Lorien Trust
Races

Humans

By all accounts, little remains of the knowledge of the founding of our race. According to the testimonies of others, we are one of the Younger Races, amongst those we call Halflings, and Beastkin. Yet, of the times before the Empire, little history remains. What is known is that the early civilisations of man were diverse and varied. Despite being a primitive culture in many places, from fragile beginnings, a thriving race developed all across the known world.

However all of this was to change when the fate of man became entangled with that of the Elder races. Gradually the Elves and the Fey discovered the early communities of man. Some of them came as teachers, others as conquerors, yet gradually they would assimilate all of these fledgling civilisations. The intentions of many of the Elder Race were good ones. Yet in the end, all of their ideals brought about nothing but pain and suffering. The communities of man were broken up, and it is said that many humans became slaves to the nations of the Elder. Others became subjects in their courts. Yet this served to unite many of the differing cultures of man. Gradually our forefathers learned from our oppressors, mastering the tools they gave us, and the tasks they asked us to perform. Their resentment and hatred of being treated as drudges and as second class citizens smouldered until it would erupt in flames that scorched the earth. Thousands on both sides were to die in the Race wars that followed.

After the wars were over, the coming of the Empire brought about a restitution and unification of much of human culture. Yet it was also the breeding ground for many of their mistakes. Under the rule of Tebron and his descendants, humans became a uniting force amongst the lands, bringing many differing cultures together. However, for every civilisation they embraced, there were at least as many that were destroyed. It should also be remembered that the Empire was not the entire sum of humanity at the time. Many other nations existed, and some fought inclusion as fiercely as the Elder races had done.

In the end, the Empire brought about its own downfall, in the much-talked about form of the cataclysm. No-one quite knows what happened, only that the cause involved a Great Ritual performed by many mages in the centre of the Imperial capital of Malkarn. Something went wrong, and brought about the destruction of an entire continent, ruining the Empire, and maiming the land itself.

In the times since the Empire, Humans have still held a marginal dominance in the new Heartland kingdoms. Yet the balance amongst the races is much more diverse. Gone are the days when the Emperors name would be revered from the shores of Lyonesse, to the borders of the Great forest in Teutonia.

Humans of the Heartlands tend to have a lifespan of eighty to a hundred years.

Playing A human character
Humans are the most common race on Erdreja at this time they are also the most diverse each faction has its own flavour and background of which you should use as your guide when deciding on how to play your human character. This information can be used also as a guide to costume and appropriate props for your character. From the celtic nation of the Bears and the obvious kilt to the more gothic looking Teutonians of the Vipers faction. The information in the faction section will give you help with background such as where you are from.

Apart from what you'll find in the factions section and the information above another thing to consider when choosing a human character or any race is your age. Humans as you probable know come in all ages and Erdreja follows the age principles of our real world humans over 80 years old are rare and any older than 100 are generally under the influence of magic on Erdreja. We would suggest you play your own age or something within 5 years of that its generally easier.