Human
Humans are one of the newest races to arrive in Llenilan, and instantly made an impression with their tenacity, adaptability, and passion. While elves can spend decades training a skill, dwarven craftsmen a year on a single project, and halflings can easily spend a full day lying in the sun with a pipe; humans are restless and excited in comparison. Known for their fast-paced (and short lived) lives, humans can and will dive into anything wholeheartedly, even if they've never done it before. This outlook on life appears short sighted and foolhardy to the longer-lived races of the world, and they often see humans as childish, even in their elderly years. With a wide range of skin, hair, and eye colors, and just as large a range of shapes, humans can have an intimidating number of appearances to other races.
Humans arrived during the end of the 2nd Era, much later than the majority of the races who've settled Llenilan. The earliest to make landfall in Llenilan claimed ancestry from a far-off continent called Nov. They brought all manner of crops and animals not native to Llenilan, including horses and potatoes, and their ships were made of red clay and brasswood. Human sailors told stories about their homeland, its locations, leaders, heroes, and gods. The few islands far to the west that call themselves Nov are a fraction of the size of this reputed homeland, and have little in common with these stories of the long-lost home. It's become a joke among the long-lived races that anytime a human makes a fool of themselves "it's an old Nov custom".
The primary human deity is Pelor, while the other gods play a much smaller, but still important role. A few of the old gods from Nov made the journey with the earliest humans: Mystra (magic), Cyric (trickster), Waukeen (trade), and Sune (love). These old human gods are still worshiped by small numbers of followers in most major cities. Humans governments have organized themselves into three major nations: The Kingdom of Dain, the Duchy of Elonia, and the Republic of Vassire.
The expansive population of humans on Llenilan is broadly categorized into eleven different cultures and ethnic groups, though many more are found in other lands. These cultures have their own styles of art, dress, religious expression, and naming conventions, though these all share a common human root.
Humans arrived during the end of the 2nd Era, much later than the majority of the races who've settled Llenilan. The earliest to make landfall in Llenilan claimed ancestry from a far-off continent called Nov. They brought all manner of crops and animals not native to Llenilan, including horses and potatoes, and their ships were made of red clay and brasswood. Human sailors told stories about their homeland, its locations, leaders, heroes, and gods. The few islands far to the west that call themselves Nov are a fraction of the size of this reputed homeland, and have little in common with these stories of the long-lost home. It's become a joke among the long-lived races that anytime a human makes a fool of themselves "it's an old Nov custom".
The primary human deity is Pelor, while the other gods play a much smaller, but still important role. A few of the old gods from Nov made the journey with the earliest humans: Mystra (magic), Cyric (trickster), Waukeen (trade), and Sune (love). These old human gods are still worshiped by small numbers of followers in most major cities. Humans governments have organized themselves into three major nations: The Kingdom of Dain, the Duchy of Elonia, and the Republic of Vassire.
The expansive population of humans on Llenilan is broadly categorized into eleven different cultures and ethnic groups, though many more are found in other lands. These cultures have their own styles of art, dress, religious expression, and naming conventions, though these all share a common human root.
- Alandra: The Alandran people make up the largest ethnic group in Dain. Their skin is often a tawny-beige color, with dark, almond-shaped eyes and dark hair that often falls straight. They're most known for the tradition of fine silk weaving that has been passed down for generations. Upper-class men normally wear more colorful silks, and women more muted tones. The poor tend to wear simple linen robes, tunics, trousers, and skirts, adorned with bright color when possible.
- Calian: The Calians are known for their intricate rituals of tattooing and body painting. Moments in a person's life are inscribed in ink on their back, and faces and arms are painted before major life events, from battle to holidays. They have slender faces and strong jaws, with hair ranging from red to black and skin in just as broad a variety. They can be found all across Llenilan.
- Deniska: The most common ethnic group in Elonia, the Deniska commonly have sepia to russet-brown skin tones, black and brown hair, and green or brown eyes. Their features are often gaunt and thin. Clothes are typically made of fur or linen, and feature ruffles, frills, high collars, and embroidery.
- Fellani: The human culture that can be found in the Wildlands, the Fellani tend to have slim builds, medium-to-dark skin, and short, straight hair. Their bright blue and grey eyes stand out against the clay colors of their skin. They commonly wear furs and linens, often adorned with beads. Children are taught to hunt, forage, and trap from a young age.
- Gotrian: Most frequently encountered in the northern parts of the continent, Gotrians have pale skin and broad faces with sharp cheeks, often with freckles. They usually have blonde or red hair, with blue, grey, or green eyes. Furs and leather are the most common clothing material, and clothes are primarily designed for utility.
- Kanit: The Kanit are commonly met along the southwest coast of Llenilan, and have ochre skin and broad shoulders and chests. Their hair is often curly and dark, and their eyes darker shades of brown. Women are typically clothed in skirts or knee-length dresses, and men in sleeveless robes that reach the ankle.
- Medish: The largest ethnic group in the Empire of Vassire, the Medish people tend to have aquiline noses, curly hair, and skin ranging in shades from light olive to deep bronze. Medish dress tends to include trousers for both men and women, with tunics that drop close to the knee and are belted around the waist. Men typically keep facial hair and wear caps or hats of some variety, while women often wear their hair in a ponytail or other knot.
- Podoro: A shorter and stouter group of people, the Podoroan are a mountainous folk with fair skin and light eyes. They wear clothes made of wool from the livestock they keep, and are known to use plants other cultures find inedible to make a number of hearty dishes.
- Selam: The second largest ethnic group in Dain, the Selam have amber and brass toned skin, with hair ranging in shades of brown and black, and eyes from green to deep browns. Men and women typically wear flowing clothing, with purple and silver saved for the wealthiest members of society. Jewelry is common, as are headscarves and other hats. Some wealthy men braid their beards. Selama culture places great emphasis on magical talent - those who can wield magic effectively find themselves gliding into higher positions of power with ease.
- Telesian: The Telesians are the most common ethnic group in the Anchorhead region and the islands just west. They're a tall, dark-skinned people with black hair and deep brown eyes. Their ancestors were among the first humans to arrive on the continent, and this maritime tradition still influences the culture. Men often wear white, red, or yellow, and typically shave their heads. Women commonly braid their hair, and wear clothing that covers the full spectrum of color.
- Yamite: A pastoral culture that is found in the lowlands between Elonia and Dain, the Yamite commonly have light-to-medium golden skin, with dusty brown hair and round eyes. Their dress is simple but effective - cloth wraps around the waist for men and women, and a loose draping piece of cloth over the torso for women, each in a variety of colors. Renowned as horsemen and ranchers, the Yamite culture has a proud tradition of horseback archery.
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