Zetheilerius Progenitorias

Zetheilerius progenitorias often referred to simply as Progenitors are a species of Glossid thyreophoran reptiles that were once native across Eurasia and North America. But through their own technological development and hubris were forced into extinction by their own creations

Theid Theron, a genetically modified member of the species is now the last surviving representative.

History

Early History

The first members of the genus Zetheilerius evolved in the late Pliocene, about 4.9 million years ago, in North America. being arboreal frugivores and carnivores with similar ecological niches to monkeys or lemurs and arboreal mustelids on the continent like most other members of the Glossid family.

Zetheilerius progenitorias, or more simply put Progenitors, evolved 1.2 million years ago in Northern North America having migrated much further north than any of their closely related species, with fossils having been found in places like the Yukon Territories and Aleutian Islands. Progenitors were adapted to live in inhospitable, frozen climates, and managed to cross the Bering Straight some 950,000 years ago and settled across the Siberian and Eurasian steppes and tundras.

Soon after Progenitors began developing civilizations and cultures. Their primitive history was similar to that of humanity's, beginning their technological advancements with stone tools and later, bronze, copper and iron, followed by advancements in agriculture that allowed them to feed larger populations. Around 904,000 years ago the first large Progenitor cities began to emerge, and grow. Soon the Progenitors began developing technologies, starting with relatively simple things like humanity did but quickly advancing to harness electricity, making heavy machinery, radios and even computers, but also their most defining technological advancement, Genetic Engineering.

Age of Genetic Engineering

The invention of Genetic Engineering in Progenitor society was something immediately celebrated, something that would allow any Progenitor with the skills or intelligence to metaphorically stand amongst their deities. It started out rather humbly, livestock that would produce more meat and consume less food or fruit trees that would thrive in even the harshest, driest winters. This influx of food allowed the Progenitor population to explode into the billions.

The success of Genetic Technology eventually led to it becoming completely unregulated, and allowed it to fall into the hands of so called 'artists'

They modified the genome of a popular pet, the Domesticated Strider, a species of superficially humanoid Thyreophoran, distantly related to themselves, to possess fantastical colors and patterns, unique horn and scale structures and many other 'designer traits'. This new species of genetically modified pet became known as the Kobold.

Kobolds became a phenomenon among Progenitor society, with any wealthy or high ranking Progenitor bound to have at least one of them, and collectors keeping as many as they possibly could, searching for Kobolds with strange patterns and features to show off to friends or followers. And so breeders began popping up, trying to create more and more elaborate specimens or ones that could perform more impressive tricks and skills.

One designer breeder eventually developed something that completely changed the game. Using Genetic Engineering he made a few minor edits to the Kobold genome, enlarging their brains, and adding cosmetic genes from various species of dragon. This resulted in the birth of the Dragonborne. The Dragonborne became instantly popular completely outcompeting the market for the Kobolds, ultimately causing the breeding of them to stop and the species to become extinct. Other designers took DNA from extinct creatures extracted from fossils to create another breed, the Saurians.

And another subset of creators began to compete over who could make the most aberrant, twisted and unconventional creatures using the Dragonborne and Saurian genomes, this new highly variable, monstrous species would be known as the Fae. As the Progenitors continued breeding their new species to be more extavagant and more intelligent, they reached a point where their creations were just as intelligent as they were. The development only received minor interest from a select few biologists and and 'radical' animal rights activists, and the commodification of the newly sapient species' continued.

The three new species were extremely popular as pets and later as servants, slaves and gladiators in their arenas. different breeds were considered for different tasks, though the gladiatorial breeds, usually derived from Dragon, Sauropod and Ankylosaur DNA, were failing to meet the expectations of ever more bloodthirsty crowds.

World-class Saurian breeders met, and concocted a brand new idea.

Population Decline and Extinction

The Progenitor population was reduced to only 20% of its former number after the Great Progenitor-Hominid War and finally finished off due to the Saurian Revolution. It was rumored that some relict populations had survived in Moshkho until the 1920's. Nonetheless they genetically live on in the form of the Necrorex.

Resurrection

After being extinct for thousands of years, and leaving very little traces of their existence, an ambitious geneticist Jonathan Qu of Qu Labs in New York City was able to procure a series of well preserved metacarpal bones from CryptoZoo Traders Global and was successfully able to extract DNA from the sample.

The DNA was synthesized, and edited slightly, before being formed into an embryo and placed within an artificial ovum. Four months later the egg hatched, marking the first time a Progenitor had stepped foot on the planet in over 100,000 years. The baby was called ZTH-02 by lab staff but would later come to call himself Theid Theron after learning about his species culture while in M.Y.T.H.O.S. custody

Culture

Recreation

Progenitors were huge fans of gladiatorial combat, with nearly every major city having a gigantic arena at it's center where various creatures would be forced to fight or hunt one another for the amusement of thousands.

Religion

Progenitor religion had many stories, but one of the most popular and culturally important detailed a Progenitor named Rheithed who, after being tasked with 16 labors by the gods, was able to ascend into godhood himself.

This story fueled the Progenitors to master the art of genetic engineering, believing that creation was one of the necessities that an individual would have to master before becoming a god. It was believed it was every Progenitor's right to ascend to godhood.

Appearance and Biology

Progenitors are a species of superficially theropod-like Thyreophoran Dinosaurs related to Dragons, drakes and Tongue-Stranglers. They are morphologically very similar to the other members of the Glossidae family.

Their vital organs are encased in a structure of interlocked, subdermal osteoderms, which frees the ribcage to become the achor point for several long, tentacle-like tongues that can be controlled with astounding dexterity.

Adaptations for Glacial Living

Progenitors have some of the most unique adaptations to living in frigid environments seen in nature. In fact they lack many of the common heat preserving strategies seen in most cold-tolerant animals. (short extremities, thick fur/feathers, high amounts of body fat etc.)

Rather Progenitors keep warm by running their bodies at 115 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that would kill almost any other vertebrate.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Dexterous, Multi-tipped Tongue
Sharp teeth and claws
Sharp tail blades
Enhanced Senses

Weaknesses

Allergy to Garlic, Onion and Rhubarb - All allium plants are extremely toxic to Progenitors and can cause death in hours if consumed.

Level of Technology

Extremely High; The Progenitors were masters of Genetic Engineering,

Notable Representatives

Theid Theron (last living individual)
Rohit Conoc ('The Father of Gene Alteration')
Zee Lithorey (Notable geneticist, who lived just before the Great War. Her Death helped fuel the fire of the war as well as the Saurian Revolution)

Trivia

The Progenitors were originally known as 'Genetitheridians' before being changed while writing the script and lore for 'The Isle of Moshkho' webcomic
Original Progenitor concepts had all members of the race possess a mechanical harness with four mechanical tentacles, tipped with USB-like plug in that the Progenitors would plug into one another's harness and communicate digitally.
- The harness and tentacle concept was later retooled into Theid Theron's Achrinian War Harness.
Progenitors had several biological origins before being thyreophorans was finalized. Including...
- Evolved Sea Cucumbers from 200 million years in the future.
- Aliens from an earth-like planet.
- Relatives of Monitor Lizards