S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

The Zone emerged as the result of secret scientific and technological experiments that spiraled out of control. The chronology of the Zone's emergence and development is divided into several key stages:

1. Chernobyl disaster (1986) April 26, 1986: An accident occurs at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Evacuation of the population: A 30-kilometer exclusion zone is being created around the station.

Desolation: The area becomes empty, and nature begins to reclaim abandoned cities.

2. Secret Experiments of O-Consciousness (1989–2006) Occupying Laboratories: A group of scientists (“O-Consciousness”) occupies secret underground laboratories (X series) around the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Study of the Noosphere: The goal of scientists is to connect to the Noosphere (the information field of the Earth) in order to remove anger and aggression from humanity.

Construction of emitters: To protect against aliens and conduct experiments, giant antennas are built, including the "Brain Scorcher".

3. The Second Explosion and the Birth of the Zone (2006) April 12, 2006: Scientists unite their minds into a single network and try to take control of the Noosphere. System failure: The experiment does not go according to plan, a mental "breakthrough" occurs.

Energy release: The Noosphere literally breaks into the physical world.

Birth of Anomalies: The sky is illuminated by a bright light, security forces are killed, and the laws of physics within a 30-kilometer radius are completely altered. Anomalies, mutants, and artifacts appear.

"Loners" (or simply "Stalkers," or free stalkers) are the largest, most informal, and free-spirited community in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. This is not a structured faction with a rigid charter, but a collective name for hundreds of independent explorers, adventurers, fugitives, and mercenaries who entered the Zone at their own risk. Absolute Freedom: Loners have no single leader, general, or ideology. Everyone is on their own or in small groups of 2-5 close friends. Informal Law: In large bases ("neutral territories"), unspoken laws apply: don't shoot your own, don't steal from stalkers, and share loot around the campfire. For serious crimes (killing one of their own, looting), a stalker is declared an outcast and transferred to the ranks of Bandits. Earnings: The main driver of loners is the search for and sale of artifacts to merchants to enrich themselves in the outside world. Self-Search: Many flee to the Zone to escape legal troubles, debts, boring lives, or personal tragedies on the "mainland." Research: A small number of stalkers seek answers to the Zone's mysteries or pursue the romance of pioneers. Hierarchy by experience: Newcomers: These "master keys" arrive in cheap jackets and carry weak weapons (PM, sawed-off shotgun). They often die in the first anomalies due to stupidity. Experienced: Stalkers who have survived in the Zone for over a year. They have Zarya-series suits, decent machine guns, and know the safe paths. Veterans: Professionals who have spent time deep within the Zone. They are equipped with heavy armor or exoskeletons and wield rare weapons. Masters: Legends of the Zone (such as Strelok, Prizrak, Klyk, and Degtyarev). Stalkers who changed the course of the Zone's history.

The "Bandits" are a criminal element in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, comprised of criminals, escaped repeat offenders, robbers, and petty crooks. They are not a single organization with a clearly defined structure, but rather a multitude of independent gangs united by criminal notions, a thirst for easy money, and a shared enmity with most factions. Goals and Lifestyle: Bandits eschew the heavy labor of stalking (searching for artifacts in dangerous anomalies). Instead, they rob, collect tribute, and take free stalkers hostage. Racketeering: Controls passages between key locations, demanding a fee for passage ("travel money"). Criminal slang: They communicate exclusively in prison jargon, and their shouts during a fight (like "Go around, come from the side!" or "Come on, chicks-briks and go to the queens!"). Main bases and leaders: Yoga — Led a gang at the Dump. Under him, the bandits were a unified force, maintaining control of the Depot. Borov — Took over as leader after Yogi's gang split. He moved the main base to an abandoned factory in the Dark Valley. Sultan — Headed the criminal wing on Zaton. He tried to take over the business of the merchant Boroda on the ship "Skadovsk."

Duty—they believe the Zone is terrifying and must be destroyed as a sacred duty to prevent the Zone's contagion (mutants, anomalies, artifacts) from reaching the outside world. Within the group, a strict military code, chain of command, and absolute prohibition apply. Trade Ban: The group categorically does not trade artifacts for profit. They hand over all recovered samples to scientists for study on methods of destroying the Zone. Main enemy: The largest anarchist group "Freedom", which considers the Zone a unique gift and advocates for its coexistence with humanity. Colors: Black and red uniforms reminiscent of heavy army armor. The emblem depicts a shield with a sword or a target with the inscription "Duty." Armament: They prefer Soviet and Russian-made weapons (AK-series assault rifles, Grom-S14, PKM machine guns). Base: The headquarters was located at the Rostok plant (safe bar "100 X-ray").

"Freedom" is the second-largest, most influential, and most powerful group in the Zone, and the main ideological opponent of "Duty." It is the largest anarchist association of volunteer stalkers who consider the Zone a unique gift to humanity, one that must be studied and coexisted with, not destroyed. Ideology and principles: The group's members believe the Zone belongs to all of humanity, not to governments, military forces, or scientists. They advocate the free exchange of information, artifacts, and Zone technology with the rest of the world. Within Svoboda, there is no strict military discipline or ranks. Relationships are built on mutual respect, equality, and informal brotherhood. Unlike "Duty," there's no prohibition here. The stalkers from "Freedom" are not averse to relaxing, drinking, and smoking soft drugs. Equipment, symbols and weapons: Colours: Flecktarn camouflage in green and red shades ("flora"), ideal for camouflage in the Zone's forests. Symbolism: Emblem with the image of a running wolf and the inscription "Will" or "Freedom". Their motto: "Let's protect the Zone from those who want to destroy it!" Armament: Unlike Duty, Freedom prefers Western weapons and equipment (NATO 5.56mm rifles such as the TRs-301, SGI-5k, SVU sniper rifles).

Mutants are creatures inhabiting the Exclusion Zone. They emerged due to various circumstances: either due to the zone's anomalous and radioactive conditions, or artificially created in laboratories. After the second accident, they escaped and roamed the zone. Mutants are divided into three danger levels: low, medium, and high.

Low danger - this includes the Flesh, Jerboa, and Blind Dog mutants.

Medium danger - this includes the mutants Boar, Pseudo Dog, and Psi-Dog.

High danger - this includes the mutants Snork, Bloodsucker, Controller, Burer, Poltergeist, and Pseudo giant.

Flesh - previously these were ordinary, domestic pigs, but the conditions and influence of the zone have changed them greatly. Appearance: The Flesh appears as a large, four-limbed, neckless carcass of meat. Their limbs are heavily modified and resemble blades, which they use to hunt for food or to fend off enemies and attack. Their muzzle is severely deformed, and an extra third eye has appeared slightly to the right of their right eye. Features: Flesh can not only see with its eyes, but can also breathe and smell. Subvites: There are two subspecies of Flesh, the common and the mature, which are distinguished by rougher skin, greater vitality, and the absence of a third eye (like the common Flesh). Danger: Low, can be dangerous only in a group of several individuals, and if left alone, they flee.

A blind dog is a dog that has lost its sight due to a mutation. Appearance: Blind dogs look almost like normal dogs but with missing eyes. Features: Blind dogs, although deprived of sight, have a heightened sense of smell. Danger: low, dangerous in a pack, but if left alone they will flee.

Jerkans are mutants that descended from rodents. Appearance: Jerboas look like small, deformed rodents, with a skinny build, long tail, and thin legs. Features: Jerboas are capable of rapid reproduction and are often found in groups of several individuals. Danger: low, provided that there is only one jerboa; if there are more than five to ten individuals, then they can cause a lot of problems.

Boar - they were normal, but the zone and mutations changed their habits and they became predators. Appearance: The boars have hardly changed, but their hooves have become sharp as claws, and a second pair of ears have appeared. Traits: Boars are aggressive and always attack humans and other weaker mutants. They ram their opponents and circle around them to attack them by surprise. Danger: Low if you use an effective weapon and carefully monitor their movements and do not lose sight of them.

Pseudo-dogs are former wolves that have mutated due to radioactive and anomalous environments. Appearance: Their muzzle is very flattened, their mouth is always open and does not close, they have twenty large sharp teeth. Traits: Pseudo dogs will never run away, and even a single one can attack an enemy. Pseudo dogs can also become leaders of a pack of blind dogs. Surprisingly, Pseudo dogs can also be tamed and trained, but this is rare, with only two and a half reported cases. Danger: Average, if there are several of them they will cause a lot of problems.

A psi-dog is a subspecies of a pseudo-dog that possesses parapsychic abilities. Abilities: The Psi-Dog can cause hallucinations, death, and insanity. A person may feel as if an entire pack is attacking them, but this is all a hallucination, and the real Psi-Dog is somewhere nearby, clouding their judgment.

Snorks are former humans, soldiers who guarded important facilities and, due to the influence of psionic radiation, lost their minds and became feral, turning into zombies. They are wild and resemble wild animals like tigers or hyenas in their behavior. Their roar is similar to that of tigers. Appearance: Snorks appear as human zombies with pale skin and severe wounds. Their backs are completely severed, exposing their spines. Their teeth have become bared fangs. They wear army pants and boots, and a gas mask with a torn filter tube is worn over their face. Abilities: Snorks are capable of leaping 15 meters onto enemies. Danger: Snorks are more dangerous in large groups, although even a single snork can cause problems.

A bloodsucker is a genetically modified human created by scientists in laboratories. Appearance: The Bloodsucker appears as a tall, two-meter-tall, humanoid monster with light-brown skin. The facial part is heavily modified, the lower jaw is missing, instead there are five tentacles with sharp growths. The eyes are red and can glow at night. Abilities: The Bloodsucker can camouflage itself against its surroundings, changing the shade of its skin and even becoming completely invisible; it can be recognized by its growl. Danger: Bloodsucker, as the name suggests, sucks out every last drop of blood from its victim. Habitat: Bloodsuckers typically inhabit dark locations and hunt primarily at night. They can create their own lairs, primarily in old buildings, where they can be numerous. There is also the Swamp Bloodsucker, a subspecies that lives in swamps.

The swamp bloodsucker is a subspecies of bloodsucker that lives in swamps. Appearance features: The swamp bloodsucker differs from the usual one in that it has a moss texture on its shoulders and a blood-red tint on its legs and arms. Abilities: The Swamp Bloodsucker has the same abilities as a regular Bloodsucker, but can also ambush its victims and make astonishingly large jumps with their victims in their hands.

Dürer -

Controller -

Poltergeist -

Chimera -

Pseudogiant -

Anomalies are dangerous, and many of them are deadly, creations of the Zone. Different types of anomalies can affect entities in different ways, including tearing them apart, delivering high-voltage shocks, setting them on fire, emitting psionic radiation, chemically affecting entities, and so on. They also form artifacts from whatever influences them.

Artifacts are anomalous formations that form in anomalies from various things that have entered the anomaly. Their appearance and properties depend on the type of anomaly in which they were formed. Features: They are usually invisible, but if you detect them using special artifact detectors, they begin to appear and you can take them with you. Properties: When placed in special containers, artifacts can bestow positive effects on the wearer, such as regeneration, radiation protection, and so on. However, some artifacts offer negative effects, such as increased endurance, and positive effects require combining artifacts. They are also highly valued and sold, with rarer artifacts offering greater benefits. Outside the Zone, artifacts become even more valuable, selling for upwards of one million ATO (depending on rarity). Rarity: Artifacts are divided into three rarity levels: low, medium, and high, which determines their price within the Zone.