order to keep people honest. Despite these boasts and displays of pride, people of Meldran know that all people are equal in value, and that their upbringing and circumstances of their birth that often influence their actions. This is why an insult to someone is generally more of an insult to their parents because their parents are responsible for their upbringing. However, that does not mean people do not actively try and be better themselves or that a person cannot be bad despite all of the best efforts of their parents.Common Dress code
Athos
People in Athos value comfort over modesty. Their clothes are simply designed, expressive, and comfortable for the warm climate of the territory. Nobles might have brightly colored flowing fabrics with rich patterns while common people might have natural fibers and simple designs. Because it's not a particularly advanced culture the pieces of fabric are usually long and wrapped to prevent them from getting in the way. People on coasts may wear wide-brimmed straw hats to keep the sun out of their faces or wear only undergarments on fishing vessels. Because of the large amount of rain, people have gotten used to wearing wooden sandals in muddy areas to avoid stepping in the mud. There isn't a huge distinction between male and female clothing but rather a distinction between professions and necessities for manual labor.Baarish
People of Baarish usually have long simple fabrics tied in unique ways. The more upper class one is, the more likely they incorporate higher-quality fabrics, brighter dyes, brighter patterns, or adornments of gold and silver. These adornments are less common in the Northern areas where the faith is strong, as they tend to value pure white fabrics as a sign of cleanliness. They might find more unique ways to wrap and tie their clothing or have higher quality fabrics among the upper class. Lower-class people in Northern Baarish tend to focus on more practicality with shorter pieces of fabrics, sturdier materials, and shades of brown that don't stain so strongly.Meldran
People of Meldran have grown used to leather worked clothing and hides or thick wool fabrics. They incorporate furs of various animals into their clothing to adjust for the northern winters or use simple leather pants and tunics for summer wear. They often incorporate beads and dyes to these clothing, feathers, and bone. Their style may be similar to that of the giants though they rely far more on bison than they do on mammoths. There isn't a huge distinction between upper and lower class in this territory, however, those with more leadership power or wealth tend to have more well-designed clothing or styles. It's not uncommon, however, for people of the "upper classes" to donate the excess to the lower classes to maintain a balance and sense of community and prevent fighting.Art & Architecture
Athos
People of this region vary depending on coastal or forested areas. People of the coast tend to use more brick and housing While those of the rainforest have grass and mud-style houses or wooden keeps. This culture has an abundance of rare plants that are used for dyes and the like, and they've developed a system of art-making painted and dyed pottery, as well as patterned tapestries and fabrics, even if it's not something they use a lot themselves.Baarish
This territory has wooden or brick houses depending on the territory, with elaborate castles built by dwarven masons. As far as art, however, this territory is popular in forms of poetry, theater, and music. They excel in performance arts and host a number of bardic colleges.Meldran
This culture tends to live in simple wooden or stone houses when sedentary, or hide tents for nomadic people. The culture is well known for its beading and ivory crafting. They tend to export furs as well.Coming of Age Rites
Athos
When an adolescent is ready to become an adult, they often go on a solo adventure to prove themselves. This is very open and most are encouraged that they will know if they are successful when they do it. Some men go hunting or sailing on their own. Some leave to the nearest town and return having obtained something needed in their town or a new piece of knowledge. Some leave to become adventurers. Some just camp overnight, praying and fasting before returning.Baarish
Coming of age in these territories is less of an interesting event. Some consider their pledge to the church, to an oath, or marriage and gain independence from their family.Meldran
People of this region usually celebrate becoming an adult with a community feast on their 16th summer. If there are multiple individuals who are sharing their 16th summer, they will celebrate together with a large feast. After this feast, they are considered old enough to marry and make their own decisions. The community will usually gift them their own home at that point. If they marry and move into their partner's home, the home goes back to the community.Funerary and Memorial customs
Athos
People of the forests often bury their dead under the roots of trees around them, in hopes that their spirits will defend the borders of the settlement. This is usually a small gathering where the immediate family cleans and cares for the body, wrapping it in natural fabrics and digging the grave themselves. Afterward, the family will light torches around their home, keeping the place well lit, and if it's nice out, release paper lanterns into the sky. Illumination is a way to counterbalance the darkness of another lost soul. People in coastal areas do sea burials but will light all the lanterns of their ship or home much the same way.Baarish
People of Baarish tend to have crypts or mausoleums in their temples while rich estates might have their own personal cemetery or crypt. Priests are usually involved in funeral matters with a mixture of salt, silver, and iron maintaining an ever-present barrier around the resting places of the dead. This is to protect them from demons, fey, undead, and the like. People generally will mourn their dead anywhere from a month to a year, wearing only black in those times and abstaining from alcohol, festivals, and sex.Meldran
People of this area tend to do funeral pyres as a habit. Many of their communities were once nomadic people that wouldn't be able to go back and visit graves. Archaic traditions lead to them make tattoos out of the ashes of lost ones, but that has fallen out of favor now. The community has developed a culture of saying goodbye to their dead in somber rituals and songs, before moving on and not looking back. As part of funeral culture, the community will never say the name the deceased individual gave themselves again (unless a new person chooses the name for themselves as part of their coming of age ritual).Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Athos
This region takes a lot of influence from the surrounding territories. Humans try and maintain healthy hair, slim features, and a sense of athleticism. Even women are more desirable if they are fit. They express themselves through intricate braids, natural decorations, or body modification (tattoos and piercings) commonly associated with the elves to the east. Tattoos featuring images of the sea, ship loyalty, and stories are common among sailing territories.
Baarish
This region tends to consider weight as a display of wealth and upper social class. Women especially are expected to be busty with wide hips to show fertility, as large families are also a sign of wealth and religious growth. Purity and simplicity are also valued, clashing greatly with those from Athos For example, tattoos and piercings are disapproved of. In the kingdoms in the northern part of Baarish, wealth is also displayed via the fabrics and dyes used in clothing and the intricacies of hairstyles and patterns. In southern Baarish, purity and simplicity are valued more, as is natural "beauty" and pure white fabrics and cleanliness.Meldran
People of Meldran tend to be very self-expressive and decorative. People often value how an individual expresses themselves via their talents, or how they show off their home and traditional skills of homemaking, hunting, gathering, or farming. For example, a hunter with well-made hides of fur, bone decorations, and claw necklaces would be considered very stylish and desirable.
Gender Ideals
Athos and Meldran
Males are considered hunters, warriors, or sailors while women tend to stay home and care for children, cook or mend and maintain the home. Athos is less strict with gender roles, however, and many choose to switch these roles. In these situations, they are expected to pull their weight and still abide by traditions within that role. In Meldran, however, this is far less common, as there is a great pride and social expectation to display skills within expected gender roles. For example, a male might be expected to be a proud and a good hunter. He might display his furs and bones decoratively as beauty ideals and act proud or boast of these skills in order to gain social popularity. A woman might be expected to maintain a house, cook, and care for children. She might display good craftsmen of fabrics or host a gathering at her well-cared-for home with delicious foods. She would be proud of these skills. These skills also reflect on how well they were raised. Children are often seen as the pride of their parents and an individual with poor skills reflects poorly on the parents. Rejecting these roles is not just a rejection of social expectation, but also a rejection of your parent's ability to raise you and is an insult to them.
Baarish
Humans tend to have a fairly gender-neutral society where your social class and position within the church tend to have the most value, rather than gender roles. Anyone can take an official position as long as they represent the ideas of the church or culture. In the kingdoms to the south, less influenced by the church, Intelligence and competence are valued, while anyone can become a warrior or knight.
Courtship Ideals
Athos
Humans tend to have a casual idea about love and spending time with whoever they get along with and separating if they stop getting along. They do not have a standard idea of marriage and often have children from various different partners. All parties still maintain strong connections with their children, as this is often normal. Gay relationships are not uncommon.
Baarish
Dating is very formal and often arranged. Courtships are often chaperoned and eventually presented before the church. It's more of a tool for social power, political gain, or religious devotion rather than an expression of love. In the kingdoms of Southern Baarish, because marriage is so formal and usually used to produce social ties, children, and political gain, infidelity is quite common. However, because having a child with someone you are not married with is such an extreme taboo and insult to the involved houses and church, most sexual relationships that are outside of the marriage (such personal lovers) are either infertile or same-sex. It's not uncommon for a wife to have routine sex with her husband when attempting to have children, and then having a more casual relationship with an infertile male or female lover. Same with men. This lover usually takes the place of their personal handmaid. Among the lower class, infidelity is less common as people marry more for love, and thus often ridicule the upper class for their infidelity. In Northern Baarish where the church is in extreme power, this is far from the norm and these territories have a very critical view of the northern countries.
Meldran
The community often notices the skills and displays of the youth to make themselves seem desirable, and will play matchmaker, often bringing to couples together that seem exceptionally well suited together. Dating becomes more of a simulation among the elders than something the couple engages in. If it doesn't work out, the community understands but will get increasingly more frustrated if the couples are considered "picky." If someone is homosexual, they often show this by not partaking in beautiful displays of pride in skills and let the community know that they are not interested in marriage. This is usually left alone, with some negative stigmas and communal disappointment.
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