Humans
Humans on Gaia are the largest and most prolific of all its peoples, and they can be found in
any environment, from the glaciers of the south to the deserts of the north. Human societies
vary from group to group, and country to country. Human males are, on average, 5'10" to 6' in
height, with females being approximately 6" shorter. Humans live around 120 years, although
their are often cut short by wars and other strife.
It should be noted that most humans on Epihellas do not belong to just one subgroup, due to their
prediliction for intermarriage.
Helleni
The Helleni were the first group of humans to achieve civilization. Their city-states arose in
the eastern portion of epihellas approximately 4,000 years before the cataclysm. Internecine
kept them from consolidating for over 1,200 years, when three large empires emerged. It was in
this era that the first modern studies of magical phenomena were undertaken. The Helleni traded
with neighboring demi-human cultures, although there was never any large-scale interaction. The
last of the large Hellenic empires fell approximately 500 years before the cataclysm, and the
current state of affairs is unknown.
Helleni have brown hair and blue or green eyes. Their skin color ranges from pale to light tan.
Ethnic Helleni are practically unknown in the west, almost all of which have intermarried in the
2,000 years.
Romani
The Romani were originally composed of seven large tribes that lived on the eastern portion of the
plains of Thracia (now covered with water). The Romani adapted the Hellenic civilization to their
own needs, and approximately 2,000 years before the cataclysm, forged a large republic centered on
the city of Latinium. The republic grew in power, and absorbed many smaller nations, both human and
demi-human. Several civil wars resulted in the republic turning into an empire, around 1,500 years
before the cataclysm. Several dynasties ruled the empire with varying degrees of success until around
800 B.C.E., when the empire broke into seven large states and many smaller ones.
Romani have brown hair, and brown eyes. Their skin color ranges from pale to light tan. Ethnic Romani
are uncommon in the west, although the countries on the northeastern coast of Midland are predominantly
Romani.
Avanni
The Avanni are originally from the area west of the Worldspine mountains. They achieved civilization
around the same time that the Romani did. Trade with the Romani and transmontane travel began around
1,300 years ago. Two hundred years later, the host of smaller nations of the Avanni had become a dozen
large ones, which fought several wars between each other and, much more rarely, with the Latinian empire
of the Romani.
Avanni have brown or black hair, and brown or purple eyes. Their skin color ranges from light brown to
dark brown. Ethnic Avanni are common in the west.
Sudhommen
The Sudhommen originated in the Maarkanland. Sudhommen are tribal, and many still remain
in a state of tribal culture, although those living near what is now Midland adopted 'modern'
civilization around 1,000 B.C.E. Both the Avanni and the Romani considered the tribes of the
Sudhommen to be barbarians, and many wars were fought over land or for retribution. These wars
quieted down around the time of the breakup of the Latinian empire.
Sudhommen have blond or red hair, and blue or green eyes. Their skin color is usually pale, although
some have light tan skin. Sudhommen are uncommon in the north and middle west, but are common in the
Maarkanland.
Chuctetlans
The Chuctetlan people arose in the northwest on Epihellas, and their civilization arose around 2,500
B.C.E.. Sometime prior to 1,900 years ago, their great civilization collapsed, leaving many ruined
cities. It is not known why this happened, but after the fall, groups moved south, to become absorbed
into the Avanni people, or began a tribal existence. Prior to the arrival of the Nihonjin, those
who remained were fairly isolated from the rest of humanity. However, now they are being pushed back by the
armies of the Nihonjin, and their Shoguns, or 'Barbarian defeating generals'.
Chuctetlans have black hair, and brown or green eyes. Their skin color is dark tan. Ethnic Chuctetlans
are common in the jungle islands of the northwest, but are rare elsewhere.
El'Farsi
The El'Farsi are a refugee people from the Northern Continent. A mass migration that began during the
war that led up to the cataclysm dispersed this people all over the world. The majority settled in what
is now northern Midland and Al'Qadar. A second, smaller diaspora took place when the Great Northern
Deserts began to consume Al'Qadar. El'Farsi have integrated themselves into the societies of northern
Epihellas, although some have settled as far south as northern Maarkanland.
El'Farsi have brown or black hair, and brown or blue eyes. Their skin color is light tan. El'Farsi are
common in the north, uncommon everywhere else in the west.
Nihonjin
The people calling themselves Nihonjin arrived at Epihellas around the year 300 C.E.. From the few that
have said anything about their origins, it is said that they arrived from the west. In any event, several
small empires in the northwest have been established. They have begun a systematic campaign of expansion,
at the expense of local Chuctetlans. From the few observations of them that have been recorded, it is said
that their culture is extremely regimented and that there are many subtle nuances that few outsiders understand.
Nihonjin have dark brown or black hair and brown eyes. Their skin color ranges from light tan to dark tan.
Nihonjin are uncommon in the northwest and are very rare elsewhere.
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