Humans

Humans are a race native (but not exactly indigenous) to the continent of Artograch, having evolved from the migrant Proto-Elves, making Humans a sister-race to Wood Elves and High Elves.

It can be argued that, without any doubt, humans are the most versatile race on the face of Artograch. and have the main driving force of history ever since the Kingdom of Etrand has been founded. No one knows why is the lifespan of humans so short - roughly one-tenth of that of their western neighbours - but one thing is certain: this short lifespan compells, if not forces humans to attempt to live their lives to the fullest, to excel, make the most out of their short lives, have an impact on the world, instead of spending almost all day in a shadow-providing tent or shack drinking tea and meditating. The humans of Etrand and Etrancoast are world-famous for their ambition, passion, determination and resiliance.

The average human male is 175 centimetres (69 inches, or 5 feet and 9 inches) tall, while the average human female is 165 centimetres (65 inches, or 5 feet and 5 inches) tall, however, humans possess much greater variation amongst themselves in regards to height than other races, adult humans being as tall as 215 centimetres (84 inches or 7 feet) or as short as 130 centimetres (51 inches, or 4 feet and 3 inches) not being unheard of either. With possibly the exception of the Lizardmen with the varied colours of their scale, humans are the most diverse race on Artograch, with a large variety of hair colours (black, brown, blond, red, auburn) and eye colours (brown, blue, hazel, grey, green) occouring naturally.

Phenotypes / Sub-Races


Humans are considered the most diverse out of all races on Continental Artograch. They are subdivided into six phenotypes or subraces. It is important to note, that these groups don't fully separate from one another - on their supposed boundaries, they gradually bleed into each other. In cities - melting pots that attract fortune-seekers from all over Etrand - all of these subraces blend with each other. Aristocrats typically marry for political reasons without any consideration for preserving the local phenotypes. This means that only rural people preserve the local phenotypes, but even they don't do it intentionally or consciously.

Steelhelmi


A variant of the human race, its distribution roughly corresponds to the Margraviate of Steelhelm and the northeasatern parts of the Grand County of Yeirmarc. They typically speak the Northern dialect of the Etrandish language.

The Steelhelmi are a stocky people with strong legs well-equipped for mountain-climbing. Their faces are broad, their hair tends to be dark (usually dark brown, but jet black isn't unheard of), their eyes are usually blue or brown, they are often wrongfully assumed to be fat based on the natural thickness of their faces. People often compare them to Dwarves in their relatively shortness and stockiness - even though Humans and Dwarves cannot interbreed, the comparisons are not without merit, as the Steelhelmi people have spent centuries being culturally influenced by the Dwarves. They are a warrior-culture that has a preference for seniority over primogenitures, being traditionally led by the wisest elder instead of the recently departer leader's oldest son. Their values are best exemplified by House Osriking, a dynasty that is best known for their undying loyalty to all legally annointed kings of Etrand.

Western Etrandish


A variant of the human race, its distribution roughly corresponds to the royal demesne (area around Grandfolk), the Grand County of Colbenbert, Margraviate of Switheud, Margraviate of Gusmoldenbert, Margraviate of Femben and Grand County of Werron. They typically speak the Western dialect of the Etrandish language.

While not naturally dark at birth (usually as pale as the others at birth), the harshness of the sun is difficult to escape on the open grasslands of Western Etrand, leading to members of this subrace usually being tanned or sunburned, appearing rather swarthy compared to other humans. Western Etrandish people usually have brown hair - the most frequent eye colours are green and brown, but blue also appears.

Traditionally a nomadic culture, the sedentary descendants of the old nomadic warriors still partake in many of the activities of their ancestors, such as bison-hunting on the steppes. While farmers dominate other parts of Etrand, the steppes of Western Etrand favor cattle-herders over grass-growers and orchard-keepers. Both unifiers of Etrand - Fathred and Corlagon - were of Western Etrandish stock. Their values are probably best exemplifeid by the now-extinct Corlagonid dynasty, an imposing and progressive dynasty that was eager to embrace the winds of change, but did not shy away from violently forcing change down others' throats either.

Southern Etrandish


A variant of the human race, its distribution roughly corresponds to the Grand Counties of Semmeng and Yaeshener. They typically speak the Southern dialect of the Etrandish language.

The traditional Southern Etrandish phenotype is a dark-haired, brown-eyed one with a rather long skull and thin face by human standards.

Southern Etrandish people are very conservative. Their region is still dotted by wooden castles in the age of stone fortresses, old traditions and superstitions are well-alive in the region - some even say, that even the Old Gods are lurking out there in the swampy forests.

This subrace almost extinct in its purest forms, because Souther Etrand was on the receiving end of total destruction and depopulation several times throughout Etrand's history, followed by repopulation accelerated by immigration from other regions - which is why this phenotype has gotten diluted and mixed with all the others.

Brevian


A variant of the human race, its distribution roughly corresponds to the Margraviate of Shlaudorf and the Grand Counties of Brevia (its namesake) and Yestricmarc. They typically speak the Eastern dialect of the Etrandish language.

A fair-skinned people with sharp, masculine features, the Brevian phenotype contains the coveted "Prince Charming"-face, their hair is usually red or blond, their eyes are usually blue or hazel, Brevians are usually rather tall for human standards.

Brevian people are considered a brave and honourable folk that, where promises are always held, and liars are stigmatized. Brevians are known for being very good at holding onto their belongings, and are rather keen on trying to get it back if they lose it. The dynasty to rule over the kingdom of Etrand for the longest time - the Tondbertid dynasty that ruled for 573 years - was of Brevian stock, and that dynasty continues to rule over the Grand County of Brevia even to this day.

Dracfoldi


A variant of the human race, its distribution roughly corresponds to the Grand County of Dracfold. They typically speak the Eastern dialect of the Etrandish language.

A fair people similar to the Brevians, the Dracfoldi too display a higher frequenty of blondism and blue eyes, but their facial features are less sharp.

Dracfoldi people are known for being stubborn and rebellious, not being content with silently enduring opression and being forced to hide their true beliefs from authorities, they are a race that seeks justice and retribution whenever they will dissatisfied. Their values are best exemplified by the House of Dracfold, a dynasty that was very much a thorn in the Corlagonid / Western Etrandish establishment's back until they briefly took power, only to lose it to the Brevians.

Hulran


A variant of the human race, its distribution roughly corresponds to the former Kingdom of Hulra (its namesake), and Hulra's successor-state, the Earldom of Etrancoast. They typically speak the Etrancoasti language.

A race of tall humans with fair hair and sharp feautres, the Hulrans are considered the best swimmers in Etrand, which is self-evident, given their long maritime traditions. In addition to being the race of sailors, they're also a rather conservative and rebellious people who like to hold grudges and are unwilling to let go of their habits and traditions.

Attributes (FRPG)
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