Humans

Placed upon the face of Laruna by the Elder God, humans are in many ways the centerpiece of Laruna’s history. Mankind alone claims the strange status of being wooed by the Young Gods as well as being given a place of significance in Laruna as a birthright. Since their arrival in the third age, they have consistently altered the magnificent world around them. Nothing better describes the human condition than “limitless potential.” Elegantly designed by the elder god, human beings are equally capable of excellence in all manner of pursuits, be they art, literature, or war. With such clear favoritism from the Young Gods, their vast creations like the city of Sol, and world-changing legacies like that of Alshara, it is no surprise that humans are looked upon with envy or scorn everywhere they go.

CULTURE
Much of early human culture was derived from the instruction of the Descendants. The primary focus of this instruction was to foster an understanding of the Young Gods. Influenced heavily by this guidance, many of mankind’s primitive civilizations had a strong theological component. Religious matters serving as a centerpiece of human culture would continue throughout the ages, shaping many kingdoms in accordance with the Young God’s wishes. The level of significance each Young God played in a specific culture varied from region to region. Often a particular god’s popularity would rise above the others, causing that god’s ideals to play a more heavy role in the region’s way of life. Unlike any of the other mortal races, humans share an outstanding diversity in cultures, faith, and social precepts. They are free to choose in all things, including what gods to worship, causing humanity to enjoy extraordinary favoritism from the Young Gods, as each individual human could become yet another believer. Humans who freely choose to worship a Young God may undergo a rite of fealty, earning the god’s mighty blessing as reward. These blessings do not come without payment, as maintaining them requires the human to abide by a certain code as dictated by the deity. These obligations create the most consistent and identifiable lifestyles humans as a whole undertake. While family background, financial status, allegiances, and geographical upbringing are all things humans may bond or war over, none of these are as consistently unifying as a person’s chosen religious fealty.
Fealty Sadreen
The Lady of Light urges her worshipers to nurture and care for life in all its incarnations. Easily one of the most widespread doctrines among the human kingdoms, Sadreen’s faithful are pacifists at heart, committed to doing no harm to anyone or anything that hasn’t warranted it. They hold the sun and its life giving light in high regard, and believe love, life, and happiness are the deity’s divine gift to all humanity. To maintain good standing in the goddess’ eyes, those who have sworn fealty to her must never do unnecessary harm and be sure to never turn away those in need, regardless of their race or creed.
Fealty to Nomai
Harmony with the natural world is the wild mistress’ sole command. Those who pledge themselves to the goddess Nomai choose to preserve the natural world, preventing the societies of mortals from ravaging it or persecuting those who are native to it. That being said, not every worshiper of Nomai lives a life of simplicity away from the cities. In truth, many of those who worship her adhere to her wishes by working from within civilization, seeking to steer society towards a culture that better respects the native races and creatures who so frequently come into conflict with humans. Maintaining natural landscapes, healing land damaged by Nexi, and purging Kreesh are all efforts that appease the goddess. Those who swear fealty to the wild mistress live life in appreciation of natural law, somewhat different from what is typically accepted in most societies. Nomai teaches people to follow their instincts more regularly, forgoing higher minded lifestyles and embracing their feral and wild behavior. At their most socially acceptable, Nomai’s worshipers are seen as nature loving, free spirits who look for harmony both personally as well as for society. In more exaggerated instances, worshipers adhere to Nomai’s ways more exactly, living wild, sometimes savage lifestyles that closely imitate the behavior of animals in their native habitats.
Fealty to Vayne
The Voice of the Elder God, Vayne asks her worshipers to live lives of understanding and growth. Learning and discovery are placed above all things for The Voice, and giving wise counsel, uncovering mysteries or spreading knowledge all please the deity greatly. This drives those in her service to academic livelihoods or positions of significance where their wisdom can be of use. Equal to the goddesses’ affection for wisdom is her reverence for the Elder God’s wishes. Those who seek the Voice’s favor learn to share her respect for all the Elder God does. This of course extends to an extremely critical view of beings possessing Legacy. Typically, this leads her worshiper to the conclusion that Legacy bearers should be held to a very high standard, as only a life of exceptional accomplishment would make the affront of having the Arga’sheel acceptable. In its less laudable interpretations, Legacy is seen as an unacceptable sacrilege, driving worshipers under this belief to treat Legacy bearers with a type of derision normally reserved only for Kreesh.
Fealty to Yarliat
Those who pledge themselves to Yarliat the Justicar are taking a vow to uphold the will of authority to the best of their ability. Abiding by and enforcing the laws of men is expected of his followers, but the mandate that takes precedence above all others is to keep the ancient law. These commandments, said to be followed by the gods themselves, dictate a code of conduct that demands people to deal openly and fairly with their kin, bring violence only to those who deserve it, and punish any who do not obey these laws. A typical follower of Yarliat can range the gamut from a level headed and fair commoner who seeks only to do the right thing to a driven fanatic who is utterly devoted to punishing those who live unjustly. This spectrum of course casts the worship of Yarliat in different degrees of favoritism from region to region. Law abiding citizens in most kingdoms will consider the Justicar as part of any decent society’s way of life, while more unsavory areas will openly scoff at someone invoking Yarliat’s name.
Fealty to Madruk
The lord of destruction is known for his mindless wrath and endless thirst for annihilation. It matters little to Madruk what it is that falls to ruin, but the more valued the person, place or thing destroyed, the greater the deity’s amusement. In the end, nothing matters, as it is all doomed to be reduced to ashes. This nihilism is at the heart of all who pledge themselves to Madruk, causing them to live opportunistic lives, free of material obsessions. Worshipers of Madruk preach a special kind of freedom that can only come from seeing the futility in everything and living not for social acceptance or promised afterlife, instead living for personal amusement. Hedonists in the purest of senses, self satisfaction is the only true objective to a worshiper of Madruk, regardless of the pursuit that brings it.
Fealty To Arliman
Beneath the sleek whispers of vengeance, corruption and deceit, the dark lord Arliman seethes with a simple, singular sentiment: Hatred. Outside of the kingdom of Mesadrin, worship of the darkness that is this deity is rarely accepted—at least openly. To those who pledge themselves to this god, Arliman is a friend in the shadows, giving shelter when there is none to be had elsewhere. However peculiar, vicious, or disturbed a person’s desires, Arliman is always there carefully whispering how they are welcome at his table. As this insidious seduction is enacted, the hatred one has for anything and anyone who has hurt them is fueled into an extraordinary fire. Once having pledged fealty to Arliman, a person lives a life of self empowerment, ever striving to satisfy whatever dark desire burns in their heart and destroy anyone or anything that would stand in their way.
Fealty To None
This shaping of human society is the largest influence the Young Gods have over Laruna. While believers in a specific god may attribute any number of miracles and acts to their chosen deity, the Young Gods do not have a literal, active role within Laruna. Only through the blessings they provide those who swear fealty to them do the Young Gods influence mankind. To a non-believer, all of the Young Gods are seemingly absent from daily life, leading to a growing minority of humans who choose not to swear fealty at all. Those who choose to forsake this blessing can be seen in human society as anything from free thinkers to heretics.
Legacy Views
Hubris has become a widely acknowledged flaw of human nature because of Alshara’s Legacy. Many natives of Laruna find humans whimsical and unfit for the unique favor they gain with the Young Gods— more so after Alshara’s savage treatment of the world. As in all things, humans are widely divided on their views of Legacy and how it affects their world. Each region and kingdom tends to harbor specific views on how the issue of Kreesh and Nexi should be handled. In some places, Legacy bearers are treated as saviors, come to ride the commonfolk of the terror that plagues them. In other places, they are held in open contempt as a byproduct of an ongoing problem. Further complicating the dynamic of humanity’s view of Legacy is their varied allegiance to the young gods. In certain lands where a particular god is singularly worshiped, being a Legacy bearer of renown with access to powers commonly associated with that god could have that bearer treated with reverence and awe. An opposite reaction could also be true if a region were to exclusively worship Sadreen, and a Legacy bearer displayed powers of the Dark within its borders—magic often attributed to Sadreen’s rival god, Arliman.
Physical Description
Humans are by far the most diverse of mortal races when it comes to appearance. The average adult Human stands at 1.7 meters and may have a skin color ranging from dark brown to pale white.
Inherent Traits
Adaptable: The brilliance of the human condition is in the ability to choose. They are capable of nearly anything and do not have some of the pre-existing limits other races have. Humans may increase any one attribute by one at character creation.
Blessings and Obligations The blessings of the Young Gods are powerful but they do not come without a cost. Once a human has taken the rite of fealty, they must then undertake an obligation from the god to ensure they remain in the god’s good graces. If an obligation is violated, the human loses the benefits of the blessing until the god forgives them. This period of time can vary depending on the severity of the violation and often ranges from one day to a whole month. Recovering a blessing may also require a gesture of redemption, depending on the violation and god in question.
Blessing of sadreen Once per day a single source of damage can be reduced to zero.
Obligation: Must not do bodily harm to someone who has not first done harm to justify it. Acts of violence, grievous crimes, or emotional abuse can all be proper justification for doing harm to another while still maintaining Sadreen’s blessing.
Blessing Of Nomai Once per day you may enter Feral Form, gaining +3 to STR, AGI, END, 25 temporary Stamina, and access to Claws for 5 phases. Claws (natural Weapon) AT: Brawling/Natural Weapons + STR Threat: 1 Damage: STR + 3 (Slashing) (1c) Damage Adjustment: +1 Slashing
Obligation: Must do no harm to the land or its wildlife unless necessary for survival. May not gather material possessions or wealth beyond what is necessary for survival, unless the resources are to be used to further Nomai’s harmonious influence. This can be done by simply donating excess wealth to a temple of Nomai or through more direct methods.
BLessing of Vayne Once per day you may enter an Enlightened State gaining +4 to INT, PER and 30 temporary mana for 5 phases. While in this state you may understand or speak any language.
Obligation: In accordance with the Elder God’s wishes, a follower of Vayne must do anything that is within their power to assist in the destruction of Nexi and Kreesh. This can mean giving material support to those capable of destroying them, or taking up arms themselves if such an effort could be successful.
Blessing of yarliat The first hostile AT made against a target who has either done damage to or deceived you gains a +10 bonus. This bonus can only be applied to the same target once per day.
Obligation: Must follow all local and regional laws, unless they are in conflict with the old laws. Must not break the old laws: Always act openly and fairly with your kin, bring violence only to those who deserve it, and punish any who do not obey these laws.
Blessing of Madruk You are immune to any hostile Mind or Fear effects and gain 20 Protection (Mind).
Obligation: Individual freedoms are paramount to followers of Madruk, and so they must not make personal sacrifices for any reason, unless it ultimat
Blessing of arLiman The first hostile AT made against a target who has not done damage to you gains a +10 bonus. This bonus also applies to the first AT made to deceive a target. Neither bonus may be gained more than once against the same target in a 24 hour period.
Obligation: As a follower of Arliman, personal gain is paramount. You cannot resist temptation, regardless of the immediate consequences. You must violate local and ancient laws whenever doing so can bring you significant personal gain.
Forsaken Without undergoing the Rite of Fealty, this human can not receive the blessings of the Young Gods, but they are also universally protected as the gods hope to someday influence them and earn their worship. Forsaken receive +15 Protection (All), +15 Armor (All).
Obligation: This protection is lost once a human swears fealty to one of the Young Gods.