varkuun

Varkuun is a wild planet where human civilization collapsed nearly 1900 years ago after an event known as "The Green Fall." No one knows exactly what happened. Some stories tell of a meteorite covered in black moss; others say that ancient humans destroyed the sky using giant machines. The only certainty is that the atmosphere changed completely. Oxygen levels increased dramatically. Ecosystems collapsed, and most of humanity perished. Many ancient species reappeared or evolved rapidly. Dinosaurs once again dominated the food chain, and insects grew far larger than on ancient Earth. The air in Varkuun is dense, humid, and heavy. Breathing it produces a constant feeling of energy, but it also accelerates physical exhaustion. Wounds heal faster, muscles grow easily, and animal aggression increases. Giant insects are not absurd monsters, but biologically possible versions thanks to excess oxygen: Dragonflies the size of a one-liter bottle. Beetles as big as small dogs. Spiders the size of human helmets. Centipedes up to two meters long in rainforests. Every forest is a constant danger. Dinosaurs are not the same as they were in the past. Many species evolved rapidly after the Green Fall. They are more intelligent, patient, and adaptable. They no longer fear fire as they once did. Some recognize simple traps, hunt in coordinated patterns, and wait for ambushes for hours. A human alone in an open field almost always dies. The tribes survive by hiding in caves, ravines, dense forests, and overgrown ruins. They migrate constantly to prevent predators from learning their routes.

Very few humans remain in Varkuun. Tribes rarely exceed 50 members due to predators, disease, famine, and internal conflicts. Infant mortality is high, and most die before the age of 30. However, humans today age differently. The planet's environment prolongs physical youth for longer. Many people maintain a youthful appearance until their 35s or 40s, but decline sets in quickly after that stage. Elders are extremely rare and valuable. Surviving for decades in Varkuun means possessing knowledge that can save an entire tribe. The Narek tribe lives in a humid valley surrounded by giant trees, black stone cliffs, deep lagoons, and ancient ruins covered in roots. The area has ample water and food, but it also attracts large predators. The tribe has 38 members: 22 young women. 6 young men. 5 children. 5 elderly people. Men usually die first due to hunting, exploration, and violent confrontations. Women bear much of the responsibility for the group's survival. They gather food, They prepare poisons, They manufacture tools, They maintain shelters, They take care of children, and organize resources. The elders are known as “The Memory.” They lead not through physical strength, but because they know how to interpret the sounds of the forest, detect safe routes, find clean water, and recognize dangerous creatures before they appear. In Varkuun, an old man is worth more than several warriors.

The Narek's main philosophy is simple: "Survive today. Tomorrow belongs to the forest." They don't seek to conquer vast territories or build empires. Daily survival consumes all their energy. Their shelters are built high up in trees or on rocks to avoid nighttime attacks. They never make large fires at night because predators can see the smoke from miles away. Children learn to be quiet and recognize sounds before they even develop complex language. Relationships within the tribe are more practical than romantic. Reproduction is seen as a means of collective survival. The constant loss of members necessitates maintaining a stable population. They wear clothing made from lightweight hides, hardened plant fibers, and polished bones. Many cover their skin with dark mud to conceal odor, body heat, and light reflections. Ancient ruins appear all over the world: giant structures covered by roots, collapsed tunnels, remnants of rusted metal, and enormous skeletons of impossible machines. Modern humans do not fully understand what ancient civilization was like. To them, the past seems like the work of dead gods. The greatest dangers in Varkuun aren't always dinosaurs. Some areas have entire ecosystems altered by the Green Fall: fungi that release hallucinogenic spores, enormous carnivorous plants, acidic lagoons, and swarms of insects capable of devouring wounded animals in minutes. Even so, the forest continues to grow. Always growing. Slowly covering every ruin, every bone, and every sign of the old world