Fiction:The Firmament/Human

"Elves have fancy spells and literature and dwarves have guns and booze. But humans? Humans have something the others lack: the ability to keep going, no matter how hard you put them down. They're daring, and once they set their minds on something, nothing's gonna stop them. That's what sets them apart; they dare, and they do."

- Unknown

Humans, collectively known as humankind or mankind, are the most numerous civilized humanoid race of Telamon. With a variety of ethnicities and a presence in virtually all corners of the world, they have become the dominant species of the world in the modern era.

Biology
Humans are the quintessential humanoid race, being the origin of the term itself. They possess a variety of skin colourations and body builds depending of their location and lifestyles, but most remain around the height of 1,70 meters tall and weight of 65 kg.

History
Mankind rose into prominence in the years following the end of the Great Eondrassana War which devastated much of inner Dryadala. Tribes of primitive Humans were first spotted by the wood elves around 6,500 years ago to the west and south of their homeland, where they slowly begun inhabiting ruined cities of the elves and took them as their own; the devastation of the war allowed these tribes to expand largely unopposed. In the south, the human communities found themselves split due to the rise of the ogre tribes of the Ogrelands, leading to them being completely isolated between each other as well from the rest of their kin up north.

In the west, five human tribes rose among the others; Vuk, Mar, Natch, Wold, and Riet. Led by ancestral chieftains, these tribes founded permanent towns, which became villages, and then true cities. By 4,000 years ago, these five tribes were now five nations, ruled by monarchs who sought to expand their influence. Decades of territorial conflicts raged in the region, with no side ever being truly victorious over their rivals. However, all changed when a new force attacked from the sea; tribes of Men unknown to the Dryadalans, calling themselves the Ruscs, arrived to raid and pillage the weak southlanders, leading to decades of bloodshed. It continued until the rise of Wolfram Lechner, king of the Vuk, whose military genius served as a banner for all forces to unite against the Rusc threat. After thirty years of war, the northlanders returned back to whence they came, and the monarchs, believing Wolfram Lechner to be a vessel of the gods themselves, all bowed to him, accepting him as their new ruler.

The lands of the Dryadalan Men were split into five provinces - Volkland, Meerland, Waldland, Ritterland and Natchland - which together would become known as the Confederation of Lechner. While these Lechnerians (as they became known) underwent their rise, the men to the south of the Ogrelands settled in the Great Sea of Sand, forming the nation of Arkhanset while becoming rivals of the neighbouring lizardfolk, while those south of lands of the dwarves founded the kingdom of Aynach, led by the lord named Theobald the Just after the divine intervention of the angelic figure known as Naariel, who guided them into forming orders of chivalrous knights to fight off the invading ogres from the west.

Culture
Humans, as a whole, are known for being sophisticated and hard-working folk. With natural tenacity, they have created some of the world's most famed empires, either due to military prowess, impressive architecture, powerful commerce or cultural influence.

Religion
Humans are a very superstitious species, though their religious views are varied depending of the culture. The Lechner Pantheon is worshipped through the nations of the Confederation, while the land of Aynach pays most reverence to the Veiled Lady. In the desert regions, the Arkhan Pantheon rose into prominence as a separate faith from the other human tribes up north, while in the frigid tundra, the Rusclandic Pantheon is made up of various forces which other human cultures consider barbaric.

Relations with other races
Due to their unpredictable nature, humans have widely variable relationships with their neighbours. Rivalries between humans and elves are present through many nations due to past conflicts between the two races, and they are commonly attacked by creatures such as ogres, kobolds and goblins. Humans and dwarves tend to treat each other well in most circumstances due to similar cultural tastes.

Aynachians
Hailing from Aynach, the Aynachians possess a fair complexion and light shades of hair. Unified by a connection to the concept of chivalry, Aynachians are famed for their knights and paladins, the most famed of all Dryadala. While historically related to the Arkhans, culturally they are closer to the Lechnerians, even though they are not part of their Confederation. Aynachians are known for their warm, welcoming demeanor, their skill with horseback combat and their fanciful culture, influenced by the great number of fey in their lands.

Arkhans
The Arkhans rule over Arkhanset, one of the mightier nations of the Great Sea of Sand. Dark-skinned and possessing impressive constitution, they are famed warriors and scholars alike, having among the greatest number of spellcasters among human nations. They are stereotyped as unwelcoming and haughty by most Lechnerians, and indeed, their relations with their fellow men are shaky, in heavy part due to their territories being separated by the much maligned Ogrelands. Arkhans are known rivals of the lizardfolk of Merovaren, though while formerly violent, this rivalry has become less and less prominent over the centuries.

Dusklanders
The Dusklanders were once known as Natchlanders, but found themselves split from their countrymen when Natchland was cursed into becoming the dreaded realm of Duskwood. Possessing a pale complexion and raven black hair, these people live in fear under the shadow of the vampires who now rule their land. Many hope for the chance to escape to neighbouring lands, while others instead hope that their undead masters may elevate them into one of them, so that they may not have to fear any longer. Even in a good day, Dusklanders are often described as a macabre folk with a dark sense of humour.

Meerlanders
The Meerlanders of Meerland are olive-skinned sailors who hold the title of greatest seafarers among the Lechnerians. They are stereotyped as shrewd merchants and traders, something which they embrace wholeheartedly, for they are the commercial heart of the Confederacy and are well-aware of how much their countrymen need their invaluable navy, be it to protect their lands from sea invaders or to trade with other lands. Meerlanders are often described as a jolly and artistic folk who love great feats of architecture.

Ritterlanders
The great knights of the Lechnerians, the Ritterlanders of Ritterland are among the most famed horseriders of Dryadala, even though they are not as well known as the knights of Aynach (something which leads to typically friendly competition between the two nations). With fair skin and light brown hair, the Ritterlanders are known for being the first line of defense against any northern intruder who manages to slip by the land of Eryliana, becoming known as fierce warriors among their countrymen as a result. Due to their proximity and many battles fought together, the Ritterlanders have much contact with the ashen elves, leading to much mingling between them.

Rusclanders
The dreaded Rusclanders hail from the western shore of Gromkazul in the region known as Ruscland. Possessing a significantly larger and bulkier body frame than other Human cultures, these tribes are known raiders and warriors, terrorizing the shores of Dryadala with their longships in search of riches and glory. Having to share their land with bloodthirsty Greenskins and Giantkin, the Tusclanders' culture is unforgiving to the weak, for only the strong can endure in their homeland. While mostly seen as savages and barbarians, southern Rusc tribes are able to coexist with others in a mostly amiable manner, though the further north one goes, the more likely they are to find the true pillagers who once almost ruined the Men of Dryadala.

Volklanders
The Volklanders are often described as the heart of the Confederacy, for they are the children of Lord Wolfram Lechner himself. They are light-skinned and often sport shades of brown or black hair. From their home of Volkland, they secure the title of greatest warriors of the Lechnerians; militant since their tribal days, their skill in arms is rivalled only by Ritterland and Aynach's knights. Volklanders are often stereotyped as humourless and easily angered by their neighbours, though they are also considered fiercely loyal friends; call for their aid, and they will be there, no matter the circumstances.

Waldlanders
The Waldlanders of the province of Waldland possess a distinct copper complexion and dark shades of hair. Among them are the most staunch followers of the Lechnerian gods, leading many of them to become priests and clerics which spread the divine word across the Confederacy. The Waldlanders are also well known for their druids, no doubt due to being the Human culture who most interacts with the wood elves, who are believed to have taught them the arts of druidism long ago. Waldlanders are often stereotyped as joyless grumblers, but their duty to their families and communities are undeniable.