cystemic:

Csaplar (the Crystal City) is the capital of the Chiss homeworld Csilla, situated somewhere in the Unknown Regions within the Chiss Ascendancy. Csilla entered an ice age millenia ago forcing the Chiss to dig deep under the ground. They used the geothermal energies stored near the planet’s mantle to build their home in the icy caverns beneath the earth.

Since then, their constant expansion and growth has led to cities springing up out of the ice. The tall spacescrapers are made of serapfis, similar to transparisteel, and are warmed through the constant flow of water heated by geothermal energy deep below the ground. 

Snow that falls on top of the spacescrapers is gently melted, collected and recycled by the ramp-like roofs and domes and in some cases the uppermost floors are transformed into penthouse apartments to watch the melting snow rain down over the windows.

In the centre of Csaplar are positioned the ever-growing towers of the House Palace. Each tower is divided up into pieces, controlled by different Ruling Families who vie for the most power by building more and more for their own. In the central tower, the Council of Ruling Families convenes at the very top, while lesser governing and administrative bodies follow, all the way down to the very crust of Csilla.

Most buildings stand very close together and are joined by walkways every few levels if there is any distance between them. Chiss very rarely venture out into the cold and prefer to stay inside their buildings where it is warm and toasty. However, soldiers are trained to weather the cold and use specialist equipment when venturing out into the cold.

No alien has ever set foot on Csilla as a matter of safety and Chiss born in the colonies are extensively screened before being allowed inside the capital. The coordinates of the planet are unknown to the greater galaxy and the city of Csaplar itself is difficult to spot from orbit, visible only as a cluster of crystal spires poking out of a deep crevice in a glacier.

Csaplar is the centre of Chiss government but also culture and education. The higher levels boast elegance and refinement with museums and concert halls while the Undercity is a more modest affair, encouraging experiment and innovation which eventually spreads throughout the Ascendancy entire.

As well, there are several towers and spaceports reserved for military use only, with strict training academies for the upper class whose sons and daughters must serve the mandatory five years in the Colonial Phalanx.