Human
The Expansive Imperial Race
With a population nearly quadruple the second most expansive race in Arrunal, humans spread across the globe to lay claim to every corner of the world that life can exist. In earlier centuries, the expansive nature of the human race has resulted in genocides and near total annihilation of other races. In modern times, many of the nations or cultures that had followed these paths have spent untold resources writing wrongs that can never be fully undone.
Due to their prominent nature, humans are often viewed as the default "template" for which to compare other sentient life. Even vegetians, sharing nearly all of same traits as human, are described in ways that imply they have "additional" traits or lacking in some human quality. While modern education and politics have been slowly steering clear of this mindset, the viewpoint still prevails.
Humans have touched every culture of Arrunal in some shape or form. Even races that existed for millenniums without human contact have stories detailing the sighting of vessels or exploration parties that match historical human records. Every nation that exists does so with some human influence involved.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Inspiration for the "humanoid" template that is used to describe most races: the standard two arms, two legs, torso with the head on top description would adequately describe most humans.
Humans have two leg limbs and two are arm limbs, each ending with five digits. Their digits are flexible and end with small nails. Like the other Imperial Races, their fingers tend to be softer, trading raw strength for sensitivity for the sense of touch. Similar to all animal sentients, they have opposable thumbs.
Possessing a balance of physical traits, humans are well generalized in many aspects compared to many of the other races. What they show the most physical tendency toward is the superficial differences in size and hue. In this way, humans are comparable to dogs compared to the other canines of the world. Humans come in a wide range of 'breeds', but they are all humans.
Races and Ethnicities
Between each country, different human races and ethnicities are recognized by different organizations. Races represent vast ethnolinguistic groups of a species, of which, there are nine universally accepted:- Drulcus
- Madrias
- Ladia
- Cornos
- Zilluts
- Harba
- Ganiph
- Strag
- Ororun
Each of these groups can be further divided into specific ethnic groups, sometimes divided another level when significant cultural and dialect differences are present.
Genetics and Reproduction
Humans are fertile most of the year, following an ovulation and menstrual cycle. Through sexual copulation, the female may conceive a child and carry it to term.
Gestation lasts approximately 280 days, ending in a live birth. Human children are born nearly helpless and require sustenance and protection from the parents.
Sexual maturation begins with puberty, starting anywhere from as early as 9 to as late as 16, with females usually beginning earlier. Though sexually developed, human physical and mental development will continue into their early 20's, with some not reaching full development until nearly 30.
Males remain fertile their entire lives, with females losing fertility during menopause, normally occurring around the age of 50.
Humans are some of the most protective parenting species that exist, even amongst all sentients. Though cultural differences exist, it appears that humans are genetically bound to provide care for younger children much more than other races, who are far more likely to allow self-discovery.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Human's external senses are comparable to most other sentient species. They exhibit excellent forward sight in a trichromatic spectrum, and a sense of taste that is well-developed.
Though not poor, human hearing is perfectly adequate, capable of discerning a large range of the audio spectrum. They cannot orient their ears and must rely on their dexterous necks to help pinpoint noise.
Last of the major senses, humans have a poor sense of smell, often only being able to pick up strong odors in the immediate area.
Civilization and Culture
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Humans are capable of breeding with both vegetians and elves.
Human-vegetian offspring will often carry on their vegetian parent's golden genes, but cannot pass them on themselves. While not rare, human's and vegetians have difficulty conceiving offspring.
Human-elf children are more rare, with health conditions often being associated with them. In areas where there is a high elven population, it is not uncommon for multiple human-elf children to live.
It is speculated that humans may be able to breed with goblocs, but no such hybrid offspring has been reliably recorded.
Debate with Historian Nivana Ha'Dlan on History Exposed
"No, I very much have to disagree. Look at any nation, any corporation, and you see the same trend. Everything is just a tool for a goal. People included. I wont disagree that racism exists, that tribalism exists, but no species, humans included, hold it as an inherent trait. It's a flaw with this system, idea that every group, organization, whatever institute it is, has to keep growing bigger and bigger. No, no. No race, human or otherwise, is evil like that."
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