Ligba Battery (LIG-baa)

The power source behind the poles

Utility

"Without the Ligba, there would be no modern Piromere. It separates us from the trials of the Borderland peoples." --Retired Explorer Rand Belmont

It is often used as a power source for electricity or motors. Typically they are used to power large scale electrical grids for cities or the engines of trains. They are also used to power the portal between the poles. Because it emits no pollutants, Ligba ensure the protection of air and water quality. And because the Ligba require no known fuels, they don't consume any natural resources. Some have tried to turn them into power sources for weapons, but it never works out. The weapons either won't turn on or explode in a spectacular fashion, usually killing the inventor and any other researchers in the area.
Ligba are perpetual power sources so long as they are used below a threshold rate of renewal. Going beyond this threshold decreases the overall power of the Ligba until either it is rested for an extended period of time (amount differs between each battery) or it is recharged by the Disciples of Gao. Ligba outside of their protective casing within machinery can be fragile and liable to explode, particularly the larger ones. Over time older ligba and the machines they power will develop a personality, often referred to as the ghost in the machine.

Manufacturing

This is a tightly guarded secret and only the upper levels of the Disciples know what the Ligba run on, let alone the manufacturing process. Curious minds and competitors have tried to crack it and none have succeeded. Those who have seen an open ligba describe it as a swirling ball of bright multi-colored light.

Social Impact

This gives an enormous advantage to the Piromese. They don't have to build charging stations or maintain a large supply of batteries. They don't have to use their limited land area to support fuel needs and they get all this electrical and mechanical power without the pollution. This helps keep their precious water, air, and soil clean for agricultural uses and surface dwelling. The portal that the Ligba powers also ensures that poles stay connected without traversing the Borderlands or the Wastes. This means they can use both poles natural resources of water and arable land to support the population. While the portal cannot be opened daily, the regular seasonal portal crossings help maintain the quality of life of both pole populations (Piromese).

Access & Availability

Ligba are rare and most are in Piromere. They have inspired the designs of other batteries that are used more commonly, but the Ligba remain the most powerful and are a perpetual energy source when used appropriately. Therefore they are mostly used for heavy duty machinery and equipment. Smaller ones, the size of pebbles, can also be given as tokens of favor from the Disciples. These token Ligba are powerful enough to power a house and are often given to noble families for their service to the church.

Complexity

This technology is a bit of a black box in terms of design. No one outside of the Disciples really knows how it works or how it's made. However, Ligba can be put in place of any battery and work fine assuming the system has the capacity for the power source and won't be overloaded.
Secret knowledge: The truth is Ligba are charged from the soul essence of Chog, which is stored within the sacred stones. Souls are organic and they will grow over time, overflowing inorganic housing. To keep Chog's soul contained, the Disciples trim off the excess and store the trimmings in the Ligbas as the Ligba power source. Because the ligba are using the soul energy as a fuel source, this keeps the soul from overflowing from the battery and maintained at the optimal "size". However, if too much of the soul is consumed for fuel by going over the threshold of the Ligba, then the soul will need time to regrow to the original size or have more soul put into the ligba. Also because the ligba are not perfect storage systems like the sacred stones, a little bit drips out of every battery produced. Hence the older ligba and machines developing a personality and quirks.

Discovery

The Disciples of Goa invented the ligba. They say the invention was inspired by conversations with Gao and by study of the sacred stones that create the shield that protects Piromere from the Borderlands and the Wastes. Exactly how it was invented remains a vague mystery that the Disciples avoid answering.

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