Pre Human History
200 million years ago, the alien
Nuwali created the
Savage Land, in
Antarctica as one of several planetary "game preserves" for the mysterious godlike
Beyonders. The Nuwali stocked the Land with Earthly life of the era, most notably dinosaurs; as Earth's flora and fauna changed over succeeding millions of years.
Dinosaurs went extinct about 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous Period when a meteorite struck the
Earth. They however were able to survive in the Savage Land. When Earth's continents shifted circa 50 million BC, the Nuwali augmented the Land's volcanoes to preserve its tropical status. They supplemented their preserve with prehistoric mammals and early hominids, or "
Man-Apes". Following the Nuwali's departure in 200,000 BC, little is known of the Land's history for over a hundred millennia.
[2]
Early Humanity
A faction of superhuman
Eternals dwelt there at least briefly, leaving a temple complex behind.[
citation needed] In 18,500 BC, it was colonized by
humans of
Atlantis, who exported prehistoric life throughout their empire while importing unicorns and other mystic creatures. Atlantean scientists extended the tropical effect, creating a recreation/commerce center called "
Pangea," then genetically altered
Man-Apes into humanoid versions of birds, monkeys, fish, and other animals. The
Beast-Men, put to work as laborers. The Beast-Men became dissatisfied with servitude and, following Pangea's automation, rebelled in the First Pangean War and were allowed to colonize underpopulated areas rendered habitable by the
Nuwali effect.
[2]
In 18,000 BC, alien and mystic conflicts resulted in the
Great Cataclysm, sinking Atlantis and ending its empire, but the Land and Pangea were protected from inundation by surrounding mountains.
[2]
The Beyonders, having observed their preserve over the millennia, sent
Fortisquian operatives, later called the
Caretakers of Arcturus, to repair its environmental system, but nonetheless, over half the population perished. Some survivors clung to Atlantean culture in cities like
Lemura and Sylanda; others forgot their origins, becoming ancestors of the Swamp Men and other tribes. The animal-people developed their own societies, sometimes, as with the
Aerians and
Pterons, resorting to war.[
citation needed] Every thousand years or so, high priests needlessly conducted human sacrifices to "protect" the Land.[
citation needed] In 3000 BC two godlike aliens briefly made the Land their home, and at some point
Sagittarians stored a Planet-Destroyer there with a gigantic robot,
Umbu, to guard it.[