Humans
As one of the most populous and prolific species on the planet, humans can be found just about anywhere in the known world. Though they are not even close to being the hardiest or strongest people, they nevertheless find themselves saddled with an insatiable desire to explore and expand. Unfortunately, this often comes coupled with a similarly powerful desire to claim and to own the things they discover. With members of their species now claiming both Duwallen and Stirge as ancestral homes, there has been underlying concern among the other sapients for quite a while that they might eventually attempt to expand their empires across the shattered globe. Thus far, the leaders of both human nations seem to be aware of their limitations and unwilling to attempt to wrest new lands from the hands of their rightful inhabitants, but it has yet to stop individual groups of explorers and would-be settlers from laying down stakes everywhere from Mordrekain to distant Sur'Dhanza.
Humans seem to be surprisingly fluid, culturally. Though they do have a number of strong cultures they call their own, individuals who leave their homeland to live among others are quite adept at conforming to new social norms and living situations, even when their new neighbors have vastly different physiology. Humans have been known to adapt to subterranean conditions within The Underkingdom, to the cloud cities of the winged, snake-like Qoatl, and even to frozen wastes of the edges of the world.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Humans are bipedal, loosely apelike creatures that are generally considered to be the blank template onto which various aspects were pasted in order to create all other sapient mortals, thus the surprisingly common usage of the term 'humanoid'. This is factually incorrect, as Humans actually came quite late in the order of mortal creation, but thus far the gods have not seen fit to correct anyone on the matter.
The average Human is relatively hairless, with most of what they have being centralized on the top of the head and on the face. This aspect of their appearance, among a few other superficial factors like skin color range and the average shape of their facial features, draws many comparisons to the Dwarves of Mordrekain. These comparisons do have merit on a surface level, but below the skin, the differences between them steadily grow more apparent, particularly in terms of bone density and dental structure.
Arcane Mutation
When one is exposed to magical effects - and more specifically, one's own magical effects - over long periods of time, it tends to eventually have an effect on one's appearance. Humans, as a sort of 'biological blank slate' in the eyes of many, appear to suffer from these effects more than most other species. In areas where magic use is particularly pervasive, such as Duwallen and the shores of Mavensreach, entire families can be found with mutations significant enough to almost be considered something other than human. Unnaturally-colored skin, oddly-shaped facial features, warped limbs; these aspects become ingrained in a person's very DNA and can easily be passed across generations, compounding ever more if those generations, too, over-indulge in the arcane arts. However, because of magic's inherent risks, as well as the amount of time and casting it can require to begin to see the most drastic mutagenic effects, individuals having children after mutations have begun to manifest is fairly rare, limiting the number of these sorts of long-running, magic-touched lineages.
Civilization and Culture
Historical Figures
- Diana Walowik: The daughter of an influential nobleman in Duwallen's yesteryear, Diana was kidnapped and used for a terrifying cult ritual that carved demonic runes into her flesh and used her as the anchor for a portal into the demon homeland of the Old World. Rescued and adopted by the demons she was forced to summon, she has more or less become a demon herself in all but outward appearance. Though she disappeared for centuries after her run-in with the cult, she has since reappeared on the world stage as Duwallen's latest empress, managing to leverage her now-ancient bloodline as the closest known ties to the emperors of old.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
60 - 90 years
Average Height
1.4 - 2.0 meters
Related Ethnicities
Kira & Dale by Sophie "x0mbi3s" Jameson
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