#1: Equality.
"Equality" - are a faction that consists of survivors who have collected into groups, thus hoping to increase their chances for survival, adapting to aggressive environmental conditions. Survivors were so scarce that their forces were too few to continue the resistance against the "New Zone". While humans used to dominate It, now it’s down to fight for the right of existence within this hostile environment, alongside the dangerous beasts and entire ecosystems. Faction's survivors, while travelling over the territories were halted by the elements, and considered it necessary to set up camp in the vicinity of a former settlement. There they have seen other survivors in need of help. Thus, in this safe area people formed a separate group where they had more chances of survival. They became known as "Equality". It is a venue where loners gather together for a better chance of survival. Founded by an unknown group of international scavengers who found a safe place not far from a previously populated city, more scavengers eventually arrived and joined the camp. So "Equality" members were the first to face the dangers of the "New Zone" and that is reflected in their equipment. Due to their way of living, they cannot produce the equipment themselves. All that they wear is either found, exchanged or perhaps patched and improved manually by themselves. Mostly the factions' gear is aimed to increase their ability to survive within the tough ecological and anomalous environment. They are not the experienced of fighters, so they prefer more stealthy tactics when it comes to combat. As such, group are good at scouting, hunting artifacts and can become proficient as snipers.
#2: Stalkers.
"Stalkers" - are the bulk of the population of the „Zone“, and you can join them. The main occupation of scavengers is the search and sale of artifacts, as well as any other things of potential value - ,,Habar''. As a consequence, they are extremely dependent on traders who often use stalkers for their business and personal purposes. Less hired for work, for example, the protection of a scientific laboratory. They walk alone, or join in small groups from 2 to 5 people. They can not in the full sense be considered a grouping, since they do not have a single leader, but from time to time they can be combined into large detachments with veteran commanders. Armament is diverse, "Stalkers" in the "Zone" attract a variety of motives. Enrichment, thirst for adventure, the urge to learn the unknown, the desire to start life from scratch. As a rule, in each case all these factors act simultaneously. Some "Stalkers" may eventually join "Legion" or "Head Hunters", but most singles do not tolerate any control over themselves and prefer to be masters to themselves, even without communicating with the rest of the stalkers, while maintaining a neutral relationship with all groupings. The main source is "Stalkers“ departure is the collection of "Habar". Artifacts, parts of monsters, weapons and things of stalkers who died. Very often, it may be very profitable to carry out different tasks of traders, scientists, representatives of factions or the same stalkers. However, for a considerable part of the time, stalkers prefer to crowd around bars or campfires, listening to stories and anecdotes and playing the guitar. As a rule, all the legendary stalkers are loners. In fact everything is simple. To be a stalker means to be a man. Help a comrade in a hard moment, do not rats, do not commit to to share a aid kit or a piece of bread, to cover your back in battle, to share a night's lodging at the fire. And the main enemy for us now is the bandit scum that only does that parasitizes our stalker on our brother. Well some of the stalkers have special jobs, they are looking for a hub not in the open air but on the ground and under the ground. They are called diggers. Due to the knowledge of the arrangement of many dungeons in the "Zone" they spend almost all time digging up holes leading to the rich place, or to a terrible death by an unknown miracles of the „Zone“. Bringing a lot of interesting information and swag from various subsurface. Members occur throughout the "Zone", and can get into places where the supervisor boars did not go. Others are already specialized into the hunting, and do this professionally and/or for money. They are called hunters. They know any monsters that the "Zone" have to offer, the hunters are main resources for bringing examples to the "Scientists" into the world of the "Zone".
#3: Bandits.
"Bandits" - are members of the criminal underworld who came to the "New Zone" for different reasons: To make some money by selling artifacts, hide from the law or trading weapons etc. The "New Zone" Is full of bandits, ranging from common thugs to serious criminals, most of whom are members of one gang or another. Although the gangs frequently fight among themselves for controlling traffic and marketing itself, the criminal element still poses a serious problem for the normal stalkers around. They are one of the most poorly-equipped factions of the "Zone", usually relying on low-grade weaponry and light armors. Faction was founded by a group of traveling arms dealers, their base Is located on an a spacious ex-biker spot in the ruined area of the city. Theyr base is a notorious place, It is where marauders, gangsters, dezerters, various known criminals, single fighters and those of all sorts from all factions meet to trade weapons, drugs, expensive artifacts and sometimes even slaves. They protect their loot from constant raids by other enemy competitors gangs, groups and the militaries itself sometimes, faction hired some of the most powerful clans of marauders and criminal families from all over the world to provide them with security so as for their customers too. Because history of the growing market is life with internal conflicts, assassinations, and abductions, force is the deciding factor for them and everything In their base. They are typical "Jackals" but with a lot of specializations, they will not ambush you just like that, they make early plans for the attack on you. They kill you and after that robbing you dead body, the main style of them. They can work very clear or total aggressive depends on the situation, even if stalkers are In big groups.#
4: Army.
#5: Mercenaries.
"Mercenaries" - a group, is a syndicate that performs tasks to order. The main specialization is the murder of people and the search for documents. Some people constantly use the services of mercenaries: professionals in their field, they will quickly deal with any stalker and can even completely eliminate a small group. They know the "New Zone" and its offspring worse than an ordinary tramp and often perish where a green novice would notice danger. But as for the war with people - they know a lot about it. And their services, apparently, take considerable amounts of money or artifacts. Among the mercenaries, representatives of PMCs are not uncommon, including a groups of foreign special forces from European Union and Russian Federation long away to the Far East or United States of America. Group history shrouded in total mystery, separate small groups appeared almost from the very inception of the "Zone" to carry out large orders "From Outside". The Ideology and hierarchy Is simply as that: - Nothing personal...Just money. They are the real thugs, ready to do almost any job for money. They trade in contract killings, and do not hesitate to rob stalkers. There is no clear hierarchy, since a faction is a network of major disparate groups and big detachments, sometimes hostile to each other. Relations with other factions: - It all depends on the order at the moment. Perhaps they are cooperating with bandits and some stalkers who often help them in fulfilling some of orders they've got at the moment.
#6: Scientists.
"Scientists" - are government-funded researchers operating into the "New Zone". The faction operating under orders from the "Ukrainian Government" and the cover of the "United Nations", "Scientists" are a group focusing on researching the "Chernobyl Exclusion Zone", in order to properly harness it's potential for the good of mankind. Their main base of operations Is In the areas around "Pripyat", In the "Jupiter Research Institute". The Institute Is filled with scientific apparatuses and a steady supply of weapons and ammunition from the government. The head researcher is Professor Sakharov, a veteran Scientist, who participated in the first expeditions into the "Exclusion Zone" back In 2007. Some of the faction operators conducted an experiment to study psi effects through the "Noosphere". Faction members tried to find a solution to this problem, as a result of which a dispute arose, because of which they were divided into 2 groups: The first believed that it was necessary to study the emerging of "Zone" and coexist with It, and the second - to restrain the flow of energy "Noosphere" and try to control them. The first group went to the "Zone Backyard". And they settled in the "Swamps" In the northwest part in some abandoned village. With the influx of people, the number of the group increased and the base was equipped. Over time, the area around the base was better studied, local guides began to appear, who also played the role of reconnaissance. All its members try to hide from other enemies in rugged territories. Often keep in touch with other factions stalkers and some of traders. Faction haves many followers, among whom there are even fewer experienced professionals who marched into the "Zone" some days ago. Womens are also sometimes found among the members of this faction, you won't see faction members in a bar or on the roadside. It is noteworthy that "Ecologists" try to go out on raids sometimes, but mostly at night because of the many mutants and dangerous creatures around. For obvious reasons they malicious enemies are the stalkers from the "Corporation" faction. They fighting them mostly with the help of "Ukrainian Ministry Of Defense" units, operating around the perimeter of the "Chernobyl Disaster Zone".
#7: The Order.
"The Order" is a semi-military sect and newborn cult who believes that the end of the world Is nearly as we expected. And that the only thing that can save them Is that, to listening to preachings of their "New Messiah", and follow their of "Elders" (Preachers). And believe In salvation and that they will be spared from the dark forces after the doomsday comes, and the destruction of the world we all know and understand, when he slowly dies under theirs feets.
Few years later some evidences was found, who believes to be a 100% surely existence of the possibility of occult faction Into the borders of the "Chernobyl Exclusion Zone" too. And possibly around of the all "Eastern European" regions.
First evidence, March 26, 2025:
- Evidences of the unknown group who are possible to be a part of sect, was captured few years ago by the members of the militaristic faction going by the name "Legion". When and Injured stalker was found by the faction's patrols near the swamps into which the "Pripyat River" flows. Which Is located near the northeast border of "Red Forest". When the faction's command stops and talks to the injured stalker. The stalker claims to have witnessed the abduction of one of his team. He's seams to be been hidden at this time and watching, how small group of an unknown veiled persons of with non-standard (Oldish) clothing and tattoos all over the body, including the face, yelling at the other friends of his team to follow them, or to die now In the name of the savior. But unfortunately the hidden comrade doesn't have enough powers then to run from the group, like I've been done. So probably he was captured too, later that day and found dead not far from the first location. Where the first stalker's abduction happens 2 weeks later. And he was found With6 his eyes out and his mouth sewn shut in a ruins what appeared to be a ritual site. And with that, the evidence disappeared, and the questions remained unanswered until later.
Second evidence, May 22, 2026:
- But the following year, things changed after one of the so-called members of the sect showed himself in the center of Chernobyl city. He claimed that he was one of the preachers of the new messiah and that he could save everyone from exile with the help of his God, just need to follow him. And that the end is near and that salvation is somewhere in the Zone, let them follow it. Few peoples following him and entered the "Chernobyl Disaster Zone" and no one was seeing them anymore.
This people's Is known today as "The Order" faction In the "Zone", and that their numbers Is maybe more than 500 members into the "Chernobyl's Exclusion Zone" and more that 10 000 members around the whole Europe and parts of Asian countries too. No other known information provided by stalkers and factions living into the "Zone".
As for now Is known that, "The Order" believes that they'r God are the "One true God" and they Religion "The one true religion" and theyr Faith Is the "One true faith". The cult faction often resorts to murder, kidnapping, torture, and other acts of violence to meet its needs, though not all of their members are insane or violent. Moreover "The Order" is involved with esoteric occultism, black magic, arcane ceremonies, and blood sacrifices. And because of that, many of they victims looking like a zombies after this type of ritual killings.
#8: Brigada.
"Brigada" - They have been saying in the "Chernobyl Exclusion Zone" since 2016. Well-equipped group. It usually consists of anarchist veterans and experienced bandits. In battle, they act as stormtroopers. Pretty strict about the behavior of each fighter. Thanks to their skills, the ''Brigadiers'' have brought an excellent reputation among other stalker clans. As before, those anarchists are at bloody war with the "Army", "Legion", "The Order" and "Corporation", but at the same time they still manage to collect "Habar" and sell them to the dealers & traders of the "Black Market". It is not known what ideology the members of the group adhere to, and whether they have it at all. The group is engaged in the protection and study of the "Exclusion Zone", its anomalies, flora and fauna, they study the other groups and research organizations. Fight with various radicals too and other injustices all over the "Zone". In addition, the group has a separate armed unit that makes up its fighting force. "Brigada" faction has very good relations with many groups operating or living In "Exclusion Zone". This was facilitated by various support from the group, exploration of the "Zone", mutual assistance and trade affairs. The armed "Brigadiers", uses mainly domestic weapons. The armament of each member of the group depends on his experience in the "Zone" and the mastery of weapons. The equipment of each member of the group, as well as weapons, also depends on their experience. Basically, the "Brigadiers" wear branded overalls and suits based on the "Sunrise Suit", "SEVA", and heavy armor suits. Beginners wearing simple armored jackets and the experienced ones are equipped with overalls based on the loner stalkers "Sunrise Suit". Explorers and veterans are usually equipped with an analogue of the loner stalker "SEVA Scientific Suit", masters - analogues of a heavy armored suit or the "Radiation Suit" In very rare cases depending on the situations.
#9: Legion.
"Legion" Is a group of stalkers who decided to proclaim the independence of the „Exclusion Zone“, and the creation of a single state on this earth.The fighters are actively fighting for control over the entire "Zone", as they are conducting a large-scale operation to cleanse the Exclusion Zone from any "Scum" and turn the Zone into a kind of "Militaristic State" for building up and regrouping forces for the subsequent invasion of the "Mainland" and wars for the establishment of the order. Faction consists of ex-militaries and several other battalions with far-right political views bordering on an extreme ultranationalist, trained mercenaries and famous representatives of the military-industrial world and radical political party's. In November 2013, they was part of confederation from several radical commands that participated not once in Ukraine's civil war. The military-mercenaries coalition became known on 22 March 2014, at which time they claimed to have roughly 600 members into the territory of the "Chernobyl Exclusion Zone" and 10,000 members all around the whole "Ukrainian" state. All faction's members are experienced and trained by the years, strong fighters. Only unlike ordinary militaristic factions, they do everything in an organized manner. Basically they work the same way as most of the "Mercenaries", but they are enemies with them too. They are mainly armed with Ukrainian and Western arsenal, some may be armed with "VSS Vintorez" and "AS Val/SA Avalanche" but In rarely cases, because they are proud of their own arsenal and military technology. The equipment Is the same as that of the most of the special forces, but with different colors, custom patterns, urban camouflaged. For light and heavy protection too.
#10: Corporation.
"The Corporation" - faction engaged in biological and genetic research, that was founded on November 1, 1976 In unknown location. Thanks to it's extensive experience in genetics, the special unit contacted a team of professional scientists and agreement was concluded between the two organizations, according to which a research company will be engaged in the study of viral mind-controling weapons. After the beginning of cooperation with this secret unit, many leading scientists of the world engaged In this research were recruited In „The Corporation". Most of the company's secret research studies were based on the study of „Noosphere". The first testing subject was transferred to one of the research institutes In "Northern Ukraine", located in „Chernobyl Exclusion Zone" the one that's trying to study the structure of the psychotropic virus. The only source of infection was found only by Dimka a.k.a. "Phantom", the head of the department of genetic researching and one of the major members of the faction's combat teams then. His attempt to uncover the truth was brutally suppressed by the employees of "The Corporation". On the next year, a special purpose squad was created for fighting all the ex-members or deserters including Dimka "Phantom" and to destroy them and rest of the company's secret documents too, including information about the viruses at any cost. Officially, this squad does not exist, while its members have complete freedom of action, as well as access to huge military resources and experimental technologies, including information management in order to preserve the secrecy of their activities. If a decision is made to enlist this unit to eliminate an emergency situation, the remaining involved troops and law enforcement agencies are transferred to the full disposal of this secret unit. Each member of "The Corporation" undergoes special training, which allows them to effectively operate in any conditions. At the same time, the faction's command believe that the end justifies the means, therefore, the detachment officers easily go for the use of heavy equipment in urban areas, not paying attention to civilian casualties, and in case the situation can no longer be controlled, they prefer to clear the territory with fire , even if they causing a bombardment in the area.
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