Human

One of the many humanoid races, Humans are known for their willingness to learn from others. They might not live long compared to some other races: they tend to live to be 80 years old at best. But they pride themselves on recording their history, making a mark on it themselves, an interest in other races, and try their best to hold the value of free choice high in their culture. However, the Humans are possibly best known for their craftsmanship: if a Human builds or makes something, it will even outlast several generations of Elven owners.
In terms of their own culture, customs from various tribes have melted together, as these ancient tribes grew closer through trade treaties and peace treaties. The culture of the Humans is always evolving, and longer-lived races have found it a challenge to try and document it due to its ever-changing nature.
Human skin tones range from a pale white to an extremely dark brown. Skin undertones range from rosy tones to cooler hues. Their hair colors range from black to blonde, and it turns grey in their old age. Their eyes can be blue, brown, or green.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Feminine names: Aya, Natalie, Lashawna, Shantae, Moira, Bagurna, Natolya, Xandra, Vergona Masculine names: Naru, Vincent, Kirk, Harris, Bantor, Lorkan, Nate, Sayen, David, Xander, Richmond Gender-neutral names: Bailey, Vuhi, Wishe, Kenosvall, Riley, Oakley, Kalrill, Quinn Last names: Ironshard, Flameborn, Deathwhisper, Orkengard, Malinkord, Stormforged

Major Organizations

The Grand Temple of Siarus The College of Adventurers

Beauty Ideals

Clear skin, high cheekbones, medium height, medium-thick eyebrows, and little to no body hair.

Gender Ideals

For women: slender waist, curvy, long legs, light-coloured hair, rosy cheeks, rosy and full lips, slender nose, long lashes, and long nails. For men: Broad shoulders, small waist, muscular, pronounced jaw, and well-groomed facial hair (if any).

Courtship Ideals

Suitors are expected to not be too pushy towards the one they are courting. This respect is expected to be reciprocated by the one being courted. If a suitor is rejected, they are expected to respect this decision, and move on. A period of dejection is allowed, but it taking longer than two months at most is frowned upon.

Relationship Ideals

Humans often hope to find a romantic partner to share their entire life with. Monogamy is the ideal.

Average Technological Level

Humans are known for their fortresses and others forms of military fortifications: some races claim that a wall built by a Human is the sturdiest in existence, and that it will outlive all Humans. They truly excel at craftsmanship: in terms of blacksmithing, the trade of the jeweler, and more, they are seen as a jack of all trades, but the master of zero. However, what they produce often outlasts even longer-lived owners of the item. Families often prefer to have their heirlooms crafted by a Human. While the subjects of their paintings, music and sculptures are considered plain and banal by the longer-lived races, they are often praised for the techniques used by these same critics.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Humans often hope to keep their memory alive after death, and thus often seek to do something meaningful during their lifespan. As this is short compared to races like the Elven races, family is important to them. They often seek to keep their family name alive. They also acknowledge the ups and downs of life, and try to roll with the punches.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Humans expect each other to learn the basics of another culture when trading or otherwise doing business with important figures of that culture. It's also considered rude to comment on someone's weight, unless they have noticeably lost some.
Weddings are often dedicated to a god. If the couple shares one, then this god will be asked to bless the marriage during the ceremony. If they do not, then the goddess of love will be asked for her blessing. Should the couple have chosen to not marry under a deity, then the town hall will authenticate the marriage. After either a ceremony at a temple or signing a document at the town hall, the couple steps into an ornate palanquin that the guests bear, and carry the, to their new home. This is to symbolically 'save their first steps as a couple for their new life'. Once the procession is there, the guests hold the edge of the palanquin near the treshold of the front door, the couple joins hands, and jumps out over the threshold, symbolically 'taking the plunge'. After this, a reception is organized, and the couple is left alone for their wedding night once it ends. Humans are known to not baptize their children, and instead wait until their child is a teenager to do so. This is to allow them free choice of religion. Midwives and healers are often present to assure the safety of mother and child during childbirth. Around the age of 18 years, Humans are expected to choose a profession. They are by no means expected to keep doing the same all of their lives, but going into the family business is traditionally one's first job.
Humans either bury or cremate their dead. The funeral is often dedicated to the God that the deceased chose, so their soul can move on to their afterlife of choice. If a Human chose to be buried before their death, their body is placed on the altar of their god and the priest says a prayer asking this god to guide the soul of the deceased to their kingdom. A white cloth is then placed on the body, covering it entirely. Priests load the body onto a stretcher, and carry it to a coffin while the procession readies itself to walk to the graveyard. The procession is often silently mourning along the way. Once there, the coffin is lowered into the grave as the priest says the traditional final prayer of the deceased's chosen deity. If the deceased was not religious, then the priests will say something kind about the deceased instead of a prayer, and will say while the coffin is lowered: "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. May your soul find peace." After either of these, the family shovels the first bits of dirt onto the coffin while the priest offers his condolences. After the funeral has ended, the procession leaves for the family's home to mourn, and exchange stories about the deceased. After they are gone, the gravedigger will finish burying the coffin. If a Human chose to be cremated, then the temple ceremony will remain the same as with a burial. Only instead of a coffin, the body is carried to a cremating even within the temple, and the family will follow. The rest of the procession will wait for them. The priest says either a final prayer or recite the non-religious version, while the body is transferred to the oven. The oven will then shut, and the family will join the rest of the procession while it is activated. The urn containing the ashes of the deceased will be brought to the procession, and they will proceed to the graveyard. The priest places the urn in a reserved place in the urn section of the graveyard, and offers his condolences. After this, the procession will head to the family's home to mourn, and exchange stories about the deceased. It's common for Humans to offer a grieving family food for a period of time, and offer to run small errands for them to give them enough time for the mourning process.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Humanoid

Geographic Distribution

• The Eastern Kingdoms
• The Rolling Flats
• The Western Kingdoms
• The Windswept Plains
• Trenboral Peaks