Space Quest Omnipedia
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Sludge Vohaul is a villain that appears in Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge, and Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (floppy)/Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers Multimedia.

Background[]

Sludge Vohaul is the arch-nemesis of Roger Wilco (and is related to Slash Vohaul although how differs depending on universe). He is a overweight scientist connected to life support. Roger Wilco has knowingly and unknowingly stopped his plans on multiple occasions.

There are several different histories for Sludge depending on the universe, and versions of books and games he appears in. From him being the brother of Slash Vohaul (SQ4CD/alternate universe) to him being the clone (son) of Slash Vohaul in The Space Quest Companion, and related to all (or most) of the Space Quest villains in some way (such as Elmo Vohaul Pug). To other ideas being that he's the Siamese twin of Slash Vohaul (or that Siamese twins (including Sledge Vohaul are younger brother of Slash). Some believe they might all be same Individual (see S. Vohaul).

The differences between Space Quest 4 (floppy) and Space Quest 4 Multimedia CD is said to have been caused by another of Sludge Vohaul's petty revenge schemes creating two separate universe versions of those events.

In the comic series Vohaul was on board the Deltaur (TAORW) and apparently escaped its destruction.

Titles and nicknames[]

  • Vohaul
  • Sludge
  • Sludgie
  • Sledge Vohaul[1]
  • Mr. Vohaul
  • Vohaul/Roger, Jr.
  • The Granddaddy of Gross
  • The Emperor of Evil
  • The First Name in Nastiness
  • The Supreme Being of All That Exists
  • Master
  • Overlord
  • Nemesis
  • His Lardness
  • Grudge Vohaul
  • Slime/Mr. Slime
  • Slop
  • Porky
  • Fatback/Old Fatback.
  • Mass Master[2]

Sludge Vohauls[]

Note: 'alternate version' can also apply to hypothetical (as in alluded to but not actual games in the series) VGA timeline (and hypothetical official SQ2VGA).

Fan fiction and theories[]

Behind the scenes[]

Sludge Vohaul is like a cross between the Emperor of Star Wars Universe, and Darth Vader. Plus the tyrannical warlord Sador from Battle Beyond the Stars, who was the ruler of the Malmori Empire, whose body parts deteriorating, captured and appropriated new parts from others.

In the games there isn't a clear explanation as to who Slash and Sludge Vohaul are. Infact its strongly implied in SQ2 that Sludge and Slash may have been one and the same individual, as Sludge claims to be the genius behind the Star Generator and makes no reference to Slash (in SQ1 Slash claims to be the genius behind the Star Generaor and makes no reference to Sludge).[3] Slash is never brought up again, and there is no references to 'both' at any time during the series.

The A Brief Welcome From Roger Wilco an introductory background/story message included in the Space Quest IV CD Manual is the first game related source to connect Sludge and Slash as 'brothers'.

The Space Quest Companion added the idea that Slash Vohaul warned of his evil clone (or essentially his evil 'son', and Elmo his great-great-great grandson/clone), and the Sariens in the datadisk. The book also extended Vohaul's explanation of his plan to include mentions of Slash being the person who designed the Star Generator (and Sludge being jealous of him). Thus separating the two into separate characters more directly.

Of course when time travel is involved it doesn't necessarily take long before someone's son/brother to become their own father....

The original version timeline which begins with SQ1AGI, and includes the original floppy version of SQ1, doesn't establish the connection between the two vohauls. This left some to theorize they might be same person, with Slash turning evil (or already having been evil), or that Slash and Sludge were brothers (only the latter confirmed in the SQ4CD timeline see Sludge Vohaul (alternate version)), or that Slash is Sludge is son/clone (confirmed in the The Space Quest Companion).

Sludge Vohaul only appears in SQ2 and SQ4. He is mentioned in SQ3 and SQ6 (only in past tense, but not in relation to anything in relation to the games themselves). Vohaul does get some mentions in documentation with the games, again not in relation to anything related to the games, but only past tense. He was to appear again in SQ7.

In SQ3 it mentions Vohaul twice:

"It has been an indeterminate amount of time since Roger Wilco rocketed away from Vohaul's burning space fortress. Time stands still for our hero in suspended animation."
"This is the escape pod which safely whisked you away from Vohaul's burning asteroid fortress. The skin of the pod plainly registers the cumulative damage long periods of space travel can inflict on a small craft such as this."

SQ6 mentions Vohaul a few times:

"SPACE QUEST 2 VOHAUL'S REVENGE" (a movie title)
"You eat like a goat! You really have to change your eating habits, Stellar. I saw some things in your digestive tract that I wouldn't wish on Sludge Vohaul. You really have to clean up your consumption act."
"Sludge. Reminds you of your old nemesis. Well, you finished him off, but he still causes you to change your clothing more than the average person."

In Hoyle 1 another game from the SCIEGA parser era of Sierra games (see SQ3), Roger makes reference to his old nemesis as well (wondering if he could be behind the events):

You have to help me get out of here! Do you realize what nefarious deeds Sludge Vohaul could be plotting while we sit here playing cards?
Then again, Sludge Vohaul could have masterminded this. I'm sure that evil genius could have figured out a way to trap me in a card game.
I get most of my exercise running away from Sludge Vohaul's troopers and my fan club.
Now you pick the suit. I can't believe this, I'm stuck playing cards while Sludge Vohaul is conquering the universe!
Gin Rummy? You want me to play Gin Rummy with you, while Sludge Vohaul is conquering the universe! I have to get out of here!

The SQ2 demo describes him as;

'his imperial grossness' indicating he is an emperor. The back of the box also calls him an Emperor.

References[]

  1. KQ2 words.toK
  2. SQ2 demo
  3. "A sagging mass of flesh that appears to have been human at one time, tubes and wires extend from his body leading to machines which keep him alive. Suddenly, his visage stirs and he begins to speak. Welcome to my humble fortress, Roger Wilco. The name's Vohaul, Sludge Vohaul. I was the genius behind the Star Generator when it was still in the concept stages. It was to be my ultimate war weapon until some sissy pants scientists decided it would be better used saving lives rather than destroying them. What a waste of technology! Excuse me if I sound bitter. Anyway, you ruined my Sarien operation. I was going to use the Star Generator to make Xenon pay for what they did to me. They were going to know my wrath in a big way. You somehow managed to change all that. Oh, I suppose I should have known better than to use those mental midget Sariens. That's not the point, however. You are responsible and you shall pay. Besides, I have another plan. And you'll not be around to foil it. I have devised a plan so horrible, so frightening, so diabolical, that no one will be able to stop me. Observe my latest creation. I intend to infest your planet with thousands of these genetically engineered door-to-door life insurance salesmen. I will at last reap sweet revenge from the scientific community that mocked me. My plan was to kill you, but I've had a change of heart. ha, ha, ha... Get it?\" He peers down at the hoses protruding from his chest and connected to a life support system. \"Forgive me. I'm a kidder. I've decided I would get much more enjoyment watching you suffer. My associates will escort you to the surface of Labion where you will perform many painful hours of manual labor in my mines. Be seeing you.
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