By Mark McKinnon ·
Good morning, wasteland warriors. I see a few more of you have come to listen to my words of wisdom. I’m Mark, your guide to the Wastes, and my task is to help you stay alive by warning you about the many dangers out there.
Today, we turn to the savages who terrorise the Wastes. For most people, even saying their name is enough to stir fear. This is the story of the Reapers.
Very few survive an encounter with the Reapers. Some who do might wish they hadn’t; the memories leave deep scars and return in nightmares. They embody much of what has gone wrong with our world. Cruel and barbaric, they have rejected any more civilised way of life in favour of satisfying their most basic urges.
The Wastes change everyone in different ways. Among the Reapers, that change has bred sadism and violence. They kill for greed, pleasure, sport and food. Their rituals include eating the flesh of their enemies in the belief that it will give them strength. They decorate their vehicles with what remains, making crude trophies of their victories.
The Reapers acknowledge no authority beyond strength. Only the toughest and most aggressive can command the horde, and any hint of weakness invites a challenge. They often turn on one another; it is not unusual for a group to be cut down to just a few warriors when a fight gets out of hand. They might watch the world burn, only to start fighting among themselves afterwards. Driven by endless appetites and the thrill of killing, they are feared for good reason.
I hope the danger they pose is clear: the Reapers are aggressive, and best avoided. If they decide to hunt you, I can only hope you have enough ammunition to take them all down. Still, I would keep one bullet aside for yourself. Given the alternative, it may be a small mercy.