Adventures in Arcadayn
Human Races of Arcadayn
By Tim Emrick


The Pilgrims who fled Yand during the Deluge were scattered in many directions. At least three groups are thought to have reached the continent of Lusion. Two of these disembarked near the Landrings, while the third [the Fodal] continued north (losing contact soon after). The Tordul, a dark-skinned race, settled the sunny southern coasts, while the fair-skinned Anidel explored the central plateau which they named "Arcadayn."

Contact between the two races continued until the Cataclysm struck Arcadayn, which resulted in the sinking of the plateau's interior. The creation of the Great Sea broke the Anidel men into three major groups: the North, East and South Anidel men:

North Anidel men are the ancestors of the modern-day Northlanders and Haldin, and were the original settlers of the Bogmoors. They are tall (+3" average height) with blue or gray eyes and blond hair (with red and brown hair possible but rare).

East Anidel men are the direct ancestors of the Dalemen. They are tallish (+1" average height) with blue or green (or rarely, hazel) eyes and red or blond hair.

South Anidel men are the ancestors of the modern-day Krithians. They are average height with brown or gray (rarely amber) eyes and brown or black (rarely blond) hair.

Hybrids of these three ancient groups became common as Arcadayn was more thoroughly settled:

Visalans are a mixture of East and South Anidel, as is the later colony of Riversmidst. These two nations may be any combination of their two stocks' coloring.

The Bogmoors were first settled by North Anidel men, then by East Anidel. In addition, Unseelie sidhe interbred with the humans. The resulting people have fair to light brown skin, brown, black or gray eyes (sometimes green), and brown or black hair which turns gray early in adulthood.

Haldinibar, the Storm Isles and the Fey Isles have humans who are of North Anidel stock, but are of average height. The Haldin have interbred with sidhe enough that violet eyes and silver hair are no longer rare, though most still favor Northlander colors. Albinos are more common in Haldinibar than any other Arcadayn region.

The Desert Men are a race of Tordel men who entered Arcadayn after the Cataclysm. They are short and lean (-1" average height, -10 lbs. average weight), with brown skins, brown or black hair and brown or black eyes. In Westmarch, Desert Men and Krithians have sometimes interbred, producing children with light to medium brown skin and dark hair and eyes. A few of these hybrids have unusual coloring--red hair, amber or blue eyes, etc.--but these are very rare.

Outlanders: Little is known of the men who live outside Arcadayn. There are only two groups which can be described with any accuracy:

The Sakani are northern Outlanders who live beyond the Twin Passes. They have light brown skin (approaching golden), black hair, brown or gray eyes, and sharp, angular features. Small groups of Sakani occasionally enter Visala and Riversmidst without being slaughtered, and a hardy few find refuge in the Bogmoors.

Descriptions of the natives of Tembar (Ongrica) can be found in Krithian records dating to the Civil War or earlier. Men of Tembar were stocky and hairy, with light brown skin and dark hair. No pureblooded natives have been seen since the Civil War, but some Krithian bloodlines are more swarthy and hirsute than pure-Anidel men.


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This page last updated 11/5/2003 by Timothy E. Emrick. | Copyright 1998-2003 Timothy E. Emrick.