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in: Archetypes, Supernatural Powers, Appearance Alteration,
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Archetype:Precursor

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"As I entered the chamber, I sensed that it had been sealed for hundreds - perhaps thousands - of years. And while this room was clearly built when the Pillars were erected, I knew that no human hand could have shaped this place - and that perhaps it had never been seen by human eyes. The surrounding murals depicted a winged race, their features so like my own - but beautiful, where mine were grotesque... and angelic, while mine were demonic. I tried to decipher these images: A great war, but with combatants like none I had ever seen..."
― Raziel (Legacy of Kain)
"Life evolved on my planet before all others in this part of the galaxy. We left our world, explored the stars, and found none like ourselves. Our civilization thrived for ages, but what is the life of one race, compared to the vast stretches of cosmic time? We knew that one day we would be gone, that nothing of us would survive. So, we left you. Our scientists seeded the primordial oceans of many worlds, where life was in its infancy."
― Progenitor recording (Star Trek)
"Before the cycles, our kind was the apex of life in the galaxy."
― Leviathan (Mass Effect)
"We simply came... before."
― Minerva (Assassin's Creed)
"Once upon a time, there was a race of people that went on a great journey through space, across the universe. They were called the Alterans. After much time they found a great belt of stars. The Alterans named their new home Avalon and built many 'Astria Porta'."
― Dr. Daniel Jackson, reading from an Ancient book (Stargate SG-1)

The archetype of a precursor race, an ancient race who often played a part in shaping the world.

Also Called[]

  • Ancient Race Physiology
  • Old One Physiology

Properties[]

The user either is or can become a member of a precursor race, an ancient race whose culture and knowledge rose to its pinnacle in ages long past, but which is no longer present. Oftentimes, a precursor race played a part in shaping the world into what it is today.

Associated Powers[]

  • Ascended Physiology: Many precursor species have advanced to a point where shedding material existence to become something else becomes a rite of passage for their culture.
  • Boundless Influence: Even for a bygone era society, Ancient's legacy and connections can push global to cosmic events well onto the future.
  • Civilization Manipulation: Precursor races often created and controlled their own civilizations.
  • Dual Warping: The old one race were such profound understanding of the physical and ethereal that they're machinations as well as deviations that could reorder the very fabric of reality on all its levels.
  • Evolutionary Template: Precursors often are the template for evolution for various species.
    • Prime Being: Standing as the originator of a species, they are often central to the progression & development of their native race.
  • Grand Lifeform Design: Some precursors, like the Engineers from Alien, often create different species, like humanity.
  • Non-Corporeal Form: Some precursors, like the Firstborn in Space Odyssey, have evolved into non-corporeal entities.
  • Science-Magic Lordship: Almost all precursor races often possess access to ancient, advanced practices, which would sometimes be indistinguishable from magic by humanity from primordial times.

Relationships/Variations[]

Limitations[]

  • Some precursors may not be as powerful as they were in their golden age.

Example Characters[]

See also: Precursors and Ancient Astronauts

  • Engineers (Aliens)
  • Paradine (Andromeda)
  • Isu/The First Civilization (Assassin's Creed)
  • Kingdom of Zeal (Chrono Trigger)
  • Ancient Humans (Cross Ange)
  • High Ones (ElfQuest)
  • The Cetra (Final Fantasy VII series)
  • The Zilart (Final Fantasy XI)
  • The Ancients (Final Fantasy XIV)
  • Ancient Humanity (Halo)
  • Forerunners (Halo)
  • Precursors (Jak and Daxter)
  • Pillar Men (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure Part II: Battle Tendency)
  • The Ancients (Kirby)
  • The Ancients (Legacy of Kain)
  • The Hylden (Legacy of Kain)
  • The Zonai (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
  • Protoculture (Macross)
  • Celestials (Marvel Comics)
  • Eternals (Marvel Comics)
  • "Leviathans" (Mass Effect)
  • Protheans (Mass Effect)
  • Jardaan (Mass Effect Andromeda)
  • Alimbic (Metroid)
  • Osh-Tekk (Mortal Kombat)
  • First Ancestral Race (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
  • Human Civilization (NieR: Automata)
  • Alien Invaders (NieR: Automata)
  • Great/Ancient Kingdom (One Piece)
  • Oni (Onimusha)
  • The First Humanity (RWBY)
  • Ancient Human Civilization (Twilight Eyes)
  • The Old Ones (The Dark Tower)
  • The Yautja (Predator)
  • Unnamed Extraterrestrial Progenitors (The X Files)
  • The Teddy Bears (Unicorn Wars)
  • The Unicorns (Unicorn Wars)
  • Unnamed Creators of the book of knowledge (Unicorn Wars)
  • Titans (The Owl House)
  • Firstborn (Space Odyssey)
  • Alliance of Four Great Races (Stargate)
  • Progenitors/"Ancient humanoids" (Star Trek)
  • Tkon (Star Trek)
  • Iconians (Star Trek)
  • Rakata (Star Wars Legends)
  • Valkyrur (Valkyria Chronicles)
  • Kitoralsus (Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Animation)
  • Teoti (Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion Z)
  • Ancients (Sonic the Hedgehog)
  • Ancients (Sonic Boom)
  • Various characters (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Gallery[]

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