Metro RPG

The world of 2033 lies in ruins as a result of World War III (a.k.a. the Great War of 2013 or simply Armageddon). The event that has led to the post-nuclear realityThe event that has led to the post-nuclear reality, as it's considered to be the last global conflict in human history to be on the same or greater scale than the first two preceding World Wars. Total of 20,000 warheads were used and that the war began with a limited exchange between two Middle Eastern countries - appearing to be Iran or Iraq, and Lebanon or Israel. After the initial exchange, other nuclear-armed nations began their response; the end result was a massive global exchange of nuclear weaponry over a brief span of time just in brief of three days, between 6 to 9 July of 2013.

Mutants are organisms whose DNA has been altered by radiation, or as a result of being exposed to various chemicals. They are usually fierce and dangerous creatures, not hesitating to attack or kill any human that crosses their path, although certain exceptions exist, with mutants that are generally neutral, or even intelligent beings who try to communicate with humans, as they Come in three Variants Animal Like, Plants and Supernaturals

Bear - A bear that was affected by the radiation and grew to monstrous proportions, now a powerful boss-entity. Biomass - A very large mass of radioactive organic material formed after the use of "Ancient Weapons" As the Outcasts say around the ruins of the Old Cities. Cities like Moscow, United Empire. Atlanta, Usonia. Ruins of Paris, Franco-Anglia. Old London, and many more. Blind Ones - Giant gorilla-like mutants living in the abandoned research facility at Novosibirsk. They might be a family of the librarians or a related species. Błotniak - Semi-intelligent, humanoid, mutated creatures living in the Vistula, but also capable of breathing and movement on land. Somewhat similar to the mythical Slavic utopiec/topielec (drowner) creatures. Corpse Eaters - Corpse Eaters are non-lethal scavenger mutants that feed on the corpses of all creatures, including members of their own species. Dark Ones - Very powerful species of sentient humanoids with telepathic abilities that attempt to communicate with Artyom. They are the results of (possibly deliberately engineered) mutations in humans, and are also known as Homo novus. Demon - A giant bat-like creature found only on the surface. Giant Amoeba - A large explosive ball of protoplasm, which seeks out living creatures and explodes on contact. Humanimal - A humanoid mutant severely affected by decades of radiation, both in appearance and behavior. These once-humans have not only abandoned civilization, but have regressed to an animalistic state, and will attack their human cousins on sight. Librarian - Quasi-intelligent beasts, very dangerous. Found only in the library. There are two varieties: common and black. Their appearance resembles grotesque gorillas; passively suggesting they are mutated from humans or apes. Lurker - Small, numerous, and agile creatures likely mutated from large rodents. Mutant Crow - Mutant crows are small bird-like animals living on the surface and have the ability to fly.

Newcomers - Large, black, bony mutants only ever mentioned in the first book while Artyom is at Paveletskaya. The same mutants are described in more detail in Metro 2034, though this time they are described as being large, pale, and having no eyes. They're also extremely durable and blindingly fast. It's possible that these are different mutants that chased out the original "newcomers". Nosalis - A common mutant found in the metro that likely mutated from moles. There are six varieties in Metro 2033: common, black, winged, albino, plated, and rhino. Nosalis Rhino - A massive nosalis leader that acts as an alpha female to common nosalises. Shrimp - Large chitinous marine mutants found in the underground metro "river" and the swamps on the surface. Slimeslug - A mutant only ever mentioned, even in the books. Slimeslugs are very powerful, presumably predatory snail-like creature that leaves slimy trails in their wake. Snakes - Though largely unchanged by radiation, some of these reptiles have developed bug-like legs and pincers on their tails. Spiderbug - Large scorpion and spider-like arthropods that are deathly vulnerable to light. Tsar Fish - A large aquatic mutant inhabiting the Volga river. Upyirs - Medium-sized mutants mentioned in Metro 2034. These mutants are named after vampires due to their likeness to large bats, though they are not demons as they crawl. They have small leathery looking wing folds under their arms, as well as webbed hands and feet. They are known to attack entire stations in waves. Watcher - Large mutants covered with dark grey fur, and known for their distinct howling. Wolf - A pack animal that has remained virtually unchanged by radiation. Worm - Giant leeches living in a flooded station of the Novosibirsk Metro.

Reaper - A creature more than three meters tall, with a long, woolly, dark pole on its body and tail. Its front limbs are one and a half times longer than its body, and end in long sickle-shaped claws (which is how it got its nickname). Has a keen sense of hearing. Isn't very fast while running, but can leap across obstacles in quick bursts. The Swallow - Resembles a long gray caterpillar. The body is similarly elongated, with the front of the body curving upward at right angles. At the very top of the curve is the mouth. The swallow's body is also covered with hair. Six furry spider-like legs stick out from under the swallow's belly, with which it can move quickly and silently, or walk sideways like a crab. Each such paw ends in three predatory curved claws. Nops - Heavily mutated and altered dogs that are almost entirely changed by radiation.

Liana - Large tentacles that hang from the ceilings of the interiors of buildings. Nettle - Inside the terminal and under the port in the Volga area are bushes containing poison gas. Both locations suggest some chemical or biological research, which may or may not have been related to their origin. Radioactive Luminescent Mushrooms - Common throughout the metro, these mushrooms either cause or feed off radiation. Spore Bud - Inactive plant species that poses no harm

Anomaly - These supernatural, bright blue balls of light will electrify and kill everything around them as they drift through the metro. Damned Souls - Malevolent dead that cannot move on, and drag down anyone they are able to reach. Darkness - Ill-defined patches of ghost-related darkness that renders electric light useless. Ghosts - Though not true mutants, ghosts are strange after-images of people/creatures that died in the metro and have not passed on. Great Door - A seemingly hypnotic entity found in the lost catacombs, embodied by a large red door. Nagornaya Phantoms - Giant supernatural entities obscured by fog who kill the youngest member of groups to apparently consume their life force. It is, however, possible that these are not supernatural beings, but mutants who've somehow gained the ability to create fog. River of Fate - An anomalous flow of water, said to be able to change the destiny of those who enter it. Master of the Tunnels - A disembodied entity and a revered character of folklore, the keeper of the St. Petersburg Metro.

Factions are the political entities that compete for influence over the limited territory and resources of the post-apocalyptic Moscow Metropolitan in the world of Metro. United by a common ideology, interest, or the simple need to survive, most of them are the offspring of today's nation-states. Though they bring a semblance of order and stability to a world continuing to degenerate from the fallout of the Great War, their interminable squabbles have only further threatened the future survival and rebirth of humanity.

Fourth Reich - A fascist faction inspired by the ideas and policies of Adolf Hitler and his Third Reich. Led by the Führer and formed around a core of neo-nazis and pre-war xenophobes, the Reich strives to build a new order, envisioning a Metro free of mutants and non-Russians. To this end, they employ special instruments and techniques (modelled upon those used in Hitler's Germany) to ensure that genetic "standards" are upheld by all inhabitants of and travellers to the Reich. Their home station is the triple station of Tverskaya-Chekhovskaya-Pushkinskaya, though they occupy many other stations and bases on the surface. In a state of perpetual war with their political enemies, the Marxist-Leninist Red Line, the Reich possesses an army of between 2000 and 3000 men. Preferring (partially as a result of their smaller population) quality to quantity, Reich soldiers are significantly better equipped and trained on a man-to-man basis The Commonwealth of the Stations of the Ring Line or Hanseatic League- Commonly shortened to "Hanza", this faction is a collection of stations led by President Pyotr Rusakov, occupying the vital Koltsevaya Ring Line. Its name is inspired by the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Europe during the Late Middle Ages. Formed soon after the collapse of Central Metro Command, Hansa is the most influential faction in the Metro. Occupying what could be considered the "jugular" of the entire metro system, trade from every station and faction in the Metro passes through Hanza checkpoints. To protect its sovereignty, security, and trade revenues, Hanza possesses a potent force of 4000 to 5000 soldiers. Despite this impressive ensemble, Hanza remains something of an apathetic bystander to most forms of strife in the tunnels, preferring to use sanctions and threats when necessary to protect the Commonwealth's interests.

Polis - Occupying the quadruple transfer point of the Arbatskaya, Alexandrovsky Sad, Biblioteka Imeni Lenina, and Borovitskaya stations, if Hanza is the jugular of the Underground then Polis is its beating heart. A beacon of learning and pre-war civilization in the darkness after doomsday, only in Polis have the many comforts of the old Russia, first among them near-total safety, been preserved. Formed by surviving members of the Russian government, military apparatus, and intelligentsia, Polis lacks a head of state, possessing a Council bringing together the various pre-war sects which birthed the faction. Although possessing a small military of around 500 men, sandbags and machine-gun posts are not Polis' main source of security. Instead, Polis is protected by the awe in which it is held by every metro citizen, with even some of the most despicable bandits respecting and honouring the position of the city as a repository of knowledge which would otherwise have been long lost. However, more pragmatic reasons exist as well - the strategic location of Polis at the heart of the Metro would lead to any Red Line or Fourth Reich attack receiving a severe response from the Hanza, and vice versa. Not to mention that the delicate flow of trade throughout the Metro (the main source of Hanza's power) would be severely threatened if Polis was to fall. Rangers of the Order - An elite paramilitary organization considered the protectors of the Metro, the Rangers, also known as Spartans, venture the Metro and the surface, eliminating mutants or bandits who prey on the weak. Although apparently neutral, they maintain close ties with Polis (itself a self-proclaimed neutral power), with many members hailing from the city. They possess no home stations, instead of occupying the surface base of Sparta, and the D6 bunker following the events of Metro 2033. Their leader, Miller, enforces a policy of "if it's hostile, you kill it", which has served the Rangers well so far.

Red Line - A Marxist-Leninist and neo-Stalinist faction, the Red Line is the haven of Soviet nostalgists and ageing former members of the CPSU and Komsomol. Led by General Secretary Maxim Moskvin, the Communist Party maintains control much as in Stalin's time - through a program of censorship, political and social repression, and webs of spies and informants. The Reds occupy most of the Sokolnicheskaya Line (literally, "Red Line"; the oldest in the Metro and a constant reminder of the glories of Russia's pseudo-socialist past) minus the two stations of the Ring, and possess the largest population and greatest territory in the Metro. Much like the Soviet Army of the Second World War, the Red Line relies on a massive, but poorly trained and equipped, conscript army. Of the Line's 15,000 citizens, 6000-7000 serve in the Armed Forces, engaged in a constant struggle against the Neo-Nazis of the Fourth Reich. Bandits are typical criminals within the metro, banded together in unorganized groups of cutthroats, hooligans, robbers, drifters, and murderers.