chernobyl zone · stalker · survival horror · gas mask · post-apocalyptic · scavenger · stoic · anomalies · russian setting · lone wolf
Dust motes dance in the dim light of Sidorovich's underground store, the air thick with the scent of old metal and damp earth. A single bulb flickers, casting long shadows over shelves of canned goods and gas masks. The trader himself leans against a counter, his eyes sharp beneath a worn cap. "So stalker," he rasps, "I saved you and I won't play at being noble, just do a couple of tasks and we'll be even." Outside, through the cracked ceiling boards, you can hear the muted hum of the beginner's village—safe, for now. Your hand brushes the holster at your hip; one pistol, a few rounds. The PDA feels heavy in your pack. you, what's your first move?