There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Favilla
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU Galaxy, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the volcanic wastelands of Favilla. Favilla – known in some languages as Blót – is a small moon in orbit around the gas giant, Cinefactus. Tidal forces from Cinefactus have created frictional heating in the crust of Favilla, making most of the moon geologically active. The surface is covered in volcanic features, including fumaroles, lava flows, igneous formations, and, of course, volcanos. It should be a pleasure to explore…if you’re into that type of thing. Personally, I’m not, but I need money.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off on an island chain in Favilla’s southern hemisphere. I’m told these islands are extinct shield volcanos, but I don’t really know what that means. I do realize that’s there’s one major distinction between these ‘islands’ and other islands I’ve visited. These islands are not surrounded by water. They seem to be encircled by a slow-moving lava flow. The flow is barely moving on the surface, but I’m told that it moves quite quickly just below the surface where the magma is much hotter.”
Doog: “Speaking of hot, it’s pretty warm here despite the moon being a few AU’s from its star. I think it has something to do with the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There’s a lot of sulfur and smoke in the atmosphere too – you can smell it. The air on Favilla is breathable, but the volcanic gases, smoke, and ash make the air a bit rough on the respiratory system. I’ve only been here a few minutes, and it already feels like I’ve been ripping a bong for eight-straight hours. Don’t get me started on these glowing embers blowing everywhere, they’re super-annoying. I better not ruin my shirt or singe my mustache. Ok, enough complaining, I think I see my guide.”
Arbo: “I am Arbo’Ja, Overseer of the Obligated. You must be Doog.”
Doog: “I am.”
Arbo: “Welcome, Doog.”
Doog: “Thanks. So, your attire already brings a few questions to mind – why the long robes? Aren’t you hot? Isn’t that a fire hazard?”
Arbo: “My clothes are made from mineral wool, making them fire resistant. Burning cinders blow from the flows. The combustion risks are high for non-resistant garments. There is also the risk of acidic rains due to the sulfurous gases. Exposed skin is dangerous. Didn’t you get my email?”
Doog: “Uh…yeah, sure. I totally read that. Can I borrow an umbrella just in case? I might need you to look at the tag on my clothes too. Does it say fire resistant?”
Arbo: “I refuse to suffer the indignity of peeking inside your garments. You’ll be fine.”
Doog: “Is that a ‘no’ on the umbrella too?”
Arbo: “I do not know of what you speak.”
Doog: “Fair enough. I’m not too worried about it. These guys tending the fields don’t have fancy robes on, and they look alright.”
Doog: “I am.”
Arbo: “Welcome, Doog.”
Doog: “Thanks. So, your attire already brings a few questions to mind – why the long robes? Aren’t you hot? Isn’t that a fire hazard?”
Arbo: “My clothes are made from mineral wool, making them fire resistant. Burning cinders blow from the flows. The combustion risks are high for non-resistant garments. There is also the risk of acidic rains due to the sulfurous gases. Exposed skin is dangerous. Didn’t you get my email?”
Doog: “Uh…yeah, sure. I totally read that. Can I borrow an umbrella just in case? I might need you to look at the tag on my clothes too. Does it say fire resistant?”
Arbo: “I refuse to suffer the indignity of peeking inside your garments. You’ll be fine.”
Doog: “Is that a ‘no’ on the umbrella too?”
Arbo: “I do not know of what you speak.”
Doog: “Fair enough. I’m not too worried about it. These guys tending the fields don’t have fancy robes on, and they look alright.”
Arbo: “The Obligated are immune to such problems. They evolved here. Their skin is tough and thick.”
Doog: “Wait, the guys tending the fields are the natives?”
Arbo: “Correct.”
Doog: “So, you’re an off-worlder?”
Arbo: “My race, the Debere, cohabitate this world with the Obligated. While it is not our world of origin, we have been here centuries. I do not consider myself an off-worlder.”
Doog: “Why did your ancestors come to Favilla?”
Arbo: “During our exploration age, we discovered and colonized several worlds. Some of these worlds, like Favilla, were inhabited. Any race we encountered was incorporated into our dominion, the Order of Obligation.”
Doog: “What’s all this talk about ‘obligation’ and ‘obligated’?”
Arbo: “Every race we allowed into our dominion is indebted to us. They are obligated to serve us until their debt is repaid.”
Doog: “You enslaved them?”
Arbo: “Such language is blasphemous. Slavery is illegal. We did not enslave them. We rescued them from their unknowing. We ended their galactic naivety – and their technological innocence. In return, they repay their debt to us through their labors and their resources.”
Doog: “Wait, the guys tending the fields are the natives?”
Arbo: “Correct.”
Doog: “So, you’re an off-worlder?”
Arbo: “My race, the Debere, cohabitate this world with the Obligated. While it is not our world of origin, we have been here centuries. I do not consider myself an off-worlder.”
Doog: “Why did your ancestors come to Favilla?”
Arbo: “During our exploration age, we discovered and colonized several worlds. Some of these worlds, like Favilla, were inhabited. Any race we encountered was incorporated into our dominion, the Order of Obligation.”
Doog: “What’s all this talk about ‘obligation’ and ‘obligated’?”
Arbo: “Every race we allowed into our dominion is indebted to us. They are obligated to serve us until their debt is repaid.”
Doog: “You enslaved them?”
Arbo: “Such language is blasphemous. Slavery is illegal. We did not enslave them. We rescued them from their unknowing. We ended their galactic naivety – and their technological innocence. In return, they repay their debt to us through their labors and their resources.”
Doog: “Sounds like they might have been better off before your arrival. Sometimes it’s better not to know.”
Arbo: “The sacrilegious idiocy spewing from your mouth indicates otherwise. Ignorance is the enemy of advancement. Their labor is a small price to pay for the knowledge we brought.”
Doog: “Do the natives feel the same way? I see they’re wearing some type of collars. Are those to keep them inline?”
Arbo: “Obliviousness strikes again. These collars are tracking wallets – they possess no suppression abilities.”
Doog: “Tracking wallets?”
Arbo: “The Obligated are indebted. The wallets track how much debt each individual owes.”
Doog: “Yikes, I’d hate to wear a collar that showed how much debt I was in. So, each individual has a portion of debt?”
Arbo: “Yes. Upon our arrival to Favilla, each of the Obligated was assigned an equal share of the debt. An individual’s labor lowers said debt. Labor is tracked and calculated by sensors, like this.”
Arbo: “The sacrilegious idiocy spewing from your mouth indicates otherwise. Ignorance is the enemy of advancement. Their labor is a small price to pay for the knowledge we brought.”
Doog: “Do the natives feel the same way? I see they’re wearing some type of collars. Are those to keep them inline?”
Arbo: “Obliviousness strikes again. These collars are tracking wallets – they possess no suppression abilities.”
Doog: “Tracking wallets?”
Arbo: “The Obligated are indebted. The wallets track how much debt each individual owes.”
Doog: “Yikes, I’d hate to wear a collar that showed how much debt I was in. So, each individual has a portion of debt?”
Arbo: “Yes. Upon our arrival to Favilla, each of the Obligated was assigned an equal share of the debt. An individual’s labor lowers said debt. Labor is tracked and calculated by sensors, like this.”
Doog: “What do the ‘Obligated’ do to lower their debt?”
Arbo: “Favilla is rich in resources. The Obligated earn their solvency through a variety of labors. Tending the Kunwa Plantation is one such manner.”
Doog: “Kunwa, huh? Is that what these plants are called?”
Arbo: “Correct.”
Doog: “For someone who touts his knowledge, you’re not giving me much.”
Arbo: “What else would you like to know?”
Doog: “Is this a native plant?”
Arbo: “It is. Kunwa grows in the fertile volcanic soils near many of the moon’s lava flows. Like the Obligated, it is resistant to heat and fire. In fact, it only thrives in the warmth of the flows.”
Doog: “Is it grown for food? Or medicine? Or textiles?”
Arbo: “Kunwa is a beverage crop. They have fruit-pods containing a host of endosperm-rich seeds. These flavorful seeds are collected and dried. Once desiccated, the seeds can be ground and brewed into a drink.”
Doog: “Sort of like coffee or tea.”
Arbo: “They are prepared in a similar manner, but Kunwa is not like tea or coffee. It is naturally sweet, not bitter. Unlike coffee, Kunwa has no caffeine. Instead, Kunwa contains various natural sedative chemicals.”
Doog: “Sedative chemicals?”
Arbo: “Yes. Kunwa beverages are generally used as a sleep aid.”
Arbo: “Favilla is rich in resources. The Obligated earn their solvency through a variety of labors. Tending the Kunwa Plantation is one such manner.”
Doog: “Kunwa, huh? Is that what these plants are called?”
Arbo: “Correct.”
Doog: “For someone who touts his knowledge, you’re not giving me much.”
Arbo: “What else would you like to know?”
Doog: “Is this a native plant?”
Arbo: “It is. Kunwa grows in the fertile volcanic soils near many of the moon’s lava flows. Like the Obligated, it is resistant to heat and fire. In fact, it only thrives in the warmth of the flows.”
Doog: “Is it grown for food? Or medicine? Or textiles?”
Arbo: “Kunwa is a beverage crop. They have fruit-pods containing a host of endosperm-rich seeds. These flavorful seeds are collected and dried. Once desiccated, the seeds can be ground and brewed into a drink.”
Doog: “Sort of like coffee or tea.”
Arbo: “They are prepared in a similar manner, but Kunwa is not like tea or coffee. It is naturally sweet, not bitter. Unlike coffee, Kunwa has no caffeine. Instead, Kunwa contains various natural sedative chemicals.”
Doog: “Sedative chemicals?”
Arbo: “Yes. Kunwa beverages are generally used as a sleep aid.”
Doog: “Some might classify your dull, monotonous voice as a sleep aid.”
Arbo: “What?”
Doog: “Nothing. So, these workers are paying off their debt?”
Arbo: “Correct.”
Doog: “Are any of them close to paying off their whole sum?”
Arbo: “Your naivety is amusing. Of course not.”
Doog: “What does that mean?”
Arbo: “The knowledge we brought is priceless, but, for quantitative purposes, we assigned each of the original inhabitants with five trillion credits of debt.”
Doog: “Five trillion! No one could pay that off in a single lifetime!”
Arbo: “Precisely. The debt was not intended to be paid off by a single generation. The Obligated pass more than their genes to the next generation – they also pass their debts.”
Doog: “You can inherit debt? That doesn’t seem fair.”
Arbo: “Successive generations gain the same advantages from our knowledge as their predecessors. Why should they not share a burden of this debt?”
Doog: “Maybe, but they don’t really get a choice. Being born into debt is essentially a form of slavery.”
Arbo: “Your irreverent, nonsensical conclusions have been noted and ignored. Let’s continue.”
Arbo: “What?”
Doog: “Nothing. So, these workers are paying off their debt?”
Arbo: “Correct.”
Doog: “Are any of them close to paying off their whole sum?”
Arbo: “Your naivety is amusing. Of course not.”
Doog: “What does that mean?”
Arbo: “The knowledge we brought is priceless, but, for quantitative purposes, we assigned each of the original inhabitants with five trillion credits of debt.”
Doog: “Five trillion! No one could pay that off in a single lifetime!”
Arbo: “Precisely. The debt was not intended to be paid off by a single generation. The Obligated pass more than their genes to the next generation – they also pass their debts.”
Doog: “You can inherit debt? That doesn’t seem fair.”
Arbo: “Successive generations gain the same advantages from our knowledge as their predecessors. Why should they not share a burden of this debt?”
Doog: “Maybe, but they don’t really get a choice. Being born into debt is essentially a form of slavery.”
Arbo: “Your irreverent, nonsensical conclusions have been noted and ignored. Let’s continue.”
Doog: “I’m not a math expert, but five trillion is a lot. Even if someone worked off two million credits a lifetime, that’s like thousands of generations.”
Arbo: “Millions.”
Doog: “Millions!? You have to be kidding me. These guys will be laboring for you forever.”
Arbo: “Perhaps, but keep in mind, some labor is valued more than others. They might be able to repay their debt in a timelier manner.”
Doog: “Some make more than two million credits a lifetime?”
Arbo: “Certainly not, but some do earn more than others. For instance, the Obligated assigned to this processing center make more than the Obligated in the fields. Their distant predecessors will be solvent generations before the field laborers.”
Doog: “This is crazy.”
Arbo: “Millions.”
Doog: “Millions!? You have to be kidding me. These guys will be laboring for you forever.”
Arbo: “Perhaps, but keep in mind, some labor is valued more than others. They might be able to repay their debt in a timelier manner.”
Doog: “Some make more than two million credits a lifetime?”
Arbo: “Certainly not, but some do earn more than others. For instance, the Obligated assigned to this processing center make more than the Obligated in the fields. Their distant predecessors will be solvent generations before the field laborers.”
Doog: “This is crazy.”
Arbo: “As I mentioned earlier, Kunwa is processed similarly to coffee. Seeds are dried, roasted, and then ground.”
Arbo: “Powdered Kunwa is then packaged so it can be sold to consumers.”
Doog: “It’s not brewed?”
Arbo: “Kunwa loses its sedative qualities if brewed too early. It is more effective if customers prepare the drink at home, immediately before it is consumed.”
Doog: “Is it? Or would you have to knock off more debt if your guys had to do it?”
Arbo: “That is your most ludicrous musing yet. Extra processing steps, like brewing, wouldn’t reduce anyone’s Obligation a noticeable amount – it would be like removing grains of sand from a beach.”
Doog: “It’s not brewed?”
Arbo: “Kunwa loses its sedative qualities if brewed too early. It is more effective if customers prepare the drink at home, immediately before it is consumed.”
Doog: “Is it? Or would you have to knock off more debt if your guys had to do it?”
Arbo: “That is your most ludicrous musing yet. Extra processing steps, like brewing, wouldn’t reduce anyone’s Obligation a noticeable amount – it would be like removing grains of sand from a beach.”
Arbo: “Your unfamiliarity with the ways of our order seem to be breeding contempt. The Obligated are not as oppressed as you imagine.”
Doog: “You say that as we walk into a jail!”
Arbo: “More misinformation. These are the worker dorms.”
Doog: “Worker dorms?! There’s bars on the doors!”
Arbo: “Simple protective measures are a small price to pay for free room and board. We could charge for these provisions, adding more to their debt.”
Doog: “Free room and board sounds great, but why the bars? Are the Obligated not free to move about however they please?”
Arbo: “Certain freedoms must be withheld from the Obligated for the sake of the system – like the freedom to mate.”
Doog: “Freedom to mate?”
Doog: “You say that as we walk into a jail!”
Arbo: “More misinformation. These are the worker dorms.”
Doog: “Worker dorms?! There’s bars on the doors!”
Arbo: “Simple protective measures are a small price to pay for free room and board. We could charge for these provisions, adding more to their debt.”
Doog: “Free room and board sounds great, but why the bars? Are the Obligated not free to move about however they please?”
Arbo: “Certain freedoms must be withheld from the Obligated for the sake of the system – like the freedom to mate.”
Doog: “Freedom to mate?”
Productivity Bot: “If you cross the yellow line and enter the female dorms, I will increase both your debt and pain levels.”
Obligated: “I won’t even look over there, just, please, don’t zap me.”
Obligated: “I won’t even look over there, just, please, don’t zap me.”
Doog: “Why do you keep them from mating? That’s one of the few pleasures left on this terrible Obligation world!”
Arbo: “As we discussed earlier, debts are generational. Each successive generation inherits the debts of their parents. This system will not function if the Obligated have more than two children.”
Doog: “How…Wait. If they had more and more children, theoretically, the debt could be diluted over time, but if each couple only has two children – the inherited debts stay nearly equal.”
Arbo: “Two parents – two children to assume their debt.”
Doog: “You’re prolonging their servitude!”
Arbo: “Correct. Controlled breeding insures the system’s stability.”
Doog: “This has to be illegal.”
Arbo: “It’s not. Not in the LIU, at least.”
Arbo: “As we discussed earlier, debts are generational. Each successive generation inherits the debts of their parents. This system will not function if the Obligated have more than two children.”
Doog: “How…Wait. If they had more and more children, theoretically, the debt could be diluted over time, but if each couple only has two children – the inherited debts stay nearly equal.”
Arbo: “Two parents – two children to assume their debt.”
Doog: “You’re prolonging their servitude!”
Arbo: “Correct. Controlled breeding insures the system’s stability.”
Doog: “This has to be illegal.”
Arbo: “It’s not. Not in the LIU, at least.”
Doog: “Whoa! Whoa! Ember by my mustache!”
Arbo: “Don’t panic. Just blow it away.”
Arbo: “Don’t panic. Just blow it away.”
Doog: “How many years of servitude will that advice cost me?”
Arbo: “Very amusing.”
Doog: “I thought so. Where are we going now?”
Arbo: “Plantation work and Kunwa processing are just a few of the Obligated’s labors. We must travel to see some of the others.”
Arbo: “Very amusing.”
Doog: “I thought so. Where are we going now?”
Arbo: “Plantation work and Kunwa processing are just a few of the Obligated’s labors. We must travel to see some of the others.”
Doog: “Is this thing safe? It’s a little bumpy.”
Arbo: “Our lava skippers are perfectly safe. The turbulence is caused by the repulsors travelling over different types of material. It’s typical when travelling over the lava flows. The ride should smooth out when we get over more stable areas.”
Doog: “I hope so, otherwise I’m going to need to chug a few Kunwas and take a nap.”
Arbo: “Our lava skippers are perfectly safe. The turbulence is caused by the repulsors travelling over different types of material. It’s typical when travelling over the lava flows. The ride should smooth out when we get over more stable areas.”
Doog: “I hope so, otherwise I’m going to need to chug a few Kunwas and take a nap.”
Doog: “What’s this?”
Arbo: “Favilla’s largest export is Kunwa, but gas is a close second.”
Doog: “Gas? Like fuel gas?”
Arbo: “No, not gasoline. Gas, like the free-flowing state of matter – specifically sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur hexafluoride.”
Doog: “Oh, ok. Good thing you clarified because my second guess was organic gas...er....flatulence.”
Arbo: “Favilla’s largest export is Kunwa, but gas is a close second.”
Doog: “Gas? Like fuel gas?”
Arbo: “No, not gasoline. Gas, like the free-flowing state of matter – specifically sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur hexafluoride.”
Doog: “Oh, ok. Good thing you clarified because my second guess was organic gas...er....flatulence.”
Arbo: “The Obligated assigned here earn the most off their debts. The job can be dangerous, even for their well-adapted bodies.”
Doog: “How do they collect the gases?”
Doog: “How do they collect the gases?”
Arbo: “Active volcanic vents, like this one here, are capped. The resulting pressure build-up forces gases into collection devices.”
Doog: “And this is dangerous?”
Arbo: “Correct. Too much pressure may cause the cap to violently explode. It requires careful observation and a little bit of luck.”
Doog: “Luck?”
Arbo: “There’s no way to predict or stop a full-scale eruption. If…when this occurs, the collection infrastructure will be severely damaged or destroyed. Anyone close enough will more than likely be killed – either by the initial explosion, the displacement of oxygen, or the fiery lava raining down.”
Doog: “I have the worst luck, so I think I’m going to wrap things up here.”
Arbo: “Very well.”
Doog: “And this is dangerous?”
Arbo: “Correct. Too much pressure may cause the cap to violently explode. It requires careful observation and a little bit of luck.”
Doog: “Luck?”
Arbo: “There’s no way to predict or stop a full-scale eruption. If…when this occurs, the collection infrastructure will be severely damaged or destroyed. Anyone close enough will more than likely be killed – either by the initial explosion, the displacement of oxygen, or the fiery lava raining down.”
Doog: “I have the worst luck, so I think I’m going to wrap things up here.”
Arbo: “Very well.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Favilla. I’m not sure what’s worse here – the air quality, the cinders, or the cruel economic system. Ok, the whole debt-slave thing is the worst. The Debere came to this moon a few centuries ago. Upon their arrival, they gifted the natives knowledge and technology. Actually, gifted isn’t the right word. The Debere sold the natives knowledge and technology. This sale placed the natives in the Debere’s debt. Now, generation after generation is forced to labor for the Debere to repay this debt. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Oh well, see ya!”
Note: Before being absorbed into the LIU, the Order of Obligation controlled sixteen worlds near their homeworld, Debeo. Most of these worlds are populated by various indebted races. All of which are referred to as the ‘Obligated’. The Debere retains some autonomy over their former dominion.
Note: Before being absorbed into the LIU, the Order of Obligation controlled sixteen worlds near their homeworld, Debeo. Most of these worlds are populated by various indebted races. All of which are referred to as the ‘Obligated’. The Debere retains some autonomy over their former dominion.
