Human

**Humans** are one of the five major races of Archaeus. Having appeared 88 years later than the other major races, they are distinguished by their individualism, diversity, and hierarchy. They are attuned to, and often revere, the Fulcrum realm of magic.

## History

The first Humans appeared suddenly on the islands in the far east of Archaeus around Å-88, believed in light of recent evidence to have been caused by the Fulcrum realm of magic, and their existence became known to the other sentient races as they moved to join the main land mass soon after.

The Humans settled the Eastern Isles (also referred to as 'Human Island nations' or the 'Broken Isles'), which remain home to the majority of their species.

Humans, many of them inspired by a belief that it was their species' responsibility to protect Archaeus and 'balance' the other races, participated in the Great War with the Ninkilim in Å-370.

Since the Great War and owing to the copious natural resources available on Archaeus, the stabilising influence of other races, and the shared belief in the deities of peace, war and death, Human skirmishes and battles have largely remained localised.

## Culture

Humans are naturally hierarchical and territorial, motivated by power and money. They also tend to live in larger communal groupings, existing of a number of family units living seperately but nearby to each other.

In many Human majority localities, Humans organise themselves into complex hierarchical arrangements with ruling Monarchs. These are often styled 'King' or 'Queen'. Monarchs retain power in smaller localities or fiefs by the use of their ruling class, the Asbaran nobility (titled Här or Dāma). As with the monarchs, the title of Asbaran may be granted by a more powerful Human, inherited through birth, or seized through the use of force. Depending on the locality, there may be many more levels of power and wealth recognised between Asbaran and Monarch, including Lords/Ladies, Baron/Baronesses, Dukes/Duchesses, etc.

All Human monarchs pay fealty to the monarchs on their ancestral lands - the Human Island Monarchs. The laws and ideas of justice which originate in the Human Islands are maintained across the Human settlements in Archaeus, albeit with local modifications.

Humans without power or titles fulfil the other roles of a functioning society. Where oppressed by their overlords, they are called 'serfs' and will own no property nor rights. However given Archaeus's natural resources, many Humans in this condition will leave and make their home elsewhere, or amongst the other races, making this form of empowerment unsustainable for the ruling Asbaran.

Alternatively, the 'peasant' Humans will still often own their own property and small piece of land, whilst others become merchants, soldiers or craftworkers. Humans are creative and ingenious in their pursuit of money and or power and often find ways to exploit all the niches and needs in society. As fighters, Humans use their complex societal interactions and technological advancements to make up for their lack of natural weapons. They will most often organise themselves into groups, and charge heavily as a unit into enemy lines in the hope of spreading fear to break enemy cohesion.

Without the immediate ability to wield magic like other races of Archaeus, early Human settlers developed ritualism or Fulcrum magic as a means of accessing the energy of Makutu within Archaeus. Those Humans who use magic develop their own ritual circles as an entry point to access Makutu. Ritual circles used by successive Humans over many years develop a life and presence of their own, enabling more powerful magic to be accessed.

Some Human ritualists in Human nations become Truth Seers, undergoing intense mental training to gain the ability to see detailed visions of the future. Ranging from low-ranking evangelising Word Bearers to the revered Council of Truth (who spend their time secluded in order to see more of the future), Truth Seers are often turned to by rulers for counsel, and considered to outrank them.

Though reverence of the Truth Seers is a form of religion for many humans, others worship the Three or more obscure gods. Human religion often focuses on their role within the world, having appeared later than the other races; a common belief is that Humans and Ritual magic are a balancing force for the other races and Realms. This belief has sometimes resulted in a form of exceptionalism among Human rulers, hampering diplomacy.

Humans can often be found in mixed settlements or those of other races, either fleeing persecution or pursuing adventure or discovery.

## Biology

Humans are bipedal, symmetrical beings, fairly uniform in appearance with 2 legs, 2 arms, head and torso. They vary more in weight and height than they do in body shape, generally reaching between 4'10 and 6'4 in height, and 91 to 204lbs for an adult.

Humans generally allocate themselves as 'male' or 'female' sex based on gonadal development, and their titles reflect these simplistic differences. However there is great variance amongst Humans in terms of sexual characteristics. In fact, although similar in appearance on the outside, Humans vary more greatly from each other in terms of sexual, intellectual, social and behavioural differences and personality than their simplistic body shapes would suggest (compared, for example, to the vast range of physical differences amongst the Sylven).

Humans are attuned with the Fulcrum realm of magic, and possess the ability to make any ritual succeed regardless of other factors; however, this ability is extraordinarily strenuous, and can only be used once in a Human's lifetime.