Being so adaptable, humans are able to acquire a wide variety of skills including magic, and although many humans are still born with no magical abilities at all, those who excel at the magical arts are indeed formidable mages. Many humans posses the blood of other races, such as elves, dwarves or even trolls and orcs (how such a child is created is not a story for children) and this tends to enhance further their abilities and diversity.

Unfortunately the advent of magic has stunted knowledge in the sciences for humans. They find it difficult to reconcile the strict laws of science with the seemingly arbitrary nature of the astral plane, and those humans who actually do posses detailed knowledge of the hard sciences are often seen as useless extremists with impractical views.

Physical Appearance

Adult human females tend to range between 5' and 6'2" tall and ninety and 250 pounds in weight. Males range from around 5'3" to 6'6" tall and 110 and 350 pounds in weight. There are exceptions both on the low and high ends, though they are seldom. Male and female skin color ranges from very dark brown to almost pure white, and all shades in between. There are variations of reddish tan, and yellowish tan as well. Hair color can be anywhere from jet black to very light blond, with all shades of brown in between. A smaller segment of the population has red hair, or various shades and combination's thereof. Eye color can be blue, green, brown, gray, or hazel.

Environmental Adaptation

Human appearance is generally based on chance. The initial group of humans that sailed to the Meridian continent were diverse in appearance. It was once believed that variations in human skin and hair color were originally an adaptation to the climate, but now many believe it is purely by chance.

Lifespan

Humans live between 70 and 90 years of age.

Home Environment

Humans concentrate on the southern part of Meridia, although because of their generally amicable relationships with the other races, they live almost anywhere except for the highly elevated regions.

Views on Nature

Humans neither defile nor overly revere nature. As is their general disposition, they view nature as a means to an end as far as resources go. They attempt to protect nature from the standpoint of assuring there are always animals to hunt for food, crops to eat, and wood and resources to harvest. Humans enjoy spending time in nature, exploring it, and discovering things that are new. They do not worship it or have any particular religious ties to it.

Family Organization

Humans are a monogamous race. They tend to have a fairly limited amount of offspring, because they are conscious of keeping their use of resources under control. Human families have between one and four children.

Food

Humans generally adapt to whatever food source they settle near. However, traditionally they are omnivores, preferring muscle meats, including beef, pork, lamb, domestic and wild fowl, as well as fresh and saltwater fish, eggs, and dairy for protein. They also enjoy grains such as rice and wheat, soybeans and other beans, and a range of land and sea vegetables, including daikon radishes, carrots, and other roots, spinach, cabbage, and other leafy greens, plums, cherries, pears, and other fruits that grow in their temperate climates. Humans grow crops of fruits, vegetables, and grains and tend livestock for food purposes. Humans also enjoy food from the sea.

Food Production

Humans primarily farm and hunt. They grow their own crops, and in larger towns some farmers grow crops for the population at large, and sell or trade their wares. Humans also raise cows and goats for meat and milk, although those in more remote areas rely on hunting more than on domesticated animals for meat. Humans also fish the sea, lakes, and rivers, and capture seafood on the coast as a prime part of their diet.

Clothing

Human clothing is primarily made from cotton, wool, and leather. Silk is worn for special occasions and by the wealthy.


Males generally wear full-length, loose trousers, which are straight-legged, with moderately wide ankles. Their long-sleeved shirts or tunics are often of unbleached cotton, although they may be dyed in dark colors as well.


Women wear a similar outfit to men, or long-sleeved, ankle-length dresses.


They always wear shoes or other foot covering, as their skin is quite thin. These include leather sandals, slippers, and boots, cotton slippers, reed sandals, and wooden clogs.


They may or may not wear hats or headgear, which range from a cotton kerchief tied around the head, to wide-brimmed reed or leather hats. Women often carry paper or reed sunshades in the summer.

Human clothing is usually full-body covering, except for hands and head. They like to accessorize (mainly the women), depending on the situation. For colder weather, they add outerwear, such as vests, jackets, coats, cloaks, scarves, and hoods.

Symbolic Clothing

None, except for those of religious orders.

Clothing Reflecting Status

Human clothing is indicative of status, in the sense that the wealthier the person, the nicer and better kept their clothing is. The rich are more likely to wear clothing dyed in various colors, although dark brown, dark blue, black, beige, and white clothing are quite common among even poorer folk. Women of the upper classes are much more likely to wear tight, fitted sheath dresses, while women of the lower class usually wear loose, flowing dresses that are easy to move in and care for.

Accessories and jewelry especially are indicative of status. Since humans work so hard at maintaining trade and commerce, they are not shy about wearing clothing to match their success if they have earned it. Jewelry made of silver, gold, and semi-precious, or very rarely, precious gems might be worn by the upper class; while jewelry made of wood, horn, fur, and inexpensive, decorative stones like quartz and tiger’s eye adorns the women of middle and lower classes.

Social Status

Human status is gained either through financial success, leadership in government or battle, or knowledge and wisdom.

Social Stratification

There is generally a lower, middle, and upper class. Humans tend to look out for one another, going back to their settlement origins, so there is not much in the way of absolute poverty. Even humans of lesser wealth still have basic shelter, clothing, and food on the table.

Attitude Towards Other Races

Humans are perhaps the most open of all races, simply because of their need to survive. They helped establish trade between all other races, and were the primary developers of the Common Island language, which enabled the races to communicate better. Their livelihood is based upon commerce and trade, chiefly with the other races.

By and large, humans like and are friendly with the dwarves and Timberlimbs. They admire the wisdom and level of civilization that each of these cultures has attained, and sense the openness and interest they meet from many individuals of these races. They maintain a respect for the dwarves, whom they regard as their equals and appreciate for their fine metal and stonework and dedication to their mountain homes.