“Silent forests, patient hearts.”
Vernali is a cool, damp taiga world within the League of Independent Systems, famed for its towering 350-foot trees, near-constant rainfall, and mist-shrouded forests. It is the ancestral home of the Elani, a graceful and cunning race known for their mastery of diplomacy, stealth, and trade. The planet’s economy thrives on the production of exquisite textiles, woven from the silk of native Rox creatures, which the clothes and fabrics made from are exported across the galaxy as a luxury commodity.
The surface of Vernali is dominated by endless forests of colossal trees, their canopies forming a roof of green high above the moss-carpeted ground. Cold rains, sleet, and mist are ever-present, creating an atmosphere of mystery and calm. Rivers wind between dense groves, nourishing both the forest and its inhabitants.
Population centers are often built into or around the trees themselves, blending natural beauty with darksteel architecture. The Elani value balance with their world, crafting cities that rise in harmony with their environment rather than in defiance of it.
Population: The Elani make up the majority of Vernali’s population, though traders and settlers from across the L.I.S. also reside in its cities. Communities are tightly knit, valuing precision, patience, and artistic excellence. Outsiders often remark on the planet’s quiet elegance, where even the bustle of its capital feels measured and deliberate.
Culture: Elani society is steeped in artistry, subtlety, and respect for nature. Their textiles, architecture, and crafts are prized for their beauty and precision. Elani culture also embraces espionage and intelligence as legitimate professions, with assassins, diplomats, and spies celebrated as much as artists or merchants. Folklore often tells of Iltara, the Archoness of Magic, visiting Vernali in the guise of a Soban avatar — a tale that inspires reverence among the Elani, who believe their world to be under her quiet watch.
Andrassia is the ancient capital of Vernali, a city where natural majesty and technology coexist. Built within and around towering trees, it features a blend of organic growth and darksteel construction. The city thrives as a hub of textile manufacturing, intergalactic trade, and diplomacy.
Notable Locations in Andrassia:
Andrassia Capital Building: A towering darksteel structure serving as the political heart of Vernali, housing the Council of Elders, who guide the planet and represent its people within the L.I.S.
Andrassia Assassins Guild: A sleek black steel tower, home to a legally recognized guild of assassins. The guild embodies Elani cultural respect for stealth and precision, training spies and killers alike.
Andrassia Starport: A sprawling trade hub built into the trunk of an immense tree, with a massive steel ring supporting docks, hangars, and markets. It is one of the busiest spaceports in the L.I.S., bustling with interstellar travelers and traders.
Tumaria: A quiet Elani town dedicated to Rox ranching. Wooden homes line the forest floor, while expansive pastures for Rox creatures provide the silk that fuels Vernali’s textile trade. The town is known for its pastoral charm and strong traditions.
Vernali is governed by the Council of Elders, six leaders chosen for wisdom and merit, serving until death or dismissal by public vote. One Elder is elected to represent Vernali’s voice within the League of Independent Systems.
While Vernali maintains its own small military, known for stealth tactics and environmental mastery, it also benefits from the shared protection of the L.I.S. fleets. Their ships are often sleek and agile, designed for reconnaissance, defense, and quick precision strikes.
Vernali’s silk is regarded as one of the most luxurious goods in the galaxy, woven into clothing, banners, and tapestries prized by nobles, merchants, and rulers alike. Its position within the League of Independent Systems makes it both a cultural heartland and an economic powerhouse among member worlds.
Vernali stands as the taiga jewel of the League of Independent Systems — a world of artistry, patience, and subtle strength, where silent forests conceal a people whose cunning and grace leave an indelible mark on the galaxy.