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I built a little fleet of tonks a while ago to play Tonks! the game, and I've finally gotten around to painting them.
My tonks setting takes a lot of inspiration from Netstorm: Islands at War - an old multiplayer game that I loved as a child and, I believe, never really got the attention and praise it deserved on a wider scale.
My setting is called Sambar, aka the Blasted Lands - an ash and storm-filled continent of desperate tribes trying to survive in a world of limited resources, hyper-aggressive neighbours, and a constant need to stay on the move.
For a thousand years, there was relative peace between the two main factions of the land. Though they shared a long history as one tribe split along theological lines - differing methods in a relentless search for their god who had abandoned them - eventually the tribe split and parted ways in search of answers. The priest-scientists of Sambar controlled the ports and cities along the the eastern coastline, harnessing pure storm energy into crystallised power and weaponry. Great Houses vied for political supremacy both among themselves and against the temple hierarchy.
To the east, in sprawling cities carved underneath the great mountains above, the mage-lords of Belsambar communed with the spirits and the stars in their pursuit of the divine.
Eventually, growing tensions between the two nations led to a theological arms-race, resulting in Sambar's creation of Council - an eldritch machine-god of crawling infinity, and Belsambar's creation of the Eidolon - a six-limbed beast born in the image of God from the sacrificial flesh of a million servants; some more willing than others.
After a series of failed peace talks, Council and the Eidolon met in battle in the grey desert between the two capitals. The two colossal Gods-in-the-Shell were ultimately slain by each others' hands - the two carcasses still stand, locked in mortal combat, their essence still pouring out of their wounds.
This seemingly unending essence - known as blood - was soon discovered to be an incredibly efficient fuel source. Following this discovery, and the decay of both Sambarite and Belsambarite societiies, a third faction arose - the Blood Waste Nomads; the outcasts, underclasses, turncoats and mercenaries of both nations who were reduced to scavenging, trading, and killing their way across the Blasted Lands.
The enslaved divinity that was released by the deaths of Council and the Eidolon still craves worship - any group of people who remain in the same physical location for an extended period of time will be sought out and made to serve, one way or another. This is usually unpleasant, and very often fatal - thus, the residents of Sambar have been forced to either maintain solitary lives or remain forever on the move.
In response, a number of groups - the remnants of Houses; the clergy, the military, bands of likeminded survivors - began to form and make their way throughout the Blasted Lands. To better protect themselves, and to better win resources from others, the groups began to build/train/summon what are widely known as Sigils - massive mobile fortresses with crews of up to several hundred that stomp, trundle, or weave their way across the ash, blood and rubble on their endless search for peace, parts, and providence. Sigils can be independent, or one of many aligned to one House or another. They are the homes, farms, and battle stations of their occupants, all in one, and it is not uncommon for many residents of the Blasted Lands to have been born aboard a Sigil and never stepped foot anywhere else in their lives.
Now, like great whales in the sea, Sigils travel ever onwards across the ash and storms of what once was Sambar, salvaging what they can from the wrecks of each other and from the ruins of the cities; fighting for control of bloodwells and pre-war automated munitions factories.
Group shot of the tonks - I've tried to convey a video gamey feel through the colours - you can imagine these tonks as units that change their primary colour depending on whose team they are on.
from House Vander of Sambar, Den Laarg the Grandfather Bulf - the Mountain that Walks.
Spoilered inspiration from Netstorm below:
Spoiler:
Art
In-game
From the military wing of House Callen, the Kitchrol Redoubt 939.
From the ashes of House Thule, and to the chagrin of many, the Viscount Basteraux - known widely as the Canary Bastard - maintains lone supremacy over the largest remaining autonomous munitions factory in Sambar through an iron fist, never-before-seen machine servants, and a great big gun.
From the scavengers of the Blood Wastes, the Smasher.
Ostensibly from House Urvon of Belsambar, though rumors abound of an unholy marriage between the machinations of their mage-priests and dangerous alien technology - Stormstriders disable other Sigils through superior mobility backed up by powerful lightning strikes from their arc cannons, making for significantly easier salvage and higher returns that those relying on traditional ammunition in the Blasted Lands.
Terrain -
I had a blast building these guys and they've been a lot of fun to paint - they're a bit less serious than the 28mm stuff. Looking to hopefully getting a game or two in over New Years.
