Valeyne
Valeyne is the third planet from Escodrion, and the densest and fifth-largest of the nine planets in the Escodrion System. It is also the largest of the Escodrion System's five terrestrial planets. It is sometimes referred to as Escodrion Prime or simply as Escodrion.
Valeyne formed approximately 5 billion years ago, and life appeared on its surface within one billion years. Valeyne's biosphere then significantly altered the atmospheric and other basic physical conditions, which enabled the proliferation of organisms as well as the formation of the ozone layer, which together with Valeyne's magnetic field blocked harmful solar radiation, and permitted formerly ocean-confined life to move safely to land. The physical properties of the Valeyne, as well as its geological history and orbit, have allowed life to persist.
Valeyne's crust is divided into several rigid segments, or tectonic plates, that migrate across the surface over periods of many millions of years. A large part of the surface is covered by salt water oceans, with the remainder consisting of continents and islands which together have many lakes and other sources of water that contribute to the hydrosphere. Valeyne's poles are mostly covered with ice that is the sea ice that is the polar ice packs. The planet's interior remains active, with a solid iron inner core, a liquid outer core that generates the magnetic field, and a thick layer of relatively solid mantle.
Valeyne gravitationally interacts with other objects in space, especially Escodrion and its moon, Essa. During one orbit around the star, Valeyne rotates about its own axis 336 times, creating 336 days. Valeyne's axis of rotation is tilted away from the perpendicular of its orbital plane, producing seasonal variations on the planet's surface. Essa is Valeyne's only natural satellite. It began orbiting the Valeyne about 4.5 billion years ago. Essa's gravitational interaction with Valeyne stimulates ocean tides, stabilizes the axial tilt, and gradually slows the planet's rotation.
The planet is home to millions of species, including ervarasen, the sentient humanoid species of Escodrion. Both the mineral resources of the planet and the products of the biosphere contribute resources that are used to support a global population. Cultures have developed many views of the planet, including its personification as a planetary deity, and as a single, self-regulating organism in its own right.
Name and etymology[]
The name "Valeyne" comes from the name for the goddess of love and life in Kneian mythology, Valerýa. Cognates to the Enterdese Valeyne appear in other Kneian languages including Donerz Valejne, Lesh Valeīn, Namivian Vālaine and Kneian Valerýa. The adjectival form is the related word Valeynian.