Human

Humans are the dominant intelligent species of the galaxy. They are biological beings originating from Earth although very few humans are aware of this. Over thousands of years of prolonged space travel and microevolution from adapting to the environments of different planets, multiple subspecies have formed.

Ancient human

Ancient humans represent humanity as they were in the 21st century, having becoming the dominant bipedal hominid species among others during an even more ancient era. Prior to achieving intragalactic travel, they had multiple ethnicities where they varied by skin and hair color based on their native environment. For example, darker skinned humans could typically be found closer to the equator due to the greater production of melanin.

Ancient humans are considered the common ancestor between all other human subspecies. Unlike modern humans, they are 100% organic with no synthetic DNA. Aside from preserved specimens or space travelers displaced by time, ancient humans for the most part, no longer exist. However, it is thought that certain isolated colonies exist with ancient humans.

Common human

Common humans, or simply humans, are the most genetically similar to ancient humans having only very minor differences in appearance. For example, a dominant trait is the retention of neotenous features into adulthood such as comparatively larger eyes and flatter faces. What sets them apart from ancient humans are the traces of synthetic DNA which are thought to ward off diseases and to reduce the risk of genetic mutations that would cause death shortly before or after birth.

While well-traveled common humans tend to have the Valerians' signature dark bronze skin, those who have stayed in one place for a long period of time tend to adopt regional traits as part of their environment. Skin colors mostly vary between shades of pink and brown, although some rarer types such as blue and green have been observed.

Valerian human

A subspecies of human (Homo sapiens valerianus) that averages between seven and eight feet tall. They typically have dark bronze colored skin and glowing blue eyes. They are thought to have gone extinct, but approximately 10% of all humans have traces of Valerian DNA in them. Aside from their height, they more closely resemble 21st century humans than those of the present day. They appear as a combination of all ancient ethnicities on Earth with some additional genetic modifications to give them peak human traits such as farther eyesight, increased cognitive abilities and higher physical strength.

Valerians were intimately familiar with technology and virtual reality on an instinctual level. Many Valerians possess the ability known as technokinesis which allows them to directly commune with technology by manipulating subtle electrical impulses. This ability can be rarely found in common humans with it being more likely found by those with a sufficient amount of Valerian DNA.

Sylph

The Sylph are a human subspecies (Homo sapiens alfus) that arose when an ancient generational ship settled on the jungle world of Frey, a moon of the gas giant Asgard. Because Frey differs greatly from Earth in atmosphere and other factors, the Sylph chose to genetically modify themselves to adapt to the environment as opposed to relying on external life support systems. The amount of genetic modifications are so extensive that they can almost be considered a different species entirely. Sylph tend to be tall and pale skinned with pointed ears and large horns made of keratin. They to have a leaner appearance than other humans as a natural adaptation to Frey's lower gravity.

Because the atmosphere of Frey has much higher oxygen concentrations than Yeddo's atmosphere, many Sylph who go off world tend to wear breath masks. Some keep them on at all times to play it safe, but those without it will only require an intake of oxygen at least every four hours.