Homebrew Human (Athas) Species Details

A resourceful and hardy race, humans are the most numerous and diverse people in the Tyr Region of the world of Athas. They can be found in every social stratum and situation: city dweller and desert villager, nomadic herder and merchant trader, pampered noble and wretched slave. Humans’ drive, ambition, and ingenuity help the race survive on the dying world and thrive under the rule of the sorcerer-kings.

Humans Of Athas

Humans are the predominant race on Athas. They are a versatile breed, brilliant and exceptional as often as they are unremarkable and mundane. A resourceful and hardy race, they can be found in every social stratum and situation: city dweller or desert villager, herder or trader, noble or slave. Humans' drive, ambition, and ingenuity help the race survive on the dying world and thrive under the rule of the sorcerer-kings.

Diverse in Appearance

There is no typical human in the Tyr Region. An individual can stand a little over 6 feet tall and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. While they come in all shapes and sizes, they tend to reflect certain traits common to particular city-states. Humans in Draj, for example, have broad chins, bronze skin, and black hair that hardly ever grows on their faces. Humans from Gulg have dark brown skin and rounder features with thick, curly hair. And humans hailing from Balic bear tanned complexions, dark eyes, and grow finely-trimmed beards.

More diverse are the humans that have been subject to the abusive magic that devastated the land and twisted its appearance. These people show unusual physical traits — odd skin or eye color, lack of body hair, webbed fingers, or exaggerated features. While unusual, these traits are not uncommon and rarely elicit more than a glance.

A Multitude of Personalities

Humans are the most adaptable, ambitious, and individualistic people among the common races; even the tyranny of the sorcerer-kings hasn't stamped out their diversity. Other races often don't know what to expect when meeting a human for the first time, because predicting their behavior based on cultural norms is difficult. Their widely varying tastes, morals and customs is linked to their various different cultures, which are based around the seven city-states. Individually and as a group, humans can be adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political and social dynamics.

Bereft of Past

What generally passes for the history of Athas is actually a jumble of folklore and propaganda. Prohibited by the sorcerer-kings and templars from keeping written histories, most humans know only the stories told in their communities. These tales paint the despots as saviors, gods, or anointed champions who, through selfless actions, saved Athas from certain destruction. Many humans scoff at these tales, however, being more concerned with the problems of the present than devoting themselves to the lessons of the past.
Still, there are those who chafe against tyranny's chains, but hold their tongues, seeing no reason to jeopardize the shelter, water, and food they receive in the city-states they usually live in return for their loyalty. The most daring, ambitious, relentless, or even foolish among them are usually the ones who defy the comforts of a city-state to choose the life of adventure.

Natural-Born Diplomats

Many humans learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. Since humans are generally more tolerant of other races, they can easily adapt to situations involving elves or dwarves, and even more exotic races such as halflings and thri-kreen. Where other, less tolerant races come into contact with one another, humans often serve as diplomatic buffers.

Human Names

Humans generally adopt the culture of the city-state they live in or close by. Since they are a race in constant motion, however, and due to their diversity, it is all too common to meet humans of different ethnic groups living behind the walls of the same city. As such, their naming conventions have been mostly blurred, and humans welcome any names suitable for themselves or others.

• Male Names: Agis, Astemba, Azzer, Banoc, Brevit, Canth, Daclamitus, Dote, Etheros, Evrim, Faldar, Frayne, G'rshun, Gammeg, Grak, Hargat, Ibl, Jedra, Kargash, Kilay, Kyuln, Leoricius, Limrick, Maetan, Marut, Morlak, Nylorac, Ojoba, Paxitus, Quay, Ragoner, Raka, Rathoras, Salust, Sizzkus, Styan, Tabaros, Taiy, Thanik, Thaxos, Toth, Varnag, Weom, Xamres, Ydris, Zaethus, Zeburon.
• Female Names: Amandia, Astara, Averil, Buris, Camla, Catrion, Damras, Dorjan, E'la, Faria, Haarna, Jaseela, Jun, Katid, Kelira, Korla, Lestria, Llunet, Nadia, Nanda, Nauhyotl, Ode, Rasia, Rayne, Sa-rea, Shallin, Sycia, Talara, Tamar, Tara, Tella, Temmnya, Tierney, Ular, Veeshte, Ves. 

Psionics and Wild Talents
(Optional, per DM discretion)

"You are here to learn how to harness the power of your mind through The Way. All creatures possess the Will, the potential for psionic power, but without schooling in The Way, they will never be able to use their hidden gifts fully. Some of you will listen and learn. Others of you will spend months here without comprehending a thing I say. The decision is up to you. Now, shall we begin?"

Zeranna -- Instructor and Master of Psychokinesis

To one extent or another, every human, demi-human, creatures, including many undead, constructs and even some plant life on Athas, possess psionic abilities. Most characters will have the potential to manifest at least one wild talent.  Some will manifest more than one ability, which they learn to use by trial and error. In Athas, most can harness these psionic powers through careful practice and study, and every city has at least one training hall dedicated to teaching “The Will and the Way.”

Common Wild Talents:

• Send Thoughts: You may link to a willing target and communicate while the target is within 200 feet.
• Sight link: You are able to tap into a willing target’s visual senses, allowing you to see whatever the target sees. 
• Phase: You may shift your body into a different frequency, allowing you to walk through solid matter.
• Telekinesis: You can use your action to move objects with a thought. 
• Inertial Armor: You summon a field of protective energy around yourself.
• Control Air: You use your action to assert control over the winds. 
• Detonate: You manipulate the latent energy inside inanimate objects. 
• Dimension Slide: You transfer yourself to any other spot within a range, that you can see. 
• Expanded Vision: As a bonus action you cause your field of vision to grow. 
• Feather Fall: You slow your falling rate.
• Graft Weapon: You attach a weapon onto one of your arms. 
• Natural Armor: You will your skin to increase in density, granting you natural armor.
• Project Force: You focus and channel kinetic energy in a concussive blast.
• Inertial Field: You create a barrier of "elastic" air around yourself. 
• Molecular Agitation: You excite the molecules of a substance.
• Spider Touch: You form strong, sticky pads on your fingers and toes. 
• Sensory Suppression: You temporarily blind or deafen an opponent.
• Psychic Weapon: You manifest a blazing, translucent psychic weapon.

Human (Athas) Traits

Humans of Athas have a mixture of unique abilities.

Ability Score Increase

Increase two ability scores of your choice by 1 point.

Alignment

Humans may be of any alignment.

Size

Humans can vary greatly in size, but usually stand between 5'5" to 6'5", and can average anywhere between 125 to 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Age

Humans mature physically by the age of 15, but they’re still considered young until they reach the age of 20. On average, they may live up to 100 years, though the danger and hardships associated with the land of Athas may significantly lower their life expectancy.

Human Versatility

You are proficient with one additional tool or skill of your choice.

Human Adaptability

Humans embody adaptability in the ever changing world of the Crimson Sun. You gain proficiency with one Feat of your choice.

Language

You can speak Common and one other language of your choice, though the ability to read and write is not as common.

Wild Talents (optional)

Most creatures born to the scorched world of Athas have the potential to manifest psionic "Wild Talents". With training and time, these abilities can be developed and focused. Some, have even been known to manifest multiple psionic abilities throughout their life.

• When you reach 3rd level, roll 1d20 and check the result on the list below to see if you manifest a Wild Talent.  You can roll again at 6th level and 13th level (at DMs discretion), and check again on the list bellow to see if you manifest additional Wild Talents.

Unless otherwise noted, each wild talent can be used once per short or long rest. After 11th level they may be used twice per short or long rest. 

1 - NO WILD TALENT MANIFESTED	11 - Expanded Vision.
2 - Send Thoughts.	12 - Feather Fall.
3 - Sight link.	13 - Graft Weapon.
4 - Phase.	14 - Project Force.
5 - Telekinesis.	15 - Inertial Field.
6 - Inertial Armor.	16 - Molecular Agitation.
7 - Control Winds.	17 - Spider Touch.
8 - Detonate.	18 - Sensory Suppression.
9 - Dimension Slide.	19 - Psychic Weapon.
10 - NO WILD TALENT MANIFESTED	20 - NO WILD TALENT MANIFESTED