Difference between revisions of "Humans"

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Men
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[[File:human.jpg|right|300px]]
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Humans are the most common inhabitants in the Realm.
  
According to Reliza's History of Humankind, Volume One, the earliest vestiges of humankind can be traced to the fertile river valleys of the Old Kingdom. In this tropical paradise, early humans flourished as primitive hunters. As they multiplied beyond
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Humans are typically between five and six feet in height - although great variations have been reported in both height and weight.  Humans possess a wide variety of skin colors, body types, and facial features. Generally speaking, humans' skin color assumes a darker hue the closer to the equator they live.  Humans possess exceptional drive and a great capacity to endure and expand.  Their kingdoms and nations are vast and sprawling - built with the strength of their sword arms and the power of their spells. Humanity is best characterized by its tumultuousness and diversity, and human cultures run the gamut from humble, honorable villages to decadent noble families in the most cosmopolitan cities of the Old Kingdom. 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.  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.  
  
The Pipe of Reliza
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Humans hail from myriad regions and backgrounds - lacking other races' ties to tradition and eager to turn to anyone offering them glory or protection.  Most peasants and townsfolk belong to the [[Church of the Hearth]], while more specialized organizations exist for [[Temple of War|soldiers]], [[Order of Merchant Keymasters|merchants]], [[Order of the Red Angel|healers]], etc.
  
It is the subject of some debate as to the origins of the human races of the Realm. Certainly, there is extensive evidence of humanoid occupation scattered around the Realm prior to the advent of writing and organized villages. Crude, ancient drawings of deer, boar, and other wildlife have been found in the caves of the Old Kingdom. The humans depicted in these drawings are large, fair-skinned, dressed in skins, seemingly unrelated to the dark-haired, olive-completed inhabitants today. Ruins uncovered by sandstorms and looted by treasure hunters in the Sands of Time tell tales of a human race long-ago forgotten. And what of the strange ziggurats isolated and abandoned along the southern coast of the Western Reaches, their inhabitants vanished like ghosts. Indeed, there seems to be no clear path to trace the human evolution that occurred millenia ago.
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== The Origin of Humanity ==
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It is the subject of some debate as to the origins of the human races of the Realm. Certainly, there is extensive evidence of human occupation scattered around the Realm prior to the advent of writing and organized villages. Crude, ancient drawings of deer, boar, and other wildlife have been found in the caves of the Old Kingdom. The humans depicted in these drawings are large, fair-skinned, dressed in skins, seemingly unrelated to the dark-haired, olive-completed inhabitants today. Ruins uncovered by sandstorms and looted by treasure hunters in the Sands of Time tell tales of a human race long-ago forgotten. And what of the strange ziggurats isolated and abandoned along the southern coast of the Western Reaches, their inhabitants vanished like ghosts. Indeed, there seems to be no clear path to trace the human evolution that occurred millenia ago.
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According to Reliza's History of Humankind, Volume One, the earliest vestiges of humankind can be traced to the fertile river valleys of the Old Kingdom. In this tropical paradise, early humans flourished as primitive hunters. As they multiplied, they followed large herds of plains game pushing into the forests of the Evenwild - spreading both north and south along the coasts of the Great Sea.  Early in the First Age, the first settlements were founded as nomadic tribal wanderings gave way to rudimentary agriculture.  It is said that Reliza used a magical item - a pipe - to advance his knowledge further back into time.  A rumor holds that Reliza, upon discovering the "event" at the beginning of mankind, wrote a treatise that he felt was too dangerous for his peers.  The document was sealed in the Library at Sarth shortly before Reliza's death.
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'''The Pipe of Reliza'''
  
 
The most well-respected scholar of early humans is the arch-mage Reliza, who studied both in the field and in the dusty libraries of Sarth in the early days of the Third Age. Reliza is reported to have developed a magical device that would allow him to communicate with humans from the early dawn of time. The Pipe of Reliza, when smoked with a mixture of a strong narcotic weed and ground bones from ancient peoples would put the user into dreamworld, called the Glimmer, by Reliza and his followers. In the Glimmer, Reliza would be able to question the spirits of the long-dead gaining information about their lives and habits. Reliza devoted his life to the pursuit of this knowledge, and he gained fame and a small following.
 
The most well-respected scholar of early humans is the arch-mage Reliza, who studied both in the field and in the dusty libraries of Sarth in the early days of the Third Age. Reliza is reported to have developed a magical device that would allow him to communicate with humans from the early dawn of time. The Pipe of Reliza, when smoked with a mixture of a strong narcotic weed and ground bones from ancient peoples would put the user into dreamworld, called the Glimmer, by Reliza and his followers. In the Glimmer, Reliza would be able to question the spirits of the long-dead gaining information about their lives and habits. Reliza devoted his life to the pursuit of this knowledge, and he gained fame and a small following.
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What has remained of Reliza's studies are a number of large tomes entitled the History of Humankind. These tomes remain in the libraries of Sarth. And, although they are dismissed as the fantasies of a drug-crazed madman by some, they remain the most complete, detailed, and accurate works of the age.
 
What has remained of Reliza's studies are a number of large tomes entitled the History of Humankind. These tomes remain in the libraries of Sarth. And, although they are dismissed as the fantasies of a drug-crazed madman by some, they remain the most complete, detailed, and accurate works of the age.
 
Rings of the Knights of King Gregory
 
 
It was in the early days of the reign of King Gregory that the Orders of the Knights of the Kingdom were born. Originally the king had decided on nine orders of knights, and he commissioned that 500 rings be made of varying design as emblems of the new orders. Before the rings were finished, however, the king decided to eliminate two of the orders of knights, leaving the seven orders for which history has record. It is said that the 42 rings of silver with clusters of either two or three star sapphires that were to be the emblem of the two discarded orders were never made, although several have appeared in the collections of artifact seekers - always under questionable circumstances.
 
 
The humblest order, the friends of the king, received a simple copper band set with a sapphire. These non-magical bands accounted for almost half of the 500 rings that were made. They were symbols of pride and commaraderie at the height of King Gregory's power.
 
 
The next five orders were fighters appointed to their order by chivalrous deeds done for the kingdom. The Knights of Merit numbered 121 members strong at the height of their strength. Their symbol was a copper band set with a star-sapphire. A magical word given to them by King Gregory during the Ceremony of Bestowment would allow the knight to cure wounds during battle. In addition, it was common practice for all Knights to be brought to local temples for healing and resurrection after battle.
 
 
The Knights of Virtue were a vastly smaller group, numbering only 30 at one time. Like the other Knights of higher rank, new membership into this group occurred only upon the death of one of their kind. The symbol of the Knights of Virtue was a silver band with a sapphire. They enjoyed the benefits of the Knights of Merit plus a more powerful healing capability.
 
 
The Knights of Chivalry, Knights of Quality, and the Knights of Excellence were the other three orders of the kingdom. They, like the Knights of Virtue, were appointed only when a member left the ranks. These three orders numbered 25, 22, and 20 members respectively. Although it is recorded that King Gregory had originally listed forty-seven other men for these ranks, their numbers have always been recorded thusly. These knights were identified by silver bands with star sapphires, gold bands with sapphires, and gold bands with star sapphires. Each order enjoyed successively more powerful healing spells. In addition, the Knights of Quality and Excellence enjoyed unquestioned passage throughout the outer palace in Teufeldorf.
 
 
At the highest echelon within the Knights of the Kingdom were the king, queen, five members of the High Council (originally known as the Elder Ring), and a number of nobles within the kingdom. The original draft of the Orders in King Gregory's own hand shows that fourteen platinum rings with star sapphires were to be distributed to himself, Lady Laura, the five member of the Elder Ring, and seven nobles. However, the actual number of rings distributed varies between historians. Some place the number as high as 51 (thus accounting for the 47 missing Knights) or as low as 9 (the king, queen, Elder Ring, and two dukes). These rings were rumored to be very powerful: allowing the wearer to regenerate, turn spells, and perhaps even absorb spells. It is known that these rings did provide unquestioned passasge throughout the inner palace in Teufeldorf.
 

Revision as of 08:09, 28 December 2015

Human.jpg

Humans are the most common inhabitants in the Realm.

Humans are typically between five and six feet in height - although great variations have been reported in both height and weight. Humans possess a wide variety of skin colors, body types, and facial features. Generally speaking, humans' skin color assumes a darker hue the closer to the equator they live. Humans possess exceptional drive and a great capacity to endure and expand. Their kingdoms and nations are vast and sprawling - built with the strength of their sword arms and the power of their spells. Humanity is best characterized by its tumultuousness and diversity, and human cultures run the gamut from humble, honorable villages to decadent noble families in the most cosmopolitan cities of the Old Kingdom. 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. 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 - lacking other races' ties to tradition and eager to turn to anyone offering them glory or protection. Most peasants and townsfolk belong to the Church of the Hearth, while more specialized organizations exist for soldiers, merchants, healers, etc.

The Origin of Humanity

It is the subject of some debate as to the origins of the human races of the Realm. Certainly, there is extensive evidence of human occupation scattered around the Realm prior to the advent of writing and organized villages. Crude, ancient drawings of deer, boar, and other wildlife have been found in the caves of the Old Kingdom. The humans depicted in these drawings are large, fair-skinned, dressed in skins, seemingly unrelated to the dark-haired, olive-completed inhabitants today. Ruins uncovered by sandstorms and looted by treasure hunters in the Sands of Time tell tales of a human race long-ago forgotten. And what of the strange ziggurats isolated and abandoned along the southern coast of the Western Reaches, their inhabitants vanished like ghosts. Indeed, there seems to be no clear path to trace the human evolution that occurred millenia ago.

According to Reliza's History of Humankind, Volume One, the earliest vestiges of humankind can be traced to the fertile river valleys of the Old Kingdom. In this tropical paradise, early humans flourished as primitive hunters. As they multiplied, they followed large herds of plains game pushing into the forests of the Evenwild - spreading both north and south along the coasts of the Great Sea. Early in the First Age, the first settlements were founded as nomadic tribal wanderings gave way to rudimentary agriculture. It is said that Reliza used a magical item - a pipe - to advance his knowledge further back into time. A rumor holds that Reliza, upon discovering the "event" at the beginning of mankind, wrote a treatise that he felt was too dangerous for his peers. The document was sealed in the Library at Sarth shortly before Reliza's death.

The Pipe of Reliza

The most well-respected scholar of early humans is the arch-mage Reliza, who studied both in the field and in the dusty libraries of Sarth in the early days of the Third Age. Reliza is reported to have developed a magical device that would allow him to communicate with humans from the early dawn of time. The Pipe of Reliza, when smoked with a mixture of a strong narcotic weed and ground bones from ancient peoples would put the user into dreamworld, called the Glimmer, by Reliza and his followers. In the Glimmer, Reliza would be able to question the spirits of the long-dead gaining information about their lives and habits. Reliza devoted his life to the pursuit of this knowledge, and he gained fame and a small following.

It was his celebrity status that is rumored to have cost Reliza his life. One day in a dream-like stupor, Reliza was killed by a petty baron from Sandal who wished to speak with his long-dead father. The whereabouts of the Pipe of Reliza disappeared into the southern kingdom of Sandal, and it remains a lost relic to this day. Rumors have placed the pipe at various locations around the Realm, but no substantiated proof has ever been found.

What has remained of Reliza's studies are a number of large tomes entitled the History of Humankind. These tomes remain in the libraries of Sarth. And, although they are dismissed as the fantasies of a drug-crazed madman by some, they remain the most complete, detailed, and accurate works of the age.