Approved Location Siverra

[Ariel Yvarro]

Siverra​

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: This submission establishes Siverra as a post–First Order settlement that evolved from a small, cliffbound village into a recognized cultural and archival city. It provides a grounded location for roleplay involving historical reckoning, Force-adjacent recovery, pilgrimage, archival work, and low-intensity diplomatic or reflective RP on Virgillia VII following the collapse of the First Order and the rise of the Commonwealth.
• Image Credit: N/A
• Canon: N/A
• Permissions: N/A
• Links: Siverra

SETTING INFORMATION

• City Name: Siverra
• Classification: Rural Town
• Location: Virgillia VII
• Affiliation: The Commonwealth | Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun
• Population: Sparse
• Demographics:
  
  • Age:
    
    • 18% 0–15
    • 52% 16–64
    • 23% 65–100
    • 7% 100+
  • Gender:
    
    • 45% Female
    • 41% Male
    • 14% Non-Binary
  • Species:
    
    • 68% Human
    • 9% Twi’lek
    • 6% Cathar
    • 5% Mirialan
    • 4% Chiss
    • 3% Zelosian
    • 3% Keshiri
    • 2% Other
• Wealth: Low - Siverra does not pursue industrial or commercial expansion. Local wealth derives from subsistence craft, river trade, archival stipends, pilgrimage hospitality, and Commonwealth-supported cultural preservation grants. Monetary accumulation is socially discouraged in favor of communal stability.
• Stability: High - Despite its history, Siverra is a calm and orderly settlement. Governance is local and consensus-based, supported,but not directed,by Commonwealth oversight. Crime is rare, outsiders are tolerated but watched, and conflict is resolved quietly. The city’s stability is rooted in ritual restraint, shared memory, and geographic isolation rather than enforcement.
• Freedom & Oppression: Relaxed, with Cultural Restrictions
  
  Residents enjoy broad personal freedom, though social expectations strongly discourage disruptive behavior, excessive displays of power, or unsanctioned exploration of sealed sites. Certain acts,such as unauthorized entry into the equatorial caves or the removal of archival stone,are illegal under both local and Commonwealth law.
  
  There is no overt oppression, but silence, humility, and respect for place are culturally enforced.
• Description: Siverra is a cliffbound settlement carved into stone terraces overlooking a narrow river gorge. Once a small village during the First Order era, it survived occupation through isolation and inward resilience rather than resistance. Following the fall of the First Order, Siverra gradually transformed into a pilgrimage and archival city, known for its quiet sanctuaries, sealed ruins, and disciplined approach to remembrance.
  
  Stone structures dominate the upper tiers of the city,former shelters and sanctuaries now repurposed as archive halls, reflection chambers, and witness monasteries. Below, wooden dwellings and footpaths follow the natural contours of the cliff and river, connected by switchback stairs and narrow bridges. Wind moves freely through the city, and sound carries far; as a result, Siverra is a place of deliberate speech and intentional movement.
  
  Siverra does not present itself as a center of power. Instead, it serves as a site of consequence,where the scars of the Ren era are preserved, contextualized, and quietly guarded against repetition. Visitors come not to seek authority or revelation, but to understand what remains when domination fails and memory endures.

POINTS OF INTEREST

• The Upper Sanctuaries (Stone Witness Cloisters): Carved directly into the cliff face above the city’s highest terraces, the Upper Sanctuaries are the oldest surviving structures in Siverra. Built during the First Order era,though not by the Ren themselves,they served as places of shelter, record-keeping, and silent endurance for villagers forced to live in proximity to Ren-used cave networks.
  
  The sanctuaries are austere stone buildings with thick walls, narrow windows, and heavy doors. Interiors are dim and cool, designed to mute sound and slow movement. Today, these spaces function as witness cloisters, housing testimony archives, renaming records of corrupted sites, and sealed observation chambers that overlook the equatorial cave approaches.
  
  Visitors are permitted entry only under supervision. No ceremonies are conducted here; the sanctuaries exist to hold memory, not to interpret it.
• The Switchback Path: The Switchback Path is the primary pedestrian artery linking Siverra’s lower river dwellings to the upper sanctuaries. Cut into stone and reinforced over generations, the path winds upward in deliberate turns, each marked by low stone rests and wind breaks.
  
  Movement along the Switchback is culturally regulated,not by law, but by custom. Loud conversation, hurried travel, or mechanized transport is considered deeply inappropriate. The ascent is treated as a transitional act, allowing travelers to leave daily concerns behind before approaching archival or sacred spaces.
  
  Small stone markers along the path record names,never dates,of those who contributed to its upkeep.
• The Sealed Overlook: Situated near the midpoint of the city’s vertical rise, the Sealed Overlook is a reinforced stone platform that once served as a Ren observation point over the cave network below. After the First Order’s collapse, the structure was stripped of all Ren iconography, sealed, and repurposed as a controlled observation site.
  
  From the Overlook, one can see the narrow gorge where the cave entrances lie, now cordoned by stone markers and ritual cordage. Entry into the caves is prohibited without Commonwealth and local authorization.
  
  The Overlook is staffed intermittently by archive wardens and cultural stewards. It exists not as a warning post, but as a reminder that vigilance does not require occupation.
• The Lower River Terraces: At the base of Siverra, where the cliff gives way to the river gorge, lie the Lower River Terraces,wood-and-stone dwellings built on stilts and platforms that follow the river’s seasonal rise and fall.
  
  This is where daily life unfolds. Smokehouses, drying racks, tea porches, and small craft workshops line narrow walkways above the water. The architecture is practical, weathered, and intentionally imperfect; repairs are visible and respected rather than concealed.
  
  Pilgrims and archivists often lodge here, hosted by local families. Hospitality is offered quietly and without ceremony.
• The Quiet Crossing: The Quiet Crossing is a narrow footbridge spanning the river just downstream of the city. Constructed from stone pylons and timber decking, it connects Siverra to outlying footpaths and pilgrimage routes leading deeper into Virgillia VII’s hollers and shrine sites.
  
  No guard post exists at the Crossing. Instead, a simple stone plinth bears a carved reminder in multiple scripts: “Cross only what you intend to carry back.”
  
  The Crossing marks the edge of Siverra’s jurisdiction and the beginning of less-settled lands.
• The Wind Court: Nestled between two cliff faces near the upper terraces, the Wind Court is an open stone plaza designed to channel natural air currents through the city. Sound behaves unpredictably here,voices carry, echoes linger,making it a place where silence is instinctively observed.
  
  • The Court is used for:
    
    • Public notices
    • Consensus gatherings
    • Visiting Commonwealth archival briefings
  • No permanent structures occupy the space. When decisions are made here, they are recorded elsewhere.
• Ysalamir Forest: Located beyond Siverra’s lower river terraces and stretching into the surrounding hollers, the Ysalamir Forest is a dense, slow-growing woodland known for its unusually muted Force presence. During the First Order era, the forest acted as a natural counterbalance to the nearby Ren-used caves, disrupting Force sensing and discouraging prolonged occupation.
  
  The forest was never formally cultivated. Instead, villagers learned to live alongside it, harvesting only fallen timber and medicinal flora. Paths through the Ysalamir Forest are narrow, unmarked, and maintained through use rather than construction.
  
  In the present day, the forest is treated as a living boundary. Commonwealth archivists and Force-sensitive visitors are advised to travel with local guides, as extended exposure can cause disorientation or sensory dampening. No permanent structures are permitted within the forest.
• Rapachi Mountains: The Rapachi Mountains form the jagged highland spine overlooking Siverra and its surrounding valleys. These peaks predate settlement and were never fully mapped during the First Order occupation, contributing to the region’s isolation.
  
  Stone sanctuaries and hermit cells are scattered across the lower elevations, while the higher ridges remain largely untouched. Winds are strong and constant here, shaping both architecture and custom,structures are squat, anchored, and deliberately incomplete.
  
  • The Rapachi Mountains serve as:
    
    • Natural protection for Siverra
    • Pilgrimage routes for reflection and exile
    • Observation points over sealed cave approaches
    • Locals believe the mountains act as witnesses, not guardians. No ceremonies are held at the summits.
• The Slyvenst Mines are a network of abandoned extraction tunnels carved into the Rapachi foothills. Active during early settlement and later exploited under First Order oversight, the mines provided stone and mineral resources used in both civilian construction and Ren infrastructure.
  
  Following the First Order’s collapse, mining operations were permanently halted. Several lower tunnels were deliberately collapsed, while others were sealed and cataloged by archive stewards.
  
  Today, the Slyvenst Mines are designated as:
  
  • A restricted heritage site
  • A structural warning zone
  • An archival case study in resource exploitation under occupation
  • Unauthorized entry is illegal under both local and Commonwealth law. The mines are occasionally studied by engineers and archivists, but never reopened.
• The Stillreach Shuttle Enclave: Located several kilometers downriver from Siverra proper, partially concealed by forested ridges and natural rock formations, the Stillreach Shuttle Enclave is the sole sanctioned point of offworld arrival for the region.
  
  • The Enclave consists of:
    
    • A single reinforced landing pad
    • A low-profile operations shelter
    • Archive and customs facilities built into the surrounding stone
    • No permanent hangars or heavy infrastructure
    • Designed to minimize environmental and cultural disruption, Stillreach handles small civilian and Commonwealth shuttle traffic only. Larger vessels are prohibited from atmospheric descent and must remain in high orbit or transfer passengers via approved couriers.
    • The site operates on a limited schedule, often going days without arrivals.
• The Quiet Transfer: From Stillreach, visitors proceed to Siverra by ground transport or foot, depending on clearance level. No direct aerial transit into the city is permitted.
  
  • Options include:
    
    • River skiffs piloted by licensed locals
    • Walking routes through marked forest paths
    • Limited-use utility crawlers for archival cargo
    • The final approach into Siverra is intentionally slow.
• The River Exchange: The River Exchange is Siverra’s primary trading space, located along the Lower River Terraces where footpaths, skiff landings, and mountain trails converge. This is not a market in the conventional sense. There are no permanent stalls, shouted prices, or centralized currency exchanges. Trade here operates on seasonal rotation and mutual familiarity.
  
  • Goods commonly exchanged include:
    
    • Dried river fish and preserved vegetables
    • Hand-thrown ceramics and stoneware
    • Herbal preparations and salves
    • Wool, woven cloth, and leather goods
    • Archive-safe storage containers
    • Barter is common, credits are accepted quietly, and written contracts are rare. Outsiders are expected to observe before participating.
• The Stillhouse of Listening is located above Siverra’s upper terraces, set into a narrow shelf of stone between: the Rapachi Mountains’ lower ridges, and the air corridors that carry sound up from the city and down from the sealed cave approaches. It is not visible from below and cannot be approached directly from the city. Access is only possible via a short, steep spur off an unmarked mountain path,known locally only as the last quiet turn.
  
  • Importantly: It does not overlook Siverra.It overlooks the spaces where the Force might intrude. This is an outpost for the Wardens of Stillness
• The Stone Infirmary (House of Quiet Care): Built into the lower cliff wall near the River Exchange, the Stone Infirmary serves as Siverra’s primary healing space. Constructed of thick stone with narrow light shafts, the building remains cool and dim throughout the year. Care here is non-invasive and non-Force-based.
  
  • Services include:
    
    • Physical recovery and wound care
    • Long-term convalescence
    • Trauma stabilization (especially post–Force exposure)
    • Herbal and thermal treatments
• The Breath Walks: Radiating outward from the Stone Infirmary are a series of marked walking paths, known collectively as the Breath Walks. These routes follow river bends, forest edges, and low Rapachi foothills.
  
  • The Walks are used as part of recovery regimens:
    
    • Physical rehabilitation
    • Emotional grounding
    • Post-trauma stabilization
    • Pilgrimage preparation
  • Each path is subtly graded and marked only with stone symbols indicating pace, not distance.
• The Communal Hearth: At the heart of the Lower River Terraces lies the Communal Hearth, a large open kitchen and eating space built around a stone fire pit and long, shared tables. The Hearth operates daily, funded by communal contribution rather than fee. Anyone may eat,locals, pilgrims, archivists, and visitors alike,provided they help prepare, clean, or tend the fire.
  
  • Meals are simple, seasonal, and deeply regional:
    
    • Rice and grain porridges
    • Root vegetables and mountain greens
    • River fish broths
    • Fermented pickles and preserved fruits
    • Herbal teas and light ales
    • Meat is rare and served quietly.
• The Tea Shelter: Perched on a mid-level terrace overlooking the river gorge, the Tea Shelter is a small, open-sided structure where infusions are prepared and shared throughout the day.
  
  • Teas and broths are selected based on:
    
    • Season
    • Altitude
    • Physical state of the drinker
  • No menu is posted. The server decides.
• The Drying Racks: Above the Lower Terraces, exposed to constant mountain wind, stand long rows of wooden drying frames used to preserve food, herbs, and textiles. These racks are communally maintained and carefully spaced to avoid noise and visual clutter. They are one of the clearest examples of wabi-sabi practicality in Siverra,patched, leaning, repaired, and utterly indispensable. Pilgrims are often assigned time here as part of their stay.
• The Stone Cellars: Carved beneath older stone structures, the Stone Cellars serve as shared cold storage for food, medicine, and archival-safe materials. Entry is regulated by custom rather than guard. Nothing stored here is locked,violation of cellar trust is one of the few acts that can result in permanent exile from Siverra.
• Graywatch Post: Situated on a rocky rise several kilometers from Siverra and well outside the Ysalamir Forest boundary, Graywatch Post is the sole permanent military installation maintained by the Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun on Virgillia VII. The post is intentionally modest.
  
  • Graywatch consists of:
    
    • A compact fortified compound
    • Barracks for a rotating detachment
    • A sensor and communications mast
    • Light vehicle storage and emergency landing clearance
    • No heavy weapons emplacements
  • It is positioned to observe, not dominate,overlooking approach corridors and the Stillreach Shuttle Enclave rather than the city itself.
• The Hosted Terraces: Within the Lower River Terraces, a small portion of the dwellings are designated collectively as the Hosted Terraces. This is not a separate district in the urban sense. Instead, it is:
  
  • A string of homes and lodges
  • Interwoven with permanent residences
  • Set slightly apart from family-only dwellings by elevation and footpath flow
  • Visitors do not rent rooms.
  • They are received.

SECURITY
Medium - Relative to a civilian Archive / Hermitage.

Siverra maintains a deliberately restrained security posture. Rather than visible patrols or hard fortifications, its safety is ensured through layered deterrence, geographic isolation, cultural regulation, and limited external enforcement. The city is not defended in a conventional sense; instead, it is structured so that threats rarely reach it at all.

Security Assets & Measures

• Wardens of Stillness: A rotating cadre of Guild-sanctioned Force-sensitive custodians operating out of the Stillhouse of Listening above Siverra. Their role is to prevent unauthorized or disruptive Force use, de-escalate Force-related incidents, and enforce non-use doctrine. They do not police civic life or exercise overt authority.
• Graywatch Post (External Military Presence): A small, low-profile outpost maintained by the Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun, positioned several kilometers from the city. Graywatch provides:
  
  • Offworld access control
  • Emergency response capability
  • Deterrence against external threats: The garrison does not patrol Siverra and does not interfere in local governance.

Stillreach Shuttle Enclave (Controlled Access Point): The sole sanctioned offworld arrival site. Handles small shuttle traffic only and enforces visitor clearance, access restrictions, and transport protocols. No direct aerial access to Siverra is permitted.

Geographic Deterrence: Natural barriers,steep cliffs, narrow paths, the Rapachi Mountains, and the Ysalamir Forest,limit mass movement and discourage hostile approach. These features are considered part of the city’s defensive posture.

Cultural Enforcement: Silence, restraint, and communal accountability act as informal internal security. Disruptive behavior is rare and quickly isolated through social pressure rather than force.

Restricted Zones: Unauthorized entry into these areas is illegal under both local custom and Commonwealth cultural protection law.

• Sealed equatorial cave approaches
• Slyvenst Mines
• Upper Sanctuaries

While Siverra lacks conventional defensive infrastructure, its layered system makes hostile action difficult to initiate and harder to conceal. The city relies on prevention, oversight, and quiet intervention, rather than confrontation. Violence within the city is exceptionally rare.

Access & Restrictions

• Under Commonwealth designation of Virgillia VII as an Archive World with Hermitage–Monastic protections, access to Siverra is restricted but not closed.
• Authorized visitors include:
  
  • Commonwealth archivists and cultural officers
  • Approved historians, scholars, and diplomats
  • Pilgrims with registered intent
  • Local residents and sanctioned traders
• Unauthorized access, particularly by Force-aligned groups, militant orders, or commercial prospectors, is grounds for immediate removal and interdiction.
• No weapons beyond personal sidearms are permitted within Siverra’s jurisdiction, and Force usage is strongly discouraged except in emergencies.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Siverra began as a small cliffbound village, founded generations before the First Order era by river-dependent settlers seeking isolation and stability in the Rapachi highlands. Its early population survived through fishing, small-scale mining, and subsistence craft, with little interest in regional politics or expansion.

During the First Order’s presence on Virgillia VII (circa the mid-850s), Siverra remained a village, never a stronghold, never a center of power. Its proximity to Force-sensitive cave systems brought unwanted attention from Ren-aligned elements, but the settlement endured through withdrawal rather than resistance. The Upper Sanctuaries were constructed or expanded during this period as shelters, record spaces, and places of silent endurance rather than worship.

The exploitation of the Slyvenst Mines under First Order oversight marked the most intrusive period in Siverra’s history. Mining activity brought infrastructure and outside control but also lasting environmental and cultural damage. Following the collapse of the First Order, mining operations were permanently halted, and the tunnels sealed.

In the decades that followed, Siverra evolved organically. What had once been survival practices, record keeping, site renaming, controlled silence, became deliberate cultural principles. The village grew modestly as archivists, pilgrims, and scholars began arriving under Commonwealth oversight.

By 907, under the stewardship of the Imperial Commonwealth of Dosuun, Siverra was formally recognized as part of Virgillia VII’s Archive World designation, with secondary classification as a Hermitage–Monastic world. This recognition did not transform Siverra into a city of power, but rather affirmed what it had already become: a place where memory is preserved, trauma is contextualized, and restraint is practiced as civic virtue.

Today, Siverra remains small, quiet, and deliberately incomplete. It does not seek growth, prominence, or authority. Its role,both historically and in the present, is to hold what others would prefer to forget, without allowing it to rule the future.

 

[Judah Lesan]

Ariel Yvarro

[APPROVED]