Prompt: “The human engineer costs HOW MUCH?” the captain was shocked. “Well, the human’s rate itself is cheap. I’m including a week’s worth of food. They’re ludicrously expensive to maintain, but I’ll be damned before I board a ship WITHOUT a human crew as well,” said the broker.
Humans were widely regarded as the best workers and builders in the galaxy. They had a strong work ethic and were skilled in various domains. As a result, they were often used as labor on ships and other projects. In the hierarchy of living races, humans were considered inferior to elves and dwarves. Elves had the ability to use basic magic, such as creating fire or making objects float. Dwarves were known for their strength, able to easily chop through rocks with a single blow from an axe. Shoemakers, who were also considered lower in status than elves and dwarves, were skilled in creating shoes. Elvian shoemakers were a rare occurrence and could command a high price for their work, although they were not afforded the same level of respect as elves in other professions. Shoemakers were easily identifiable by their purple shirts, which helped distinguish them from humans and other lower-status individuals.
Despite being considered lower in status, humans often had a strong sense of respect for one another and their abilities. They were known for their skills in building and engineering, and their homes, though small, were often well-constructed. However, segregation was a common occurrence, with humans being confined to certain schools, shops, and areas. In contrast, elves and dwarves were allowed more freedom and mobility. This led to a great deal of discontent among humans, who felt that they were not afforded the same privileges as other races. The only place where elves and humans interacted was on spaceships, and even there, humans were often given inferior living quarters.
However, there was a sense of unrest brewing among the human population. While they were not skilled in combat, they had the knowledge and resources to create weapons of destruction. This led to a question of why they did not use them against elves and dwarves to gain an advantage. The fear of retaliation was likely a factor; if threatened, elves were known to launch deadly rampages against humans. Additionally, dwarves, while generally keeping to themselves and dealing with their own internal conflicts, still relied on humans for labor and construction. There was no power struggle between elves and dwarves because dwarves believed that the use of magic was a divine gift and therefore did not challenge elvian authority. However, dwarves were known for their brute strength and short tempers, often causing destruction that humans were left to repair.
The elvians engaged in trade with various alien species, exchanging valuable compounds and information. In these interactions, they often demonstrated their magical abilities in an effort to impress their trading partners. However, they also displayed a tendency to behave aggressively towards humans in the presence of aliens, perhaps in an attempt to demonstrate their dominance and ruthlessness.
The treatment of humans left many of them feeling bitter and resentful. However, they did not possess the courage to rise up against their oppressors. It would be unfair to label them as cowards, as they were simply trying to survive in a difficult and unjust situation.
