Description
Thranic humans can be found all over the Crescents, and are the most common species. They were created by the gods to make peace between elves and dwarves, and originated in the human capital city of Thrain.
In general, humans are intelligent and straight-forward people, viewed favorably by the other races for their contributions to geopolitics and creativity. They are renown for their diversity and democratic tendencies.
Appearance
Humans are physically diverse. There is no typical human. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Human skin shades range from tan to very pale. Darker tones indicate ancestors who were created with more subtle influence from Varos (for the tan of creatures who bask in the sun), and lighter tones from Anashta (for the paleness of creatures who live in the ocean depths).
Some humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf lineage. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century.
Humans from Thrain and in human forts tend to enjoy wearing Roman-styled clothing, especially togas. These togas are made of cloth, silk, or synthetic silk. Togas come in every color for casual day-wear, but formal togas are worn for special events. Formal togas are colored to indicate the wearer’s caste, and it’s a social faux pas to wear the wrong color. Spartan leather armor is popular. Men and women wear robes, tunics, and pants, though dresses are typically reserved for women.
Combat and Professions
Humans are remarkably versatile. They can learn magic or train with any weapon. Jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none, humans are renown for building on the fighting styles of other cultures.
Humans hold jobs of every kind. Sailors, soldiers, missionaries, merchants, politicians, scoundrels, chefs — humans are not drawn to any particular role, though the more traditional ones enjoy serving others and helping society flourish.
Society
Every human of Thrain belongs to a caste. Members of different castes freely interact despite the definitions for where they belong. Each caste wears a particular color to designate their station at formal events. The castes and their corresponding colors are listed below:
The governing caste: Purple
The military: Red
The elite and middle caste: Black
The agricultural and rural caste: Green
The poor and unemployed city masses: Grey
One’s caste is a badge of pride. Humans understand that every single caste is needed in a great society, and that not everyone can be the ruling class. Due to their democratic systems, every member of Thrain has a voice regardless of caste. A common phrase humans use to indicate this harmony between castes and their kin is “Thrain invincible, Thrain forever”. To humans, all fellow humans are family, no matter what they look like or how much money they have. Bastard children are no exception; they are given the surname 'Thrain' to denote their lineage. They typically serve as ambassadors, because they are both important yet expendable.
Humans have developed some of their own traditions, most notably spectacular gladiator fights. Typically, these are violent affairs with healers standing by to mend the wounded. Although fights used to be to the death, the tradition has changed, and now it is customary for winners to spare losing combatants as a sign of temperance and good sportsmanship. Thrain has a colosseum dedicated to gladiator battles between men, beasts, and any other combatants.
Being the third known race in the Crescents, humans have a reverence and interest for the sun elves and dwarves who came before them. Humans “borrow” from other cultures to form their own unique traditions. One of the fads that rose in the 7th century was the “free love” movement, inspired by now-extinct wood elves. This movement was a celebration of non-traditional romance, and freedom of spirit and mind.
Humans do not have strong opinions or regulations surrounding:
Marriage or romance
Having children
Education
Lifestyle
Home
To humanity, one's personal life is their own business. Because humans are traditionally community-focused, as long as a person contributes to society, what they do in private is their choice. This is reflected in the now-defunct Praetor Maximus’ role. Despite being the overseer of Thrain, the Praetor is free to live where they like, marry who they like, and travel wherever they wish so long as their responsibilities are completed. In recent years Thrain has converted to a typical feudal monarchy and serves as a vassal to the Vestian Empire.
Communities of humans (forts, the capital city, and small towns) tend to have a set of freedoms and liberties afforded to all citizens, including legal rights and a responsibility to treat others equally. They also have systems in place to aid the poor, sick, and elderly. Whether run by volunteers or religious folks serving the community in the name of their god, these systems ensure that there are opportunities for poor folk to eat and for the sick to be healed for little coin.
Religion
Humans are religious to varying degrees. Many are Verunists, but many more worship Anashta, Hejong, or Remedia.
Notable Humans
“Though we have suffered tragedy, and loss, we will endure. Thrain is a special nation - it combines the best aspects of every god and goddess, and makes them its own. We are a hub of peace - renown for bringing harmony to warring nations, and a center for diplomacy.” — King Hejong Bladebreaker
"Long have our people fought for the freedom of all of Hellan. Thrain is a special nation, one that knows the pain of sacrifice. Look to our poor, our suffering class - it is on their sacrifice that the nation’s goodwill spreads through Hellan. Look to our elite, for it is on their dime that our war machine is funded. Look to our farmers, for it is their bread that feeds the nations of Hellan. Look to our military, for it is on their swords that our enemies DIE! Take pride in what you are, no matter what you are. Because you serve as a part of the greater whole of Thrain, the greatest nation on Ilisara.” — Senator Vrenak
History
The gods Varos, Duros, Remedia, Anashta, and Hejong created humankind for the purpose of making peace between the existing elves and dwarves. The first humans were strong, honest, conscientious, and diplomatic. They carried knowledge of civilization and survival from the gods, so that in comparison to the other races, they would not be far behind in their advancement. The only thing humans initially lacked was a permanent home.
Humans set about their divine task with enthusiasm. Eventually, humans ended the war between elves and dwarves through several peacekeeping meetings, and the drafting of an intricate treaty. As part of the new tentative alliance — the forerunner of the official Confederacy — humans inhabited the former contested territory between the dwarves and elves, in the fertile valley of Thrain.
Comentarios