Human

Fast Facts

Population: 200,000,000+

Lifespan: 80 to 100 years

Height: 4 ft. to 7 ft.

Weight: 90 lbs to 400 lbs.

Player Restrictions: None.

Racial Ability: As the dominant species in Atharen, humans are not disadvantaged in most regions of the world with them seeing much social and political advantage nearly everywhere they go.

Racial Bonus: Humans receive +10 XP at creation.

Origins

In her mercy and kindness, Raella fashioned for the weakest of the Endir bodies that allowed them persist within the world the Dragon Gods had created. From this act were born the first mortals, the Hytori. With their creation a new chapter dawned in the universe. It brought wonder. It brought joy. It brought challenges that none of the gods could have forseen. Some time prior to the Age of Dreams, Malgar the Dragon God of Suffering began convening with his brother Wraedan, Dragon God of Death. The story is told that Malgar convinced his brother Wraedan that the Hytori were not true mortals, that they could not bring about the highest vision of the gods because they were closer to Endir than they were mortal. From this meeting, Wraedan was moved to bestow upon a group of them the true gift of mortality.

While the details of the stories vary from culture to culture, with Wraedan sometimes being switched for Myshala and in some instances Malgar acts alone, events transpire that lead to the creation of Man, Orkhan and Dwarf. Some describe mortality as a curse, some exalt it as a blessing that drives them to discover, build and explore in ways longer lived races do not. Regardless, it was during the Age of Dreams that humans came to be.

History

The story of humanity is one of the most diverse across all of Atharen. The early days of mankind were filled with adversity. Humans, for one reason or another, were bereft of many of the otherworldly gifts bestowed upon many of the other races. Where the races of Tori held an affinity toward magic, humans had no such boon. Humans had only their own instincts by which to judge the world around them and those instincts did not always guide them well. The elder races of Tori, the Hytori, Siltori, Dratori and even the Rathari often looked down upon the mundane humans with disdain. As a result of this, there were many tribes of early humans that found themselves enslaved to the more “civilized” races.

Where not being subjugated by the races of Tori, the humans found themselves in a wild an untamed world. Monsters of common and terrifying disposition were everywhere. Strange powers drifted in the aether around them, power that they had not yet come to understand. These early challenges are what many believe to have fostered in humanity the eternal drive to build, to improve, and to embody the quintessential mortal spirit.

It was not until the fall of old Silor that humanity saw its time to shine and has since dominated the global stage in most every aspect ever since. The rise of the Clockwork Empire saw humanity become the race that defined practically every aspect of mortal life as they outpaced the other races in technology, magic, and culture. Following the events of the Sundering, it is humanity that has had the easiest time bouncing back from the devastation caused by the cataclysmic event.

Biology

By and large, humans are the most diverse of the races of Atharen. The amount of cultural and physical hodgepodge to be found among them is enough to give even the wisest of elven sages a headache.

Human height and physical stature varies wildly depending on the nutrition and genetics of their particular families and sometimes regions. Hair color goes from stark white to the deepest midnight black. Eye color ranges across the spectrum. Skin color is as varied as they come. It should be noted that humans are the only race that can couple with almost every other races to produce half-breeds.

Age and Reproduction

Birthrate for humans is among the highest of all races in Atharen but the health of both the mother and baby is the most varied. The safety of the mother and child is dependent entirely upon the lifestyle of the individual family. For humans living in the major cities of the Gelerian Imperium, there are hospitals and medical experts to ensure most births are successful. The further one gets from major city centers however, the more infant mortality sky rockets. While most settlements have been able to secure major roads and trade routes, even these paths are not always secure. Atharen is a place filled with things wondrous and horrifying. Sometimes the horror wins far more often than wonder.

Humans are considered fully mature at eighteen years of age. They are typically in the prime of their life from their mid-twenties until their mid-forties. At fifty years of age, a human is considered venerable. Most humans do not live much further than seventy years of age depending on their lifestyle.

Psychology

Humans live according to the culture they were raised in. For humans born in the Gelerian Imperium they live in some of the most technologically dominant cities in the world. Their daily life is spent surrounded by the militant propaganda of the Imperium. They are fostered to believe in the indomitability of the human spirit. For a human who lives in the prosperous Republic of Cathena, life is far more egalitarian. The rule of law is often dictated by power of coin and the people tend to be more prone to sharing their opinions with whomever will hear them. Counter this with the chilly and more shrewd humans of the Kingdom of Lorien and all in all, humans run the gamut of perspectives and opinions.

Society

Human civilization is a quandary for most of the other races who tend to keep to their own. Modern societies vary tremendously. From the bold and lofty magocracy of the Daravin Empire to the anarchistic gangs of the city-state of Tedezar in the north, humans views on how a society should be run are a mixed bag of opinions. Some believe that the days of kings sitting upon regal thrones should have been left behind with the Sundering. Others believe that it is only the law and order provided by such strong nations that prevents the entire world from falling to the power of the Dread Mists.

Social Structure

In most human settlements one’s standing in society often depends on one’s contributions to it. While nobles exist in many different forms throughout human lands, their importance is often linked to how well they can protect those who live within their domain. Failure to provide safety from the ravages of the beasts and powers that roam the lands is a quick way to lose favor with the masses. As a result, defenders usually hold some of the highest tiers in society followed by artisans and craftsmen. Politicians exist but only in the safest and most structured societies.

Language

Humans have progressed to such a degree as the Common tongue remains the dominant language throughout the world. This was helped with the conquests spearheaded by the Clockwork Empire and became a solidified reality when Common became the staple trade language following the Sundering.