Verdant Island
Tucked away in the western reaches of the Solaris Republic, Verdant Island is a quiet, secluded landmass shrouded in mystery and untouched beauty. A place where the sea laps gently at moss-covered shores and morning mist clings to the canopy like a veil, Verdant is the kind of island spoken about in half-whispers at taverns—more myth than destination, more secret than settlement.
Only one village lies along its rugged coast: Gudhorkan, a humble fishing community nestled beside a protected cove. With its weather-worn docks, whitewashed cottages, and the scent of salt and smoked fish in the air, Gudhorkan moves at its own pace, unconcerned with the bustle of the mainland. Life here is simple. Fishermen cast their nets at dawn, local vendors peddle shell trinkets and root vegetables in a small market square, and the pub—The Salted Anchor—serves as the social heart of the village. Outsiders are rare, and when they arrive, they’re met with cautious curiosity rather than open arms.
But beyond the village, the island tells another story.
The heart of Verdant is a dense, untamed jungle, humming with life and heavy with the scent of earth and flowering vines. Ancient trees twist skyward, their roots so large they form natural archways and secret groves. The deeper one ventures into the green, the stranger things become—sounds echo oddly, shadows seem to move on their own, and the jungle feels… watchful.
This is the domain of the Forest Kin, a reclusive tribal people who have lived in harmony with the island for generations. Almost never seen near the coast, the Forest Kin are masters of their environment—blending into trees, traveling soundlessly, and speaking a language that few outsiders have ever heard, let alone understood. Whispers speak of powerful tribal magic, older than the gods of Solaris, tied to spirits of the land, the stars, and the roots of the world. Their rites and rituals are guarded fiercely, and intruders into their territory rarely return—or if they do, they come back changed.
Despite their isolation, the Forest Kin are not forgotten. Local legends in Gudhorkan speak of a pact made long ago between the villagers and the jungle dwellers, a fragile peace maintained through distance and unspoken respect. Every so often, strange symbols appear carved into the trees near the village, and fishers claim to see silent figures watching from the edge of the jungle canopy. No one speaks of crossing into Forest Kin territory unless absolutely necessary—and even then, only with offerings in hand and prayers on their lips.
Verdant Island may appear quiet and idyllic to the casual traveler, but beneath its tranquil surface lies a web of ancient power, hidden pacts, and the ever-present hum of the wild. It is a place untouched by war or empire, and those who call it home—both coastal and jungle-born—intend to keep it that way.