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Humans on Toril were widespread, could be found in most regions and, in general, were fierce and disagreeable, which could sometimes lead certain other races to view them with contempt. They were renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lacked specialization, they could excel in many areas.[2][10]

Ah, humans, now. There’re a lot of us, to be sure, flung far across all these lands, and more besides, across the sundering seas. We battle like orcs and dream like elves and work harder than all but the dwarves at their forges—and we cover Faerûn.
— Olram Faravaerr, Merchant of Mintarn.[11]

Etymology[]

Names for Humans[]

Many races had their own unique terminology by which they referred to humans. Elves and halfling were known to call them the manyhanded, in reference to an old elven insult the "Manyhanded Curse," while orcs referred to them as the brittle bones. Brownies, halflings, korreds, and satyrs were all known to use the term hurbryn, meaning "heavy-footed." Treants referred to humans as oroosh, meaning "never-stopping-talkers."[12] Dragons referred to them as munthrek[13] and in the Giant language they were known as van.[14][15]

Ethnicities[]

Human ethnicities

A Calishite, Tethyrian, Damaran, Mulan, Illuskan, Rashemi, and Chondathan.[note 2]

There was great ethnic diversity between humans in different regions.[16]

Faerûn[]

The following were the most prevalent and largest ethnic groups to be found in Faerûn during the last two millennia of the Age of Humanity continuing into the Era of Upheaval. They were by far the most common ethnicities found within the Heartlands of Faerûn.[17]

Kara-Tur[]

Maztica[]

The native Mazticans lived on a continent west of the Trackless Sea.

Minor ethnic groups[]

There was a time when any fool could have told you where the folk of this land or that came from, but now we sail or ride so far and often that we’re all from everywhere. Even the most isolated villages hold folk who hail from they know not where. Yet you can still tell something of where someone hails from by their hair and build and skin and manner, though any traveler knows not to assume too much from a quick glance. Remember that, and hearken:
— Olram Faravaer.[11]

The following are ethnic groups which were either small in number, or who were most commonly found in lands far from Faerûn's heartlands. In their own distinct regions, they might very well be the major local ethnic people.[20]

Some ethnic groups were no longer present on Toril:

Other ethnic groups of humans were referred to by the continent on which they lived:

  • Zakharans: A shorter, dark-skinned people who rarely left their homelands on the continent of Zakhara.[49]

Related races[]

While natural subraces of humans were rare, a few did exist with either natural or unnatural origins and were considered as such because of unique biological or magical quirks not common to most humans, such as the skulk,[50] abbalaya,[51] and elans.[52] Humans bred outside their race many times, resulting in the various half-human races like half-elves[53] and half-orcs[54] as well as planetouched such as aasimars, genasi, and tieflings.[55][56]

History[]

The origin of humanity was unknown. Although the Tel-quessir could claim the primal war between Corellon and Gruumsh for their heritage and the dwarves claimed to have been forged from the rocks of Abeir-Toril itself, humans had no unifying creation myth. However, they were certainly an ancient race, having originated since before written records existed and were frequently considered one of the creator races, though they weren't known to have actually created any species. More confusing yet was that, while humans indeed were native to Toril, they had been found on other worlds as well, with the Mulani standing out as an example of human immigrants to Toril.[57]

Merrouroboros

A map of Merrouroboros c. −31,500 DR, showing the land occupied by humans in the south-west.

During the Days of Thunder (−35,000 DR to −30,000 DR) on the supercontinent of Merrouroboros, humans were a primitive race, similar to apes. Tribes of humans largely inhabited the land later known as the continent of Katashaka. They used simple tools, banged rocks together to make fire, and dwelled in caves. According to Bazim-Gorag, a batrachi (another of the creator races) they hid in caves in fear—he called them "Meat".[58]

Regardless of their precise origins, humans were undeniably successful. While hardly the only dominant race of Toril, humans were one of them and the most recent to obtain dominance. In spite of this strength, or perhaps because of it, humanity was an eternally fractured and divided race, broken up into over a dozen ethnic offshoots. It was believed that this was 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.[59]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. The appearance of humans in the Realms varied wildly. The values here present a general range. For the full diversity of skin colors, hair colors, eye colors, hairstyles, and builds, see the individual entries for the many human ethnicities presented in the navigation box at the bottom of this article.
  2. The caption in the Player's Guide to Faerûn is incorrect. Chondathan was switched with Tethyrian and Mulan was switched with Illuskan.

Appearances[]

Adventures
Hoard of the Dragon QueenRise of TiamatTomb of AnnihilationStorm King's ThunderBaldur's Gate: Descent into AvernusIcewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Novels
Avatar seriesReturn of the ArchwizardsThe Fanged CrownHonor Among Thieves: Heroes Unite!Honor Among Thieves: The Druid's CallHonor Among Thieves: The Quest Begins
Comics
Legends of Baldur's GateShadows of the VampireFrost Giant's FuryEvil at Baldur's GateInfernal TidesAt the Spine of the WorldMindbreakerHonor Among Thieves: The Feast of the Moon
Board Games
Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter

Gallery[]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

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  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt (June 2008). Player's Handbook 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 46–47. ISBN 0-7869-4867-1.
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Connections[]

AeareeBatrachiFeyHumansSarrukh
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