A Morlock is a vile, degenerate creature inhabiting the Pripyat Underground, that was supposed to appear in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Anarchy Cell.[1]
Description
Морлоки — деградировавшие военные, которые когда-то охраняли эти места, здоровые корявые человекоподобные монстры.
Translation:
Morlocks are degraded soldiers who once guarded these places, huge and grotesque humanoid monsters.
― STALKER_Synopsis_0_2.doc
Morlocks
Degraded creatures living in the undergrounds
― stk_pre_dc.pdf (no edits)
They know how to use firearms.
Appearance
A large humanoid mutant with gray and blue skin. It has a lean body, which is evident from the torso (ribs and spine are clearly visible), the right hand and the toes, and a hypertrophied left hand with scars, possibly from claws, on the shoulder. There is no hair covering, and the fingers of the hands have long nails. Compared to humans, the spine is slightly bent forward, and the upper arm is slightly enlarged.
The Morlock's head has wrinkles and sunken cheeks with loose skin. The hooked nose is slightly enlarged. The teeth have turned a dark yellow color, with some missing or decayed, and others in the process of deterioration. On the left side of the head, there is a tumor-like growth fused with the left upper arm and the area near the shoulder blade. Thick veins can be seen on its surface. On the right side of the face, there is a scar that starts from the forehead, passes through the eye, and ends at the cheek.
Only torn trousers that reach up to the upper thigh and scraps of an unknown fabric on the shins remain of the clothing. A diagonal strap runs across the torso. Presumably, an uneven metal plate is attached to the right shoulder using wire, and there is a metal strip on the wrist with its ends secured by a bolt and nut.
Relationships
It is not known for certain, but they may attack if humans are on their territory. Morlocks can be controlled by degraded mutated scientists, but the exact method is unknown.
Location
Pripyat Catacombs:
- Central Circle;
- Inner Circle or Technological sanctuary (ru. Технокапище);
- excavations;
- railway junction, embankment near the excavator.
Gameplay
As the player progresses to the lower levels of the Pripyat underground, they would encounter Morlocks. The first encounter would take place at the Central Circle. In this area, the player would also witness several Morlocks under the control of scientist mutants.
Subsequently, Morlocks would be found at the Inner Circle, where they would appear in small groups. Further encounters would occur in the tunnels of the excavations, with 2-3 individuals present at a time. It was intended that the player would be able to kill them and examine them closely.
When the player entered the area beneath the "dome" near the railway junction, one of the Morlocks residing on the embankment near the excavator would notice the player and then disappear. The plan was that the Morlock would not shoot back if the player fired at it.
After the player climbed onto the embankment from the excavator, Morlocks would start emerging from the tunnels onto the embankment and shoot at the player. Their numbers would be infinite, with another Morlock spawning in the tunnel after one was killed. The final mutant encounter was planned to occur near the end of the player's path, as the last Morlock would emerge from the concrete blocks near the ventilation exit.
Development
Morlocks were invented by the project leader, Anton Bolshakov, who also proposed populating the Pripyat underground with them.
Design Documents
| Document | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ||
| STALKER_Synopsis_0_2.doc[source 1] | October 2 | Brief information is provided about the Morlocks and their role in the gameplay in the undergrounds of Pripyat: their location, approximate quantity, and connection to scientist mutants. There is a similar document (STALKER_Synopsis_Final 1.doc)[source 2], but it was written in October 27, description is the same. |
| 2007 | ||
| stk_pre_dc.pdf[source 3] | March 2 | A brief description is provided. Description is similar to the one provided in STALKER_Synopsis_0_2.doc, but the difference is that in the second document, Morlocks are not "creatures" but "soldiers". Presumably, judging by later documents, by the time of the creation of stk_pre_dc.pdf, they had already abandoned the idea of Morlocks, replacing or reworking them into residents of the Pripyat underground, and added them "for variety." |
Concept Art
The artistic director Ilya Tolmachev was responsible for creating the image of the Morlocks: he drew the only known concept art that depicts the final appearance of the mutant. Additionally, in one of the renders, he added veins to the tumor that needed to be depicted on the model.
Model
The Morlock was modeled by 3D character modeler Alexander Kovach under Ilya's supervision. The modeling process lasted from October 6[source 4][source 5] to October 16, 2006.
Texture
In 'xrCore' build 3120, Aug 19 2007, there are preserved .thm files for the texture, bump maps, and normal maps.
Trivia
- The Morlock could be the only mutant capable of using firearms.
- The name "Morlock" is a reference to the Morlocks from The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, a race of subterranean cannibals who serve as the primary antagonists for much of the novel.
- It bears some resemblance to the Nightkins and Super Mutant Behemoths from the Fallout series.
- Morlocks appear in the novel by Andrey Levickiy titled The Heart of the Zone.
Gallery
References
- ↑ Anarchy Cell design document
- ↑ STALKER_Synopsis_0_2.doc: someoldocs.7z\dpt-stk-adn\ (Google Drive; page 27, 30—32, 34, 35)
- ↑ STALKER_Synopsis_Final 1.doc: lox_last_before_retarded_12.12.10.rar\CS\Scenario\ (Google Drive; page 27, 30—32, 34, 35)
- ↑ stk_pre_dc.pdf: cs_disdok.7z\ (Google Drive; eng.; page 37)
- ↑ Yuriy, [S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Prequel] 0, 0010000. Mantis Bug Tracker (October 6, 2006).
- ↑ Yuriy, [S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Prequel] 0, 0010001. Mantis Bug Tracker (October 6, 2006).
| Mutated animals | |
|---|---|
| Humanoids | |
| Poltergeists | |
| Unknown | |
| Cut mutants | |