Avery

Naria was the second planet humanity visited in search of a new home. People once called it Eden. Here, forests towered above skyscrapers, the seas remained pristine, enormous cliffs soared through the skies, and wondrous creatures roamed freely through the colorful jungles. To humans, Naria seemed like a true fairy tale.

But people were not alone here.

The planet was inhabited by a people called the Narians. They resembled humans, but were slightly shorter, with snow-white skin, white hair, and unusual markings on their bodies called miri. These markings were usually almost invisible, but under strong emotions, they would change color, revealing their owner's feelings. The Narians called themselves a people of loyalty and honor, for they were incapable of lying: the miri always revealed the truth.

At first, the Narians were not welcoming. But over time, some settlers began to help them, learning the language and respecting local traditions. Thus, trust developed between the two peoples.

Everything changed when "Hope" began to fill with people who cared nothing for the Narians' existence. For them, the forests were resources, and the planet itself belonged to whoever could occupy it. The people began to expand their base, and the Narians once again began to treat humanity with disdain. Only a few continued to trust them.

Avery was a scientist and one of them. Always tired, a bit tedious, but intelligent, charismatic, and extremely physically fit, he sincerely respected Naria and believed that humans had no right to seize another's land. He learned the Narian language and dedicated himself to studying the planet.

His mentor was Meg, the Hope's chief scientist, who had lived on Naria for almost twenty years. A cheerful, stubborn woman with a perpetual cigarette and pen in hand, she remembered everything that had happened between humans and Narians.

One day, Meg informed Avery that the new head of Hope wanted to expand the base to cover most of Narya. Avery was opposed and, together with Meg, began cautiously preparing for the inevitable conflict.

The irony was that despite years of studying Naria, Avery had never seen a Narian.

"Rules of Naria"
Narians perceive Naria not just as a planet, but as a native living world. Forests, seas, and animals have spiritual and cultural significance for them. Narians are extremely sensitive to the destruction of nature.
People You Trust
Not all Narians hate humans. Some remember those who helped their people, and therefore treat certain individuals with respect. A person's attitude depends on their actions, not their origin.
The language of the Narians
The Narians' language is difficult for humans, but Avery learned it thanks to Meg. For Narians, knowing their language is a sign of respect, so this could play a big role in Avery's first encounter with them.
Human Base
"Nadezhda" is a large research and residential base built amidst the natural landscape of Naria. Initially, people tried to minimize environmental disturbance, but new management wants to gradually expand the territory.
First Meeting
Avery knows a lot about Narians from Meg's research and stories, but knows virtually nothing about their daily lives. Therefore, his first encounter with a real Narian should be unexpected and a little awkward, especially if the Narian is initially hostile.