HUBERT SPALA

[HUBERT SPALA]

INKTOBER ‘20 #25 - Buddy

Familiars are a common sight on the streets of Wharf Town, going around in their manifold forms to do their masters bidding. Once they were unique only to wizards of some power, but the processes of summoning, crafting or enthralling them became so mundane that by now anyone with even a smidge of arcane potency can have one, and they are quite a help to be sure. While like any of the Others they vary between each other do a massive degree, in all possible aspects, be it shape or size, there are some commonalities to them, of course. They are all made to be smart, or at least crafty and cunning in some ways. Swiftness and nimbleness are common traits desirable by the magic users, as they want their familiars to be able to get to any place and be quick about it. Some are gifted with speech, to carry out more complex tasks. There are two schools of a relationship between the familiar and the master. The Traditionalists believe the familiar to be a tool, a servant – disposable and utterly devoid of a connection, treating them as such as well knowing for sure that the bond they share will protect them fully from any form of retaliation. Empathists, however, take a different route. Arguing that since the familiar is soul bonded to them, they believe they become an extension of themselves and therefore should be treated as such, with the dignity, compassion and egocentric love that once reserves for themselves. These arcane users treat their familiars as closest confidants, truest friends and most beloved companions, as they indeed believe them to be a fragment of themselves woven into external form.

Inktober 2020 art will become avaliable in fully colored variants in ‘Posterra: Folks of the Wharf’ artbook, including extended lore, two short stories and map of the Wharf Town and surroundings. Stay Tuned! 

[HUBERT SPALA]

INKTOBER ‘20 #20 - Coral

To some the meteoric rise of the Wharf Town seem like a set of miracles cast in such unlikely of places. Posterra is, after all, a violent place where death and desolation hold hands and skip joyfully around every realm with equal fervor. Yet the city not just staves off the dangers and survives, but thrives and grows with rapacious hunger. Nonetheless, under this seemingly orderly progress lays a whole panoply of conflicts. From minor gang wars to great merchants disputes. From religious zealots and their constant screaming for their monopoly on the One Real Truth to the malignant and ever spreading influences of Dreadwake or the expansionist, jingoist touch of the Underempire. The most current and ongoing of such conflict is the Quiet War also known as duel in the depths. For the oceanic empire of the Jellyfishes grew tired of the sea pollution and exploitation by the expanding city and its commerce and declared brutal war that might one day reach the surface and walk upon land. In their high-tech suits of combat suits and android bodies they are a significant threat, held in check by the tenacity of the city forces, few valiant heroes and of course – dark and terrifying magicks. Nonetheless, every conflict fizzles at some points and it seem that the nimble diplomacy of Mayor Whale finally wrenched some tangible results as despite being in armed conflict both states agreed for a brief cease fire to establish embassies in their realms, appoint ambassadors and begin the talks about ultimate resolution of the tumultuous conflict… And so, Ambassador Anemone came to be, emerging from the foamy waves to walk upon the streets of the city, guarded by the City Watch and his own troops to take residence in his newly erected Seashell Manor.

Inktober 2020 art will become avaliable in fully colored variants in ‘Posterra: Folks of the Wharf’ artbook, including extended lore, two short stories and map of the Wharf Town and surroundings. Stay Tuned!

[HUBERT SPALA]

INKTOBER ‘20 #19 - Dizzy

Mahrianda is a proper damsel. Her impeccable etiquette, posh mannerisms and excellent linguistic skills make her a valuable teacher to the rich and influential, who wants their children to not turn uncouth and to be able to at least somehow communicate with the manifold kin and folk that permeate every layer of the city class strata. However being a hydrabian has its own issues – three minds on one body require a lot of balance and compromises, which most somehow manage, but in case of Lady Mahrianda one of the three heads is an ill-fitting companion – a ditz, a dim-witted, giggle-prone klutz with little focus and even less grace. While the other heads can keep that one in check, it often require less than polite bouts of hissy arguments and steely corrections, sadly, sometimes served in the middle of a busy street. This might put a dent in the lady overall presence, but most folks are generous with their understanding of their unusual being and the need to handle three consciousness, of which only two agree on rigid and spotless record of manners and punctuality!

Inktober 2020 art will become avaliable in fully colored variants in ‘Posterra: Folks of the Wharf’ artbook, including extended lore, two short stories and map of the Wharf Town and surroundings. Stay Tuned!

[HUBERT SPALA]

INKTOBER ‘20 #18 - Trap

One can imagine that big city means a certain degree of polished civilization. And while that is certainly true, they often forget that big cities tend to have their own lowly issues - in this case, it’s rowdy animals. Wild dogs, hissy cats, venom spitting gorgons and free running gnolls. Mangy, canny, running scams on every corner, terrorizing slums with their invasive odour and rabid disposition. Fortunately, where there is game, you will find hunters, and the city didn’t have to look long for a boisterous volunteer to cull down the pests and make short work of the wild running animals. Meet Sir Roderick Trapesta of the Venus Clan - an avid hunter with a taste for something new. And the urban jungle, as he calls it, is a completely new environment to tackle in his esteemed career. Sure, the beasts lurking in dark alleyways might not be the biggest nor the grandest he ever took down, but the street vermin has a low cunning unmatched by any truly wild beast, for they had to find new ways and tactics to survive and even thrive in such dense, populated and dangerous habitat as the great sprawling city. And so, he became the Head of, and so far the only member of the City Pound, which mostly didn’t take the wildened critters off the streets but just took them off the list of the living.

Inktober 2020 art will become avaliable in fully colored variants in ‘Posterra: Folks of the Wharf’ artbook, including extended lore, two short stories and map of the Wharf Town and surroundings. Stay Tuned!

[HUBERT SPALA]

INKTOBER ‘20 #17 - Storm

While most places are subject to the whims and fancies of the weather, Wharf Town has the rare luxury to decide with a solid bit of control on what kind of sky they want to enjoy for the day. This helps a lot, both with combating the heated summer days as well as to limit the dreaded chills of the harsh winters. How, though, a city of such size can perform such a deed? Is it ancient magic? Forgotten xenotech? Dark pacts with the gods? Nothing so extreme - it is just the local weatherman, Mzzunt the Storm Djinn, who decided that living in a two storey house beats a crummy lamp 9 out of 10 times. For a substantial salary, prerogatives and respect of the citizenry he employs his skills to manipulate the very skies above the great polis. And sure… he might be a little snooty, quite moody and have an ego the size of his billowing head, but even such features of bad character do not outweigh the benefits he provides for the whole city at large, and so he is not merely tolerated, but welcomed even in the gilded saloons of the city creme de la creme.

Inktober 2020 art will become avaliable in fully colored variants in ‘Posterra: Folks of the Wharf’ artbook, including extended lore, two short stories and map of the Wharf Town and surroundings. Stay Tuned!