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Or perhaps Mai thinks they're from the future, only to be laughed at by the Daomen for thinking that something could come from a future that doesn’t exist yet. They might be a dead evolutionary offshoot from Earth’s past. That being said, either direction implies that the present can interact with the future (even if we’re the “future”), which is scientifically problematic. Some important things to research before deciding on a time period: Which organisms would exist in both our time and theirs? Which would be totally alien? Which pre-modern atmosphere would they have existed in? What was the climate of the continental arrangement (land or sea)?
Or perhaps Mai thinks they're from the future, only to be laughed at by the Daomen for thinking that something could come from a future that doesn’t exist yet. They might be a dead evolutionary offshoot from Earth’s past. That being said, either direction implies that the present can interact with the future (even if we’re the “future”), which is scientifically problematic. Some important things to research before deciding on a time period: Which organisms would exist in both our time and theirs? Which would be totally alien? Which pre-modern atmosphere would they have existed in? What was the climate of the continental arrangement (land or sea)?


The main obstacle to a theoretical pre-human civilization is not the absence of archaeological evidence (Pangea was in existence at the P-Tr period discussed below, and later continental upheaval would probably deeply bury everything) but rather the fact that, if you go back far enough that archaeological evidence would be unlikely, we see only fossils of simpler life forms that showed no evidence of large brains. However, ocean life is often boneless, leaving fewer fossils, so there's more potential for surprises. Also, we know almost nothing about what’s buried on the ocean floor. Finally, it seems that no ocean floor is older than 170 [[wikt:Ma|Ma]] anyway due to plate tectonics.
The main obstacle to discovering a hypothetical pre-human civilization (recently termed the [[wp:Silurian hypothesis|Silurian hypothesis]]) is the absence of archaeological evidence, because Pangea was in existence at the P-Tr period discussed below, and subsequent continental upheaval would probably deeply bury any evidence. However the main obstacle to believing in a pre-human intelligent species is that, if you go back in time far enough that archaeological evidence would be unlikely, we see only fossils of simpler animals that showed no evidence of large brains. However, ocean life is often boneless, leaving fewer fossils, so there's more potential for surprises. Also, no ocean floor is older than 170 [[wikt:Ma|Ma]] due to plate tectonics, and we are not in the habit of digging deeply into the ocean floor to see what turns up.


See the [[wp:Permian–Triassic extinction event|Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) extinction event]], AKA the Great Dying, for a possibility. The P-Tr event happened about 252 [[wikt:Mya#English|Mya]], before the dinosaurs. Life was simpler, but there were large organisms on land and in the sea; insects, “sea scorpions”, and herbivores were all giant at the time (mammals and giant reptiles came in the following Mesozoic era). Further interesting points about the P-Tr event: the mysterious absence of coal in that layer, the staggering increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> (and methane?), a great increase in acidity both on land (acid rain) and in sea that would dissolve fossils, the “reset” in body size, the beginning of the breakup of Pangea, the eruption of the Siberian Traps, and the unexplained marine extinction pattern that favored some life forms.
If a massive pre-human civilization did exist, we might expect to see massive climate change in response to its industrialization. See the [[wp:Permian–Triassic extinction event|Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) extinction event]], aka the Great Dying, for one possible candidate. The P-Tr event happened about 252 [[wikt:Mya#English|Mya]], before the dinosaurs. Life was simpler, but there were large organisms on land and in the sea; insects, “sea scorpions”, and herbivores were all giant at the time. The [[wp:Crurotarsi|crurotarsans]] thrived (ancestors of the dinosaurs). Further interesting points about the P-Tr event: the sudden absence of coal in that layer, a significant decrease in <sup>238</sup>U in the ocean, the staggering increase in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> and global temperature (8°-10° C), a great increase in acidity both on land (acid rain) and in sea, massive and global anoxia in the ocean, the “reset” in animals' body sizes, the beginning of the breakup of Pangea, depletion of the ozone layer, decrease in <sup>13</sup>C (known causes: massive die-offs, atomic detonations), and the eruption of the Siberian Traps (thought to be the cause of the entire extinction event).


Whatever form the Daomen take, it could turn out to be very anticlimactic to reveal them in entirety and then have them become regular actors later in the story, as if they are merely alien-looking human characters. Some sci-fi stories make this mistake. This would retroactively ruin the mystery or sense of danger from earlier in the story before their reveal (and images and footage from the later story where they interact normally with humans would become spoilers for newcomers by forestalling any suspense about what they look like and their ultimate disposition as allies/enemies). The best option might be to end the story with them trying to enter our “dimension” through a phase portal and being shut out. Maybe the only part of a Daoman that we see clearly is an enormous alien hand reaching through the veil, and perhaps causing chaos on this side before being shut out. Perhaps also a silhouette of a head with glowing eyes (how many?) on the other side.
Whatever form the Daomen take, it could turn out to be very anticlimactic to reveal them in entirety and then have them become regular actors later in the story, as if they are merely alien-looking human characters. Some sci-fi stories make this mistake. This would retroactively ruin the mystery or sense of danger from earlier in the story before their reveal (and images and footage from the later story where they interact normally with humans would become spoilers for newcomers by forestalling any suspense about what they look like and their ultimate disposition as allies/enemies). The best option might be to end the story with them trying to enter our “dimension” through a phase portal and being shut out. Maybe the only part of a Daoman that we see clearly is an enormous alien hand reaching through the veil, and perhaps causing chaos on this side before being shut out. Perhaps also a silhouette of a head with glowing eyes (how many?) on the other side.


It may turn out that the Daomen are aquatic, which would go along with the character of the P-Tr extinction event (see consumption of coal and massive spike in methanogens… for energy?). Perhaps when a portal is opened between our worlds at the game’s end, the area first fills with water. This would raise a gameplay question of how the player is supposed to fight them, but perhaps the fight is not directly with the Daomen but with whatever is powering or guarding the portal.
It may turn out that the Daomen are aquatic, which would go along with the character of the P-Tr extinction event that affected the oceans so badly. Perhaps when a portal is opened between our worlds at the game’s end, the area first fills with water. This would raise a practical question of how the player is supposed to fight them, but perhaps the fight is not directly with the Daomen but with whatever is powering or guarding the portal.


The Daomen (or Dao''man'', if there's a sole survivor) may have to use an assistant in our world, someone “possessed” by the Chrysalis or something similar, in order to accomplish his will. Perhaps a child, because they are easier to control and to alter with the Daodan. I’m picturing a dark-haired girl, impetuous and foul-tempered. She should be young enough that she can be revealed as [[../Impressions#Muro's downfall|Muro’s daughter]] by some Fury.
The Daomen (or Dao''man'', if there's a sole survivor) may have to use an assistant in our world, someone “possessed” by the Chrysalis or something similar, in order to accomplish his will. Perhaps a child, because they are easier to control and to alter with the Daodan. I’m picturing a dark-haired girl, impetuous and foul-tempered. She should be young enough that she can be revealed as [[../Impressions#Muro's downfall|Muro’s daughter]] by some Fury.
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==Enemies==
==Enemies==
Logically some of Mai’s enemies should be Daodan-powered. This is an opportunity to send Mai to different locales to fight super-powered baddies. Perhaps reference local legends, i.e. [[wp:Gajasurasamhara|Gajasurasamhara]], [[wp:Kankalamurti|Kankalamurti]], [http://www.old-picture.com/indians/Nayenezgani.htm Nayenezgani] (who fought the ''anaye'', alien gods — perhaps the symbiotes are modern ''anaye''!) and [[wp:Cú Chulainn|Cuchullainn]] as inspiration for these foes.
Logically some of Mai’s enemies should be Daodan-powered. This is an opportunity to send Mai to different locales to fight super-powered baddies. Perhaps reference local legends, i.e. [[wp:Gajasurasamhara|Gajasurasamhara]], [[wp:Kankalamurti|Kankalamurti]], [https://web.archive.org/web/20160325213051/http://www.old-picture.com/indians/Nayenezgani.htm Nayenezgani] (who fought the ''anaye'', alien gods — perhaps the symbiotes are modern ''anaye''!) and [[wp:Cú Chulainn|Cuchullainn]] as inspiration for these foes.


==Language==
==Language==
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====Real life====
====Real life====
See [[wp:List of female explorers and travelers|List of female adventurers]], [[wp:Women in the military#History|History of women in the military]], [[wp:Warrior woman|Women warriors]], [[wp:List of women warriors in folklore|List of women warriors in folklore]].
See [[wp:List of women explorers and travelers|List of female adventurers]], [[wp:Women in the military#History|History of women in the military]], [[wp:Warrior woman|Women warriors]], [[wp:List of women warriors in folklore|List of women warriors in folklore]].


==Storytelling in games==
==Storytelling in games==
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