Human
Considered the youngest of the common races, humans were late to arrive on the world scene and, with their penchant for migration and conquest, are more physically diverse than most other races. There is no typical human - an adult can stand from a little under 5 feet to a well over 6 feet tall and weigh from 100 to 250 pounds, with skin shades ranging from very pale to nearly black and hair colours and forms as diverse as trees; males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. A lot of humans have a dash of non-human blood, most often elf or orc, but descendants of other lineages are not unknown.
Reaching adulthood in their late teens and rarely living past 80 years, humans are amongst the most short-lived of the common humanoid species. Perhaps it is because of these shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given, subconsciously - or even knowingly - feeling they have something to prove to the elder races and their own people, and that’s why they strive to build mighty empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are innovators, achievers and pioneers.
Humans are the most adaptable and ambitious people among all the races, with widely varying tastes, morals and customs in the many different lands where they have settled. They build cities to last for the ages and great kingdoms that can persist for centuries but, both individually and as a group, are adaptable opportunists. They live fully in the present, making them well suited to the adventuring life, but also plan for the future, invariably striving to leave a lasting legacy. Humans dream of immortality, but — except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches — work to achieve it by ensuring they will be remembered when they are gone.
Humans who seek adventure are the most daring and ambitious members of a daring and ambitious race, seeking to earn glory in the eyes of their fellows by amassing power, wealth and fame. Humans champion causes rather than territories or groups, and are far more likely to have self-serving motivations that any other community-based race.
Although some human cliques can be xenophobic, their societies are generally inclusive. Human-dominated lands welcome large numbers of other races compared to the proportion of humans who live in non-human lands. They get along with almost everyone, though they might not be close to many, and serve effectively as ambassadors, diplomats, magistrates, merchants and functionaries of all kinds.
Like most other cultures, humans value the preservation and passing of knowledge but, where dwarf clans, elven teachers and halfling elders pass on their ancient traditions to each new generation, humans use temples, governments, libraries and codes of law to fix and follow their traditions and history.
Ancestry
Nine principal human ethnic groups are widely recognized, though over a dozen others are found in more localized areas of Faerûn.
Calishite
Shorter and slighter in build than most other humans, Calishites have dusky brown skin, hair, and eyes. They’re found primarily in southwest Faerûn.
Male : Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid, Khemed, Mehmen, Sudeiman, Zasheir
Female: Atala, Ceidil, Hama, Jasmal, Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira, Zasheida
Surnames: Basha, Dumein, Jassan, Khalid, Mostana, Pashar, Rein
Chondathan
Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown eyes, but these traits are hardly universal. Humans of Chondathan descent dominate the central lands of Faerûn, around the Inner Sea.
Male: Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd
Female: Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele
Surnames: Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag
Damaran
Found primarily in the northwest of Faerûn, Damarans are of moderate height and build, with skin hues ranging from tawny to fair. Their hair is usually brown or black, and their eye color varies widely, though brown is most common.
Male: Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, Sergor
Female: Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana, Zora
Surnames: Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov, Marsk, Nemetsk, Shemov, Starag
Illuskan
Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely gray eyes. Most have raven-black hair, but those who inhabit the extreme northwest have blond, red, or light brown hair.
Male: Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander, Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth
Female: Amafrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra
Surnames: Brightwood, Helder, Hornraven, Lackman, Stormwind, Windrivver
Mulan
Dominant in the eastern and southeastern shores of the Inner Sea, the Mulan are generally tall, slim, and amber-skinned, with eyes of hazel or brown. Their hair ranges from black to dark brown, but in the lands where the Mulan are most prominent, nobles and many other Mulan shave off all their hair.
Male: Aoth, Bareris, Ehput-Ki, Kethoth, Mumed, Ramas, So-Kehur, Thazar-De, Urhur
Female: Arizima, Chathi, Nephis, Nulara, Murithi, Sefris, Thola, Umara, Zolis
Surnames: Ankhalab, Anskuld, Fezim, Hahpet, Nathandem, Sepret, Uuthrakt
Rashemi
Most often found east of the Inner Sea and often intermingled with the Mulan, Rashemis tend to be short, stout, and muscular. They usually have dusky skin, dark eyes, and thick black hair.
Male: Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar, Kanithar, Madislak, Ralmevik, Shaumar, Vladislak
Female: Fyevarra, Hulmarra, Immith, Imzel, Navarra, Shevarra, Tammith, Yuldra
Surnames: Chergoba, Dyernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara, Stayanoga, Ulmokina
Shou
The Shou are the most numerous and powerful ethnic group in Kara-Tur, far to the east of Faerûn. They are yellowish-bronze in hue, with black hair and dark eyes. Shou surnames are usually presented before the given name.
Male: An, Chen, Chi, Fai, Jiang, Jun, Lian, Long, Meng, On, Shan, Shui, Wen
Female: Bai, Chao, Jia, Lei, Mei, Qiao, Shui, Tai
Surnames: Chien, Huang, Kao, Kung, Lao, Ling, Mei, Pin, Shin, Sum, Tan, Wan
Tethyrian
Widespread along the entire Sword Coast at the western edge of Faerûn, Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that tends to grow fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color varies widely, but brown hair and blue eyes are the most common. Tethyrians primarily use Chondathan names.
Turami
Native to the southern shore of the Inner Sea, the Turami people are generally tall and muscular, with dark mahogany skin, curly black hair, and dark eyes.
Male: Anton, Diero, Marcon, Pieron, Rimardo, Romero, Salazar, Umbero
Female: Balama, Dona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise, Vonda
Surnames: Agosto, Astorio, Calabra, Domine, Falone, Marivaldi, Pisacar, Ramondo
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