Alamarri tribe members[1]
Humans are the most powerful and common of all races in Thedas. They are said to be descended from a single tribe that later branched into numerous smaller tribes.
First contact in Thedas[]
The humans are said to have first appeared in the north around -3100 Ancient[2] as a single tribe known as the Neromenians. Their place of origin and reasons why they left this place are unknown,[3] though the Dalish believe that the humans first arrived from Par Vollen.[4] These human settlers came into contact with the elves who ruled the land. This contact is believed to have caused elves to age and die in a human fashion, a loss of what elven lore holds as their immortality known as "quickening." As a result, elves drew away from human settlements to protect themselves, giving the humans free rein to spread throughout Thedas.[3] By -2415 Ancient, a group known as the Alamarri had spread to southern Thedas.[5]
In -1700 Ancient, the Neromenians, who had settled the entire coast along the Nocen Sea, divided into various tribes, each with its own kingdom: Qarinus, Tevinter, Neromenian, and Barindur.[7]
In -1195 Ancient, the kingdoms were finally united under Darinius to become the massive Tevinter Imperium, the first major human nation in Thedas.[8][9][10] While they established lucrative trade with the dwarves,[8][11][12] their relationship with the elves remained contentious. Their conflict ultimately led to open war in -981 Ancient, which resulted in the destruction of the first elven homeland, Elvhenan, and the complete annihilation of its capital, Arlathan in -975 Ancient.[13] This crushing blow to the elven race allowed humans to become the most influential race in Thedas, a mantle they have held to this day.
Early human tribes[]
Neromenians[]
- Barindur: Little is known of this tribe. Legend holds they and their kingdom disappeared entirely after losing the favor of the Old God Dumat.
- Neromenian: The remaining Neromenians existed in their own kingdom until the formation of the Tevinter Imperium.
- Qarinus: An eastern pre-Imperium kingdom settled in what is now the city of Ventus, which eventually became part of the Imperium.
- Tevinter: Another offshoot of the Neromenians which aligned itself with the dwarves and eventually absorbed Neromenian and Qarinus to form the sprawling Tevinter Imperium.
Ferelden[]
- Alamarri: This ancient people occupied the land now called Ferelden as members of various tribes, primarily the Clayne, Chasind and Avvar.
- Avvar: Some Avvars resisted the unification of Ferelden and were pushed into the Frostback Mountains. They retain their own unique customs and lifestyles, including their own pantheon of gods. They are frequently referred to as "hillsmen" or the "Sky Cult."
- Chasind: Many Chasind resisted the unification of Ferelden and retreated to the Korcari Wilds. They continue to live a peaceful life there in small communities. Their leaders are shaman, respected for their magical abilities.
- Agadi: A people living in the Sunless Lands south of the Korcari Wilds. Possibly an offshoot of the Chasind, as Agadi is their word for "exile."[14]
- Clayne: A powerful Alamarri tribe that joined Calenhad to help form the nation of Ferelden and forced opposing tribe members into the new nation's fringes.
Orlais and Nevarra[]
- Ciriane: A tribe loosely defined but rich in culture, this tribe flourished in the rich lands of what is now central Orlais. With less pressure from the northern Neromenians, the tribe remained isolated and strong until the founding of Orlais after the First Blight. Ciriane culture has all but disappeared.
- Inghirsh: Once the largest cohesive culture in the north of what is now Orlais[1] and on the Silent Plains in southern Tevinter,[15] a nomadic and isolationist tribe.[1] Their war with the Neromenian tribe in the time of Thalsian (circa -1595 Ancient) is described in Threnodies 6. The Inghirsh lost disastrously and gradually divided into increasingly small groups.[1] In -981 Ancient, while Tevinter forces were focused on the siege of Arlathan, the Inghirsh took the opportunity to rise up and strike the southern settlements, pushing Archon Thalasian to bring a swift end to the war with the elves.[16] The Inghirsh who had survived conflict with the Neromenians were largely absorbed into the Ciriane and Planasene tribes.[1]
- Planasene: A farming tribe with an animist culture and a long written history. They formed the basis of most humanity in Nevarra and Free Marches. According to Threnodies 6, after King Antoridus of the Neromenians had subjugated the Inghirsh, he turned his attention to the Planasene. To resist their attacks, King Damertes of the Planasene decided to follow Antoridus' example and forsake the Maker in favor of an Old God–presumably Razikale, the only Old God to be confirmed to be female.[17] Archon Tidarion, the first Archon of the Laetan class, was of Planasene blood.[16]
Anderfels[]
- Orth: A group of people living in the Wandering Hills region of the Anderfels. Also the old name for the Anders people.[18][19][20]
- Yothandi: Main population of the Anderfels in -695 Ancient (500 TE)[10]
Unknown[]
- Hacian: One of the human tribes that spread across Thedas around the same time that the Ciriane, the Planasene, and the Alamarri did.[10]
Stanley Woo (October 24, 2011). 