Human
Most humans are the descendants of pioneers, conquerors, traders, travelers, refugees, and other people on the move. As a result, human lands are home to a mix of people—physically, culturally, religiously, and politically different. Hardy or fine, light-skinned or dark, showy or austere, primitive or civilized, devout or impious, humans run the gamut.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Humans typically stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds, with men noticeably taller and heavier than women. Thanks to their penchant for migration and conquest, and to their short life spans, humans are more physically diverse than other common races. Their skin shades range from nearly black to very pale, their hair from black to blond (curly, kinky, or straight), and their facial hair (for men) from sparse to thick. Plenty of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, and they may demonstrate hints of elf, orc, or other lineages. Members of this race are often ostentatious or unorthodox in their grooming and dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, body piercings, and the like. Humans have short life spans, reaching adulthood at about age 15 and rarely living even a single century.
Random Male Height
3d6+59 in
Male humans have an average BMI of 22.5, leading to the following distribution of weights.
Random Female Height
3d6+54 in
Female humans have an average BMI of 21, leading to the following mass distribution.
Male Humans
Height (in)
Weight (lbs)
Height (cm)
62
123
157
64
131
163
66
139
168
68
148
173
70
157
178
72
166
183
74
175
188
76
185
193
Female Humans
Height (in)
Weight (lbs)
Height (cm)
58
100
147
60
108
152
62
115
157
64
122
163
66
130
168
68
138
173
70
146
178
72
155
183
Genetics and Reproduction
Interracial Reproductive Compatibility
Humans exhibit a high degree of sexual and reproductive compatibility with the other "humanoid" species of Cordeca. Most human-hybrid offspring are viable, but are infertile, which presents a real barrier to true subspeciation with other humanoids. The infertility of hybrid offspring also presents a social disincentive for most members of the contributing species.Intraspecies Breeding
Humans and Halflings: viable and common. Halflings, being a subspecies of human, have high genetic compatibility, though Halfling mothers may experience birthing complications, if the child grows too large. In these cases, a caesarian section can help to remove the child before it causes damage to the mother or itself. Human-halfling hybrids (jokingly called "Quarterlings"), are normally born with evenly-mixed characteristics from their mother and father. Quarterlings are well accepted in Halfling settlements, where they often dilute back into the genetic pool. Human settlements can be more bigoted, and view them as less-than humans, whose small stature keeps them from pulling their weight.Interspecies Breeding
Humans and Dwarves: viable and common. Dwarves have high genetic compatibility with humans, with major differences in their lifespans, temperments, and height. A female human and female dwarf are very capable of bearing (and rearing) hybrid offspring with the other subspecies. And when these hybrids do occur, they are more often integrated into human and dwarven settlements without fanfair - appearing as remarkably tall dwarves with poor facial hair, or remarkably short and stout men. These hybrids are normally called "half-dwarves" in both human and dwarven society, though regional names also exist. Half-dwarves normally inherit thier eyesight from their human parent, inhibiting their ability to live and work underground. This trait provides a powerful incentive for half-dwarves to make home with human surface civilizations, rather than dwarven mountainhomes. Humans and Elvenkin: viable and uncommon. Though humans and elves are genetically similar enough to create viable offspring, they are always infertile. Elven bodies are substantially more fragile than humans, and elven mothers have difficulty bearing half-human children successfully. More often than not, both the mother and child are killed during gestation - when the child grows overlarge. Human mothers are much more capable, and bear the vast majority of successful hybridizations. Human-elf hybrids are most often born into human settlements (as "half-elves"), and are remarkable for their relative beauty and grace, when compared their full-blooded human neighbors. These complications limit the social acceptability of human-elven sexual relationships. Both humans and elves are quick to consider these relationships to be deviant or the result of rape or some other immoral conquest. Nevertheless, human noble courts are especially likely to keep some breeding stock of elves as consorts, to produce beautiful (if illegitimate) offspring. This practice doesn't help the moral case for human-elven relationships among the peasantry. Humans and Gnomes: nonviable. Gnomes are too genetically distant from humans to produce viable offspring. Humans and Goblins: nonviable. Humans and goblins reproduce by fundamentally different mechanisms of genetic exchange and pregnancy between the species is impossible. Humans and Orcs: viable, infertile, and localized. Humans and Orcs are genetically similar enough to produce viable offspring, and both human and orc mothers have the capability to reliably bear them. Human-orken hybrids ("half-orcs" among the humans), often inherit the greenish skin of their Orc parent, an enhanced physique, and small tusks. Otherwise, they appear as larger, brash humans. Human-orken hybridization is almost always the result of rape between the two. Orcs' racial hatred sometimes (often) manifests in the sexual assault of human prisoners, which may lead to pregnancy. Orcs usually consider half-humans to be abominations, and kill the child and/or mother during or shortly after birth. When the Orc tribe's population is threatened, they may relax this attitude and allow the child to enter the tribe - usually as a lower caste. Human warbands, on a slightly rarer basis, might also assault female orcs and produce offspring. These children are met with an equal prejudice in human settlements, though they are less-often ritualistically killed. Humans and Dragons, Dragonborn, and Kobolds: nonviable. Humans are too genetically distant from dragonkin to produce viable offspring; they're reptiles.Behaviour
Humans are the most adaptable, flexible, and ambitious people among the common races. They are diverse in their tastes, morals, customs, and habits. Others accuse them of having little respect for history, but it’s only natural that humans, with their relatively short life spans and constantly changing cultures, would have a shorter collective memory than dwarves, elves, gnomes, or halflings. Human adventurers are the most audacious, daring, and ambitious members of an audacious, daring, and ambitious race. A human can earn glory in the eyes of his fellows by amassing power, wealth, and fame.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Human lands are usually in flux, with new ideas, social changes, innovations, and new leaders constantly coming to the fore. Members of longer-lived races find human culture exciting but eventually a little wearying or even bewildering. Since humans lead such short lives, their leaders are all young compared to the political, religious, and military leaders among the other races. Even where individual humans are conservative traditionalists, human institutions change with the generations, adapting and evolving faster than parallel institutions among the elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay on top of changingpolitical dynamics. Human lands generally include relatively large numbers of nonhumans (compared, for instance, to the number of non-dwarves who live in Dwarven lands).
Civilization and Culture
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The international spread of the Common language is the direct result of Humans’ affinity for travel and integration with other races. All human characters therefore, speak Common – albiet with regional dialects and variations of their own addition. Humans frequently learn other racial languages as well, and are fond of borrowing parts of those languages for thier own use. Orc curses, Elven musical expressions, Dwarven military phrases are all popular sources for human colloquialisms.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Just as readily as they mix with each other, humans mix with members of other races, among which they are known as “everyone’s second-best friends.” Humans serve as ambassadors, diplomats, magistrates, merchants, and functionaries of all kinds.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
77 years
Average Height
Male: 69 in; Female: 64 in
Average Weight
Male:152 lbs; Female: 122 lbs
Related Organizations
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