Humans are a young race whose exceptionally high birthrate allowed them to spread across Eo and become one of her most influential inhabitants.
Origins
Like the rest of the light races, the Humans descended from the Shapers after the latter went into hiding to avoid the wrath of the Dragons. Hidden away in the caves of the Windwall Mountains, these Shapers returned to barbarism, and over the following tens of thousands of years, they regressed into what would become known as the first humans.
Early Days
There may well have never been a human empire, nor the legends of the Dragon Slayers, if many millennia ago, a few dwarves had not set out from their home in Grimwarg to seek adventure in the distant peaks of the Windwall mountains. They had hoped to find good stone, valuable metals, and a new home, but found only barren rock and a few tribes of wild barbarians living in inhospitable caves in the frozen heights. And though these creatures appeared to the dwarves as weak and primitive – their lifespan was barely longer than that of most animals – they immediately recognised the willpower and lifeforce that had been instilled in these creatures. Impressed by the barbarians, the dwarves stayed and began to teach them of the world, the Gods, and the art of forging.
Never would those dwarves have thought that their actions might change the world forever. Greedily, the humans devoured their knowledge, learning each move and all the wisdom of their teachers, and this wisdom spread like wildfire. Soon, the first smith’s hammers began to ring in the Windwalls and formed the first of the great swords that were to become the human’s trademark. With these weapons, they descended from the mountains and took control of the plains, their numbers ever increasing. The Age of Swords had begun. Although the mighty dragons were the undisputed rulers of the Fiara, even their formidable might could not stop the humans’ advance. With lances and swords, they confronted the ancient lizards and accomplished the impossible, a feat that neither dwarf nor elf had managed: They drove back the dragons. With courage and creativity, they defeated one mighty dragon after another and filled the once-empty plains with villages and cities.
With their victory over the ancient rulers of Fiara began the rise of the humans, a race that was both good and evil, courageous and cowardly, strong and yet weak, the strangest and most varied of all races of this world. And with their rise came cities, trade, money, and war.
Hybernian Empire
After they had emerged from their caves, the Humans soon established their first great empire, united by Chlerus, the Blessed - the Hybernian Empire. Founded roughly around the year 950 before the convocation, it spread across Fiara, eventually reaching the faraway continent of Xu. The Hybernians and their famed dragon hunters were those who ultimately managed to drive away the dragons and secure superiority across most regions on Eo. This, however, brought them a fair deal of animosity, especially from the Elves against whom they fought numerous skirmishes during this time.
Its seat was in the city of Ankbrand, located in Nortander.
War of the Six Races
In an attempt to free the Renegades, the dark races, created by Zarach in his Bone Temple, emerged from the Black Jungle, beginning their line of skirmishes against the races of the light. Though the humans were successful at halting their advance, the tides of battle shifted when hostile forces, now led by the Fial Darg, landed on the shores of Fiara, marking the start of the War of the Six Races.
Though allied with the Elves and Dwarves, their forces were pushed back, eventually resulting in the Hybernian Empire splitting apart into the kingdoms of Nortander and the Highmark on Fiara, and Empyria on Xu.
The 150-year-long war was ultimately decided in their favour with the intervention of the Guardians.
Religion
Human lives are short compared to many of Eo's other races, thus they often turn to religion. They are primarily devoted to Aonir and the Guardian Tiara, though, multicultured as they are, some devoted themselves to the worship of other deities, both good and evil.
Culture
As the most widespread people of Eo, humans sport a rich and varied culture that often changes from region to region. Lead by both kings, nobles, and emperors, as well as being influenced by the environment they reside in, theirs is by far the most diverse culture among the inhabitants of this world.
Humans excell in many different crafts, from magic to crafting and building, making them very adaptable.