Human
"Nature abhores a vacuum. It is unsurprising then that the collapse of elven dominion was quickly followed by an age of human ascendancy."Humans are the most numerous of the sentient species of Massaolo and, along with elves, are counted among the "civilized races."
Additional Information
Social Structure
Human social structures vary widely between different cultural groups.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Humans are found in nearly every corner of the world with only elven strongholds such as Lakura and areas unsuitable to human life being free from human presence.
Average Intelligence
Humans and elves are of roughly equivalent intelligence, though they are well known to be more capable of language acquisition than elves. The reasons for this are unknown.
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Humans are distinct from elves in that they have several languages of various unrelated language families. Some of the most important human languages are High Draxu, Kolu'a, Konelsva, and Sheboi but there are several others. The inate human gift for language aquisition leads to a large number of humans being multi-lingual when compared to elven societies.
History
Human history prior to the past few hundred years is difficult to verify in its entirety due to scarcity of writen records outside of heavily poetic works. Many modern scholars consequently view the commonly understood history with a healthy dose of skeptisism.
Origins
Humans in their current form are thought to have originated during the Serene Era after a previously existing species was altered by the Elves to serve as a slave race. Throughout the next few thousand years the human slaves began to escape and form their own societies in the remote and isolated places of the world where the elves would not look for them. Some of these societies grew in strength and became strong enough to harass the elves such as the Domi, Kosva, and Menuyians, prompting several wars that ultimately failed to destroy the fledgling human civilizations but cost both sides greatly.The Great Invasions and Aftermath
At the end of the Serene Era during the reign of the elven queen Vumeya the elven Dominion began to collapse under the weight of plague, unrest, and natural disaster. Capitalizing on elven weakness, a number of human societies invaded the most valuable of the elven lands. Over the course of three decades the elves were nearly wiped off the face of the world, surviving only in a handful of remote and defendable regions. With the dominion forever beaten, the various human groups set about building their own places in the post-dominion world, the death of the last elven queen Vumeya marking year 1 of the Liberty Era.Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Despite the nearly six centuries since the collapse of the elven dominion, animosity is still present between humans and elves, though time has healed some of the wounds of the great invasions. Some human societies offer limited tolerance for elves and vice versa, but few on either side are willing to view the other as friends or allies.
Humans are generally hostile to hybrids such as centaurs, merfolk, harpies, etc. just as their elven counterparts are, though some human societies are more hostile towards them than others.
Lifespan
80 years
Average Height
170 centimeters (male)
155 centimeters (female)
Average Weight
70 k.g.
Average Physique
Humans are bulkier and more physically resiliant than elves on average.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Humans come in a variety of skin tones from light pink to bronze to amber to ebony and everything in between.
Related Ethnicities
Related Myths
Related Materials
Comments
Author's Notes
Using the image of the Demian family until I get around to making a more inclusive cover.