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Human

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Human
Human
(Creature)
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Humans are the most numerous humanoid ancestry of Golarion with a variety of ethnicities, and a stake in virtually every corner of the world.123 Known for their adaptability and versatility, humans have throughout history been behind many of the largest and most prosperous of nations.4

Appearance

Humans have a broad variety of physical traits and diverse variation within them, including their height, weight, and hair. Their skin tones range from lighter to darker hues that generally correspond to how near to Golarion's equator they or their ancestors lived.3

Humans reach physical maturity around their 15th year but are considered fully mature within a few years, and many can live to be 90 years old.3

History

No one truly knows what deity or creature first created the human race. According to alghollthu wall carvings, they were responsible for humanity's creation, although this claim is impossible to prove conclusively.5

The first great human civilization was that of Azlant, which arose over 10,000 years ago on the destroyed continent bearing the same name in the middle of the Arcadian Ocean. It was destroyed by Earthfall in -5293 AR,6 which ushered in the Age of Darkness. New great human civilizations did not arise again in the Inner Sea region until the Age of Anguish, when the Jistka, Shory, and Osirian empires flourished in northern Garund. Old-Mage Jatembe and his Ten Magic Warriors refounded the practice of magic among humanity, while in Avistan, Taldaris unified human city-states into the Empire of Taldor, a civilization that would span continents and achieve fame to rival that of Azlant.7

The ascendancy of Aroden, the god of humanity, ushered in the Age of Enthronement. In the subsequent centuries, the modern Inner Sea region took shape. The Witch-Queen Baba Yaga established Irrisen, passing her throne to a line of daughters. Taldor entered a gradual decline, ceding land to the Padishah Empire of Kelesh and facing internal rebellions (known as the Even-Tongued Conquest, ultimately leading to the formation of Cheliax. Choral the Conqueror united the lands of Brevoy. Daidian Ruel laid the foundation for the Hellknights, and the Varisian hero Soividia Ustav founded Ustalav. Humanity left an indelible mark on history. Then, a century ago, Aroden met his demise, ushering in the Age of Lost Omens.7

Aroden's death triggered widespread calamity throughout Golarion. In the north, a rift to the Outer Rifts devoured the nation of Sarkoris, unleashing hordes of demons through the ensuing Worldwound. To the south, the unrelenting Eye of Abendego hurricane submerged the homelands of the Lirgeni and Yamasa. Prophecies worldwide crumbled, and humanity, stripped of a patron god, persevered as a resilient and ambitious force, determined to shape the destiny of Golarion.7

On Golarion

Distinct ethnic groups can be found throughout the world, each with its own unique culture and appearance. While mingling does occur, most humans fall into one of these groupings more prominently than the others.

The known human ethnicities of Golarion are as follows, grouped by continent of origin.

Arcadia

Avistan

Azlant

Casmaron

Crown of the World

Darklands

  • A race of primitive humans is known to inhabit Deep Tolguth in Orv, where they are in constant tribal warfare with the nearby primitive orcs and xulgaths.9

Garund

Sarusan

Tian Xia

In Golarion's solar system

Through mostly magical means, small populations of humans exist on other planets in Golarion's solar system.

The Sun

While largely uninhabitable, at least one human—the powerful wizard Eziah—lives on the Sun in a structure called the Silent Sanctum. Humans might also live in the magically protected Burning Archipelago.11

Aballon

The inhospitable world of Aballon is dominated by constructs and robots, but the town of Horsethroat consists of humans and other sentient races from other worlds marooned in an ice well by mysterious magic.12

Akiton

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Humans, or a species of humanoid all but indistinguishable from humans, are one of the dominant races on the red planet of Akiton. Akitonians have red skin and are roughly divided into city-dwellers and desert barbarians. They are capable of interbreeding with Golarion humans. The greatest city of the Akitonians is the free city of Arl, which ages ago was conquered by travelers from Azlant on Golarion and still retains lingering elements of Azlanti culture.13

Eox

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Eox is a dead world inhabited by undead humanoids, but in its distant past its living inhabitants were extremely similar to humans. Some theories suggest Eoxians may have even been the human race's progenitors.14

On distant worlds

Humans live on at least two planets outside of Golarion's solar system.

Androffa

For other meanings of "Androffan", please see Androffan (disambiguation).

The space-traveling people of Androffa were technologically advanced humans.15 They created the android race in their image.16

Earth

Humans make up the vast majority of a distant planet called Earth, which has recently suffered a horrific global war.17

References

Paizo published a Pathfinder First Edition Campaign Setting sourcebook titled Inner Sea Races and a Second Edition Lost Omens sourcebook titled Character Guide, which feature information on many human ethnicities of Golarion.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.

  1. James Jacobs, et al. Humans of Golarion” in Humans of Golarion, 2. Paizo Inc., 2011
  2. Logan Bonner, et al. “2: Ancestries & Backgrounds” in Core Rulebook, 54. Paizo Inc., 2019
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Logan Bonner, et al. Ancestries & Backgrounds” in Player Core, 62. Paizo Inc., 2023
  4. James Jacobs, et al. Humans of Golarion” in Humans of Golarion, 4. Paizo Inc., 2011
  5. James Jacobs, et al. Technology” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 304. Paizo Inc., 2011
  6. Erik Mona, et al. “Overview” in World Guide, 6. Paizo Inc., 2019
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Paizo Inc., et al. Humans” in Character Guide, 5–6. Paizo Inc., 2019
  8. Benjamin Bruck, et al. “Chapter 1: Common Races” in Inner Sea Races, 64. Paizo Inc., 2015
  9. James Jacobs & Greg A. Vaughan. Orv” in Into the Darklands, 47–48. Paizo Inc., 2008
  10. James Jacobs, et al. “Beyond the Inner Sea” in The Inner Sea World Guide, 207. Paizo Inc., 2011
  11. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 5. Paizo Inc., 2012
  12. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 8. Paizo Inc., 2012
  13. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 16–18. Paizo Inc., 2012
  14. James L. Sutter. “Chapter 1: The Solar System” in Distant Worlds, 28. Paizo Inc., 2012
  15. Neil Spicer. “Fires of Creation” in Fires of Creation, 7. Paizo Inc., 2014
  16. Russ Taylor. “Ecology of the Android” in Fires of Creation, 69. Paizo Inc., 2014
  17. Brandon Hodge. “Rasputin Must Die!” in Rasputin Must Die!, 7. Paizo Inc., 2013