Humans of Thedas (and Beyond)
âThe differences between the races of Thedas go far deeper than the point of elven ears or the squat stature of the dwarves. Whatâs more, distinct, sometimes opposing cultures thrive within each raceâs ranks, only adding to political and religious friction. The only thing all people in Thedas seem to have in common is the continent they call home.â
âWhile humans are the dominant race in Thedas, they are also the most fractured. The raceâs tribal roots led to the evolution of distinct groups with their own languages, customs, and beliefs.â
âWorld of Thedas: Vol 1, pg 26
Just like our world, there is the human race, and then within the human race are different racial/ethnic backgrounds, coming from different parts of the world.
Origin: North of the Boeric Ocean
Language: Tevene, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Old Gods, now Chant of Light
Supposedly the first human settlers in Thedas, and claim to be the first to possess magic, the Neromenians came from the north, just as the Qunari did. Their arrival resulted in skirmishes with the elves, but nothing as drastic as what would come after the formation of the Tevinter Imperium.
Three kingdoms that broke off from the Neromenians grew to become their own, distinct peoples: Barindur, Qarinus, and Tevinter. All three groups traditionally worshipped the Old Gods, until the rise of the Imperial Chantry.
Origin: Branched off from the Neromenians
Language: Tevene, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Old Gods, now Chant of Light
There are next to no Barindur people left, as a great tragedy befell their land. In a very Pompeii-esque event, the entire kingdom was buried and apparently preserved under volcanic ash. Legend says this is because the king pissed off Dumat by turning away a visiting priest.
Origin: Branched off from the Neromenians
Language: Tevene, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Old Gods, now Chant of Light
When breaking off from the Neromenians, the Qarinus went east, right on the doorstep of Arlathan. They settled in what is now the city of Qarinus in the Tevinter Imperium.
Origin: Branched off from the Neromenians
Language: Tevene, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Old Gods, now Chant of Light
The Tevinter people rose in power, and eventually swallowed the land of the Neromenians, Qarinus, and remaining Barindur, forming the modern day mapped Tevinter Imperium in -1195 Ancient. This is largely due to their alliance with Kal-Sharok, (which meant lots of lyrium.)
With their land expansion now including Qarinus territory, the genocide and enslavement of the elves followed, only bolstering their power. They spread south to as far as Ferelden, east as far as Rivain, west as far as the Anderfels, and north to Seheron, but have greatly shrunk thanks to the opposing people of these lands.
Origin: Across the Frostback Mountains
Language: Unnamed language, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Unknown, (very likely Alamarri Gods, though not said outright)
An Alamarri people (Alamarri being a blanket term for the Clayne, Chasind and Avvar) who dispersed from the Frostback Mountains fleeing a demon referred to as a âShadow Goddessâ. They were driven into the Korcari Wilds by the Clayne, where the majority still reside, outside of modern Ferelden rule, in small communities with cultural differences.
(The Chasind are of particular fascination to me and I have a whole post about them, so Iâm gonna link you here for way more.)
Origin: Branched off from the Chasind
Language: Unknown
Religion: Unknown, (likely Alamarri Gods)
The Chasind are also the only people known to have settled in the âunchartedâ Frozen Wastelands in the south, which they refer to as the âSunless Lands.â It is suspected that the people to inhabit here, known as the Agadi, have broken off into their own culture by Genitivi in WoTv2, but we will probably never actually get a clear answer to this.
Origin: Across the Frostback Mountains
Language: Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Alamarri Gods
An Alamarri people (Alamarri being a blanket term for the Clayne, Chasind and Avvar) who dispersed from the Frostback Mountains fleeing a demon referred to as a âShadow Goddessâ. They were driven back into the Frostback Mountains by the Clayne, where the majority still reside, outside of modern Ferelden and Orlesian rule. However, some Avvar fortresses extended as far north as the Waking Sea, in their fight against Tevinter expansion, but have sense been abandoned or claimed by the Clayne.
Like the Chasind, the Avvar are made of numerous settlements (referred to as Holds) with distinct beliefs and cultures, though they all still worship the old Alamarri Gods.
Origin: Across the Frostback Mountains
Language: Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Alamarri Gods, now Chant of Light
An Alamarri people (Alamarri being a blanket term for the Clayne, Chasind and Avvar) who dispersed from the Frostback Mountains fleeing a demon referred to as a âShadow Goddessâ. The Clayne settled in the valleys of modern day Ferelden, the country they would come to form, and over time have largely dispersed and moved away from their ancient culture.
In the process of Fereldenâs creation, they pushed the Chasind and Avvar into remote territory, though the three groups still united to drive back the Tevinters.
Even before Ferelden and Orlaisâ conception, the Clayne and Ciriane had a long history of antagonism, though there are case examples of unification, mostly against Tevinter. Supposedly Andraste was half Ciriane and half Alamarri; likely Clayne.
Origin: Unknown
Language: Orlesian, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Unknown, now Chant of Light
Most of those native to Orlais are Ciriane, but while the ancient cultures in current day Ferelden have been preserved and are fairly well known, ancient Ciriane culture has been erased through time. This is largely due to Kordillus Drakon I forcefully spreading the Chant of Light in the process of land expansion and the unification of the Orlesian Empire in -155 Ancient. Before that time, they lived in isolation.
Even before Ferelden and Orlaisâ conception, the Clayne and Ciriane had a long history of antagonism, though there are case examples of unification, mostly against Tevinter. Supposedly Andraste was half Ciriane and half Alamarri; likely Clayne.
Origin: Unknown
Language: Nevarran, Kingâs Tongue, Tevene
Religion: Animism, now Chant of Light
Most of those native to Nevarra are Planasene, as well as many in the Free Marches and southern Tevinter. Not much is known about their ancient history, other than that they were traditionally farmers. The Nation of Nevarra was formed in -165 Ancient, but remained in political turbulence and occupied by Orlais and Tevinter multiple times. Nevarra regained and has kept independence since 3:65 Towers.
Origin: Unknown
Language: Orlesian, Kingâs Tongue
Religion, Unkonwn, now Chant of Light
The Inghirsh people lived in the land between northern Orlais and southern Nevarra. Originally a large cultural group, they were all but completely wiped out by the Neromenians. Survivors merged with the Ciriane and Planasene.
Origin: North of the Boeric Ocean
Language: Unnamed language, Kingâs Tongue, Qunlat
Religion: Natural Order, Qun
According to Gaider on the forums, the Rivaini people originated from islands north of the Boeric Ocean, and that there are still natives who live there, but are mostly uncontacted, fearing southern colonization. They settled on the northeastern peninsula now known as Rivain, forming the nation in -44 Ancient.
After spending much time under control of the Qunari, there is a significant population of converts to the Qun. While there are some who believe in the Chant of Light, most not following the Qun are pantheists, who believe in the traditional Natural Order. They have also kept their traditional matriarchal society structure, with special respect for Rivaini Seers. The older, the wiser.
Origin: Unknown
Language: Antivan, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Unknown, now Chant of Light
It is unknown where the Antivan people came from, but quite possibly have a culture dating back as far as Tevinter. It is unknown how long the city states existed before becoming a nation in -30 Ancient, but considering the story of Beregrand the Boldâa dwarf from Gundaar who built a local navel empireâthe civilization must at least go back a good number of years before that, since Gundaar fell in -40 Ancient after many years of suffering from being sealed away in the Deep Roads.
Origin: Unknown
Language: Ander, Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Unknown
Some time ago, the Anderfels was known as the Orthlands, after the native people, the Orth. But after being conquered and the land colonized multiple times by both Tevinter and Orlais, the Orth were pushed into the Wandering Hills. They are a solitary people, living far out in the deserts that most deem unsurvivable, and as such, not much is known about them, other than that they practice facial scarification and it was they who taught the Grey Wardens how to ride griffons.
Origin: Par Vollen
Language: Qunlat
Religion: Qun
The Fex are the native people of Par Vollen, and according to Gaider on the forums, they have always been there. Deep in the islandâs jungles they built pyramids of unknown significance that still remain.
The Fex have all readily adopted the Qun, and their old society entirely lost. It is suspected their willingness to accept the Qunariâs control is attributed to the qunari raceâs resemblance to ancient Fex petroglyphs of tall horned men shown in a manner of authority and respect.
Origin: Across the Volca Sea
Language: Kingâs Tongue
Religion: Unknown
The Voshai are a mysterious people who settled in the Anderfel city of Laysh, interested in trading. They exhibit an obsession with lyrium, and all of their ships are run by dwarves, who the humans treat with reverence.
The Voshai were absent from Laysh for some time, and only recently returned speaking of a âgreat cataclysmâ in their homeland.
Origin: Par Ladi
Language: Unknown
Religion: Unknown
In WoTv2 Genitivi refers to the native people of Par Ladiâan island in the Boeric Oceans near Par Vollenâas Parladian, to quote, âfor lack of a better term.â The Parladians are uninterested in contact with outsiders, so the only thing known about them is that their fortresses on the shores are a magnificent sight, they wear lots of gold and jewels, and their language is not one recognized in Thedas.
It is rumoured that the Parladians have mages much like Rivaini Seers that keep their island cloaked in a spell that prevents explorers from docking.
Unnamed Natives of Seheron
Origin: Unknown
Language: Qunlat
Religion: Unknown, Qun
Gaider said that the Fog Warriors of Seheron are not Tal-Vashoth, but people native to the island. This is further evidenced in DA:Iâs codex about the Fog Warriors, written as a note that speaks of Tevinter and Qunari colonization and war. The Fog Warriors want Seheron to be an independent nation, separate from both Tevinter and the Qunari, who are in constant battle over it.
Origin: Unknown
Language: Unknown
Religion: Unknown
The Enigma of Kirkwall codex entry mentions that prior to what is now known as Kirkwall being taken by the Tevinter Imperium, some say it was home to the Daefads. There is no knowledge of any kind about these people.
Codex entry: The Avvars (DA:O)
Codex entry: The Vigil (DA:O)
Codex entry: Beregrand the Bold (DA:2)
Codex entry: The Enigma of Kirkwall (DA:2)
Codex entry: The Lost City of Barindur (DA:I)
Codex entry: The Annulment at Dairsmuid (DA:I)
Codex entry: Seers and the Allsmet (DA:I)
Codex entry: The Pyramids of Par Vollen (DA:I)
Codex entry: Battleground State (DA:I)
David Gaider on Rivaini origins
David Gaider on Fex origins
David Gaider on natives of Seheron