Season 7 - Episode 12 - Messae

LIU Atlas - Messae

There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.


                                                            LIU Atlas - Messae

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 unique planet of Messae. Messae is tidally locked, meaning that it rotates at the same speed as it orbits its parent star.  One side of the planet is trapped in a hot, unending day, while its counterpart is trapped in a cool, perpetual night. Now, we’ve visited a planet like this before, where a settlement had been established in the thin twilight band between day and night sides of the planet. Messae is unique in that a race evolved that lives on the planet’s night side. This is possible because of Messae’s two moons. These icy moons have a high albedo, and they reflect sunlight onto the planet’s darker hemisphere. The natives here live in the moonlight.”

Doog: “Alright folks, I’ve been dropped off in a small village on the planet’s night side. Other than the dark sky, it’s almost hard to tell that it is technically night time. The bright moonlight here illuminates everything. The natives seem to be primitive, at least technologically. Hold on a sec, there‘s a guy approaching me with an axe…”

Doog: “Hey, what a big axe you have. I hope you are my guide because I don’t want to die.”
Iah: “Yes, I am Iah, High Elder of my tribe."
Doog: “Why are you carrying a halberd?”
Iah: “Protection from predators mostly, but don’t worry, they usually only come out at night.”
Doog: “Wait, isn’t it night?”

Iah: “Of course not, Venator and Atterit are high in the sky. Full too. You’ve come at a good time.”
Doog: “So daytime for you is when the moons are up?”
Iah: “Yeah, I guess. At least, that’s the easiest way to explain it in Basic. In our language, we have different names depending on which moon is up. Manli is the period when only Venator has risen. Femin is the period when only Atterit graces the sky. Nuptia, which we are experiencing now, is the period when both moons share the sky. Tristitia is the sorrowful time when both moons are set at the same time. Tristitia is true night.”
Doog: “Sounds complicated. So, I noticed that you used words that sort of personified the moons. Do you perhaps worship these moons?”
Iah: “Indeed. Let’s head to the temple.”

Iah: “Venator and Atterit are my race’s gods. The larger of the moons is Venator, the huntsman. He burns brighter, is larger, and moves quicker than Atterit. You will notice his pedestal is taller and closer.  Atterit is the mother. Slower, but around more often. She is generous and more giving of light, even if it is a bit dimmer. Her arrival and departure closely match the reproductive cycles of my species, further cementing her personification of a mother. Both are revered as they bring light, warmth, and sustenance. When they are together, or Nuptia, they symbolize marriage.”
Doog: “You still believe in all of this?”

Iah: “Not like we did before the LIU. We had no sense of moons or suns or stars. We held fast to our beliefs. It wasn’t until the LIU flew members of our society into space that our belief system was crushed. It was a hard blow. Our gods were just icy spherical ‘moons‘. While Atterit is smaller in our sky, the moon is actually larger than Venator. But, alas, maybe they are just moons, but they still provide us all the things I mentioned before. We still worship them in that manner.”
Doog: “Sorry to hear that. If it makes you feel any better, I used to believe in a magical pixie that gave me money for my teeth.”
Iah: “That’s just weird man.”
Doog: “That’s culture. One man’s normalcy is another’s insanity.”

Doog: “So, you were saying earlier that the moons bring sustenance. How is that?”
Iah: “Well, for one, without light, none of these plants would exist.”
Doog: “You guys eat these plants?”
Iah: “Ew, no. Plants are gross.”
Doog: “Good point. So, why are plants important then?”

Iah: “Well, besides recycling the air we breath, they also provide food to our animals. The Chenla, or, as the LIU calls them, Night Chickens, eat the short grasses. We then eat them.”
Doog: “Can’t go wrong with chicken, day or night varieties.”
Iah: “Yeah, I guess. Our mounts, the Putri, eat larger shrubs and flowers. Our mounts allow us to herd Chenla, travel great distances, and transport food.”

Iah: “Another form of sustenance the moons provide is water. I’m sure you noticed these moon pools as we’ve walked around?”
Doog: “Yeah. Why are they called moon pools?”
Iah: “The pools are actually ground water. They are only pulled to the surface by the combined gravitational pull of Venator and Atterit. When the moons leave the sky, their gravitational effect diminishes, and the water seeps back into the ground. Speaking of which, Venator is departing us now. It will get darker, and the water will begin to drop.”

Doog: “Wow, that drained quickly. So you guys only get water when both moons are in the sky?”
Iah: “Yes. We store extra in barrels so we have rations during moonless periods. But, when the moons take away, they also give.”

Doog: “How so?”
Iah: “Pool Worms are drawn to the surface when the pool is filled, but they retreat to wetter depths when the water falls. If we act quickly, we can harvest several of these worms.”
Doog: “Do you run a bait shop or something?”
Iah: “A what?”
Doog: “What do you use the worms for?”
Iah: “Food. Nothing on this planet is more nutritious or delicious than a Pool Worm.”
Doog: “Do you sell them to the LIU?”

Iah: “No, but there are other creatures in pools of interest to the LIU.”
Doog: “Clams?”
Iah: “Yes.”

Iah: “The LIU weren’t interested in the clams as a foodstuff, but for the golden pearls found within. My race has long utilized these pearls for decorations and jewelry, and now, the LIU does the same. Their rarity make them extremely
valuable.”
Doog: “So that’s your contribution to the LIU?”
Iah: “For now. There is interest in expanding our Chenla farming, but, so far, nothing has been set in motion.”

Doog: “Is it just me, or is it getting darker?”
Iah: “It’s not just you. Atterit is setting. Tristitia will be upon us soon. We need to hurry back to the village. Predators lurk in the darkness.”

Worm: “GWAAAAAR!”
Iah: “Form a perimeter! Protect the women! Protect the Chenla!”
Doog: “Protect the Doog too! What is that thing?!?”
Iah: “A Decapede, the largest predator on Messae.”
Doog: “What are the odds of me dying via Decapede?”
Iah: “Low. It won’t risk injury from our weapons. I’m more worried about the unarmed women and our animals.”

Iah: “Cursed beast! It got one of our Chenla. Oh well, it will buy us time. Hurry, retreat while the Decapede is distracted!”

Doog: “That was close, too close.”
Iah: “Yeah. We need to get back to the village quickly. The last rays of Atterit are leaving us. More Decapedes will be awakening.”

Doog: “What happens when it sets! We won’t be able to see them in just starlight!”
Iah: “No worries. My race and I have adaptations to the dark. We’ll see just fine.”
Doog: “Well, I’m glad your special eyes will be able to see. I’ll just stumble around blindly like some dolt.”
Iah: “It’s not an adaptation of our eyes…”

Iah: “…it is our skin.”
Doog: “Your face glows? Awesome.”
Iah: “Our whole head glows actually. The adaptation was once useful for finding mates during the Tristitia, but now, we use it for illumination. Our special helmets were built to focus this light in front of us.”
Doog: “A flashlight for a head. Cool. I feel a strong urge to make shadow puppets with your face. Just look down at the ground for a bit.”
Iah: “Maybe later. Don’t forget the massive Decapedes awakening all around us.”

Doog: “Alright, Iah has offered me sanctity in his home until Venator rises again in a few hours. He’s even offered to feed me. I quickly accepted, being that I never usually have enough money to eat. Then I remember these people eat worms. I guess I’m stuck now.”

Doog: “Ok. Ok. This drink isn’t too bad. What is this Iah?”
Iah: “Water, I believe.”
Doog: “Ah yes. It did seem familiar. Alright, time for the worm stew. How does one eat this ‘delicious’ entrée?”
Iah: “Pick up the bowl and slurp away.”
Doog: “Ok, here goes nothing…”

Doog: “BAAAAARF!! Oh for emperor’s sake! BLAHH! Holy Kaadu…that was…uh…very nice. Yes. Thanks Mrs. Flashlight Head. That was very refreshing…BAAAARF! “

Doog: “Well folks, I hope I didn’t offend my hosts too much. Worm stew is…well…worm stew. I won’t elaborate further. Despite their culinary tastes, Messae and its people are pretty interesting. They live in a world illuminated by moonlight. They share it with Night Chickens, giant Decapedes, and jewelry producing clams. Well, I better get to cleaning up because I don’t want to be tossed out into the dark. See ya!”





Note:
The Messaen race has an elaborate calendar system revolving around their two moons. You’ve already learned a little about the various phases of the day (Manli, Femin, Nuptia, and Tristitia), but after that it only gets more complicated. The Messaen have names for various forms of the moon’s crescents, lunar eclipses, and alignments. If you have a few spare months, you can learn all about it. Click the TV2 app on your LIUPad!


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