The Humans of Verdant - Race Artwork Overview

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Race Profile – Humans

Humans are the dominant race in this world. Culturally diverse, they come in an array of skin tones and speak many languages. They prefer the security of towns and cities to the open wilderness and put much store in the safety of civilization. That being said, their ability to cooperate has made them a force to contend with. Humans are adept at increasing their numbers, expanding their reach across vast swaths of land to create a nation which can be governed. However, they are weak to extreme environments, requiring them to find inventive ways to survive. One might think the desert to be an insurmountable obstacle for such a thin-skinned race. Yet it is here in Verdant that the women of their race have prospered and founded a grand nation.  

Rulers & Government  

The head of the nation of Verdant is its Queen. Descended from a long, and unbroken line of nearly fifteen hundred years, she is the unquestioned ruler of her dominion. While a Queen may have several children, the only proposed heirs are from among her daughters. Succession is not determined by birth order, the Queen must select from among the princesses as to who will rise to the throne. It is a hotly contested title, but as of yet, there have been no major schisms. Under the Queen are the Five Houses, each one overseeing a vital aspect of Verdant's infrastructure. They are the House of War, the House of Agriculture, the House of Faith, the House of Trade & the House of Thralls. In all but one instance, the heads of the houses are selected from among the princesses and nobles of the Queen's hall. The head of the House of Thralls is selected from among the thralls themselves by the Queen herself. Each House has an immense responsibility to delegate, and it is essential for them to function like the limbs of a body for the stability of Verdant as a whole.  

Allies & Enemies  

A nation does not effectively prosper without allies at its back. While the people of Verdant may have carved a niche for themselves seemingly out of nothing, they do not continue to do so alone. Many generations ago, the Minotaur people came from far across the ocean. Refugees from a terrible blight, they were welcomed and offered sanctuary by the humans. The partnership prospered mostly due to their seemingly infinite knowledge of agriculture. This has allowed for sustainability within the cities, and the Minotaurs are a vital part of Verdant society. The nomadic Gabelins remain consistent and effective trade partners, bringing unusual goods of their own design to the Verdant cities. Though trust in a general sense, there is some distance kept, as Gabelins don't like to be behind walls, and humans have a tendency to mistrust any species said to eat their dead. Orcs remain an unwanted race to the majority of Verdant's people, but nonetheless, they have been seen as a regular presence within the capital city. The foreign Vadels have become an increasingly interesting group, as they seem to want nothing more than the experience of adventuring through Verdant's lands. As they seem to offer no harm, they are largely tolerated due to their willingness to spend the coin on everything they deem interesting. The Yenya are widely despised as viscous bandits and untrustworthy as a whole. It is rare to find them anywhere near a city, and for good reason. Most city guards will shoot them on sight. 

Religion & Belief    

Given the diversity and age of Verdant, there are many different religions within its nation, even when limiting the spectrum to only the human population. However, the chief religion of Verdant's people is Tiamatian, or the worship of the Goddess/Queen Tiamati. Believed to have sacrificed herself to ensure fertility in the desert wasteland, the expanse of Verdant proper is thought to be where her body lay and decayed. The oasis cities are said to be where her blood splattered, allowing for them to thrive. The line of succession is thought to be sacred, though not quite divine, as all are said to share in her bloodline. Their religion includes sacrificial offerings (animals), pilgrimage, and adherence to the line of Queens. Most Verdant homes have a small shrine with a statue of Tiamati. Little offerings are made of rice, wine, honey, and oil. Along with Tiamati herself, the four Crystal Queens of Verdant are sometimes identified as goddesses, thought to be able to carry the words of worshipers to her directly. However, they can only be spoken to at their crypts, where the Bearers look after their calcified corpses.

Citizen, Resident, Thrall & Exile  

Humans put much store in noting who belongs to their people and who does not. Those in Verdant set themselves apart by three main categories; Citizen, Resident & Thrall.

Citizens are those who have either elected to serve in the military for a term of no less than ten years or those who have endured the Trial in the Red Wastes. They are considered to have proven themselves to have the mettle to uphold Verdant's standards of honor and duty and are thus recognized as Citizens. This includes many privileges, such as; ability to own property, maintain a business, marry, and keep thralls. In some special cases, those who have performed “Services to Queen & Country” may be awarded Citizenship, but it is by and large a rare case. In the vast majority of circumstances, only women have earned the privilege of becoming a Citizen, maintaining Verdant's matriarchal status quo. 

A Resident is anyone within Verdant who lives there, or maintains some manner of residence, but has not undergone the necessary steps in order to gain Citizenship. While they are still entitled to the protection of Verdant and access to its bounty, they are denied such things as property rights, marriage, and the ability to rise in status. Any Resident of Verdant may undertake either the Oath of Service in the military or attempt the Trials, so long as they are over the age of sixteen. Though most wait until eighteen or older. 

A Thrall is anyone who has incurred a debt to society within the Verdant nation. While crimes for those under the age of eighteen (or amounting to less than 20 gold) are generally handled by paying off the debt, more severe and costly crimes are dealt with in the manner of thralldom. The perpetrator will be given a sentence which puts them as an indentured servant to Verdant for a length of time. Once fulfilled, they will be allowed to return to their former lives. Thralls are identified by having their hair shorn on one side, making their status obvious during their service. Once they are freed, they are permitted to regrow their hair.    

In some of the most heinous cases, the perpetrator is given a choice between thralldom or exile. Exile's are denied any of Verdant's right or privileges under law. They are banned from entering any city, or seeking help from any member of Verdant. If this were not enough, exile's may be killed by anyone without fear of repercussion under law, assuming that the harsh environment of Verdant's desert does not kill them first. The hardy and cunning may survive long enough to make it to the Red Wastes, but that is the path sought by those who are merely looking for a chance to die. 

Family & Marriage

Homes in Verdant are often full, and vivid places. Families do not move out, they simply make the residence larger. This allows for multi-generational households, with everything from great grandparents to newborns within the same household. Sometimes, you will find both sides of the family together in one house. Given the stance of women in society, the woman who owns the property has final say in what occurs within it. Deference is given to older members of the household, but it is clearly the women who hold the decision making power. 

Given the structure of Verdant society, the laws regarding marriage can be quite complicated. Usually arranged by the families and arbitrated for political and status advantage, Verdant allows for Citizens to marry Residents, provided that the Citizen is acknowledged as the head of the household in all matters. Thralls being under servitude, cannot be married, as it would violate their laws of consent. Same-sex marriage is recognized as entirely legitimate. It is in many ways the preferred method for entering into matrimony, especially for a first marriage. Children are procured in the usual method, but for those in a same-sex household, a surrogate may be found to accommodate. As many marriages are arranged, the surrogate may be their love match and is welcomed into the household. However Verdant law forbids more than three in such arrangements, and of course, by default, any children are considered the property of whoever has Citizenship status. 

Children are considered sacrosanct, and often spoiled rotten during their early years regardless of gender. As life in Verdant can be harsh, a child is not named until they have lived for sixty days, at which point (depending upon personal belief) they are taken to the temples to be named and have sacrifices made for their future. Preparing them for their future places in society does not begin to occur until around age three. Most parents in Verdant have a strong desire to see their daughters succeed, and they are geared early on to reach for Citizenship if at all possible.