Humans possess exceptional drive and a great capacity to endure and expand, and as such are currently the dominant ancestry in the world. Their empires and nations are vast, sprawling things, and the citizens of these societies carve names for themselves with the strength of their sword arms and the power of their spells. Humanity is best characterized by its tumultuousness and diversity beyond the differences found within many other ancestries, and human cultures run the gamut from savage but honorable tribes to decadent, devil-worshiping noble families in the most cosmopolitan cities. Human curiosity and ambition often triumph over their predilection for a sedentary lifestyle, and many leave their homes to explore the innumerable forgotten corners of the world or lead mighty armies to conquer their neighbors, simply because they can.
Physical Description: The physical characteristics of humans are as varied as the world’s climes. From the dark-skinned tribesmen of the southern continents to the pale and barbaric raiders of the northern lands, humans possess a wide variety of skin colors, body types, and facial features.
Humans reach adulthood around 18, with middle age at 35 and old age around 53. The most venerable of this ancestry live into their 70s.
Humans are sexual dimorphic, with the average height of males just under six feet and females nearly half a foot shorter. Their body mass is similar, making most females weigh slightly less than males.
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 ancestries 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 fecund, and their drive and numbers often spur them into contact with other ancestries 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 ancestries 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 flighty fops, halflings as craven thieves, gnomes as twisted maniacs, and half-elves and half-orcs as embarrassments – but the ancestry’s diversity among its own members also makes humans quite adept at accepting others for what they are.
Alignment and Religion: Humanity is perhaps the most heterogeneous of all the common ancestries, with a capacity for great selfishness and altruism. Some assemble into vast 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 ancestries’ ties to tradition and eager to turn to anyone offering them glory or protection. They have even adopted gods like Essani, who are often identified with older ancestries, and as humanity continues to grow and prosper, new gods have begun emerging from their ever-expanding legends.
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.
Names: Unlike other ancestries, who generally cleave to specific traditions and shared histories, humanity’s diversity has resulted in a near-infinite set of names. The humans of northern tribes have 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.