Aluva

Aluva is the second moon of Valus, and is known as the harbinger of order. Many Valan races have myths and legends of it’s origins, but all consider it to have properties of primordial order, and most associate it with the race of Dwarves.

Appearance and Presentation

Aluva usually appears a golden shade, though it often varies between yellow and orange. It’s surface is covered in geometric fractal patterns, similar to Dwarven filigree patterns. These patterns shift over time, as if great plates on the surface are moving.
As with most worlds, Aluva has a regular monthly cycle of phases. However, it also has a monthly cycle of apparent size change due to a highly elliptical orbit. Interestingly, where most moons are tidally locked to their planet, Aluva spins with it’s own momentum.
Space travel, though generally not appealing, is not inaccessible to the privileged in the Valan Crystal Sphere, so many have attempted to land on the moon. However, all attempts have failed due to influence of unknown origin. Once within a certain distance of Aluva, travelers usually suddenly find themselves very far from the moon, having apparently been unconscious for many minutes, and controlled to navigate themselves away. It is assumed that something on the surface is able to control the minds of travelers to keep them from approaching.
Once, an expedition was put together to travel to Aluva with an antimagic field generator tuned to blocking enchantment magic. From the reports of astronomers keeping tabs on the expedition, while the ship did approach farther than any before it, a great beam shot out from the surface of Aluva toward the vessel, vaporizing it within seconds. For obvious reasons, no one has volunteered for a follow up expidition.

Cultural impact

Type

Planetoid / Moon