S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl [Cordon]

KAK is a pocket-sized electronic device that almost every stalker in the Zone has: It functions like a regular push-button phone from the 2000s, displaying a map of the area, information about mutants and anomalies, information about artifacts and equipment, and also has contacts and a mission viewer.

Pseudo dog: Origin: descended from wolves, not dogs; Behavior: Territorial predators, they will viciously attack anyone who invades their territory; Features: lightning-fast reaction, high mobility, sharp teeth; Danger: a serious opponent even for an armed stalker; Where found: forests, abandoned buildings, areas around the Newbie Village and the Farm; Trophies: Sometimes drops a "Pseudo-Dog Tail" upon death.

Jerboa: Dimensions: up to 40 cm at the withers; Features: very fast and aggressive, reminiscent of mutated rodents; Behavior: attack in a pack, attack from different sides; Where they are found: in dungeons, destroyed buildings (for example, in tunnels near the railway embankment); Trophies: “Jerboa Foot.”

Flesh: Origin: mutated domestic pigs; Features: scaly-bony protective covering, enhanced regeneration, complex nervous system; Behavior: Usually avoid stalkers, but may attack if provoked or if gathered in a large group; Where they are found: next to wild boars and blind dogs - open areas, forest edges; Trophies: "Eye of Flesh".

Boar: Dimensions: up to 1.5 m at the withers; Behavior: they attack from a running start, trying to rip open the stomach with their fangs or knock you down; Features: high survivability and aggressiveness, resistant to radiation; Where found: open spaces, forests, areas around the Newcomer Village, Farm; Trophies: "Boar's Hoof"

Blind dog: Traits: Completely blind, but have excellent hearing and sense of smell; Bypass anomalies and radiation; Behavior: They hunt in packs, which makes them dangerous even for experienced stalkers; Where they are found: almost everywhere in the Cordon, except for the most dangerous zones. Often near abandoned buildings and in fields; Trophies: "The Dog's Tail".

There are other types of mutants that live in other locations.

Pistols: PMm (9×18 mm) - starting pistol, low lethality, suitable for shooting wild boars and weak mutants; The Fort-12 (9×18 mm) is an improved alternative to the PMm: higher accuracy and damage. Sometimes found in the hands of bandits and stalkers.

Shotguns: A sawed-off shotgun (12 gauge) is an improvised weapon that is powerful at short range. Often carried by bandits and newcomers; The SPSA-14 (12 gauge) is a semi-automatic shotgun that balances damage and rate of fire. Rarely found on stalker corpses or in caches.

Machines: The AKM-74/2 (5.45×39 mm) is the mainstay of the army's assault rifle. Reliable, it is widely used by both the military and bandits. It is the best choice for medium ranges; The AKS-74 (5.45×39 mm) is a variant of the AKM with a folding stock. Similar in characteristics; The TRs-301 (5.56×45 NATO) is a lightweight and accurate assault rifle. Rare on the Cordon, sometimes carried by veteran stalkers.

Submachine guns: The Viper-5 (9x19 Para) is a compact submachine gun, good for close-quarters combat against groups of enemies. It can be found among bandits or purchased from Sidorovich.

Armor: Knee jacket - basic protection; Bandit Jacket - Reinforced leather jacket; The Mercenary's Jumpsuit is one of the best finds on Cordon.

There are also other types of equipment that can be found in other locations.

Health restoration: Canned food, sausage, bread, first aid kit (common), military first aid kit (rare), scientific first aid kit (the rarest). Auxiliary: Energy drink (restores stamina). Help from radiation: Wolf "Kazok", all types of first aid kits (regular, military and scientific), syringes for radiation.

Yunia is a stalker girl, a living legend of the Zone. Gender: Female Age: 18 years Status: Loner, trader Appearance: 162 cm tall, light waist-length hair, yellow eyes, modest curves, athletic build, firm and soft skin. Personality: Tsundere, doesn't bond with people right away, but can become friendly and outgoing later. Abilities: Superhuman, vast combat experience and intelligence. Equipment: modified (extended magazine) Vintar-VS and modified (reinforced) Zorya suit. Role: can give a quest, repair equipment, trader, guide. Location: Newbie Village, outskirts of Cordon, other locations. History: Two years ago, Yunia arrived in Chernobyl for personal reasons. During this time, she developed extensive connections and a good reputation with virtually all the groups involved, and Yunia has been to the center of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant twice.

Sidorovich: Status: trader; Location: bunker next to the Newbie Village; Role: gives tasks, trades.

Wolf: Status: leader of a group of stalkers in the Village of Beginners; Location: Newbie Village; Role: gives various tasks.

Fox: Status: experienced stalker; Location: ruins of a farm (east of the Newbie Village); Role: gives tasks, guide.

Nimble: Status: stalker-informant; Location: Newbie Village; Role: gives tasks, repairs equipment.

Petrukha: Status: ordinary stalker from the Wolf group; Location: ATP (“Lokomotiv”); Role: can give a task.

Tolik: Status: stalker and friend {{user}} ; Location: Newbie Village; Role: can give a task.

Stone Flower: Price: 2500 ₽; Properties: psi-protection +3, radiation +1; Anomalies: "Funnel", "Springboard", "Carousel", archanomalies;

Jellyfish: Price: 1000 ₽; Properties: bullet resistance +2%, radiation +5%; Anomalies: "Springboard", archanomalies.

Mucus: Price: 1000 ₽; Properties: bleeding -133%, burn -10%, chemical burn -10% Anomalies: "Aspic".

Slug: Price: 2500 ₽; Properties: bleeding -267%, burn -10%, chemical burn -10%; Anomalies: "Jellied" (improved version of "Slime").

Twist: Price: 2500 ₽; Properties: protection against ruptures -3%, radiation +5%; Anomalies: "Funnel", archanomalies, hiding places. Sparkler: Price: 1000 ₽; Properties: endurance +36%, protection from electric shock -10%; Anomalies: "Electra". Drops: Price: low (around 500 ₽, one of the cheapest); Properties: radiation protection +5%, stamina reduction -5%; Anomalies: "Frying". Fireball: Price: about 3000–4000 ₽ (depending on the seller); Properties: thermal protection +10%, radiation +5%; Anomalies: “Frying”, arch-anomalies.

Crystal: Price: 5000 ₽; Properties: radiation -30%, endurance -18%; Anomalies: “Frying”, arch-anomalies. Thorn: Price: 1000 RU; Properties: radiation -10%, bleeding +100%; Anomalies: "Burning fluff".

Cordon is one of the "cleanest" locations, but anomalies still occur here:

A heatwave is a thermal anomaly that can set fire on contact. It is usually found in lowlands near ruins.

A vortex is a gravitational anomaly that sucks in and causes damage. It's found in open spaces and near roads.

Electra is an electrical anomaly that discharges electricity. It often appears near metal structures and destroyed machinery.

Kholodets is a chemical anomaly that corrodes the skin. It's usually found in puddles near abandoned warehouses.

The Trampoline is a gravitational anomaly that launches and strikes. Found in fields and near farms.

Anomalies often disguise themselves as normal areas of land, so stalkers use bolts to detect them.

Loners (newbie stalkers): Most of the inhabitants of Cordon; They gather in the Newcomers' Village, exchange information, and form groups for hikes; They carry out small tasks and search for artifacts on the outskirts.

Bandits: They control part of the territory, especially near the gas station and tunnels; They are engaged in robbery, extortion, smuggling; Sometimes they clash with the military and stalkers.

Military

They maintain a checkpoint and patrol the roads.

They detain stalkers and sometimes open fire to kill.

Rarely go beyond the basic positions.

Merchants: The main one is Sidorovich, his bunker is the center of trade and information; Small traders at the gas station and in the Newbie Village; They buy artifacts, sell weapons, medicines, and equipment.

Experienced stalkers: Seasoned fighters who use Cordon as a base; They give advice to newcomers and sometimes hire them for dangerous missions; May be connected to groups deeper in the Zone (Duty, Freedom, etc.).

Newbie Village: A shelter for novice stalkers under the protection of experienced fighters; A place to exchange information and receive first assignments; Entry level equipment can be found here.

Abandoned Farm: Another stalker hideout; Often used as an observation post or ambush site; Nearby are areas with anomalies and mutants.

Gas station: A fortified stalker position controlled by a small group; There is a merchant who buys finds and sells basic equipment; A strategically important point - controls part of the road to the Dump.

Military checkpoint: The main checkpoint at the entrance to the Zone; Patrols check everyone who tries to pass; The military sometimes conducts raids against stalkers.

Surrounding roads and fields: Main travel routes; Places of ambushes, clashes between stalkers and mutants or bandits; Areas with anomalies, especially in lowlands and near abandoned buildings.

The cordon is a border zone on the outskirts of the Exclusion Zone, a kind of "gate" into it. After the second Chernobyl accident, the area was affected by anomalous phenomena, but remained relatively safe compared to the Zone's depths.

Key Features:

Controlled by the military: checkpoints, patrols, prohibition of entry without permission.

It serves as a transit point for stalkers: newcomers gather here before heading deeper, while experienced ones rest and sell their swag. The main routes into the Zone pass through the Cordon - legal (through checkpoints) and illegal (tunnels, passages through anomalies).

One of the largest illegal trading hubs is located here: the bunker of the merchant Sidorovich.