Hominids and the Ancients

[Zarpaulek]

The Ancients are supposed to have come to Earth about 300,000 years ago and left just a couple millennia later, correct?

In that time period there were multiple species or subspecies of human, including not just Homo sapiens neanderthalensis but probably H heidelbergensis and even some remnant populations of H erectus.

The oldest Denisovan remains only go back 285,000 years ago though. While the earliest anatomically modern human remains appear to be 315,000 years old.

Makes one wonder how diverse interstellar humaniti could be, are there some populations that qualify as entirely separate species? Or could the Ancients have played a role in creating modern Solomani?

 

[MarkAlexander]

Interesting. Lots of potential for creating new versions of Humaniti, or even a "planet of the apes".

 

[G'Naakbusters]

The Suerrat, the Kargol, and the Ziadd are all Neanderthal-descended.

The Luriani are considered a distinct human species (though I think that's due to the Ancients' alterations, not a distinct base ancestry).

Most interestingly...

There was a race introduced in a T4 product, quite obscure, the Vrast (I've speculated on linking them to illustrations of an unnamed Human minor race in some Megatraveller materials):

https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Vrast

Talk:Vrast - Traveller

wiki.travellerrpg.com

They are all but explicitly stated to be non-human but hominid, and saved from extinction by transplanting.

 

[GabrielGABFonseca]

My inner nerd is whispering to me, 'wouldn't it be cool to make a cladistics tree showing how all of the different branches of humaniti are related?'

But my inner nerd has ADHD and is forgetting I have JTAS articles to finish writing before the submission deadline, an exam next week, and on top of that my usual work.

 

[MonsterX]

Homo floresiensis existed up to 50000 years ago. Those could make interesting Ancient Aliens transplants.

 

[Condottiere]

They have to stand up for themselves.

 

[Tom B]

My inner nerd is whispering to me, 'wouldn't it be cool to make a cladistics tree showing how all of the different branches of humaniti are related?'

But my inner nerd has ADHD and is forgetting I have JTAS articles to finish writing before the submission deadline, an exam next week, and on top of that my usual work.

Yes yes yes. Obviously after the exam. And showing which ones are interfertile (not a real word but I hope everyone understands what I mean)

 

[WHULorigan]

Yes yes yes. Obviously after the exam. And showing which ones are interfertile (not a real word but I hope everyone understands what I mean)

Actually it is a real word. And yes, I understand as well.

• Collins English Dictionary: Interfertile

 

[Vormaerin]

For what it is worth, T5 specifies that the Ancients took samples of early sapiens, erectus, rhodesiensis, and neanderthalensis.

 

[Fresnel]

On a side note: If you want ideas for possible human variants - check out Ursula K Le Guin's Hainish Cycle.

 

[Jame Rowe]

Is there a book with stats for the Luriani in it?

 

[Geir]

Is there a book with stats for the Luriani in it?

There's a first edition book:

Minor Alien Module 1: Luriani ebook

Minor Alien Module 1: Luriani The Luriani are a race of contradictions. Most outsiders are struck by the extreme level of politeness in their society and apparent calm demeanour, only to be shocked by a sudden outburst of passion. They are a people with n

www.mongoosepublishing.com

 

[Jame Rowe]

There's a first edition book:

Minor Alien Module 1: Luriani ebook

Minor Alien Module 1: Luriani The Luriani are a race of contradictions. Most outsiders are struck by the extreme level of politeness in their society and apparent calm demeanour, only to be shocked by a sudden outburst of passion. They are a people with n

www.mongoosepublishing.com

Ah! I found what I was looking for.
The Mongoose 2nd edition book with info about the Luriani is Trailing Frontier.

 

[Fluffy Bunny Feet]

Homo Idalto, Homo Naledi.

 

[Jame Rowe]

Homo Idalto, Homo Naledi.

Fine hominids, with nary a trace of ad hominem.

 

[WHULorigan]

Homo Idalto, Homo Naledi.

The latter makes a good progenitor (or genetic source) for the Suerrat.

 

[rinku]

On top of there having been more than enough time since then for the homonids to have further speciated (especially in non-terrestrial environments), any amount of genetic engineering may have happened as well. It's probably a bit of a moot point what homonid was the root stock of any of them.

 

[Tom B]

As far as I can see, you've got 4 categories.
1) your base humans which have been changed very little.

e.g. Solomani, Vilani, Darrian, Sword Worlders, Zhodani. There are small differences but not much (you could argue that Darrians and Zhodani are different).

2) You've got those engineered by the Solomani, e.g. Selenites and aquamorphs

3) You've got those created by the Vilinani - the only example I know of is the Jonkeereen.

4) You've got those engineered by the Ancients - there will be several groups of these,

4a) Those taken from Homo Sapiens
Geonee (AoCS 3 says they have evolved naturally from little-modified humans due to the dense atmosphere and high gravity of their home world)

4b) Or from Neanderthals.
Suerrat (AoCS 4 says they are more closely related to neanderthals than modern humans)

4c, 4d etc.) Other ancestral humans ...

 

[WHULorigan]

e.g. Solomani, . . . Sword Worlders, . .

Actually the Sword Worlders are Solomani. They arrived at the Sword Worlds Region on a post-Rule of Man collapse / early Old Earth Union-era naval vessel (the "Gram") from the losing side of a battle of a protracted naval conflict. With a mixed crew composed of a significant Germano-Scandinavian ethnicity (along with other elements both Terran and Vilani) during the Long Night, they decided it was best to flee the region of conflict altogether and strike out into unexplored territory, and eventually ended up in the Spinward Marches after having (presumably) discovered a multi-jump pathway across the Great Rift J-5 Route.

 

[Zarpaulek]

Actually the Sword Worlders are Solomani. They arrived at the Sword Worlds Region on a post-Rule of Man collapse / early Old Earth Union-era naval vessel (the "Gram") from the losing side of a battle of a protracted naval conflict. With a mixed crew composed of a significant Germano-Scandinavian ethnicity (along with other elements both Terran and Vilani) during the Long Night, they decided it was best to flee the region of conflict altogether and strike out into unexplored territory, and eventually ended up in the Spinward Marches after having (presumably) discovered a multi-jump pathway across the Great Rift J-5 Route.

Also a whole plot reference to H. Beam Piper's Space Viking.