TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS OF FISTBUMP THE SKY
ARTBOOK 4: THE RULE OF EQUAL EXCHANGE (Part 1)
The intergalactic Research Team, consisting of the planet’s best scientists and archaeologists, has been given the absurd task of cataloguing the many inventions of Fistbump the Sky in a manner understandable to those from other planets. Such a request is, of course, absurd due to the planet’s interference with available resources, having created multiple timelines.
In response to this daunting task, the intergalactic Research Team, led by The Historian, had little choice but to focus on the inventions that have left the greatest impact across all territories, with the Great Migration as an anchor to the multiple timelines.
PART 1: THE RULE OF EQUAL EXCHANGE
THE THREE CURRENCIES
The Rule of Equal Exchange is an umbrella term used for our oldest discovery – Fistbump the Sky’s very way of life. The rule, in essence, states that anything an inhabitant wishes to receive from a higher power, such as the planet, must be paid for with an item of equal or similar value. The Rule of Equal Exchange was responsible for all the inventions that followed, including the establishment of the three currencies, and is abided by all who live on the planet. This, of course, includes any spirit realms that might be attached, such as those found in the Pendla territory where the Others live.
As mentioned, time was not recorded on Fistbump the Sky until the invention of the Self-Sufficient calendars. We thus had little choice but to go through memories of those who might have been alive during the beginning of The Great Migration instead. After receiving permission to borrow memories from Interstellar’s Great Library for our research, we were fortunate enough to find some belonging to the first generation. To our surprise, the Great Library had also somehow managed to collect memories from Others as part of their collection. Others, as you might know, is the name given to those living on the attached realms. The Others’ memories had all nearly faded, yet the memory players we used were powerful enough to allow us to watch their memories with minimal static or distortion.
Most of the Others’ memories consisted of their interaction with the first generation. The clearest ones were of the day when the small group of first-generation inhabitants stumbled into the attached realms where the Others had seemingly welcomed them with open tentacles. No one in the Interterritory Research Team was surprised to find that these memories could be traced back to the beginning of The Great Migration, as Pendla was one of the first territories to be established. As mentioned before, Pendla hosts the doorway to the other dimensions. It is important to note that the doorways had been found in Pendla and not made by the inhabitants of Fistbump the Sky or any other plane.
We are most certain that the doorways were discovered at the same time as the territory, given the sheer size and the strange appearance of the perfectly aligned dimension openings. Aside from Pendla’s early founding, all of the borrowed memories, both from the first generation and the Others, contained scenes of the two groups working together to install a system of ropes and questionable-looking stairs to cross the barriers between the realms. Aside from basic building techniques, the Others also taught our ancestors other basic skills they undoubtedly never learned during their time on God’s Grounds.
Besides cooking and navigation, the Others also taught the first generation how to create Pain Tokens to use when visiting their realms. It is common knowledge that these tokens are the first of our world’s three currencies to be established. As the name suggests, Pain Tokens are made by removing pain from one’s body and moulding it into flat discs. Each individual is responsible for making their own Pain Tokens and can choose whether to use emotional or physical pain as a source, though tokens made from emotional pain are much more valuable. However, it is advised to keep a reserve of one’s emotional pain to be used for personal growth.
It is important to note that Pain Tokens serve a purpose beyond serving as a monetary system. It also served as the first indication that the planet follows a set of rules, the most important of which is that nothing can be received unless something is given. This was, of course, the Rule of Equal Exchange.
From what we’ve gathered, the first generation seemed to have greatly enjoyed the wealth they suddenly had in the other realms. This, of course, was to be expected, as the pain of losing their friends and gods at the start of The Great Migration would have produced enough Pain Tokens for them to become filthy rich. They would eventually find out the hard way that consuming food or beverages from Others’ realms would trap them there. With this realisation, those lucky enough to escape the Others’ realms decided to return to their own plane.
The sudden independence from the Others forced those who escaped to seek the planet’s aid. They tried to exchange everything they had, even going as far as offering the planet items brought from the other realms. Unfortunately, Fistbump the Sky preferred gifts of a more lively nature, such as eyes or fur. As noted in the last chapter, “The Gods and Demigods of Fistbump the Sky,” the Great Frog has been absent ever since he taught the demigods how to create life. In his absence, the planet rose to power as the supreme authority, second only to the Great Frog himself. It did not take the planet long to learn how to create its own creatures, called “watchers”. Ever since the first watchers were created, they have been patrolling the planet’s crust, ensuring that inhabitants obtain Fistbump the Sky’s permission before using any materials created by the planet, including the crust and animals. It was only once ancient Magnificent had reached their destined territory, Magnifico, that a solution was found to the planet’s cruel exchanges.
Fistbump the Sky seems to have been quite fond of the soft, dry matter that covered Magnifico’s crust. Researchers later found that the soft material was a substance called “soil” that had made its way from nearby planets. Encouraged by the planet’s delight in soil, the first generation scraped the soft material from Magnifico’s crust and moulded it into small balls to use when exchanging with the planet. They were called Planet Balls and became the second of the three currencies.
The third and final currency was established many cycles later, when Bomblo sadly lost her life. Their passing will be covered in more detail in the Ultimate Index, yet we believe Bomblo’s passing occurred shortly after Magnifico’s founding. According to legend, Siya, the god of the oceans who had been made by the planet, had taken a liking to Bomblo. Upon her passing, the god decided that Bambla, Bomblo’s brother, would receive seashells in his sister’s memory. After some convincing, Bambla agreed to share the endless supply of shells with the others. This, of course, led to the shells being used for trade and purchases between inhabitants, as well as the creation of the National Frog Bank. Thus, the three currencies were complete.
Aside from being the reason for the three currencies, the Rule of Equal Exchange was also found to apply to intangible items, such as thoughts or life. These types of exchanges are arguably sparked by the first generation’s decision to participate in creating unnatural transformations.
ANICLOS
The first documented transformation is believed to have occurred shortly after the first generation left god Kala and the nomads. Given the short time that passed after their departure, there is reason to believe that the timing corresponds to when the other groups located the entrances to the other realms. The transformation in question is, of course, Melode’s transformation from a cloud into an inhabitant with a solid form.
We have asked a few of the clouds known for visiting desert areas whether they remember anything significant leading up to Melode’s transformation. They recalled how Melode had often declared that they would one day gain a solid form and become a true nomad. The few of Melode’s experiments they had observed varied from meditation to Melode attempting to freeze their cloud form. Yet, each experiment ended in failure. Based on what we’ve been told, we were able to gather two vital pieces of information.
First, none of the clouds seemed surprised by the news, adding more reason to believe that clouds share some kind of link. Second, Melode had likely entered a state of obsession, as was indicated by their diet of small trees. This mental state would explain how Melode had made the dangerous decision to consume things with a life force. Yet, it would appear that this new diet only allowed Melode to keep a solid form for a few breaths. This would all change after god Kala guided the nomads to the newly established territory, Petito.
Unlike the deserts, Petito was lush with greenery and animals. We can only assume that the sudden onslaught of vibrancy was to blame for Melode’s decision to consume living animals. Judging by the clouds’ accounts, Melode initially gave the animals gifts before eating them. Though, as we know, the gifts were eventually left out of the later exchanges.
It is a well-known fact that clouds fall under the jurisdiction of the Sky, which is part of the larger Greater Space. As such, Fistbump the Sky’s rules do not apply to them. Despite strong evidence suggesting that the planet cares less about animals than any of its other creations, they are still protected by the planet’s laws. This has led to much debate surrounding the planet’s refusal to rescue the animals from Melode. Some believe the planet could not interfere due to having a lower standing in the hierarchy of celestial beings than the Greater Space. A logical conclusion, but it is difficult to believe that the planet has no autonomy over what happens on its territory. Others believe that the planet had no reason to interfere as Melode was following the Rule of Equal Exchange. The rule was evidently at play as indicated by the exchange of gifts and life. This begs the question of what Melode had exchanged instead of gifts. The only theory thus far has been that death can also be exchanged for life.
As Melode predicted, eating living animals resulted in a permanent transformation. Unfortunately, Melode’s transformation into an inhabitant obligated them to participate in the first generation’s vow to share resources and information. Unfortunately, once the other founders learned of Melode’s transformation, they began rounding up clouds and feeding them animals, hoping for similar results.
These experiments led to the creation of clouds with an animalistic nature, called Aniclos. Despite sharing a diet, none of the clouds achieved a transformation quite as complete as Melode’s. They instead possessed an eerie sense of awareness and loyalty toward the first generation. This change was enough for them to no longer be considered clouds, however, their transformation, compared to Melode’s, has led many researchers to believe that willpower might be the key to a successful transformation. There is, of course, also the possibility that the first generation simply did not need the clouds’ transformations to be complete. As long as the Aniclos were strong enough to carry heavy objects, they were a sufficient solution to their problem of sharing resources across territories.
The creation of Aniclos naturally led to drastic environmental changes, as there were no longer enough clouds to provide rain. Around the time the gods began creating the third generation, various organisations were formed to protect the remaining clouds from being turned into Aniclos. These organisations also promoted the ethical treatment of existing Aniclos. This led to the authorities banning the creation of animalistic clouds and to the establishment of sanctuaries, evident in territories like Hai-Kyun and Bai.
Besides the previously mentioned Pain Tokens, Aniclos were another example of the Rule of Equal Exchange applying to intangible items. Aside from death, knowledge and companionship could also be exchanged, with the most obvious examples found in the Metallica and Interstellar territories.
SELF-SUFFICIENT CALENDARS
As the name suggests, Metallica’s landscape consists of various types of metals. Unlike metals and minerals found in the other territories, Metallica’s comes from their mountains’ excretions. As far as we know, the mountains have always possessed a remarkable sense of awareness. This has long been considered the reason the mountains can choose which metals to produce. Despite their awareness, most of the metals the mountains originally produced were meant to meet the needs of the Metallicans. In exchange, the inhabitants provided them with entertainment in the form of companionship. This exchange is still practised today and includes keeping the mountains up to date on current gossip and mountain dances that take place once per cycle.
The bond the Metallicans share with their mountains not only benefited their territory, but the others as well, as the first generation’s vow meant the other territories could also get their hands on any minerals found in the mountains’ excrement. Lord Genium, Metallica’s current leader, thinks it was their founder, Abama, who established the first mountain connection. Much to the lord’s credit, their belief stems from memories that seem to have been extracted from the mountains and Abama herself. Participating in an Equal Exchange with one’s environment is, of course, not unique to Metallica. The inhabitants of Interstellar are also known to partake in the Rule of Equal Exchange by providing the stars with protection in exchange for knowledge.
We believe that the first of these exchanges took place five cycles after Pluto had founded Interstellar. Pleem, the chief astronomer, kindly provided our team with memories extracted from their founder and a few deceased stars. From what could be seen in the memories, we have gathered that Pluto had come across a young star that had fallen after being born and had decided to nurse it back to health. Based on what we know about Pluto’s personality, the reclusive eyeball had no idea about stars’ habits of imprinting. Pluto’s memories that followed the event were often tinted in red and contained multiple instances of the eyeball hiding from the young star or cursing in a dark corner. According to Pleem, Pluto had gone so far as to beg god Pey to cut their ties with the young star. However, once Pey saw the depth of emotions that the star possessed, the god decided that a better solution would be to have the Interstellars become the official guardians of the stars.
The unwanted star bond was passed down through generations, causing more stars to gather in the northern territory. Much to the Interstellars’ annoyance, the star congregations caused their territory to be spontaneously bombarded by newly born stars falling from the sky. The territory also quickly became covered in stardust and star faeces. The astronomers recalled their predecessors’ various attempts at finding a use for all the star matter. By accident, they discovered that stardust could be turned into glass after burning. The glass had somehow also retained some star qualities, such as the telepathic link with its kin. Once they established that the telepathic link does not fade over time, the astronomers decided to use this type of glass to communicate with stars at greater distances, such as those situated in the cosmos. This successfully created a method for monitoring the planet to protect it from external threats, such as the evil fox.
The intel the astronomers received was also used to determine the Great Frog’s location in the universe. As Fistbump the Sky is strapped to the Great Frog’s back, finding him would also mean finding ourselves. The astronomers graciously agreed to let us see their predecessors’ diagrams. In them, the previous astronomers had noted how often certain planets reappeared, as well as recording their position relative to the three stars. As the suns are always visible and never change position, a pattern began to emerge. To ensure accuracy, the astronomers fused pieces of one of the Great Frog’s stray eyelashes to the crystals. This direct link to the Great Frog further aided the astronomers in determining our location.
This revealed that the Great Frog has been travelling through narrow paths in the galaxy, out of reach of the magnetic spheres of other planets. By studying these alleys, the astronomers were able to calculate the duration of a time cycle and any weather changes that might occur due to which planets the Great Frog would come across on his predicted path. By compiling all their information, the Interstellars created a small, cycle-predicting machine that would later become known as the first Self-Sufficient calendars.
The complete breakdown of time on Fistbump the Sky can be found in the Ultimate Index.