Human

Humans are one of the oldest and most widespread races in the Shire, existing alongside Humans, Enderians, Acadians, Laurelians, and Enpeecees as one of the six founding races of the world. Known for their versatility, ambition, and relentless curiosity, humans have been central to the development of nearly every major region of the Shire—culturally, politically, and technologically.

Origins and Early History

The exact origins of humans in the Shire remain the subject of scholarly debate, but most archaeologists agree that early human evolution began tens of millions of years before present time. Fossil and artifact evidence suggests that the ancestral homeland of humanity lies in the region between modern-day Lamename Village and Equos, a biodiverse and temperate area that offered early hominins access to fresh water, sheltering hills, and abundant resources.

Stone tools and cave markings found beneath present-day Equos suggest organized hunting and rudimentary spiritual practices were underway as early as 2.3 million years ago. By 750,000 years before present, early human communities had begun constructing semi-permanent dwellings, and by 100,000 years ago, humans had spread across much of the central continent, adapting to deserts, tundras, forests, and coastlines with ease.

Civilization and Expansion

Humans were among the first races to develop complex agricultural societies and large-scale settlements. One of the earliest known city-states was founded on the site of what is now Mainland, the oldest and most influential human-founded city in the Shire. Mainland quickly grew into a nexus of trade, diplomacy, and governance, eventually becoming the de facto cultural and political heart of the human world.

Unlike other races that remained somewhat regionalized, humans were highly migratory and expansionist. Their ability to form cooperative societies, adapt quickly, and record knowledge allowed them to settle in almost every corner of the Shire. From the icy peaks of Athitica to the humid lowlands of Oldeshire, human cities, towns, and enclaves sprang up and evolved.

Physiology and Diversity

Humans display an exceptionally wide range of physical features, including various skin tones, hair types, and body builds. This biological diversity has only increased as humans spread and intermarried across regions and with other races.

Though less physically robust than some other races, humans are known for their dexterity, adaptability, and problem-solving capabilities. Their brains are proportionally larger in areas associated with abstract reasoning, language, and emotional nuance.

Sex and gender in human society have historically been binary in recognition, though many human cultures—especially in more cosmopolitan centers like Mainland and New Orange City—have long accepted and celebrated gender diversity, with legal and cultural recognition of nonbinary and transgender individuals being commonplace today.

Language and Culture

Human language systems are complex and varied. The most widely spoken language in the Shire, Common English, has its roots in human dialects but has since absorbed influences from Sammichian, Enderian, and Acadian tongues.

Human culture is extraordinarily diverse and regionally specific. Still, some common threads exist: the valuing of innovation, storytelling, and legacy. Humans are responsible for some of the Shire’s most important literary and historical texts, as well as architectural styles that span everything from grand imperial palaces to minimalist woodland villages.

Societies and Governance

Human societies range from democratic republics to autocratic monarchies, anarchist communes to sprawling bureaucracies. Mainland, long considered the greatest human achievement in terms of planning, diversity, and influence, remains a political powerhouse and a cultural hub. Other cities such as New Orange City, while multi-racial in composition, were also largely built and governed by humans, particularly during their formative periods.

Human governments are often known for their dynamism. Laws, ideologies, and leadership can shift rapidly in response to social movements, economic pressures, or moral reckoning. This flexibility has helped humans adapt to crises but has also led to instability in certain regions.

Relationships with Other Races

Human history is deeply interwoven with that of the other races. Their relationship with Sammichians has been both fraught and fruitful. The early Sammichian-Human conflicts, primarily economic in origin, left scars, but centuries of cultural exchange, diplomacy, and hybrid communities have largely healed old wounds.

Humans also maintain close ties with Acadian and Laurelians populations in several parts of the world. Mixed-race families and collaborative ventures—particularly in academia, exploration, and politics—are common. Although some factions within human society have historically resisted integration or cooperation, modern times reflect a more inclusive and collaborative outlook overall.

Psychology

Human psychology is marked by a strong sense of individuality, social bonding, and forward-thinking. They are capable of both great empathy and great destruction, depending on the pressures of circumstance. Their adaptability is their hallmark—not just biologically, but emotionally and culturally as well.

Curiosity, ambition, and a desire to leave a mark on the world are consistent motivators. This has led humans to spearhead both world-shaping projects and devastating wars. They are problem-solvers, storytellers, and reformers at heart.

Notable Humans

0031benjy – Founder of Brumley and Arbiter of the Shire. Revered for his integrity and vision.

Rapidracoon808 – Founder of Ravenholm and the original Explorers’ Guild.

Ctshiner – Shire Founder and legendary tunnel-builder whose work lies beneath modern New Brumley.

Spaicol – One of the most accomplished human builders and renovators, responsible for revitalizing dozens of sites.

Smoot – Chief Architect of many landmark projects in the Shire

Legacy

Humans are considered the "storytellers of the Shire"—a race that records, builds, and imagines futures with unmatched zeal. Their cities, innovations, and political institutions have shaped nearly every corner of the world. While not without faults or failings, humans remain one of the most influential and widely respected races across the Shire, defined not by any single characteristic but by their infinite potential to grow, change, and leave something behind.