The Templin Institute has a reputation for crafting intricate fictional universes, and their latest endeavor invites the community to shape its destiny. As seen in the accompanying video, they are in the early stages of developing an original setting, presenting three distinct concepts for a future universe. One of these captivating visions is The Taangali Wastes, a post-apocalyptic science fantasy world that stands as a stark contrast to typical grimdark portrayals of shattered civilizations. This is not a final draft, but a fertile ground for ideas, aiming to embrace the “gonzo”, unbridled creativity reminiscent of classics like Mad Max and 1980s science fiction films, rather than the melancholic, refined styles often seen today.
The project, currently in its bare bones, offers a fresh perspective on world-building, particularly for those who appreciate deep lore and complex geopolitical dynamics in fantastical settings. The Institute, known for its expertise in crafting gritty, realistic worlds, sees Tongali as a challenging but exciting departure, pushing the boundaries of their usual approach. This article will delve deeper into the concepts introduced in the video, providing a comprehensive overview of the unique elements that make The Taangali Wastes a fascinating canvas for storytelling and exploration.
Tongali’s Cataclysm and the Enduring Wastes
Tongali’s past is a tapestry woven with countless different narratives, each reflecting a lost golden age or a forgotten struggle. It was once a core world of the Solar Federation, a gladiator world of the Kathagi Empire, a prison planet, a frontier jewel, or a grand experiment—the specifics vary, but the underlying truth remains: Tongali used to be something magnificent, and now it is not. This shared history of decline forms the bedrock of the world, a poignant reminder of what was lost.
The most striking feature of Tongali is the omnipresent Wastes. These are not homogenous blighted lands but take many forms, from ancient crater-blasted war zones, scarred by untold conflicts, to exotic, supernatural ecosystems. They are places where the very laws of reality fray and dissolve, slowly being replaced by something alien and inexplicable. This bizarre transformation is widely believed to be the lingering fallout from the cataclysm that brought Tongali low. No two waste regions are identical, each presenting its own unique dangers and opportunities. Exploring these diverse, reality-bending zones presents a fertile ground for adventure and discovery, embodying the “batshit crazy” ethos the creators aim for.
Glades: Islands of Civilization in the Desolation
Within the vast, encroaching Wastes, life persists in tens of thousands of enclaves, often called glades. These are tiny droplets of territory where the natural world re-emerges, providing a stark contrast to the surrounding desolation. Here, civilization hasn’t just survived; it has, in many cases, flourished. The greatest of these glades are vibrant city-states, fortress settlements humming with life. Their streets are alive with barter and festive revelry, while surrounding farmlands yield decadent harvests. These aren’t merely survivors; they are centers of industry, commerce, scientific discovery, and cultural innovation, with histories and lineages stretching back thousands of years.
The societies within these city-states are incredibly diverse. Some are ordered, sophisticated utopian enclaves, while others are brutal imperial autocracies. A few have even developed into bizarre expressions of alien philosophies. Almost all harbor dreams of empire, periodically mobilizing armies, sky-fleets, or more clandestine methods to conquer or ensnare their neighbors. This constant geopolitical maneuvering creates rich internal and external conflicts, adding depth to the setting beyond mere survival. Even the most powerful city-states, however, live with the ever-present threat of the Wastes, fortifying their borders and recalling ancient fables of arrogant Republics suddenly destroyed by monstrous forces—raiders, monsters, demons, or far worse things—that emerged from the surrounding wilds. The shattered walls of ancient ruins, some as thick and high as any still standing, serve as a chilling reminder that no city-state is ever truly safe.
The Lifelines of the Wastes: Convoys and Trade
For the majority of city-states, the dangers of the Wastes are a daily reality. Beset by scarcity and peril, they face threats from rival settlements and the horrors lurking within the Wastes. This harsh reality necessitates trade, linking the glades together through a myriad of narrow, perilous pathways. These routes are not merely roads; they might be miles of bridges spanning oceans of magma, twisting roadways carved into carnivorous jungles, or sea lanes that pass over the hunting grounds of aquatic predators. These are the arteries of commerce, vital lifelines ensuring a steady flow of goods and manpower between often non-self-sufficient glades.
However, no route is ever truly safe. Bandits and raiders constantly roam the periphery, and far worse things can emerge from deeper within the Wastes. Every trip carries the risk of being someone’s last, emphasizing that safety lies only in speed and numbers. The convoy system, a complex network of vehicles, has kept the city-states intact for thousands of years. Even the smallest flotilla consists of many dozens of cars, trucks, armored vehicles, and sky-ships, while the largest Armadas can easily surpass several thousand. These convoys race at breakneck speeds, rarely stopping, embodying a different set of rules and morals where grim necessity often overrides conventional ethics. While only the most powerful entities can maintain dedicated convoys, smaller routes might go weeks, months, or even years between supply runs.
The largest convoys, known as prime convoys, are civilizations unto themselves, consisting of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. They boast their own governments, languages, and societies. Their arrivals are eagerly tracked, sparking celebrations as they bring not only goods and resources but also tales from across the Wastes, intertwining wisdom from distant lands. Yet, the relationship between convoys and city-states is often uneasy, capable of descending into slaughter. The power of a prime convoy can be enough to reshape the balance of power across an entire region, making them key players in Tongali’s geopolitics.
Wanderers and Wild Cards: Life Beyond the Walls
Stepping beyond the confines of a glade without the protection of a convoy is an act of desperation or extreme will. The Wastes, whether a sea of churning sludge or an irradiated atomic Outland, are universally dangerous. Yet, they are also repositories of ancient knowledge, unfathomable technology, and even stranger, more perilous things. The history of Tongali has often been dramatically altered not by city-states or convoys, but by single wanderers who entered the Wastes as beggars and emerged as warlords, emperors, or even gods. These individuals, possessing a particular nature and immense will, discover the diverse powers hidden within Tongali.
Equally feared and hated are the Road Warriors, rare individuals who have found a way to live perpetually in the slivers of normality between the Wastes, or even deep within them. Like the Wastes themselves, no two are entirely alike. They might be pilgrims, sadists, privateers, slavers, explorers, refugees, criminals, or renegades—often a combination of these. Their existence is a grim kind of life, one few would choose willingly, but it highlights the extreme adaptability and desperation required to survive beyond the established structures of Tongali.
The Gathering Storm: Tongali’s Geopolitical Landscape
The current state of The Taangali Wastes is one of escalating tension and impending cataclysm. Scrambled communications and half-dead messengers paint a harrowing picture: great city-states have fallen, majestic convoys have vanished, and areas once considered stable are showing signs of decay or mysterious rejuvenation. In the far eastern coast, a chain of events is creating conditions for a vast confrontation that could shape the continent’s future for the next millennium.
The death of the last Kathagi pretender, rumored to be at the hands of a road warrior from the Hammerhead Wastes, has ignited a religious fervor among the Maximilianists, who believe this assassin is their Messiah. Their call for a new crusade has reignited clashes with the servants of the Toad God, potentially triggering the long-awaited Seventh Motor Insurrection. With the Imperial Legions dissolved, the western fortresses are abandoned, ending the containment of the Jabawaki Wastes. Dams and levees have broken in a dozen places, and ancient warnings about mudmen, curly folk, and other creatures are becoming reality in the neighboring swamps and rivers.
The prime convoy of the Thunder Sharks, operating in the Eastern coast for the first time in a generation, is passing unopposed through once-barred bastions. They are reportedly moving through the city-states of the Toxic Steps, on an inevitable collision course with old enemies. Marvin’s Blood Machine, a confederation of murderers and psychopaths, is sweeping down from the north, seeking to repeat their victory over the Thunder Sharks during the Five Cities War. Only the great city-states of Glasswall and Del Hali possess the strength to prevent the entire Eastern coast from descending into anarchy, yet they are greedily seizing new conquests instead of fortifying against the coming storm.
Adding a final, unpredictable element to this emerging drama is sorcery. For millennia dismissed as mere parlor tricks or charlatanism mimicking recovered advanced technology, its practitioners are now achieving great and terrible things, wonders inexplicable even to ancient Texmiths. This re-emergent supernatural force could become the ultimate wild card, dramatically altering the balance of power across the The Taangali Wastes. Whatever Tongali once was, that world is gone. But in its place lies a new kind of freedom and the chance to build, destroy, or remake it again and again. Civilization may end where the road begins, but beyond it lies any kind of life one can imagine.
Scavenging for Answers: A Taangali Wastes Q&A
What is ‘The Taangali Wastes’?
The Taangali Wastes is a new post-apocalyptic science fantasy world setting developed by the Templin Institute. It’s designed to be a creative and adventurous universe, drawing inspiration from classics like Mad Max.
What are the ‘Wastes’ mentioned in the setting?
The Wastes are diverse and dangerous regions that cover much of the world, believed to be the lingering fallout from a past cataclysm. These areas can range from old war zones to exotic places where the laws of reality are distorted.
Where do people live in The Taangali Wastes?
People live in ‘glades,’ which are small pockets of civilization like vibrant city-states or fortress settlements. These glades are islands of safety and life amidst the surrounding desolation of the Wastes.
How do different settlements connect or trade with each other?
Settlements connect through ‘convoys,’ which are large groups of vehicles that travel perilous trade routes through the dangerous Wastes. These convoys are vital for moving goods, resources, and people between the often isolated glades.