Humans

Not many spare that much thought to humans these days, we’ve just come to accept them as a part of life. Strange how that is, a race came out of nowhere, with no gods or origin, the only godless race not to be invited into Torren’s care and yet all see them as just the standard now. Mabey it’s because they have spread everywhere and, if where being honest, any race who can say that their language has become the standard language that all other races speak, in many ways are one of the great forces of the world. Mabey it’s the stories of these restless people who braved the cruel oceans, fought for their freedom and right to live among the rest, and yet still has this energy that their story is far from done. That Every page of their story will sing with drive and adventure.  - Vajra Safahr, reflecting on other races

Humans are the youngest of the common races, late to arrive on the world scene and short-lived in comparison to dwarves, elves, and dragons. Perhaps it is because of their shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder races, and that’s why they build their mighty empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are some of the greatest innovators, achievers, and pioneers of the world.

A Broad Spectrum

With their penchant for migration and conquest, humans are more physically diverse than most other races. There is no typical human. An individual can stand from 5 feet to nearly 7 feet tall and weigh from 125 to 290 pounds. Human skin shades range from nearly black to very pale, and hair colors from black to blond (curly, kinky, or straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. A lot of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, orc, or other lineages. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century.

Variety in All Things

Humans are the most adaptable and ambitious people among the common races. They have widely varying tastes, morals, and customs in the many different lands where they have settled. When they settle, though, they stay: they build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single human’s memory. They live fully in the present—making them well suited to the adventuring life—but also plan for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political and social dynamics.

Everyone’s Best Friend... Sometimes Second-Best

The Humans were once held as slaves and cattle by the illithids, with no gods to save them, they had to rise up on their own and fight for their freedom. Though many human generations have passed, the past misery and heroics have left a permanent mark in their history. Due to their history when they learned of the dragon wars, and how the chromatic dragons had created slave races to fight for them, they were quick to join the metallic dragons and freed these newly created races from their dragon tyrants. These races (part of The Aimless) formed a concord with the humans and are often found near or in major human cities. 

As for the older races, humans mix as readily with them, as they do with other humans. They get along with almost everyone, though they might not be close to many. Humans serve as ambassadors, diplomats, magistrates, merchants, and functionaries of all kinds.

Dwarves “They’re stout folk, stalwart friends, and true to their word. Their greed for gold is their downfall, though.”

Elves “It’s best not to wander into elven woods. They don’t like intruders, and you’ll as likely be bewitched as peppered with arrows. Still, if an elf can get past that damned racial pride and actually treat you like an equal, you can learn a lot from them.”

Halflings “It’s hard to beat a meal in a halfling home, as long as you don’t crack your head on the ceiling—good food and good stories in front of a nice, warm fire. If halflings had a shred of ambition, they might really amount to something.” 

Lasting Institutions

Where a single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of guarding a special location or a powerful secret, humans found sacred orders and institutions for such purposes. While dwarf clans and halfling elders pass on the ancient traditions to each new generation, human temples, governments, libraries, and codes of law fix their traditions in the bedrock of history. Humans dream of immortality, but (except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death’s clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are gone.

Although some humans can be xenophobic, in general their societies are inclusive. Human lands welcome large numbers of nonhumans compared to the proportion of humans who live in nonhuman lands.

Exemplars of Ambition

Humans who seek adventure are the most daring and ambitious members of a daring and ambitious race. They seek to earn glory in the eyes of their fellows by amassing power, wealth, and fame. More than other people, humans champion causes rather than territories or groups.

Human Names and Ethnicities

Having so much more variety than other cultures, humans as a whole have no typical names. Some human parents give their children names from other languages, such as Dwarvish or Elvish (pronounced more or less correctly), but most parents give names that are linked to their region’s culture or to the naming traditions of their ancestors.

The material culture and physical characteristics of humans can change wildly from region to region. For example; clothing, architecture, cuisine, music, and literature are different in different regions and kingdoms. Human physical characteristics, though, vary according to the ancient migrations of the earliest humans, so that they are just as varied as their cultures.

There are nine main human ethnic groups that are widely recognized, though over a dozen others are found in more localized areas. 

Calirite

Shorter and slighter in build than most other humans, Calirites have dusky brown skin, hair, and eyes.

Calirite Names:

• Male: Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid, Khemed, Mehmen, Sudeiman, Zasheir; 
• Female: Atala, Ceidil, Hama, Jasmal, Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira, Zasheida; 
• Surnames: Basha, Dumein, Jassan, Khalid, Mostana, Pashar, Rein

Chondathan

Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown eyes, but these traits are hardly universal. 

Chondathan Names:

• Male: Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal, Stedd; 
• Female: Arveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Rowan, Shandri, Tessele;
• Surnames: Amblecrown, Buckman, Dundragon, Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag

Damaran

Damarans are of moderate height and build, with skin hues ranging from tawny to fair. Their hair is usually brown or black, and their eye color varies widely, though brown is most common.

Damaran Names:

• Male: Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel, Sergor; 
• Female: Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana, Zora; 
• Surnames: Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov, Marsk, Nemetsk, Shemov, Starag

Illuskan

Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely gray eyes. Most have raven-black hair, but some have blond, red, or light brown hair.

Illuskan Names:

• Male: Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander, Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth; 
• Female: Amafrey, Betha, Cefrey, Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra; 
• Surnames: Brightwood, Helder, Hornraven, Lackman, Stormwind, Windrivver

Mulan

Mulan are generally tall, slim, and amber-skinned, with eyes of hazel or brown. Their hair ranges from black to dark brown, but in the lands where the Mulan are most prominent, nobles and many other Mulan shave off all their hair.

Mulan Names:

• Male: Aoth, Bareris, Ehput-Ki, Kethoth, Mumed, Ramas, So-Kehur, Thazar-De, Urhur; 
• Female: Arizima, Chathi, Nephis, Nulara, Murithi, Sefris, Thola, Umara, Zolis; 
• Surnames: Ankhalab, Anskuld, Fezim, Hahpet, Nathandem, Sepret, Uuthrakt

Rashemi

Often intermingled with the Mulan, Rashemis tend to be short, stout, and muscular. They usually have dusky skin, dark eyes, and thick black hair.

Rashemi Names:

• Male: Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar, Kanithar, Madislak, Ralmevik, Shaumar, Vladislak; 
• Female: Fyevarra, Hulmarra, Immith, Imzel, Navarra, Shevarra, Tammith, Yuldra; 
• Surnames: Chergoba, Dyernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara, Stayanoga, Ulmokina

Shou

They are yellowish-bronze in hue, with black hair and dark eyes. Shou surnames are usually presented before the given name.

Shou Names:

• Male: An, Chen, Chi, Fai, Jiang, Jun, Lian, Long, Meng, On, Shan, Shui, Wen; 
• Female: Bai, Chao, Jia, Lei, Mei, Qiao, Shui, Tai; 
• Surnames: Chien, Huang, Kao, Kung, Lao, Ling, Mei, Pin, Shin, Sum, Tan, Wan

Tethyrian

Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that tends to grow fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color varies widely, but brown hair and blue eyes are the most common. Tethyrians primarily use Chondathan names.

Turami

Turami people are generally tall and muscular, with dark mahogany skin, curly black hair, and dark eyes.

Turami Names:

• Male: Anton, Diero, Marcon, Pieron, Rimardo, Romero, Salazar, Umbero; 
• Female: Balama, Dona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise, Vonda; 
• Surnames: Agosto, Astorio, Calabra, Domine, Falone, Marivaldi, Pisacar, Ramondo

Human Traits

Ability Score Increase: All your ability scores increase by 1.

Age: Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and usually live less than a century.

Size: Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed: Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Languages: You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Humans typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on.

Skilled: You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice and with one tool of your choice.

Human determination: Gain one additional hit dice per short rest.

Tenacity: When you make an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw and have disadvantage on the roll, you can cancel the disadvantage for that roll. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.