Antagonist Guide - Raiders

Hey hi and hello! Welcome to our next installment of Antagonist Guide. Previously, I’ve gone over critter and undead threats that are unique to the Riverlands. For our final group of antagonists, I’m excited to share with you our flavor of raiders - Kudzu Raiders. Yep, that’s right. The screaming, cannibalistic, kudzu covered raiders. There are three different types of Kudzu Raiders that roam the forests and marshy swamps in Quiet Hollows.

Kudzu Raiders are a sub-type of raiders. Instead of presenting as regular raiders covered in scavenged metals, weapons, etc., these kudzus are stealthy hunters. The main trait that separates Kudzu Raiders from regular Raiders is the Kudzu that grows from their body. Kudzu Raiders live in groups known as a Hive.

While not a Kudzu Raider, a scary raider never the less!

KudFace Raiders

These Kudzu Raiders serve more of a purpose of a recruiter. Bait. Their main purpose is to draw unsuspecting folks from their safety and into an ambush in the woods or the swamps. They can achieve this by mimicking the words and sounds of human conversation. Once they’ve got their target in their clutches, the trap is sprung. Their goal isn’t necessarily to consume their target, but plant tainted kudzu into their victims. So if you’re in the wastes or swamps late at night and you think you heard someone call out to you, no you didn’t. Keep walking.

Swampland Stalker

The Swampland Stalker is the primary hunter for the Kudzu Raider tribe. They make the treks into the dangerous areas to hunt unsuspecting prey. Primarily they are seen in the swamplands and forest areas. However if they’re desperate enough, they’ve even been known to push out to fishing settlements. If there’s one Swampland Stalker, there’s more to come. They work together as a hunting pack, using tactics on their targets.

Hive Guardian

These raiders are the strongest in the Hive and they have one goal - protect the Hive. Their bodies are covered in battle scars and wounds from their effort. Whereas the KudFace and Swampland Stalkers are crouched closer to the ground for stealth, the Hive Guardians are tall, broad, and intimidating. Not easy to tangle with. Oftentimes, they can be seen with massive shields and in very rare cases, leading the Kudzu Raiders to defend the Hive.

And that’s it! Raiders on a normal day are not exactly the best to deal with. Combine Raiders with the natural stealth that the Riverlands offers can make the mutated Raiders even more dangerous to deal with.

Travel safely, and we’ll see you in the wastes!

Antagonist Guide - Undead

Howdy, Wastelanders!

Last edition, we talked about the different types of threats you’ll face in the Quiet Hollows area. Specifically, critters. This week, we’re going to deep dive into our unique undead threat! Due to a lot of REDACTED information, Quiet Hollows is home to 9 unique undead creatures in addition to the normal undead shamblers, tanks, etc. And if you’ve been to a few of our games, especially in the last two trades in 2023, you may have even encountered some of these assholes. For this, I’m going to be focusing on the unique undead we see primarily (if not only) in Quiet Hollows. Not really going to be touching on shamblers, tanks, etc.

Once more, you can find all these undead at dystopiarisingar.com/undead

Unhallowed

They died, strongly believing in their faith. That belief carries with them, even after death. Wearing symbols, objects, and even markings on their flesh of what they embodied while they were alive, these undead have twisted their faith to turn against you.

Be on the lookout for the faith symbols on these undead - Double Tap won’t work unless you’re one of their faith.

Blessed Dead

Much like the Unhallowed, these are undead that died strongly in their belief of their faith. The Gravemind has twisted their spirits to be a mockery of what they once were. So much so, that they can call on the aid of those of the same faith to protect them. 

Beware when the undead bearing the markings of Sainthood, lest you face Johanna’s wooden spoon…

Fallen Angel

Fallen Angels are what the Gravemind creates when a paragon of a faith sinks for the final time. Passing thru the Mortis for the final time caused them to be warped into disgusting parodies of what they once were. 

Fallen Angel draws on the power of others of aligned faith - strain or undead. Much like the Blessed Dead and Unhallowed, they can only be truly killed by one of their faith.

Skullcaps

Upon initial glance you may think you are seeing a Bonehead, but there are subtle differences between the two. Skullcaps have crystals growing out of the back of their heads, which has caused their face to be pulled back tightly and reveal much of the bone underneath.

Skullcaps are known to invade the mind of those with weaker mental fortitude and cause them to fight their allies, protect the Skullcap, or flee in terror. 

Marionette

This higher mobility zed is a danger to those highly powerful warriors that take pride in leaving a field of corpses. Its Psionic power invades the mind of those with even the most discipline and fills the cracks with their intentions. You better be on guard when you see their glowing blue light combined with their head of crystals.

Puppet Master

Not much is known about the Puppet Master. Just that if you see a cheshire grin at the back of an undead horde, that’s probably it. More to be coming soon.

Gibberling

This crazed zed is the remains of what one who lost everything to the wastes. Previously a normal member of society, their mind became so fractured before their final walk that the Gravemind had little to do to weaponize this creature. It can cause much chaos on the battlefield as it scare the hell out of even the most veteran survivors!

Grotesque

This statuesque creature is as dangerous as it is creepy. It has the ability to stay perfect still for hours and even days at a time to stalk its prey. Should it find a suitable target it, it will dash towards them dealing as much damage as possible before consuming its meal. Should you try to swarm this threat it will defend itself with a psionic pulse to weaken all others in the area.

Radiant Beacon

This heavenly glow is not your friend, it is not your savior, it is death coming for you. Commonly accompanied by heavy fogs, this creature uses psionic energy to manipulate both the living and the dead. 

Woof. That’s a lot of unique undead to parse through. Take time to go through it. All the information available here is also information your character has in game!

Stay safe in the wastes!