Tongali’s Past: A World Remade by Cataclysm
Tongali was once a core world. Its history is layered like an archaeological dig. It served many empires through time. It was a provincial satrap, then a gladiator world. It became a prison planet or a grand experiment. Tongali used to be something glorious. Now, it stands as the Taangali Wastes. The cataclysm that shattered Tongali is unknown. Its lingering fallout warps reality itself. Laws of physics seem to bend here. Exotic, supernatural ecosystems now thrive. Ancient crater-blasted war zones still exist. Each section of the Taangali Wastes holds unique dangers. Yet, opportunities for discovery also wait.Glades and City-States: Oases in the Desolation
Within the vast Taangali Wastes, tens of thousands of enclaves persist. These are known as glades. They appear as small droplets on any map. Here, the natural world re-emerges abruptly. Civilization has not merely survived. It has even flourished in these pockets. The greatest city-states are fortress settlements. They are located in the largest, richest glades. Streets hum with vibrant barter. Festive revelry fills the air. Decadent harvests bloom in farmlands. These places are centers of industry, trade, and innovation. Some even claim restored starflight. These connections reach old trade fleets. Governments in these city-states are powerful. Many are ancient nations. Their lineages stretch back thousands of years. Societies are ordered and sophisticated. Utopian enclaves are found, as are imperial autocracies. Some express truly alien philosophies. Nearly all harbor dreams of empire. Armies or sky fleets mobilize periodically. They aim to conquer or ensnare their neighbors. To these citizens, the Taangali Wastes might seem distant. They are a concern for lesser settlements. Walls surrounding their realms are well-maintained. They are also heavily manned. Even the mighty learned not to push too far. Ancient fables warn of arrogant republics. These were destroyed by monstrous forces. Ruins of cities prove these stories true. Their shattered walls remind all of peril. None of the city-states are ever truly safe.Convoys: Lifelines Through the Taangali Wastes
Most of Tongali lacks the luxury of ignorance. Dangers of the Taangali Wastes are well known. Settlements face daily scarcity and peril. War with rivals or waste-creatures is common. A myriad of narrow pathways link the glades. These weave and twist through the wastelands. Such routes might be magma-spanning bridges. They could be roads through carnivorous jungles. Sea lanes pass over aquatic hunting grounds. Hundreds of methods exist to traverse safer territories. Inevitably, these become crucial trade lanes. Few city-states are self-sufficient. They rely on steady flows of goods and people. No route, however well-traveled, is ever safe. Bandits and raiders roam the periphery. They eagerly seize vital cargo. Far worse things emerge from deeper wastes. Every trip is someone’s last. Safety is found only in speed and numbers. The convoy system has endured for millennia. It is the sole reliable crossing method. Even small flotillas boast dozens of vehicles. Cars, trucks, armored vehicles, and sky ships are common. The largest armadas easily surpass several thousand. Convoys race between glades at breakneck speeds. They never stop all at once. Drivers live by different rules. Morals shift on the open road. Abhorrent actions become grim necessities. Only powerful city-states maintain dedicated convoys. Important trade groups also do so. Other routes are traveled periodically. Weeks, months, or years pass between runs. Some convoys follow fixed routes. They recover for months between journeys. Others roam aimlessly, endlessly. They drift between glades before vanishing. The relationship between convoys and city-states is uneasy. It is often volatile. Interdependence is a necessary lifeline. Yet, it also causes strife. Mutual alliances can descend into slaughter. City-states sometimes attack their guests. Convoys might sack fortresses from within. The largest convoys resemble mobile civilizations. They are called Prime Convoys. These consist of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. They developed unique governments and languages. Their societies are self-contained. Regular routes are eagerly tracked. Their arrival is awaited like a comet. It sparks celebrations and festivals. These nomadic titans bring resources. They also exchange tales and wisdom from distant lands. Tension only passes when the last war rigs vanish. These great convoys rarely take sides. However, when they do, power balances can reshape.Road Warriors: Lone Wolves of the Broken Lands
Only the desperate step beyond a glade’s confines. Protection from convoys or city-states is essential. The Taangali Wastes are universally dangerous. This holds true whether it is churning sludge or atomic outland. Yet, they also store ancient knowledge. Unfathomable technology lies hidden there. Stranger, more perilous things also await discovery. Tongali’s history has changed dramatically before. Not by city-state designs, nor convoy wills. Rather, a single wanderer alters destiny. Such a one steps into the wastes as a beggar. They emerge as a warlord, emperor, or even a god. Many kinds of powers exist on Tongali. They await those with a particular nature. A fierce will to seek them out is required. Equally feared and hated are the Road Warriors. These rare few live perpetually in the wastes’ edges. Some even dwell deep within them. No two are entirely alike. Some are pilgrims, others sadists. They might be privateers or slavers. Explorers, refugees, criminals, and renegades exist. Most are a combination of these identities. A grim life is found outside safety. Few would choose such a fate willingly.Geopolitical Rumblings: The Eastern Coast’s Gathering Storm
Information from Tongali is sparse. Scrambled communications tell fragmented tales. Half-dead messengers report impending cataclysms. Great city-states have fallen. Majestic convoys vanished into the wastes. Areas once stable now decay. Other sections mysteriously rejuvenate. Long-uninhabitable zones revitalize. On the far eastern coast, events unfold. A vast confrontation is brewing. Its consequences will shape the continent. This may last for the next millennium. The last Kathargic pretender is dead. Rumors say a Road Warrior from the Hammerhead Wastes killed him. Maximilianists believe this assassin is their Messiah. Their temples call for a new crusade. This rhetoric reignited clashes. These are with the servants of the Toad God. Many foresee the Seventh Motor Insurrection. Dreams of a new Kathargi Empire died with its last emperor. Gladiator kings now war among themselves. Continental stability is imperiled. Imperial Legions are dissolved and scattered. Western fortresses have been abandoned. Containment of the Jaberwoki Wastes has ended. Dams and levees broke in a dozen places. The Mudmen and Curley Folk are sighted. These creatures of ancient warnings plague swamps. The Prime Convoy of the Thunder Sharks operates again. This is on the Eastern Coast for the first time in a generation. It passes unopposed through empty bastions. Bulletins report its sneak through the Toxic Steppes. A clash with old enemies seems inevitable. Marvin’s Blood Machine sweeps from the north. This confederation of murderers is rejuvenated. They seek to repeat their Five Cities War victory. Only Glasswall and Del Hali retain strength. These great city-states could prevent anarchy. However, the opportunity may have passed. Both eagerly seek new power. They greedily seize new conquests. Their borders should be fortified. Instead, they chase fleeting glory.Sorcery: The Unforeseen Wildcard in Taangali
Sorcery may become the greatest wildcard. For millennia, it was a mere curiosity. Parlor tricks were easily surpassed. Even basic technology exceeded them. Many contend it is charlatanry. Advanced machines mimic the supernatural. Yet, practitioners achieve great things. Their wonders baffle even ancient Texmiths. Whatever Tongali used to be, that world is gone. It was swallowed by time and the Taangali Wastes. However, a chance remains. A new world can be built. It can be destroyed, then remade. This cycle repeats again and again. So much has been lost. Yet, a new freedom has been gained. Civilization ends where the road begins. Beyond lies any kind of life imaginable.Scavenged Lore: Taangali Wastes Q&A
What is The Taangali Wastes?
The Taangali Wastes is a post-apocalyptic science fantasy setting. It’s a world reshaped by an unknown cataclysm where reality is warped, blending ancient lore with futuristic chaos.
What are glades and city-states in this world?
Glades are pockets within the vast desolation where civilization has re-emerged and flourished. City-states are powerful fortress settlements located in the largest and richest of these glades.
How do people travel and trade between settlements?
People travel and trade using convoys, which are groups of vehicles that race between glades. These convoys navigate dangerous routes through the wastes, as few city-states are self-sufficient.
Who are the ‘Road Warriors’?
Road Warriors are individuals who live perpetually in the dangerous edges or deep parts of the Taangali Wastes, outside the safety of glades. They are often explorers, refugees, or criminals seeking ancient knowledge.
Is magic (sorcery) common in the Taangali Wastes?
For millennia, sorcery was a mere curiosity, but now its practitioners achieve great things that baffle even advanced technology. It is becoming an unpredictable wildcard in the world.