Humans arrived in the Caelen region over a period of 6000 years, from the early Andarians and Archipposians of the east, to the Roenic people's legendary mass migration from the west, to the gradual migration of the Ilastians, who conquered the land right from under the noses of their rivals a little over 3000 years ago. Humans come in all shapes and sizes, but they are generally craftsmen, laborers, and farmers.

Ethnic Groups

Ilastian

The largest human ethnic group, the first Ilasts settled in the Caelen region almost 3000 years ago. They are the dominate group of humans in Deraille, Caelea, and Castillia, and form significant minorities almost everywhere else. The Ilasts tend to be shorter than most of their neighbors, their slender bodies averaging between 5'2” and 5'9” tall. The predominate hair color amongst the Ilasts is a dark brown, black and pale brown being slightly less common. Their eyes are mostly brown or hazel in color. Other defining features of Ilasts are pale olive skin, large eyes, thick eyebrows, and a full, rounded face.

Roenic

The tallest humans, the Roens' broad form normally stands between 5'6” and 6'1” tall. They settled along the northern coast of the Castillian peninsula well over 4500 years ago, following their legendary king, Roen The Great. They form the majority in Rimegaard, Holtland and the Chalice, and make up the ruling class of the Vestenreich, as well as several kingdoms in northern Castillia. A significant body of Roenic people live in northern Caelea as well, along the coast of the Gray Sea. The Roens are known for their fine, brilliant red or red-blond hair (indeed, the Durnic word for red, Roën, comes from the color of these people's hair), dark blue or grey eyes, and pale white skin. Other defining physical traits of the Roens are long, narrow faces, strait noses and shard chins.

Dasnac

The Dasnacs came from the south 4000 years ago, and settled in the southern reaches of the Caelen Region. They formed the majority population around the Sea of Blades, but since the rise of the Elven Empire, they have lost much of their homelands. Now, the only states with Dasnac majorities are Gerony and the Vestenreich, but there is a significant Dasnac population in northwestern Qalitz and central Castillia. The Dasnac people are a tall folk, ranging from 5'6” to 5'10”, and have strait medium brown to ash blond hair. Besides their pale blue or light grey eyes, Dasnacs are known for their ivory or pale brown skin, small eyes, heavy jaws, and prominent cheekbones.

Flansh

The Flansh were the first humans of the Caelen regions, and due to their strong ties with the elves, most have traces of elven blood. The Flansh now live in an arc from the northern Verfel hills along the Holt-Roënic border through the independent Flansh city-state of Ard, to the eastern reaches of the Chalice. Their normally slim and lithe bodies stand between 5'4” and 5'8” tall. Flansh typically have vibrant green or golden eyes, stait blond or red-gold hair, and fair white skin. They also have slim, high-cheeked faces, small noses, and slightly-pointed ears.

Qalic

The Qalic people are descended from the wild Horselanders of the steppes, and their sharp features hark back to that past. The Qalic people form the majority in the Qalitz Empire, Hala, and several southern Castillian states. They stand between 5'4” and 5'9” tall, and have olive or dark brown skin. They have dark brown, hazel, or rich blue eyes, with curly black or dark brown hair. The Qalic people tend to have slender shoulders, strait noses, and big eyes.

Andarian

The Andarians were the first humans to form a kingdom in the Caelen Region, and the Andarian Empire formed the model for all the nations that would follow after. The Andarians are the shortest humans, averaging 4'10” to 5'3” tall. They have dark or mixed-brown eyes, light brown skin, and dark brown to black hair. The most defining trait of the Andarians, besides their height, is their large, long nose, often called a 'Noble's Nose', because Cael and his decedents, the modern-day kings, have inherited this nose from the Andarian ancestors. Besides their noses, Andarians have thick eyebrows, wide foreheads, and prominent cleft chins.

Alstanic

The Alstanic people are one of the newest arrivals to the Caelen peninsula, arriving little over 1500 years ago. They are nearly as tall as the Roenic peoples, standing between 5'8” and 6” tall, but lacking the bulky frames typically associated with the northerners, instead possessing a slim, tall stature. Their kingdom once spread across the southern reaches of the Thalish peninsula, though that land has now been claimed by the elves. Now, the majority of free Alstanics live in southern Deraille or in the larger cities of Holtland. The Alstanics also make up the largest human ethnic group within the Arcane Congress. Their eyes are normally a dark brown, black or a grey-brown mixture, and their skin ranges from dark brown to brown-black. Their frizzy hair is normally blue-black or brown-black in color, though pale blond is not unheard of. Other defining traits of the Alstanic people are their strait noses, strong chins, high foreheads, and large eyes.

Of course, these overviews of races assume pure-bloodedness. This is often not the case, and most Caelen humans appear as a blend of all of the above races. However, local traits tend to be more prominent in their regions of origin, so on average the people appear as described above.

Only the Andarians, Flansh and Qalic peoples are really 'native' to the Caelen region. All the others migrated here, either en mass or in waves, and thus have stories and legends about their ancestral homelands.