Old Humans
Old Humans
Overview: Old Humans are the first known human inhabitants of the Eight Kingdoms. Most humans have at least some O.H. genetic heritage. However, few of these people are actually conscious of their O.H. background. This will be the case of most player characters (where genetic heritage does not matter).
Player Characters: Not open to O.H. characters with enough heritage to tap into O.H. skills. However, under the right circumstances, anyone of O.H. genetic heritage can become very aware of that background...
Appearance: Pure O.H. have straight black hair, dark eyes, light brown skin, and tend to have slender but athletic builds.
Locations: Throughout the 8 Kingdoms and Aarenis - % differ from area to area. The only pure known groups live in the hinterlands of Prealith. They are very isolated and distrustful of all outsiders.
Known Characteristics: The O.H. are known as the "Ghosts of the Forests". They utilize body paint for ceremonies and to blend into the forest. All O.H. tribes people carry a stone dagger along with traded metal weapons. The O.H. are consummate hunters and warriors of the woodland. Elves avoid talking of them. The O.H. revere their ancestors and guard their ancestors' burial places with fanatic ferocity. The O.H. have considerable animosity to both elves and magelords. The original Old Humans considered the act of giving as a sign of strength and the greatest virtue. Giving blood as a sacrifice was the most potent gift (as blood is needed by people to survive, the same as water is needed by plants). This belief survives in the ritual blooding of tools and plows that 'cut Alyanya's flesh' (the soil) in planting. Farmers use a small cut to blood the blades of those tools.
Rumoured Characteristics: The O.H. are more adept as warriors of the woods than even the elves. Elves are actively hunted by the O.H. and then sacrificed to their gods. Besides stalking skills, O.H. utilize spirit and animal guides in the forest. They can also sense the taig as well as an elf. The Kuakgan originated with the O.H. and the first Kuakgan was an O.H. This factor might explain the O.H./elven animosity. O.H. clerics use patterns to fascinate outsiders and elves are not immune to their charm and fascinate effects. Thus, O.H. forests are the only forests that elves truly fear to walk within. O.H. carry a stone weapon at all times - rumour 1 suggests it traps souls, rumour 2 suggest it is to fight in the some sort of "Final Battle" when all outsiders, elves especially, will be expelled from their lands. O.H. expose their dead and then paint the bare bones with patterns. The patterns sum up the person's exploits and who they are or the patterns bind the soul to the bones in order to gain the ancestor's assistance/service. Supposedly, the O.H. worship, communicate, and receive assistance from their dead ancestors - including reanimating their dead. The O.H. are able to sense, track down, and kill magelords. The O.H. use their stone weapons for the killing strike against any magelord in order to imprison their souls. These souls are then tormented by O.H. ancestors for eternity. This animosity extends to wizards. Any wizard who violates O.H. interests is killed and his soul imprisoned by a special group of O.H. hunters. This group is known as "The White Hand".
Human Genetic Groups (Overviews)
Old Humans Dawntreaders Wanderers Aare Magelords Sea Father's Chosen Sea Wolves Ice People Horse Nomads
Overview: Old Humans are the first known human inhabitants of the Eight Kingdoms. Most humans have at least some O.H. genetic heritage. However, few of these people are actually conscious of their O.H. background. This will be the case of most player characters (where genetic heritage does not matter).
Player Characters: Not open to O.H. characters with enough heritage to tap into O.H. skills. However, under the right circumstances, anyone of O.H. genetic heritage can become very aware of that background...
Appearance: Pure O.H. have straight black hair, dark eyes, light brown skin, and tend to have slender but athletic builds.
Locations: Throughout the 8 Kingdoms and Aarenis - % differ from area to area. The only pure known groups live in the hinterlands of Prealith. They are very isolated and distrustful of all outsiders.
Known Characteristics: The O.H. are known as the "Ghosts of the Forests". They utilize body paint for ceremonies and to blend into the forest. All O.H. tribes people carry a stone dagger along with traded metal weapons. The O.H. are consummate hunters and warriors of the woodland. Elves avoid talking of them. The O.H. revere their ancestors and guard their ancestors' burial places with fanatic ferocity. The O.H. have considerable animosity to both elves and magelords. The original Old Humans considered the act of giving as a sign of strength and the greatest virtue. Giving blood as a sacrifice was the most potent gift (as blood is needed by people to survive, the same as water is needed by plants). This belief survives in the ritual blooding of tools and plows that 'cut Alyanya's flesh' (the soil) in planting. Farmers use a small cut to blood the blades of those tools.
Rumoured Characteristics: The O.H. are more adept as warriors of the woods than even the elves. Elves are actively hunted by the O.H. and then sacrificed to their gods. Besides stalking skills, O.H. utilize spirit and animal guides in the forest. They can also sense the taig as well as an elf. The Kuakgan originated with the O.H. and the first Kuakgan was an O.H. This factor might explain the O.H./elven animosity. O.H. clerics use patterns to fascinate outsiders and elves are not immune to their charm and fascinate effects. Thus, O.H. forests are the only forests that elves truly fear to walk within. O.H. carry a stone weapon at all times - rumour 1 suggests it traps souls, rumour 2 suggest it is to fight in the some sort of "Final Battle" when all outsiders, elves especially, will be expelled from their lands. O.H. expose their dead and then paint the bare bones with patterns. The patterns sum up the person's exploits and who they are or the patterns bind the soul to the bones in order to gain the ancestor's assistance/service. Supposedly, the O.H. worship, communicate, and receive assistance from their dead ancestors - including reanimating their dead. The O.H. are able to sense, track down, and kill magelords. The O.H. use their stone weapons for the killing strike against any magelord in order to imprison their souls. These souls are then tormented by O.H. ancestors for eternity. This animosity extends to wizards. Any wizard who violates O.H. interests is killed and his soul imprisoned by a special group of O.H. hunters. This group is known as "The White Hand".
Human Genetic Groups (Overviews)
Old Humans Dawntreaders Wanderers Aare Magelords Sea Father's Chosen Sea Wolves Ice People Horse Nomads