Anomalies

Anomalies are a general term used to refer to strange and often times preternatural energy-based phenomena that have increased in frequency in the aftermath of the nuclear exchanges. Widely differing in effect and influence, no official explanation currently exists for these phenomena, as no government officially recognizes the existence of anomalies. Individuals who travel in the pursuit of anomalous objects are known as stalkers. Various pseudoscientific explanations have been posited by fringe sources, with two beliefs being the most commonly held among those who study and catalogue anomalies: that the phenomenon is the byproduct of radiation, and that the anomalies are produced by mass casualty events and the ensuing release of psychic trauma, also referred to in pseudoscientific communities as Human Presential Energy (HPE). The former has been frequently disputed by skeptics, as not all anomalous phenomena correlate with radiation levels.

Anomalies are sporadically scattered across the world, and often tend to cluster in zones particularly devastated by the war's aftermath, along with other locations where severe human suffering has occurred. These anomalies are typically hazardous or perception-altering to humans, capable of inducing bodily harm through electric shocks, burns, migraines, and in some instances, spontaneous pulverization. Animals have been described as possessing a heightened sensitivity to perceiving, and instinctively avoiding, these phenomenon. Interaction with surrounding environment yields effects of great interest to stalkers, including the corrosion of metal, deforming (or otherwise mutation of) plant and animal life, and the alteration of object properties.

List of Anomalies
Listed below is a categorization of various anomalies of note encountered by stalkers, and their respective nicknames and descriptions.

Pyrokinetic Anomalies

 * Fire wisp - A floating orange glow surrounding a cluster of burning flames. Slowly moves aimlessly, explodes on contact. Extremely lethal. Typically accompanied by a smell of sulphur, alongside abrupt increases and decreases in area temperature.
 * Flamedance - A collection of rapidly-moving fireballs moving about a particular radius. Severe burns on contact. Rare, but extremely lethal.
 * Incinerator - Highly dangerous. Typically preceded by a strong sulphurous scent. Typically comes in the form of an area of semi-reflective, 'vaporious' or 'oddly condensating' air. Upon contact, the affected area spontaneously ignites — obliterating anything within. Extremely lethal.

Electrokinetic Anomalies

 * Electrocluster - A cluster of electric phenomena surrounding an area. Sizes and voltages may widely differ. Entering radius risks electrocution.
 * Spark Emanation - An energy buildup that abruptly releases, jumping from conductor to conductor until it diminishes. May last seconds or hours, depending on the amount of energy involved. Most observable instances are extremely lethal.

Corrosive Anomalies

 * Devil's Rot - Typically manifests in the form of a miasma or a translucent gas. Organic matter will experience accelerated decay and metals will begin to rust. Instances of Devil's Rot may last minutes to hours, with affected area typically up to 20 feet in diameter. Fairly lethal.
 * Bloodlight - A floating light often described as possessing a 'color out of space'. Metals affected by the light's immediate emission begin to rapidly rust. Tends to move aimlessly around an area before dissipating. Instances typically last a few minutes.

Psychokinetic Anomalies

 * Poltergeist - Manifesting in the form of a ball of electricity, a Poltergeist manipulates surrounding objects, capable of throwing them at incredible speeds or simply pushing things around. Hazardous to humans in almost all instances.

Psychic Anomalies

 * Shade - Shadows, voices and sounds still linger in the most severely scarred places in the war's aftermath.
 * Presence - Tangible feelings of other presences, emotions of sadness, fear and malice — often brings with it a feeling of great unease.
 * Demon - Named after the eponymous religious concept, Demons are described as especially strong, and tangibly malicious, phantasmal presences capable of readily manipulating their surroundings, creating sounds, voices, and even physically pushing or harming humans. Exceedingly rare and obscure.

Unknown/Other

 * Lost Time - Those affected by lost time phenomena abruptly find that hours of time have passed in what seemed to be seconds, and find themselves in different locations relative to where they were before their lost time instance.
 * Other Factor - Often, but not always, associated with lost time phenomena, the 'Other Factor' is the expressed feeling of isolation, abnormal environmental silence and altered consciousness that seemingly precede random disappearances.