Under-gas
From Twinsunica
| "I come from the under-gas. I took the elevator which goes up to the Francos' platform to come here and witness Dark Monk's ceremony." |
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[edit] Description
The under-gas is a name that refers to all areas on Zeelich below the gas layer.
The islands at the under-gas are:
- Island of the Wannies
- Island of the Mosquibees
- Island below the Island of the Celebration (also known as Volcano Island)
[edit] Environment
The under-gas is a dark place since the gas layer filters out most of the sunlight that attempts to pierce through the atmosphere. The islands here are surrounded by a sea of lava, most of which cannot be crossed by normal means. The source of the lava is the volcano of the Celebration on Celebration Island. Only four mountains manage to protrude the gas layer, forming the so-called surface of the planet.
The little light is the cause for little flora in the under-gas. Only a few spots of grass can be made out on the Island of the Mosquibees. Flowers grow there, but no trees as seen on the Island of the Francos on the surface. Few plants also grow in the lava pond at the village of the Wannies on Wannies Island. Only few animals such as fireflies and a giant frog manage to live in this environment. The hostile Volcano Island shows no sign of life at all.
The area with little light is, however, a perfect environment for the Wannie race to live in. On the surface, they protect their skin from the sun with large black coats. In the under-gas, they can move around without that protection. The under-gas is also home to most of the Mosquibee race.
[edit] Economy
The most important product of the under-gas is the gem. Gems are found on all islands of the under-gas, and are gathered in the Wannies' mines on the Island of the Wannies. They are taken to the surface and there refined in the Gazogem Refinery to create the powerful fuel Gazogem. The empirially supported Building Company is responsible for the gem gathering.
[edit] Travel
The only public way to get to the under-gas is the Elevator to the Undergas at the Island of the Wannies. The elevator is not frequently used and surface cabs do not supply it. It is mainly used for economical regions, to transport the gems from the mines in the under-gas to the reffinery on the Island of the Francos on the surface. Using the elevator privately is seen as an extraordinary action by a wannie who did it to witness the ultimate celebration. The elevator is not guarded from the surface site because it is so hard to reach, but on the under-gas side it is locked of by laser bars and the building is guarded by Franco guards and an automatic tank. The under-gas is thus largely shut off from the surface. However, there is also a secret passage to Island CX at the Island of the Mosquibees.
Travel between islands is also rare. The only way to cross the lava sea is the service of the ferryman, who takes travellers from one island to another for four gems. Few people know the Ferryman's song, and are thus able to call him. Mosquibees do not visit the island of the Wannies because they are persecuted as dissidents by the imperial army, and there are many guards of it stationed on island of the Wannies. On the other hand, Wannies feel little desire to leave their island and their "beloved" mine. Mosquibees only rarely fly over the sea to their secret hideout at the Island below the Island of the Celebration.
[edit] Role in Twinsen's adventure
Twinsen got to the under-gas of Zeelich mainly to gain access to Island CX through the passage at the Island of the Mosquibees. He also retrieved two key fragments of Dark Monk's Key there.
[edit] Additional quotes
| "I've heard some Zeelichians live under the gas layer. I wonder how you'd get there..." |
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| "For that, you'll have to call on the ferryman's services. He provides the only communication between the islands and the under-gas." |
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