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The Hunters first discovered humanity roughly 170,000 years ago. Humanity, in its many forms (Homo neanderthalensis, Denisova hominins and Homo floresiensis, Homo sapiens and other humans), was viewed as weak prey, for they were biologically weak and possessed no technology. The hunters that had arrived were more interested in the megafauna that existed at that point (Varanus priscus, Canus dirus, Megalania, Arctodus sp, Ursus spelaeus, Elasmotherium, Smilodon populator). Earth became a fertile hunting ground for the hunters, and as time passed more of the clans arrived on Earth to test their strength and skill.
Time passed and new ideas were brought to the planet. A clan ship arrived bearing a R’ka Queen. Like most other clans, they saw humans as unworthy prey however, after some experimentation the hunters soon discovered that humanity made great incubators. The eager hunters took advantage of the size of the human population, their quick gestation period and growth into maturity and began breeding the vermin en-masse.
An apocalyptic mistake occurred around 75,000 BC. A large hunting party, belonging to the same clan that had introduced the R’ka to the planet, had gotten overzealous and released an entire hive into their hunting preserve located around modern day Lake Toba. While the party fought hard, the sheer number of R’ka overwhelmed the hunters. At least one of the warriors involved set off their self-destruct device, this had the intended effect of sterilizing the hive however, it had the unintended effect of setting off the volcano in the area. The subsequent eruption blasted over 2,800 cubic kilometers of ejecta into the atmosphere, throwing the planet into a volcanic winter.
The effects of this super eruption reduced the human population to around 15,000, and killed off a great many species. Having essentially salted the entire planet, what clans that were actively using the Earth sought opportunity elsewhere.
The Earth eventually healed itself, and so did the remnants of the human population. Around 50,000 BC with their numbers recovered, Homo sapien began displaying cognitive traits that would distinguish them from the other human species. This genetic leap would set them on a path that would see them accelerate exponentially.
Around 5,000 BP the Hunters would arrive again on the planet, this time however they discovered an evolved human race. Humanity had become the dominant species on the planet, the Neadathrals and other hominid species had died off or their genetic make up merged into that of the flourishing homo sapiens. The hunters discovered that the Homo sapien population had begun working together in collectives. This allowed them to advance much faster than they ever had previously. The most interesting traits found in the species was their ingenuity and intelligence, two things not found in prior incarnations of the species.
The clans who had arrived on Earth began hunting the human population. Their ability to craft traps, and work together to defeat stronger foes were alluring traits to the hunters. After several instances of Homo sapien warriors killing blooded warriors, the clans deemed the planet and its population worthy of more investment.
The hunters collected regiments of the human population from around the globe and brought them to their hunting preserve. Those that were sequestered in the preserves were bred and groomed and aided in their technological and societal development by the hunters. They were taught how to read and write, they were educated on basic mathematics and the natural sciences. They learned how to mine the ores of the earth and how to smelt them and forge them into tools and weapons. These advancements were given not out of love, but to shape a stronger, smarter, more dangerous prey.
Having been gifted these advancements, the humans quickly began to view the hunters as gods. They built pyramids in the style of the hunters' architecture. They carved statues and forged countless pieces of religious iconography. The clans found this behavior amusing, though it was not the first time that they had discovered a primitive race and watched as they deified their physical image. The humans had created for themselves a unified religion, one to which they were willing to fight and die for. All of this had the intended effect of making them far more dangerous prey.
Humanity came to believe that their gods were the gatekeepers to paradise. To have the chance at entering into this paradise humanity had to enter into the trials. These ‘trials’ were nothing short of blood sport for the hunters, though to humanity they were a key to salvation.
As time passed and the hunters continued to tinker with humanity, they sought to introduce further challenges. The R’ka were once again brought to Earth and bred en-masse, using human stock as incubators. Quickly becoming aware of the reproductive cycle of the serpents, the subjugated human population formed the idea that sacrificing themselves to their gods as willing participants in the unholy cycle would ensure them a quick entry into paradise. Many members of the interned human populations however saw the serpents as unworldly beasts symbolizing death, despair and torment. The first word to be used by humans to describe these creatures would be “Gallu”.
History has a way of repeating itself. Around 4,225BCE, a large outbreak occurred at the temple preserve. Unknown to the hunters at the time, the R’ka queen held captive breached containment and wreaked havoc. A number of Elite hunters were dispatched to deal with the crisis, unfortunate for them though they misjudged the number of R’ka to which had been birthed from the human population on the preserve. Several members of the hunting party were captured and subsequently impregnated. The decision was then made by the Clan Leader overseeing the preserve to sterilize the installation and its surroundings to ensure that no abomination would ever be birthed. Using high energy plasma weapons, the clan motherships leveled the installation and scorched the entirety of the landmass to which the preserve had rested on.
While countless humans would die in the temple grounds, and on the large island to which it had sat, many would survive the apocalyptic events which had occurred and go on to populate other parts of the globe, rejoining their kin to which they had been separated from for so long.
With the deed done, the clans opted to leave the planet and seek ripe hunting grounds elsewhere. Their marks on humanity would stay however. Tales of great chariots streaking across the sky, ancient civilizations with great technology, and great gods fighting demonic serpents would find their way into many human cultures. The pyramid design to which the interned humans would co-opt would be copied from the tales and designs of those that happened to have been transferred out of the preserve or had escaped the calamity.
The Hunters would eventually return to Earth, though never in the same capacity as in the past. Small hunting parties and Youngbloods looking to earn their mark would visit humanity throughout the ages, though they took a more clandestine approach to their business than in ages past. To this day the Hunters still visit Earth looking to claim blood, prestige and honor.