Mankind

"And on this day I swear, so long as I draw breath, so long as my sons draw breath, and their sons after them; none shall fall."

—Agathor the Great

Mankind, men, or simply humans, are one of the most numerous and widespread races of Karothoz. They are one of the only mortal races to have not originated from either North, or South Karothoz.

Humans have settled in many areas all across Karothoz, but they are perhaps best known to inhabit the landmass known as Thanalor: a territory which was given to them by the elves shortly after First Landing.

They are an incredibly versatile race, able to wield both sword and spell, but are also especially mysterious due to their alien heritage.

Origins
The earliest human myth is that of the Great Exodus, which details the story of how Mankind came to Karothoz.

According to legend, thousands of years ago a great darkness swept over the homeland of the humans, causing great chaos. Knowing that this could eventually result in the destruction of his race, Agathor the Great attempted to persuade each of the human tribes to unite, and construct a massive fleet of ships so that they might sail west to escape the encroaching darkness.

Agathor was successful in his pursuit, and a great fleet was constructed that was used to spirit the human tribes away from their collapsing homeland. After many days and nights the tribes eventually landed in what is now known as Thanalor, and they soon after encountered a group of elves.

While it is impossible to ensure the validity of this account, historians agree that it is likely partially true, as every human nation of Karothoz keeps an at-least similar version of the tale. Even humans that are isolated from Thanalor and the nation of Agathor tell tales that are strikingly similar to the original legend.

Appearance and Traits
Some call them elegant and mysterious, others barbaric and brutish. Humans are many things to many different folk. They typically stand at a medium height compared to the other dominant races of Karothoz, ranging from 5 feet to over 6 feet tall. Dwarves consider them to be tall creatures, though not as imposing as elves; while elves treat them as being similar to dwarves: small and short-lived. Like dwarves, male humans are able to grow facial hair, albeit not to the same extent.

Humans are incredibly adaptable, having conquered nearly every corner of Karothoz. They are able-bodied warriors, hunters, and magic-users. Though not nearly as skilled in the arcane as elves, or as feared on the battlefield as dwarves, they are remarkably versatile, which has proven to be their greatest strength.

Living only 80 years on average, humans have short lifespans. They typically mature at 18, reach middle age at 40, and die naturally at 80 or 90. Some humans have lived to be well over 100, but these are rare cases and many humans die before reaching middle age due to war, disease, and general hardship. Common signs of ageing in humans include the appearance of wrinkles on the face and skin, grey or silver hair, the loss of hair in males, and baggy skin.

Variations
Being the most widespread of the dominant races, several different physical variations of humans have emerged across the world. It must be understood that these variations are mostly loose categories that have evolved over time, and that a human's physical variation has no effect on their culture and abilities.

Hillfolk
Dominant in Agathor and quite common in both Muthuilor and Reddigania, hillfolk almost always possess snow-white skin and deep black hair. Their name is somewhat archaic: they no longer mainly reside in hilly regions, the name being a relic from the old human homeland where the hillfolk lived in the highlands.

Westerfolk
The majority of the populations of Reddigania, Muthuilor, and Beaumont are recognized as westerfolk, a variation that is usually marked by blonde to dark brown hair, and pale to tawny skin. They are the most widespread and populous variation in Thanalor, which also makes them difficult to define as they have integrated with so many other populations.

Norfolk
Tall and pale skinned, norfolk tend to reside in the nations of Ekselt and Cicerón. Both red and blonde hair are far more common among norfolk than any other human variations, distinguishing them somewhat from westerfolk who are quite similar to them in many regards.

Easterfolk
Usually olive skinned and black of hair, easterfolk have traditionally resided in the Fang, occupying Chul Yan and the Zhang'yi Empire. Theirs is a difficult category to define due to the great amount of interbreeding between humans and elves within that region.

Seafolk
Believed to have once been part of seafaring tribes that led the human race across the Western Waters during the Great Exodus, the seafolk are especially populous in the eastern part of the Empire of Sumaka, and are the dominant variation in Ahtar. They usually possess dusky skin and dark hair, with green eyes being especially common.

Riverfolk
Darker skinned than seafolk but less swarthy than sunfolk, riverfolk make up the majority of the population of the midlands of Sumaka. Riverfolk are quite short, with curly dark hair and brown eyes. They have traditionally found shelter from the harsh deserts of Sumaka by living on the Zorinafa River.

Sunfolk
The western part of the Empire of Sumaka is mainly dominated by the sunfolk, a tall and dark skinned people. They tend to have black curly hair and deep brown eyes. Many of them make their homes all across the sunny savannahs of the Empire.