Riadus

The humans of Reylan are descended from pioneers, travelers and conquerors that migrated from other parts of Riadus thousands of years ago. Since that time, they have spread over the entire continent and have developed dozens of distinct cultures, nations and languages. Most of Reylan’s humans are civilized, living in cities and towns scattered across the land. There are only a few primitive human tribes that still hold fast to their nomadic heritage.

Personality: Humans are the most adaptable, flexible and ambitious people among the common races. They are diverse in their tastes, morals, customs and habits. Others accuse them of having little respect for history, but it’s only natural that humans, with their relatively short life spans and constantly changing cultures, would have a shorter collective memory than dwarves or elves.

Physical Description: The physical characteristics of humans are as varied as the world’s climes. From the dark-skinned tribesmen of the northern continent to the pale and barbaric raiders of the southern lands, humans possess a wide variety of skin colors, body types, and facial features. Generally speaking, humans’ skin color assumes a darker hue the closer to the equator they live.

Society: Human society comprises a multitude of governments, attitudes, and lifestyles. Though the oldest human cultures trace their histories thousands of years into the past, when compared to the societies of common races like elves and dwarves, human society seems to be in a state of constant flux as empires fragment and new kingdoms subsume the old. In general, humans are known for their flexibility, ingenuity, and ambition.

Relations: Humans are prolific, and their drive and numbers often spur them into contact with other races during bouts of territorial expansion and colonization. In many cases, this leads to violence and war, yet humans are also swift to forgive and forge alliances with races who do not try to match or exceed them in violence. Proud, sometimes to the point of arrogance, humans might look upon dwarves as miserly drunkards, elves as austere know-it-alls, goblins as craven thieves, and half-elves and half-orcs as embarrassments—but the race’s diversity among its own members also makes humans quite adept at accepting others for what they are.

Human Lands: Humans lands are usually in flux, with new ideas, social changes, innovations and new leaders constantly coming to the fore. Members of longer-lived races find human culture exciting but eventually a little wearying or even bewildering.

Since humans lead such short lives, their leaders are all young compared to the political, religious and military leaders among the other races. Even where individual humans are conservative traditionalists, human institutions change with the generations, adapting and evolving faster than parallel institutions among elves and dwarves. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay on top of changing political dynamics.

Human lands generally include relatively large numbers of non-humans (compared, for instance, to the number of non-dwarves who live in dwarven lands).

Alignment & Religion: Humanity is perhaps the most heterogeneous of all the common races, with a capacity for great evil and boundless good. Some assemble into vast barbaric hordes, while others build sprawling cities that cover miles. Taken as a whole, most humans are neutral, yet they generally tend to congregate in nations and civilizations with specific alignments. Humans also have the widest range in gods and religion, lacking other races’ ties to tradition and eager to turn to anyone offering them glory or protection.

Language: Humans speak a number of languages as varied as their cultures. Many human lands have adopted a regional language which the majority of the people in the area speak. In addition to their own languages, many humans are fond of sprinkling their speech with words and phrases borrowed from other languages.

Names: Unlike other races, who generally cleave to specific traditions and shared histories, humanity’s diversity has resulted in a near-infinite set of names. The humans of a southern barbarian tribe have much different names than those hailing from a subtropical nation of sailors and tradesmen. Throughout most of the world humans speak Common, yet their names are as varied as their beliefs and appearances.

Adventurers: Ambition alone drives countless humans, and for many, adventuring serves as a means to an end, whether it be wealth, acclaim, social status, or arcane knowledge. A few pursue adventuring careers simply for the thrill of danger. Humans hail from myriad regions and backgrounds, and as such can fill any role within an adventuring party.

Civilized Human Racial Traits

• +2 to One Ability Score: Human characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature.
• Medium: Humans are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Normal Speed: Humans have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Bonus Feat: Humans select one extra feat at 1st level.
• Skilled: Humans gain an additional skill rank at first level and one additional rank whenever they gain a level.
• Languages: Humans begin play speaking Common and a Regional Language. Humans with high Intelligence scores can choose any languages they want (except secret languages, such as Druidic) as bonus languages.