Cultures
Race isn't everything; people tend to flock together by many other factors, including shared language, origin, or creed. The race of Man, in particular, seems keen on this idea; there are a great many cultures and ethnicities of Man, most of which are far older than today's nations, and more meaningful.
The Race of Man
There are three major culture groups of Man: Tirrith-Ascadian, Ahrimid, and Juni. This essential split marks a divergence of the migratory patterns of Man going all the way back to his original arrival in Tellandor, over eight thousand years ago.
By now, of course, those major groups have long since diverged within themselves, yielding a larger array of minor cultural groups. These so-called "minor" groups are quite distinct; each culture has its own values, customs, and shared history, transcending boundaries of nationality and even language.
A working map of all cultures of Man:
Culture | Personality | Physical Traits | Origin | Language | Age |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tirrith-Ascadian group | |||||
~ Ascadian |
cultured, metropolitan, technologically advanced |
olive skin, fair hair, bright eyes | The Ascade | Ascadian |
8000+ years |
~ Tirrith |
pioneering, industrious, agrarian |
pale skin, red/brown hair, green eyes | Old Tirnor | Tirsh |
8000+ years |
~ Dennic |
resourceful, crafty, thoughtful |
pale skin, dark hair, dark eyes | Old Dennoth | Dennic |
6500 years |
~ Uldennic |
haughty, staid, willful |
light bronze skin, black hair, blue eyes | Uldenor | Uldennic |
5000 years |
~ Obrith |
devout, honest, severe |
lighter skin, variable hair and eyes | Oathkeep | Obrin |
1196 years |
Ahrimid group | |||||
~ Ahrimin |
nomadic, tribal, reclusive |
dark brown skin, black hair, blue eyes | The Zaraqhar | Karse |
7000+ years |
~ Sailleen |
metropolitan, enterprising, excessive |
medium brown skin, dark hair, blue or brown eyes | Saillonne | Sailleen |
3500+ years |
Juni group | |||||
~ Hin |
storied, independent, well-traveled |
light bronze skin, black hair, dark eyes | Junean Holds | Hinjo |
8000+ years |
~ Turg |
storied, independent, well-traveled |
light bronze skin, black hair, dark eyes | Junean Holds | Hinjo |
8000+ years |
~ Tong |
reclusive, mystical, reverent |
bronze skin, black hair, dark eyes | Tatung | Tongyuk |
Dev Notes
Three major groups:
- Eastern/KotS/Tirrith-Ascadi-Uldennic
- Southern/Ahrimid
- Juni
Eastern
The boats came from the east. They probably diverged before landing. The initial landings were in Ascadia and Tirnor.
Ascadians:
- The original Ascadian civilization rose and fell long before modern Ascadia.
- The Avilan civilization was a backwater when the true Ascadian civilization fell, but they've since laid claim to their legacy.
Tirrith:
- The Tirrith people landed on the shores of Tirnor. Their experience was largely differentiated from the Ascadians by the presence of other races, chiefly the elves.
- Expansion was mostly limited to the River Arodh (the mouth of which is currently guarded by Tir Garod) and its tributaries. Delving deeply into the forest was a great way to get sniped by elves. This phenomenon led to the original name for the race of Man in elvish: ''quel amon'n'', "people of the rivers" which devolved into the word "Man". Funny how that works.
- In the Age of Legends, the time before the Druids began to record history (prior to c.3500 BGC), there arose a great warrior: Daen, or Dane, or Dunn, depending on your language of preference. Per legend, he led a mighty host to the hills that would become Dennoth, in the first major seizure of deep lands from the elves.
- He and his descendants would rule a mighty kingdom before falling to internecine conflict, probably due to elvish influence.
- These legends, curiously enough, speak of human-elvish cross-breeding as if it were possible. The kings of Daen Orth were famously elf-blooded, living exceptionally long lives, though ever plagued by elvish magicks and curses.
- Once the hills were conquered, the fertile lands of Gallurth lay open to mankind. Bit by bit, the lands were lost
So the real question is: did the people of the Godhand get there in their own ships, or did they migrate across land? Or were they moved there? Hmm.