K’vae Za’tiru

Deep within the Underground lies K’vae Za’tiru, the twenty-first city founded beneath Va’nu’s desert crust. Though not among the earliest settlements, it rose swiftly in prominence.

A city of towering spires, K’vae Za’tiru is ruled by Baroness Tazlyn Shi’kelo, who governs under the authority of Tyek Vazrae Eld’usk. Hidden from all but the worthy, it functions as both a civilian metropolis and a strategic command center. To outsiders, it appears a fortified stronghold. To its people, it is home.

Location

K’vae Za’tiru lies far beneath the surface within Va’nu’s Khom'ye , the sacred underground where the true cities reside. Access is strictly controlled. Entry is granted only to Va’nu’ians, allied species of proven merit, or outsiders personally sanctioned by the Council of Elders or by those who rule the sector.

Its depth shields it from surface extremes and from detection, while its caverns are vast enough to house a thriving civilization.

First Command Spire

At the heart of K’vae Za’tiru stands the First Command Spire, the city’s most recognizable and symbolic structure. Rising from the cavern floor like a living monument, it serves as:

• A military command nexus
• A diplomatic meeting ground
• A visible reminder of Va’nu’ian authority

The Spire’s interior combines obsidian glass domes, gold-inlaid stone pathways, and luminous blue light that mimics a sky never touched by sun. Soldiers stationed within move with disciplined calm rather than intimidation, embodying Va’nu’ian philosophy: strength does not require fear.

Architecture and Design

K’vae Za’tiru is built into a colossal cavern illuminated by bioluminescent structures and energy conduits threaded through stone like veins.

Key architectural features include:

• Towering spires of glass and metal linked by bridges and platforms
• Flowing waterways reflecting molten gold light
• Spiral support columns etched with shifting designs
• Geothermal vents providing warmth and power

Ancient stonework merges seamlessly with modern construction, reflecting a culture that honors endurance rather than erasing it.

Cultural Significance

K’vae Za’tiru is more than a city. It is a verdict.

Va’nu’ian tradition holds that survival is not a right, but something earned. The underground cities were not built to save the people, but because the people proved themselves worthy of them. Outsiders allowed into K’vae Za’tiru are implicitly acknowledged as having passed an unseen judgment.

Within its streets, clan loyalty, Council law, and Ri’Tachi authority intersect. Politics are subtle, often lethal beneath the surface, and decorum masks centuries of rivalry.

Governance

The city exists under the authority of:

• The Council of Elders, whose decrees override all local rule
• The city's barony, responsible for civil administration
• The Ri’Tachi, who operate independently but with Council mandate

Conflicts between these powers are rarely public and never trivial.

Population

K’vae Za’tiru is home to:

• Va’nu’ian civilians and artisans
• Military personnel and command staff
• Ri’Tachi operatives moving unseen among the populace
• Select off-world allies under strict protection or scrutiny

Despite its size and influence, the city maintains a disciplined calm. Chaos is neither tolerated nor necessary.

Reputation

Among Va’nu’ians, K’vae Za’tiru is regarded with quiet pride. Among outsiders, it inspires awe and unease in equal measure.

It is said that once someone has walked its paths and looked out over its glowing depths, the surface world never feels entirely real again.