LA LUZ

The crown jewel of Luzian electro-pop. All of La Luz's machinery of mass culture has come together to produce this disc: surgically-produced, irresistibly catchy, and -- ultimately -- technofascist.

Sweet and strong enough to power a small riot. Smuggled from La Luz and technically illegal in Portofiro – sip discreetly.

Anti-flex weave meets minimalist luxury -- perfectly fitted for a space officer. The design suppresses soft curves, which may be why they were left behind. Made in La Luz.

THEY ARE BEYOND ALL HELP, THE LATEST CASUALTIES OF LA LUZ'S CULTURAL WARFRONT. LIQUIDATION WOULD BE MERCY.

"Not everything from La Luz is propaganda." She rolls her eyes.

"La Luz is not 'the whole world'."

That popstar from La Luz.

"I wish I'd been born in La Luz." Her voice takes on a wistful edge.

"It's not a formula! It's an expression of the soul of La Luz. It's in their blood -- which means its in our blood too, since... y'know."

That the future belongs to La Luz. A world where great audio-visual processions broadcast hope across the cold firmament and cerebral networks connect all smiles.

"I know all about the boars. The techno-fascist imprints who secretly rule La Luz. Weaponised nostalgia. Microbial microphones. Lunar obfuscation programs."

The mention of La Luz never fails to make your hairs stand attentive.

"There used to be a more direct route via Havagerly, but the border has been closed since it was re-annexed by La Luz."

La Luz. Once a powerful empire, now reconstituted as a modern techno-fascist state, the rising military and cultural power of the day.

There are brand logos on the sides, non-uniformly misspelled or upside down, but recognisably the same: ZOO-TÊXTIL, La Luz.

La Luz: Expansive techno-fascist state known for high quality electronics, pogroms, and pop music.

La Luz, the techno-fascists. Why would they send Operants to Portofiro?

The techno-fascist secret police of La Luz -- dark subconscious of the state, specialising in old school, ugly methods.

"Weeping Eye! Secret police, from La Luz. How do you get to be your age without knowing to fear the Eye?"

La Luz. Once a powerful empire, now reconstituted as a modern techno-fascist state, the rising military and cultural power of the day.

"He means it's not from the Bazaar, but from La Luz. Our aunt bought it for him."

"Yeah. And it's from La Luz!"

"'Sixty-Six Wolves' is the best show ever. And it's from La Luz!"

"If the show's from La Luz, how are you watching it?"

Certainly not part of La Luz. It's a wealthy state in the Developed World, known for its bogs and poets.

"I asked mum if they could come over one day, and she said it's hard because La Luz is so far."

"I asked a boat lady when she would get more, and she said they're really hard to get, even in La Luz."

"It's the best show." He nods. "And it's from La Luz!"

"I asked mum if our cousins could come over one day, and she said it's hard because La Luz is so far."

"Got me my best birthday present ever -- all the way from La Luz! My wolf sword..." He trails off with a note of regret.

"We've only seen the ones from the Redemption Arc. All the others you can only get in La Luz, I'm pretty sure."

"It's from the best show ever! 'Sixty-Six Wolves'. They make it in La Luz!"

"Is your family from La Luz, then?"

The words 'La Luz' makes your shoulders close in, as if bracing for a hit.

La Luz. Once a powerful empire, now reconstituted as a modern techno-fascist state, the rising military and cultural power of the day.

"What do you know about La Luz?"

Auntie going on trips to La Luz? Must be a highflyer, rare in Portofiro.

"Got me my best birthday present ever -- all the way from La Luz!" He wields the sword, proud and strong.

The Reunión: La Luz's grand annexation campaign -- slow, legal, often bloody. A creeping tide reclaiming, every few years, one more of their old colonies.

'Territories' meaning, in this case, La Luz's island states -- briefly independent, now reannexed.

Luzian meaning from 'La Luz'. Officially 'The Illuminated Empire'. The technofascist power just across the strait from Portofiro, and one of your principal enemies.

Were the talks not currently on hold, Portofiro would be being carved up by the drunken and otherwise degenerate diplomats representing the two rival powers of EMTERR and La Luz even now.

The Reunión: La Luz's grand annexation campaign -- slow, legal, often bloody. A creeping tide reclaiming, every few years, one more of their old colonies.

"Of course, 'fascism' is a dirty word nowadays... But despite what people say about La Luz, the Reunión wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen to Portofiro. Would put some order into this place."

Aren't Nestoristas supposed to hate La Luz?

"I don't know much about other places, but from what they tell me, everyone in La Luz has a purpose. The shoeshiner shines shoes, the building manager manages buildings..."

What about La Luz?

By year zero, La Luz was widely considered a failed state, without a functioning government capable of signing an international agreement.

The threat of La Luz has been passed down for generations in Portofiro, the colonial boogeyman in the night -- the shadow that bore them, beat them.

"La Luz is the empire of images. Her people demand new and fantastical stimulations to prepare their minds for the Final Society. No complicated characters or ironic speeches, no uncomfortable feelings to ambush them in their lonely hours. They aren't prepared for reality as it's constituted, so we must constitute reality for them."