Humanity
Six major races of humanity share the vast Flanaess with numerous nonhumans. Unmixed human races exist in several enclaves, but for the most part the Suel, Flan, Oeridians, and Baklunish have mixed to form a variety of blended types.
Though nearly all the humans of the Flanaess can trace their roots to these four racial groups, each race appears to have developed ages ago in isolation from all others, with its own pantheon of deities, language, and culture. Many folk retain distinctive racial characteristics, but most are difficult to recognize due to long centuries of mixed marriages. However, even in these cases, many families identify with a certain racial group and follow those traditions and customs whether they resemble their ancestors or not.
As such, the skin color of an individual is of no particular importance. The dark Flan complexion shows up quite often in most nations. By contrast, the nobles of the Great Kingdom are proud of being light-skinned, just as the rulers of Tenh are overly conscious of the supposed superiority of their deep bronze color. In the central region of the Flanaess, from western Urnst Duchy to Geoff, there is little heed paid to either skin color or racial type, whether human or demi-human (or even humanoid, in some places). The main exception to this is the demi-human kingdoms, where humankind is judged inferior, especially in Celene.
The Flan — The Flan were the original human inhabitants of the Flanaess, which is named for them. The Flan lived as hunters, fishers, gatherers, and farmers, though there is evidence they had a great culture that long ago vanished. The Flan were greatly displaced by invading races from the west. A typical Flan has bronze skin and dark eyes and hair, and prefers to wear clothing in bright, primary colors.
The Baklunish — The western Baklunish have golden skin tones. Their eyes are often gray or green and their hair is dark. When their empire was destroyed, the survivors fled north to the Dramidj coast. Nomadic Baklunish ride horses and are governed by tribal khans. Settled, civilized Baklunish are ruled by emirs, caliphs, and sultans.
The Oeridians — Olive-skinned Oeridians were a warlike barbarian people who entered the Flanaess less of their own free will than because they were being pushed by Baklunish refugees and marauding armies of humanoids in the latter stages of the ancient Baklunish-Suloise war. Oeridians have blonde to black hair, with brown the most common.
The Suel — Suloise humans have pale skin, blue eyes, and blond, white, or red hair. They fled the ruin of their old empire and the vengeful peoples who hated the “evil ways” of the Suel. Barbaric Suloise, heavily tanned and freckled from exposure to the sun, are found in the Amedio Jungle and Hepmonaland.
The Rhennee — A minor human race called the Rhennee is found in the central Flanaess. These wayfaring people travel on river barges and are very clannish. Rhennee claim to have come to the Flanaess from another world and they do not trust outsiders. They have a bad reputation as thieves, but most are not truly evil.
The Olman — The Olman is another minor race, known from the Amedio Jungle and Hepmonaland. This people once had an empire in the southern jungles, but it collapsed long ago and vanished. Olman are seen in the Hold of the Sea Princes as slaves.
Other — Other human races (such as the Touv of Hepmonaland) are rumored to exist beyond the fringes of the Flanaess in every direction, but these folk are not well known at present.