The Newborn

The Humans; Helen's Grandchildren

And so they rose from muck and topsoil, bodies soft as clay and minds softer, the newborn children of this world.

-- The Natural Bible, Stirrings of Man

The first humanoids shaped by the hands of Anaphrene at the instruction of her mother, Helenaphe before her death. These soft-bodied people were molded in the image of their creators and sent into the world under their instructions. The practice of human-making is a dark secret kept by the Arch-gods which included Helen and her daughter. But Anaphrene had an unsteady hand and in the process a little of the Earthen Power trickled into the humans--an error she kept to herself and which would have severe repercussions in the far future.
A great number of gods and arch-gods led groups of Firstborn to the corners of the continent, the pairings confirmed by Anaphrene who recorded them in her ledger. Where they stoped and settled, the Newborn hardened in form and took on the physical characteristics of their leaders. From then on, the leaders shaped their people in culture, lifestyle, and--most importantly--faith.
The significant groups were

• The Ashborn, led by arch-goddess Anthemir and her pantheon to settle what became the modern day Faunlands
• The Cantran, led to settle much of the southern and western Mindreland, led by a host of smaller gods
• The people of Jonu Quiato, the Quiaties, led by Mensonodia and her six sons
• Those who followed the northern coast and settled the lands called Manatz, the Manatza
• The Helpharians, led by Kipsfree who was attacked and killed just past the Canterlund mountains. The people continued until they reached the ices of modern-day Helphar
• The Nilofaurians and people of Marziene, led by the four "Hole-Headed" brothers
• Those who stayed close to Helenaphe's corpse, to found the nation of Sulghury among many gods
• And a vast number of other gods and peoples, searching for what patches of land they could cultivate between the great tracts already claimed by others

Characteristics

The Newborn were humanoid though inconsistent in shape, with porous skin that ran from soil black, to clay red, to chalky white. Their behavior differed little from ducklings and they took after their leaders with a mindless curiosity. Once shaped, they took a variety of forms and features, most retaining a human appearance though some becoming squashed or twisted such as the Gnomes of Faun.
Most Newborns reached their final destination safely by their guides, even those becoming separated often made it with desperate steps back to the main group. Though there are a few who never reached their destination, retained their lacking forms, and began to wander about the land. These became the creatures called Shamblers and still walk the world to this day, seeking humanity in whatever form it can find.

Diverged ethnicities

• Ashborn
• Helpharian
• Manatza
• Nilofaurian
• Quiaties

Related Organizations

• Holy Church of Helen