Species Spotlight: Humans

Often described as a mystery wrapped in an enigma, humans are masters of innovation yet bound by their own complexities.

Author’s note: Hoist the Colors may eventually inspire fiction. Most likely will and I’ll gladly write it. But right now, it’s a role-playing game setting with what I hope is an interesting take and look at an “Alternate History” of Earth. It isn’t really “steampunk”, though I can see how someone would get that impression. For me, it’s more a “flintlock fantasy” set on Earth of 1722 in all it’s historical mess… that I’ve stirred up even more!

So, with that said, I thought I’d cover the playable species and cultures players will have to choose from. This time we’ve got humans!

Humans

Some say that we humans are a mystery wrapped in an enigma. Quite flattering really, since we barely understand ourselves…

- Professor Isolde Trelawny, Historian at the Royal Institute of Otherworld Studies

Humans, unlike the Otherworld newcomers, are native to Earth. An inventive species, their close-knit towns, sprawling cities, and proud nations are found on almost every land. Sometimes even in the most inhospitable climates. Since the disaster of Crossing’s Fall, humans have even made their way into those new lands that crashed to Earth from Otherworld. But in those places, like Afalon or Zafra, they remain a distinct minority.

The events of Crossing’s Fall presented humans with the greatest challenge ever faced. In one night, magic and myth turned real, and all the world’s beliefs were turned on their ear. Humanity reacted to this in the same way they have to any other great upheaval in history.

A moment of collective chaos.

Some humans were curious and willing to welcome the refugees and give them a new home. Others were more wary. They were quick to raise barriers and even weapons, caught up in nightmares and legends that called the refugees monsters. Last were the humans who saw the refugees not so much as people, but more of an opportunity.

Those were the humans that went to war. Both against the Otherworld refugees and each other for the chance to claim places like Afalon for themselves. This was called the Mid-Atlantic War that erupted not long after lands like Afalon appeared.

Since then, the relationship between humans and the Otherworld settlers has been complex. In some lands, there is an air of mistrust, unease, and even oppression. Other places, there is hope or a chaotic, vibrant mix, such as in the Caribbean.

The Human Question

Innovation is to humans what flight is to birds…

- Professor Isolde Trelawny, Historian at the Royal Institute of Otherworld Studies

Because of their numbers, humans are the example, the standard for ‘humanoid’. They are the comparison for any creation that walks on two legs and has two arms to use tools. Against the Otherworld species, they look most like thayans except without the wings, or tall grimlings without the metallic hue.

Humans come in many shapes and sizes with hair that covers the range from tan, blond, to black, red, and brown. This turns white as they age. Eyes are often brown, black, blue, or gray. More rare are the colors of amber, hazel, and green. Like grimlings or thayans, human males have facial hair of different amounts.

Their complexion varies to all shades and depends on how often a human is outside and the climate of their homeland. Unlike others, human ears are round, where other species are often pointed. As for height, humans are often close to 6 foot, a height matched only by the morasu.

But humans lack the special abilities and physical gifts of other species. Perhaps the only physical nature of humans where they stand out is their strength. This doesn’t mean that other civilized species can match average human strength. They can and do. But humans have the ability to surpass other species in raw strength and lifting power.

Aside from their strength, humans possess the remarkable ability to adapt and innovate. Using often reckless ideas to produce amazing innovation that can delight, or terrify, the more ‘grounded’ species, such as grimlings. This human gift doesn’t make them smarter, faster, or more capable than other species. It is simply the innate human understanding of how well they can adapt to an unusual situation.

Their ability to adapt shows in other ways. Humans are the most widespread of the civilized species found in any land. Many scholars might call that either normal, if not dull, but that has contributed to humanity’s greatest ability to blend in. Humans are adept at using the ability to seem normal and boring to let them blend into a crowd. Become just another face that many, even Otherworld species or other humans, can overlook.

This is the greatest question and debate about humans. Is our greatest talent the ability to blend in and adapt? Or stand out in a crowd while attempting to blow ourselves up. Accidentally, of course…

- Doctor Pedro Sangre de Alejandro del Rio

Senses

Like any other human-like species, humans have the typical basic senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. When compared to the keen sense of Otherworld ancestries, human senses might seem pedestrian. But, as is typical for humans, this does not hold them back.

Using their knack for invention, humans have recently developed both devices and magic to augment their limitations. Goggles to protect their eyes and enhance their sight, gloves to let them reach into the hottest fires like grimlings, and more.

Dietary Habits

Humanity’s diet is legendary for being more complex and eclectic than other civilized people. Their food choices range from plants, meats, to a wide assortment of cooked meals. Each of these is influenced by geography, climate, and cultural traditions of the lands they come from.

Besides the variety of food choices, there is also their willingness to incorporate exotic plants, herbs and more into their meals. With the shattered remains of Otherworld lands came plants, herbs, and animals. New ingredients that humans were not shy about trying. This included dishes and recipes from Otherworld cultures that now call Earth home.

Culture

There is no such thing as a common ‘human culture’. What unites humans is their contrast to each other and the unique communities they build. Across the globe, the diversity of humans is staggering. Their cultures are a vivid tapestry of contrasts from fledgling democracies to storied monarchies. From ancient, peaceful monastic orders to grim fleets of pirates, human cultures offer a vast combination of ideologies and ways of life.

Human nations and cultures cover the world, but there are some that stand out. These cultures are the most eager to look to the horizon, search for the unknown, and explore what lies beyond.

Human Cultures After Crossing’s Fall

Nativan Cultures - The fledgling League of Nations in North America is a rich mix of cultures deeply rooted in the land. They blend ancient wisdom with ingenuity. A melting pot of people and cultures from indigenous people to colonists who have broken away from their European roots.

European Cultures - These would be people from Spain, Great Britain, Ireland, France, the Mediterranean and more. Still gripped with the fever of exploring the new world and seeking their fortunes, many see the new lands from Otherworld as an opportunity. Others see them as a means to start over and make a new life.

African Cultures - The ruins of Otherworld on Earth changed more than the landscape. In Africa, the appearance of these new lands, ruins, and people opened the door to a world of change. Nations in West Africa and elsewhere on the continent gained a great advantage through the re-discovery of magic and a wealth of resources from Otherworld ruins.

Asian Cultures - The Pacific region was also touched by Crossing’s Fall. No country was left untouched. Japan suffered the greatest change of all. After Zafra island appeared to the east of Japan, it wasn’t long before the morasu Tomias launched an invasion of Japan. That war brought a quick end to the Tokugawa Shogunate’s isolation policy. It was a clash of ideologies that forced the Shogunate to open its ports and look beyond its shores.

The world is a tapestry. In it humans may be one of its weavers, the scissors, or both.

- Dr. Aiden Gallagher, Historian at the New World History Society

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