Humans

Some look down upon us and say 'jack of all trades, master of none' with disgust or pity. What they tend to forget is that we're 'oftentimes, better than master of one'. Let us show them today the repercussions of their underestimation!
- Cyn, quoting a common saying of encouragement in the Human settlements before the Battle of Cynuna

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Humans of Sirnetsk are bipedal humanoids.

Ecology and Habitats

Humans are able to forge a home in nearly any geographical local or climate. Their adaptability has allowed them to spread across both major continents in Sirnetsk.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

While the Human population is mostly concentrated in Therium and Vaaler'nia, they can be found throughout both Cyntherium and Vaaleskar.

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

• Therium
• Vaaler'nia

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Humans across Sirnetsk are able to speak Common, and often choose to learn the language of other races that they might commonly interact with.

History

Inception and Beginnings

Humans are the youngest of the most common races found across Sirnetsk; both the Elves and the Dwarves had already started to settle in the lands that would be known as Cyntherium before Humans started to appear. It's unclear what prompted their appearance, though it is widely accepted that, like the Elves and Dwarves, the gods created a progenitor for the race that went on to mother much of the earliest humans.
The earliest groups of Humans formed small groups and tribes, often choosing to live in close connection to the wilderness in the forests in the north of Cyntherium. These first tribes were nomadic, choosing to continue to move to find resources instead of creating their own settlements. As they spread across the continent, they would encounter other tribes of Humans, or even Elvish or Dwarvish settlements. These encounters would often end in skirmishes, with the Humans retreating to find the needed resources elsewhere.

Enslavement

During this time, the Elves and Dwarves both saw Humans as a subservient race. While somewhat strong and able to use magic, they weren't as powerful in either area. As the Elvish and Dwarvish kingdoms grew in size, both would often take Humans as slaves. They were used as a source of labor for both Elves and Dwarves, though certain Elves also enjoyed taking particularly attractive Human males and females as consorts or paramours. As time went on, Humans were only able to settle on the outskirts of each of those kingdoms. Often, these areas were the sites of conflicts between the Elves and the Dwarves, and the Humans would get caught in the middle.

Rebellion

Little is known exactly how the rebellion started, but when it did, unrest grew quickly throughout the Human settlements. Humans began their conquest for their own true lands, where they could live safely without fear of being caught in the battles between Elves and Dwarves. They slowly pushed against the borders of both kingdoms, carving out their own land. At first, both the Elves of the Eska and the Dwarves of the city-states nearest this border didn't take these skirmishes seriously. They were punished for it, often taken off guard by the Human's tenacity and sheer willpower.
Despite having no official government or organization, there was a single individual who rose to become the leader of the rebellion: Cyn. Once an escort for the Elvish King Saelethil Leoven, she was treated better than most Human slaves. She received a surprising amount of education in comparison to other Humans. She managed to escape from her master in Eskaen'Cyn and reunite with her family in what would later become the city of Cynuna. From here, she became a leader to the rebellion, both tactically and courageously on the front lines of battle. In fact, she personally led the Humans against both the Elves and the Dwarves in the Battle of Cynuna, the largest battle of the rebellion, as well as the battle that would ultimately bring about the Human's freedom.
After this victory, Humans were finally accepted as equal to the other two common races. As a concession, both the Elves and the Dwarves gave up land that would later come to be the kingdom of Therium.

Historical Figures

Cyn and Vaaler'n

The Humans of Therium revere Cyn as an avatar of Illmater and Vaaler'n as a traitor. On the other hand, the Humans of Vaaler'nia view Vaaler'n as an avatar of Torm.

Royalty

Therium

• Cyn
• Gaius Verulus
• Royal Family of Therium

Vaaler'nia

• Vaaler'n
• Royal Family of Vaaler'nia

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

In current times, the relations between Humans, Elves, and Dwarves is fairly pleasant. Each race can appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses. Isolated Human individuals might hold on to more outdated views, holding grudges against the Elves and the Dwarves for their previous enslavement and poor treatment. Humans are generally the most accepting race of other races - including the rarer races such as Tieflings, Orcs, and the like - often viewing all individuals as equals.

Lifespan

100 years

Average Height

5 - 6 feet

Average Weight

125 - 250 pounds

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Human skin shades range from nearly black to very pale.