In a far away solar system, a rather small planet orbits a sun much like our own Sol. There are four continents and many islands on this planet, but only the largest continent contains sentient life. The most prominent of the sentient creatures are the Valari, who call both their planet and their continent Vala. The continent, located at a point where it crosses the equator, is covered with a unique rainforest.
Due to its small size and the relatively low amount of dense metals in its composition, Vala's gravity is rather low - less than half Earth normal. This allows the towering Taeri trees to reach incredible heights, to the extent that where they grow, absolutely no sunlight penetrates to the bottom half-mile or so of the atmosphere. Most life, therefore, is concentrated in the upper regions of the trees, and the creatures that live down below have adapted rather creatively to life without sunlight.
The plants and animals of the canopies have come up with interesting survival strategies that keep them from being forced to the dark realms below. The humid climate insures that plants or animals that have died decompose very quickly, and their remains eventually degrade into a very rich "soil" that serves as the base for new plants. The soil collects in the forks of Taeri trees, in places where branches and leaves have matted together, or anyplace else that can hold even a tiny amount of soil. Plant seeds fall into the soil, and grow into new plants. Sustained by the heavy rainfall, they grow quickly, then most die within a season, to degrade into soil and continue the endless cycle. The animals of the canopies are built to scamper from tree to tree, both horizontally and vertically, and eat either the many plants or other animals. One unique plant, known as the Sai'ren, forms a bowl-like shape with its many, layered leaves as it grows, and the heavy rainfalls fill the "bowl" with supplies of fresh water.
Two tiny moons orbit Vala - the larger one called Riitaq, and the smaller known as Taqu. Due to their differing orbits, they only appear together in the sky for one month out of the year, an occasion that the Valari celebrate with a festival known as Taq'vei.
