During the wakening of Ashling, humans emerged as the youngest and most short-lived among the common races, following Dwarves and Elves onto the world stage. Perhaps it is their brevity of life that fuels their relentless pursuit of accomplishments within the limited years they are granted. Alternatively, humans may feel an innate urge to prove themselves to the elder races, laying the foundation of their mighty empire through a combination of conquest and trade. Regardless of the driving force, humans have become the true innovators, achievers, and pioneers of the world.
The human race exhibits a remarkable diversity, both physically and culturally, owing to their penchant for migration and conquest. There is no singular prototype for a human. Their heights can range from 5 feet to slightly over 6 feet, with weights spanning from 125 to 250 pounds. The spectrum of human skin tones stretches from near-black to extremely pale, while their hair colors span the spectrum from black to blond, exhibiting various textures such as curly, kinky, or straight. Males might don sparse or thick facial hair. Many humans bear hints of nonhuman lineage, incorporating traces of elf, orc, or other ancestries. Despite their adulthood being reached in their late teens, humans rarely exceed a single century in age.
The hallmark of humanity lies in their adaptability and ambition, surpassing that of the other common races. Settling in diverse lands, humans establish distinct tastes, morals, and customs that reflect the multitude of environments they inhabit. Once settled, they demonstrate unwavering permanence, erecting cities designed to endure through the ages and constructing great kingdoms meant to persist for centuries. While an individual human's lifespan may be short, the collective memory of a human nation or culture preserves traditions with origins far beyond any single mortal's recollection. They immerse themselves in the present, making them well-suited to the adventurous life, yet they also dedicate themselves to planning for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Both individually and as a group, humans exhibit adaptability and opportunism, always vigilant and attuned to shifting political and social dynamics.
Where other races might entrust the responsibility of guarding a significant location or a powerful secret to a single elf or dwarf, humans establish sacred orders and institutions to fulfill such roles. While dwarven clans and halfling elders pass down ancient traditions to successive generations, humans enshrine their customs within temples, governments, libraries, and codes of law, solidifying their traditions in the annals of history. Their yearning for immortality drives them to ensure that they will be remembered long after they have departed from the mortal plane, although few among them seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death's grasp.
While some humans might exhibit xenophobia, the majority of their societies are inclusive. Human lands welcome a substantial number of nonhumans, offering a home to various races in comparison to the proportion of humans living in nonhuman territories. The diverse and ever-evolving nature of human cultures makes them a vibrant and dynamic presence in the world, shaping and reshaping its landscape with their ambition and ingenuity.