Brethren

The Myriad

Chief among the races of Men are the Brethren. They are Overmen, like the Elves and Orcs, but are the most culturally diverse race, with several broad groups existing in the Fifth Era. These include the northern Brights, who have pale skin and straight hair, the southern Atars, who have tanned skin and wavy hair, and the eastern Sawali, who have ebony skin and curling, frizzy hair. There is debate whether each should be considered a race in their own right, for each contains a multitude of cultural groups within. They are the most populous race of Men, and can be found all over the world in droves, with exception to Aldomar.

They originated at the start of the Fourth Era, on the Third Plane, though much of the history of that time has been lost. Orcs were created to be their natural antithesis and opponent, though the individuality within Brethren society often means that no external threats need be created.

Generally, Brethren are the shortest of the races of the Overmen, though they still tower over the Undermen. Males stand anywhere from five and a half feet to six and a half feet, generally, with females standing from five feet to six feet in general. They are enduring, resourceful, and fiercely independent as a rule, and physically are jacks-of-all-trades. They are not the greatest in any physical or mental capacity, but they are not the worst in any either. They are among the short-lived races of Men, which also include Goblins and Orcs, and generally live for only eighty years or so.

Brethren inhabit every corner of the world. Atars can be found in great numbers around the Ataarah Bay, and spread across the dry and hot southern regions of the continent. Sawalis are found with the greatest regularity in the far southeast, on the Ambasa peninsula as well as the tropics to the north of there. Brights are the majority population of northern Caldomare.