Birth of the Elves
I've shaped the initial form of the civilization, and now it's time to infuse it with genetic traits and properties. Right now, it's just lifeless flesh puppets. Rotation speed at 36 hours by Galactic Union standards, orbital period of 4 years... time on this planet flows about six times slower than Union time. Set their lifespan to around 100 years locally, which means a whopping 600 years by Union reckoning! Oh, and the 36-hour day? I just scaled it up with the planet's size and adjusted accordingly. Doesn't really matter, though.
With the increased size comes stronger gravity, so I'll make their bodies from lightweight materials but super durable. Boost bone strength and elasticity to handle several times this gravity without issue, and densify the muscles for greater power. Like humans, secondary sexual characteristics kick in at 12-14 years, adulthood at 20—which is 120 Union years. Reproduction possible from puberty, but hormones tuned so they generally pair up around adulthood.
They'll love forests and nature, with a relatively peaceful temperament, but ruthless when threatened—strong resolve to kill enemies without mercy. To avoid wars among themselves, crank up tribal cohesion to maximum. Fantasy elves are always super tight-knit as a race, which makes them xenophobic toward outsiders. Feels authentic, right?
Heightened focus and eyesight, sensitive to environmental shifts like wind or humidity—genes optimized for long-range weapons like bows. High intelligence, curiosity, and drive for progress to rapidly advance resource-based tech. Hmm, what else? Elves mean... spirit magic? How to implement that. Cover it with science, or give them magic like the Meias tribe? Honestly, pure tech advancement could reach magic-level feats like the Rubaran, making them OP anyway.
I could create spirits across the universe, but limit to this planet or spread them? Risks diluting elf uniqueness. Energy beings like me could go cosmic horror fast—supernova spirits absorbing star energy, black hole spirits wielding gravity waves, anomaly spirits turning everything they touch into aberrations. Just imagining it spawns insane monsters. Better a planet-sized kaiju with a physical body that can be hurt.
...Yeah, no spirits. Too much hassle, and it'd mean managing another species. Alright, that's it. Elves complete! Let's review: porcelain skin on handsome beauties. Stamina and mental fortitude for 36-hour days, up to a month without sleep. Ultra-tough skeletons and muscles. 600-year Union lifespan. Ironclad tribal bonds, zero hesitation to slaughter foes. Keen senses, focus, environmental sensitivity. Sky-high IQ. Insatiable progress drive. All baseline specs.
...Wait, did I just make perfect superhumans? Nah! That's canon elves—noble, powerful in fantasy. In some universes, they're top dogs ruling cosmos. Look at Rubarans in Ubo Satula: tough vitality, long lives, resource-rich systems, genius civs. I'm starting mine in a bare forest, way fairer. ...Okay, overflowing resources, but still.
Oh right, forgot food chain. Plenty edible plants, but no animals. Elves eat meat, so add domesticable livestock... and threats for tension. Tiger/bear-like predators? Make 'em monstrous since elves are beasts themselves—not unbeatable, but early-game dodges or group hunts required. Drops like hides, claws, teeth as loot.
Man, feels like handcrafting a whole game. Match with herbivores, small carnivores/omnivores, insects, tiny critters. Aquatic life in oceans and freshwater too! ......Phew, got carried away. Diverse ecosystem now rivals old Earth's prime. Planet teems with life.
Time to seed: 1,000 elves per survival point, across ~30,000 spots I scouted. Starting pop: 30 million. Perfect—not too many, not too few. Ancient Earth villages had ~100; 1,000's a horde. Strong bonds mean no infighting; abundant food/water kills motives. Predators will force unity. Heh, not soul-crushingly hard—survive and thrive!
Swoosh—deploy 1,000 per point. First elves: 30 million strong. How fast will they multiply? Or early die-offs from competition? I believe in 'em. My ultimate race will conquer the planet, then the stars. Elf power! Space elves, go!
A female elf slowly opened her eyes. Consciousness returned. She was a lifeform of this planet. The similar beings around her? Kin. The forest felt secure, comforting. But who was she? No idea. Didn't matter. One thing crystal clear.
“......”
Something else lurked in the woods besides them. And it hungered for them. Her hypersensitive senses picked it up instantly. Her kin sensed it too. Survive. The urge burned fierce. Survive with her kin.
Thus, the 1,000 elves huddled tight, shoulder-to-shoulder. Instinct screamed: clustered, predators hesitate; if attacked, odds drop. Fight back. Who they were, where this was? Later. Could they win? Against forest shadows? How? Hands. Grasp things. Weapons beat fists—farther, harder strikes.
The female elf snatched a sturdy branch, thick as her slim forearm. Heavy-looking, but lifted easy. Body was forged tough. Her kin mimicked: branches for some, stones where trees lacked.
And then.
“Grrrrowl...”
Five hulking quadrupeds emerged, elf-sized. Long snouts, razor fangs. Drooling like at fresh meat, bulging eyes. Fur-shrouded, clawed paws lethal. Creator's "wolves"—but fresh-born elves knew no names, only prey-sight: enemy.
“Eeyah! Uh-uh!”
The first-awakened pointed stone-wielders, gesturing wildly. No language yet—pure body talk: fling stones!
“...!”
“Uwoh!”
They got it. Stone elves hurled with all might. Tough bones/muscles exploded force; focus guided true. Stones screamed wolf-ward.
Crack!
“Kyaaang!!”
Dozens smashed heads, legs, torsos. Impacts crushed bone. Wolves fled, grievously wounded.
“Woooh!!”
“Ooooh!”
No words, but joy thrummed clear. They eyed the branch-grabber, stone-tactician. Smartest, boldest. Lead us.