Human

Modern Human-majority territories.

Nokin

Phocahn

Metzi

**Humans** are a race of the Ea species that has traditionally occupied the central regions of the continent of Ditarre as well as the Phocachirsk Peninsula on Däegarden. The human ethnic groups are the Uzeb, Iloisa, Nokin, Phocahn, and Metzi.

## History

The Humans developed on one of the Four Islands during the Infinite War, after a 10,000-year isolation period. After the conflict, they began settling the central regions of Ditarre. Different groups of humans were separated by vast mountain ranges and developed into regional kingdoms. The Iloisa eventually took over all human territory and formed the Iloisa Empire, the world's first large-scale government.

Tulkon Bytu was an Iloisa who became the world's first Tulkon. He migrated to the Phocachirsk Peninsula, where the Phocahn group would develop. Thanks to the efforts of Tulkon Ytinise in 471 AT, the Empire was reorganized into the Federative Republic of Usybork, and the various Human ethnic groups formed from the fallout. The country was later fragmented into the Republic of Independent Human States by Tulkon Bodor, and for the next 2200 years would be the dominant human government (despite competition with the Kingdom of Usybork, which was occasionally a member state). The RIHS was officially disbanded in 2905.

The human population was heavily affected by the disease Colitzl, which originated in Nokina. Nearly half of all people who were infected died of the disease, and Tulkon Ico sacrificed himself to eradicate it.

The current human-majority states are the Usybork Republic, the Ilois Republic, Nokina, and Honsinad.

### Contemporary issues

In the modern era, Human populations are still recovering from Colitzl, which had a drastic effect on Human culture and society. Millions died on Ditarre and the Frozen Continent, but the nations of Ilois, Usybork, and Nokina were without a doubt the most heavily affected. Colitzl killed almost 1 in 2 infected, so very few people were left untouched by the plague. Amongst Humans, the plague is often referred to as the Great Dying, reflecting the traumatic mark it left on Human society.

Tulkon Ico's sacrifice at the end of the pandemic led to a significant rise in Tulkonist devotion, and later in the century, extremism, in Keghotogh and the Human territories of Ditarre. A significant number of Humans converted to Kostralle, and countless more joined the Tulkonist Army.

## Ethnic Groups

During the pre-Tulkon era and the age of the Iloisa Empire, most human ethnic groups lacked distinct cultural markers other than location. After the fall of the Iloisa Empire, the groups began to truly diversify.

### Uzyb

The Uzyb are the largest of the human ethnic groups. The ancestors of the Uzyb settled the Ditarre plains region and eventually came under rule of the Iloisa Empire. After Tulkon Ytinise's founding of the Usybork Republic, the Uzyb identity truly began to develop. They mainly inhabit the country of Usybork. A majority of Uzyb are Tulkonists. They mostly speak Uzeb, a descendant of Old Iloisa. A minority of Uzyb, especially in the north, have Dwarven ancestry.

### Iloisa

The Iloisa first came to be when the first group of Humans from Ukohah landed on Ditarre. They formed the first large terrestrial empire, the Iloisa Empire. Today, they mainly inhabit the Ilois Republic. Most Iloisa are Tulkonists and speak Iloisa. In modern times, their culture has been heavily influenced by many immigrants that have settled in the Ilois Republic.

#### Mixed Iloisa groups

The **Vardo** are a subgroup of the Iloisa who live in the city of Ygasa Vardo. Ygasa Vardo was founded as an Elven city, but it was claimed by the Iloisa Empire early in its history. Modern-day Vardo live a highly multicultural existence, with most Vardo having about half Elven ancestry. They speak Vardoic, an Iloisa-A'Roic Creole. Historically, they have been practitioners of Tulkonism and A'Thanism, although the latter's popularity has mostly declined.

### Nokin

Rather than settle on the continent's western coast, the ancestors the Nokin continued to travel east until they reached the Nokina Peninsula. Nokin identity fully developed after the fall of the Iloisa Empire. Most Nokin are Pantulkonists and inhabit the country of Nokina, and speak Nokin, a descendant of Old Iloisa. Many Nokin have a small percentage of Orc ancestry.

#### Mixed Nokin groups

The **Nokina Creoles** are a subgroup of the Nokin and the Keghotuhr that developed in Nokina over many thousands of years of Keghotuhr migration to the peninsula. Most Nokin Creoles speak Nokin, and are practitioners of Tulkonism or Pantulkonism.

### Phocahn

The Phocahns formed when various citizens of the Iloisa Empire migrated to the Phocachirsk Peninsula, led by Bytu several years before he became the Tulkon. Phocahns now speak Honsinic and mainly reside in the nation of Honsin, which, thanks to its location, has become a melting pot society.

#### Mixed Phocahn groups

The **Baikhalakh** are a subgroup of the Phocahns and the Keghotuhr that developed after a wave of Human migration during the Iloisa Conquest. Many of these people remained in Baikhal, the region in which they settled, resulting in a mixed culture. Keghotuhr has become the main language of the Baikhalakh, replacing their native creole language Baikhalakh, and they practice either Tulkonism or Savatism.

### Metzi

The Metzi people are a group of humans who live in the Metzi Archipelago, located in the center of Crescent Bay. They constituted another group of humans that left the island of Ukohah after the Infinite War, and lived in isolation during the pre-Tulkon era and afterwards. Some evidence, including the Metzi's own histories, suggest that they may have left Ukohah some 500-1,000 years before the ancestors of the rest of the Human ethnic groups (potentially making them the first people to leave the four islands), explaining their unique appearance and language, but this topic is hotly debated. They made contact with the Iloisa Empire in the 400s during the Iloisa Conquest, and were then annexed into the Empire. After the fall of the Empire, they came under Usybork rule, where they have remained for millennia.

The Metzi have been victims of Uzyb colonization and cultural suppression. The Metzi language has been a significant influence on Uzeb (words like *colitzl*, for example, originated from Metzi). A majority speak Uzeb and practice Tulkonism as a result of Uzyb influence. However, a growing number have called for legal recognition as their own people, and have promoted use of their native language. A notable community of Metzi has immigrated to western Norte-Muldox to escape Uzeb suppression.

## Culture

### Real-word influences

The Iloisa Empire and pre-Iloisa conquest Human culture is primarily inspired by the Roman Empire, as well as Southern Europe. The Metzi people are inspired by Mesoamerican cultures such as the Nahua, as well as the Basques of Spain and France. Post-Iloisa conquest culture is inspired heavily by Latin America.