Arenvára

Planetary Overview

• Exonym: Flowing Waters

• Type: Habitable, water world

• Moons:

  • Lunváren (Tidal Glow): A shimmering rocky moon that influenced tides and oceanic rhythms.

  • Tirénis (Guardian Shadow): A reddish moon that cast a warm glow, enhancing the planet’s celestial beauty.

• Features: Endless oceans, sprawling coral reef city-states in the sunlit zones, cavern-based city-states deep beneath the waves, vast algae forests, and frozen polar caps.

• Role: A thriving aquatic world celebrated for its interconnected ecosystems and celestial magnificence, Arenvára was a beacon of life until the Great Convergence.

Planetary Features

Coral Reef City-States:

• The Mira'thal inhabited sprawling, open city-states built within living coral reefs in the sunlit zone. These structures blended seamlessly with the reefs, creating vibrant, interconnected communities.

Underwater Caverns:

• Beneath the oceans, vast networks of underwater caverns housed additional city-states. These caverns were bioluminescent havens, providing shelter and resources for countless species and Mira'thal settlements.

Algae Forests:

• Massive algae forests spanned the oceans, forming essential habitats for marine life. These towering kelp-like structures reached toward the surface, absorbing sunlight and creating lush ecosystems.

Polar Ice Caps:

• Frozen caps at the planet’s poles were rare regions of stability amidst the oceans. These icy expanses influenced ocean currents and hosted unique forms of cold-adapted life.

Atmosphere and Sky

Humidity and Precipitation:

• Arenvára’s atmosphere was constantly saturated with water vapor, creating perpetual humidity. 

• Mist and fog blanketed the planet, particularly in the early mornings and evenings, diffusing light and lending an ethereal quality to the environment. 

• Rainfall varied, from gentle, endless drizzles to sudden, torrential downpours. Massive storms occasionally raged, their lightning reflecting on the ocean’s surface, while moments of clear skies were rare and cherished, revealing stunning vistas of the moons.

Sky Colour and Clarity:

• The abundance of water vapor caused the sky to appear hazy, shifting between hues of pale blue, green, and lavender. Sunsets were a spectacular display of refracted light, creating vivid, multicolored horizons. Auroras often danced across the poles, their shimmering hues a result of the planet’s magnetic field interacting with solar winds.

Cloud Cover:

• Clouds ranged from low-hanging, thick fog banks to towering cumulonimbus clouds that heralded powerful storms. Thin, wispy cirrus clouds often lingered after rainfall, creating halos of light around the moons. The cloud cover softened sunlight, creating a gentle glow that bathed the oceans in diffused light.

Water and Oceans

Salinity and Composition:

• The oceans were slightly saline, enriched with unique minerals that gave the water mild luminescent properties. These minerals supported ecosystems by enhancing photosynthesis and allowing deep-sea organisms to thrive in low-light environments.

Ocean Currents and Tides:

• Arenvára’s currents were dynamic, driven by the gravitational pull of Lunváren and Tirénis. Powerful gyres circled the algae forests, while calm eddies formed around coral reef city-states. Tides were strong and rhythmic, shaping the lives of marine species and Mira'thal alike.

Water Temperature and Depth:

• Temperatures varied across the planet, with warm tropical regions supporting lush ecosystems, while frigid waters surrounded the polar caps. Hydrothermal vents created localised pockets of extreme heat in the deep oceans. 

• The oceans reached unfathomable depths, with vast trenches and towering underwater mountain ranges forming a diverse underwater topography.

Surface Conditions:

• The surface was entirely water, save for floating mats of vegetation and drifting ice floes near the poles. It was often calm in tropical regions but prone to massive waves during storms. Reflecting the sky, the surface shimmered with vibrant colors, especially during auroras or sunsets.

Geological Features

Underwater Topography:

• Arenvára’s underwater landscapes were breathtakingly diverse, featuring vast plains, deep canyons, towering underwater mountains, and volcanic ridges. These features shaped currents, created natural shelters, and hosted ecosystems ranging from coral reefs to hydrothermal vent communities.

Volcanic Activity:

• Underwater volcanic activity was common, particularly along tectonic boundaries. Volcanic eruptions periodically reshaped the seabed, creating new caverns or thermal vents. These areas were hotspots for unique marine life and mineral-rich deposits.

Geothermal Vents:

• Hydrothermal vents dotted the ocean floor, releasing mineral-rich plumes that supported vibrant ecosystems. These vents were critical to the biodiversity of the abyssal zones, providing energy and nutrients in the absence of sunlight.

Light and Day/Night Cycle

Sunlight Penetration:

• Sunlight penetrated deeply in tropical waters, supporting lush algae forests and coral reefs in the epipelagic zone. The mesopelagic zone was dimly lit, illuminated primarily by bioluminescent life. Beyond this, darkness reigned, with the abyssopelagic and hadalpelagic zones relying entirely on bioluminescence for illumination.

Day and Night Length:

• Arenvára experienced long days and nights due to its slow rotation. Its slight axial tilt created mild seasonal variations, but the perpetual presence of mist and cloud cover softened these effects. The interplay of the moons enhanced the night skies, with their reflected light providing a soft, dreamlike glow even in the darkest hours.

Arenvára’s unique combination of endless oceans, dynamic ecosystems, and celestial beauty made it a world of unparalleled wonder. Though it no longer exists in its original form, the memory of its flowing waters, thriving coral reef city-states, and luminous skies endures in the legacy of the Mira'thal and the stories they carry forward.

Life on Arenvára

Arenvára was a planet teeming with life, where every layer of its vast oceans supported a rich diversity of species. From the sunlit surface to the darkest depths of its trenches, Arenvára’s ecosystems thrived in harmony, each adapted to its unique environment. Life on Arenvára was defined by interconnectedness, with species relying on each other and their surroundings in a delicate balance. The Mira'thal, the sentient inhabitants of Arenvára, were the stewards of this balance, shaping their societies around the rhythms of the ocean.

The Mira'thal

The Mira'thal, meaning “Water Born”, were Arenvára’s sentient beings and the architects of its vibrant culture. They inhabited sprawling coral reef city-states in the sunlit zones and bioluminescent caverns deep beneath the waves. These open cities, crafted from living coral and marine flora, seamlessly blended into the natural environment, symbolizing the Mira'thal’s philosophy of living in harmony with nature.

Mira'thal society revolved around communal cooperation and sustainable practices. Their cities were hubs of bioluminescent art and innovation, where they celebrated their connection to the oceans. They revered the moons, Lunváren and Tirénis, aligning their traditions with the tidal cycles and celestial events that shaped their world.

Ecosystem Harmony

Arenvára’s oceans supported life at every level:

• Sunlit Zone: The epipelagic layer was a bustling habitat of coral reefs, algae forests, and countless species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Here, the Mira'thal cultivated kelp-like algae for food, crafted coral into intricate structures, and coexisted with marine life that thrived in the warm, nutrient-rich waters.

• Twilight Zone: The dimly lit mesopelagic zone was home to bioluminescent species that relied on light-producing adaptations for communication, hunting, and defense. This layer was a transition between the bustling surface and the quieter depths.

• Caverns and Abyssal Zones: The underwater caverns and abyssal depths were mysterious and rich ecosystems. Hydrothermal vents hosted unique life forms adapted to extreme heat and pressure, while deep-sea trenches supported scavengers and predators that flourished in the perpetual darkness. The Mira'thal caverns were illuminated by bioluminescent algae, providing a soft glow that mirrored the stars above.

The Role of Algae Forests

The vast algae forests of Arenvára played a critical role in its ecosystems. These towering plants absorbed sunlight, producing oxygen and serving as a habitat for countless marine creatures. The forests also acted as natural barriers against powerful ocean currents, creating sheltered zones where life could flourish. The Mira'thal harvested algae for food, medicine, and crafting materials, ensuring its sustainable growth.

Polar Life

The frozen caps at Arenvára’s poles were rare regions of stability in the planet’s dynamic oceans. Beneath the ice, cold-adapted species thrived in the frigid waters, creating unique ecosystems sustained by nutrients carried by polar currents. The ice caps influenced ocean circulation, ensuring the distribution of nutrients across the planet.

Challenges and Adaptations

Life on Arenvára was not without its challenges. Oceanic predators, powerful currents, and natural disasters required constant adaptation. The Mira'thal and other species developed unique strategies to survive, from constructing resilient habitats to evolving specialized traits. This resilience allowed life to thrive in Arenvára’s ever-changing environment.

Life on Arenvára was a symphony of diversity and adaptation, its rhythms shaped by the interplay of water, light, and celestial forces. Though the planet was forever changed by the Great Convergence, the memory of its thriving ecosystems and interconnected communities endures in the legacy of the Mira'thal, who carry its story into the fragmented waters of Erul.