Humans

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  1. Keep in mind that this world may be published in one way or another. I encourage you not to integrate any concepts of a story or RPG world that you are creating and intend to publish independent of Aserra.
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World of Aserra
Humans

Post by World of Aserra » Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:45 pm

Humans
Varied and spread across Aserra, humans seem to have the greatest potential of all the races. An industrious and ever-evolving people, humanity is destructive in its growth as they strive for mastery over their world. They are fast to reproduce with a drive to conquer everything in their path.

Humanity was brought into the world alongside the the flora and fauna by the Mother Goddess Nydoini, but were given no special tasks or powers like the elemental races.
Location and Abodes
Humans live (or have lived) in almost every environment on Aserra. Northern Kalesten and Thiskel are thoroughly populated with humans, as well as Ertia, and the Great Desert. There are also human populations on many islands in the Tonult Ocean, and in the Forsaken Land. There are no human populations on Athok, the arctic continent, though there may be individual humans living amongst the coastal Aeul’Idayn. There was once a human population in the southern rainforests of Kalesten, but they were slaughtered, driven out, and bred out by the Ur’Idayn.

Human abodes are constructed of many materials, depending on resources and the advancement of the culture. Some cultures make sturdy structures of wood, brick, and concrete, but others are still living in thatch huts or easy-to-transport tents of wood and animal skins.

Appearance and Garb
While they vary in many traits, there are general traits shared by all humans. Their ears are small and rounded compared to the other races. The average human male stands at 5’10” (1.78m) and the average female at 5’4” (1.62m), though cultural averages vary from region to region. Their builds vary between light and heavy, often quicker to put on fat and muscle compared to the elemental races (excluding Brech’mar and some Ochae’nafod tribes). Human facial structure can range between beautiful enough to rival Dra’nafod and ugly enough to make a Kuzo cringe, but most fall somewhere in between.

Human coloration ranges through many different complexions and pigmentation. Most people of the northern temperate region tend to be fairer of skin and eye color, hair colors including blondes, reds, browns, and black, while people to the south tend to become darker, reaching their darkest colors around the equatorial regions. By and large, the most common hair color is black and the most common eye color is brown. Hair textures can range from straight and sleek to tightly curled, depending on regional phenotypes. Human eye colors in Aserra include colors that are unseen in our world; not only are brown, blue, green, hazel, and other “normal” colors observed, but we also include violet, red, orange, and gold eye colors for human characters.

Clothing of choice also varies with resources and a culture’s level of development. Some cultures are more advanced and wear woven fabrics and forged armor, while others are limited to animal skins. Different cultures have different fashions and levels of modesty as well.

Lifespan and Reproduction
Human lifespans are rather short compared to most other races. They can live upwards of 100 years, but in the best conditions the average human lives between 70-80 years. Disease, poverty, lack of proper sanitation, and lack of access to medical care can lower lifespans into the 40-50 age range on average in a society.

Humans are able to reproduce much faster than the elemental races. Women are typically fertile monthly, and in most cultures, marry and begin bearing children between the ages of 16 and 20. While they are socially and sexually considered mature adults between these ages, a human reaches full mental maturity at the age of twenty-five. After bearing a child, a woman can ovulate again as soon as a month later, but lactation often suppresses ovulation for a time. Birthrates for each women vary from community to community; some women have children as often as their bodies allow while others are proactive in controlling their family size. Smaller, more manageable families are typically more common among the rich and more educated, while larger families are common amongst the lower and undereducated classes.

Human relationships vary from culture to culture, though they are rarely truly monogamous. In many cultures, marriage is officially monogamous, but extra-marital affairs are not uncommon (typically for a husband seeking the companionship of another). Other cultures practice polygamy (typically polygyny). Relationships are also different between cultures depending on how many rights the women are allowed, as in many cultures they are considered second class to men. It is most common for marriages to be arranged by parents, either when their children are adolescents or when they enter adulthood. In the end, humans typically seek life-long relationships with a partner with whom they can raise children, though they may not always be romantically or sexually loyal to that one person consistently.

Diet, Agriculture, and Hunting
Humans are omnivores, though they thrive the best in the long term on a well-rounded vegetarian diet which is rarely available to most people. Different cultures have different approaches to food; many more advanced nations rely on agriculture. Crops and livestock are raised outside of cities, and the resulting food is sold in the cities. People in rural regions may opt to combine hunting and gathering with agriculture, and some less advanced cultures still rely entirely on hunting and gathering.

Religion
Humanity follows a number of belief systems, but the most common is the worship of the third generations Gods of Light and the numbers gods of the third-generation pantheon that represent different aspects and virtues of life. Most individuals focus their devotion on gods that fit into their lives. For example, a farmer will pray to the Seasonal Goddesses for ideal weather for his crops, while an artist may pray to Essan and the Muses for inspiration, or a soldier will pray to Saeven for guidance. The gods are prayed to regularly in the hopes of gaining their influence and winning their favor.

Other human cultures may practice dragon worship, ancestor worship, or shamanistic traditions. Some others may also be atheistic or hold other beliefs.

Magic and Abilities
Humans have no inherent magical ability, but have the potential to learn. Humanity has invented a number of magic systems, mostly relying on the magical energies found in one’s soul, though sorcery relies on mana and some other forms of magic are preformed through psychic exertion. However, the average human rarely knows anything about magic, and is often intimidated by it. Depending on culture, magic of one form or another may be considered commonplace or terrifying as some human magicians tend abuse their power. Humans also can exhibit a number of psychic abilities, such as precognition and telepathy, but these appear in only a small percentage of the population.

Other abilities, such as senses, capacity for physical prowess, and so on, are no different than the average person in the real world.

Personality
Unlike the elemental races, humans are not predominantly bound to a single race-wide personality archetype. Different cultures may have different mindsets, and individuals are always unique.

Relations
It’s a general rule that humans and many of the other races are often at odds with each other, though each culture and civilization may have its own relationship with other races. Humans are not well regarded by many Idayn or Nafod races, but are tolerated by Zaedyn, Mariel, Brech’mar, and Asath. Danaij typically regard humans as lesser beings and rule over them in the Forsaken Land, though roles are often reversed outside of the Forsaken Land with small populations of wandering Danaij. Kuzo and Iengi are typically regarded as monsters by humans. Samiss are rarely known by humans.

Play-ability
Human should be considered the ‘default’ race for Aserran characters.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Sun Aug 14, 2011 5:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Revised from Adun to Aserra
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicities

Post by World of Aserra » Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:36 am

Human Ethnicities
Thanks to their diversity, humans have a much broader range of phenotypes and cultural identities that are best defined individually, rather than generalized. For a better understanding of each culture, please read their nation’s page as well for more information. This list will provide the most necessary information.

Kalestan Ethnicities Thiskelian Ethnicities
  • Qao-Baoji
  • Ouremian
  • Quo-Mou
  • Hanmoul
  • Ismailian/Esperian
  • Bajaran
  • Desert-dwellers
Other Ethnicities
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Sun Apr 20, 2014 12:35 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: Revised from Adun to Aserra, links repaired
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicity – Kaian Barbarian

Post by World of Aserra » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:43 am

Kaian Barbarian
Inhabiting the north-eastern reaches of Kalesten are the scattered tribes of Kaius barbarians. They are typically larger than average humans, speaking of a harsh lifestyle in the colder regions. They share some similarities with Nordic and Hun cultures from our world.
Location and Abodes
The Kaian tribes have different living styles. There is only one city, Oni’kel, which is ruled by a single powerful tribe, and has representatives of many others. The city is a fortress built of stone, log, and earth. On the coasts, there are a number of fishing villages. These coastal villages are typically wood constructs. Those living in the interior steppes are mostly nomadic, following herds of game animals as they migrate from winter to summer feeding grounds. Their homes are tents and yurts made of animal skins.

Appearance and Garb
The Kaius are a predominantly large people; taller than average humans, and tending to be broader and more inclined to be muscular, and sometimes plump in times of abundance. They have strong, defined features, and everything about them speaks of a harsh, cruel lifestyle that only the strong can survive.

Coloration with the Kaius is rather mixed. Though they are mostly a fair-skinned, fair-haired bunch, there are some clans in the steppes that have darker features. Brown and black hair tend to be common in this region, while blonde and red hair are more common along the coastal, mountain, and forested regions.

Their clothing often includes leather, wool, and some other rough-spun cloths. Adornments include bone, metal, and precious stones. Tattoos and piercings may play important roles for some tribes as well, but each tribe tends to have its own traditions for such things.

Marriage and Childbearing
As with many other things, Kaian barbarians have varied traditions when it comes to marriage in each tribe. Some tribes approve of taking wives by force, others practice arranged marriage, and others may chose their partners on their own. Some men even keep harems. The role of women in each tribe varies as well; some are strongly male-dominated and some see the genders as equal, while yet others fall somewhere in between.

Kaian barbarians generally tend to have a lot of children, however, partially due to higher rates of infant and child mortality, especially in harsher regions. One thing that is almost universal within all the tribes is that fertility and large families with many children are valued.

Diet, Agriculture, and Hunting
Hunting and gathering are common for the steppe tribes, while fishing, hunting, and some agriculture is typical for the more established coastal tribes. Their diet is meat-heavy, with dairy (even the nomadic tribes keep goats or yaks for milk), and limited vegetables and fruit. They also have a love of ale and other forms of alcoholic drinks.

Religion
One of the most distinguishing traits of their culture is that they ignore the gods worshiped by other cultures, and instead pay tribute to the ancient dragon Kaius*, who inhabits the Kaius Mountains in the north of their lands. They find the dragon to be a much more tangible god than the actual gods of Aserra, as they can see him, pay tribute to him and see that their tributes are taken. There are monks who tend to the dragon and facilitate the relations of the tribes to the dragon. At certain periods, such as when Kaius wakes from hibernation, that representatives from each tribe bring livestock to feed the dragon to keep his favor.

*Dragons, of course, are intelligent beings, possessing of great magic.

Magic and Abilities
The Kaius Barbarians do not practice a broad range of magical forms. Shamanism is the prevalent form of magic amongst them. Enchantment magic is also practiced by some craftsmen. Oracles and Seers are usually given high regard when discovered. Sorcery, however, is considered highly abhorrent as the dragon Kaius has expressed his disapproval of it. As they do not worship the gods, there is no need for clerical magic.

Personality
The Kaians are a proud people; proud of their way of life, their beliefs, and their cultural identity. To insult them is to invite trouble. They also believe in strength above all else, and some see very little wrong in taking what they want by force.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Revised from Adun to Aserra
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicity – Northern Kalestan

Post by World of Aserra » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:47 am

Northern Kalestan
The people of northern Kalesten* are predominately fair-skinned with a mix of hair from blonde to black. They are typically of average height. Culturally, there are many traditions that are shared amongst Kalestans, but there are nuances to many cultures, and there are some who are immensely different from their peers. Once, however, all the nations of Kalesten were united in a peaceful union, which allowed for a sharing of language, culture, and knowledge, and though it is many generations past, the union left its impact on the peoples of Kalesten.

* Omitting the Kaius Barbarians and Agenomians

Nationalities
  • Belvon [Nation]
    Belvonese are a fair-skinned people, mostly with medium shades of hair—not especially light, nor dark; shades of brown, darker blonde shades, and auburn. Their eye color includes brown, blue, green, hazel, and violet. They tend to be average height, mostly medium build. Women tend to be moderately shapely, while men are rather lean, rarely built to be heavily muscled.

    The culture of Belvon is highly educated, either in trade skills, or as scholars. While most of the nations energy is dedicated toward invention and innovation, the cultivation of the mind has brought about a good bit of discourse, philosophy, reform, and healthy debate. Popular philosophy has shrugged off a need for religion and superstition, and instead believes in the power of invention and science.

    The Belvonese fear and distrust their neighbors, and so they keep their technological advances secret. This means that they are mostly self-contained; strangers are rarely allowed to enter their borders aside from designated trade areas, and citizens are not allowed to leave unless they have the government’s trust in them to not spill state secrets in their travels. However, despite these restrictions, the Belvonese are very patriotic as their nation provides everything they need, and they believe that they are superior to other nations.

    Genders are equal, and the typical Belvonese finds sexism abhorrent as every individual has value in their society. Homosexuality is not legally restricted, though in Belvonese culture, sexuality is something that is kept behind closed doors. Typically, the people of Belvon shun public displays of affection and are modest about sex, as it is considered that sex is distracting from higher pursuits.

    The Belvonese are atheistic and anti-magic. They view those who rely on gods and magic in other nations as superstitious and barbaric.
  • Chawoven [Nation]
    Chawovians are a mix of features, and the valley has become a veritable mixing pot of Kalesten’s cultures. Its people run the gamut of fair to well-tanned, black to blonde haired, and any color of eye.

    The people of Chawoven are a pleasant people, predominantly agrarian and trade oriented. They are often welcoming, at least, on the surface, but beneath their hospitality, most Chawovians are reluctant to live alongside other races—namely the elemental races. This stems from wariness, not hatred, but in some cases, it can lead to rather unpleasant lives for any individuals of other races who chose to marry humans, their spouses, and the offspring of such unions.

    Women have equal rights to men in Chawoven, but it is still more likely to see a housewife than a female soldier. In the vast rural areas of Chawoven, most women are content to marry young, bear many children, and be a domestic farm wife. In the urban areas, however, many women take jobs alongside raising a family with a working husband.

    Homosexuality is not oppressed in Chawoven, legally, though it is in many social circles, considered to be improper. It is not as easily accepted in rural areas where raising a large family is considered to be prudent and typical, but it is more readily accepted in the cities.

    The Seasonal Goddesses and Erada, the Goddess of Love, have the highest followings in Chawoven, and their main temples are based in the nation.
  • Emkal [Nation]
    The original settlers of Emkal were mostly heartlanders from the Chawoven Valley and what is now Kalestine, and their appearance still reflects this, being fair skinned with a range of hair colors, though they are predominantly dark, and various eye colors. However, as Emkal’s native population was Dra’nafod, who have fully integrated themselves into the human culture, there are many Dra’nafod traits amongst the population, such as their strange hair colors, incredible beauty, and a variety of ears from long and tapered to short and tapered to pointed to rounded.

    With Dra’nafod so well integrated into their society, many Emkalians have adopted a vegetarian lifestyle, or at least with very limited meat consumption. There is some hunting, but it is often frowned upon by the Dra’nafod as the deeper regions of the forest are inhabited by Ochae’nafod clans who can disguise themselves as game animals. Those who do eat meat generally only eat poultry or fish, and very few people in Emkal eat red meat. As a result, even individuals who are pure-blooded human live exceptionally long lives for the race.

    Emkalians have adopted some of the romantic habits of Dra’nafod as well, especially individuals of mixed blood, or who love a Dra’nafod. While there are still monogamous relationships and marriages, many individuals are polyamorous, or even polygamous. Some pure-blooded humans, especially the more rural folk, cling tightly to their values of monogamy, but most city dwelling Emkalians are more open minded and are far more likely to have multiple partners or spouses. Homosexuality and bisexuality are also widely accepted.

    Despite all this romantic openness, casual, meaningless sex is often frowned upon. In Emkalian society, sex is seen as a form of commitment on its own, a way to unite two people in love. People who go about having sex with anyone who looks at them twice are still considered to be frivolous and immoral. However, the line between love and lust is never easy to define, and the youth of Emkal find it rather hard to restrain their passions in such an open society. As a result, younger generations seem to become more and more sexually adventurous and unrestrained.

    Religion and sorcery are often at odds with each other in Emkal. The few temples that exist in Emkal find the use of sorcery to be an affront to the gods and only serve the common people who do not use magic. Essan, the God of Knowledge, has a rather large following amongst the non-magic using crowd, as the people of Emkal are well-educated and artistic. Erada has a strong following as well.
  • Isbany [Nation]
    Isbanians are fair to tanned skinned, dark to fair haired, with a broad range of eye colors. The people share many of the same phenotypes as Chawovans and Kalestinians (formerly Chegarans and Delroidians), but there has been some interbreeding with Kaius Barbarians, be it through rape of their foremothers or intermarriage.

    The people of Isbany are mostly farmers, with only one major urban center in the nation. The people of Isbany are highly traditional, and are rather conservative. Women’s rights are limited in Isbany, but no where near to the extent of in Samonight. While women are barred from roles of political leadership, military service, and some careers, they are still allowed to make their own choices as to who they marry, and they can have their own jobs and make their own money. It is generally expected that a woman should want to settle down and marry early in life and raise a family.

    Isbanians follow the typical gods of light, predominantly the Seasonal Goddesses, along with Acoassa, Erada, Saeven, Casril, and Essan, in about that order.
  • Kalestine Empire [Nation]
    The people of Chegar are traditionally mostly brown or auburn haired, fair skinned to lightly tanned, with eyes mostly in the range of green, gold, hazel, and brown. They are of average height for humans. Delroidians are rather close in appearance, though there is a larger percentage of individuals with fairer hair due to their proximity to the Kaius barbarians, many of whom are quite fair as well. Cheuzans are darker and fall into the Agenomianethnicity, with lightly tanned, mostly olive skin, dark shades of hair color with slightly more texture to their hair than Chegarans, though their eye color falls in the same range.

    Socially, Kalestine has a large agrarian society mixed with a progressive city population, while they are becoming increasingly militarist and nationalist with the proper propaganda and encouragement. Socially, Kalestine is moderately progressive. Women are allowed many equal rights to men, except for military service as noted above. However, socially, a woman’s place is considered to be at the home and hearth, and most women are housewives, and a small percentage have their own careers.

    Chegaran reactions and treatment of the new additions to their society has varied. Some Delroidians and Cheuzans have integrated well into one single Kalestinian society, though many individuals who resisted the change in power have been punished severely. Slavery, per-say, didn’t exist as a major part of Chegaran society, though indentured servitude was common for the higher classes. However, slavery became rather big in the Kalestine empire as a way to deal with former Delroidians and Cheuzans who maintained their loyalty to their fallen nations and kings. Some faced execution, others were forced into slavery to Kalestinian nobles and the wealthy, while others yet chose military service and swore their loyalty to Kalestine.

    Marriage is usually arranged in Kalestine, which is tradition for all the nations that make up the empire, and many other nations throughout the continent. It is an open process, and rarely forced. Matches are proposed by matchmakers, either being in private practice, or a priestess of Erada, and the potential bride or groom picks a partner out of the pool of available youths to court from afar. If the match seems good, they will go through with a proper engagement and marriage. However, men do not enter the matchmaking pool until either after their basic military training is complete, or after they complete their mandatory service. Men who refuse to serve in the military, or are not physically competent to serve, rarely find themselves a wife, or at least not a highly desirable one...

    Homosexuality is something that is considered rather salacious and secret in Kalestine. Rarely do individuals openly admit it, and some live a double life, married to someone of the opposite gender while secretly seeing someone of the same gender. Occasionally, some gay men devote themselves to the military and forgo a wife and family while having clandestine affairs with men (or a single man). Others co-habitate as “confirmed bachelors”, or “spinsters”, choosing not to marry. Marriage for a homosexual couple is completely unheard of in Kalestine. These views and practices in regards to homosexuality were similar in all the nations that make up Kalestine now, though the Cheuzans regarded it with a touch more openness than Chegarans or Delroidians.

    Kalestine follows the typical gods, though there is a rather strong following amongst Saeven’s Peacekeeper ways as the Emperor attempts to use that temple as a soapbox to convey his desires for conquest in a way that the people can support; IE; using war to create peace by uniting the nations of Kalesten by force.
  • Kosony [Nation]
    Kosonians are light to tan skinned with predominantly dark hair, ranging from light brown to black, rarely blonde or red. Eye colors are often light blue or green, with lower percentages of other colors.

    Women are not allowed as soldiers, or as political leaders, but they are not forbidden from intellectual or business pursuits. However, it is uncommon for women to do more than marry and bear children. Those that chose a different lifestyle may become mages, clerics, merchants, or other such things.

    Female combatants from other countries or races (mercenaries, visiting dignitaries) are often looked down upon, though legal exceptions are made for diplomats and women of other races, female human mercenaries may be fined for carrying weapons and the guilds are technically not allowed to hire out female mercenaries, though many guilds do so under the radar, and use false names for their female mercenaries. However, very few female mercenaries dare to travel and work in Kosony.

    Marriages are often arranged by the parents of their child, with the help of a matchmaker, when the child is in their early to mid-twenties. Females are often married as young as 17, while men marry a few years later, usually after any apprenticeships are finished and they can start in their own careers.

    Much like in Kalestine, homosexuality in Kosony is considered rather salacious and not openly admitted to, but there are a number of Kosonian tales that lend to a romantic idea of the love between two men. There isn’t much interest in the same kind of romance between two women, instead, any tales of lesbian lovers often paint the women as lustful harlots.

    Kosony has a typical following of the Seasonal Goddesses, Erada, Saeven, Acoassa, Casril, and Essan, in about that order.
  • Rheneld [Nation]
    The people in Rheneld are predominantly fair in coloration with a mix of light and dark colored hair and eyes. They are a rather pleasant culture and quite progressive. Women are allowed equal rights, homosexuality isn’t stigmatized, and Rheneldans have a rather free, artistic spirit about them. Creative expression is highly encouraged, and creative works are highly desired by Rheneld’s consumers. It should be noted that this attitude is more prevalent in the cities and larger villages, while the rural regions of Rheneld care more about having a roof over their heads and a meal on the plates every day.

    Rheneld is the heart of the following of Essan and the Muses. In the capital city, there is a grand temple and library dedicated to Essan with adjacent smaller temples to each of the higher muses. Beneath Essan, many farmers are devoted to the Seasonal Goddesses, Erada has a significant following, Saeven has a small following with knights and soldiers, Casril with merchants and traders, Acoassa has a very small following, only existing for the enforcement of Rheneld’s laws.
  • Samonight [Nation]
    Secluded on the northeast coast, just below the open lands of Kaius is the nation of Samonight, which is most notable for extreme oppression of women. In Samonight, women are little more than property to their fathers and husbands, and are traded as such. Female children are not always highly appreciated, especially by poor families, and to combat female infanticide and maintain a healthy population of potential wives, there are boarding houses set up across the nation where female children can be left by their parents and raised by the state, later to be married off for a fee to any interested man. When raised by their families, female children are often married off in their late teens to a man of their parent’s choosing and come with a dowry.

    Samonightans are a mix of Kosonian and Kaian ancestry, which has led to them being mostly fair of skin, dark of hair and eye, with occasional recessive traits of fairer features that pop up from time to time. They cover a broad range of sizes, however, ranging from the average size of most Kalestans to the hulking heights of Kaian barbarians.

    The predominant religion in Samonight is a corrupted version of the worship of Acoassa, which has switched the goddess from female to male. Representations of all female third generation gods has been wiped out, either by completely forgetting the goddess, or changing her to male where the situation allows. Many churches have refused to found temples in Samonight, and an organized church of Acoassa only stands because each nation’s Acoassa temple is independent of others and serves the state.
  • Serdenaugh [Nation]
    Serdenaugh is basically a nation in anarchy. When the throne was usurped by a pirate king generations ago, the secluded west coast nation became a save haven for pirates, thieves, brigands, and other sorts of villany. While there is still a king (or queen), the sovereignty passes through so many hands through backhanded dealings and assassinations, it is easiest to say that Serdenaugh has no true government.

    The people of Serdenaugh have long since lost their own cultural identity and are thoroughly mixed with phenotypes from across the world and from other races. Size, coloration, and superficial features are impossible to generalize. Nearly every race can find a home in Serdenaugh as well, even Danaij.

    As far as religion goes, nearly every form of worship can also be observed in Serdenaugh, even worship of the dark gods. Casril, however, has the highest rate of worship, as trade and luck are some of the most important thing to Serdenians.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Revised from Adun to Aserra, links repaired
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicity – Agenomian

Post by World of Aserra » Thu Mar 25, 2010 9:48 am

Agenomian
Agenom

Agenomians are somewhat darker than other Kalestans with features that are often reminiscent of our own Mediterranean peoples with olive colored skin, black and dark brown hair with curly and wavy textures, and commonly brown, gold, hazel, or green eyes. People of the former nation of Cheuz, now conquered by Kalestine, are of the same ethnicity as the people of Agenom, though often mixed with Kalestan blood, placing them somewhere in between the two ethnicities in appearance.

Agenom has a rigid caste structure that is marked in the clothing of each caste. While the cut of fashions are similar between the classes, colors clearly mark out each individual caste. Though, the higher the class, the more elaborate the garb. The lowest classes were clothing of cotton and wool dyed black or dark brown. Middle class is allowed clothing of finer cloth dyed shades of blue and azure with silver accents. The highest classes of nobility is allowed the finest clothes of pure white with golden accents.

Genders are legally equal in Agenom, though women are often considered the “weaker” sex. Homosexuality is not legally restricted, but it does carry a social stigma. Arranged marriages are common, but they are not forced and matched partners and their families must approve of each other before any union is made.

Casril, the God of Luck, has a high following in the trade-oriented Agenom, followed by the Seasonal Goddesses and other typical gods.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Revised from Adun to Aserra, link repaired
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicity – Ertian

Post by World of Aserra » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:01 pm

Ertian
Inhabiting the sub-continent of Ertia off the southeast of northern Kalesten, the people of Ertia are a female-dominated culture broken up into three kingdoms throughout the tropical region.

Location and Abodes
Ertians have many different kinds of settlements, much like Kalestans. Along the coasts there are numerous well-established port cities. Also along the coasts and rivers, radiating inland, are larger towns and villages based around agriculture or fishing. Further inland, toward the dryer regions, are tiny villages, homes built of thatch and other materials, where the main means of earning food is still hunting and gathering.

Appearance and Garb
Ertians are commonly black-haired with dark complexions. Western Ertians are often lighter skinned, while inland and eastern Ertians are darker. Brown and gold eyes are common, but most unique about Ertians is the red pigment that also occurs in a large percentage of the population. This includes eyes that are pure red, or a hazel-like mix of red and gold or orange-looking shades. Ertians closest resemble Indian, Persian, and North African peoples from our world, though their fashions are often more akin to a mix of African and Indian styles.

Ertians favor lightweight cottons and gossamer fabrics, especially in the cities, and are fond of colors, especially warm colors like red, yellow, and orange. More practical clothing is often undyed cotton (off-white or beige) for farmers. Inland hunter-gather tribes will wear more skins than cottons as they lack the resources to make it themselves. Gold is a favored metal for adornments.

Marriage and Childbearing
Ertia is a long-standing matriarchy with some common traditions amongst all subsets of their culture, but differences in others. In all nations, lineage is traced on a direct matriarchal line, with potential paternity having very little meaning. Relationships are rarely truly monogamous, most Ertians practice social monogamy in one way or another, where it is typical to select a partner for a long-term commitment to house and family, but also common to have lovers on the side. Ertia women also have a very lax attitude toward romance between their own gender, and there are many committed same-sex marriages. Polygamy is also commonplace in many cultural subsets in Ertia, and this can include multiple women or multiple men. Some female couples may include a man in their relationship as a means to father children (or because they just love him too). Women of high social position may maintain harems of attractive men. Some tribes have stricter rules on marriage, such as only allowing a marriage between two individuals (either female and female, or female and male, but never male and male), but accepting affairs for either pleasure or reproductive purposes. Others may allow a three-way marriage only in the case of two women seeking a reproductive partner, while yet others will encourage looser polygamous unions.

Women are in complete control of their families and reproduction in Ertian society. They are proactive in avoiding pregnancy. If a woman does not want to have a child at any given time, she will either abstain from sex with male partners, or use contraceptive techniques available to her—Ertians have long researched ways of preventing pregnancy, including herbal remedies that suppress ovulation or prevent fertilization, barrier methods, and other techniques. Ertian women may also turn to abortifacients in the case of unwanted pregnancies when prevention fails, health is at risk, or if something out of their control makes bringing a child into the world a risk (famine, drought, war, etc.). Rape of women is practically unheard of in Ertia, and punished severely.

In Samdra, a severely female-dominated nation, a low population of males are treated as slaves and sometimes little more than breeding stock, traded amongst women as desired. Daughters are highly prized, but sons may often be abandoned or even killed by their mothers.

Religion
Ertians worship Nydoini, the Mother-Goddess, and believe that they are her favored people. Though the Goddess is considered dead, Ertians believe that her essence remains in her creations.

Magic and Abilities
Shamanism is commonly practiced in many parts of Ertia, and many various forms of mysticism are highly valued. Other magic systems are rarely seen, unless introduced from outside of the sub-continent.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:12 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Completed
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicity – Kalestan Grasslanders

Post by World of Aserra » Thu Mar 25, 2010 1:02 pm

Kalestan Grasslanders
Mostly undetermined. What is determined is that this culture will be similar to Native American appearance and culture and inhabit mainly the grasslands of the central Kalesten isthmus. A highly shamanistic culture, they may be most akin to the Native American tribes of the prairies of the mid-western United States. The Grasslanders share a heritage with the now extinct peoples of the southern Kalesten rainforests. They also will be predominantly dark haired and dark eyed with a coppery complexion.
Last edited by J. M. Vincent on Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Updated.
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Discussion for Humans

Post by J. M. Vincent » Sun May 01, 2011 10:21 am

Any questions, comments, or corrections regarding the Human race should be posted here.
World of Aserra

Human Ethnicity - Forsaken Lander

Post by World of Aserra » Fri Mar 09, 2012 7:38 pm

(to be added...)
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Re: Discussion for Humans

Post by J. M. Vincent » Sat Sep 22, 2012 2:23 pm

I was working on something for the intro guide, and I don't think I'm going to use it there, but I want to put this in. We have a severe lack of Asian-looking people in the world, and I want to rememdy that with Thiskel.
Kalesten Continent
This continent is a rather narrow hook-shaped continent that is home to peoples that are predominantly Caucasian in appearance (fair skin, light to dark eyes, light to dark hair), with smaller groups that appear more like Mediterranean, Native American, and Indian peoples.
Agenom – Trade oriented people, rigid social structure, but creative. Mediterranean-like region, people.
Belvon – Isolationist nation, highly educated and scientifically minded, technologically advanced. Steampunk inspired. Western European-like region and people.
Chawoven – Predominantly agrarian nation, considered part of the “Heartland”. Western/Central European-like region.
Emkal – Nation founded on magical advancement, somewhat isolationistic. Open-minded and creative people. Northern/Western European-like region and people. Mixing with Dra’nafod races is not atypical.
Ertia – Sub-continent broken into nations of Ertia, Samdra, and Shyon. Female dominated culture, African-inspired region, people with Indian (East Indian) features (darker skin, straight black hair, dark eyes).
Isbany – Small Heartland nation. Western/Central European-like setting and people.
Lands of Kaius - “Barbarian” like-culture. Worship dragons, predominantly nomads inhabiting northernmost part of Kalesten. Northern European/Norse like-culture and people.
Kalestine Empire – Young, growing empire in central “Heartland” region of Kalesten that emerged 19 years ago. Mostly Northern/Western European-like region, except for south, which is more Mediterranean.
Kosony – Predominantly agrarian nation on east coast. Central European-like setting and people, mostly open land with a large forest to the south.
Rheneld – Bohemian nation, somewhat French inspired old language. Central/Western European-like setting and people.
Samonight – Oppressive, isolated nation on east coast. Northern European-like setting and people.
Serdenaugh – Anarchistic market-driven nation on the west coast. Major trade route, populated by peoples from all over the world.
Central Kalesten Grasslands – Open land unclaimed by nations, but populated by a few different races and tribal human cultures descended from a now extinct race formerly of the jungles in the south. Native American inspired people.

Thiskel Continent
Little of this continent has been defined, but some basic nations have been mapped out. The human peoples should have a Caucasian to Middle-Eastern appearance in the east, a mix of Middle-Eastern, South East Asian, and African appearances through the west and down into the southern desert (becoming progressively darker and more African as they go south). The northwest should be populated by peoples who are more Asian in appearance.

Forsaken Land/Ageond
Humans populating the Forsaken Land will be mostly descended of people exiled and deported from their native lands in northwestern Thiskel, and they are mostly dark haired with fair skin. Maybe a mix of Asian and Caucasian features.

Elsewhere...
There are a number of islands in the world that can be populated by humans. They all originally came from somewhere on a large continent, so consider their potential appearance to be derivative of wherever their ancestors came from, and influenced by the climate and geography of where they ended up.
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