Mutants...

Vulgar.
Savage.
Unrelenting.

Even past the greed of outlaws, pride of rebels, and not quite the horrors of the Pollution, no power hounds the people of Engrievion quite like the very nature that engulfs it, not only through the innumerable monsters stalking between the tree lines, but more notably the vicious curse that worms its way into the minds of the innocent, wrenching away their humanity and identity, leaving nothing but a primitive beast driven only to kill and devour, a Mutant Raider. Slaying such creatures is mainly seen as a mercy killing, one that can produce valuable materials sure-but mainly as a way to let the ruined minds within their swollen, monstrous bodies finally rest for eternity.
Though, doing so is easier said than done, thanks to them not only having the unpredictability of wild beasts, but with enhanced, supernatural strength, stamina, and durability on their side, coupled with the residual intellect of their former human selves, make the mutation a deadly, horrifying villain many unlucky commoners must fast on a near-daily basis.

But what is a villain, without a hero?

Even in the desolate, violent forests of the dark nation, hope still persists. There are many the besieged people look up to, those who would challenge the thrashes of fate purely to call its bluff, those who seek to slice open the cruel to protect the kind. Those who are called, hero.

One of these men has gained a special reputation, a young introverted lad with a mechanical left hand to be specific. Stories say that he is both a loyal knight of the Empire, yet also a proud huntsman of the Trapper's Union. But both know him best for his death-defying skill against the scourge of the mutation, for he is a man who rejects nature entirely, severing his own arm when it was bitten by the first mutant he fought directly to spite mother earth's will, telling the call of the wild to go fuck itself. In the hunting world, no man knows how to kill mutants better than Brian Smith, The Mutant Slayer.

Yet there is much more to him, for while he does hold a ridiculously huge grudge against nature itself, it is not just because of his own spite. Well I mean it is, but it's mainly because of how little it truly cares for human wellbeing, despite claiming to be the very concept of well being. Such a concept, enrages men like Brian. To think, that the mutant scum, the curse that nearly took everything from him, would be so eager to do the same to so many others, well those who know Brian well claim that it boils the blood in his veins. But if he can do something to keep the innocent safe, he'll be sure to try. And if such a thing involves violent mutant/outlaw/rebel/etc. murder sprees, well time to break into the toybox of his own homemade weapons. He may be a savior to the people, but sometimes heroics can get messy, even those with divine design motifs.

None shall halt the Empire.
None can best the power of Lightning.
Nature, shall never control humanity.

Not if the Iron Angel has anything to say about it.

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Ladies and gents, for my 2022 christmas special, say hello to the legitimate protagonist of the Engrievion setting: Brian "The Iron Angel" Smith, AKA the mutant slayer, AKA cyborg boi, AKA the mother fucking protagonist, etc. and Etc.

This was a piece I had proudly won at a Christmas auction held by  catmonkshiro , and though it took him all day, and me all night, we got it done, and I think it came out quite beautiful, wouldn't you say? There may be some tweaks to his design further in the future, but that's something for another time, for now let's just bask in this wonderful work of true tf art before us.

Merry fuckin' christmas my dudes.

Artwork by  catmonkshiro