Humans

Humanity spreads across all of Isesda, multiplying more swiftly than any goblinkin. They are gifted with variety and the ability to mate with anything they encounter. For this, they’re able to spread across all lands building empires, kingdoms, and clans, but their bloodlines are ever thinning and their race seems to be almost too easily influenced. The gods, spirits, and invaders all make equal use of humanity in their ever-burning conflict. When creation is finally torn to pieces, it will be humanity that takes center stage, but what that means cannot be divined as only Eledra herself knows their true fate.

Basic Information

Anatomy

It is nearly impossible to categorize an average human, for their variety is innate to their beings. They are found both tall and diminutive, regal and hideous, dark or fair. Their regional origin and ancestral blood has a more visible effect on them than any other race, and even then they may appear in unexpected forms for one of their origins.

Genetics and Reproduction

Humans have an exceptionally variable innate being. They are designed in such a way as to acclimate to nearly any region and survive through whatever means necessary. In the same way they are excellent at extending their species into future generations. Nearly any other sentient race can mate with a human and the resultant offspring will be similar in nature to humans. While true half-humans show more distinct heritage for their nonhuman parentage, but when they mate again the touch of humanity remains strong. As an example, a human who mates with an elf would produce a feyblood human child with strong elven features. If that child were to mate with another elf, its child woudl still be a fewyblood human child. It would take several generations for the humanity to thin out of the bloodline until a child was born nearly indistingushable from a true elf. Some more derisive comments claim that humans could mate with their hounds successfully, but there is no evidence that such a comment is anything more than racism.

Growth Rate & Stages

Humans live short, but eventful lives. They pass from infancy to childhood in a single, short year or two, from childhood to adolescence by 13 years, and into adulthood as early as 17 years. They usually reach their physical peak around the middle of their third decade, usually between 22 and 25 years, and begin their decline shortly thereafter. They deteriorate at differing rates, but the longest-lived with fey blood will rapidly decline around their 80th year and pass by their 90th. The shortest lived will begin their decline as early as their 50th year and pass by their 70th.

Ecology and Habitats

It is the blessing of humanity that they can adapt to most habitats. As such you will find humans in all the many places of creation, usually thriving. The only locale they cannot inhabit freely is the underwater realm of Adventa due to their need for air, but even in this hostile environment one can find ingenuitive humans building their homes.

Dietary Needs and Habits

One of the most aggressively omnivorous species on Isesda, humans can survive on nearly any food source. While their diet may not always lead to healthy lives, they can still sustain themselves.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Due to their versatile nature, humans are found across all the lands of Isesda. The various human bloodlines are found largely where the contributing races are commonplace, such as feyblooded humans being prevalent in the Reman Empire. Pureblooded humans are rare to find grouped together across most of the world, with the exception of those in Derathain. Their aggressively xenophobic culture has resulted in the highest concentration of pureblooded humans on Isesda. Voidblooded humans are extremely rare in all lands and often hide their nature even when they do arise since it implies a connection to the enemy of creation that may or may not be earned.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Humans have no special senses inherently, though the Wildblooded tend to have a stronger sense of smell or touch and the Dwarfblooded a mild sense of magical energies. Voidblooded humans do have a gift which could be considered a sense of sorts in that they can detect living and undead things, but it's nature is more esoteric than physical.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Human names vary drastically by location. The major kingdoms of humans have somewhat stndardized names, but a given human may tkae a name that represents ancestral cultures, local nonhuman influence, or simply a name the individual human likes the sound of. Humans are also known to change their names when the whim strikes them, though most humans of import in their societies maintain a single name through their lifetimes and hold their surname with reverence.

History

It's said that the first humans were created by Pinigai as his greatest weapon in the second godswar, though the followers of both Akumo and Krumas strongly dispute this claim. Regardless of which of the Children actually formed the first humans, they spread rapidly across the face of Isesda and were bent to the will of many different masters. While they lacked many of the specialized strengths of other races, their sheer numbers and adaptability made them excellent infantry.

When the godswar came to an end, the humans had spread across so much of the world that they ended up involving themselves in most of the world's events to one degree or another. Their greatest heroes became legends, their most depraved villains infamous. As the tumultuous times following the banishment of the gods calmed they settled into a few larger kingdoms and countless smaller communities across all the lands. Some even claim they gained Upe's blessing to become the ancient Adventi. As with so many stories that name humans integral to history, this too is disputed.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

On Feykith: “They’re made of beauty and madness. Like fire or the sea, they can be wonderful and useful, but they can kill and defile you without a second thought.”
On Goblinkin: “Mostly the goblins are nasty little buggers, but I’ve met a few worth keeping around. Like pets, maybe, not friends.”
On Beastfolk: “If the goblins are sometimes pets, these are like dangerous animals. They hate us and they’re too dangerous to leave alone.”
On Dwarves: “Smug little shits. They might be magical in a way we aren’t, but we can hold our own. We’re not lesser.”