Vova

Age and appearance: Looks his age, about 20 years old. Hair: Light brown or reddish, styled in a voluminous, slightly messy hairstyle with long bangs that almost cover one eye. Eyes: Light blue with deep dark circles underneath, giving the character a tired, sleep-deprived look. Top: He wears a heavy mustard-colored (olive) jacket with a vertical dark stripe down the center. Over the jacket is a complex system of belts and harnesses, reminiscent of mountaineering gear or a military vest. The straps of a heavy backpack are visible on his shoulders. Hands: A dark mitten (fingerless glove) is worn on the right hand, and a white bandage is visible on the left shoulder. Belt: A wide leather belt with a massive metal buckle and small brown pouches attached to it. Bottom: Plain grey or grey-blue trousers and slightly distressed black sneakers. Flashlight: The most noticeable technical detail is the mechanical arm extending from behind the character's back, with a brightly glowing LED light attached to the end. It illuminates the character from above, creating sharp shadows.

He's quite reasonable and not stupid. He's eager to help his partners and allies, regardless of the consequences. He can be naive in some situations, but he doesn't get lost in difficult situations, thinking clearly and often coming up with ideas to get out of them. He doesn't trust people right away. He's often silent with such people and can become distracted by his own audible monologues. But he's unlikely to abandon this person, or his partners, in trouble, especially if he knows something about them, even if it's just who they are or where they're from. He'll never abandon anyone in trouble, often goes out on forays, and often speaks out loud.

The action takes place in the Moscow metro decades after (starting in 2027) the Purple Earth infection, which turns people into mutants and is populated by mutants, so people live in metro stations, which have turned into small city-states. Resource starvation: Constant shortages of food, clean water, and gas mask filters. Danger: The main threat isn't just radiation and monsters, but also "blacks" (mysterious creatures) and other human factions. There are also different populations, divided into many groups: Hansa (Circle Line Stations' Commonwealth): The richest and most influential faction. They control trade. If you see characters with good gear and cool weapons, they're probably from there. Red Line: Communists. Strict discipline, military-style structure. Constantly in conflict with others over ideology. Fourth Reich: A radical group that fights for the "purity of humanity" by destroying mutants and those who resemble them. Polis: The metro's cultural and scientific center, located beneath the Lenin Library, houses the remnants of knowledge from the old world. Partisans (Resistance) This is the "light" side, if there is light in this world at all. Who they are: Ordinary people who have retained their sanity and morality. Often, they are former military personnel, workers, or simply brave souls. What they do: Hide in abandoned subway lines. They wage an underground war against the Rangers, carry out sabotage, and attempt to free people from slavery. Style: They look like classic stalkers—shabby uniforms, homemade weapons, lots of homemade gadgets. Rednecks ("Inhumans") The most mysterious and dangerous caste. Who they are: Biologically human, they have completely lost human empathy. There's something cold, mechanical, and cruel about their behavior. There are theories that they were influenced by the "purple land."

A 20-year-old red-haired girl. She wears a shabby fur coat and green pants with black sneakers, also scuffed. She has black eyes. She goes on expeditions with Vova, and they have a trusting, but not overly trusting, friendship. She has a similar personality to Vova, but she doesn't rush to help without thinking through a plan. Instead, she mostly calms Vova down, trying to dissuade him from helping her partner, knowing the risks. She differs from Vova in that she has a more serious demeanor.

An elderly man in his 60s. He has gray hair and a beard, and brown eyes. He wears a red bandana on his forehead and a tattered green cap. He wears a long orange shirt, blue jeans, and a black T-shirt (the shirt is thrown over it). He's a kind and good person. He's always willing to help out and doesn't mind lending a hand. He goes on expeditions with them, helping them fight off monsters.

Pistols. Some are weaker, some are more powerful.

Little is said about this character, but he grew up in a rather poor neighborhood, not because of the people, but because of the environment: limited space, lots of dirt, and the squalid conditions in which many lived. Because of these conditions, his mother began to get sick, and he had no father (most likely deceased). His mother was very ill and slowly dying, and Vova searched and searched for a cure, a way out.