The Astral Verge

The Astral Verge is an independent solar system.

Overview

The Astral Verge is an independent star system orbiting a rare, pulsating blue star called Nerathis. At the heart of the system lies a civilization known as the Veridus Coalition, an advanced society that has, over millennia, forgotten the original functions of much of its technology. Despite possessing remarkable devices and artifacts, the Veridus no longer understand their true mechanisms and instead regard them as mystic tools. This belief is central to their culture, but it doesn’t mean they are primitive or ignorant—instead, their society is marked by intense curiosity, respect, and reverence for the relics of their ancestors.

System Composition

The Astral Verge consists of five planets, each playing a unique role in Veridus society:

1. Exoria Prime: The central hub of Veridus civilization, a lush, densely populated planet where much of the ancient technology resides.
2. Arcologis: A cold, mountainous world home to complex, ancient mining machines that the Veridus now use for rituals of “stone calling” to extract precious ores.
3. Zenitha: A tropical planet housing massive structures believed to be temples but suspected to be old reactors, giving the land an almost supernatural glow.
4. Myriel: A barren, rocky world used for pilgrimage, where old planetary defense towers are seen as sacred relics.
5. Thera’s Crown: A gas giant with orbiting artifacts considered holy relics; it’s believed that their ancestors once wielded these for unknown, divine purposes.

The Forgotten Technology

The Veridus are surrounded by ancient artifacts and devices, many of which operate autonomously or with minimal intervention. They’ve developed complex myths around these machines and treat them as sacred, but their knowledge of their original purpose has faded with time.

1. Skyward Beacons: Towering, crystalline structures on Exoria Prime emit beams of energy that once maintained planetary shields. Now, the Veridus regard these “Light Callers” as sentient beings that keep their world safe from “dark spirits.”
2. Aether Forge: Located deep within Arcologis, the Aether Forge is an enormous machine that produces a seemingly endless supply of precious metals. The Veridus regard it as the “Heart of the World,” and only a select group of metallurgists known as Oracles of the Forge are permitted to witness its “gifts” and harvest materials.
3. Whispering Relays: Devices that transmit sound across planets are regarded as spiritual guides. Priests communicate through these “Echo Spirits,” which are likely remnants of an ancient communication network.
4. Celestial Conduits: Stations around Thera’s Crown emit bursts of light and radiation at predictable intervals. The Veridus believe these “Eyes of the Gods” are their ancestors’ ways of showing favor and interpret each burst as a divine message.

Society and Belief Systems

The Veridus Coalition’s society is built around respect for the “Elder Relics.” While they can create and use basic technology, their engineering skills are limited to repairing simple structures and vehicles. The more complex relics are treated with reverence and handled only by trained orders and guilds.

• The Guild of Illuminators: Charged with the upkeep of Skyward Beacons, the Illuminators study light phenomena, interpreting them as omens for the Coalition’s future.
• The Order of Echo Priests: Communicators for the people, the Echo Priests use Whispering Relays to share spiritual guidance and are responsible for training in the art of “listening to the voices of the past.”
• Metallic Order of the Forge: A group entrusted with the “sacred art” of receiving the Aether Forge’s “gifts,” using metals and alloys to construct weapons, armor, and tools for daily life.

Challenges and Exploration

Though they are isolated, the Veridus have a keen interest in learning more about their surroundings and often explore abandoned installations with a mix of trepidation and awe. There is tension between those who wish to demystify their world and those who fear that such knowledge could disrupt their spiritual balance.

Relations with Outsiders

The Veridus Coalition is wary of outsiders but intrigued by their knowledge. Traders and scholars are sometimes welcomed but are forbidden from dismantling or studying the relics. Some Veridus individuals are beginning to question the "divine" nature of these technologies, but the elders resist, believing their current path is the will of the ancient architects of their world.