The idea of the "Denizens of..." series of threads is to set up a basic situation, or locale, in some role playing genre, and having us share NPCs or groups or whatnot that could be met in those situations. Create a thinktank and sample elements that a GM like me or you can come to thinking "OK. I need a colorful set of NPCs/ideas to go with this situation. What's in this thread for me to pick or give me ideas?"

Denizens of the Blasted Wilderness is basically about encounters, threats, NPCs, groups the adventurers can meet when travelling through the world's blasted landscape. It's not setting or game specific. It could be about Metamorphosis Alpha, Gamma World, Twilight 2000, RIFTS, Hawkmoon, and more. If you've got an idea that could be included into any such wilderness setting or area, go ahead and share with us.

Who can they meet? What sort of strange manner of creatures could they encounter? What sort of alien threats and weird animals could they face? Let your imagination go wild, and share your ideas with others.

They run into the remains of a military outfit. The group has a working tank, a Humvee, and around 10 guys. They really want fuel and ammo and are willing to kill to get it. They have a nice supply of MREs, but aren't afraid to shake people down for food.

A group of pure-strain human fugitive slaves fleeing their Ape Masters. They are half-starved, desperate and being pursued by Animal Kingdom bounty hunters.

Kamandi and Ben Boxer!

Confused Restorationist Cultists

Cultists have found some book / movie from the past and base their tribal society on its concepts.  In a world of mutants, a stack of Xmen comics could produce some interesting cultural mores and expectations.  AKA, perhaps instead of the usual raving band of cannibal mutants, you get bands of spandex heroes who really go around saving the innocent with no expectation of payment.

Slavers, of course. You can't beat the Rifts Splugorth Slavers. So use that mutation table (don't tell me your PA game doesn't have one! ) and cook up a big, vaguely reptilian, slobbering slaver in a hover-barge, with a bodyguard of blind (yet perfectly able to fight), scantily-clad warrior women.

The Harvesters:

Hovering, vaguely skull-shaped mechas with three long metallic tendrils that ensnare any travellers they encounter and then feed them into their steel maws.

Most locals call it them harvesters. One or two refer to it as Zardoz.

Crystalline Parasite

In a desolated area, the PCs or someone else find a deposit of valuable crystals, which can be mined or harvested. This is in fact a mutated form of crystaline life, and it will grow exponentially, breaking through bags, possibly getting attached to other life forms, feeding on them. How to get rid of the crystal, if at all possible, is up to the GM, and might be found out in ancient lore or local tribal tales...

Snow in the desert

The PCs find a patch of snow. It is there, under a blazing sun, and doesn't melt. Where does the snow come from? Is it just an anomaly, or is it a clue to something more ominous? Can more snow be found in the area? Why? If water is a valuable commodity, this could lead to an all-out war for the control of such a resource. Details are up to the GM.

Metal Men:
Men who seem human but have injuries that reveal a far sinister truth! They're machines, only like humanity they have varied focuses, but hide an origin in some Pre-Fall laboratory rather in the wombs of women!

The SteelMen: Harsh and cruel, they often rise to run raiders, and seek to resurrect some past age/new age with their kind as rulers. However, as all metal men, they are varied even within those common goals.

The GoldMen: Gentler, kinder, focused on helping others. The Gold men seem to have a large number of medical or traditional "needful" skills for the time after the Fall. The Goldmen may seem helpful, even non-dangerous, but are still Metalmen, and may have deeply programmed plots, stirring within!


Encounter:

A group of raiders besiege a single woman in the wilderness. She hides behind ruins for cover, but the taunting raiders draw ever nearer.

Option 1: She's a Goldman, an andoid built by someone--her programmed memories are a completely gone, but for her purpose. Help develop farming techniques for Post-Fall world. She will happily follow the PC's if they promise to take her somewhere to "Agriculturally Adapt the location to sustainable methods of production." Though she's confused, not damaged, and will leave them, even in battle, if they don't help her find a farming community soon enough. (Or help her start one.)

Option 2: She's a Steelman and the entire ploy is a trap, but not for the party. She's dedicated to wiping out slavers for "her" community, a small river edge settlement a few miles away. She will try and drive off (but not kill) the players after wiping out the raiders completely. Her goal is to protect her community and lead it in ruling the Post-Fall Earth.

The players find an abandoned nuclear reactor. They can see mutants milling about the area, and along with a few stockpiles of goods. But is it radioactive?

Polish Sausage

Butchers with an assortment of armed guards have set up a crossroads stand.   There are no animals or children present, but plenty of steaming stew pots full of succulent meat bobbing in a fatty stew.  The women and men are wary, avoid eye contact, but are very willing to do business.    They have even set up a table about 30 feet from their stand.

It's meat for goods.   Are you hungry enough not to ask questions?

Twilight-Nightmares fodder:

A singular, experimental self-directing automated self-propelled gun armed with N/B/C rounds roams the countryside.  Its IFF is damaged and it can only discriminate between population centers and unpopulated countryside.  When it comes in range of a city or town - blammo.

It can be communicated with via radio (but not "face" to "face" as it has active antipersonnel weapons) and is an affable if single-minded thing.

The Diggers.

A small tribe found wandering in the wilderness. They all carry digging equipment, and occasionally are found trying to dig, for something.


The Riding Dogs.


Giant dogs are often used for riding in the Post-Fall wastes, an entire pack is found wandering through the ruins. They seem friendly, even happy to see people, but no other people are to be found...