Human
The Humans of Naphus are a dominant and diverse race, shaping much of the world’s politics, wars, and cultural landscapes. Human societies are built on ambition, power struggles, and survival rather than pure heroism. They are relatively short-lived in comparison to dwarves, elves, and other sentient humanoids and perhaps it is because of their shorter
lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder races, and that’s why they build their mighty empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are the innovators, the achievers, and the pioneers of the world.
Basic Information
Anatomy
With their penchant for migration and conquest, humans are more physically diverse than other common races. There is no typical human. Humans are warm-blooded, upright-walking primates with high endurance and dexterity. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Certain Human characteristics such as eye and hair color are inherited genetically, though some superstitions or magical beliefs exist around rare traits (e.g., silver eyes might be seen as a sign of latent magic). Human skin shades range from nearly black to very pale, and hair colors from black to blond (curly, wavy, or straight males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century.
Biological Traits
The material culture and physical characteristics of humans can change wildly from region to region. On Naphus, for example, the clothing, architecture, cuisine, music, and literature are different in the Elithrian Republic than in the distant deserts of Carthus or the people of Embershard. Human physical characteristics, though, vary according to the ancient migrations of the earliest humans, so the humans of Carthus have every possible variation of coloration and features since it is one of the oldest human inhabited regions in the world.
Growth Rate & Stages
• Average Lifespan: Around 70-90 years in ideal conditions, though war, disease, and harsh environments often reduce this significantly.
• Growth Stages:
• Childhood: 0-12 years
• Adolescence: 13-19 years (Rapid development, hormonal changes)
• Adulthood: 20-50 years (Peak physical and mental capability)
• Elderly: 50+ (Gradual decline, though wisdom and experience increase)
Additional Information
Social Structure
Where a single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of guarding a special location or a powerful secret, humans found sacred orders and institutions for such purposes. While dwarf clans and elven elders pass on the ancient traditions to each new generation, human temples, governments, libraries, and codes of law fix their traditions in the bedrock of history. Humans dream of immortality, but they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone. Most of the Humans of Naphus are exceptionally xenophobic and rarely get along with the other races at all. Humans have a difficult time being trusted by the other races due to their proclivity for conquest and domination with the feeling being mutual for humans towards non-humans. As a result, Human dominated territories have very little racial diversity aside from the diversity found in Humans. Humans tend to view the other races a "bound by nature" and thus they associate most other races with the wildness of the natural outlands.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Humans are the most adaptable and ambitious people among the common races. They have widely varying tastes, morals, and customs in the many different lands where they have settled. When they settle, though, they stay: they build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single human’s memory. They live fully in the present, making them well suited to the adventuring life; but also plan for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political and social dynamics.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Having so much more variety than other cultures, humans as a whole have no typical names. Some human parents give their children names from other languages, such as Dwarvish or Elvish (pronounced more or less correctly), but most parents give names that are linked to their region’s culture or to the naming traditions of their ancestors.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Humans who seek adventure are the most daring and ambitious members of a daring and ambitious race. They seek to earn glory in the eyes of their fellows by amassing power, wealth, and fame. The culture of human society ranges just as wide as their skin or eye color. In other words, it all depends on where in the world you are from. Those born in Carthus may revere the Spirits of Carthus before paying their respects to the Gods, something completely unthinkable in places such as Acharia or Elithria.
Scientific Name
Homo Naphirensis
Average Height
5-6 ft.
Average Weight
125-250 lbs.
Related Organizations
