LIU Atlas - Picta Paludem
There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Picta Paludem
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, 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.
LIU Atlas - Picta Paludem
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, 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.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today we’re visiting a wet, humid planet known as Picta Paludem. Melt water from the frozen poles flow through a huge network of slow moving rivers that cover the planet’s surface. These rivers and their flood plains are home to huge forested swamps.”
Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off about a mile from one of the planet’s river systems. I’m here at a small camp where I’m going to meet my guide.”
Dundee: “Ah, you must be Doog. I’m Dundee.”
Doog: “Hey. So, you live in a tent huh? Not a bad idea with rent costs in the LIU.”
Dundee: “Well, there’s that. But more importantly, it keeps me mobile. I’m one of a handful of human settlers here. My job is to explore the planet’s swamps and interact with the natives.”
Doog: “Natives?”
Dundee: “Yep. The Draco, a reptilian race. If you’ll allow me to pack up camp, we’ll head out towards the river and meet them.”
Doog: “Sounds good.”
Doog: “Hey. So, you live in a tent huh? Not a bad idea with rent costs in the LIU.”
Dundee: “Well, there’s that. But more importantly, it keeps me mobile. I’m one of a handful of human settlers here. My job is to explore the planet’s swamps and interact with the natives.”
Doog: “Natives?”
Dundee: “Yep. The Draco, a reptilian race. If you’ll allow me to pack up camp, we’ll head out towards the river and meet them.”
Doog: “Sounds good.”
Doog: “Whew. This was more hiking than I signed up for. Are we almost there?”
Dundee: “Yeah. We’re here.”
Doog: “Where? I don’t see anything.”
Dundee: “The river. The rivers are the lifeblood of this environment. They disperse polar melt water throughout the planet, feeding Picta Paludem’s unique foliage.”
Doog: “Yeah, tell me about these freaky plants.”
Dundee: “Well, for starters, Picta Paludem has one of the most diverse collections of flowering plants in this galaxy. Competition over the planet’s nutrients, water and space has caused an explosion of evolution. To insure pollination in this crowded environment, each species has evolved brighter colors, bigger flowers, and more powerful fragrances.”
Doog: “Sniff. Sniff. Yeah, this is one of the better smelling swamps I‘ve visited. I mean, I can still smell the swamp, but the flowers make it better. It’s sort of like spraying air freshener on my ship after burrito night. It doesn’t cure the smell but makes it more bearable.”
Dundee: “Uh, sure. Anyway, the river itself is home to several thousand aquatic plant species and algae, which gives its green coloration.”
Dundee: “Yeah. We’re here.”
Doog: “Where? I don’t see anything.”
Dundee: “The river. The rivers are the lifeblood of this environment. They disperse polar melt water throughout the planet, feeding Picta Paludem’s unique foliage.”
Doog: “Yeah, tell me about these freaky plants.”
Dundee: “Well, for starters, Picta Paludem has one of the most diverse collections of flowering plants in this galaxy. Competition over the planet’s nutrients, water and space has caused an explosion of evolution. To insure pollination in this crowded environment, each species has evolved brighter colors, bigger flowers, and more powerful fragrances.”
Doog: “Sniff. Sniff. Yeah, this is one of the better smelling swamps I‘ve visited. I mean, I can still smell the swamp, but the flowers make it better. It’s sort of like spraying air freshener on my ship after burrito night. It doesn’t cure the smell but makes it more bearable.”
Dundee: “Uh, sure. Anyway, the river itself is home to several thousand aquatic plant species and algae, which gives its green coloration.”
Doog: “Well, we’re at the river. What’s the plan? Float trip?”
Dundee: “Sort of. The river is too slow to float all the way to our destination, so we’re going to catch a ride with one of the Draco. Despite your slower than average hiking speed, I think we‘ve made it in time. Ah, I see him now.”
Dundee: “Sort of. The river is too slow to float all the way to our destination, so we’re going to catch a ride with one of the Draco. Despite your slower than average hiking speed, I think we‘ve made it in time. Ah, I see him now.”
Dundee: “The Draco live in small mobile houseboats. They must constantly keep moving in search of food. It also serves as protection from flooding. These swamps are subject to daily flooding, making permanent structures vulnerable. Why do you think I was camped so far from the river?”
Doog: “Excuse me. I’ll ask the questions around here. I’m the one with the media credentials. So, what can you tell me about the Draco?”
Dundee: “Well they’re a reptilian species. Although sentient, their small reptile brains have a hard time controlling their primal instincts. They’re unbelievable strong for their size, and they have the teeth to shred you to the bone in mere minutes. Their grasp of language is less than ideal, but I’ve learned to communicate with them to an extent. Because of their primal nature and deadly biology, I recommend that I handle all communications.”
Doog: “I can live with that.”
Doog: “Excuse me. I’ll ask the questions around here. I’m the one with the media credentials. So, what can you tell me about the Draco?”
Dundee: “Well they’re a reptilian species. Although sentient, their small reptile brains have a hard time controlling their primal instincts. They’re unbelievable strong for their size, and they have the teeth to shred you to the bone in mere minutes. Their grasp of language is less than ideal, but I’ve learned to communicate with them to an extent. Because of their primal nature and deadly biology, I recommend that I handle all communications.”
Doog: “I can live with that.”
Gart: “Garrrt!”
Dundee: “Greeting Gart…”
Doog: “His name is Gart?”
Dundee: “I don’t know. But that’s what he says every time we meet. Now stop interrupting me. Gart, could we ride the wet serpent with you today?”
Doog: “The wet serpent? That sounds dirty.”
Dundee: “Shhh! It’s what the Draco call the river. Now keep quiet!”
Dundee: “Greeting Gart…”
Doog: “His name is Gart?”
Dundee: “I don’t know. But that’s what he says every time we meet. Now stop interrupting me. Gart, could we ride the wet serpent with you today?”
Doog: “The wet serpent? That sounds dirty.”
Dundee: “Shhh! It’s what the Draco call the river. Now keep quiet!”
Gart: “Rarr! Two? No room for Guuur! For catch. Herrr! For food then?”
Dundee: “Yes, that is acceptable. He’s getting on my nerves anyway.”
Doog: “What’s happening? I only understand parts of what he’s saying.”
Dundee: “You didn’t miss much. Gart wasn’t expecting to give two of us a ride. He thinks it will slow down his search for food. He wants assurances that he can eat you if he doesn’t find anything else.”
Doog: ‘What! And you said yes!”
Dundee: “I’m sure we’ll find something else. No worries.”
Dundee: “Yes, that is acceptable. He’s getting on my nerves anyway.”
Doog: “What’s happening? I only understand parts of what he’s saying.”
Dundee: “You didn’t miss much. Gart wasn’t expecting to give two of us a ride. He thinks it will slow down his search for food. He wants assurances that he can eat you if he doesn’t find anything else.”
Doog: ‘What! And you said yes!”
Dundee: “I’m sure we’ll find something else. No worries.”
Doog: “Alright. We’ve traveled a few miles down the river and have stopped at a small flooded lagoon. Gart is confident the deep waters will hold food. Me, not so much. I’m prepared to run…”
Doog: “Dundee, what is he doing?”
Dundee: “Looking for bubbles that might indicate that there is prey in the water.”
Doog: “I’m so nervous, I could go waist deep in the water and make all the bubbles he ever dreamed of.”
Dundee: ‘Looks like there’s nothing in the lagoon today. We better move on. Keep searching.”
Dundee: “Looking for bubbles that might indicate that there is prey in the water.”
Doog: “I’m so nervous, I could go waist deep in the water and make all the bubbles he ever dreamed of.”
Dundee: ‘Looks like there’s nothing in the lagoon today. We better move on. Keep searching.”
Doog: “I’ve never been so vested in finding food for another creature in my whole life. I’m keeping my eyes peeled as we approach a sharp bend in the river. These bends are another hotspot for finding prey. Wait…BUBBLES!”
Gart: “Graaaa!”
Gart: “Graaaa!”
Doog: “Gart has anchored the houseboat and has climbed to the roof to get his fishing gear. Let’s hope he gets something!”
Doog: “Yeah! Bingo! Uh, what is that?”
Dundee: “That is the Picta Paludem Articulated Shrimp. One of the largest shrimp-like species in the galaxy.”
Doog: “That gives a new meaning to jumbo shrimp!”
Dundee: “That is the Picta Paludem Articulated Shrimp. One of the largest shrimp-like species in the galaxy.”
Doog: “That gives a new meaning to jumbo shrimp!”
Dundee: “The swamps here are infested with the Picta Paludem Articulated Shrimp. We believe the abundant algae and plants in the river allows them to grow to these enormous sizes.”
Doog: “So, what you’re telling me is, the wet serpent is infested with little bugs? I have a business card of this doctor I once worked with. I had a similar problem. Don’t feel bad Picta Paludem, you’re not alone.”
Dundee: “Sigh.”
Doog: “So, what you’re telling me is, the wet serpent is infested with little bugs? I have a business card of this doctor I once worked with. I had a similar problem. Don’t feel bad Picta Paludem, you’re not alone.”
Dundee: “Sigh.”
Dundee: “Gart has pulled the shrimp to shore to field dress it and strip the meat. The shrimp’s muscular tail has loads of meat. The Draco used to catch the shrimp, eat what they could, then leave the leftovers to rot. There’s no way a single Draco could eat this whole thing. Now, we get them to bring the leftovers to a processing plant down the river.”
Doog: “Gross. The LIU sells half eaten shrimp?”
Dundee: “Sort of. It is cleaned up and processed like all the other meats in the LIU.”
Doog: “That’s not much better. I’ve seen how the LIU processes meat.”
Doog: “Gross. The LIU sells half eaten shrimp?”
Dundee: “Sort of. It is cleaned up and processed like all the other meats in the LIU.”
Doog: “That’s not much better. I’ve seen how the LIU processes meat.”
Doog: “Now that Gart’s had his fill of shrimp, we’ve packed up the leftovers and we’re headed down river to a processing plant. We need to be quick before the meat spoils.”
Doog: “Ah, here it is. Wait, Dundee, there’s another Draco, but he has a whole shrimp. What’s the deal with that?”
Dundee: “The Draco get paid by the pound, so sometimes they don’t eat their catch so they can get the extra credits. Maybe he needs supplies or something.”
Dundee: “The Draco get paid by the pound, so sometimes they don’t eat their catch so they can get the extra credits. Maybe he needs supplies or something.”
Doog: “Well Gart, it was nice getting to know you. Glad you didn’t have to eat me. Would you like some help carrying your catch?”
Gart: “GRRAAAAaaaarrrarara!”
Dundee: “Uh Doog, it’s not wise to touch the Draco’s food. Even if they are done eating it.”
Doog: “Noted. I wasn’t looking forward to carrying anything anyway. Well, see ya Gart.”
Gart: “GRRAAAAaaaarrrarara!”
Dundee: “Uh Doog, it’s not wise to touch the Draco’s food. Even if they are done eating it.”
Doog: “Noted. I wasn’t looking forward to carrying anything anyway. Well, see ya Gart.”
Doog: “Well, I guess that about wraps it up.”
Dundee: “Not yet. There’s one more thing I want you to see. Let’s hurry along, it’s getting dark.”
Dundee: “Not yet. There’s one more thing I want you to see. Let’s hurry along, it’s getting dark.”
Dundee: “As we get farther from the river, the trees give way, and there are even more flowers.”
Doog: “They’re glowing!”
Dundee: “Yes, most of the flower species have some form of bioluminescence. Even at night, the flowers compete for pollinators. This colorful, glowing nighttime spectacle gave the planet its name, Picta Paludem, or the Painted Marshes.”
Doog: “Very cool.”
Doog: “They’re glowing!”
Dundee: “Yes, most of the flower species have some form of bioluminescence. Even at night, the flowers compete for pollinators. This colorful, glowing nighttime spectacle gave the planet its name, Picta Paludem, or the Painted Marshes.”
Doog: “Very cool.”
Doog: “Well folks, Picta Paludem is an interesting place. Its fragrant, colorful swamps are home to many unique species, including the Draco. The Draco supply the galaxy with shrimp, although they like to taste them before they sell them off. Well, see ya next time.”
Note:
The Picta Paludem Articulated Shrimp is known to carry parasites that cause the disease Picta Fluxus. Please cook thoroughly.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 5 - Episode 14 Gemellus Mal
Note:
The Picta Paludem Articulated Shrimp is known to carry parasites that cause the disease Picta Fluxus. Please cook thoroughly.
CLICK HERE FOR NEXT EPISODE: Season 5 - Episode 14 Gemellus Mal
