The Humans

The Humans are an adaptable and enduring race native to Ecumene, making their home in the plains and forests of Eastern Oriens. As one of the Intelligent Races, they have achieved a high level of technology, intelligence, and society that not many other species have, and in the days predating the Second Great Surge, it was Mankind that had the world's biggest empire. Even after it fell, Humanity has still had a primary role on the world stage, as if you think their time has finally come to an end, you are mistaken. They are one of the world's many Humanoid races (being the race from which the term comes), being genetically close to Dwarves, Elves, and Gnomes.   While Humanity's homeland lies within a fairly temperate clime, they are known for their darker skin tones. The skin of a Human can range from russet to a deep brown, and they most often have hair that ranges in color from a dirty blonde to a shade of brown and then to black. Their eyes can be brown, amber, hazel, or green. Because of the higher amount of melanin in their skin, they are naturally resistant to skin cancer. As well, the Human race is perhaps the most resilient of any of the Civilized Races. The race has one of the best body heat regulation systems in the entire animal kingdom, and while almost every race can sweat, the Human race sweats perhaps the most out of the races, allowing them to regulate their body heat extremely efficiently and quickly. In addition, the Human race is perhaps the best at long-distance running in the entirety of Ecumene. They can regain stamina incredibly fast, allowing them to, over a long period of time, outrun any other species. Human eyes are very sensitive as well, but nowhere as good as those of other species.   Humanity is exceptionally hearty. While an Elf is put out of commission for nearly a year if they break a bone, a Human can completely heal it in only six weeks. Even traumatic dismemberment, which would end the life of most other races, is not necessarily the end for a Human. This has the side effect of making Human scar tissue hyperactive, but this is hardly an annoyance. Humans, due to their large lungs, can also hold their breath for upwards of several minutes with proper training, a feat most other races are incapable of.   Much more so than other races, Humans have a wide range of appearances. They can have angular noses, flat noses, big ears, little ears, big eyes, small eyes, et cetra, et cetra. They can have a wide range of body types as well, being able to bulk up incredibly but also gain so much weight that they cannot move. While this of course has many drawbacks, it can be incredibly beneficial as well.   Humans are the only race that can impregnate or get pregnant by the seed of another race, though it is unknown why this is. As members of the Intelligent Races, Humans can feel attraction to all of the other races, and can actually impregnate or get impregnated by the other Humanoid races, with the children of the pair coming out as a crippled Halfbreed. Humans, if need be, can easily outbreed most any other Humanoid race, but there has never really been a situation in which this was needed.

Humans can breed extraordinarily fast, especially when compared to other Humanoid races. Case in point, the gestation period of a Human is only 9 months long.   A Human infant is completely dependent on its parent's until around one year of age. They are toddlers until around three years of age and are thereafter children until 12. This starts their adolescent years, which end at around 21, where around they become fully-fledged adults. A Human is considered senior when they reach the age of around 65. As a Human ages, their hair begins to turn grey and their skin develops wrinkles, although this process can be sped up if an individual is experiencing a large amount of stress.

While Human cuisine may not be the most famous of foods, it is well loved by critics due to its depth of flavor and its heartiness. It is also quite interesting in the sense that it is a fusion of many different cuisines from many different parts of the world. The Kingdom of Tellus has long been considered the crossroads of nations, and because of it, Human culture (and, of course, cuisine) has taken many cues from almost every culture in the world, although Dwarven, Vampiric, and Nereid cuisine have all had an especially large impact. The verdant greenfields of the Cisaurelia are able to sustain both livestock and crops. Unicorns, ostriches, pigs, goats, and poultry can be found in huge numbers across the land, with their meat being prepared in a wide variety of ways. Indeed, Humans consume meat in high amounts, seemingly loving it over all things, stewing it, grilling it, roasting it, frying it, stuffing it, boiling it, or fixing it into spicy sausages. Aquatic meat is also used in Human cooking, gathered from the River Aurelia or from the World Sea. Catfish, perch, salmon, trout, and cod all make appearances in the race's seafood dishes. Now, as for bread, there are three primary avenues through which it is served. Of course, loaves and rolls of bread are all very common, but flatbread can also be found, piled high with meat and vegetables. Introduced to the region from Oriens a millennia ago, pasta is also incredibly common, with macaroni being very, very common, although pasta may also be fixed into ravioli or small balls. Ravioli is stuffed with "cheeselets", small, round bits of cheese that are very common in the race's cuisine. Chickpeas are also quite common, being deep fried into balls which are then wrapped up in flatbread or made into a savory dip, if not just added to a pasta or other dish as they are. Pizzas of varying varieties are very common as a social food. Other common vegetables include fava beans, potatoes, carrots, turnips, onions, tomatoes, dates, zucchini, cabbages, eggplant, olives, peppers, okra, lentils, and rice. Due to the warm climate of Tellus, a variety of spices can be grown, not to mention those imported from elsewhere. Common ones include garlic, cardoon, dried hot pepper, black pepper, caraway, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, paprika, coriander, saffron, mace, cloves, fennel, anise, nutmeg, and fenugreek.   Unicorn milk and tea are staples of the common man's diet, but so are native-made beers. Tellus is the world's top producer of beer, and most Humans have a glass a day at the very least. The elites, obviously, prefer Nereid wine, although Tellus has a fairly large wine industry of its own. While most wine snobs prefer bottles from Dourado, middle-class and even lower-class Humans love the native stuff. Many high-class Men will, during the Summer months, drink a cold beverage of sugar and previously boiled and crushed carob pods.   The average Human eats thrice a day, with the first meal of the day being Matenmanĝo (Breakfast). This is usually a quick meal, though one high in calories, with bread (sometimes stuffed with dates but usually buttered or with jam) and yogurt being common. Pastries, traditionally stuffed with dates or almond paste, can also be found. Matenmanĝo is always served with tea. Tagmanĝo (Lunch) is the largest meal of the day, often being made up of a salad (served hot or cold), pasta, stew, or some other meat-heavy dish, and a serving of cooked vegetables, rice, or lentils. Couscous is known as a staple food within Tellus. Vespermanĝo (Dinner) is held late in the evening (as Humans usually eat lunch later in the day), usually being some sort of soup or stew.

The Empire has fallen, and with its fall, Humanity was cut loose. After its secession and a failed genocide against the Centaurs, Tellus lost both its honor and a third of its territory. Now, the legions of Mankind will not rest until both are reclaimed. The King of Tellus, Lucius IV, and the dynasty from which he was born are practically worshipped by the Humans as the chosen generals of a righteous, Trinitist crusade. To the average Human, the House Milonius is as inseparable from their identity as their language and their manner of dress. However, be this as it may, the real power lies in the hands of the Royal Armed Forces and their military dictator: the Pontifex, Faustus Caelius, a man with a sole devotion towards reclaiming what is rightfully Mankind's.   In the name of the King, Humanity labors. Farmers no longer rent out land from the nobility, instead, they rent out land from the state itself (which gives individual farmers much more freedom than the nobles did). Both with steam-powered machines and with hand tools, they harvest crops and raise livestock, the fertile Cisaurelia being almost entirely self-sufficient when it comes to food. Tellus, though, is a nation with a mixed economy. In its great cities, industrial workers (who have very little protections) manufacture goods for both the civilian economy and the ever-hungry Armed Forces.

Humanity has a very simplistic naming system and it has been so since the earliest days of Human civilization. Each Human has their given name, and then a patrilineal family name. Although Human language is basically just Esperanto, their names are more similar to Latin names (as there aren't really any Esperanto names). As such, the given name of a Human corresponds to the Roman praenomen, and their family name corresponds to a nomen, though women do not take their first name from the family name. In a break with most of the world, the nobility does not use nobility particles, instead sharing a naming system with the commoners. This tradition was established by King Lucius I and has been used ever since, being adopted by the rest of the land's nobility.   A man's name might be something like "Septimus Bruttius" or "Agrippa Carvilius", while a woman's name might be something like "Antonia Vespasiana" or "Cassia Casca".   Human Noble Titles   Reĝo: King
Duko: Duke
Markizo: Marquis
Grafo: Count
Barono: Baron

In accordance with the word laid out by the Divine Record, Human society is strictly patriarchal. Women are just more prone to falling to sin than men and must be dutifully protected as such. It is the duty of all true men to accompany their wives and daughters when she wants to go out, and it must be made sure of that she does not engage in vice. If this were not enough, women are required to wear traditional Orthodox headdresses and modest clothing, lest they become a prostitute. However, it is tradition for mothers to be protected and loved greatly by their children, and if you do not let your mother live with you if your father has passed, you are performing a slight of the highest order. Indeed, Human nobles would often give their mother a high court position despite her gender, as her wisdom and counsel is invaluable in adulthood just as it was in childhood. Under the military government, though, there are no women in the halls of high power.   Men have the job of doing the hard work required of them, be he a farmer, a worker, or a soldier. He must work for his Gods, but also for his family who depends on him. A true man is stoic, hard-working, charitable, and pious. To not be any of these things means that you are not a man, and that is something worthy only of contempt. Men will also commonly braid their hair into dreadlocks to visualize their devotion and humility towards the Gods.

Arranged marriages have become almost unheard of within Tellus, even though they are very traditional in all other ways. As is tradition, a Human man will buy a ring for his lover and present it to her as a way of proposing that they get married. Traditionally, Human weddings are held in the local Church, right at the altar, with the rings being placed upon it. Incense is spread around the room as the pair say their vows. After they are done, the entirety of those in attendance (usually the friends and extended family of the bride and the groom) will pray for their marriage, before the Vicar sprinkles dirt upon the rings before placing them on the fingers of the married couple, officially blessing and approving their marriage.   What follows is usually a few hours of feasting and games, with toasts abound. Oftentimes, the celebration will happen in the church itself, but post-wedding celebrations in the summer are often celebrated outside. At the end of the party, the bride and groom will shatter their drinking cups (usually made out of glass for the ceremony) in order to symbolize the beginning of a new life together.

Even after being forcefully cut from the cloth of the Ancient Empire, Humanity has remained advanced. Railroads, electricity, agricultural mechanization, it is all here and all very common.

Humans speak a language known as "Human" which is in essence real-life Esperanto. This language uses an alphabetical system of writing known as "Runic", which utilizes 40 letters to form words and phrases, with the letters themselves looking quite like those used in the real-life Deseret Alphabet.

Humans often greet each other with just a simple wave or handshake, but it is very common to greet older or higher-class women by kissing their hands. However, since the military government came into power, the "Royal Salute", in which a Human raises their arm at an angle before forcefully swinging it down, has become common as a show of loyalty to Tellus and the race. Humans are generally polite people, never willing to state bad news directly, although many members of the race are known for their hot tempers. Indeed, many races watch their step around Humans, for it is a common stereotype that they are hot-headed, volatile people who can blow up at the drop of a hat. It is not only common but expected to speak ill of others behind their backs, with gossip and the like being common amongst close associates. Humans tend to take great pride in their titles, and will often correct you if you fail to address them with an honorific, even if it is simply "Sir" or "Mam".

The modest Humans can often be found in simple clothing that keeps them warm and allows them to go about their day. The everyday dress for a Human male will consist of a simple tunic made of wool or linen that goes down to the knees, sewn wide, usually short-sleeved even in Winter, and pinned around the shoulders, whereas women wear dresses down to their feet. If men require extra warmth, an under-tunic, vest, or long socks can be worn. At one point in time, most men would wear trousers or pants along with their tunic, but the ultra-traditionalists in the government see pants as "non-Human" (as they were introduced as a fashion item by the Dwarves), so it can often be somewhat dangerous to be seen wearing them despite the fact that Humans wore pants for most of the Era of Divinity. Working men will usually affix their tunics around their waist with a belt and those in the countryside will often wear a chupalla hat. As for footwear, most Humans will either wear sandals or boots of some sort (often roper boots).   During the days of the Ancient Empire, most Human aristocrats and industrialists took to wearing Dwarven fashion, with their tight suits and bell skirts, but after the emergence of a hyper-nationalist dictatorship, a return to more a traditional style of dress was needed. However, their fashion is still of greater calibre than that worn by the common folk. Men will wear great, flowing togas (made of cotton, wool, or silk) draped around the shoulder and around the body, often with a colorful edging or completely dyed. They will often also wear military uniforms, as in this day in age, the elite and the soldier are one and the same. However, most Human nobles still wear tophats. In addition to their headdress, upper-class women will wear a stola (a long, sleeveless, pleated dress fastened around the shoulder by brooches) and a palla (a sort of cloak draped over the shoulders). The wearing of togas for officials (and the lack of pants for everyone) is a very unpopular program, though it is begrudgingly followed by almost everyone.   As stated before, modesty is a common concept even among the men of the world. As such, they will often either put their hair into dreadlocks or cut it very short, both being symbols of their modesty. Dreadlocks are especially common amongst the soldiers of the Kingdom. Women can wear their hair longer, and often braid or style it, although when they go out it is hidden beneath their headdresses.

Houses And Architecture
Around half of all Humans live out in the countryside, tending to the field near their house. Said houses are similar to the Bresse houses of real-life France. They are timber-framed and infilled with brick, though perhaps their most notable trait is their hip roof. This is meant to keep rain damage from affecting the masonry and timber.   Those in the cities live very different lives, of course. Most citizens of Histria and Reginca (as well as other smaller cities) live within their shops or in large apartment buildings known as "insula". They are usually multi-tiered, stone buildings made up of dozens of two-room apartments. Those of a higher class live in larger manors that, outwardly, look like ancient Roman Temples. However, on the inside, they are much more similar to royal palaces.   Music And Art
Despite their reputation as a militaristic people, art has long played a large part in Human culture, as it has in others. Paintings, sculptors, and literature alike have all flown freely from the River Aurelia, with some of the most known and beloved artists hailing from the Kingdom of Tellus. However, art is not just for the rich, as Mankind maintains a healthy tradition of folk music. Human folk music is mostly fast-paced (although this is not an absolute rule), centered around swapping instrumental sections with short, poetic verses. Ballads are, in many ways, central to Human folk music, with most songs describing love, nature, or a certain type of lifestyle in great detail. Some common instruments used are tambourines, maracas, claves, vihuela guitars, güiros, kontra, lyres, guitarrón, and trumpets.   Sports And Games
As with the rest of the world, rugby is quite common, but Humanity has its own native sports as well. Both competitive fencing and modern boxing are said to have originated from the Kingdom of Tellus, but so does tennis. In the cities, the industrial poor can often catch gladiator matches, in which dressed-up, highly paid pseudo-celebrities do battle with blunted weapons and small bits of magic.   Funerary Traditions
When it is believed that a Trinitist is dying, they are brought with haste to the local Church, specifically a secluded and comfortable basement room. There, while doctors care for them, the Church's Vicar will pray with them and the dying Trinitist will give their "last rites" to the Vicar. This last rite comes in the form of a poem that the individual made beforehand and now recites, professing their piety and humility for what might be the last time. If the Trinitist does indeed die, they will then be washed by the family, wrapped in red cloth that covers all but the head and hands, then buried in a stone casket within church property, under earth that has been prayed over by the Vicar. While the body is being buried, the individual's family will often watch over it, singing a prayer for their soul and leaving small gifts by the headstone. However, if the Trinitist does not die after professing their last rites, they must be held to the promises made in their last rites.   If a Trinitist dies suddenly or is unable to make it to the Church and perform their last rites before they die, they are buried with their last rites folded under the head of the burial cloth.   Philosophy
At one point in history, the Human race was totally loyal to the Ancient Empire. Then it fell, and all was lost. Enraged by this treason, Human warriors tore across the Steppe, killing any Centaur they could, desperate to end this game forever. But, they could not. They lost the war, the Mad King Nikolaso betraying the folk and being too much of a coward to finish what he started. Did he not abdicate, and did his son not redeem his House, it is certain the monarchy would have fallen. With the dream of the Empire dead, it is now the calling of a lost people to follow a new shepherd: that of the King, that of the Pontifex, and that of revanche. The loss of land and honor has been the worst thing to ever happen to the race, and it must be rectified. Ever since the Deluge, it has been the sole dream of every Man to cross the River Aurelia, finish what Nikolaso was too weak to go through with, and crusade until every strip of land on this blessed world sings, not meditates or prays, but sings in a choir to the Gods.

Offensive Slurs And Insults
Slurs for the Humans include "Monkies", "Round-Ears", "Toy Soldiers", "Mudskins" or "Lumberfoot".   Humans often refer to other races as "Oddities" or "Animalfolk".   Cultural Taboos
Oddly enough, Humankind tends to take supreme offense to any joke directed towards their mother, much more so than other races. Humanity, as stated before, tends to be a volatile race, and while it is a common stereotype, it comes from truth. It is generally good advice to tread lightly around Men, for you never know what will make them throw a fit. Of course, they also see sin as a major taboo, as Humans tend to be of a pious type. Human culture is quite militaristic, more so than the others of Ecumene, and they put their soldiers on a pedestal. Even if they don't really do anything within the service, all soldiers are worthy of honor, and insulting the military and/or military service is not only looked down upon, it is actually criminal within the Kingdom of Tellus (though, also, as the military is the government, this enables easy crackdowns on opposition). Of course, the Kingdom also currently practices universal male conscription.

Horses have long been beloved by Humankind due to their versatility and the fact that they make their native home in the Cisaurelia. Foreigners have often noted the bond between man and horse as especially strong, with the horse being frequently used in Human iconography as a symbol of power.   Even before the Deluge, Humanity and Centaurs have never had a favorable relationship. In the Pre-Divine days of the Aurelian Empire, Centaurs were often enslaved by the Empire Of Great Mountains, an Empire the Humans helped to build. Now, after what the Centaurs refer to as the "Great Struggle", an event defined not by revolutionary heroism, but by attempted genocide, relations have soured further. Qadjik and Tellus (the Centaur and Human nations respectively) have no formal relations, and a resumption of war for the Transaurelia is always near. But, when this war comes, it is certain that the Gnomes and Vampires will come to the aid of the steppefolk, sparking hatred between them and Humanity as well. Indeed, after the Deluge, Humanity has stood largely alone, with no races to call their brothers, although this is fine to them. Humanity has been chosen for holy purpose, and if they must stand alone against infidels, heretics and pagans, so be it.