As a species, the Vassellian humans first came to prominence as tribal clans, clustered around Vasselern’s inland Shimmering Sea. They took naturally to the water, quickly developing sailing vessels and fisheries, though with equal speed they found themselves at odds for the coasts resources.

Conflict arose early in Vassellian history, as tribes began to battle for territory, hunting grounds, and resources – employing relatively primitive weapons to intimidate and skirmish with their neighbors, driving each other back and forth without much in the way of long term stability. This dynamic continued for some time, motivating the development of better weapons, clothing, and naval technology.

Among these tribes, one clan of Vassellians stood out. Shying away from the coastal battles, these industrious and curious individuals struck westward towards the limits of the shard, and sought to uncover the mysteries of the Caretaker bastion we now call Tidehold. Within they found the stories of the Infinites, of their creation, and of the broken world they now live on.

When a massive storm overtook the entirety of Vasselern some decades later, it was the Tidehold Vassellians that were best equipped to weather the intense arcane winds and ferocious and destructive elements that accompanied them. To the surprise of their warring neighbors, the Tidehold Vassellians opened their doors to them – beginning a long history of cooperation and diplomacy spanning the harrowing months of the so named Scathing Storm into the centuries that followed.

As a result of this, modern Vassellians value exploration, cooperation, and spirit above all other things, which is why – with the help of the Berusians – they lead the charge into the Span, seeking to answer ancient mysteries, forge new bonds and explore the furthest reaches of the unknown.

The Vassellians are a highly varied people, with complexions and statures varying from region to region. In general, however, they range from the lightest of peaches to the deepest of browns in skin tones. They stand approximately 1.6 to 1.8 meters tall among males and females, with varied weights that rarely reach 175 kilograms or dip below 40 kilograms. More details on the regional differences typical between Vassellians can be found in the Vassellian Names and Ethnicities section.

In dress they sport their maritime origins proudly, wearing garments that have become modified from shipboard use to the needs of the people who stay mostly on land. Many have begun wearing garments that lend better to mechanical and industrial work while others have shifted to luxurious dress garments.

Most of their kind are bold and courageous, willing to brave nearly anything to try what they’ve set their minds to. Admirably, they rise to most challenges very quickly and won’t back down until all options have been tried and proven false. However, this kind of behavior also leads to getting them in a bit of trouble here and there. Most can respect their dedication, but some Vassellians have a habit of taking their dedication a hair too far and stepping on toes.

Their boldness has led them to be the diplomatic power they have become, pushing against the waves regardless of the storms ahead. Now that they’ve begun their adventure beyond their home shard, this attitude has driven them into the Span, and beyond.

Beyond their base nature to challenge and explore, the Vassellians range wildly in other aspects of their personalities and preferences. They’re highly adaptive people, picking up on new concepts introduced from the other species quickly.

Inspired by the Caretaker ruins that are spattered across Vasselern like a patina of cultural treasures, the Vassellians find exceptional value in exploration, research, and the pursuit of the unknown – harkening back to the early days of their civilization, and when Caretaker ruins proved to be their savior.

At the core of Vassellian exploration stands the Vassellian League, and their successors in the Accord Expeditionary League, but also the researchers in the Archivists – who dwell deep in the Tidehold, collecting and collating knowledge.

As part of this appreciation for knowledge and learning is a strong concept of familiar legacy and generational bonds. Beginning with the oral tradition, Vassellians still embrace the concept of teaching the subsequent generations everything they know, so they might grow and prosper.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, all Vassellians value the concepts of diplomacy and cooperation born from their early alliances in the Scathing Storm. All aspects of Vassellian society are valued, and every individual that carries their weight is appreciated and valued – no matter their class, ancestry, or creed.

This spirit of diplomacy and equality has been extended to the new societies the Vassellians have encountered – from the friendly and advanced Berusians who sought their strength and spirit, to the lost and wayward Wrought who sought their guidance and experience.

Vasselern is one of the largest Shards of Nerasa, and by that nature its people are varied in terms of origin and culture. Vassellian names, therefore, are equally varied depending on the origin and beliefs.

Modern Vasselern is a much more interconnected place than it once was, meaning that while names and appearances may have origins in certain regions, one may not necessarily have to be directly from that region to have a likeness befitting it - and it is more than common for Vassellians from these regions to intermarry, immigrate, or emigrate, especially in the capital of Tidehold.

The original founders of Tidehold city were a number of clans and families based on the western rim of Vasselern. Modern Tideholders occupy the upper reaches of Tidehold city, and some of the major cities surrounding it - such as Nancledra and Altasda. The typical Tideholder has olive to amber hued skin, a range of darker brown or black hair colors, and a variety of eye colors ranging from dark brown to bright green or blue.

Some examples of Tidehold given names include: Adele, Alfreda, Benito, Bernadetta, Carmela, Emeline, Emil, Florence, Felicious, Fracianne, Lando, Livia, Hesiv, Marcella, Natalia, Oriana, Oscar, Pietra, Rachele, Rosa, Sabina, Teo, Vera, Vilfredo

Tidehold surnames are typically a family name, carried from generation to generation. Some Tideholder names use the article ‘di’ to indicate their name is a Clan name, though that has become more pastoral. Some examples of Tidehold surnames include: Ancilas, Beretta, Francesca, Masciato, Mirandi, Reseldo, Serenago, Tecero

The Waterfellians are based on the early clans and families that once ruled the western reaches of the Shimmering Sea. When the Tidehold was found and the city grew alongside it, the Waterfellians joined their kin in building the great city and today much of the city of Tidehold is populated by Waterfellians.

It would be fair to say that there is no 'typical' Waterfellian; with a culture originating on the sea and intermingling with the shard at large early in their development. Waterfellians have complexions ranging from fair to tawny, to bronze or dusky browns, and a variety of hair and eye colors to match.

Some examples of Waterfellian given names include: Aaron, Abby, Beckham, Caitlyn, Caleb, Elise, Franklin, Gunther, Joanne, Lewis, Marcus, Michele, Nathaniel, Quinn, Regina Rufus, Samuel, Tobias, Veronica

Old Waterfellian names tended to be associated with origin or profession, as related to their maritime traditions, with heavy reference to the sea, naval professions, or many of the coastal regions. Some examples of Waterfellian surnames include: Allport, Blacksea, Clamfellow, Eversea, Fairtide, Moorhouse, Northport, Tideseeker

The northwest peninsula of Vasselern has long been populated by hardy, stout folk who took well to the storm-stricken, somewhat barren hills of that area. Balmorans are somewhat stocky, with fair complexions, dark hair, and darker eyes - and are somewhat renowned for a typically stoic disposition. Some examples of Balmoran given names include: Annaig, Bruce, Callum, Douglas, Eoin, Ewan, Fiona, Gavin, Iona, Kenneth, Lilian, Maisie, Rodina, Seona, Stuart, Wallace

Balmoran surnames are similar to Old Waterfellian names in that they tend to be associated with an origin or profession, but with references to the mining and crafting traditions of the region, and the heavy presence of storms on the Spanseeker peninsula.

Some examples of Balmoran surnames include: Barber, Blackstorm, Cooper, Copperpot, Fogwatch, Hailstorm, Livingstone, Smith, Stewart, Stormridge

The northern reaches of Vasselern are graced with lush fields, lively forests, and the people who have historically cared for that land, making it no surprise that it is from the Benefians that the Shardkeepers - the guardians of the Vassellian wilds - emerged. The typical Benefian has dusky skin, bright eyes, and thick black hair.

Some examples of Benefian given names include: Aisha, Amine, Brahim, Dalia, Eman, Faruq, Jamil, Hadi, Mehdi, Meryam, Menna, Rachid, Yousef, Zubaida

Benefian surnames, like Tidehold names, are tied to strong family bonds, but are more patronymic - with the name referencing either one of the names of their parents, or a combination of both. Some make use of the 'di' article to identify their relation.

The Solim Sanctuary is a secluded and once-isolationist culture located on the Solim Peninsula, right in the middle of the Shimmering Sea. Its people have long lived on their remote shores where they developed a community focused on art, creativity, and reverence for the Builder. Solimi are bronze-skinned with sleek dark hair, and bright eyes of golden hues.

Some examples of Solim given names include: Alexis, Antoni, Costas, Dimitri, Dora, Elena, Evi, Ilias, Katerina, Loukas, Maria, Nikolas, Orfeas, Pavlina, Rafael, Silas, Sophia, Vasso, Xenia, Zacharias

Uniquely among Vassellians, Solimi do not often have surnames. If they do take one, they adopt one from another region.

While the Viridian Ravine is a small region in south-eastern Vasselern, Ravinians is the term given to the people who live throughout the southern reaches of the Shard, at home in the dense forests of the region. Ravinians are fair skinned, with hair colors ranging from browns to blondes, and eye colors ranging from darker tones to - appropriately - green hues. Some examples of Ravinian given names include: Adrien, Aime, Camille, Damien, Daphne, Eliane, Florian, Gabriel, Gisele, Irene, Jasmine, Jean, Laura, Leon, Marie, Nolan, Orianne, Regine, Sebastien, Theodore

Ravinian surnames are typically a family name, carried from generation to generation. Like Tideholders, Ravinians sometimes use the ‘di’ article to indicate a Clan or family name, or integrate it into their name.

Some examples of Ravinian surnames include: Arnaud, Beaumont, DiPont, Favreau, Germaine, Montagu

The Starseeker Range has always been seen as a somewhat impregnable region of Vasselern. The high peaks on the eastern edge of the Shard are a natural buffer for storms, which become entangled and remain in the region for longer than anywhere else on the Shard. The clans that struck into these peaks have a strong appreciation for the elements for this reason, and are not often seen in the western reaches of the shard. Seekers are typically slender, with fair to warm skin tones, dark black or reddish hair, and eyes ranging from darker tones to brighter shades of gray and blue.

Some examples of Seeker given names include: Aket, Batu, Chun, Dechen, Enkha, Eko, Heng, Khulun, Kunzang, Maral, Sarna, Nuan, Tasha, Temur, Utar, Wulan, Yawen, Zaya

Seeker names tend to be singular or dual syllable words with origins in the old language of the Seeker clans that lived in the hills of the Starseeker Range, typically that possessed some kind of meaning associated with the birth of a new child. Surnames were made using a combination of syllables of the parents.