My low fantasy setting:
My fantasy setting is inspired by the ice age, while the Ice Age has long passed in this fantasy world, Ice age creatures haven't got extinct.
For example I have woolly rhinoceroses, dwarf hippopotamuses, cave lions and cave hyenas.
I also have fictional creatures such as unicorns (Looks like a ice age beast not narwhal-horned white unicorn), sea dragons (giant "serpents"), giant wolves and wildmen ("sasquatches").
My opinion on neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis):
Neanderthals have more physical differences than elves and can be distinguished from humans quite enough. But I am not inclined to include a race just because they are a little physically different.
First type of neanderthal:
I imagine neanderthals as a barbarian counterpart "race" to humans, humans view Neanderthals in the same way Romans viewed Gauls or Germans. Not all neanderthals are barbarian, but most are. Most humans are not barbarians, but few are.
The neanderthals ride moose instead of horses. Their war chariots are pulled by reindeer instead of horses.
They make towers on the backs of mammoths and archers shoot enemies from there.
They use moonhounds in warfare which are wolfdogs bred for war.
They are at war with humans, both seek to conquer each other's lands.
They prefer to make buildings and walls out of wood.
Some neanderthals wear horned helmets to intimidate their enemies, while others paint their faces with red ocher to look like mad with fury.
In battle, some Neanderthals berserk and use warcries.
The neanderthals are not uncivilized they are just less civilized by human standards, the Gauls for example were not uncivilized they just did not have the cultural and technological superiorty of the Romans.
There are a few neanderthal kingdoms with their own cities but most are tribes.
The neanderthals tend to live in northern lands while humans tend to live in southern lands
Most neanderthals do not have armies but have tribal levies that need to be called in times of war, something that was common in Early Middle Ages and that was a precursor to feudalism.
Second type of neanderthal:
A dying and vestigial "race". Once they inhabited half of the continent but now they are only found in a few forests. Like the Druedain of LOTR, they are mysterious and live in big forests like pandas were mysterious before they were discovered by biologists. There are only three tribe of neanderthals left in this world. They are the "shepherds of the forests" in the same way as ents, they do not tolerate killing of animals in their forests and even trees. That means that they are ready to kill those who break their "rules". Some people think they do not want competition and that they consider outsiders poachers and intruders, while others think that they are protectors of living things. One thing is certain, it is known that trees are sacred to them and there are beautiful trees with golden leaves and white bark which neanderthals consider highly sacred. Their religion is animist and they live in harmony with nature. But that doesn't mean that they would live in harmony with nature if they succeeded to civilize themselves. They befriended wild animals such as bears and wolves and treat them like pets, some Neanderthals can possess the mind and the body of an animal in the same way that Bran can warg into the mind of a direwolf.
Two questions:
Do you think neanderthals are worth being included as a "race"?
What type of neanderthal should I choose, first type or second type?
My fantasy setting is inspired by the ice age, while the Ice Age has long passed in this fantasy world, Ice age creatures haven't got extinct.
For example I have woolly rhinoceroses, dwarf hippopotamuses, cave lions and cave hyenas.
I also have fictional creatures such as unicorns (Looks like a ice age beast not narwhal-horned white unicorn), sea dragons (giant "serpents"), giant wolves and wildmen ("sasquatches").
My opinion on neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis):
Neanderthals have more physical differences than elves and can be distinguished from humans quite enough. But I am not inclined to include a race just because they are a little physically different.
First type of neanderthal:
I imagine neanderthals as a barbarian counterpart "race" to humans, humans view Neanderthals in the same way Romans viewed Gauls or Germans. Not all neanderthals are barbarian, but most are. Most humans are not barbarians, but few are.
The neanderthals ride moose instead of horses. Their war chariots are pulled by reindeer instead of horses.
They make towers on the backs of mammoths and archers shoot enemies from there.
They use moonhounds in warfare which are wolfdogs bred for war.
They are at war with humans, both seek to conquer each other's lands.
They prefer to make buildings and walls out of wood.
Some neanderthals wear horned helmets to intimidate their enemies, while others paint their faces with red ocher to look like mad with fury.
In battle, some Neanderthals berserk and use warcries.
The neanderthals are not uncivilized they are just less civilized by human standards, the Gauls for example were not uncivilized they just did not have the cultural and technological superiorty of the Romans.
There are a few neanderthal kingdoms with their own cities but most are tribes.
The neanderthals tend to live in northern lands while humans tend to live in southern lands
Most neanderthals do not have armies but have tribal levies that need to be called in times of war, something that was common in Early Middle Ages and that was a precursor to feudalism.
Second type of neanderthal:
A dying and vestigial "race". Once they inhabited half of the continent but now they are only found in a few forests. Like the Druedain of LOTR, they are mysterious and live in big forests like pandas were mysterious before they were discovered by biologists. There are only three tribe of neanderthals left in this world. They are the "shepherds of the forests" in the same way as ents, they do not tolerate killing of animals in their forests and even trees. That means that they are ready to kill those who break their "rules". Some people think they do not want competition and that they consider outsiders poachers and intruders, while others think that they are protectors of living things. One thing is certain, it is known that trees are sacred to them and there are beautiful trees with golden leaves and white bark which neanderthals consider highly sacred. Their religion is animist and they live in harmony with nature. But that doesn't mean that they would live in harmony with nature if they succeeded to civilize themselves. They befriended wild animals such as bears and wolves and treat them like pets, some Neanderthals can possess the mind and the body of an animal in the same way that Bran can warg into the mind of a direwolf.
Two questions:
Do you think neanderthals are worth being included as a "race"?
What type of neanderthal should I choose, first type or second type?