RyverStyx: Sandbox
Prehistoric Era
Largely considered lost to the ravages of time, it is only through archaeological evidence excavated from numerous locations across Qerrbalak that the Skrell are able to gather even minuscule amounts of factual information. Through a combination of both archaeological excavations, and a bit of oral history passed through the generations, it is believed that Ranaera Skrellis (the first Skrell) diverged from a primarily sea-dwelling creature. It is at some point in the development of the Ranaera Skrellis that specific circumstances tailored the evolutionary path of the species to begin developing the ability to use psionics; mostly as a method of continued survival.
Ranaera Skrellis really only expanded onto the surface of Qerrbalak after several extinction events that proved to be in skrellian favor. It was here that the Ranaera Skrellis split into Axioris Ranaera and Xiialtus Ranaera. Whilst viewed upon as ethnicities in the modern-day, they are both in fact subspecies of the Ranaera Skrellis that developed separately to live either primarily within the shallows and depths or along the coasts and dryer regions of the Homeworld.
The Axioris Ranaera and the Xiialtus Ranaera were not always seen as equals. Early historical data shows that the Axioris Ranaera actively fought against the Xiialtus Ranaera and drove them from the depths of the home world's ocean. Anthropologists believe that the Xiialtus Ranaera were seen as weak by the Axioris Ranaera due to their slower swim speed and lesser psionic potential; although the exact evolutionary start point of psionics in the Skrell lineage is still uncertain. Federation Archeologists have also uncovered remains of Xiialtus Ranaera embedded with crude Axioris Ranaera weaponry on the seabed adding to the hypothesis that early tribalism between the subspecies was incredibly common.
Evidence gathered by archaeologists points to an atoll with an area called "Arqo-Wohai" or "Birthplace of Life" in Nral'Malic being the origin-point of the Skrell. An asteroid collided with Qerrbalak, and with it the building blocks of life necessary for evolution to commence. Several pieces of oral history passed down through the generations, alongside reconstructions of what it may have looked liked millions of years ago, have created a picture of an oceanic basin with almost magical qualities. Stories persist that creates within the region glowed, almost blinding the ancestors of the Skrell when compared to the darkness of the depths of the oceans. It is believed that the asteroid prompted the development of psionics within the ancient Skrell, however, little evidence supports such a belief.