Humans

Origin

Humans only date back about 5 thousand years, to the Interregnum between the Second Age and the dawn of the Third Age. It's said that the gwerin, after the splitting off of Soefra with the majority of their surviving people, knowing that they did not have the numbers to contest for mastery with the surging ihmisi populations and their goblin and dwarven allies, decided to create their own "obedient" soldiers. They took tribe after tribe of goblins, forced them to evoke as many hobgoblins as possible, and then wielded the last of the great bio-magics to blend aelven traits into the hobgoblins, fixing them so they wouldn't revert back to goblins but also giving them fertility. True to form, however, for the descendants of Chaos, the resulting hybrids (later called humans) were anything but loyal and obedient. Sure, many of them fought alongside the gwerin. But mostly, they went their own way. Their rapid breeding, along with that of the orcs (who were created by the other side for many of the same reasons and in much the same way, although with primal magics instead of arcane bio-magics), led to a stalemate. And then erupted the War of Blood, ending in the Third Wish and the birth of the gods. Humans, with their desire to believe in and worship something greater than themselves (a trait that some gwerin researchers believe was designed to make them worship the elves!), took to the new ways with a vengeance. And their sociability and willingness to live alongside other groups led to them leading the two great empires of the Third Age, Tibor Imperia and the Jinse Empire. During the Third Age, humans spread to Soefra and even as far as the western shore of Oelfra. It truly was the Age of Humans.

Since then, humans have played a major, if not totally dominant, role in the events of Noefra. It's a rare nation that has no human presence--the only major nation of that sort is Wyrmhold, and the numbers there are growing. And even Wyrmhold is highly influenced by the human gregariousness and devotion to Ascendants of all types.

Ethnicities of the Federated Nations

Humans in the Federated Nations belong to one of three rough ethno-cultural groups, distinguished by culture and ancestry. These three groups are the Wall-Builders of the Council Lands, the Fang-kin of the Stone Throne, and Night's Children in Byssia.

Wall-Builders

The most common folk of the former Council Lands are the humans called "wall-builders" by other races for their propensity to build walls around every settlement, even if the threat doesn't really warrant it. Descended from refugees from many nations that found themselves thrown together seeking for safe haven after the Cataclysm. As a result of the genetic bottleneck caused by the massive casualties attendant to the Cataclysm, the wall-builders have homogenized greatly. Outwardly, they have the following traits:

• Medium-brown, warm-toned skin (cafe-au-lait). Darker shades are rare, but lighter shades are not unknown.
• Dark brown-to-black hair, mostly wavy or curly. While this is the most common shade, throwbacks to other ethnicities are common and unremarkable--red hair, blond hair, etc.
• Short, stocky stature. Only hardy individuals survived, and compactness meant less bulk to feed. They tend to stand 5'2" to 5'6" tall, with women as tall as men. Taller individuals are uncommon, with 6'0" rarely reached by anyone. Obesity is becoming more common. Tastes in attractiveness tend to the well-fed and curved.
• Squared-off facial features with short noses and square jaws.
• Dark eyes. As with hair color, there is substantial variation to all various colors, including ones not found on Earth.

Culturally and by training, wall-builders are diverse. Some have grown up with the ihmisi of the frontiers--others in the comfort of Rauviz's trade halls or among the elite gwerin-heavy environments of Crisial City. Wall-builders all speak the Common tongue (as does everyone else), but many also have learned other languages (especially for cursing). Wall-builders worship gods across the pantheon although most place the Four Seasons high in their veneration.

Due to a shortage of competent individuals, most of the gender-based cultural requirements vanished after the Cataclysm War. Women are as likely as men to lead guilds or to work in all areas of life. Wall-builders come of age at 14 and marry by 17 (mostly). The average age at death (old age only) is about 80. Marriages are (in theory) monogamous, but adultery is not unknown. As family lines are important, children are recorded based on blood--illegitimate children go with the mother but fathers are recorded (in secret if nowhere else). Illegitimacy is not a serious stigma. Widows and widowers tend to remarry quickly. There is no expectation of the inheritance following the eldest child (male or female).

Wall-builders use names following the pattern <Given> <Profession>. Children in the Holy Kaelthian Republic are not given surnames until they are Judged and assigned a profession. Others generally follow their parents' professions and choose one of those (or their own if they choose a different path).

Common male names include: John, William, James, George, Charles, Henry, Robert, and Thomas.

Common female names include: Anna, Emma, Elza, Margaret, Ida, Clara, and Alice.

Fang-kin

Unlike the wall-builders, the fang-kin are mostly a single strain of humanity. Most common in the Stone Throne, these peoples were enslaved by the Fanged Kingdom until about 800 years ago. Their eladrin masters magically bred traits of their favored serpents into their slave race. While those most changed by this forced mutation became the Serpent-kin, even the normal human folk had some changes that have stuck. Since the disappearance of the overlords, the fang-kin have also interbred with the lower-caste elves left behind. Those whose elven heritage is strongly-pronounced are considered half-elves; despite this there are elven traits apparent even in the most human of the inhabitants. Fang-kin have the following physical traits:

• Light, cool-toned skin. Patterns of colored blotches (like large freckles) are common, especially on the head, neck, and upper torso and upper arms. These often flush and darken with anger or excitement.
• Wild variation in hair color. Hair is most often a pure jewel or metallic tone--jet black, brilliant silver, golden yellow, ruby red and amethyst purple are the most common, but greens and blues are not uncommon. Most have multiple shades or streaks.
• Tall, slender stature. Graceful movement is the default. Most individuals are between 5'5" and 6'2", with some variation outside this. Women are slightly shorter than men, but not tremendously. Obesity is very rare. The ideal of * feminine beauty is minimal curves and slender lines. Strong fang-kin rarely develop much visible musculature.
• Elongated oval facial features.
• Grey-to-green eyes. Some change in the light or with mood.

Culturally, the Fang-kin tend toward social hierarchies and status competition. Respect for (or fear of) nobility is bred in deep. These trends are less dominant outside of Asai'ka, where the old nobility still holds strongest sway. Fang-kin are generally quite devout toward the Queen Ascendant, although some also revere others of the gods. Some gender prejudice still exists. Socially dominant men are expected to have many partners/wives/concubines, but women are generally not. The lower classes are much more monogamous and have much less gender prejudice. Women can hold any role in secular life; priestly life still has a gender split. Homosexuality is not stigmatized.

Being a hierarchical society, the naming conventions vary by class. The three major classes are nobles (including clergy), tradesmen (including soldiers), and commoners. Given names are similar between the three classes, but the structure of the name and the surnames vary. Nobles are formally named Isal <Family name> <Given>. Tradesmen are given the name Lai <Profession> <Given>. Commoners go by <Given> pe <Location>.

Given names are androgynous and include: Balin, Chea, Da, Dara, Leng, Narong, Nimol, Srey, Son, Bopha, Chanda, Khan, Maly, Map, Phalla, Ry, Rith, Thy, Thuy, and Vanna.

Noble family names include: Sat’psa, Hvang, Boeng, and Prei.

Night's Children

Descended from those Nocthians who fled south out of the Nocthian Caldera in the aftermath of the Cataclysm, the Night's Children are named so for their hair, which is most often lustrous black, long and straight and their pale skin. Even centuries of interbreeding with the more swarthy locals and with the wood elves has only slightly modified those traits. They tend to show less elven heritage than the Fang-kin, but most show at least some effects. They tend to have the following physical traits:

• Very pale skin. This is nearly uniform--only those who have little Nocthian ancestry deviate from this. They do not burn in the sunlight--the superstitious call it a blessing from the Nocthis, the pre-Cataclysm Goddess of Night and Secrets (now reborn).
• Black hair, usually worn pulled back or pinned up. Almost always straight and long (especially on women). Those with significant elven heritage exhibit mottling of greys on their hair, almost like the shadow of leaves at night. Very occasional red with black undertones.
• Tall, long-limbed stature. Wall-builders refer to them as "living statues." Bulkier than fang-kin, they tend to develop hard curves and muscles quite well, even the women.
• Slightly slanted eyes.
• Eyes ranging from ice-grey to bright jewel tones (including purples and brilliant blues).

Culturally, the Night's Children are egalitarian, community-oriented folk. Gender roles are non-existent. Families are large and the extended family and the whole village generally raise children communally. Since the rebirth of Nocthis, their former anti-theism has waned. Still, many focus their devotion to their honored ancestors and the local spirits.

Bysian humans (and wood elves, the names are similar) are given a name and then, later in life, a cognomen (appellation) is added at the beginning or end of the name.

Common male names include: Admitos, Damon, Adrianos, Aetos, Daphnis, Alkaios, Charklis, Herodis, Ion, Ipparchos, Savvas, and Lambros.

Common female names include: Acathi, Adriani, Danai, Daphne, Dione, Eirene, Galini, Charis, Ippodamia, Sergia, and Sotiria.

Other Ethnicities

Humans exist throughout Noefra and portions of Soefra. Small colonies of humans have made crossed the Eastward Ocean to the islands at the SW of Oelfra. These humans from outside the Federated Nations have a number of ethnic variations, some of which are described below.

Dinea

The dinea [din-AYE-ah] are the human inhabitants of the Lost Coast and the Frozen Coast, ranging from Auringon north all the way to the edge of the Fiach Wood. According to the Auringonians, the Dinea are tall, with bulky physiques, light-skinned and often blonde or red haired. They have had no contact from the Federated Nations, so the exact amount of variation is unknown.

Duster

The humans of the Great Eastern Dustlands are a motley group, but they do share some common traits. For one, many if not most of them have some significant orcish heritage. This leads to them being squat and tough, with grey undertones to their skin. The rigors of life in the wastes leads to rough skin and early balding for many. Hair and eyes span the gamut.

Golden Sun (Jin-ri)

The jin-ri ("people of the golden sun") are the most wide-spread of the ethnic groups of eastern Noefra. They were the ruling ethnicity of the Jinse Empire at its height. Named in part for their golden-hued skin, they stand about the same height as wall-builders, but tend to be much more slender (both men and women). Their eyes have pronounced epicanthic folds. Their hair tends to be dark (brown and black and red), but their eyes run the gamut. Men tend to have little facial hair on their cheeks, although a goatee/long beard is not uncommon for the older folks.

Modern jin-ri from the heart of Jinse often show minor signs of infernal influence--sharpened canines, eyes with vertical slits or red/gold coloration, and sometimes a red undertone to their skin. Many add affectations to this, including prosthetic horns or tails, wearing their fingernails long and pointed, or otherwise aping the status of an infernal plane-touched.

Abantu

The abantu are the hardy sea-folk of the far north-east. Their nut-brown skin and light hair makes them stand out from the surrounding jin-ri. The men glory in their bushy beards. The women tend to have substantial curves but generally athletic figures. These are the humans that have made it to Oelfra.

Ikelan

The ikelan humans are the closest to "pure" Tibor Imperial citizens, having come over during that time period and been isolated from the rest of humanity ever since. They have light skin that tans beautifully, dark hair, and are taller than wall-builders.

Ithemban

Ithembans are noted for their blue-black skin and dark hair. They stand as tall as night's children, with 6' being not uncommon and share a similar musculature.