Mutant

From Wild Southwest Wiki

In the Southwest the term Mutant is used to refer to the large and dangerous creatures inhabiting the Radlands.

There are probably a few dozen species of mutant, but no one has been insane enough to attempt a detailed survey. What can be said is that they tend to be large - usually between the size of a horse and an Indian elephant - are often surprisingly fast, and are almost always heavily armed with teeth, claws and horns. They often have hard, bony plates under their skins (making them highly resistant to gunfire) and will attempt to eat almost anything that moves. Thankfully they display very little sign of intelligence.

Some claim that no two mutants are exactly alike. This is less of an observation on the nature of the creatures than a commentary on the odds of surviving two close encounters with one.

While mutants are found almost exclusively in the Radlands, one will occasionally wander south and terrorise the inhabitants of Capel or Mummballup, or cross the Darlings into the Desert. There are also occasional reports of smaller mutants from the southern Warlord Realms. In situations where a mutant is threatening a settlement it is normal to organise a large group to track down and kill it, hiring hunters from out of town if necessary.

Scavs are the only people who regularly encounter mutants. They tend to carry extremely heavy, highly accurate weapons (known as 'mutant guns') as a consequence.

Anthony Barker - warlord of Margaret River - single-handedly killed a large mutant near Grimwade as a young man. The skull of the beast appears on the flag of his realm.