u/Rossowinch

Squirrel Stampeeeede!

The world is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where a geomagnetic storm grips the land, initiated by a nuclear-grade electromagnetic pulse that hit the upper atmosphere. This is ancient history to the common people; however, the where, when, and how is not completely known to the masses, nor is it important. The remaining people are in survival mode and stand at the precipice of an extinction-level event.

Toxic fumes engulf the atmosphere, though not instantly fatal to those who inhale them, continued exposure leads to physiological damage that is irreversible, starting a slow death from suffocation. Because of the geomagnetic storm, a permanent aurora lights up the night sky, perceptible across almost the whole planet. Because of this, conductive materials especially metals are dangerous. A small touch can jolt you with a strong electric discharge from the dormant electromagnetic energy caused by the storm. Magnetic strength is also dialed up to eleven because of this. Most items in this world are made of advanced polymers so that they won't be conductors for heat or electrical discharge.

Weapons are all railguns; because of the increased electromagnetic energy, railguns are more common and pack more penetrating power than a standard gun with gunpowder. Though the guns are made of polymer, they contain metal components inside that tap into the electromagnetic energy when fired. Siphon stations are often seen in settlements, they collect electrical energy from the atmosphere.

Across the wasteland live the Manglers, flesh-eating creatures that can survive the wasteland easily. Only a few animals are able to breathe this effluvial air: a few examples are some species of crustaceans, insects, rats, moles, reptiles, and amphibians. Manglers dine on these critters regularly, but their absolute favorite food is human meat-- specifically, meat filled with dread and fear. The adrenaline in their blood is the sweetest thing to a Mangler, and thus the remaining humans soon learned to protect themselves from them.

The humans learned, however, that wherever Manglers are, these "pale mums" grow, fungi that look like flowers and release spores that allow humans to breathe the air without repercussions. From there, they soon learned to keep the Manglers well-fed and alive, for without them, the one thing that allows them to breathe will be lost. They can't just feed them any meat however, the food needs to be human and it needs to have adrenaline present in the blood during the grazing (the feeding process). From their dung, the pale mums bloom. A symbiotic relationship has been established and has been going on for centuries.

Manglers are incredibly durable, strong, and quick, they can go into hibernation mode and are resistant to fluctuations in temperature, but a well-placed shot from a railgun can still kill them. The real nightmare is the female Mangler. These are creatures that never stop growing until their own weight can no longer support them. Female Manglers rarely go out to feed themselves, as male Manglers bring the food to them. It is usually a death sentence to spot one in the wasteland, as they are known to chase down victims wherever they go. Whole villages sometimes get destroyed by a single female Mangler.

Thank you for taking the time to read the lore! Would love to know your thoughts!

Seconds before disaster...

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share this comic I've been working on for a few years now! The story is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where flesh-eating zombies manglers roam the land and where the air has become too toxic for humans and most animals to breathe in.

The theme centers around an extreme idea of 'The end justifies the means'. In an extinction-level-event does humanity's survival outweigh the amount of violence, pain and fear that is inflicted on the few?

You can continue reading part 2 here: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/splice-of-life/harvester-part-2/viewer?title_no=681121&episode_no=21

Would love to know your thoughts! Thank you!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share this comic I've been working on for a few years now! The story is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where flesh-eating zombies manglers roam the land and where the air has become too toxic for humans and most animals to breathe in.

The theme centers around an extreme idea of 'The end justifies the means'. In an extinction-level-event does humanity's survival outweigh the amount of violence, pain and fear that is inflicted on the few?

You can continue reading part 2 here: https://www.webtoons.com/en/canvas/splice-of-life/harvester-part-2/viewer?title_no=681121&episode_no=21

Would love to know your thoughts! Thank you!