Besides the usual Elves, Dwarves, Felinians, and what-not, there are, of course, humans on the world of Maldene. And just like on Earth, there are various sub-races of Human, though a few more than there are for your Earth. Some have a familiar appearance but with different names, others the difference might be more cultural though with some more subtle physical variations.

Katoan is basically Maldene’s white race and found on quite a few continents (dalnmar) at this point. Darno and Darne are two distinct black races, Darno having kinkier hair, Darne being a bit taller with less body hair; they are both originally from the tropics. Polne is a brown-skinned racxe which might be equated to Earth’s natives of India, while the Rodarn are a red-skinned people. Sileen (Mauklo’s race) are an oriental race whose appearance is basically someplace between Chinese and Japanese.
Then come the more rare and unique races. The Butar are from the far north, and yes their skin and hair have a bluish tinge (it’s really cold up where they come from) and are built like a Viking with a glandular problem. the last in this picture are the VIna, and yes their skin is golden.
The Vina are somewhat rare. In fact, their existence is somewhere between myth and legend, and really the one that most people have even heard of is one particular soothsayer whose existence is even more closely related to myth than her race is.

The Destir are Maldene’s desert race, and they have more going for them that simply sand-blasted rugged looks. They have abilities many would consider as magic, but are an inherent part of their physiology. Things like teleporting through sand, or sending messages through it in a highly specialized form of telepathy.
Typically found in the great Desert on My-Thov, in a desert that has more dangers than just sandworms (Sand crab beetles 30 or more feet across that burst up out of nowhere, innocent flowers that will dehydrate you when near, Funnel storms…), these are not a people you want to get on the bad side of, with the women being just as fierce warriors as the men. Extremely hard to befriend one, but if you ever do it is well worth the effort. For a Destir never lies, and never breaks his word, and will truly be a tolbrom for life (look it up in the Maldene dictionary).
I should also note that Miro’s forces have never been able to penetrate the deserts of the Destir, though they have tried many a time.

If the desert has Destir, the open plains have Plains Riders. Masters of horses, with the occasional bear-cat mount (center of the picture), they have a commanding presence that will cow lesser human species. Nomadic with no fixed cities, they are the fiercest of horse-back warriors, men and women alike.
And finally we have Thirdocians, which are basically to the seas what Destir are to the desert and Plains Riders are to the open plains. Masters of sailing, they have no problem sailing alongside their women, and are the preferred crew when sailing across the very-dangerous Equator. A bit shorter and stockier than regular humans, with wide oval eyes, deeply tanned complexion, and stockier than normal humans.
(EDIT: Almost forgot the following race)
The Tadalnka are a race of humans evolved specifically for life in the mountains; in build they are basically like a 6-foot dwarf with regular human overtones. In effect, they are to the mountains what Destir are to the desert and Thirdocians are to the sea. Large, stocky, and of good humor, if you are a friend to the Tadalnka they you will find a hearty welcome; on the other hand, if you’re their enemy then you’ll probably never make it out of those mountains. More than simply woodsmen, every Tadalnka knows at least some magic spells involving woods, animals, and mountain terrain. Things like stepping into a bush to then teleport a hundred miles away to a similar type of bush, or blending in as part of the terrain itself.
Maldene can be a tough world, with a wide range of dangers, but the variations just amongst the human-kind is up to the challenges of such survival.
Mark Anthony Tierno is a master fantasy storyteller who has crafted an immersive mythic world that combines Fantasy and Science-Fiction, magic and alien mythology, into a story that weaves across millennia and the stars themselves, to span an unparalleled 13-book epic. Join him now for a saga that shakes space itself and unveils what could possibly be the most villainous character of them all.

