Humans are a widely dispersed sapient species whose ancestral homeworld was Neipas. The destruction of their early interstellar civilization scattered surviving populations among distant worlds. Their descendants now include advanced interstellar powers, isolated planetary societies and communities living among other species. Helios and Arcendas are major human successor civilizations, with separate histories, languages and political interests.
Humans are warm-blooded placental mammals with an upright, bipedal body plan. They have two arms ending in five-digit hands with opposable thumbs, two legs with plantigrade feet, and relatively sparse body hair. Scalp hair, facial hair, skin pigmentation, eye colour, facial structure and adult build vary substantially among individuals and populations.
Human physiology supports an omnivorous diet. Food, drinking water, sleep, temperature regulation and protection from disease remain necessary throughout life, including aboard spacecraft and in artificial habitats. Clothing, shelter and technology allow human communities to inhabit a wide range of environments while their bodies retain these requirements.
Human development includes a prolonged childhood during which language, practical skills and social knowledge are learned. Male and female bodies overlap broadly in size and physical ability, with males occupying the highest natural limits of absolute muscular strength. Ancestry, nutrition, health, training and individual variation all influence a person’s physical capabilities.
In technologically advanced ICSS member states, humans have an average lifespan of approximately 250 Cycles. Elites with access to exceptional medical care sometimes live several times that long. The longest recorded human life lasted 935 Cycles.
Neipas was humanity’s homeworld when humans fought a catastrophic interstellar war against Erynar, the interstellar faction of the Erynari, whose homeworld is Eryn. Both sides inflicted immense damage and committed atrocities. A biological weapon deployed by Erynar devastated Neipas and brought down its advanced civilization. The wider war ended without a decisive victor, and the resulting ceasefire remains in force.
Neipas is now a dead world. The Izhketh expanded into the region as the humans retreated, and the Neipas System lies within present-day Izhketh territory in the Carina-Sagittarius Arm.
As Neipas collapsed, human authorities launched enormous ark-ships carrying sleeping passengers, genetic stores, biological records, technical archives and automated colonial equipment. The effort took place under the threat of extinction, leaving little time for careful destination surveys. Many vessels were sent toward stars considered broadly capable of supporting life.
Most arks failed. Some never reached their destinations; others found unsuitable worlds or arrived too damaged to establish a viable colony. Successful settlements followed markedly different histories. Some survived, rebuilt their industries and eventually regained interstellar capabilities. Others remained isolated from the wider human diaspora. The survival of human populations therefore did not guarantee the survival of their former technology, institutions or historical knowledge.
Helios occupies the Cygnus Spur of the Sagittarius Arm. Its strategic sphere includes the Protectorate of Kelmar, the self-governing home-system state of the Mahruni. The protectorate retains its domestic government and law, supplying military service in return for Helios protection, interstellar transport and gate-network access.
Arcendas and Helios developed independently during thousands of Cycles without contact. Their separation produced distinct languages, traditions and interests. Izhketh territory and other unfriendly states lie between them. The two human powers maintain a neutral relationship, and neither sees sufficient advantage in political unification.
Human ancestry does not confer common citizenship or political allegiance. Interstellar relations are conducted by states and their institutions, and human governments can hold different interests despite their shared origins.
Human languages and cultures developed along the separate histories of their communities. A common biological origin does not supply a common native language, religion or form of government. Local institutions, inherited traditions and contact with other peoples shape how human societies understand themselves.
Humans created Concord specifically for communication among different species. It serves as the common interstellar auxiliary language and the official language of the Interstellar Community of Sovereign States (ICSS). Its spoken, signed and written forms accommodate different anatomies and sensory capacities. Concord exists alongside the native languages of human and non-human societies.
Earth is a surviving human world descended from the ark-seeding program. Its societies remain below the threshold of practical interstellar travel. The planet is known to the interstellar community and protected by the Giza Conventions, whose restrictions allow its inhabitants to develop without overt external manipulation. Advanced human societies are among the civilizations that study Earth under this non-interference regime.
The ICSS’s protection of primitive and uncontacted populations applies regardless of whether their ancestors evolved on the inhabited world or arrived from elsewhere. A human population’s ancient interstellar ancestry therefore does not remove the protections applicable to its present circumstances.
Humans have no universal inborn magical ability. Some are born Void-Touched, while rare survivors of major Void exposure acquire that sensitivity later in life. A Gift or Burden is one possible manifestation of Void exposure; sensitivity can also exist without either. Learned High Magic requires this eligibility and training. Possession of an individual Gift does not itself confer general control over spellcasting.
Sanguiri are living humans whose physiology has been altered by a blood-borne parvovirus. They occur throughout the galaxy wherever human populations can sustain their blood requirements. Many interstellar societies treat Sanguirism as a medical condition, allowing Sanguiri to live openly and obtain freshly drawn blood through medical services. Other communities remain concealed; Sanguiri on Veyrath live in secret.
Humans and the Net'hret have a long history of contact and can produce fertile offspring in either direction. These descendants have a human body plan and lack the wings and species-fixed personal gravity control of pureblood Nets. Close Net ancestry can confer exceptional strength, durability and longevity. The expression of these traits varies in later generations, so a distant descendant need not resemble a first-generation hybrid in capability.
Human and Erynari crews commonly organize life aboard ships and other offworld installations around a five-mil routine repeated twice within each ten-mil Span. Each mil lasts 8.7648 standard hours. A complete Span lasts 87.648 standard hours and contains four sleep periods. The mil labels within a Span run from 0 through 9: Mils 0 and 5 are Alpha Watch (Duty); mils 1 and 6 are Leisure/Maintenance; mils 2 and 7 are First Sleep; mils 3 and 8 are Bravo Watch (Duty); and mils 4 and 9 are Second Sleep. Planetary communities retain their own calendars and daily routines.