Racial Phylogeny

The Great Division

Homo Heidelbergensis

Now extinct, homo heidelbergensis developed in Eastern Erema, alongside homo rhodesiensis. When the population of The First People was split, they expanded aggressively into the lands of homo heidelbergensis. It has long been believed that this conflict resulted in the complete destruction of the h. heidelbergensis, but some genetic evidence suggests that there may have been interbreeding between them and h. robistus (which might account for some of the obvious morphological differences between h. humanis and robistus).

Homo Rhodesiensis (The First People)

Homo rhodesiensis are the precursors to all "non-bestial" humanoid races (a category often referred to as rhodesien humanoids). Within the Eremian cradle of life, h. rhodesiensis developed into the first functional societies. Evidence suggests they were able to make complex stone tools (such as axes and spears), and had access to primal nature magic.

When a great river was diverted by a glacial shift, the h. rhodesiensis population was split in two. This even is referred to as the Great Division. The two populations were left in very distinct environments, which affected their independent evolution. Those on the northeastern side would differentiate homo humanis (humans, originally called homo sapiens), homo sylvanius (elves), homo parivius (halflings), and homo tertis (dwarves). Those on the southern side would become homo robistus (orcs), and homo damidum (goblins and hobgoblins).

Homo Parivius (Halflings)

Homo Humanis (Humans)

When the Great Division separated the homo rhodesiensis people, those who remained in the fertile northern section of Erema developed into homo humanis, who would later come to be known as humans. H. humanis was once thought to be a distinct species. But the fact that humans can freely interbreed with elves, orcs, goblins, dwarves, and possibly halflings, indicates that they may all be one singular species with diverse breeds.

Homo Robistus (Orcs)

A large portion of the homo rhodesiensis population was separated by the Great Division, and subsequently pushed further into the harsh southern lands of Erema. Food was more plentiful, as were the large predators. The h. rhodesiensis (south) population dwelt in these lands for more than 50,000 years. In time, the divergent evolution resulted in obvious morphological differences between the two populations separated by the river, homo humanis and homo robistus. H. robistus developed much larger frames, both as a result of the rich access to meat, and as a defense against their natural predators.

The First War

The gradual change in global temperature resulted in a much drier Erema, with fewer natural resources. This had two major effects on the humanoid populations dwelling there. First, there was an increase in resource competition. Second, the great river separating the two humanoid populations (homo humanis and homo robistus) was reduced in size, allowing it to be crossed much more easily.

As a result, h. humanis and h. robistus were able to interact in a significant way for the first time in history. H. robistus were physically stronger and hardier, and were already much more aggressive as a species. They drove h. humanis North and East, splintering the race into two halves.

Homo sylvanius

When the aggressive expansion of homo robistus pushed into northern Erema, some of the lesser tribes were pushed further East, towards the land bridge that connected Erema to Algida (and Algida to Denuterra).

The hominids who first settled in Denuterra split into two separate tribes, still pursued by the orcs. One half went East, into the mountains, and became homo tertis, the dwarves. Others went south and, influenced by the fey of the woods, gradually morphed into homo sylvanius (also known as elves). The elves would, in time, spread across southern Denuterra and into Aggrestis. Those in the South became known as wild elves. Those in Denuterra are the wood elves, and those who later colonized northern Algida became snow elves.

Homo tertis

A portion of the human tribes were pushed into eastern Denuterra by the continued onslaught of the orcs. There they took refuged in the mountains, where they met the Pech, the earth spirits who inhabited that ancient landscape. Shaped by both their rocky, dark landscape and the Pech spirits (who they worshipped as gods), the humanoid populations living in the mountains would become homo tertis, the dwarves.

Dwarves were protected from outsiders (by both the Pech and the natural fortifications of their mountain homes), and were able to rapidly multiply and divide into several large settlements. They developed shorter, broader frames, more useful for surviving inside and on top of large mountain ranges.

Homo Damidum

The homo robistus that remained in Denuterra were forced to adapt to the new environment. Survival tactics that enabled them to excel in Erema were no longer useful here, and the population developed and evolved over the course of another fifty millennia, becoming homo damidum. Gone were their bulkier frames, replaced with a leaner physique designed for running and hiding. Brown skin gave way to greener skin that would enable them to hide from the various magical beasts that roamed the continent.