Humans
"They may
look different, but they all taste alike"
Dragon Axiom
Even the haughtiest of elves find it difficult to deny the prodigious feats
the humans have accomplished during their short time on Annwn. Though
not the strongest, swiftest, or smartest of the races, these short lived
creatures have a versatility and an innate knack for survival and adaptability
that astonishes most other races. Since the arrival of humans on our
world, the balance of power between the races has shifted radically. While
some races welcome the diversity and wealth of new ideas that spring from
humanity, many bitterly resent this race which has pushed them to the corners
of its civilization.
Unfortunately, humanity faces resentment not only
from without, but also from within. For the rapid adaptability of
humans, which is their greatest strength, also forms their greatest weakness.
On Moravia alone, humanity has already diverged into several very different
subraces, each of which seems incapable of co-operating in a meaningful
way with the others for any period of time. Each of the eight subraces
- Celenese, Durian, Sandoran, Jotun, Hrakan, Jen, Rhuinearean, and Solaran
- differs not only in appearance, but in language, culture, and value systems.
Celenese
As a recent offshoot of the Durian subrace, the Celenese are physically identical
to the Durians, differing only in cultural aspects. Celenese have the
palest skin of all human subraces but the Jotun, ranging from pale pink to
lightly tanned. Hair color is typically brown, although
extremely varied in shade, ranging from very light brown to almost black,
and may be anything from curly to straight in nature. Eye color is
likewise variable, typically grey, pale green, or light brown in color. Celenese
have medium builds, with square faces and strong jaw lines. The average
Celenese male is approximately 5'9" in height and 175 lbs in weight, with
females averaging 5'4" in height and 140 lbs in weight. The Celenese language
is high and nasal in intonation, and extremely complex in its grammatical
structure.
Scholars believe the Celenese to be an offshoot of the Durian subrace that
crossed Gaia's Spine millennia ago, possibly fleeing the encroachment
of the Jotun from the north. Upon their arrival, the more warlike
Celenese swiftly displaced the native Sandoran population through several
short but bloody wars. With the exception of the isolated
Kingdom of Freyd, the Celenese now populate the entirety of northern and
central Westmarch, and although some intermixing with the Sandorans has occurred
in the border kingdoms of Gideria and Thereval, the Celenese remain a relatively
distinct racial group.
Unlike their Durian ancestors, the Celenese have never suffered from the
repeated invasions and interracial conflicts common throughout Eastmarch,
and have remained the dominant military force in Westmarch since their
arrival. Even the mighty Solaran Empire seems to have been only
partially successful in conquering the Celenese lands, a fact the Celenese
consider a testament to their own pre-eminence. This prolonged period
of unchallenged dominance has led to a natural feeling of superiority over
the other races, and the Celenese are renown throughout Moravia for their
excessive pride, frequently bordering on arrogance. Some would argue
their attitudes may be warranted, however, as this extended period of stability
has also allowed the Celenese to pursue intellectual and artistic endeavours
to a higher degree than the other subraces. Skilled artisans and intellectuals
are highly valued throughout Celenese society, and most wealthy Celenese
act as the patrons of several such individuals.
Celenese society bears a similarly enlightened view towards arcane magic,
which does not carry the same stigma with the Celenese as it does with many
other human subraces. The first and greatest of the colleges of magic
may be found in the Celenese Kingdom of Arcadia, where it is believed the
first order of wizards was created during the Solaran war. Wizards
(and to a lesser extent mages) are highly regarded by most Celenese. Sorcerers
are less so, since their skills are viewed as coming less from cultivation
and enlightenment than from instinct and an accident of birth. The
primary deities worshipped by the Celenese are Arawn, Mordred, Heimdall,
and Ariel. Tyr, Kos, and Braghi are worshipped to a lesser degree.
Druids are less common in the lands of the Celenese than the Durian,
but are not unheard of..
Celenese dress is highly ornamental in nature, although
reserved in cut and style, attempting to evoke beauty without suggesting
carnality. Male clothing typically consists of long coats over shirts
and short breeches, and may range from light pastels to black in color. Female
garments are usually long, one piece garments such as dresses or gowns,
and are almost always pastel in color and conservative in design. While
peasants typically wear clothing of only one or two colors, those who can
afford to will incorporate several colors into their dress in a pleasing
fashion. The clothing of both sexes is always accentuated,
by those who can afford to, with superfluous puffs, slashes, ruffles, and
lace, with the degree of ornamentation increasing with wealth and social
status. Ornamental jewellery is commonly worn amongst the upper classes,
although quality is considered more important than quantity, and most individuals
limit themselves to a few choice items.
Celenese society is traditionally patriarchal in nature, and most Celenese
accept that a woman's rightful place is in the home. Despite this
attitude, women have the same standing before the law as men, and are valued
within the community. Women also have equal rights to own property
as men, and it is not unheard of for a woman to own and operate a small
businesses (although these tend to be domestic in nature). Although
nothing in Celenese society prevents a woman from taking up traditionally
male tasks, such as adventuring, a woman doing so can be expected to cause
a minor scandal, and be viewed as an oddity wherever she goes.
Celenese Names
Durian
Like the Celenese, the Durian have the fairest skin of all races but
the Jotun, ranging from pale pink to lightly tanned at its darkest. Hair
color is typically brown, although extremely varied in shade, ranging from
very light brown to almost black, and may be anything from curly to straight
in nature. Eye color is likewise variable, typically grey, pale green,
or light brown in color. Durians have medium builds, with square faces
and strong jaw lines. The average Durian
male is approximately 5'9" in height and 175 lbs in weight, with females
averaging 5'4" in height and 140 lbs in weight. The Durian language
resembles the Celenese in its basic format but is less complex and deeper
in intonation.
The Durian inhabit most of Central Eastmarch, and are one of the first races
of humans to extensively colonize the continent, at one time spreading from
the edge of the Southlands to the very tip of Northern Eastmarch. One
offshoot of the Durian is believed to have eventually crossed Gaia's Spine
to the West to form what is now the Celenese people. The Moredi, Devenshire,
and Darakoner are essentially pure Durian. Ascarians typically display strong
Durian heritage, although northerners are increasingly likely to display
some Jotun traits, while the Durian blood of Cardiffans and Gallatians has
been occasionally mixed with that of the Rhuinearean as a result of centuries
of raiding and pillaging.
Over time, the Durian race has been subject to
repeated colonizations, invasions, and dominations. The first race to
come into contact with the Durians were the warlike Jotun. These raiders
sailed from the far North to swiftly colonize northern Eastmarch, driving
the native Durians before them. Once established in what are now the
kingdoms of Garven and Exmoor, the Durians repeatedly sent seafaring raiding
parties to loot and pillage Durian settlements further to the South. This
period of time saw many Durians flee south to escape the Jotun onslaught,
only to eventually encounter barbarous Rhuineareans when they reached the
Southlands. Most recently, the entirety of the Durian lands were conquered
and bitterly oppressed under the reign of the Solaran Empire. Although
the Solarans were eventually defeated, and the Jotun civilized and incorporated
into the Durian political landscape, the South continued to suffer Rhuinearean
incursions until modern times, leading to the construction of the Great Wall
to physically separate the Southlands from Durian Eastmarch. Thus throughout
their history, the Durian have thus seen themselves as a people besieged on
all sides, leading to a certain degree of paranoia and reticence in dealing
with other races. This constant threat of violent assault has also resulted
in a society more focussed on hard work, preparedness, and survival than
that of the Celenese or the Sandorans. Durians have never experienced
a period of prolonged scientific, magical, or artistic advance as have many
of the western lands, and are often thought of as somewhat backwards by the
more cultured western subraces. Generally, Durians are less inclined
to intellectual or artistic pursuits than many of the other subraces. Despite
this, the centuries of hardship and struggle have made the Durians arguably
the most stalwart and tenacious of all human subraces. As a result
of the repeated violence the Durian have faced, they have developed an unsurpassed
skill at conventional warfare, which both the Jotun and the Rhuineareans
have learned to their cost.
Durians tend to be somewhat suspicious of
arcane magic, and arcane spell casters are rare throughout Durian lands.
Most Durians are very religious, and the primary deities worshipped
include Arawn, Ariel, Mordred, Heimdall, and Morrigan. Brigit, Tyr, Kos,
and Cernunnos are also worshipped to a lesser degree. Druids have a
particularly strong tradition amongst the Durian.
Like many
other aspects of their culture, Durian dress revolves more around practicality
than style. Male clothing consists of close fitting trousers and a
short tunic, while women typically wear long dresses, or a blouses and long
skirt. Both sexes often wear a cape or cloak while travelling. Clothing
is usually dark, primary colors in solid arrangements.
Women are considered a vital part of Durian society, but are seen more as
an extension of their husbands or families than as individuals in their
own right. Despite this, Durian women theoretically enjoy equality under
the law, although the extent to which this is practised varies from area
to area. Despite being generally relegated to secondary status behind
men, a strong tradition of militant women within Durian society still remains,
likely resulting from the days when entire families may have been required
to take up arms to protect themselves from various raiders. As such,
while Durian society is relatively resistant to women taking up traditionally
male roles, it paradoxically respects strong female figures, and
women adventurers can often carve out a niche for themselves within Durian
society.
Hrakan
Hrakans have dark skin, ranging from a deep coppery color to a dark, deep
brown. Their eyes vary from medium brown to nearly black in color,
and their hair is typically dark brown, ranging to almost black, and is typically
wavy in nature. Hrakans are short, but strong and wiry. The
average Hrakan male stands only 5'6", and typically weighs around 160 lbs.
Females are slightly shorter and slenderer in build, averaging 5'1"
and 125 lbs. The Hrakan language is an extremely fast series of intonations,
all of which seem to run into one another as a single stream of babble
to those unfamiliar with the language.
Hrakans are not thought to be native to the continent of
Moravia, but to have originated from some of the nearer islands in the Sea
of Stars. The Hrakan now inhabit the desert nation of Khamarhan, located
at the nexus of Westmarch and Eastmarch, and have also colonized small areas
of the Sea of Stars. Hrakans actively discourage interbreeding with
the other human subraces, even going so far as to prohibit it by law in
some areas. As a result, both Khamarhan and its island colonies are
populated by virtually pure blooded Hrakans.
Though Hrakans are believed to have originated from the Sea of Stars,
they migrated to the Great Desert long ago, and it is here that Hrakan society
truly developed. Here the Hrakan culture evolved from a traditional
clan based, herder society into a large empire that spans not only the
great desert of Khamarhan, but many regions within the Sea of Stars as
well. It is somewhat ironic, in this context, that the Hrakans now
find themselves returning to the place of their origin, but now as invaders,
displacing the "native" Jen from an environment now very alien to the Hrakans.
Because of Khamarhan's strategic location as the only land route
connecting Eastmarch and Westmarch, the Hrakans have profited for centuries
by acting as traders and merchants, and have developed a great affinity
for business and monetary issues. However,
their reluctance to mingle with other races, as well as their geographical
isolation, tends to promote mistrust on both sides in dealings between Hrakans
and the other human subraces. The combination of the two has caused
the Hrakans to gain a reputation for greed and avaricious amongst the other
human subraces of Moravia, a reputation which is deserved as often as not.
Their recent aggressive expansionism into the Sea of Stars has also
brought them into conflict with the more primitive Jen on many occasions.
Such conflicts tend to be decidedly one sided in favour of the Hrakans,
and many Jen have been taken as slaves, forming a subclass within Hrakan
society. Most Hrakans have been brought up to consider the Jen as
an inferior race, while most free Jen are for their part openly hostile
to the Hrakans. In addition, Hrakan society is extremely intolerant
of demihumans, particularly elves, as a result of the long and bitter conflict
between Hrakans and Rhylen elves ("dirt elves") over the Khamarhan Desert.
Elves are typically banned from all Hrakan lands, while other demihumans
are treated as second class citizens at best.
Hrakan society is among the most accepting of arcane magic
amongst the human sub races, and both sorcerers and mages are common in Hrakan
lands, frequently acting as viziers to the various caliphs. Most Hrakans
worship either Ra or Set. Morrigan and Hecate are also worshipped,
although to a lesser degree. No druidic tradition exists amongst the
Hrakan.
Male Hrakan dress has evolved to be
both stylish and practical at the same time: acting as a symbol of the wealth
of the wearer, while at the same time remaining wearable in the sweltering
heat of the Hrakan lands. Hrakan men typically wear several layers of
loose, light robes, or wide loose pantaloons with loose fitting jackets or
vests over top. Females always wear several layers of long, flowing
robes, designed at once to both conceal and flatter her figure, and apparel
which exposes part of a woman's legs, bust, or torso is unthinkable for any
respectable Hrakan woman. Females of higher status will also wear veils
to conceal their face, although this is not common for the average peasant.
The clothing of both sexes is universally is bright and lively in coloration,
with numerous different colors layered within a garment to play off one another.
All Hrakans believe in ostentatious displays of wealth, and well off
individuals will bedeck themselves in rings, necklaces, jewels, and anything
else which signifies their obvious wealth.
Hrakan society has always been strongly male dominated. Hrakan women
have little to no status within society, and are typically considered
the property of their fathers or husbands, to be disposed of as seen fit.
Women have no rights to property within Hrakan lands, and very limited
rights before the law. Ambitious women within Hrakan society must
work behind the scenes, using men as tools to effect their will, as they
can hold no direct power themselves. Female Hrakans who attempt to
take on traditionally male roles, such as adventuring, can expect to be
shunned, arrested, or worse.
Jen
The darkest of all the human subraces, Jen complexions range from a dark,
deep brown, to almost pure black. Jen hair is always thick, black,
and extremely curly, while their eyes can be brown, dark brown, black, or
amber in color. The Jen have round faces, with somewhat flattened noses.
Jen males are approximately the same height as Durians, but are
typically more lithe and muscular, averaging 5'9" and 155 lbs. Jen
females are shorter and lighter at 5'4" and 125 lbs. The language of
the Jen is comprised of extremely short, rapid intonations, which have
often been compared to a series of grunts, clicks, and yaps by those who
don't understand its intricacies.
The Jen are an indigenous race native to
the Sea of Stars south of Moravia. Jen are rarely encountered
on the continent of Moravia except as slaves, and as such are predominantly
seen in the lands of the Hrakans, who have begun aggressively expanding
into the Jen's lands and enslaving the natives. Many Jen are also
found acting as servants in the Sandoran nations of Westmarch, and the Celenese
empire of Dalon. Normally geographically isolated, the Jen have not
intermixed with any of the other human subraces in their native lands. Most
enslaved Jen's "civilized" masters consider the Jen an inferior species,
and do not consider interbreeding with them acceptable. As such, virtually
all Jen encountered throughout Annwn are pure blooded.
Spread throughout the many islands of the Sea of
Stars, Jen society has developed into small, tribal units. Unlike
the other subraces, the Jen have never formed large scale civilizations.
This, combined with the notable lack of metal throughout the Sea of
Stars, has left the Jen technologically primitive in comparison to the other
human subraces. Recent history has seen the beginning of expansion
from the Hrakans, Sandorans, and other races into traditionally Jen lands,
leading to inevitable conflicts between the natives and the invaders. Sadly
for the Jen, their technology primitiveness has caused them to be on the
losing side of these conflicts more often then not, and many Jen are now
found as slaves throughout Moravia. As most of their experiences
with the other human subraces have thus far been bad ones, the Jen tend to
be extremely distrustful of other races, although they frequently find much
in common with the Rhuineareans. In particular, the Jen harbour a special
dislike for the Hrakans, who are responsible for the most grievous transgressions
against their people. Oddly enough, however, no vestige of Solaran
society can be found within the Jen. It is unknown whether the Jen
fully purged the remaining Solarans from their culture subsequent to the
Solaran's downfall, or whether the Solarans did not consider the Jen lands
worthy of immediate conquest, and thus left them in isolation.
The Jen are more attuned to the natural world than most
other humans, so it comes as little surprise that the Jen have a strong druidic
tradition. Few Jen worship divine beings, although Set has a
small but devoted following. The invading Hrakans have been actively
trying to convert the Jen to the worship of Ra, but have had little success
to this point. Sorcerers are accepted as valued members of Jen society,
and often serve as tribal advisors or shamans. Mages are all but unknown
in Jen lands.
Traditional Jen clothing tends to be simple in construction
and relatively utilitarian. Clothing is made from skins and fur into
simple loin clothes, belts, capes, and robes. All Jen go barefoot,
and neither men nor women wear clothing on their upper body. Ceremonial
dress is similarly simple in creation but extremely colourful and decorative,
incorporating animal feathers, bones etc. While most Jen clothing
is the same color as the animal it came from, ceremonial clothing is often
colored with natural plant dyes, frequently into dark red and yellow colors.
Almost all Jen adorn themselves with body paint and tattoos for aesthetic
reasons. Jen who have been enslaved are dressed according to the tastes
of their captors cultures.
Women are highly valued within traditional Jen society,
frequently holding status equal to or higher than the males within the tribe.
Most women fill family oriented roles, growing crops and raising
children, while men tend to hunting and warfare. Rarely however,
some women chose to reject these values and assume traditional male roles
within their tribe. These women are usually highly respected and
frequently hold high status within Jen society.
Jotun
The Jotun have the fairest complexion of all the human subraces, with skin
tones ranging from pale pink to an almost milky white. Their physical
features of the Jotun are among the most distinct of the human subraces. Hair
is yellow, blonde, or platinum blonde in color, and always straight, while
eyes ranging from deep blue to pale blue to bluish grey, with violet eyes
rare but not unheard of. Compared to Durians, Jotun are significantly
larger in height and heavier in build. Though not as tall as Rhuineareans,
Jotun males are heavier, averaging 6'1" in height and 210 lbs. Jotun
women are the tallest of all humans, being only slightly shorter than the
males at 5'11". Female weight is highly variable, ranging from 145 to
195 lbs. on average. The Jotun language is comprised of short, harsh,
guttural intonations, and is generally considered the least pleasing to
the ear of the various human tongues.
The Jotun subrace traces its descent from the
frozen continent of Jotunheim, far to the north of Moravia. Though
the Jotun originated from this continent, they are now known to inhabit solely
the northern regions of Eastmarch, having left Jotunheim uninhabited long
in the distant past. The Jotun have interbred extensively with the native
Durians whom they displaced upon their arrival, and most of southern Exmoor
and Garven is inhabited by humans of mixed Jotun/Durian stock. As one
travels north through these two kingdoms, however, Jotun blood becomes increasingly
pure. During the forceful displacement of the Durians, much "intermingling"
between the two races occurred, and as a result the blonde hair and blue
eyes of the Jotun can occasionally be seen throughout the Durian lands to
the South.
The Jotun colonization of Moravia is thought to have
been caused by some great calamity that struck Jotunheim, driving the Jotun
south from their ancestral home to the shores of northern Eastmarch. There,
the Jotun razed, pillaged, and eventually settled, sending the native Durians
fleeing to the South. For centuries, the Jotun were the terror of
northern Eastmarch, sailing South every pass to loot coastal towns as far
away as what is now the Kingdom of Galatia. Over the centuries,
improvements in Jotun agricultural practices and increasingly stiff resistance
from their Durian victims began to decrease the appeal of raiding voyages,
until the Jotun were eventually integrated into the overall economic
and political landscape of Eastmarch. Though Jotun society has changed
from raider to farmer, the importance of strength, courage, and prowess
in combat has carried through to the present day, aided by the formidably
hostile climate of the modern day Jotun lands. Wild and sparsely
populated, the lands of the Jotun do not suffer either fools or weaklings
kindly.
Few Jotun understand arcane magic, and tend to view its
practitioners with a mix of distrust and superstition. The most commonly
worshipped deities in Jotun lands are Tyr and Kos. Other deities commonly
worshipped include Hred, Modi, Arawn, Mordred, and Heimdall.
Jotun clothing is drab and practical in nature, even
more so than their Durian neighbours. Clothing is typically made of
furs or thick wools, and is either left undyed or dyed dark greens, blues,
or reds. Jotun males typically wear heavy, loose fitting trousers and
long sleeved tunics. Women sometimes wear similar clothing or blouses.
The harsh weather makes dresses inappropriate for all but the summer
months. Both sexes wear thick cloaks, mittens, and wool boots when forced
to travel during the winter. Jotun are typically frugal with ornamentation,
favouring simple pins, clasps, and hack silver, which doubles as a form of
currency in most Jotun lands.
Jotun society is one in which traditional manliness
and bravado is held in high esteem. More than this, centuries of
raiding have created a mindset in male Jotun culture that women are prizes
to be fought over, stolen, and carried back to your home by the strongest
man. As such, most Jotun men manage to highly value women while
disrespecting them at the same time, viewing them more as treasures than
as equals. Despite the demise of the raiding way of life, most Jotun
men still perceive women as requiring their constant protection lest they
be "carried off" or otherwise fall victim to the many dangers roaming the
northern lands. In reality, however, women are actually free to act
as they wish within Jotun society, and often hold more power than the men,
(although no man would ever be made to acknowledge this). Just as
few weak men can survive in the harsh north, few weak women can either,
and all Jotun women are born with an inherent streak of toughness that
allows them to stand up to the trials of their environment. While
few men would ever publicly acknowledge that a woman could be his equal,
there is actually less of a distinction between traditional male and female
roles within Jotun society than any other human subrace, and all Jotun consider
a strong will in a woman a desirable trait. Female adventurers frequently
earn the grudging respect of their male counterparts, although no "real
man" could likely be made to admit it.
Rhuineareans have bronze skin, ranging in hue from a light copper to a rich,
red brown. Rhuinearean hair may be wavy or straight, and varies from
medium brown to black in color. Rhuinearean eyes are various shades
of brown. Rhuineareans have broad, strong faces and sturdy builds.
The tallest of all humans, they typically stand several inches above
the average Durian, although they are of relatively comparable builds.
The average Jotun male is 6'3" in height and weighs 205 lbs. Rhuinearean
women are shorter and more slender, averaging 5'9" in height and 165 lbs
in weight. The Rhuinearean language is a complicated series
of choppy expressions, with meaning based not only on the word but the intonation
with which it is spoken. Scholars believe this may be the reason why
Rhuineareans have developed only a rudimentary written language, as much
of a word's meaning is lost without considering the tone in which it is expressed.
The native population of Southern Eastmarch,
the Rhuineareans control all lands south of the Great Wall, referred to as
the Mordruins ("lands of our fathers") by the Rhuineareans themselves. Over
the centuries, the Rhuineareans have frequently invaded their Durian neighbours
to the north, and Rhuinearean blood is frequently seen in the inhabitants
of the Southern Kingdoms of Cardiff and Galatia, and occasionally in the
more northern lands of the Durians. Similarly, many Durians women were
carried off as raiding trophies by Rhuinearean chieftains, so many of the
Rhuinearean tribes contain members of mixed Durian/Rhuinearean stock. Despite
this, most Rhuineareans encountered in their native lands are of pure blooded
ancestry.
Known as "Southlanders" to most other humans, Rhuinearean society is primarily
hunter gatherer in nature, and is divided into numerous warring clans.
Rhuineareans value strength above all else, but cunning is a close
second, so the head of each tribe is usually the strongest and craftiest
of its members. Throughout their history, the disparate tribes have
occasionally been united under particularly powerful and charismatic warriors,
for the purpose of more successfully raiding the relatively soft lands of
the Durians. Inevitably, however, such collaborations quickly fall
apart, as Rhuineareans are too chaotic and impatient to work well in organized
groups for long. Nonetheless, most Rhuinearean males have spent their
life of hunting and warring with neighbouring tribes and monsters of the
Southlands, and their savagery and fearlessness in battle is second to
none. Fortunately for the Durians, the lack of iron throughout the
Mordruins has left the Rhuineareans historically at a disadvantage, providing
the edge the north has needed to keep themselves from being overrun by
barbarian hordes. More recently, Rhuinearean raids have been stymied
by the creation of the Great Wall, although it was eventually breached in
the Pass of 3801.
Rhuineareans interact with their environment on
a more direct level than most other humans, and harbour a strong affinity
for the natural world. The nomadic Rhuineareans are excellent horsemen,
and almost all tribes place great value in their steeds. Most hold
that nature should be respected, rather than controlled, and druids are held
in high esteem in Rhuinearean society. Rhuineareans are rarely divine
priests, but those who are typically worship chaotic deities such as Morrigan,
Cernunnos, or Modi. Rhuineareans are extremely distrustful of arcane
magic, however, and fear those who can clearly use it, even more so than
other superstitious subraces. Beyond this, obvious Solaran ancestry
is treated as clear proof of demonic ancestry, and any such individual encountered
or child born with such signs is killed on site. Historians postulate
that this hatred may indicate the Rhuineareans were even more brutally
subjugated by the Solarans than the other human subraces, which is saying
quite a lot. Outside of a raiding situation, Rhuineareans are generally
amiable with the other human subraces, although they tend to view them as
soft and easy targets. In return, the more civilized human subraces
view the Rhuineareans as little more than a horde of savages. Rhuineareans
and Jen rarely meet, but tend to get along well when they do, as their cultures
have much in common.
Rhuinearean clothing is usually simple in both style and
material, and is typically made of tanned leather, skins, and hides. Furs
are commonly worn for warmth by some of the mountain tribes, and by those
farthest north in the Mordruins. Most males go bare chested, wearing
either a loincloth or simple breeches and a belt, depending on the temperature,
although chiefs may wear animal skin cloaks as a show of status. Women
wear long, one piece leather garments, fashioned around the waist. Both
sexes wear simple hide moccasins for footwear. Males of high rank will
typically decorate themselves with the bones, fangs, or skulls of monsters
they have killed as a display of their power, and body tattooing is also
common amongst males. Rhuinearean men frequently adorn themselves with
war paint before leaving for battle. Women typically decorate themselves
with simple necklaces and other jewellery. Such items are usually strings
of beads created from rocks, shells, and semi-precious stones, although the
occasional piece of Durian jewellery taken in a raid can be found on women
belonging to a man of high status. Males do not wear such trinkets
considering them unmanly.
The status of women in society is generally low,
although it does vary somewhat from tribe to tribe. Women are frequently
fought over and carried off by the victor, like other possessions in Rhuinearean
society. Only those few women strong enough to physically compete
with men for dominance within the tribe come to hold any status within
Rhuinearean society.
Sandoran
Sandorans have complexions varying from olive to tan in color. Sandoran
hair is curly or wavy, and either black or brown in color. Sandorans
have light brown or hazel eyes, and lean, narrow facial features. Slightly
shorter and notably more slender that Durians, the average Sandoran male
stands 5'8" and 160 lbs. Sandoran women are somewhat smaller, at 5'3"
and 125 lbs. The Sandoran language is rich, slow, and deep in tone,
and is generally considered the most melodic of the human tongues.
Native to the Southern region of Westmarch,
the Sandorans represent one of the oldest civilizations on Moravia, and
once spread throughout the entirety of Westmarch. Eventually driven
from the northern reaches by the migrating Celenese, pure blooded Sandorans
now inhabit only the lands of Westmarch's great southern peninsula, as well
as the isolated kingdom of Freyd. Sandorans have intermixed extensively
at points of contact with the Celenese, however, and the kingdoms of Gideria
and Thereval are home to populations of mixed Sandoran and Celenese descent.
Sandorans of both full and mixed heritage can also be found in small
numbers throughout the more explored regions of the Sea of Stars.
Sandorans were once the dominant human race in Westmarch, and created
the earliest great civilizations on Moravia. Eventually, the Sandorans'
pre-eminence began to wane, first pushed back before the advance
of the Celenese, and later conquered and subjugated by the Solarans.
Although the Sandorans have never retaken the land they lost to the Celenese,
they retain a firm hold of southern Eastmarch following the demise of the
Solaran empire. Many of the ancient Sandoran cities
built millennia ago still stand along the southern coast, lending a feeling
of continuity and history to the Sandoran people. Though the Sandorans
do not possess the same military power as their Celenese neighbours, the
great antiquity of their society has left them with a culture steeped in
history and acquired knowledge, and the Sandorans
remain a proudly defiant people. Sandoran society is by far the most
complex of the humans, transcending the simple feudal structure of their
neighbours with a complicated network of political and economic interrelations
and power sharing that baffles most non-Sandorans. Their society is
rife with plots, intrigues, and frequent power struggles, and Sandorans are
infamous amongst the other subraces for their ability to scheme and manipulate.
Notorious for their dubious interpretations of ethics, Sandorans
commonly receive cool receptions in strongly lawful areas such as the Theocracy
of Volta. Also notoriously hot tempered, many Sandoran
personal or political conflicts are resolved through duels or all out street
wars between rival factions. Though the Sandorans
are extremely weak in terms of a conventional military, they are a maritime
power to be reckoned with, and are famed as explorers, conquerors, and
pirates throughout the Sea of Stars. Since this area has recently
become the target of Hrakan expansionism, the two groups often come into
conflict, although Sandoran negotiators can usually settle the situations
to their advantage. Sandorans are ill liked by most native Jen as
a result of their incursions into Jen territory, although these feelings
are nothing compared to the hatred the Jen harbour towards the Hrakans, as
the Sandorans have been less brutally overt in their domination of the natives.
While the most ancient of human cultures, Sandoran
lands are also the most progressive and daring. Renown for their
engineering and technological feats, Sandoran culture is famous in learned
circles for its open discussions and advanced theories. Arcane magic
is relatively accepted in Sandoran society, although it's practitioners do
not garner the same respect as their counterparts do in the Celenese lands.
Sandorans are less religious than most other human sub races, although
many do pay homage to Tyche, and Ariel is commonly worshipped by the destitute
in the poorest areas of cities. Less commonly worshipped deities include
Hecate, Arawn, and Mordred. Druids are almost unheard of in Sandoran
lands.
Sandoran dress is as daring as their culture, frequently
cut in styles most other races consider scandalous, decorated in bright,
gaudy colors and patterns, and always accentuated by stripes, sashes, and
other features which serve to display family or guild allegiance, with the
complexity of the garb directly related to the economic and political standing
of its wearer. While most Sandorans of wealth and privilege strive
to stay on the cutting edge of the latest fashion trend, some general descriptions
can still be made. Most Sandoran men wear short breeches or pantaloons,
with thin shirts and vests or long armed coats over top, depending on the
season. Women typically wear tight, low cut blouses over skirts of
varying lengths, although some may choose to wear pantaloons or breeches
instead. All Sandorans with the means to do so adorn themselves in
jewellery which they believe flatters their appearance, although they do
not carry this to the same excessive degree as the Hrakans.
Without a doubt, Sandoran society has the most liberal
attitude toward women of all the human subraces. Sandoran women
are renown for their forward (other races might say scandalous) behaviour
throughout all of Moravia. Women often take prominent roles within
Sandoran society, which rewards intelligence and cunning more than strength
or skill at arms. Sandoran women are just as hot blooded as Sandoran
men (some would say more so), and duels between women, while less common
than duels between men, are definitely not uncommon. Most Sandoran
males have had far too much experience to the contrary to underestimate
women, and treat them with as much caution and respect as they would any
man. Female adventurers are readily accommodated within Solaran society,
and frequently achieve high status as captains, guild heads, or rulers
of the various city states.
Solaran
At once the greatest of the human races and the lowest, the Solarans
are a people without a home and heirs to a history which has been lost
to the sands of time. A minority that has been assimilated into other
human cultures throughout Moravia, not only are there no Solaran communities,
but because of intermingling with the other races, the Solarans as a people
do not truly even exist. No pure blooded Solarans are known to exist
on Annwn in the present day, a fact for which most others races are eternally
thankful. Despite this, the tell-tale traits of Solaran ancestry
still show themselves in the occasional human, a sure sign of Solaran ancestry
far in the past. How much of a problem this heritage proves to an individual
depends on the culture in which the Solaran now lives. In Durian and
Jotun lands, Solarans are greeted with distrust and superstition, while they
are generally accepted as equals by the Celenese and Sandoran cultures. Showing
signs of Solaran ancestry in Hrakan society is a source of great shame, which
is still better than the treatment Solarans receive from the Rhuinearean,
who kill them on sight. Oddly enough, no Solarans traits have ever
been observed in the Jen.
Two thousand years ago, during the dawn
of the 5th age, the Solarans stepped into the pages of Moravia's history.
No modern historians know where the Solarans originated from, but
they possessed tremendous inborn magical powers, beyond the abilities of
even our most powerful modern sorcerers. Within the space of a few
short decades, the Solarans rose to power over virtually all of Moravia,
brutally subjugating not only the human realms, but most of the sentient
races on the continent's surface. It is thought that eventually, Woden,
god of magic, took pity upon the enslaved humans and taught them the gift
of understanding and shaping magical energies, thus creating the first wizards.
With the help of these wizards, the races united and rose against the
Solarans, finally casting them down through a long and bloody war. The
final fate of the Solarans is unknown, but by the end of the conflict, all
traces of Solaran culture vanished, along with most of the Solaran race,
victims of unimaginably destructive magic. Only a handful of Solarans
escaped this purge, scattering throughout Moravia. Today, no trace
of the Solaran Empire remains, and those carrying the signs of Solaran heritage
remain targets for discrimination and hatred. The long memories of
the elves, in particular, well remember the brutality of the Solarans, and
find it difficult to trust those who visibly bear the mark of Solaran heritage.
Though no pure Solarans exist, those who seem to exhibit
Solaran ancestry the most strongly tend to exhibit common traits. Solarans
have pale skin, ranging from pale pink to very lightly tanned in hue. Solaran
eyes are invariably a dark, emerald shade of green, while their hair is a
fiery red, ranging to auburn in those with less Solaran blood. This
last feature has led to the Solarans frequently being referred to as "the
fire kissed" a term also used to refer to the (presumably fiery) demise of
the great Solaran empire. Tall and thin of frame, the average Solaran
male stands 6'2" tall and weighs approximately 170 lbs. Women are shorter
but equally thin, standing 5'7" and typically weighing 135 lbs. Solarans
typically have long, thin fingers, and fine, elongated facial features, as
often strikingly beautiful as oddly disturbing. The
Solaran language, while still studied by historians and sages, is for
all intents and purposes dead, and Solarans speak the language of whatever
subrace has adopted them. Similarly, Solaran descendants have no traditional
names of their own, but instead choose their names according to the culture
they live amongst.
Solaran blood seems to carry a natural disposition for
arcane magic, as many sorcerers show obvious signs of Solaran ancestry.
Solarans may become mages as well, although they do not possess a natural
inclination to this area as they do to sorcery. Solarans
tend to worship the same deities as the culture in which they live. Solaran
dress and mannerisms are also reflective of their adopted society, although
continued prejudice tends to ensure that few Solarans enter the upper levels
of society, remaining forever trapped in poverty and the lower echelons of
society.