The Gentleman's Reticule

Within my review of Call of Pripyat for Gaming Daily I intended to sprinkle a few fictionalised diary entries of my stalkerly escapades.  In the end I decided to play it straight and not include them; the poor deputy ed. was still baffled enough after my previous piece.  Instead, I’ll dump them here and hope I won’t be too lazy to add more later on.

August 3rd 2012

Day 1

A few hours hiking lead to vast wetland, dried up shipping port of some kind, derelict shells of tankers rusting on marshy floor. Nearby wreck home to band of stalkers; found them waiting out the night inside the metal belly - drink, shelter, guitar music.

Speaking to occupants revealed several jobs with possibility of earning a few coins; funds needed as military only provided most meagre of supplies.

Gunfire outside. Investigated. Walked slowly - save ammo: a) the shooter may fight off attacker b) he’ll be meat and can take his stuff. Was b) this time. Pistol shots to head finished off the assailant, a lone starving dog. Spent some time picking through dead man’s supplies.

Back in tanker, found local bigshot: guy called Sultan. Organising a raid - agreed to tag along. Can use the little outing to get sense of terrain, earn a few roubles, squeeze off some rounds. Tension here. Getting to me a little - being shot at will probably help break it.

August 4th 2012.

Day 2

Met with Sultan’s men, lead by guy called Nikita. Assembled outside another wrecked tanker, about midnight - targets sitting inside. Dark night, only head torches. Raid was brutal, confusing, a mess.

‘Comrades’ went in first - shot lone sentry. Allowed others to move through ship’s mouldering guts. Keen enough to rush into danger - choke points, entranceways, tops of stairs - so let them. Followed behind, taking out occasional enemy moving into sights amid gunfire and shouting.

Two of Sultan’s boys, Nikita and me left at end - success. Have cash now and more looted supplies. Survivors hunkered down for night, ignoring bodies of friend and foe scattered around. Stalkers are cold.

Stayed myself. Climbed to high point above wheelhouse: survey area with binos. Futile though. Ship sailing again, only now on a sea of black. Nothing but campfire glow in far distance. Zone’s animals howled at me from somewhere. Went down to join Nikita by the campfire.

August 5th 2012.

Day 3.

Beard, big barkeeper at Stalker tanker, mentioned weird light at nearby dredge station. Said I’d check it out for him.

Place deserted. Blue glow coming from windows on second story. Several anomalies in awkward places prevented easy access. Climbed through hole in the back and made my way up. Decaying metal of station’s wheel had twisted into some kind of artefact.

On my way out guy called Tuna appeared. Wanted wheel for ‘dying friend’. Didn’t trust him, refused. Threats issued so killed him. Don’t need folk coming after me. His friends appeared. Fire fight - eventually killed both - scavenged AK74 proving useful. Returned slowly to tanker, watching my back.

August 7th 2012.

Day 5

Moving to crash site 5 now. Stopped to see Nikita at tanker from before. All dead - bandits there now.