Races: Humanity
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In the Lands there are many races such as Elves and Dwarves and Orcs. As such the term ‘race’ is reserved for the distinction between these rather than to refer to any kind of differences found among humans. However there are different linguistic or cultural groupings among humans in the Lands and these are known as different ‘Kin’.
There are many different Kin among humans. For the purposes of game-play a number will be described:
The Narmantic (The Western Kin): The Narmantic have legends which tell that they came from the long-lost Island Nation which sank under the waters. For all of recorded history however they have predominated in the coastal and riverlands of Westara. They rule the nation-state of Port Grazia, the league city-states of Nartellfar, Delmisar, Orvilia, and the inland city-states of Traviata and Urbana. Personal independence is important in Narmantic culture.
The Erimanic (The Northern Kin): The Erimanic once ruled an empire across the central and northern parts of the Homelands. That Empire is long-gone now but the Eriman are still common across the Wandering Lands, Westara and the Eastern Expanse. They rule the nation-states of Rolania and Bordenia and the city-state of Kingshope. Family is very important in Erimanic culture, as are status distinctions made between aristocracy and commoners.
The Planavic (The Eastern Kin): The Planavic predominate in the plains of the Eastern Expanse. They rule the nation-state of Rovnara and the city-states of Ivana and Kelda. Planavic society is clannish. They became sedentary later than most of the other Kin and some aspects of Planavic culture still reflect a nomadic past.
The Lehenic (The Southern Kin): The Lehenic predominate in and beyond the Golden Plains. They rule the nation-state ‘Empire’ of Nerina and the city-state of Farport. The Lehenic have a most ancient culture that focuses on honour and tradition as important.
The Sinti (The Travelling Kin): Also known as the Neri to ignorant persons who think the Sinti originate in Nerina (a mistake never made by the Lehenic). The Sinti are a nomadic Kin who have wandered Lehenic lands for some generations and are now beginning to migrate into Narmantic and Planavic lands. They have a distinct culture much of which they keep as a secret only for themselves. An exception is Sinti music which they will happily share with others - this music is played on small string instruments like the mandolin and kit-and-bow and can express both the joy of community and the anguish of isolation. Another is the practice of wearing rings in pierced ears or other parts which is becoming popular among the youth of many Lands.
The Brethic (The Still Kin): The Brethic are known as the Still Kin because they seem to have always lived in the central lands of the Brethic Hills and the Deben Wood for all of time while other Kin have moved from land to land. They are generally regarded as backward and yet many of the finer aspects of other cultures can ultimately be traced to the Brethic - the music of many humans is of Brethic origin and played on the combination of fife and lute and drum.
One implication for game-play of these different Kin among humans is that the Lands lacks any kind of 'common' language. What tongue one uses to converse with others depends entirely on cultural geography and personal experiences. And even within a language there will be local variations in vocabulary and phrase (e.g. Goblin and Kobold are both Eriman words for the same thing).
For humans the most commonly grown crops are wheat and barley and rye which villages grow using a crop rotation method across three or four fields. This is supplemented by the growing of tubers in some areas. Fruit and nuts are also grown. Most common livestock are kine and foul but fish is also consumed environment permitting. Furthermore the nobility of Eriman lands enjoy hunting and consuming venison.
Humans can interbreed with Elves, Orcs, Dwarves and Halflings. For more information on such half-humans see under the respective entry on those other Races.
As adults humans are between 4'8" and 6'4" tall and weigh 95-250 pounds. They have a life expectancy of 72-100 years.
Much of the information in this site refers to humans unless otherwise stated. In the absence of specific information players can assume that humans are - well - only human.
In the Lands there are many races such as Elves and Dwarves and Orcs. As such the term ‘race’ is reserved for the distinction between these rather than to refer to any kind of differences found among humans. However there are different linguistic or cultural groupings among humans in the Lands and these are known as different ‘Kin’.
There are many different Kin among humans. For the purposes of game-play a number will be described:
The Narmantic (The Western Kin): The Narmantic have legends which tell that they came from the long-lost Island Nation which sank under the waters. For all of recorded history however they have predominated in the coastal and riverlands of Westara. They rule the nation-state of Port Grazia, the league city-states of Nartellfar, Delmisar, Orvilia, and the inland city-states of Traviata and Urbana. Personal independence is important in Narmantic culture.
The Erimanic (The Northern Kin): The Erimanic once ruled an empire across the central and northern parts of the Homelands. That Empire is long-gone now but the Eriman are still common across the Wandering Lands, Westara and the Eastern Expanse. They rule the nation-states of Rolania and Bordenia and the city-state of Kingshope. Family is very important in Erimanic culture, as are status distinctions made between aristocracy and commoners.
The Planavic (The Eastern Kin): The Planavic predominate in the plains of the Eastern Expanse. They rule the nation-state of Rovnara and the city-states of Ivana and Kelda. Planavic society is clannish. They became sedentary later than most of the other Kin and some aspects of Planavic culture still reflect a nomadic past.
The Lehenic (The Southern Kin): The Lehenic predominate in and beyond the Golden Plains. They rule the nation-state ‘Empire’ of Nerina and the city-state of Farport. The Lehenic have a most ancient culture that focuses on honour and tradition as important.
The Sinti (The Travelling Kin): Also known as the Neri to ignorant persons who think the Sinti originate in Nerina (a mistake never made by the Lehenic). The Sinti are a nomadic Kin who have wandered Lehenic lands for some generations and are now beginning to migrate into Narmantic and Planavic lands. They have a distinct culture much of which they keep as a secret only for themselves. An exception is Sinti music which they will happily share with others - this music is played on small string instruments like the mandolin and kit-and-bow and can express both the joy of community and the anguish of isolation. Another is the practice of wearing rings in pierced ears or other parts which is becoming popular among the youth of many Lands.
The Brethic (The Still Kin): The Brethic are known as the Still Kin because they seem to have always lived in the central lands of the Brethic Hills and the Deben Wood for all of time while other Kin have moved from land to land. They are generally regarded as backward and yet many of the finer aspects of other cultures can ultimately be traced to the Brethic - the music of many humans is of Brethic origin and played on the combination of fife and lute and drum.
One implication for game-play of these different Kin among humans is that the Lands lacks any kind of 'common' language. What tongue one uses to converse with others depends entirely on cultural geography and personal experiences. And even within a language there will be local variations in vocabulary and phrase (e.g. Goblin and Kobold are both Eriman words for the same thing).
For humans the most commonly grown crops are wheat and barley and rye which villages grow using a crop rotation method across three or four fields. This is supplemented by the growing of tubers in some areas. Fruit and nuts are also grown. Most common livestock are kine and foul but fish is also consumed environment permitting. Furthermore the nobility of Eriman lands enjoy hunting and consuming venison.
Humans can interbreed with Elves, Orcs, Dwarves and Halflings. For more information on such half-humans see under the respective entry on those other Races.
As adults humans are between 4'8" and 6'4" tall and weigh 95-250 pounds. They have a life expectancy of 72-100 years.
Much of the information in this site refers to humans unless otherwise stated. In the absence of specific information players can assume that humans are - well - only human.
posted by Daniel | 8.5.06
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