DATALOG 104
BESTIARY OF THE DESOLATION

I have spent decades mapping the wastelands, chronicling both its geography and its dangers. In that time, I have lost three fingers, two toes, and countless friends to the horrors that now rule our broken world. This bestiary represents not just academic observation, but hard-won knowledge paid for in blood.

The creatures detailed within these pages are not simply animals - they are the products of humanity's hubris, warped by forces we barely understand. Each entry has been verified through direct observation or reliable firsthand accounts, though I suspect there are still horrors in the deep places of the world that no one has lived to document.

Some of you may notice that I've included various human-derived beings alongside the more bestial threats. This was a deliberate choice. In our new reality, the line between human and monster has become increasingly blurred. A pack of feral ghouls can be just as dangerous as any mutant predator, while a single Eternal can level an entire settlement.

Use this knowledge wisely. Understanding what lurks in the mists and shadows of our world may mean the difference between survival and a gruesome death. I've seen too many brave souls perish because they underestimated their quarry or, worse, assumed they knew all there was to know about a particular threat.

Remember - the creatures described herein are constantly evolving, adapting to their environment just as we must adapt to survive. What was true yesterday may not be true tomorrow. Stay vigilant, stay humble, and above all, stay alive.

May these pages serve you well in your travels.

Old Marek, Cartographers Guild Hall, Handelstaat
23rd day of the Long Rain, Year 97 After Prime