HUMANS

Humans, as one sage pointed out, are the most widespread and arguably most adaptable race on the planet. I do say arguably as while there are many competitors to the title humans have the most recorded evidence. Consider for a moment the sheer number of half-breeds and aasimar or tiefling bloodlines (of which, you can include yours truly) that dot the human realms and yet do not even merit a mention in the annals of other races? Consider also that the primary gods of Faerun are those of humans - even including gods from distant universes! - and that almost every race is classed as either humanoid or monstrous! Truly, humanity is the center of the universe.

Now, if you're like me you'd know never to trust any self-aggrandizing tale told by the victors, and in this world humanity are certainly the victors. Consider for a moment the list of variation in the races of humanity and compare that to any other you have ever heard of. Yes my friends, this is the Age of Humanity, and given that it is their age perhaps we should take a moment to learn about them?

MAJOR SUBRACES

Calishites - Ah yes, those wonderful turban-clad merchants from Calimshan. A very brown people, brown hair, brown skin, brown eyes, it is said by some that the sands and dirt of their country has become one with their own. Their might actually be some truth to this. Calishites are the descendants of the slaves that various genies (or Djinn) used to build their great empire south of the Marching Mountains, ruled over by the mighty Djinn lord known only as Calim. These slave ancestors were not native to our world, so who can say what they were before arriving? For eight thousand years the Djinni ruled, until in 606 DR the slaves freed themselves and founded the nation of Coramshan. Today, Calimshan is a country of desert people, who view all of the rest of us with scorn as the 'barbarians' they believe we are. They measure social standing not by wealth or by rank, but by how well one can live in comfort. Naturally, the ever impoverished, ever battling adventurer is considered just as barbarous as any tribe of orcs. That said, no matter how much their attitude may irritate you, never call one of them a Calimite, it's a grave insult that they don't take lightly.

Chondothans - How to explain the Chondothans... think your average human, and then add pretension. That's the Chondothans. Largely populating the central and northern parts of Faerun, they mostly reside in the Dalelands and the regions of Cormyr and Sembia. However don't let their minute presence fool you, their language has spread across the known world like a veritable plague. Everywhere that likes to think of itself as important speaks the Chondothan dialect of common. Waterdeep, Amn, Calimshan, Thesk, The Ten Towns, the Moonshae Isles, even some Dwarven clans in the Galena mountains and the Spine speak the language. Suffice to say, if anyone starts speaking Common like a pompous git, they're probably a wannabe Chondothan.

Damarans - Now these are some of my favourite humans. Mostly because they don't interfere with anyone. Honestly, have you ever heard of Damarans meddling in anyone's business? I haven't. And I like to think that stands as a point in their favour. An incredibly feudal country, most of the population live on mining or farming, with only the smallest portion of the population working as merchants or nobility. Now I'm not one to suggest that this is the perfect way to live, far from it! I've seen many ways it can go wrong and Damara is the prime example! Only a few years ago the lich known as the Witch King managed to conquer the entire country by eliminating the king's armies in a single battle. Of course, the Witch King was eventually overthrown by adventurers, but for a while there the hard-working kingdom of Damara was no more. Still, a large number of Damaran refugees have never returned home, and one can only hope that they've found a better life elsewhere.

Illuskan - Ever been to Icewind Dale? Trust me, you don't want to. But, if you have, the people you've met there are all Illuskans. All of them. From the barely civilized residents of the Ten Towns, to the proudly barbaric Uthgardt tribes. It is said the Northlanders originated on the island of Ruathym, which they claim is their ancestral home. At some point they migrated to the mainland founding the city of Luskan, the Ten Towns, and other places, though how they came to be separated between the animal loving Uthgardtans and the mercenary city dwellers no history tells. Oh, and don't mention that Luskans are related to the Uthgardtans, they don't tend to like being compared to their 'inferiors'.

Mulan -