Chronicles of Astravara

Where gods whisper and empires rot.

The Flame-Born – Sons of the First Light

“Of all the peoples of Astravara, none burn so fiercely, nor fall so easily.”
— Inquisitor Markus of Eldoria

Overview

The Humans of Astravara are among the youngest of the world’s thinking races, yet they have risen with a speed that unsettles gods and kings alike. Gifted with adaptability, driven by ambition, and bound by fleeting lifespans, they are both architects of wonders and harbingers of ruin.

Unlike the ancient bloodlines of elves or dwarves, humans do not share a unified cultural origin. Instead, they splintered early into kingdoms, tribes, and empires—each marked by its own creed, deity, and ambition. Despite this, most humans revere Elyonel, the Firstborn God, whose blazing light is said to have shaped the very sky under which they walk.

In the Age of Ash and Flame, human kingdoms were both victims and perpetrators—devastated by The Daemon War, yet also responsible for desecrations that fractured the unity of the free races. Today, their alliances are fragile, their borders ever-shifting, and their souls weighed by dreams of redemption or conquest.

Physiology

Human anatomy is as diverse as the lands they inhabit. They range in skin tone from ivory to obsidian, with eyes and hair that reflect both environment and lineage. They are physically outmatched by orcs in brute strength, and outlived by elves and halflings, yet their capacity to adapt to any climate, custom, or conflict gives them an advantage no other race truly understands.

Average lifespan:
– 60–80 years naturally
– Up to 130–210 with divine blessings or magical augmentation.

Culture and Kingdoms

Human civilization is defined by its plurality. No single culture reigns supreme, and each region offers a distinct view of what it means to be mortal:

Eldoria – Heartland of knighthood and theocratic power. Birthplace of the Sacred Inquisition, home to vast cathedrals and battle-priests. Known for honor, guilt, and fire-forged law.
Norvhar – The Frozen North. A land of hard-earned survival, stoic fisher-lords, and blood-feuds sealed in ice. Valor is proven in silence and sacrifice.
Caltheron – Coastal empire of silver sails and storm-fortresses. A melting pot of merchants, navies, and forbidden pacts. Few lands better embody both brilliance and decay.
Sylvaran – Woodland borderlands shared uneasily with the Elves. Its humans live humbly, seeking harmony with nature, yet stand watchful over the trees’ ancient secrets.
Rakkesh – The Great Red Desert. Scorching sands, sapphire caravans, and a culture of mystics and sandborn warriors. Nomadic tribes here speak of gods older than light.

While some human cultures embrace science, others cling to prophecy or sorcery. Many wield technology inherited from dwarves, while others burn what they do not understand. No race is so contradictory, nor so fiercely divided within itself.

Religion and the Sacred Flame

Nearly all humans—across kingdoms—acknowledge Elyonel, the Firstborn God. To them, he is the light that rose before dawn, the forger of heavens and mountains, and the sword that defies darkness.

Temples of Elyonel rise like monoliths of fire and glass. In Eldoria especially, they function as both church and court. His doctrine praises justice, perseverance, and sacrifice, and many inquisitors and knights carry his symbol: the Sunbound Flame.

Yet, not all humans follow him. In distant corners of the world, cults to other gods rise. Even daemon worship festers in desperate hearts—proof that no race is more vulnerable to temptation and redemption than humankind.

Strengths and Shadows

Adaptability is the gift of the flame. Humans can master foreign magics, absorb alien cultures, or build empires in hostile lands. Their short lives push them to act quickly—often too quickly.

But the flame consumes.
Human ambition is infamous. Entire cities have fallen to mortal arrogance, and wars sparked by one man’s pride have reshaped the continent. Their memory is short, but their will is long.

Some races revere them.
Some pity them.
Many fear what they might become.

“Give a human a hammer, and he’ll build a temple.
Give him a sword, and he’ll crown himself god.”
— Drellari Proverb