Post by Lawnmower Joe on Jan 15, 2011 17:01:13 GMT -5
Due to high levels of radiation and unknown mutagens, many new and very dangerous creatures appeared after the war. Most of them lurk on the surface, but the metro's tunnels also have their own share of mutated creatures.
Mutants of the Metro:[/u]
Nosalis: A general term for the most common form of subterranean mutant encountered in the metro tunnels. There are numerous subspecies and variations of Nosalis, but all share common characteristics: a vicious disposition, predatory demeanour, sharp teeth and claws, and a propensity for hunting in packs.
Common Nosalis:
These Nosalises are nearly hairless, and have a pinkish skin tone. Its jaws are wide-set, filled with uneven fangs, and its snout is large and sticks out similar to a Mole.
It is quite skilled at working its way through passages and ducts, it can run along walls and crawl quite fast along the ground until it is close enough to strike. Common Nosalises never hunt alone, preferring to attack in mobs to overwhelm their prey with sheer numbers.
Winged Nosalis
One of the rarer species, the Winged Nosalis clearly has evolved from bats. It has a lengthy, pronounced nose, with a smaller mouth than other Nosalises, as well as vestigial membranes of skin under its arms hinting at wings.
These versions are faster than normal Nosalises, and have the ability to jump much further. They also have the ability to unleash a powerful sonic attack; this unleashes a wave of sonic distortion that inflicts damage, causes dizziness, and can stun opponents for short periods of time.
Dark Nosalis:
Easily identified by its extremely toothy maw, these Nosalises appear to have evolved from shrews. They are more powerful, more dangerous, and more intelligent; they can frequently be found leading packs of Common Nosalises.
Plated Nosalis:
The most powerful - and rarest - of all Nosalis strains. They appear to have evolved from moles, though their armored heads seem to indicate some other source. Their namesake comes from the chitinous plates on their heads and on their backs; they generally have a more streamlined appearance than other Nosalises and are harder to pick out in the dark due to their coloration. Making matters worse, they can see perfectly in total darkness.
However, bright light is said to stun and/or scare them, and many scavengers and explorers are advised to quickly shine their torch into the creatures face and to take advantage of its temporary incapacity to attack to either kill the beast or run away.
Lurkers:
Small, rat-like and completely hairless creatures who live in abandoned tunnels and stations, building complex warrens and attacking anyone who happens to wander along into their domain. They are often assumed to be mutated rats or dogs due to their appearance and behaviour. It is also believed that they could be juvenile Howlers, again due to their appearance.
Mutants of the Surface:
Howler:
A human-sized, surface-dwelling predatory mutant. It resembles a rat or a wolf both in behaviour and appearance and hunts in packs that move through the ruins in search of prey. They are quite bold, and have already entered the underground (at Pavilitskaya) to attack the metro's inhabitants on several occasions.
Their mouth parts are, oddly enough, shaped somewhat like mandibles, giving them an odd, pug-like face. They are named Howlers due to their habit of standing on two legs and howling to alert their fellow pack members when prey is sighted.
Demon:
One of the most fearsome and dangerous mutants on the surface. They have four prehensile limbs and a pair of large, leathery wings similar to those of a bat. Their roar, however, is very feline in nature and bears similarities to that of a tiger. They are one of the main dangers for people exploring the surface, as they will often fly high above the streets, staying out of sight till they strike, carrying their prey away to be dropped to its death.
Librarian:
Another terrifying and very dangerous mutant who, for some unknown reason, is only found in the Great Library. They resemble gorillas a lot in their behaviour and physical appearance. They are very territorial and will confront anything that appears to be a threat. It is said, by both rangers and scavengers that a common librarian can be dissuaded from attacking you if you stand your ground and look it in the eyes.
Black Librarians are similar to Common Librarians, but are found only deep within the Great Library. They are covered in thick black fur and have a head deformed by tumours. They are also a lot more aggressive than their grey-furred relatives and will attack anyone who enters their territory.
Shrimps:
Insect-like creatures widely found in the swamps on the surface or flooded sections of the Metro, they feed mostly off dead bodies but can attack live prey (including humans) if provoked or in large groups. Alone they are not particularly dangerous but in groups can pose a serious threat due to their sharp mandibles and their ability to spit acid. Interestingly these creatures have the ability to filter radiation out of their bodies, thus making their meat edible. They are a delicacy in the Metro and are widely fished and consumed in flooded areas like Venice.
Mantis Shrimps:
These solitary predators are believed to be more mature shrimps and they pose a far more serious threat to humans than juvenile shrimps. They inhabit the swamps on the surface and stalk prey from the water. Their preferred hunting tactic is to grab unwary creatures that fall into the water or stray too close to a body of water, although they will sometimes crawl onto land and attack their target directly. They can be quite terrifying to face in combat as the front of their bodies is covered with thick plates of chitin, and some stalkers and rangers have even reported machine-gun rounds bouncing off their carapace.
Giant Mantis Shrimps:
Seldom seen by human eyes, these terrifying and gigantic creatures haunt the surface swamps. They seem to be nocturnal, as all reports about them described encounters taking place at night. Their armour is much thicker than that of Mantis Shrimps and they can shrug off bullets with ease. Fishermen and stalkers from the swamps have even reported attacks on boats or fortified bases. The disappearance of groups of well-armed people in the swamps are often ascribed to Giant Mantis Shrimps.
Legendary/rare mutants:[/b]
Slimeslug
An elusive and almost legendary creature that is said to dwell in some buildings on the surface. There are many stories surrounding these creatures, and all vary greatly. Recurring characteristics such as invulnerability to bullets, a gelatinous, slug-like mass and corrosive or poisonous slime can be found in all these stories, though. These creatures are considered highly dangerous, and buildings said to be inhabited by them are best avoided.
Giant Library Spider:
Those who frequent or study the surface lend little creedence to this particular mutant's existence, but it is a popular monster in stories. This particular mutant is said to ressemble an enormous and deformed spider with luminous red (or green) eyes and supposedly lives and hunts in the Great Library. It is said to spin enormous webs to catch equally huge prey, Librarians or humans. So far no proof of the thing's existence has come to light save for a few oversized cobwebs in the Library.
Sky Behemoth/Giant Bird/Sky Devil:
Some claim that there are even bigger creatures than Demons up in the skies. These creatures are usually described as being as big as a pre-war plane and having a long neck. There is no conclusive proof of their existence and no trace of them has ever been found on the surface.
Polycephalous mutants:
A favourite topic of jokes and stories, these unfortunate creatures are described as being grotesque monsters with multiple heads. Sevastopolskayans claim that there is the skeleton of such a creature in an abandoned and extremely radioactive tunnel adjacent to their station.
Mutants of the Metro:[/u]
Nosalis: A general term for the most common form of subterranean mutant encountered in the metro tunnels. There are numerous subspecies and variations of Nosalis, but all share common characteristics: a vicious disposition, predatory demeanour, sharp teeth and claws, and a propensity for hunting in packs.
Common Nosalis:
These Nosalises are nearly hairless, and have a pinkish skin tone. Its jaws are wide-set, filled with uneven fangs, and its snout is large and sticks out similar to a Mole.
It is quite skilled at working its way through passages and ducts, it can run along walls and crawl quite fast along the ground until it is close enough to strike. Common Nosalises never hunt alone, preferring to attack in mobs to overwhelm their prey with sheer numbers.
Winged Nosalis
One of the rarer species, the Winged Nosalis clearly has evolved from bats. It has a lengthy, pronounced nose, with a smaller mouth than other Nosalises, as well as vestigial membranes of skin under its arms hinting at wings.
These versions are faster than normal Nosalises, and have the ability to jump much further. They also have the ability to unleash a powerful sonic attack; this unleashes a wave of sonic distortion that inflicts damage, causes dizziness, and can stun opponents for short periods of time.
Dark Nosalis:
Easily identified by its extremely toothy maw, these Nosalises appear to have evolved from shrews. They are more powerful, more dangerous, and more intelligent; they can frequently be found leading packs of Common Nosalises.
Plated Nosalis:
The most powerful - and rarest - of all Nosalis strains. They appear to have evolved from moles, though their armored heads seem to indicate some other source. Their namesake comes from the chitinous plates on their heads and on their backs; they generally have a more streamlined appearance than other Nosalises and are harder to pick out in the dark due to their coloration. Making matters worse, they can see perfectly in total darkness.
However, bright light is said to stun and/or scare them, and many scavengers and explorers are advised to quickly shine their torch into the creatures face and to take advantage of its temporary incapacity to attack to either kill the beast or run away.
Lurkers:
Small, rat-like and completely hairless creatures who live in abandoned tunnels and stations, building complex warrens and attacking anyone who happens to wander along into their domain. They are often assumed to be mutated rats or dogs due to their appearance and behaviour. It is also believed that they could be juvenile Howlers, again due to their appearance.
Mutants of the Surface:
Howler:
A human-sized, surface-dwelling predatory mutant. It resembles a rat or a wolf both in behaviour and appearance and hunts in packs that move through the ruins in search of prey. They are quite bold, and have already entered the underground (at Pavilitskaya) to attack the metro's inhabitants on several occasions.
Their mouth parts are, oddly enough, shaped somewhat like mandibles, giving them an odd, pug-like face. They are named Howlers due to their habit of standing on two legs and howling to alert their fellow pack members when prey is sighted.
Demon:
One of the most fearsome and dangerous mutants on the surface. They have four prehensile limbs and a pair of large, leathery wings similar to those of a bat. Their roar, however, is very feline in nature and bears similarities to that of a tiger. They are one of the main dangers for people exploring the surface, as they will often fly high above the streets, staying out of sight till they strike, carrying their prey away to be dropped to its death.
Librarian:
Another terrifying and very dangerous mutant who, for some unknown reason, is only found in the Great Library. They resemble gorillas a lot in their behaviour and physical appearance. They are very territorial and will confront anything that appears to be a threat. It is said, by both rangers and scavengers that a common librarian can be dissuaded from attacking you if you stand your ground and look it in the eyes.
Black Librarians are similar to Common Librarians, but are found only deep within the Great Library. They are covered in thick black fur and have a head deformed by tumours. They are also a lot more aggressive than their grey-furred relatives and will attack anyone who enters their territory.
Shrimps:
Insect-like creatures widely found in the swamps on the surface or flooded sections of the Metro, they feed mostly off dead bodies but can attack live prey (including humans) if provoked or in large groups. Alone they are not particularly dangerous but in groups can pose a serious threat due to their sharp mandibles and their ability to spit acid. Interestingly these creatures have the ability to filter radiation out of their bodies, thus making their meat edible. They are a delicacy in the Metro and are widely fished and consumed in flooded areas like Venice.
Mantis Shrimps:
These solitary predators are believed to be more mature shrimps and they pose a far more serious threat to humans than juvenile shrimps. They inhabit the swamps on the surface and stalk prey from the water. Their preferred hunting tactic is to grab unwary creatures that fall into the water or stray too close to a body of water, although they will sometimes crawl onto land and attack their target directly. They can be quite terrifying to face in combat as the front of their bodies is covered with thick plates of chitin, and some stalkers and rangers have even reported machine-gun rounds bouncing off their carapace.
Giant Mantis Shrimps:
Seldom seen by human eyes, these terrifying and gigantic creatures haunt the surface swamps. They seem to be nocturnal, as all reports about them described encounters taking place at night. Their armour is much thicker than that of Mantis Shrimps and they can shrug off bullets with ease. Fishermen and stalkers from the swamps have even reported attacks on boats or fortified bases. The disappearance of groups of well-armed people in the swamps are often ascribed to Giant Mantis Shrimps.
Legendary/rare mutants:[/b]
Slimeslug
An elusive and almost legendary creature that is said to dwell in some buildings on the surface. There are many stories surrounding these creatures, and all vary greatly. Recurring characteristics such as invulnerability to bullets, a gelatinous, slug-like mass and corrosive or poisonous slime can be found in all these stories, though. These creatures are considered highly dangerous, and buildings said to be inhabited by them are best avoided.
Giant Library Spider:
Those who frequent or study the surface lend little creedence to this particular mutant's existence, but it is a popular monster in stories. This particular mutant is said to ressemble an enormous and deformed spider with luminous red (or green) eyes and supposedly lives and hunts in the Great Library. It is said to spin enormous webs to catch equally huge prey, Librarians or humans. So far no proof of the thing's existence has come to light save for a few oversized cobwebs in the Library.
Sky Behemoth/Giant Bird/Sky Devil:
Some claim that there are even bigger creatures than Demons up in the skies. These creatures are usually described as being as big as a pre-war plane and having a long neck. There is no conclusive proof of their existence and no trace of them has ever been found on the surface.
Polycephalous mutants:
A favourite topic of jokes and stories, these unfortunate creatures are described as being grotesque monsters with multiple heads. Sevastopolskayans claim that there is the skeleton of such a creature in an abandoned and extremely radioactive tunnel adjacent to their station.