Northerners

The so called Northerners - known also as Niflheimians - are a subspecie of humanity that split off probably in the late Ancient Era or first years of Preimperial Era, on the desolate snowy plains of North-Eastern Karathia.
The ancestors of northerners were human tribes of frankish ancestry, that settled the lands on the south coast of Frozen Sea, on a verge of a domain of Greater Aberrant known as Nythrathril, a terrifying and eldritch being whose abominable progeny haunted ancestors of northerners for millenia.
Yet, they persevered. Fighting an neverending war, with generation after generation subjected to most terrifying version of natural selection in a heavily irradiated by magic environment. Weak died, stronger survived, with their surroundings enhancing already extreme process of puryfing their society of defective genes - while simultaneously promoting those beneficial. Slowly allowing Northerners to reach what can be described a peak performance achievable for human physiology.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Relatively similar to baseline human on the outside. Their anatomy as a whole is noticably strenghtened on the inside, their muscular system and bone structure reinforced by many centuries of accidental eugenics and natural selection (not to mention magical radiation tending to accelerate such changes).
Males tend to be big, strong, and muscular, while females agile, dexterous and surprisingly strong despite their mediocre stature. The changes are strong enough to border on gender dymorphism. Their cause is similar to all differences between them and baseline humans, with unforgiving environment that promoted perfecting traditional gender traits.

Biological Traits

Northerners tend to have minds slightly more resistant to sanity-rending effects of Pandaemonium. However, this traits seemingly weakens over time, today being only barely noticable.
They are also much more resistant to low temperatures than average baseline humans. While it doesn't noticably improve their chances of facing ice magician in combat, when they fall into the water during cold, northern winter, they will survive around two times as long as normal human.

Genetics and Reproduction

Northerners aren't a completely separate specie, but rather a big population with extremely high level of certain group of positive traits. As such, they undergo similar problem to elven subspecies, meaning they tend to lose their uniqueness when they mix with other subspecies of their specie - namely, other humans.
Their genes are relatively 'strong' - as most of these enforced by magic is - meaning it might take at the very least 2-3 generations of mixed couples for their traits to start disappearing. This causes a slow fall in number of Northerners worldwide during the Imperial Era.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Due to their overclocked anatomy they tend to have increased requirements of calorie intake, making their preferred diet include a lot of meat, bear and other similar products.

Additional Information

Facial characteristics

A sort of interesting 'mutation' that occured early during this subspecie formation made most of Northerners have white, silver or steel grey hairs. Skin is white, eyes vary heavily but blue eyes have a noticable overrepresentation.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Encountered mostly in the northern parts of the Imperium. They form majority of population of Kingdom of Niflheim. They used to inhabit Kingdom of Lomar prior to its eventual demise, its inhabitants either dead, or spread around the Imperium and assimilated. Southern Lomar remains partially inhabited, but its inhabitants are heavily mixed with diretians.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Generally improved over baseline humans, but on relatively average scale. They tend to have better eyesight and hearing than average humans.

Created by: Evolution.
IC: Occurence: Common
IC: Danger: Not Threatened

Lifespan

50-70, depends on many factors.

Average Height

~1.8m

Average Weight

~90kg.