A Sumptown Table Showcase and some fluff.
Sumptown, situated deep within the heart of the Sump on Necromunda, is a sprawling, chaotic settlement built atop the rancid, bubbling pools of toxic sludge and industrial refuse. Life in Sumptown is as grim as its surroundings, winding alleys and open spaces filled with the sludge of industrial runoff and waste, where the ground is always slick and treacherous. The town is a patchwork of makeshift structures, with buildings constructed from salvaged scrap metal, old machinery, and the rusted remnants of forgotten technology.
The air is thick with the acrid scent of polluted mist and the constant murmur of distant machinery—faint echoes of the sprawling, grimy factories that spew their filth into the Sump from above. Artificial lights flicker weakly, casting a dull and eerie glow across the town, while the constant hum of machinery and the distant groans of the hive city above remind the inhabitants of their ever-present struggle for survival.
Life in Sumptown is a test of endurance. The environment is hostile to life—polluted waters, toxic air, and the constant threat of dangerous fauna make each day a battle. The residents of Sumptown are primarily outcasts from the upper levels of Necromunda’s hive cities, former factory workers and other individuals who have been discarded or have chosen to seek refuge in the depths rather than face the brutality of life above. Others are mutants who have been driven from society for their deformities or their association with criminal gangs. Some are scavengers and mercenaries, drawn to Sumptown by the promise of wealth to be found in its dangerous and forgotten depths.
The people of Sumptown are shaped by the toxic environment. Exposure to the corrupting waste has left many of the inhabitants physically altered, with some sporting grotesque mutations—extra limbs, bulging eyes, or skin that looks like warped, leathery hide. Some have grown in stature or developed unnatural strength, while others are afflicted by disfigurements or diseases that have taken root in their bodies due to the constant exposure to the Sump’s poisonous atmosphere. While these mutations are often viewed with fear and disgust by those from the higher levels, in Sumptown, they are a symbol of survival and resilience. The tough, hardy nature of the residents has earned them a reputation for being resourceful and dangerous.
Sumptown is home to a wide array of people, each with their own purpose and function in the town. The most notable inhabitants are the various gangs that control the area, with the Scavvies being the largest and most prominent. These gangs form the backbone of Sumptown’s society, thriving on the wasteland’s refuse and extracting whatever resources they can from the polluted environment. Their territories are fiercely defended, and the gangs often engage in brutal skirmishes with one another for control of valuable salvage or to expand their hold over the town. In addition to the gangs, many freelance scavengers, traders, and black-market dealers call Sumptown home. They profit from the salvage and smuggling of rare archaeotech, metals, and chemicals extracted from the Sump’s depths and sold at a high price to those above.
Local industries revolve around the salvage and recycling of waste materials, with everything from scrap metal and old weapons to discarded tech and chemicals being repurposed into goods. Local craftsmen—often mutated or deformed from years spent in the toxic environment—forge crude but functional weapons, armour, and other tools from the junk they recover. Toxic waste refineries, chemical processing plants, and makeshift workshops dot the town, operated by small-time entrepreneurs or criminal overlords who profit from turning hazardous materials into valuable products, often at the risk of catastrophic accidents.
Despite the harshness of life, Sumptown has a deep sense of community. Survival depends on mutual support, and the citizens—be they gang members, scavengers, or independent traders—often rely on one another for protection, resources, and information. The town may be a lawless, dangerous place, but it is also a place where relationships are forged in the crucible of shared hardship. Despite its savage, decaying nature, Sumptown remains a resilient, ever-surviving patchwork of humanity, where each day is a fight for survival, and the strongest, most resourceful, and cunning inhabitants can carve out a life amidst the ruins.