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Human

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Natural humanoid
A female human
Human
Type Natural humanoid
Vision Normal
Location Abeir and Toril
Languages Common

Humans in Toril are widespread, can be found in most regions and, in general, are fierce and disagreeable, which can sometimes lead certain other races to view them with contempt. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specialization, they can excel in many areas.

Contents

[edit] Ecology

[edit] Physical characteristics

Humans come in a wide variety of complexions and sizes. Light skin is most common amongst inhabitants of the northern climates and dark skin amongst those of southern regions, but these are hardly absolutes and most falling somewhere in between the two extremes.[1] Human hair is usually black or brown, but may be blond or red as well. Most human eyes are brown, blue, or hazel,[2] though green or gray eyes are also fairly common with some abnormalities like red or violet also heard of.

Humans are short-lived compared to races such as the elves and dwarves whose lives can span many centuries. The average longevity of a healthy adult human is about 75 years, though some venerable members of the race live as long as 90[2] and some humans, through magical means, have obtained a lifespan that is measured in centuries or even millennia. Typically, a human is considered an adult at age 15.[3]

One of the key features of humanity is their adaptability, which carries over to both their physical and mental characteristics. The natural human capacity for physical adaptation means humans are a widely varied lot in appearances and also gives them a strong advantage for survival under adverse conditions.[1]

[edit] Abilities

Humans are, before anything else, a versatile race. Unlike most humanoids, humans have no particular strengths. Instead, each human is an individual with an unusual strength of their own. Humans as a whole are neither particularly strong, intelligent, or commanding, but any one individual might be any of these. Likewise, humans learn more quickly than do other races and have a propensity for acquiring power more quickly. Additionally, humans are all-around flexible, strong-willed, and durable.[4]

[edit] Psychology

Humans are, by their nature, decisive and occasionally rash beings when compared with other humanoid races. Humans are willing to take bold risks and reach high for both knowledge and power, hurling themselves into perilous situations and dealing with the consequences as they arise. Humans, as a rule but not an absolute, think first and worry later, trusting their instincts and willpower to carry them through danger.[2]

Humans look towards the future, seeking to bring change to their surroundings rather than live in a stasis. For better or worse, humans chase their ambitions and seek to make their mark on the world and humans are commonly explorers or conquerors, the main reason behind their widespread presence in the world.[2]

The human race is known for a tendency for adaptation, which other races often see as their key strength and the main cause for their prolificacy. Although this adaptability means humans are widespread across Toril it is not always enough for survival, however, and in some places humans find themselves subjugated to the whims of others.[1]

[edit] Culture

Human culture is extremely diverse, making it difficult to pin down any one cultural trait as definitively human. Generally, humans tend to be a pious race, worshiping a wider variety of gods than most races, including multiple pantheons. Likewise, humanity’s diversity makes them usually tolerant of other races, though exception to this cultural rule exist.[2] The downside of this diversity is that humanity is more divided than the other races, and wars between human nations are relatively common.

Humans who turn to an adventurer’s life are fairly common and tend to be among the boldest of the lot. Ambitious, irreverent, and sometimes selfish, human adventurers can nonetheless be leaders and crusaders as worthy of fame and power as any other. Although humans can be brought down by their vices, they are also more likely to champion an ideal over a nation or group, advocating for all rather than just for their own clique.[3]

[edit] History

The origin of humanity is something yet unknown. Although the Tel-quessir can claim the primal war between Corellon and Gruumsh for their heritage and the dwarves claim to have been forged from the rocks of Abeir-Toril itself, humans have no unifying creation myth. However, they are certainly an ancient race, having originated since before written records exist and they are frequently considered one of the creator races. More confusing yet is that, while humans indeed are native to Toril they have been found on other worlds as well, with the Mulani standing out as an example of human immigrants to Toril.[5]

Regardless of their precise origins, humans have been undeniably successful. While hardly the only dominant race of Toril, humans are one of them and the most recent to obtain dominance. In spite of this strength, or perhaps because of it, humanity is an eternally fractured and divided race, broken up into over a dozen ethnic offshoots. It is believed that this is in part because humanity, unlike most other races, did not emerge as a whole but rather in several places at once, thereby resulting in its diversity. [4]

[edit] Human ethnic groups

A Calishite, Tethyrian, Damaran, Mulan, Illuskan, Rashemi, and Chondathan.

While there are no natural human subraces, planetouched subspecies of humans have arisen in the Realms. These include the aasimars, genasi, and tieflings. There is also great ethnic diversity between humans in different regions.

The following are the most prevalent and largest ethnic groups to be found on Faerûn at this time. These are by far the most common ethnicities to be found within the Heartlands.

[edit] Minor ethnic groups

The following are ethnic groups which are either small in number, or who are most commonly found in lands far from Faerûn’s heartlands. In their own distinct regions, they may very well be the major local ethnic people.

[edit] Related races

Humans are kin to many races, such as githyanki and githzerai or Deep Imaskari. Additionally, humans have bred outside their race many times, resulting in the various half-human races like half-elves and half-orcs as well as planetouched such as tieflings.

[edit] References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide, p. 18. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player’s Handbook 4th edition, p. 47. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (August 2000). Player’s Handbook 3rd edition, p. 13. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-1551-4.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player’s Handbook 4th edition, p. 46. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
  5. ↑ Template:Cite book/Races of Faerîn
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