Humans

**Humans** are the most populous race on Shaijara, and one of the shortest-lived. Concentrated primarily in the Gaveloran kingdom of Suldura and in Kithvonn, humans are also frequently sailors, traveling merchants, and adventurers, and have traveled to many other lands as well.

Humans also make up the vast majority of the population of Barovia, where dusk elves are the only non-humans to be found in any non-negligible numbers.

Humans tend to live for around sixty years. They have a lower occurrence of natural magical ability than do elves or tieflings, although they have more innate magical skill than do dwarves, halflings, or most goblinoids.

## Appearance

Humans are varied in appearance, with skin tones, hair, and eyes ranging from very pale to very dark. General physical traits tend to be concentrated by region.

Kithvoni humans tend to be fairly tall with dark brown skin, brown or black hair, and dark eyes.

Humans from the Malkin region are typically copper-skinned with brown or black hair and dark eyes. Other Sulduran humans towards an olive complexion. There are areas in Tavore and Falkenried where fair skin, blonde or red hair, and light-colored eyes are more common. The Tavore royal family has such an appearance, as do many of the family's cousins such as Mezara Corlester.

## Culture

Many humans view their place in the world as uniquely important; they are the future of the civilized world.  While they value the works of the older elf and dwarf societies, relatively short-lived humans suffered some of the smallest losses during the Calamity and have made a stronger recovery than many other races.

### Suldura

In Suldura, a virtuous man is one who is able to stand on his own against the threats that he will inevitably face.  Courage and stoicism in the face of danger are seen as godly and as masculine. While asking for another’s help is sometimes a necessity, and is not necessarily shameful, the most virtuous position is typically one of self-reliance.

There is some tension between Suldurans’ valuing of both self-reliance and unity; humans must come together toward a common goal, but at the same time must be able to provide for their own needs.  Sulduran women fill an important function in bridging the gap between these two virtues. Women are expected to take a major role in the forging of alliances and managing diplomatic relations. In this way, men are able to fight together without sacrificing the masculine virtue of self-reliance.

### Kithvonn

Kithvoni culture is heavily based around courtly intrigue, with masked balls forming an important part of the life of the nobility. The ornate mask traditionally worn by a courtier is representative of a noble culture characterized by subterfuge and espionage and also by extravagant displays of opulence and elegance.

Slavery forms a part of these noble customs, with owning specialized slaves being one of the ways in which a nobleman might seek to demonstrate his wealth and sophistication. A few noble families in Suldura have sought to emulate this Kithvoni tradition.

## Relations With Other Races

### Dragonborn

Because the dragonborn tend to remain within the Sandstone Freehold, most humans have few interactions with them. As a result, a human who comes face to face with a dragonborn might see them as a monster based on their appearance. Humans also do not agree with the dragonborn's insistence that they guard against the inevitable return of Tiamat, and so do not show the respect for the dragonborn's sacred mission that the dragonborn feel they are owed.

However, the dragonborn and the humans have allied together several times, notably during the Second and Third Borderlands War, where the dragonborn joined with allied human-dwarven forces to combat the hordes of Arzak-Nath.

### Dwarves

Humans and dwarves have a relatively strong relationship. There is an especially strong alliance between Suldura and the city of Nuramek, as some of Nuramek's lands border both the Falkenried Margravate and Arzak Nath. The dwarves of Nuramek have played a significant role in all three Borderlands Wars.

Dwarves tend to respect the humans' resilience and ingenuity. While they believe that the short-lived and impatient humans are not capable of producing truly great works of smithing or architecture, the dwarves respect their skill at war and their indomitability. Humans view the dwarves as overly warlike and conceited in their abilities, but also as stalwart allies and friends.

### Drow

After the destruction of the drow nation of Loltheruan, many drow settled in Suldura. A largely transient people, the drow have come to acquire a reputation as thieves and criminals. This reputation is not entirely unearned--many drow have found it difficult to make a living in the human kingdom without turning to crime.

Drow are often victimized by humans. In particular, Kithvoni human slavers frequently target drow, as the nationless elves have no protectors. As a result of this continuous victimization, drow are generally mistrustful of humans.

### Elves

There have been few interactions between humans and elves since Yenai closed its borders after the Calamity. However, a small number of wood elves continued to live in Suldura and in Wavebreak Haven after Yenai's borders closed, and they work alongside humans. Such interactions tend to produce a high number of half elf offspring, despite the stigma attached to half elves.

Elves view humans as childlike, only very rarely living long enough to reach what might be considered the beginning of adulthood. As a result, they believe humans to be impulsive, rash, and often irrational. However, they do recognize that humans produce and achieve a surprising amount with what little time is given them.

Humans tend to see elves as conceited and arrogant. However, they also recognize that elves are extremely powerful and beautiful. Elves are often seen to have a kind of otherwordly quality and sometimes treated with a kind of awe.

### Goblinoids

There are few interactions between humans and the goblins, who live mostly below the dwarven cities of Karekanur. Humans' few interactions with goblins tend to be negative, characterized by goblin raiding parties descending from mountain caves to carry away livestock or by human treasure-hunters being assaulted by goblin forces.

### Halflings

Halfings and humans have a strong symbiotic relationship in Suldura, where many halflings live side-by-side with humans in human cities. While halflings tend to fill roles working in taverns or as domestic servants, they are not mistreated by the humans and there are many strong friendships and even romantic relationships between humans and halflings.

The halflings of Iru have very little contact with Gaveloran or Kithvoni humans, and are viewed as unusual and anomalous by humans who live their daily lives side-by-side with Suldura's halflings.

### Orcs

The orcs of Arzak-Nath are reavers who frequently descend from their mountains to raid and pillage the nearby human settlements. As a result, humans and orcs have an antagonistic relationship. Half orcs are common in the human settlements of the Falkenried region, and are typically treated with the same suspicion and hostility that humans would extend to a full orc. Male half orcs in particular are viewed as dangerous, and are often killed or abandoned in their infancy.

### Tieflings

Tieflings' fiend-like appearance earns them hostility and mistrust among most humans. However, humans in port cities, particularly along the cost of the Slate Sea, are more likely to have frequently encountered tiefling sailors and to take their unusual appearance in stride.

Due to the xenophobia prevalent on the Isle of Smoke, tieflings generally prefer not to associate with humans. However, tiefling sailors do choose to serve aboard non-tiefling ships from time to time. Especially in larger port cities such as Wavebreak Haven or Deep Harbor, it is not particularly unusual to find some tieflings comingling with humans.

## Significant Human Characters

* Saladin, a former warlock of Errtu and the only human mage of the Citrine Tower in Nuramek
* Absalom Ferukian, High Magus of the Mayakara
* Alys Tanner, a powerful warlock of Asmodeus
* Artorin Tavore, High King of Suldura
* Ashwyn, the pirate lords of Revel to whom the Violent Delight is sworn
* Calliandra Tavore, Queen of Suldura
* Elend Tavore, Baron of Tavore in the Var Kalduhr Duchy of Nuramek
* Ezmerelda d'Avenir, Barovian vampire hunter
* Ireena Kolyana, Barovian paladin and the reincarnation of Strahd von Zarovich's beloved, Tatyana
* Juniper Arrindell, warder-in-training in Seaspire Keep and son of the general of the Silver Inquisition
* Kyrel Evander, renowned general and leader of the Falkenried forces during the Siege of Westmarch
* Leigh Kaperlan, infantry lieutenant of the Violent Delight
* Nilene Guinevra, guild mistress of the Westmarch Mayakara
* Owen Falkenried, Saladin's apprentice and heir to the Falkenried Margravate
* Tiberius Falkenried, Margrave of Falkenried
* Treston, one of the pirate lords of Revel
* Velya Edrian, a former warlock of Lisindor and Saladin's lover