Glacier Crawlers
Abominobiles
Crossing the glacier can go one of three ways... You can die on the ice. Or, you can die on the Crawler. Or if you're lucky, you make it, and you never want to try that again.Patronsclicktaphere for bonus info
A Madman's Design
Inspired by the ice climber and alpinist tools of ice picks and spiked shoes, the Glacier Crawler takes those instruments and packages them together with an oil guzzling open-faced engine. The engine itself sits upon a series of quarter circle blades with pointed ends facing backwards. Attached behind the engine is an unpadded metal box containing the controls (throttle and steering), within which one or more passengers may uncomfortably sit. A driveshaft runs from the engine, under the cabin box, to a gear box that turns the treads of the machine, which are themselves just thick rubber mats affixed with metal spikes.
The front blades allow for forward movement under the propulsion of the treads, yet restrain the crawler from sliding backwards when not in motion. This allows anyone piloting a Glacier Crawler to "safely" climb some of the steepest glacier embankments.
Made with Midjourney
You've not fully lived unless you've spent the night stuck in a Crawler resting at 45 degrees on the face of a glacier.Patronsclicktaphere for bonus info
Method to the Madness
The Cradle of Ice is an inherently dangerous place; it is exceptionally sparse, with little to nothing edible for hundreds of kilometers in any direction. This goes hand in hand with the danger of the often present 450m tall God-husk Avartarian, and the regenerative Rendlings he spawns periodically. Because of this, the Legion keeps multiple bases of operations in the area, including two semi-permanent camps on the ice itself.Listen, I'm not riding in that Qur-damned thing ever again. I don't care if I freeze to death, this time I'm walkin.
These camps are not self sufficient in the slightest, and must rely entirely on supplies brought in via goods shippers known as Ice Runners. For a while, Ice Runners would make the trek across glaciers on foot, but once they were invented, Glacier Crawlers were found to be slightly more efficient, and slightly less deadly than striking it out alone.
Stats at a Glance
Glorious Inefficiency
Glacier Crawlers are an abominable marriage between tested and untested technology -- taking tried and true climbing equipment, and strapping it to a barely understood recently invented combustion engine. Most mountaineers and climbers wish for nothing to do with the vehicles at all, giving them the relatively popular nickname of "Abominobile".Aeler's Engine
Invented within the last 5 years, and generally described as "frighteningly loud" when compared to other technology of the modern era, Aeler's Engine is an internal-combustion device used to power all sorts of mechanical equipment. It uses highly flammable liquids that are pumped into a cylindrical blast chamber, where they are compressed and exploded, turning chemical energy into mechanical motion. Should one wish for more power from the engine (though few rarely do), additional cylindrical chambers may be attached in series, resulting in more mechanical power.Alternatives
Understanding the desire for more safety in alpine travels, the team behind the Glacier Crawler has been working on work-shopping newer designs for their machine. Some of the improvements include: an open cabin for more visibility, bigger engine for more speed, or more spikes on the front for better grip.
Made with Midjourney
Made with Midjourney
"Abominobile" is such a hilarious and perfect name
Why thank you! I was very delighted in coming up with that :D