Chog

Chog
Type	Avian
Planet	Unnamed

Chogs were a birdlike species endemic to an unnamed planet. Until the early 24th century, the Chogs' homeworld was verdant and temperate, but in 2320, a disaster known as the "Calamity" destroyed their ecosystems and killed off most life, including most Chogs. By 2420, roughly 500 Chogs remained, eking a meager existence in the desert, led by Thoz.

The Planetary Union relocated the Chogs to an undisclosed planet in 2420 so their home world could be terraformed. They were expected to return to their homes in 2423.

Biology

Chogs were a short, grey-brown bird-like species with red plumage over their eyes and large golden beaks. Their feathered wings could curve to grip objects much like hands.

Culture

Chogs formed a peaceful society, and did not even have a word for "war" in their language, though they did have guards armed with spears who prevented entry into the BCV Burton for any reason other than meal service.

Chogs tended to color the fabric of clothes and tents brown, grey, red or umber, and green. Chogs usually wore tops like shirts, jackets, headscarves, scarves. One Chog male even wore a button-down, collared shirt. Their weather-worn tents often sported large patches, frayed edges, and holes. Tent styles were usually wall- or ridge-tents, but rarely teepees could be found as well.

Food was prepared and stored in baked clay. The people ate collectively at a "meal service." They grabbed food from the BCV Burton's Food Synthesizer, which they called "the food place," and then ate outside with song, dance, and campfire.

A large metal gong sounded by a mallet called the Chog to attention.

Clothes were washed in wooden basins and dried on lines fastened between poles.

The Chogs only entered the Burton during their meal service and only for the Food Synthesizer. Venturing elsewhere was strictly forbidden; an old taboo from before Thoz's time.

History

Pre-2420 and the "Calamity"

Before the "Calamity" of 2320, whereupon the BCV Burton inadvertently destroyed their planet, the Chog lived in neolithic villages consisting of clay-and-timber homes. Chog history says that many people used to visit their planet in those days. Deserted villages quickly turned to ruins. Even 100 years later, remnants of radioactivity lingered there.

When the Burton crash-landed, it leaked quantum reactor material poisoned the planet, extinguishing nearly all life and turning the surface into an uninhabitable desert. Nearby Chogs attempt to help the Burton officers, unaware the ship was the Calamity's cause. In gratitude, remaining Burton crew members dedicated their ship to protecting the last Chogs. Survivors formed a large community of tent-dwellings situated next to the old ruins and beside the wreck of the Burton.

2420 and after

By 2420, only the elder Rop remained who remembered the Calamity (by then, Rop was a 107-year-old man, only a child when the Burton had destroyed his planet). The Chogs followed Thoz as leader.

When the USS Orville and the USS Ulysses visited their planet in June, the Ulysses expatriated the Chog to another planet and terraformed their planet. The captain of the Ulysses estimated that revitalization of their home world would take three years.

Production

Artist David Cabeza made a clay figurine of a Chog guard to help visualize how to draw the creatures.

Trivia

• It was not clear from the comics that this species was named "Chog" or not (Thoz simply asks Ed and Gordon what kind of Chog they are, which could have meant any great number of things), but artist David Cabeza confirmed their species name to be Chog on his Twitter page.

Appearances

• Episode 1.5x01: New Beginnings, Pt. 1
• Episode 1.5x02: New Beginnings, Pt. 2