Mhan

Mhen are, to put it academically, a paradoxical species. Though physically weaker than nearly every other sentient race in Aÿshra—their bones break with alarming ease, their skin tears as though made of parchment, and they possess no inherent magical resistance whatsoever—they possess a most curious trait: an insatiable drive to win. Be it in warfare, politics, or the production of truly mediocre literature, Mhan will not be outdone.
  Their shorter lifespans (more on that below) are often blamed for this relentless ambition, though whether this is noble or simply a sign of chronic insecurity is, of course, a matter for philosophical debate—and one I am too dignified to entertain here.

Mhankind—adorably small and unreasonably loud in their early years—reach full adulthood between the ages of 18 and 20 folk years. On average, they enjoy a lifespan of 60 to 80 years, though, naturally, there are always outliers who insist on lingering well beyond expectations, much to the surprise of their joints and descendants. Their stages of life are delightfully predictable, mirroring those of most other races: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and, at last, the venerable (and often spectacularly opinionated) twilight of elderhood. Of course, lifespan may vary depending on diet, social standing, and whether one has made the tactless decision to reside near a Mülgheniv warband—which tends to shorten things considerably.

Mhen are perhaps the most adaptable of all warm-blooded mortals. They thrive in forests, deserts, plains, coasts, and cities—though notably not the Jekovaan Mountains, where the average Mhan, even swaddled in imported furs and carrying a mule’s worth of supplies, will perish in under a day during even a mild storm. Their excuses, however, may last forever.

While many scoff at Mhan history—and let us be clear, there is much to scoff at—it would be unwise to underestimate them. They are a race of ambition, audacity, and astonishing stubbornness. And though they may lack the grace of the Elves or the strength of the Orkäen, they possess something far more dangerous: an unshakable belief that the world belongs to them.
  One shudders to think what they might accomplish if they were actually right.

After landing on Aÿshra’s northeastern coast at the now-historical site of Ghalan's Oak, Mhan wasted no time establishing what they call "settlements"—and what everyone else at the time called invasions. Within two decades, ships began arriving year-round from Eduvia, carrying a smorgasbord of factions: settlers, soldiers, politicians, and of course, scholars (though, notably, not a single competent chef).

The first true stronghold was established in Fallow Fen, which became the heart of Mhan's expansion. From there, their ambitions grew unchecked, pushing westward into the Forest of Ghin—ancestral homeland of the Sylvans—and south toward contested lands long disputed by the Kiv Atʼeneké Plainsriders and the Mülgheniv Jekovaans, some of the few Jekovaan lineages to live at the base of the Jekovaan Mountains rather than in the mountain ranges themselves, and thus, their compulsion to spread further south.

While most reasonable peoples might have reconsidered, Mhan instead launched full-scale assaults on both fronts, employing novel tactics utterly foreign to the region. Through sheer willpower (and an uncanny ability to ignore centuries of preexisting territorial claims), they conquered land after land, ultimately claiming over half of Ghendara in less than a century. One might almost be impressed—were one not also appalled. Mhankind was sending ships year round from their homeland,, ships with different clan factions, ships with various political bigwigs, ships with settlers, ships with soldiers and so on. It was those ships carrying the soldiers who quickly began carving their territory out of what is now commonly referred to as Fallow Fen, where Mhen quickly took their first foothold. After nearly a century of peacefully farming and working the land, steadily building up the Folk communities along the northeastern coast, the ambitions of Mhen grew unchecked. Large forces quickly made their way west of Fallow Fen into the Forest of Ghin, what is considered by most historians as the birthplace of the Sylvan race. Unfortunately, much of this land was already under constant war between the Sylvan tribe known today as the Kiv Atʼeneké Plainsriders and the Jekovaan Mülgheniv clan, one of the few Jekovaan lineages to live at the base of the Jekovaan Mountains rather than in the mountain ranges and thus, their compulsion to spread further south.
  From Fallow Fen on the northeast coast, their domain crept westward along Omeroth’s Teeth, snaked into the Forest of Ghin, reached north toward Ae'thek's Pass, and finally halted—mercifully—near Nevinear's Impasse. Had it not been for natural barriers and internal squabbling, they might have renamed the entire region New Eduvia. A nightmare I do not care to entertain.

When it comes to the seven mortal senses , Mhen serve as the most average of baselines. This is not an insult, but rather a statistical fact—and frankly, not a particularly interesting one. Their vision, hearing, taste, and touch all function adequately, and as such, shall not be the subject of further notemaking. You may safely yawn now.

Now, having said that, while Mhan are devoid of natural magical resistance (unlike their Elven contemporaries, who can repel minor hexes as one might swat away a fly), some among their kind have demonstrated the capacity to wield magick. These instances are increasingly rare, however, and are often met with public awe, fear, or accusations of "dabbling." The latter is almost always true.