Humans

##### Overview:

While humans can be found anywhere on Anaria, most belong to the Empire of Istvan. They are the majority demographic in territories and towns controlled by the crown, and most humans either come from Istvan originally or from towns that have been under the crown for hundreds of years. There are few humans outside of this realm, save for pockets of wilder lands settlers, explorers, exiles, and political dissidents.

##### Factions:

###### Istvani Human:

You're the luckiest human in the world, you get to share in the eternal glory of the Emperor and his chosen home, the capitol of Istvan. Whether you live or lived in the city proper, or in the gate towns of Dawn or Dusk, your path is set, you know what you live for, and glory is everything. Whether you choose to stay in the city or venture out to write your own story, all of your actions are motivated by the deep desire to honor your family, strengthen tradition, and to chase glory in whatever form it presents itself to you in. Common professions for an Istvani born human are adventurer, mercenary, merchant, explorer, and any of the military positions available which can include Istvani lorekeeper, official contractor, and regional clerk.

###### Homestead Human:

While distant from the capitol, you or your family are still very likely to revere the empire and it's Emperor. While those feelings may not be universal, especially because of the various taxes and services you must provide to the crown, you still mostly believe in the empire, but you see it more realistically. The Istvani government does demand a lot from you, but it also gives quite a bit. Any time your town or family has struggled with resources, taxes and tithes were lifted and aide was delivered. Any time a threat came to your door you could defend yourself with the weapons and armor that are given to all homesteads, and in serious occasions Dawnguard have even been dispatched to deal with larger or more organized threats.

##### Cultural Relations:

Dwarves: The phrase "Too tall for the Earth"

##### History:

The history of the human demographics is nearly completely tied to the story of the Istvani crown, and it's immortal ruler, Kinshar Istvan the Second and Last. While no civilization has a "true" record of history spanning back more than about 500 years, humans trace their history through the accounts of the Emperor since he is one of the few known beings that was alive before and during the events of the Forgotten War. The Emperor codified the history of the Empire along with scribes and lorekeepers over the years, making amendments and expanding on knowledge as he "remembers" more of history. His story begins as a humble recruit of the Army of Glory, the human army that all humans in the capitol city must enlist and serve in for at least 4 years in their life. He tells of his service and rise in the ranks up to the level of General while worshipping and aiding his father, Emperor Istvan the First. Given no special treatment (by his account) he became his father's protector in the events leading up to the Forgotten War, during which an unnamable evil threatened all of Illisia. Undead armies, strange corrupted beasts, and the true evil finally showed itself. Known as "The Three", a group of evil dragons from ancient times had resurfaced. Some legends and even some religions committed them to worship, misguidedly thinking they created Illisia or were elemental powers of the world. Having shown their true faces again, they wanted only destruction and control.

In the Forgotten War, Kinshar served as the commander of the forward forces of the human army, the forces that his father's own elite unit was a part of. The human army triumphed, but the Emperor had fallen. In his last moments as he was being assailed by the last of The Three that was still standing, his son intervened and attacked with a beam of pure sunlight and glory, smiting the evil dragon and killing them. This was a signal to the dying Emperor that his son was more deserving of his eternal life, and despite knowing he would instantly die from his wounds, he passed his immortality and strength to his son with one catch. His son would have no heirs, as they would not be worthy, and it would be his burden to serve as the emperor of Istvan for eternity. Kinshar accepted, and the war was ended.