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| New Sapients; a strange idea for a book | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 13 2010, 08:16 PM (1,069 Views) | |
| Canis Lupis | Feb 13 2010, 08:16 PM Post #1 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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We all know about alternate universes, right? Universes that branched off of our own in which anything and everything could have happened. Suppose that there is an alternate universe in which a Qu-like species discovered Earth. The date of discovery: 5 million years ago. At that time, they discover no civilization on Earth at all. They see one species (australopithecines) that is on the path to civilization and they see numerous other species that could be guided onto the same path. So this alien race inserts genes that code for sapience in various animal species (australopithecines are not included because they already possess the gene). These animal species are the ancestors of HE's:
Five million years later, six of the seven species come into civilization (the dolphins don't because they can't make tools. Instead, they develop their own language and become underwater dog soldiers). First off, what will these sapients look like after their initial helping hand by the Qu-like race? Second, what might their civilizations be like? Third, what will their interactions with each other be like? (note: The Qu-like race only altered creatures in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They didn't bother with the Americas or Australia)[/list] Edited by Canis Lupis, Feb 13 2010, 11:40 PM.
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| Scrublord | Feb 13 2010, 08:29 PM Post #2 |
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Father Pellegrini
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You forgot crows. |
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My Projects: The Neozoic Redux Valhalla--Take Three! The Big One Deviantart Account: http://elsqiubbonator.deviantart.com In the end, the best advice I could give you would be to do your project in a way that feels natural to you, rather than trying to imitate some geek with a laptop in Colorado. --Heteromorph | |
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| lemming98 | Feb 13 2010, 08:41 PM Post #3 |
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Adolescent
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some octopi have been know to create an coconut home and armour, though this isn't that complex this race may see intelligence in these species? Also I think crows are a must.
Edited by lemming98, Feb 13 2010, 08:41 PM.
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| Venatosaurus | Feb 13 2010, 09:09 PM Post #4 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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I think the Gorilla-based race would be somewhat of a pacifist/pantheists, but can also exhibit aggressive and violent behaviors if the case is present. Depending on which species develops sentience, determines the type of civilization they have...for instance a Mountain Gorilla race would develop a civilization based on height, with housing and areas of importance being at different levels in their mountainous homes. They'd obviously be humanoid, be retain longer than average arms, and thus able to comfortable walk on all fours as well. The "Lycan" society, would probably have a very wolf-like structure, with an Alpha King and Queen, with their offspring (once coming into a certain age) challenging them for the role (though it is usually passed on). The rest of the society, the Betas, are similar to middle class citizens, with the lowest, the Omegas, being either completely outcasted, or simply killed. They are a very scent-based society, with jewelry, owning different scents, either from the giver, or the favorite scent of an owner, for example. As for their general appearance, rather than humanoid, I was thinking the general Lupine body shape, though with a fore-shortened face, larger cranium, and dexterous paws. They would be facultatively bipedal. I have ideas for the other groups, but they pretty easy to think of. |
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| Canis Lupis | Feb 13 2010, 09:56 PM Post #5 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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As for why I didn't include octopi, well, I've already got one marine race (dolphins). While octopi would be potential candidates. Perhaps injection of the sapience gene does not work if you don't have a notochord (or a notochord-like structure)? I will probably include the crows now that I think about it. As for the "Lycan" design, your idea seems pretty likely Venatosaurus. Though I think it would be a bit counterproductive if they were still quadropedal with dextrous front paws. I'm of the mind that they would walk upright to free up their hands. I've always liked how "Planet of the Apes" depicted their sapient apes. Special effects aside, I'd have to say my favorite "Planet of the Apes" movie was the original, made in the 1960's. It seems a lot more plausible and the religion vs. science theme resonates with me. Anyway, the remake of "Planet of the Apes" definantly had the best ape design. So, in danger of breaking copyright laws, I'm thinking the gorilla-sapients would look something like the gorillas from the remake. |
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| Venatosaurus | Feb 13 2010, 10:05 PM Post #6 |
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HAUS OF SPEC
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Well the "Lycans" would walk on two when carrying object in their front 'paws' when they are freed up than they will usually walk on all fours...especially when running. As for the "Gorilla-Man", I have to agree the design would pretty much be identical, though they could always have a few differences, whether in color, or minor features. |
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| Canis Lupis | Feb 13 2010, 10:16 PM Post #7 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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Ah. That's what you meant with the Lycan walking thing. Though, hopefully, they'd be able to run on two legs while carrying something. Running quadropedally (meaning you'd have to put down what you were carrying) would be counterproductive in a war. Longer legs possibly. That could be a difference. |
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| Kingpin | Feb 13 2010, 10:36 PM Post #8 |
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Prime Specimen
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The decendants of the elephants would not evolve hands, obviously. Perhaps a more dextrous trunk. |
-Last Olympian, Rick Riordan.
-Nick | |
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| Canis Lupis | Feb 13 2010, 10:39 PM Post #9 |
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Dinosaurs eat man, woman inherits the Earth.
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That's a no brainer. Elephants evolving hands is just ridiculous. However, four "lips" on their trunk is not out of the question. BTW, could elephants evolve sapience at their immense size? |
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| Margaret Pye | Feb 13 2010, 11:22 PM Post #10 |
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Adult
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Why not? I see no conflict. Maybe conflict between the amount of energy required to run a large brain and their low-energy diet, but elephants are pretty smart already, so the conflict can't be absolute. The thing about trying to scale up wolf packs is that they're based on nuclear families: there's Mom, Dad, and a bunch of kids who haven't left home yet. So I'd assume that if wolves developed a society, the "alpha" thing would happen within each extended family more than between families. See, beta wolves aren't allowed to breed. So if you only have one alpha pair in a political unit, then we're looking at eusociality. |
| My speculative dinosaur project. With lots of fluff, parental care and mammalian-level intelligence, and the odd sophont. | |
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| Holben | Feb 14 2010, 04:35 AM Post #11 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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I'm not sure that there are specific genes which code for sapience. I think it's a matter of alteration of the brain already there. Crows would need manipulators. Wolves are already very intelligent, and in a sapient society there would probably be more stress on expansion and exploration, so the betas could move to new pastures and start new packs. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| The Dodo | Feb 14 2010, 05:05 AM Post #12 |
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Prime Specimen
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Crows and parrots can use their beaks and feet. I'm wondering more about what the wolves and dolphins are going to use. |
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| Margaret Pye | Feb 14 2010, 05:42 AM Post #13 |
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Adult
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But if the betas moved to new pastures and started new packs, that would make them alphas. Yes, I'm not sure how the wolves evolved manipulators either. Maybe the Qu gave them hands? |
| My speculative dinosaur project. With lots of fluff, parental care and mammalian-level intelligence, and the odd sophont. | |
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| Holben | Feb 14 2010, 12:00 PM Post #14 |
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Rumbo a la Victoria
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Dogs manage with their mouths, but communication would then be restricted to body language. Yes, betas would be alphas, but you knew what i meant. ![]() Dolphins wouldn't progress far as a sapient, so it doesn't really matter. |
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Time flows like a river. Which is to say, downhill. We can tell this because everything is going downhill rapidly. It would seem prudent to be somewhere else when we reach the sea. "It is the old wound my king. It has never healed." | |
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| Kingpin | Feb 14 2010, 12:31 PM Post #15 |
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Prime Specimen
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If Dolphins were to establish sapience, without hands, or course, I think any society they formed would be nomadic, following food sources, follow a matriarch or queen, and place much more importance on the females then males. And I think you guys are discounting the ability to use tools without hands (Or tenticles for that matter). Dolphins have been observed covering their snouts with sponges to protect them while foraging. They wouldn't have what we would considered 'advanced tools', but enough. |
-Last Olympian, Rick Riordan.
-Nick | |
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