Humans, the restless architects of destiny, stand at the crossroads of fate. Born with hearts driven by ambition and minds forged in curiosity, they build cities that reach toward the heavens and wield the fire of creation with reckless abandon. Ever adaptable, they are the dreamers and doers, the poets and kings, whose brief lives blaze like shooting stars across the firmament, leaving legacies of both grandeur and ruin.
Humans, the most common species across the plains and forests of the world, are known for their adaptability and resilience. Living in walled cities and scattered settlements, they have a remarkable ability to thrive in various environments. However, this adaptability has also led to internal strife, as numerous kingdoms have formed instead of one unified realm. Human cultures are diverse and intermingle frequently due to their constant travel, making each town or city a blend of different traditions and ways of life.
On average, Humans stand between 5 to 6 feet tall with lean builds. Their natural curiosity and capacity for learning allow them to begin life with a Learned Skill at Level 1, giving them an edge in various endeavors. Humans also have the flexibility to increase two stat scores by +1. They speak the language Merchant, live up to 80 years, and have a movement speed of 30 feet.
Kingdom of Thera
Originally founded as a small hamlet in the year 2023 of the Second Age, Thera slowly expanded into a large city-state and eventually grew into a powerful kingdom. By claiming vassals and earning the loyalty of the northern lords of the Gonilith Peninsula, Thera gained the resources and military levies necessary to bring neighboring, smaller human states under its control. Some, like Galane, joined willingly, eager to gain access to better trade and food supplies beyond their staples of fish and tough wheat biscuits—luxuries like fresh game and quality flour proved to be great incentives. Others, such as Heras and Berka, had to be subjugated through military might. The combined empire that emerged was known as the Empire of Dreimund.
After 2,000 years, the empire began to fray at the edges. Following the death of the Emperor Feraldus in the year 4473 of the Third Age, many kingdoms saw an opportunity to break free from imperial rule. This left Thera, the oldest of the human kingdoms, struggling to maintain its claims in the face of what it perceived as active rebellion.
Led by the aging King Valtibius—once a powerful poet in his prime, now withered and bound permanently to his throne—Thera faces both internal and external challenges. Valtibius’s son, Gartio, is much too young to take his place, spending his days under heavy guard and tutelage. His death would only further destabilize the already faltering kingdom. Forced to withdraw its military to defend its core territories, Thera has shielded itself for years, waiting for other kingdoms to make their move on the throne. Though none have tried as of yet, the kingdom’s growing paranoia has left its populace on edge, with much-needed resources often diverted to sustain the military.
Principality of Reval
Founded as a military outpost in the year 2030 of the Second Age, the then Outpost Furta of the Ferlunae Empire kept watch over the marches of the northeast coast of the Gonilith Peninsula. Over many years, as new outposts developed into forts and Furta expanded into Castle Reval, it eventually grew into the city of Reval. It became the dominant force controlling trade routes within the northeast territory and the Germand Strait. By the 80th year of the Second Age, Reval had become the foremost human shipbuilder, allowing it to command the Northern Harper Sea and the associated trade routes. After the fall of the Empire, the Principality of Reval broke away from the Kingdom of Thera to manage and maintain its security amidst the rise of banditry following the Empire’s collapse. As an independent principality, it retains its impressive fleet of ships and trade networks, ensuring its influence and status despite its small size.
Kingdom of Berka
Founded in the year 2030 of the Second Age as a small fishing village on the shores of the great Lake Ikatish, Berka gradually expanded to encompass the surrounding territory and became a sprawling city. As it grew, Berka developed into a breadbasket, producing large quantities of wheat and rye for export to its neighbors, making it a wealthy fiefdom and eventually an independent kingdom.
However, during a war in the year 2090 of the Second Age against the Empire of Dreimund, Berka was swiftly defeated and vassalized, remaining under imperial control until the empire's collapse. Though cultural sentiment remained bitter towards the empire, the added security against the various beasts of the wild was welcomed. This allowed the farms to establish deeper roots and enabled Berka to gain access to equipment and luxury goods only obtainable through the Reval Navy and the Revalian Trade Guild.
As the empire began to weaken and Heras openly rebelled, Berka leveraged these resources, ordering the very border troops trained and equipped by the empire to drive out or slay all imperial forces within Berkin lands. With the empire focusing much of its might on subduing Heras, the Berkin militia was able to gain a foothold and successfully reclaim their independence in the year 4480 of the Third Age.
Now ruled by the Gerund Dynasty, the Kingdom of Berka has begun building a proper military force to secure its future and maintain its hard-won independence.
Principality of Heras
Founded as a mining village on the large Burga River in the year 2026 of the Second Age, Heras quickly expanded due to its control of the river and the trade flowing from Berka to the sea. The region’s iron supply also fueled its growth, providing essential resources for trade and agriculture. As Heras grew, it extended its control into the surrounding banks of the Burga and the foothills of the Drakono Mountain Range, capitalizing on the rich mineral resources found there. This newfound wealth allowed Heras to amass Wealth and power by the time of the First war against the Empire of Dreimund, Heras could rightfully claim to be an equal of the Empire. the Emperor of Dreimund had dreams of controlling the entire Peninsula so against his advisors wishes He did not attempt to persuade Heras into vassalization, some say this was a act of revenge towards the King of Heras for a slight lost to time, others believe the Emperor was simply arrogant and refused to believe Heras was equal to their might. Either way the ensuing war was brutal, Heras fought like a cornered Dog. Burning Feilds so the Empire could have no use of them and hiring Ga-Taar Bandits to steal from and brutalize the invading force. The war waged for over a decade, Finally ending when the Royal Heras family was mysteriously killed in what was dubbed a magical accident, Heras Capitulated soon after this event once the rumors of the princes’ Survival were proven false. Heras fought hard and took many years under near direct control of the Empire to be rebuilt, Though after 2,000 years Heras has grown strong once more. Once the Emperor Feraldus died the new Royal Family, Counts previous who had been risen to Dukes to rule over the land found their ancestors spirit of independence and wished to be Kings anew. The Second war against Dreimund was much less than the first, no longer was it two rivals clashing but one old Empire fighting a new and rebuilt Kingdom. By the time Heras had pushed the imperial army to a stalemate along the border River, other large vassals had begun their own fight driving the Empire to agree to peace talks with Heras in an attempt to save what it had left.
Heras now sits as a well diverse Nation, good farmland for exotic goods such as Sugar and Rice and a robust mining industry producing some of the finest human steel. It has good relations with its direct neighbors, gaining much wheat from Berka and providing plentiful rice and steel to Galane. Though current tensions are high towards the Ga-Taar across The Stormring Bay due to many incidents of sailors going missing or confirmed being eaten by a tribe near the shore.
Kingdom of Galane
Founded in the year 2030 of the Second Age, the Kingdom of Galane, known as the "people of the lake," relies heavily on Lake Ikatish for sustenance and commerce. They are skilled craftsmen and engineers, particularly renowned for crafting ships and longboats. Their seafaring skills are not only central to their economy but also their warfare, as they frequently wage war as seaborne raiders. Due to the scarcity of fertile land in their territory, the Galane often offer their craftsmanship and services as warriors to other nations.