\section{Human}\label{human}

In the reckonings of most worlds, humans are the youngest of the common
races, late to arrive on the world scene and short-lived in comparison
to dwarves, elves, and dragons. Perhaps it is because of their shorter
lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they
are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder
races, and that's why they build their mighty empires on the foundation
of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are the innovators,
the achievers, and the pioneers of the worlds.

\subsection{A Broad Spectrum}\label{a-broad-spectrum}

With their penchant for migration and conquest, humans are more
physically diverse than other common races. There is no typical human.
An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over 6 feet tall and
weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Human skin shades range from nearly black
to very pale, and hair colors from black to blond (curly, kinky, or
straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. A lot
of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of elf, or c,
or other lineages. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely
live even a single century.

\subsection{Variety in All Things}\label{variety-in-all-things}

Humans are the most adaptable and ambitious people among the common
races. They have widely varying tastes, morals, and custom sin the many
different lands where they have settled. When they settle, though, they
stay: they build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that
can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a
relatively short lifespan, but a human nation or culture preserves
traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single hum an's
memory. They live fully in the present---m akin g them well suited to
the adventuring life---but also plan for the future, striving to leave a
lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable
opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political and social
dynamics.

\subsection{Everyone's Second-Best
Friends}\label{everyones-second-best-friends}

Just as readily as they mix with each other, humans mingle with members
of other races. They get along with almost everyone, though they might
not be close to many. Humans serve as ambassadors, diplomats,
magistrates, merchants, and functionaries of all kinds.

\textbf{Dwarves.} ``They're stout folk, stalwart friends, and true to
their word. Their greed for gold is their downfall, though.''

\textbf{Elves.} `` It's best not to wander into elven woods. They don't
like intruders, and you'll as likely be bewitched as peppered with
arrows. Still, if an elf can get past that damned racial pride and
actually treat you like an equal, you can learn a lot from them.''

\textbf{Halflings.}

``It's hard to beat a meal ina halfling home, as long as you don't crack
your head on the ceiling--- good food and good stories in front of a
nice, warm fire. If halflings had a shred of ambition, they might really
amount to something.''

\subsection{Lasting Institutions}\label{lasting-institutions}

Where a single elf or dwarf might take on the responsibility of guarding
a special location ora powerful secret, humans found sacred orders and
institutions for such purposes. While dwarf clans and halfling elders
pass on the ancient traditions to each new generation, human temples,
governments, libraries, and codes of law fix their traditions in the
bedrock of history. Humans dream of immortality, but (except for those
few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death's clutches)
they achieve it by ensuring that they will be remembered when they are
gone.

Although some humans can be xenophobic, in general their societies are
inclusive. Human lands welcome large numbers of nonhuman s compared to
the proportion of humans who live in nonhuman lands.

\subsection{Exemplars of Ambition}\label{exemplars-of-ambition}

Humans who seek adventure are the most daring and ambitious members of a
daring and ambitious race. They seek to earn glory in the eyes of their
fellows by amassing power, wealth, and fame. More than other people,
humans champion causes rather than territories or groups.

\subsection{Human Names and
Ethnicities}\label{human-names-and-ethnicities}

Having so much more variety than other cultures, humans as a whole have
no typical names. Some human parents give their children names from
other languages, such as Dwarvish or Elvish (pronounced more or less
correctly), but most parents give names that are linked to their region
's culture or to the naming traditions of their ancestors.

The material culture and physical characteristics of humans can change
wildly from region to region. In the Forgotten Realms, for example, the
clothing, architecture, cuisine, music, and literature are different in
the northwestern lands of the Silver Marches than in distant Turmish or
Impiltur to the east---and even more distinctive in far-offKara-Tur.
Human physical characteristics, though, vary according to the ancient
migrations of the earliest humans, so that the humans of the Silver
Marches have every possible variation of coloration and features.

In the Forgotten Realms, nine human ethnic groups are widely recognized,
though over a dozen others are found in more localized areas of Faerun.
These groups, and the typical names of their members, can be used as
inspiration no matter which world your human is in.

\subsubsection{Calishite}\label{calishite}

Shorter and slighter in build than most other humans, Calishites have
dusky brown skin, hair, and eyes. Th ey're found primarily in southwest
Faerun.

\textbf{Calishite Names:} (Male) Aseir, Bardeid, Haseid, K hem ed,
Mehmen, Sudeim an, Zasheir; (female) Atala, Ceidil, Ham a, Jasmal,
Meilil, Seipora, Yasheira, Zasheida; (surnames) Basha, D um ein, Jassan,
Khalid, Mostana, Pashar, Rein

\subsubsection{Chondathan}\label{chondathan}

Chondathans are slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair that ranges
from almost blond to almost black. Most are tall and have green or brown
eyes, but these traits are hardly universal. Humans of Chondathan
descent dominate the central lands of Faerun. around the Inner Sea.

\textbf{Chondathan Names:}

(Male) Darvin, Dorn, Evendur, Gorstag, Grim, Helm, Malark, Morn, Randal,
Stedd; (female) A rveene, Esvele, Jhessail, Kerri, Lureene, Miri, Row
an, Shandri, Tessele; (surnames) Am blecrown, Buckm an, Dundragon,
Evenwood, Greycastle, Tallstag

\subsubsection{Damaran}\label{damaran}

Found primarily in the northwest of Faerun, Damarans are of moderate
height and build, with skin hues ranging from tawny to fair. Their hair
is usually brown or black, and their eye color varies widely, though
brown is most common.

\textbf{Damaran Names:}

(Male) Bor, Fodel, Glar, Grigor, Igan, Ivor, Kosef, Mival, Orel, Pavel,
Sergor; (female) Alethra, Kara, Katernin, Mara, Natali, Olma, Tana,
Zora; (surnames) Bersk, Chernin, Dotsk, Kulenov, Marsk, N em etsk,
Shemov, Starag

\subsubsection{Illuskan}\label{illuskan}

Illuskans are tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or steely gray eyes.
Most have raven-black hair, but those who inhabit the extreme northwest
have blond, red, or light brown hair.

\textbf{Illuskan Names:} (Male) Ander, Blath, Bran, Frath, Geth, Lander,
Luth, Malcer, Stor, Taman, Urth; (female) Am afrey, Betha, Cefrey,
Kethra, Mara, Olga, Silifrey, Westra; (surnames) Brightwood, Helder,
Hornraven, Lackm an, Storm wind, Windrivver

\subsubsection{Mulan}\label{mulan}

Dominant in the eastern and southeastern shores of the Inner Sea, the
Mulan are generally tall, slim, and am ber-skinned, with eyes of hazel
or brown. Their hair ranges from black to dark brown, but in the lands
where theM ulan are most prominent, nobles and many other Mulan shave
off all their hair.

\textbf{Mulan Names:} (Male) Aoth, Bareris, Ehput-Ki, Kethoth, Mum ed,
Ram as, So-Kehur, Thazar-De, Urhur; (female) Arizim a, Chathi, Nephis,
Nulara, Murithi, Sefris, Thola, Umara, Zolis; (surnames) Ankhalab,
Anskuld, Fezim, Hahpet, Nathandem, Sepret, Uuthrakt

\subsubsection{Rashemi}\label{rashemi}

Most often found east of the Inner Sea and often intermingled with theM
ulan, Rash em is tend to be short, stout, and muscular. They usually
have dusky skin, dark eyes, and thick black hair.

\textbf{Rashemi Names:} (Male) Borivik, Faurgar, Jandar, Kanithar,
Madislak, Ralmevik, Shaum ar, Vladislak; (female) Fyevarra, Hulmarra,
Immith, Imzel, Navarra, Shevarra, Tam mith. Yuldra; (surnames) Chergoba,
Dyernina, Iltazyara, Murnyethara, Stayanoga, Ulmokina

\subsubsection{Shou}\label{shou}

The Shou are the most numerous and powerful ethnic group in Kara-Tur,
far to the east of Faerun. They are yellowish -bronze in hue, with black
hair and dark eyes. Sh ou surnames are usually presented before the
given name.

\textbf{Shou Names:} (Male) An, Chen, Chi, Fai, Jiang, Jun, Lian, Long,
M eng, On, Shan, Shui, Wen; (female) Bai, Chao, Jia, Lei, Mei, Qiao,
Shui, Tai; (surnames) Chien, Huang, Kao, Kung, Lao, Ling, Mei, Pin,
Shin, Sum, Tan, Wan

\subsubsection{Tethyrian}\label{tethyrian}

Widespread along the entire Sword Coast at the western edge of Faerun,
Tethyrians are of medium build and height, with dusky skin that tends to
grow fairer the farther north they dwell. Their hair and eye color
varies widely, but brown hair and blue eyes are the most common.
Tethyrians primarily use Chondathan names.

\subsubsection{Turami}\label{turami}

Native to the southern shore of the Inner Sea, the Turami people are
generally tall and muscular, with dark mahogany skin, curly black hair,
and dark eyes.

\textbf{Turami Names:}

(Male) Anton, Diero, Marcon, Pieron, Rim ardo, Romero, Salazar, Um bero;
(female) Balam a, Dona, Faila, Jalana, Luisa, Marta, Quara, Selise,
Vonda; (surnames) A gosto, A storio, Calabra, Domine, Falone, Marivaldi,
Pisacar, Ramondo

\subsection{Human Traits}\label{human-traits}

It's hard to make generalizations about humans, but your human character
has these traits.

\textbf{Ability Score Increase.} Your ability scores each increase by 1.

\textbf{Age.} Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less
than a century.

\textbf{Alignment.} Humans tend toward no particular alignment. The best
and the worst are found among them.

\textbf{Size.} Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5
feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that
range, your size is Medium.

\textbf{Speed.} Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

\textbf{Languages.} You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra
language of your choice. Humans typically learn the languages of other
peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of
sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc
curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so
on.

\subsection{Variant Human Traits}\label{variant-human-traits}

If your campaign uses the optional feat rules from chapter 5, your
Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of which replace
the human's Ability Score Increase trait.

\textbf{Ability Score Increase.} Two different ability scores of your
choice increase by 1.

\textbf{Skills.} You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

\textbf{Feat.} You gain one feat of your choice.