Human info

Human


History
The human race was not native to Alagaësia; along with the elves and the Urgals, humans came from some unknown continent across the Western Sea in ages past. The first twenty humans landed in what later became Surda; however, according to Orik Thrifksson, these humans merely came to visit. It is held among the dwarves that "the humans had completely forgotten us by [the time they returned in 7203 A.C.], except for vague stories about hairy-men-of-the-mountains that preyed upon children in the night." In the preface of Heslant the Monk's Domia Abr Wyrda, it is said that these humans who visited in 5596 A.C. exchanged gifts with the dwarves, then left.

In the year 7203 A.C., King Palancar docked not far from the elven city of Teirm with a fleet of ships carrying his people. He and his subjects, collectively known as the Broddrings, had sailed northeast from some unknown coast. They are held to have intended to colonize Surda, but just as they were about to reach land, an unexpected storm blew them back out into the open sea. When the Broddrings had regained sight of land, they found themselves faced with the Spine. Palancar, however, sailed onward, along the way establishing a settlement that would become the town of Kuasta someday. When the humans landed near Teirm, the Riders and the elves showed their physical and magical might, then explained which land belonged to which race, then offered them whatever land they wanted, as long as it was unclaimed. Palancar, intimidated, agreed.

The Broddrings roamed the continent of Alagaësia for many years, until they reached what became known as Palancar Valley. After vanquishing the local Urgals and founding what became the town of Therinsford, Palancar built the Broddring Kingdom. However, in an attempt to expand his borders, Palancar made war upon the elves. According to Heslant the Monk and another author, Eddison, Palancar was in the early stages of dementia, and thus believed that he could conquer Alagaësia's most powerful nation. Three times his warriors faced the elves; three times the elves destroyed them.

Afterwards, the Broddring nobles signed a peace treaty with the elves without their king's knowledge or consent. Palancar was then banished from his throne, and his family was forced to back down from the positions of power within the Broddring political system. To ensure that Palancar would not attack anyone else in Alagaësia again, the Riders built the tower of Edoc'sil (now Ristvak'baen) to watch over the valley. However, Palancar was soon murdered by a son, and "thereafter, family politics consisited of betrayal, murder … But his descendants never left the valley, and the blood of kings still runs through Therinsford and Carvahall." (Lifaen, Eldest) After the Palancar Crisis humans were permitted to become Dragon Riders by Anurin and the elves permitted humans to take their abandoned city of Ilirea.

During the fateful Dragon War, the Broddring Kingdom was effectively dissolved and the Empire was formed in its stead by Galbatorix. The Empire then became one of the most powerful kingdoms in history; however, the Broddring Kingdom still technically existed during the Rider War, though, according to Oromis, "it is little more than a name on royal decrees."

Culture

The human culture was agrarian; most humans were farmers and peasants, and their technology was fairly primitive. Different regions had different customs and traditions. Some areas, such as Kuasta, were so isolated by the Spine that their inhabitants were considered somewhat odd by people from more urban areas. All humans seemed to have believed in some sort of fate or divine influence; most were superstitious. Several possessed magical or psychic powers; some were wizards or witches, others became Dragon Riders.

Traveling merchants were the primary source of news for many villages, as most people never traveled very far from their birthplace in their lifetime. Villages like Carvahall held annual fairs when traders came. Besides being something of a holiday, a fair was an opportunity for the villagers to sell their local wares and purchase items from distant lands.

Humans made up the vast majority of the citizens within the Empire. Some served in the army, but most were simply common peasants. Other humans were members of the Varden and citizens and warriors of Surda.

Governments
Monarchy was the most prominent form of human government. There were several monarchies throughout the history of Alagaësia.

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