Protopyronate

Protopyronates were an early Tetrian species that evolved 600 million years ago, and became extinct 414 million years ago. They were the progenitors of all modern species of pyronates and magnetates.

Physical Characteriestics
Physically, Protopyronates were quite similar to modern Frelians, but with longer bodies and fewer but longer legs. They exhibited less variation in coloration, with each individual's fur ranging from light gray to dark gray.

Origins
The first Protopyronates evolved on Reldiga, probably near the southern coastline. This region's environmental conditions were fairly hostile to animal life. Violent storms hammered the coastal cliffs mercilessly, and the only food source was slimeweed which had the ability to anchor itself to rocks. Superior intelligence likely evolved in the Protopyronates due to the need for creative problem solving to survive in this challenging habitat.

Dawn of Civilization
Nearly 580 million Earth-years ago, the Protopyronates discovered a way to sculpt the rocks that formed their habitat by using the acidic slime produced by slimeweed. This allowed them to carve vast tunnel networks into the coastal cliffs which provided shelter from Reldiga's brutal climate. The development of permanent dwellings allowed the Protopyronates to stockpile food and thus put an end to their nomadic lifestyle. As the community spent less time foraging for food, they began to spend more time using their newfound rock-carving skill to create tools. The discovery of fire 577 million Earth-years ago led to the ability to forge glass and metal objects out of ores mined from within the crust. Soon writing was developed, which the Protopyronates used primarily to document their scientific and technological advancements. Most of these writings have survived to the present, preserved in libraries hidden deep inside the cliffs.

The Great Migration

 * See Main Article: Great Migration

After the discovery of other continents, the small population of 4600 Protopyronates made the decision to split into six groups that would each attempt to settle one of the continents.