Human
Sometimes considered the "rats" of the civilized races, humans have endured and flourished throughout the centuries due to strong survival instincts and determination. They are an enigma to many other races, lacking the strong racial tendencies common to most other peoples. Humans can assume almost any world view, follow almost any profession, and worship almost any god. In fact, the only constant among humans is that they're all different.
More than almost any other civilized race, humans often tend to disagree with each other, a trait that results in internal conflict within human cities and occasionally in civil war. Humans often take up these differences with other races as well, unable to fathom why everyone else shouldn't see things their way. As a result, humans are often coolly received by others (although they are rarely killed on sight). Individual humans can often overcome this dislike once others get to know them, and, with some effort, a human can manage to be accepted almost anywhere.
Homeland
Humans are most common on the continent of Antonica, and can be found from the great city of Freeport to Qeynos and in High Pass Keep and smaller settlements in the Commonlands and Plains of Karana. Human communities are generally ruled by a prince or king or similar central authority supported by knights and other armed guards. Human differences often place their lands in conflict, as diverse humans fight to bring their own ideologies into practice or, more simply, to take power for themselves.Demeanor
Humans are more adaptable and flexible than virtually any other race in Norrath, and as a result they are especially hard to generalize. They often think of themselves as "normal" and view anyone quite different from themselves to be "odd." This often makes other races suspicious of humans, an attitude most humans find mystifying. What some see as arrogance is, to humans, the belief that humanity is the yardstick by which everyone else should be measured — which, ironically, is undeniably a form of arrogance. Humans are variously driven by the same motivations as other races (greed, goodwill, revenge, the desire for justice, etc.), but seem more interested in philosophical issues than most other races. Humans tend to justify their motivations not merely as what they want, but as their "right," a natural desire that everyone should understand and appreciate.Appearance
Humans are smaller than barbarians but more stout than Erudites. An average male stands just under 6 feet and weighs 170 to 180 pounds (women tend to be slightly shorter and lighter). Hair color can be brown, blond, black, gray, red, or even white. Skin ranges from pale to well tanned, and eye color can be blue, green, brown, or black. Human men can grow facial hair, though many keep themselves cleanshaven, and in some case tend toward baldness in later life; human women, except in extremely rare instances, cannot grow facial hair, and they only rarely experience baldness. Human garments are generally simpler in style and pattern than those of elves or Erudites. Cotton and leather are preferred materials, with cloth shoes and leather boots equally common. Each human tends to have his or her own sense of style, but this is rarely allowed to compromise the practical nature of clothes and equipment. Humans like jewelry as a rule, and often ornament common items with precious metals or small gems.Religion
Humans, separately, worship nearly every god known to Norrath. Many worship a god appropriate to their profession; for example, rogues pay respects to Fizzlethorpe Bristlebane, and wizards dedicate themselves to Solusek Ro. Though human cities are generally intolerant of human followers of Bertoxxulous or Innoruuk, even these deities often have secret shrines dedicated to them within the largest human settlements. A considerable number of humans are agnostic, feeling that the gods are the crutches of the weak, that they are beings of importance to only other races, or that the gods do not deserve their worship. No humans deny their existence, for there is proof enough, but many agnostics simply don't see them as relevant to their own daily lives.Quests
Humans become involved in quests as a way to see more of the world, possibly with a view to setting up a new home elsewhere. Though humans undergo quests for any number of reasons, a surprising number of them feel that great destinies await them, and begin questing in an effort to fulfill their destined roles. Since nearly any role a questions group might require can be filled by a human, it's not unusually for entirely human adventuring groups to develop from childhood friendships. Similarly, when other groups know they need a particular position filled, they can count on finding a suitable member in a human city. As a result, some humans are enticed or hired to join non-human groups simply as a matter of convenience.Lasting Institutions
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 Halfling 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 (except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone. Although some humans can be xenophobic, in general their societies are inclusive. Human lands welcome large numbers of nonhumans compared to the proportion of humans who live in nonhuman lands.
Genetic Descendants
Comments