Races

Humans of Imarel and Ishaela - by T.A. Saunders ©2009 v1.7

Racial Articles Humans on Imarel

Things were generally pretty quiet for Humankind, up until the War of the Eternals. Between the arrival of Humans and Elves on Imarel in 4499 BF and the start of the war on 202 BF there is roughly four thousand years of human development the comes to pass before the war sweeps across Imarel. Once more, Elves instruct Humans in all manner of civil development and a few artisans of Humankind manage to survive the slaughter on distant Ishaela as well, bringing with them the knowledge of Dwarvish Rune-Forging, engineering (including knowledge of black powder) and perhaps most feared, magic.

Since it becomes clear that the Elves cannot stop the Humans from practicing magic, they spend a great deal of time educating them of the dangers of magic, having the example of Ishaela to direct them to whenever a question of power is brought forth. It is not long before the greatest Elvish spell-casters are joined by Human peers.

During the War of Eternals, the Humans were largely left alone, mistaken as simply pets to the Elves, or possibly slaves. Having no real value, other than entertainment for the songs they could sing or the eye-pleasing dancing they partook in, the Shar`Vaire considered them curiosities at best.

But the Humans were clever as a people and as they grew in understanding of the world helped as best they could their Elvish saviors in many secretive ways. Since the Shar`Vaire never stormed their cities in force, Elvish refuges were hidden there, often in the basements of households or in the wine cellars of taverns. Whenever a Shar`Vaire troop passed through their cities during this time, they never bothered to look, confident that the Humans would not possibly dare involve themselves in what was deemed a conflict beyond their reckoning.

As the war drew to a conclusion and as such their debt of salvation to the Moon Elves paid, the Humans allowed them to stay within their cities as equals, just as the Sivanoshei had many centuries ago when both peoples fled dying Ishaela. Many Humans took up the study of advanced sorcery, witchcraft and druidism from the Elves at this time, feeling the lessons of the past war meant it was time to grow in strength as a society.

Still others listened to the words of Quar`Vess missionaries; the scant few that still held true to the edicts of the Old Gods, Zorah and Kaal. These humans went on to become priests and paladins, many of which in turn founded the city of Windsong some years later. Others would end up setting in Farwind and learn from the Quar`Vess in other subjects and reveled in the previously unfound lore of their new home on Imarel.

Though missionaries had established a temple of Kaal in the city of Sundown when it was founded and drew a great many worshipers, the local government's policy on religion did not give it the chance to prosper as it did in other cities. This drove many Humans who lost their faith or grew jealous of the power of the Shar`Vaire or the Quar`Vess or even the Elves themselves to begin taking part in demon and devil worship, in hopes of unlocking the ancient secrets the Shar`Vaire keep.