ANAGNOSTOU is a cold and nearly barren world that subsists on hydroponically-farmed vegetables.  There is ample water ice, at least, and fuel to keep the habitats nice and warm.  The inherited position of "Father" is the title of the sovereign ruler of the planet.  Not everyone is descended from the Father, of course, but the extended royal family does make up a large fraction of the population.  Two traditional privileges distinguish the life of the Father from those of his subjects.  First, only the Father is permitted to leave the doors of his habitat open to the outside air.  This wastes a lot of heat, and serves only to flaunt his wealth.  The second rule is rather more strange.  The Father insists that no one may move in his presence.  This also precludes oral communication, so if anyone has anything to say to the Father, they must write down their petition on a placard and post it while he isn't present.  Then, on one of his daily processionals, the Father may happen to see this message.  If the members of that household remain appropriately frozen in place when he arrives, it bodes well for their request to be granted by the Father's decree.

MORE
10/15 '23