S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Wiki
Register
No edit summary
(160 intermediate revisions by 72 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{Infobox Faction
[[Image:Monolith Patch.png|right]]
 
   
  +
|name = Monolith
A religious cult that is hostile to all but their own, the Monolithians believe in the power of the Wish Granter, rumoured to be an alien artifact hidden in the center of the Zone. Members of this faction devote their lives to protecting the secret of the Great Crystal, ensuring that no one ever reaches the center of the Zone. In fact, the Monolith are so dedicated to their cause that in a few reported cases, a group of stalkers who were making their way north reported that there were a few Monolith stalkers who ran out of ammunition who then blindly charged their enemies and proceeded to topple one of the stalkers in the group, once toppled he attempted to choke the stalker to death but was killed by his friends, although according to them it took them a several magazines to finally kill him. Another case is a similar incident but instead the monolithian attempted to chew the stalker's throat out which also failed. It is also an interesting thing to note that all Monolith stalkers are immune to the zombifying effects of Psi-Emitters like the Brain Scorcher, and still retain their combat skills as if they were normal stalkers.
 
  +
|image = Monolith_Patch.png
  +
|founder = [[C-Consciousness]]
  +
|leader = [[Image:Monolith_Patch.png|22px]][[C-Consciousness]]<br>[[Image:Monolith_Patch.png|22px]][[Charon]] (SoC)
  +
|headquarters = [[Pripyat]]<br>[[Sarcophagus]]<br>[[Monolith Control Center]]
  +
|locations = [[Pripyat]]<br>[[Red Forest]]<br>[[Limansk]]<br>[[Limansk Hospital]]<br>[[Yanov]] ([[Strider]]'s squad)<br>[[Chernobyl NPP]]<br>[[Sarcophagus]]<br>[[Monolith Control Center]]
  +
|members = *[[Image:Monolith_Patch.png|22px]][[Charon]]<br>
  +
*[[Image:Monolith_Patch.png|22px]][[Strider]] (Former member)<br>
  +
*[[Image:Monolith_Patch.png|22px]][[Preacher]]s<br>
  +
*[[Image:Monolith_Patch.png|22px]][[Monolith Fighter]]s
  +
|enemies = [[Image:SCS_Loners.png|22px]] [[Loners]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:SCS_Bandits.png|22px]] [[Bandits]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:Dolg_Patch.png|22px]] [[Duty]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:SCS_Freedom.png|22px]] [[Freedom]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:SCS_Scientist_emblem.png|22px]] [[Ecologists]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:SCS_Clear_Sky.png|22px]] [[Clear Sky]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:SCS_Mercs.png|22px]] [[Mercenaries]]
  +
<br>
  +
[[Image:SHOC Military.png|22px]] [[Military]]
  +
|allies = [[Zombified Stalkers]]
  +
|neutral = [[Image:SCS_Scientist_emblem.png|22px]] [[Ecologists]]<br> (CoP)}}
  +
{{quote|We thank you, oh Monolith, for revealing the cunning plans of your enemies to us.<br>May your light shine down on the souls of the brave soldiers who gave their lives in service to your will.<br>Onward warriors of the Monolith, avenge your fallen brothers, blessed as they are in their eternal union with the Monolith.<br>Bring death to those who spurned the holy power of the Monolith<br>|Monolith Preacher}}
   
  +
The '''Monolith''' is a religious cult, hostile to all but their own, which serves as a major antagonistic group, appearing in ''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl]]'', ''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat]]'' and appears in a quasi-supporting role in ''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky]]''.
Their ranking system and organization structure is unknown, with the only identified unit within their structure being ''Crystal'', whose sole task was securing the Monolith. In Call of Pripyat however, a ranking structure is hinted at - each large Monolith squad is supported by a [[Preacher]], who snipes from atop buildings while chanting phrases out to inspire his men, or to demoralize the enemy.
 
  +
==Overview==
  +
{{Quote|This group displays many features of a religious sect. Its members believe in the existence of a complex alien crystal, the Monolith, located somewhere in the center of the Zone. Most stalkers treat Monolith adepts with contempt and consider them as lunatics. From its inception the group strives to block all progress towards the center of the Zone, protecting the Monolith from other stalkers. Rumor has it that the group has a large base deep in the Zone, but its exact location is known only by the members.|''Shadow of Chernobyl'' PDA description}}
  +
A religious cult that is hostile to all but their own, the Monolithians believe in the power of the [[Wish Granter]], rumored to be an alien artifact hidden in the [[Chernobyl NPP| center of the Zone]]. Members of this faction devote their lives to protecting the secret of the Great Crystal, ensuring that no one ever reaches the center of the Zone.
  +
  +
A typical Monolithian is a former stalker brainwashed by one of the psychic emitters throughout the [[Zone]] (namely the [[Brain Scorcher]]) into serving the will of the [[C-Consciousness]], unflinchingly loyal and ready to sacrifice himself at a moment's notice. This extreme loyalty is achieved by creating intense religious fanaticism in the mind of the stalker, directed towards the Monolith.
  +
  +
While physically, they are on par with other stalkers, their religious fervor sets them apart and allows them to ignore wounds and continue to fight, even after they run out of ammo. Stories abound of fanatical Monolith Stalkers, after running out of ammo, ditch their weapons and attempt to kill the enemy with their bare hands, no matter how grievous their wounds<ref>''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky]]'', st_dialog_manager, string id: dm_about_149, ''This place is enchanted with some really shitty magic, buddy. All we do is go 'round in circles looking for our missing friends, but so far we ain't found nothing but monsters. If you get to higher ground you can sometimes hear fragments of their radio comms, but it's impossible to make any sense of them. And that ain't the half of it! How do you explain the appearance of Monolithians from beyond the Barrier? I saw one of them once. He was wounded, his eyes were glazed over and he was mumbling the same words over and over: "Defend the Monolith!" I don't think he could feel pain, 'cause he wouldn't stop trying to grab my buddy's throat until we emptied a few clips into him. What do they want? What made them come back after the emission? I ain't got nothing but questions, friend...''</ref><ref>''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky]]'', st_dialog_manager.xml, string id: dm_cool_info_40, ''After the Monolithians started flooding back from beyond the Barrier we had the idea to catch one alive and find out how to get through the Scorcher and into the center of the Zone. Man, it took a lot of lives and even more ammo, but we did it. This guy took half a clip right in the chest but he was still pretty lively: grunting, struggling and trying to grab at our leader. We asked him nice and we asked him rough but he didn't tell us shit, just kept screaming "Defend the Monolith" over and over... I figure something must have happened to them on the other side. So we didn't really find out how to get past the Scorcher, but then again if they're coming from beyond the Barrier there must be a way, right? What do you think?''</ref> . This same fervor also prevents others from capturing a Monolith member – if taken into custody, he will commit suicide in any way possible (even by smashing his head against the wall)<ref>''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat]]'', Col. Kovalsky: ''"It's useless. First of all, they fight to the death. Our boys managed to get one alive when he was stunned by a grenade, but it didn't help much. We took our eyes off him for a second and he banged his head against the wall so hard that his skull cracked open like an egg."''</ref>.
  +
  +
[[File:XrEngine_2011-07-25_17-25-32-05.png|thumb|200px|right|[[Major Degtyarev]] examining one of the Monolith antenna in the Pripyat Bookstore.]] The Monolith can also uplink themselves to the C-Consciousness through something known as a Monolith statue, a radar antenna covered with garbage to form a statue. Monolithians kneel in front of it and enter a trance involving head nodding and swaying, and will ignore almost anything around them, even gunshots. The [[Monolith Fighter]] and, rarely, idle Monolith Stalkers can be found in the same trance, but without the use of the Statue, possibly attempting to call upon the Monolith for guidance.
  +
  +
===Effects of mind control===
  +
Unfortunately, the same mind control that makes them fierce warriors also erodes their humanity. [[Strider]] and the [[Preacher]] both exhibit a completely flat personality and suffer from a monotone speech impediment, and Strider himself has a poor grasp of language. Other rogue Monolithians under Strider's command have difficulty communicating and tend to speak in halting, jerky sentences (although this is no longer the case once recruited). However the case of [[Strelok]], who fully retained his personality and speech abilities even after being brainwashed by the Monolith might imply that Monolith soldiers do not instantly lose their humanity on the spot, but slowly as the Monolith continues to control them, or that Strelok wasn't brainwashed as completely to better blend into the rest of the stalker population and to be able to use his wits (which the Monolith soldiers seem to lose partially) to better fulfill his assassin role.
  +
  +
It is interesting to note that all Monolith stalkers are immune to the zombifying effects of Psi-Emitters, like the Brain Scorcher, and still retain their combat skills. In addition, in ''Call of Pripyat'', they are immune to [[emissions]], even though they will still get to cover when one occurs.
  +
  +
In ''Call of Pripyat'', Monolith Stalkers gain a new, unknown voice actor. Monolithic speech is revealed to be highly ritualized, referring to each other as "Brother", and relating most situations to the Monolith. Upon sighting an enemy, they remark to their Brothers about the presence of an "enemy of the Monolith", and do much the same upon killing them. Any idle talk revolves around the Monolith and is as disjointed and monotone as English-speaking Monolithians.
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
  +
The Monolith clan was originally a group of stalkers, united by their fascination with the Zone. Fascination turned to obsession and obsession turned to fanaticism; eventually, the stalkers became convinced that there is a massive artifact in the center of the Zone, a Monolith, and declared themselves its protectors, growing increasingly hostile to other stalkers. <ref name="barman_around_1">''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky]]'', st_dialogs_agroprom, stirng id: agr_duty_barman_around_1, ''Buzz? Well, a whole faction has gone missing. And it's not like they were taken out by people or wiped out by monsters. They just vanished, warts and all. These guys were weird too, with a real hard-on for the Zone. They believed that the Zone was alive, and in its center was a Monolith - a Wish Granter. So they declared themselves the protectors of this Monolith. And then one fine day their whole faction just got up and took off for the center. Yep, right to the Wish Granter. They headed for the Scorcher, crossed the Barrier, and noone has seen them since.''</ref><ref name="cool_info_25">''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky]]'', st_dialog_manager, string id dm_cool_info_25, ''I heard a whole faction went missing in the Zone. You ever heard of Monolith? Well, they used to protect the Zone from others, but they made a move towards the center right before the emission. Nobody has heard from them since, but recently some real aggressive stalkers have been attacking from where the Scorcher is, killing everyone and asking no questions. I know because I saw them myself around the military warehouses, and I reckon they might be those same Monolithians who disappeared. It wouldn't surprise me, because their uniforms looked real similar.''</ref>
===Clear Sky===
 
Shortly before the Second Emission that began Clear Sky, the Monolith faction, which had initially been a neutral, and possibly benevolent faction, picked up their roots around the Zone and marched towards Pripyat. Their goal at the time was thought to be suicidal, but when the other factions made their own push towards the NPP, they learned that the Monolithians had not only survived the harsh trek, but had in fact become stronger for it.
 
   
  +
They disappeared in 2011, just before the beginning of ''Clear Sky'', simply picking up all of their belongings and marching through [[the Barrier]] towards the [[Brain Scorcher]], shortly before an [[emission]]. No one has heard from them since... or so they thought, as later in 2011, very aggressive stalkers began storming [[the Barrier]].<ref name="barman_around_1" /><ref name="cool_info_25" />
In the final stages of Clear Sky, the primary opposition is the Monolith faction itself, having repelled all of the other factions attempting to break into the Zone center. It is here that it's first suggested (chronologically) that Monolith bolsters its numbers through the use of emissions, and later, via the [[Brain Scorcher]]. The ending shows the survivors of Clear Sky's raid being brainwashed via television screens, including [[Strelok]] and likely [[Scar]] as well.
 
   
  +
The fact is, they had been "recruited" as the guardians of the [[C-Consciousness]] to repel stalkers since they (namely [[Strelok's Group]]) have and will find ways to reach the center of the zone. They are vastly superior guards than the [[Mutants]] or [[Zombified Stalkers]] since they retain most of their humanity, although they are completely under the control of the C-Consciousness and will gratefully give their lives without question.
===Shadow of Chernobyl===
 
By the time Shadow of Chernobyl takes place, the Monolith faction is considered to be the most powerful faction in the Zone by far, easily as numerous as [[Duty]] and [[Freedom]], with advanced technology that not even the [[Military]] possesses. They regularly launch raids from the center of the Zone, attacking the [[Freedom]] [[Army Warehouses|Barrier]] with forces consisting of occasionally 20 men, a relatively expensive strategy in the sparsely populated Zone. Their grip has extended from beyond the NPP, and they have established a headquarters in [[Pripyat]], led by a figurehead known as [[Charon]].
 
   
  +
==Organization==
Initially thought to be a simple cult or a group of insane lunatics, it is later revealed through Shadow of Chernobyl's backstory that Monolith's members are in fact the Stalkers and Military Soldiers who attempted to penetrate the Zone's center, or even made it as far as the Wish Granter, brainwashed by a vaguely sinister [[C-Consciousness]]. In all likelihood, the vast majority of the Monolith faction's troops are in fact former Clear Sky members, as well as Duty, Freedom, Military, and Loners who supposedly lost their lives in the Second and Third emissions.
 
  +
[[File:SCS_Monolith_Patch.png|thumb|200px|The Monolith's patch in Clear Sky.]] Their rank system and organization are almost completely unknown. What is known is that the Monolith is led by a single leader ([[Charon]] in 2012<ref name="stable_bio_name">''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl]]'', stable_bio_name.xml</ref>), while combat operations are overseen in the field by [[Preacher]]s, who snipe from atop buildings while chanting phrases out to inspire their men and demoralize the enemy. Both the leader and Preachers take their orders directly from the [[C-Consciousness]].
   
  +
The only squad identified by name is ''Crystal'', a unit whose sole task is protecting the Monolith and the [[Sarcophagus]]<ref name="stable_bio_name" />.
===Call of Pripyat===
 
Monolith takes a much quieter role in Call of Pripyat as compared to previous games. While in the first two, Monolith had large amounts of territory, by the time the protagonist reaches Pripyat itself, Monolith's outlying forces have either been destroyed, or gained freedom from the influence of [[C-Consciousness]]. One such squad, led by [[Strider]], can be encountered by the player, and recruited into one of the other factions - supposedly a first in the history of the Zone. However, the remaining Monolith in the game are openly hostile to all other factions.
 
   
  +
Cut game data points to two units known as the Left and Right hands of the Monolith, armed with [[FT-200M]] rifles and [[Black Kite]] pistols. These may have been ranks, honorifics or titles among the Monolithians.
They first make their appearance as enemies inside the Jupiter Underground, where they launch an ambush on the player and his companions before they can make a break for the surface. This is the first appearance of snipers in the entirety of the game, taking advantage of numerous vantage points to snipe the player as he attempts to activate back-up power to the underground.
 
   
  +
Further cut data shows an individual called the "Komandir", another Monolithian leader, separate from Charon, with his own model and equipped with a [[Gauss rifle]] and a [[Black Kite]]. Cut Monolith units also include fighters called "Regulars" and "Specnaz", of which there were several equipment variants.
Once the player arrives in Pripyat, it's revealed that Monolith itself is slowly losing power, but is still a potent enough threat to have decimated the survivors of Operation Fairway. Of particular interest is a special weapon sighted in their possession, which Major Kowalsky sends a special ops team to confiscate. This mission is the first sighting of the Monolith [[Preacher]]s, who make use of the rare and devastating [[Gauss Rifle]]. With the Preacher dead, the player then takes part in another mission, destroying one of the Monolith outposts in a bookstore - gunning them down while they pray. It becomes apparent that, while some of them maintain a connection to the Monolith (namely the Preacher and [[Monolith Fighter]]), the majority of them have lost this link and are left at the Preachers' command. It may be that C-Con had a back-up 'Monolith' to control their subjects in the event of their destruction.
 
   
  +
{{clr}}
Afterwards, the player is relatively free to explore Pripyat, though Monolith maintains at least two strongholds - one above the X8 Lab and another within Prometheus Cinema. Despite this, they're rarely seen outside of them and it is typically up to the player whether or not they wish to fight them outside of the main storyline missions.
 
   
  +
== Equipment ==
They serve as the main opposition during the finale, where at least two more Preachers make their appearance, trying to prevent the survivors of Operation Fairway from evacuating.
 
  +
[[File:Monolithsniper.jpg|thumb|150px|A Monolith sniper carrying an earlier model of the SVDm-2.]] It is suggested in dialogue with [[Clear Sky]] members in [[Limansk-13|Limansk]] that the Monolith faction is extremely well equipped and have large numbers of individuals compared to the other factions, putting them on level footing with the Clear Sky faction. They use equipment developed by [[C-Consciousness]] or those acquired from the obliterated [[Clear Sky]] faction.
===Conversion===
 
Briefly covered in Clear Sky, Call of Pripyat adds a bit more information to the effects of C-Con's brainwashing on Stalkers. Strider and the Preacher both exhibit a completely flat personality and suffer from a monotone speech impediment, and Strider himself has a poor grasp on the English language. Even the other freed Monolith under Strider's command have difficulty communicating and tend to speak in halting, jerky sentences. Monolith also do not communicate to each other in battle, and have yet to be seen communicating with one another outside of battle, so this impediment may be a result of C-Con relaying ''everything'' to their soldiers.
 
   
  +
They use self-made armors such as the [[Monolith suit]], the [[Scientific Monolith suit]], along with a variant of the [[Radiation suit]] and the [[Exoskeleton]]. As evidenced in ''Shadow of Chernobyl'', these armors are superior to the gear used by other stalkers from the Duty, Freedom and the Loners faction.
Aside from the Preachers in the organization, Monolith troops are completely reliant on the Monolith itself to relay orders and guide them. Aside from basic needs such as food, water, and self-preservation, they remain immobile and typically pray, calling out to the Monolith for additional orders. With the Monolith's power greatly weakened in Call of Pripyat, it seems only the most vulnerable to C-Con's commands remain fully under the brainwashing, while others are confused without guidance and need the Preachers to relay orders. Those who may have been particularly resistant such as Strider have gained their independence, suggesting that contrary to the rest of the stalker community's belief, it is possible to reverse the conversion process.
 
  +
  +
The Monolith throughout the series makes use of nearly every weapon available. This goes from common weaponry issued to rookies, to uncommon and high-end weaponry including the rare [[FT-200M]] that only Mercenaries, Clear Sky, and some Loners have access to. Finally, they produced the deadly [[Gauss gun]] and are the only known user (besides the player) of this unique weapon.
  +
  +
It is unknown where Monoliths get their equipment from, although [[Kirillov]] suggests they have some agents who deal in smuggling with corrupt Military members.<ref>''[[S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat]]'', Lt. Kirillov: ''"Yeah, we broke into a Monolith warehouse the other day and it was full of ammo for every type of weapon you get in the Zone. I wonder how they get so much weaponry in here. I'm guessing one of the perimeter guards must be selling it to them..."''</ref>. As seen with the Gauss gun, it can be assumed the faction either has an unknown supplier or utilizes experienced engineers with access to old labs and/or workshops that manufactured it themselves, without anybody else notice it.
  +
  +
===Weapons===
  +
{|cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" align="center" border="0" width="95%"
  +
|-valign="top"
  +
|width="33%"|
  +
* [[Fora-12]]
  +
* [[Walker P9m]]
  +
* [[Kora-919]]
  +
* [[UDP Compact]]
  +
* [[Viper 5]]
  +
* [[AKM-74/2U]]
  +
* [[AKM-74/2]]
  +
|width="34%"|
  +
* [[AC-96/2]]
  +
* [[SA Avalance]]
  +
* [[Tunder S14]]
  +
* [[TRs-301]]
  +
* [[SGI 5k]]
  +
* [[GP 37]]{{ref|reference_name_SOCCOP|a}}
  +
* [[FT-200m]]{{ref|reference_name_SOC|b}}
  +
|width="33%"|
  +
* [[RP 74]]{{ref|reference_name_CS|e}}
  +
* [[SVDm-2]]
  +
* [[SVUmk-2]]{{ref|reference_name_SOC|b}}
  +
* [[Gauss gun]]{{ref|reference_name_SOC|b}}
  +
* [[RPG-7u]]{{ref|reference_name_SOCCS|d}}
  +
|}
  +
*{{note|reference_name_SOCCOP|a}} Only in ''Shadow of Chernobyl'' and'' Call of Pripyat''.
  +
*{{note|reference_name_SOC|b}} ''Shadow of Chernobyl''.
  +
*{{note|reference_name_CSCOP|c}} Only in'' Clear Sky'' and ''Call of Pripyat''.
  +
*{{note|reference_name_SOCCS|d}} Only in ''Shadow of Chernobyl'' and ''Clear Sky''
  +
*{{note|reference_name_CS|e}} Only in ''Clear Sky''
  +
===Armor===
  +
* [[Monolith suit]] &ndash; Heavily modified [[stalker suit]], more resembling a Wind of Freedom suit, usually worn with a [[Gas mask]]. Features more armor, more anomaly protection, and more radiation protection than the [[Sunrise suit]]. Only available to the player in'' Shadow of Chernobyl''.
  +
* [[Scientific Monolith suit]] &ndash; A Monolith suit with a [[Curtain helmet]]. It offers higher bullet/splinter protection than the [[SEVA Suit]] and the [[PSZ-9Md Universal Protection]] suit. Never available to the player without mods.
  +
* Monolith [[Exoskeleton]] &ndash; An [[Exoskeleton]] painted white with grey and dull green, with urban camouflaged fatigues. The Monolith [[Exoskeleton]] is commonly issued to Veteran and Expert members. Not available to the player.
  +
* [[Radiation suit]] &ndash; The armor portion of the Exoskeleton, worn without the external mechanical components. Only used in ''Clear Sky'' and ''Call of Pripyat'', and not available to the player.
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
 
===Clear Sky===
 
===Clear Sky===
  +
Live Monolith can be first encountered in the [[Army Warehouses]], near a crashed [[Mi-24 Hind]] helicopter west of [[The Barrier]]. They are well equipped (all use Radsuits and [[SA Avalanche]]s) and surrounded by a Psi Field which does heavy Psi damage when entered. The Monolith is unaffected by the Psi disruption and can be difficult to take care of due to the lack of cover. Other Monolithians can be found at the Barrier and will regularly launch attacks on the [[Loners]], [[Duty]]ers or [[Freedom]]ers that guard the barrier. It is not possible to engage them at close range, as they are protected by the Brain Scorcher's psychic emissions that will kill the player instantly if they stay too deep in the Barrier for too long.
  +
  +
In the final stages of ''Clear Sky'', the primary opposition is the Monolith faction itself, having repelled all of the other factions attempting to break into the Zone center. They can be found in [[Limansk-13|Limansk]], the [[Limansk Hospital]], and the [[Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant]], and serve as the main opposition for the rest of the game. It is here that it's first suggested (chronologically) that Monolith bolsters its numbers through the use of emissions, and later, via the [[Brain Scorcher]]. The ending shows the survivors of Clear Sky's raid being brainwashed via television screens, including [[Strelok]] and likely [[Scar]] as well.
  +
  +
Interestingly, what appears to be the corpses of dead Monolith soldiers can be found in various areas such as the Swamps and the Cordon.
  +
  +
Monolith forces in ''Clear Sky'' are comprised mostly of Veterans wearing [[Radiation suit]]s and wielding [[SA Avalanche]] rifles and [[Kora-919]] pistols as sidearms, backed up by Experienced soldiers wearing [[Monolith suit]]s and wielding more conventional rifles loaded with armor-piercing ammo. The Radsuit-wearing Veterans are second only to [[Military Stalkers]] in terms of durability, while appearing in much greater numbers.
  +
 
====Locations====
 
====Locations====
 
In Clear Sky, the Monolith faction has only three territories under its control; the Chernobyl NPP itself, the northern portion of [[Limansk]], and most of the abandoned hospital where you progress to after Limansk. They become the main opposition to the player during the final portion of the game, but are relatively rare outside of these areas, appearing only in small groups in such areas as the [[Army Warehouses]].
 
In Clear Sky, the Monolith faction has only three territories under its control; the Chernobyl NPP itself, the northern portion of [[Limansk]], and most of the abandoned hospital where you progress to after Limansk. They become the main opposition to the player during the final portion of the game, but are relatively rare outside of these areas, appearing only in small groups in such areas as the [[Army Warehouses]].
   
 
===Shadow of Chernobyl===
 
===Shadow of Chernobyl===
  +
By 2012, the Monolith faction is considered to be the most powerful faction in the Zone by far, easily as numerous as the armies of [[Duty]] and [[Freedom]], with advanced technology that not even the [[Military]] possesses. Their army is large enough to be military theater-sized as they regularly launch raids from the center of the Zone, attacking the [[Freedom]] [[Army Warehouses|Barrier]] with forces consisting of occasionally 20 men, a relatively expensive strategy in the sparsely populated Zone. Their grip has extended from beyond the NPP, and they have established a headquarters in [[Pripyat]], led by a figurehead known as [[Charon]].[[File:Prayer.png|thumb|276px|A pair of Monolith Masters at prayer.]]
  +
  +
In all likelihood, the vast majority of the Monolith faction's troops are in fact former Clear Sky members, as well as Duty, Freedom, Military, and Loners who supposedly lost their lives in the Second and Third emissions.
  +
 
====Locations====
 
====Locations====
Monolith appears first in the [[Army Warehouses]] area, where a large squad of Monolithians launch an attack upon the Freedom barricade. Afterwards, they take the role as the primary opposition once again, often deploying en masse to block [[Strelok]] from making any further progress. By this time they've established numerous checkpoints within the [[Red Forest]] and garrison the [[Brain Scorcher]], having established a strong, well-fortified position within [[Pripyat]]. Elite units regularly patrol the city, and at the same time still more Monolithians protect [[Chernobyl NPP]] itself, along with the [[Sarcophagus]].
+
Monolith appears first in the [[Army Warehouses]] area, where a platoon-sized force of Monolithians launches an attack upon the Freedom barricade. Afterward, they take the role of the primary opposition once again, often deploying en masse to block [[Strelok]] from making any further progress. By this time they've established numerous checkpoints within the [[Red Forest]] and garrison the [[Brain Scorcher]], having established a strong, well-fortified position within [[Pripyat]]. Elite units regularly patrol the city, and at the same time still, more Monolithians protect [[Chernobyl NPP]] itself, along with the [[Sarcophagus]].
   
 
===Call of Pripyat===
 
===Call of Pripyat===
  +
By 3 months after the Brain Scorcher was disabled, the Monolith is slowly losing power – most of Monolith's outlying forces have either been destroyed or gained freedom from the influence of [[C-Consciousness]]. One such squad, led by [[Strider]], can be encountered by the player, and recruited into one of the other factions – supposedly a first in the history of the Zone. However, the remaining fanatics are still enough of a threat to decimate the survivors of Operation Fairway.
  +
  +
Live Monolithians can be encountered in [[Yanov]] as part of Strider's group. These are neutral to the player and Strider offers a quest that requires them to speak to either [[Shulga]] or [[Loki]] to have the survivors recruited into either Duty and Freedom, respectively.
  +
  +
They first make their appearance as enemies inside the [[Pripyat Underground]], where they launch an ambush on the player and his companions before they can make a break for the surface. This is the first appearance of snipers in the entirety of the game, taking advantage of numerous vantage points to snipe the player as they attempt to activate back-up power to the underground. They ambush the player twice: once when turning back the power on, and snipers appear when the player unlocks the door.
  +
  +
Once the player arrives in Pripyat, it's revealed that Monolith itself is slowly losing power, but is still a potent enough threat to have decimated the survivors of Operation Fairway. Of particular interest is a special weapon sighted in their possession, which Colonel Kovalsky sends a special ops team to confiscate. This mission is the first sighting of the Monolith [[Preacher]]s, who make use of the rare and devastating [[Gauss Rifle]]. With the Preacher dead, the player then takes part in another mission, destroying one of the Monolith outposts in a bookstore – gunning them down while they pray. Later, the player must wipe out their forces in the [[Yubileiny Service Center]] in order to gain access to [[Lab X-8]]. It becomes apparent that, while some of them maintain a connection to the Monolith (namely the Preacher and [[Monolith Fighter]]), the majority of them have lost this link and are left at the Preachers' command.
  +
  +
Afterward, the player is relatively free to explore Pripyat, though Monolith maintains at least two strongholds - the Prometheus Cinema and the River Port.
  +
  +
They serve as the main opposition during the finale, where at least two more Preachers make their appearance, trying to prevent the survivors of Operation Fairway from evacuating.
  +
 
====Locations====
 
====Locations====
  +
Unlike ''Shadow of Chernobyl'', Monolith no longers patrols the city, which is now controlled by [[Loners]], mutants, and [[Mercenaries]]. They initially control the Hospital, the Book Store and the Yubileiny Service Center, though all three locations are later wiped out by the player. Afterward, they only respawn in small numbers (between 5 and 15) at the River Port and the Prometheus Theater.
Monolith is comparatively decimated, declined in power and stature after the events of Shadow of Chernobyl. They only maintain barebone garrisons within three locations of Pripyat - one of which is quickly wiped off the map by the player. Despite this, they continue to receive reinforcements from Chernobyl NPP itself, and deploy what amounts to a small army in order to keep the player from evacuating survivors from the city.
 
   
==Armaments==
+
==Notable members==
  +
* [[Charon]]
It is suggested in dialogue with [[Clear Sky]] members in Limansk that the Monolith faction is extremely well equipped, yet short on numbers compared to the other factions, putting them on level-footing with the Clear Sky faction. They use equipment developed by [[C-Consciousness]] or those acquired from the obliterated [[Clear Sky]] faction. The Monolith throughout the series make use of nearly every weapon available, as well as high-end weaponry that most other factions either have no access to (such as the Gauss Rifle and FN F2000), or can only field in small quantities.
 
  +
* [[Preacher]]
  +
* [[Strider]]
  +
* [[Monolith Master]]
   
  +
==Ranks==
Thus, most of their weaponry is unique and unavailable to the player until near the end of the game.
 
  +
===Shadow of Chernobyl===
  +
====Experienced====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Experienced
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Monolith suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[AKM-74/2]], [[AC-96/2]], [[IL 86]], [[TRs 301]]
   
  +
Experienced Monolith soldiers are the faction's most basic troops. They wear Monolith suits with either a black balaclava or a brown hood, and carry an assortment of both NATO and Warsaw Pact basic assault rifles, as well as the [[Walker P9m]] as a sidearm. Their Monolith suits give them durability on par with Stalkers wearing other light Tier 2 armors, such as the [[Sunrise suit]] and its various faction-based derivatives. Like all Monolith troops, they carry armor-piercing ammunition, which they will begin to load into their rifles if a firefight lasts for long enough. They are primarily encountered guarding the Red Forest and the Brain Scorcher, as well as occasionally appearing throughout [[Pripyat]].
===Sub-Machine Guns/Carbines===
 
  +
* [[Viper 5]]
 
  +
====Experienced (Rocket Soldier)====
* [[AKSU-74]]
 
  +
*'''Rank:''' Experienced
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Monolith suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[RPG-7u]]
   
  +
A handful of Experienced Monolith soldiers are dedicated rocket launcher troops. They wear black balaclavas in addition to their Monolith suits. One is encountered midway through the Red Forest, and a handful are positioned in elevated positions in Pripyat as well as the roof of the Chernobyl NPP. They are extremely dangerous, with a direct RPG hit capable of killing the player in one hit regardless of armor, and even an indirect splash damage hit can significantly injure the player and seriously damage their armor's durability.
===Rifles===
 
* [[OTs-14 Groza]]
 
* [[Obokan]]
 
* [[GP 37]]
 
* [[AKS-74]]
 
* [[TRs 301]]
 
* [[AS VAL]]
 
* [[FT 200M]] - Only in Shadow of Chernobyl. In Clear Sky & Call of Pripyat, this is a unique weapon only the player can acquire.
 
   
===Machine Guns===
+
====Sniper====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Experienced, Veteran
* [[RP-74]]
 
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Monolith suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[SVDm-2]], [[SVUmk-2]]
   
  +
Dedicated Monolith snipers are either of Experienced or Veteran rank, and wear Monolith suits with either a black balaclava or a brown hood. They wield either the SVDm-2 or SVUmk-2 sniper rifle. Several appear around the Red Forest and the Brain Scorcher surface installation. In Pripyat and the Chernobyl NPP itself, their role is fulfilled by the more dangerous Gauss snipers.
===Sniper Rifles===
 
* [[VSS Vintorez]]
 
* [[SVD]]
 
* [[SVU]]
 
   
===Special Weapons===
+
====Veteran====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Veteran
* [[Gauss Rifle]]
 
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Monolith suit]], [[Scientific Monolith suit]]
* [[RPG]]
 
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[AKM-74/2]], [[AC-96/2]], [[IL 86]], [[TRs 301]], [[Chaser 13]]
* [[Bulldog 6]]
 
   
  +
Monolith Veterans are mostly identical to their Experienced counterparts in terms of appearance and equipment, other than possessing somewhat more skill and experience. Many wear the same black balaclavas or brown hoods worn by the Experienced soldiers, though some wear gas masks instead. In Pripyat, most Veterans either wear gas masks or Scientific Monolith suits; unlike most SEVA suit derivatives, the Scientific Monolith suits don't provide their wearer with additional firearms protection compared to more standard Stalker armor. They appear mixed in with the more numerous Experienced troops in Red Forest, and appear more commonly in Pripyat. One or two Monolith Veterans in the Monolith headquarters in the Pripyat Palace of Culture carry Chaser 13 shotguns.
===Armor===
 
* [[Monolith Suit]] - A modified [[Sunshine Suit|Sunrise Suit]] with a gasmask. Noticeably higher bulletproof protection than the standard Stalker version, Painted in urban camouflage. It lacks, however, any sort of Night Vision Goggles. They sometimes use the same mask used on the [[SEVA Suit]], but the player cannot get this suit in any game without mods.
 
   
  +
====Veteran (Chernobyl NPP Guard)====
* Monolith [[Exoskeleton]] - An [[Exoskeleton]] painted white with grey and dull green, with urban camouflaged fatigues. The Monolith Exoskeleton is commonly issued to Veteran and Expert members. Some believe that the Monolithians have advanced [[Exoskeleton]]s in Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat. It appears to be the same suit, minus the servomotors. However this seems unlikely since these suits are nowhere to be found in Shadow of Chernobyl, which takes place after Clear Sky, and it could easily just be the same armor used on the [[Exoskeleton]], not the [[Exoskeleton]] itself.
 
  +
*'''Rank:''' Veteran
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Monolith suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[Tunder S14]], [[GP 37]], [[SA Avalanche]], [[FT-200M]], [[SGI-5k]]
   
  +
The Monolith Veterans guarding the exterior and interior of the Chernobyl NPP, as well as the Monolith Control Center, are considerably better equipped than their counterparts elsewhere in the Zone. They all wear gas masks and wield advanced weaponry, particularly favoring the Tunder S14 and GP 37, and occasionally wielding the SA Avalanche. A couple in the Monolith Control Center are even equipped with advanced FT-200M assault rifles. All carry [[UDP Compact]] pistols as a sidearm, as well as spare magazines loaded with armor-piercing ammo. The Monolith Veterans around the exterior of the Chernobyl NPP as well as on the NPP's rooftops are exclusively equipped with SGI-5k assault rifles, and noticeably do not carry sidearms.
* Monolith [["Bulat" armored suit|Bulat Armoured Suit]] - A Bulat suit painted white, often with a standard Gasmask or SEVA dome in place of the normal Sphere-12 helmet. [[Preacher]]s tend to wear this suit, making them noticeably more difficult to take down, and occasionally Monolith Experts may wear this instead of the more common Exoskeleton.
 
   
==Notable members==
+
====Expert====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Expert
* [[Charon]]
 
* [[Preacher]]
+
*'''Armor:''' [[Exoskeleton]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[GP 37]], [[TRs 301]], [[SA Avalanche]], [[Tunder S14]], [[SPSA-14]]
* [[Rogue]]
 
  +
  +
Monolith's most experienced and deadliest soldiers are equipped exclusively with heavily armored Exoskeletons, and wield advanced weaponry, particularly favoring the GP 37, with those encountered in Pripyat also carrying the TRs 301 or SA Avalanche, while those guarding the interior of the Chernobyl NPP wield all of the above as well as the Tunder S14 and the SPSA-14 shotgun. The ones in the area of the Brain Scorcher carry [[Walker P9m]] pistols as sidearms, while those around the Chernobyl NPP area favor the [[UDP Compact]] instead. A single one of them can be found in the Red Forest, several will attack [[Lab X-19]] after the player shuts off the Brain Scorcher, and a large number of them can be found defending Pripyat as well as the interior and rooftops of the Chernobyl NPP. Due to Monolith's vast resources, they are able to field Exoskeleton soldiers in far greater numbers than any of the other factions, particularly defending the Chernobyl NPP itself.
  +
  +
====Gauss Sniper====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Veteran, Expert
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Scientific Monolith suit]], [[Monolith suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[Gauss rifle]]
  +
  +
Monolith snipers wielding their faction-exclusive Gauss rifle are found throughout Pripyat, the interior of the Chernobyl NPP, and the rooftops of the NPP. The ones encountered in Pripyat and the NPP rooftops are of Veteran ranking, while those encountered in the interior of the Chernobyl NPP (including the Monolith Control Center) are of Expert ranking. Gauss snipers in Pripyat and the Chernobyl NPP interior wear Scientific Monolith suits, while the ones on the Chernobyl NPP rooftops wear the standard Monolith suit with a black balaclava. The Gauss rifle is very powerful and deals heavy damage even against Military Stalker armor or Exoskeletons, but fortunately these snipers have only average aim and have a very long recharge time between shots.
  +
  +
===Clear Sky===
  +
====Experienced====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Experienced
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Monolith suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[AKM-74/2]], [[AC-96/2]], [[TRs 301]], [[SGI-5k]]
  +
Experienced Monolith troops wear their faction's distinct green-and-white suit, worn with a white gas mask, giving them resistance to firearms on par with other standard Stalkers. They wield an assortment of both NATO and Warsaw Pact weaponry, primarily carrying the AKM-74/2, AC-96/2, or TRs 301 assault rifles. Some experienced Monolith troops wield the powerful SGI-5k assault rifle. All Monolith troops carry armor-piercing ammo in their inventory, which they will begin loading into their rifles if a firefight drags on for long enough. Most carry the 9mmx18 [[Fora-12]] pistol as their sidearm, though the ones wielding SGI-5k rifles carrying 9mmx19 [[Walker P9m]] pistols instead.
  +
  +
They are primarily encountered in [[Limansk]] and the [[Limansk Hospital]].
  +
  +
====Veteran====
  +
*'''Rank:''' Veteran
  +
*'''Armor:''' [[Radiation suit]]
  +
*'''Weapons:''' [[SA Avalanche]]
  +
Monolith's Veteran shocktroopers are equipped with heavily armored Radiation suits ([[Exoskeleton]] armor without the mechanical Exoskeleton frame), which are unique to the Monolith faction at the time of ''Clear Sky''. These suits are not as heavily armored as a full Exoskeleton, but still provide vastly superior protection to any other armor except for the "Bulat" [[Skat-9 military armoured suit]] worn by [[Military Stalkers]] (and some [[Duty]] members wearing the repainted version renamed [[PSZ-9d Duty armor|PSZ-9d]]). Their heavy armor allows Monolith Veterans to withstand 3 to 4 times as much firearms damage as most other Stalkers (including being able to survive headshots from non-armor piercing rounds), while still being fielded in significantly large numbers, unlike Military Stalkers, "Bulat" Duty members, or Stalkers wearing Exoskeletons. These Veteran Monolithians are also equipped with powerful silenced [[9x39mm]] SA Avalanche assault rifles, and carry armor-piercing [[9x39mm SP-6]] rounds which they will begin loading if a firefight drags on for long enough. They carry .45 [[Kora-919]] pistols as sidearms.
  +
  +
These heavily armed and armored Veteran Monolithians are dispatched on raids into the Army Warehouse area, and support the standard Experienced Monolith forces guarding Limansk and the Limansk Hospital. The Monolith contingent guarding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant itself is comprised exclusively of Veterans.
  +
  +
===Call of Pripyat===
  +
====Rookie====
  +
The less common type of Monolithians, they rely on a classic Monolith Suit and use low-grade weaponry such as [[AKM-74/2U]]s. They are very weak (but stronger than Loner rookies), and are much easier to defeat than higher-ranked Monolithians.
  +
====Experienced====
  +
A very common type of Monolithian. They wear either Monolith Suits or Scientific Monolith suits and have access to more assault rifles and other weapons, including the [[TRs 301]], the [[Chaser 13]] and the [[AKM-74/2]].
  +
====Veteran====
  +
Semi-common, they equip almost the same gear as Veteran Loners. There are three types of Veterans: the first wears the Scientific Monolith suit and uses the [[SVDm-2]] sniper rifle, the second wears classic Monolith Suits or Radiation suits and uses the [[SGI-5k]] or the [[SA Avalanche]]. They are just as tough as other Veterans as they are able to withstand many shots (including a headshot in rare cases).
  +
====Expert====
  +
The most rare and dangerous of the Monolithians. Most of them use the faction variant of the [[Exoskeleton]] and use uncommon high-grade weaponry - namely the [[GP37]], the [[Tunder S14]], and the [[Eliminator]], and a rarer version uses the classic Monolith suit and the [[Vintar BC]] sniper rifle. Due to their heavy armor and powerful weapons, they are dangerous enemies to deal with.
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  +
* In ''Call of Pripyat'', the Monolith is actually neutral to the Ecologists in the game code. The reason for this is unknown since the Monolithians have no contact with the Scientists' Bunker.
  +
* In early builds of ''Shadow of Chernobyl'', the Monolith was going to be allied with the [[Bandits]] but was changed to [[Mercenary]] at the final production. The reasons why and what effect on the plot that would have had are unknown.
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
  +
Image:believers.jpg|Monolithians as they appear in ''Shadow of Chernobyl''.
Image:Monolith_Firing_Squad.jpg|A group of Monolithians in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky capturing the [[Army Warehouses]]
 
  +
Image:lithpatrol.jpg|Ditto.
Image:Monolith_Scientific_Front.jpg|A Monolithian in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky
 
  +
SHOC Monolith Suits.png|Ditto.
Image:Exo_Monolith_Front.jpg|A Monolithian in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky
 
  +
Image:Dead Monolith Cordon.jpg|The corpse of a Monolith stalker at the [[Cordon]].
Image:Exo_Monolith_Front_1.jpg|A Monolithian in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky
 
Image:Monolith_Guide.jpg|Monolithian in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky
+
Image:Monolith_Guide.jpg|A Monolithian in ''Clear Sky''.
  +
Image:Monolith_Scientific_Front.jpg|A Monolithian wearing the Scientific Monolith suit in ''Clear Sky''.
  +
Image:Exo_Monolith_Front.jpg|A Monolithian wearing a Radiation suit in ''Clear Sky''.
  +
Image:Exo_Monolith_Front_1.jpg|An expert Monolithian wearing an Exoskeleton in ''Clear Sky''.
  +
Prometheus Monolith.png|A pair of Monolith soldiers at prayer in ''Call of Pripyat''.
  +
Monolith sniper.jpg|A Monolith sniper watching over Pripyat in ''Call of Pripyat''.
  +
250x474 1.jpg|Monolith fighter armed with exoskeleton and GP37 in ''Call of Pripyat''.
  +
Strider Monolith SEVA Suit.jpg|[[Strider]], a former Monolith soldier in his Monolith SEVA in ''Call of Pripyat''.
  +
Strider (former Monolith) in CoP.jpg|Strider and his squad in their ending slide in ''Call of Pripyat''.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
  +
==References==
  +
<references />
  +
{{Monolith}}
 
{{Factions}}
 
{{Factions}}
  +
[[uk:Моноліт]] [[ru:Монолит (группировка)]] [[fr:Monolithe]] [[pl:Monolit]]
  +
[[Category:Clear Sky factions]]
  +
[[Category:Shadow of Chernobyl factions]]
  +
[[Category:Call of Pripyat factions]]
 
[[Category:Factions]]
 
[[Category:Factions]]

Revision as of 22:32, 2 May 2020

We thank you, oh Monolith, for revealing the cunning plans of your enemies to us.
May your light shine down on the souls of the brave soldiers who gave their lives in service to your will.
Onward warriors of the Monolith, avenge your fallen brothers, blessed as they are in their eternal union with the Monolith.
Bring death to those who spurned the holy power of the Monolith

― Monolith Preacher

The Monolith is a religious cult, hostile to all but their own, which serves as a major antagonistic group, appearing in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat and appears in a quasi-supporting role in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky.

Overview

This group displays many features of a religious sect. Its members believe in the existence of a complex alien crystal, the Monolith, located somewhere in the center of the Zone. Most stalkers treat Monolith adepts with contempt and consider them as lunatics. From its inception the group strives to block all progress towards the center of the Zone, protecting the Monolith from other stalkers. Rumor has it that the group has a large base deep in the Zone, but its exact location is known only by the members.
Shadow of Chernobyl PDA description

A religious cult that is hostile to all but their own, the Monolithians believe in the power of the Wish Granter, rumored to be an alien artifact hidden in the center of the Zone. Members of this faction devote their lives to protecting the secret of the Great Crystal, ensuring that no one ever reaches the center of the Zone.

A typical Monolithian is a former stalker brainwashed by one of the psychic emitters throughout the Zone (namely the Brain Scorcher) into serving the will of the C-Consciousness, unflinchingly loyal and ready to sacrifice himself at a moment's notice. This extreme loyalty is achieved by creating intense religious fanaticism in the mind of the stalker, directed towards the Monolith.

While physically, they are on par with other stalkers, their religious fervor sets them apart and allows them to ignore wounds and continue to fight, even after they run out of ammo. Stories abound of fanatical Monolith Stalkers, after running out of ammo, ditch their weapons and attempt to kill the enemy with their bare hands, no matter how grievous their wounds[1][2] . This same fervor also prevents others from capturing a Monolith member – if taken into custody, he will commit suicide in any way possible (even by smashing his head against the wall)[3].

XrEngine 2011-07-25 17-25-32-05

Major Degtyarev examining one of the Monolith antenna in the Pripyat Bookstore.

The Monolith can also uplink themselves to the C-Consciousness through something known as a Monolith statue, a radar antenna covered with garbage to form a statue. Monolithians kneel in front of it and enter a trance involving head nodding and swaying, and will ignore almost anything around them, even gunshots. The Monolith Fighter and, rarely, idle Monolith Stalkers can be found in the same trance, but without the use of the Statue, possibly attempting to call upon the Monolith for guidance.

Effects of mind control

Unfortunately, the same mind control that makes them fierce warriors also erodes their humanity. Strider and the Preacher both exhibit a completely flat personality and suffer from a monotone speech impediment, and Strider himself has a poor grasp of language. Other rogue Monolithians under Strider's command have difficulty communicating and tend to speak in halting, jerky sentences (although this is no longer the case once recruited). However the case of Strelok, who fully retained his personality and speech abilities even after being brainwashed by the Monolith might imply that Monolith soldiers do not instantly lose their humanity on the spot, but slowly as the Monolith continues to control them, or that Strelok wasn't brainwashed as completely to better blend into the rest of the stalker population and to be able to use his wits (which the Monolith soldiers seem to lose partially) to better fulfill his assassin role.

It is interesting to note that all Monolith stalkers are immune to the zombifying effects of Psi-Emitters, like the Brain Scorcher, and still retain their combat skills. In addition, in Call of Pripyat, they are immune to emissions, even though they will still get to cover when one occurs.

In Call of Pripyat, Monolith Stalkers gain a new, unknown voice actor. Monolithic speech is revealed to be highly ritualized, referring to each other as "Brother", and relating most situations to the Monolith. Upon sighting an enemy, they remark to their Brothers about the presence of an "enemy of the Monolith", and do much the same upon killing them. Any idle talk revolves around the Monolith and is as disjointed and monotone as English-speaking Monolithians.

History

The Monolith clan was originally a group of stalkers, united by their fascination with the Zone. Fascination turned to obsession and obsession turned to fanaticism; eventually, the stalkers became convinced that there is a massive artifact in the center of the Zone, a Monolith, and declared themselves its protectors, growing increasingly hostile to other stalkers. [4][5]

They disappeared in 2011, just before the beginning of Clear Sky, simply picking up all of their belongings and marching through the Barrier towards the Brain Scorcher, shortly before an emission. No one has heard from them since... or so they thought, as later in 2011, very aggressive stalkers began storming the Barrier.[4][5]

The fact is, they had been "recruited" as the guardians of the C-Consciousness to repel stalkers since they (namely Strelok's Group) have and will find ways to reach the center of the zone. They are vastly superior guards than the Mutants or Zombified Stalkers since they retain most of their humanity, although they are completely under the control of the C-Consciousness and will gratefully give their lives without question.

Organization

SCS Monolith Patch

The Monolith's patch in Clear Sky.

Their rank system and organization are almost completely unknown. What is known is that the Monolith is led by a single leader (Charon in 2012[6]), while combat operations are overseen in the field by Preachers, who snipe from atop buildings while chanting phrases out to inspire their men and demoralize the enemy. Both the leader and Preachers take their orders directly from the C-Consciousness.

The only squad identified by name is Crystal, a unit whose sole task is protecting the Monolith and the Sarcophagus[6].

Cut game data points to two units known as the Left and Right hands of the Monolith, armed with FT-200M rifles and Black Kite pistols. These may have been ranks, honorifics or titles among the Monolithians.

Further cut data shows an individual called the "Komandir", another Monolithian leader, separate from Charon, with his own model and equipped with a Gauss rifle and a Black Kite. Cut Monolith units also include fighters called "Regulars" and "Specnaz", of which there were several equipment variants.

Equipment

Monolithsniper

A Monolith sniper carrying an earlier model of the SVDm-2.

It is suggested in dialogue with Clear Sky members in Limansk that the Monolith faction is extremely well equipped and have large numbers of individuals compared to the other factions, putting them on level footing with the Clear Sky faction. They use equipment developed by C-Consciousness or those acquired from the obliterated Clear Sky faction.

They use self-made armors such as the Monolith suit, the Scientific Monolith suit, along with a variant of the Radiation suit and the Exoskeleton. As evidenced in Shadow of Chernobyl, these armors are superior to the gear used by other stalkers from the Duty, Freedom and the Loners faction.

The Monolith throughout the series makes use of nearly every weapon available. This goes from common weaponry issued to rookies, to uncommon and high-end weaponry including the rare FT-200M that only Mercenaries, Clear Sky, and some Loners have access to. Finally, they produced the deadly Gauss gun and are the only known user (besides the player) of this unique weapon.

It is unknown where Monoliths get their equipment from, although Kirillov suggests they have some agents who deal in smuggling with corrupt Military members.[7]. As seen with the Gauss gun, it can be assumed the faction either has an unknown supplier or utilizes experienced engineers with access to old labs and/or workshops that manufactured it themselves, without anybody else notice it.

Weapons

  • ^a Only in Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat.
  • ^b Shadow of Chernobyl.
  • ^c Only in Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat.
  • ^d Only in Shadow of Chernobyl and Clear Sky
  • ^e Only in Clear Sky

Armor

  • Monolith suit – Heavily modified stalker suit, more resembling a Wind of Freedom suit, usually worn with a Gas mask. Features more armor, more anomaly protection, and more radiation protection than the Sunrise suit. Only available to the player in Shadow of Chernobyl.
  • Scientific Monolith suit – A Monolith suit with a Curtain helmet. It offers higher bullet/splinter protection than the SEVA Suit and the PSZ-9Md Universal Protection suit. Never available to the player without mods.
  • Monolith Exoskeleton – An Exoskeleton painted white with grey and dull green, with urban camouflaged fatigues. The Monolith Exoskeleton is commonly issued to Veteran and Expert members. Not available to the player.
  • Radiation suit – The armor portion of the Exoskeleton, worn without the external mechanical components. Only used in Clear Sky and Call of Pripyat, and not available to the player.

Appearances

Clear Sky

Live Monolith can be first encountered in the Army Warehouses, near a crashed Mi-24 Hind helicopter west of The Barrier. They are well equipped (all use Radsuits and SA Avalanches) and surrounded by a Psi Field which does heavy Psi damage when entered. The Monolith is unaffected by the Psi disruption and can be difficult to take care of due to the lack of cover. Other Monolithians can be found at the Barrier and will regularly launch attacks on the Loners, Dutyers or Freedomers that guard the barrier. It is not possible to engage them at close range, as they are protected by the Brain Scorcher's psychic emissions that will kill the player instantly if they stay too deep in the Barrier for too long.

In the final stages of Clear Sky, the primary opposition is the Monolith faction itself, having repelled all of the other factions attempting to break into the Zone center. They can be found in Limansk, the Limansk Hospital, and the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and serve as the main opposition for the rest of the game. It is here that it's first suggested (chronologically) that Monolith bolsters its numbers through the use of emissions, and later, via the Brain Scorcher. The ending shows the survivors of Clear Sky's raid being brainwashed via television screens, including Strelok and likely Scar as well.

Interestingly, what appears to be the corpses of dead Monolith soldiers can be found in various areas such as the Swamps and the Cordon.

Monolith forces in Clear Sky are comprised mostly of Veterans wearing Radiation suits and wielding SA Avalanche rifles and Kora-919 pistols as sidearms, backed up by Experienced soldiers wearing Monolith suits and wielding more conventional rifles loaded with armor-piercing ammo. The Radsuit-wearing Veterans are second only to Military Stalkers in terms of durability, while appearing in much greater numbers.

Locations

In Clear Sky, the Monolith faction has only three territories under its control; the Chernobyl NPP itself, the northern portion of Limansk, and most of the abandoned hospital where you progress to after Limansk. They become the main opposition to the player during the final portion of the game, but are relatively rare outside of these areas, appearing only in small groups in such areas as the Army Warehouses.

Shadow of Chernobyl

By 2012, the Monolith faction is considered to be the most powerful faction in the Zone by far, easily as numerous as the armies of Duty and Freedom, with advanced technology that not even the Military possesses. Their army is large enough to be military theater-sized as they regularly launch raids from the center of the Zone, attacking the Freedom Barrier with forces consisting of occasionally 20 men, a relatively expensive strategy in the sparsely populated Zone. Their grip has extended from beyond the NPP, and they have established a headquarters in Pripyat, led by a figurehead known as Charon.

Prayer

A pair of Monolith Masters at prayer.

In all likelihood, the vast majority of the Monolith faction's troops are in fact former Clear Sky members, as well as Duty, Freedom, Military, and Loners who supposedly lost their lives in the Second and Third emissions.

Locations

Monolith appears first in the Army Warehouses area, where a platoon-sized force of Monolithians launches an attack upon the Freedom barricade. Afterward, they take the role of the primary opposition once again, often deploying en masse to block Strelok from making any further progress. By this time they've established numerous checkpoints within the Red Forest and garrison the Brain Scorcher, having established a strong, well-fortified position within Pripyat. Elite units regularly patrol the city, and at the same time still, more Monolithians protect Chernobyl NPP itself, along with the Sarcophagus.

Call of Pripyat

By 3 months after the Brain Scorcher was disabled, the Monolith is slowly losing power – most of Monolith's outlying forces have either been destroyed or gained freedom from the influence of C-Consciousness. One such squad, led by Strider, can be encountered by the player, and recruited into one of the other factions – supposedly a first in the history of the Zone. However, the remaining fanatics are still enough of a threat to decimate the survivors of Operation Fairway.

Live Monolithians can be encountered in Yanov as part of Strider's group. These are neutral to the player and Strider offers a quest that requires them to speak to either Shulga or Loki to have the survivors recruited into either Duty and Freedom, respectively.

They first make their appearance as enemies inside the Pripyat Underground, where they launch an ambush on the player and his companions before they can make a break for the surface. This is the first appearance of snipers in the entirety of the game, taking advantage of numerous vantage points to snipe the player as they attempt to activate back-up power to the underground. They ambush the player twice: once when turning back the power on, and snipers appear when the player unlocks the door.

Once the player arrives in Pripyat, it's revealed that Monolith itself is slowly losing power, but is still a potent enough threat to have decimated the survivors of Operation Fairway. Of particular interest is a special weapon sighted in their possession, which Colonel Kovalsky sends a special ops team to confiscate. This mission is the first sighting of the Monolith Preachers, who make use of the rare and devastating Gauss Rifle. With the Preacher dead, the player then takes part in another mission, destroying one of the Monolith outposts in a bookstore – gunning them down while they pray. Later, the player must wipe out their forces in the Yubileiny Service Center in order to gain access to Lab X-8. It becomes apparent that, while some of them maintain a connection to the Monolith (namely the Preacher and Monolith Fighter), the majority of them have lost this link and are left at the Preachers' command.

Afterward, the player is relatively free to explore Pripyat, though Monolith maintains at least two strongholds - the Prometheus Cinema and the River Port.

They serve as the main opposition during the finale, where at least two more Preachers make their appearance, trying to prevent the survivors of Operation Fairway from evacuating.

Locations

Unlike Shadow of Chernobyl, Monolith no longers patrols the city, which is now controlled by Loners, mutants, and Mercenaries. They initially control the Hospital, the Book Store and the Yubileiny Service Center, though all three locations are later wiped out by the player. Afterward, they only respawn in small numbers (between 5 and 15) at the River Port and the Prometheus Theater.

Notable members

Ranks

Shadow of Chernobyl

Experienced

Experienced Monolith soldiers are the faction's most basic troops. They wear Monolith suits with either a black balaclava or a brown hood, and carry an assortment of both NATO and Warsaw Pact basic assault rifles, as well as the Walker P9m as a sidearm. Their Monolith suits give them durability on par with Stalkers wearing other light Tier 2 armors, such as the Sunrise suit and its various faction-based derivatives. Like all Monolith troops, they carry armor-piercing ammunition, which they will begin to load into their rifles if a firefight lasts for long enough. They are primarily encountered guarding the Red Forest and the Brain Scorcher, as well as occasionally appearing throughout Pripyat.

Experienced (Rocket Soldier)

A handful of Experienced Monolith soldiers are dedicated rocket launcher troops. They wear black balaclavas in addition to their Monolith suits. One is encountered midway through the Red Forest, and a handful are positioned in elevated positions in Pripyat as well as the roof of the Chernobyl NPP. They are extremely dangerous, with a direct RPG hit capable of killing the player in one hit regardless of armor, and even an indirect splash damage hit can significantly injure the player and seriously damage their armor's durability.

Sniper

Dedicated Monolith snipers are either of Experienced or Veteran rank, and wear Monolith suits with either a black balaclava or a brown hood. They wield either the SVDm-2 or SVUmk-2 sniper rifle. Several appear around the Red Forest and the Brain Scorcher surface installation. In Pripyat and the Chernobyl NPP itself, their role is fulfilled by the more dangerous Gauss snipers.

Veteran

Monolith Veterans are mostly identical to their Experienced counterparts in terms of appearance and equipment, other than possessing somewhat more skill and experience. Many wear the same black balaclavas or brown hoods worn by the Experienced soldiers, though some wear gas masks instead. In Pripyat, most Veterans either wear gas masks or Scientific Monolith suits; unlike most SEVA suit derivatives, the Scientific Monolith suits don't provide their wearer with additional firearms protection compared to more standard Stalker armor. They appear mixed in with the more numerous Experienced troops in Red Forest, and appear more commonly in Pripyat. One or two Monolith Veterans in the Monolith headquarters in the Pripyat Palace of Culture carry Chaser 13 shotguns.

Veteran (Chernobyl NPP Guard)

The Monolith Veterans guarding the exterior and interior of the Chernobyl NPP, as well as the Monolith Control Center, are considerably better equipped than their counterparts elsewhere in the Zone. They all wear gas masks and wield advanced weaponry, particularly favoring the Tunder S14 and GP 37, and occasionally wielding the SA Avalanche. A couple in the Monolith Control Center are even equipped with advanced FT-200M assault rifles. All carry UDP Compact pistols as a sidearm, as well as spare magazines loaded with armor-piercing ammo. The Monolith Veterans around the exterior of the Chernobyl NPP as well as on the NPP's rooftops are exclusively equipped with SGI-5k assault rifles, and noticeably do not carry sidearms.

Expert

Monolith's most experienced and deadliest soldiers are equipped exclusively with heavily armored Exoskeletons, and wield advanced weaponry, particularly favoring the GP 37, with those encountered in Pripyat also carrying the TRs 301 or SA Avalanche, while those guarding the interior of the Chernobyl NPP wield all of the above as well as the Tunder S14 and the SPSA-14 shotgun. The ones in the area of the Brain Scorcher carry Walker P9m pistols as sidearms, while those around the Chernobyl NPP area favor the UDP Compact instead. A single one of them can be found in the Red Forest, several will attack Lab X-19 after the player shuts off the Brain Scorcher, and a large number of them can be found defending Pripyat as well as the interior and rooftops of the Chernobyl NPP. Due to Monolith's vast resources, they are able to field Exoskeleton soldiers in far greater numbers than any of the other factions, particularly defending the Chernobyl NPP itself.

Gauss Sniper

Monolith snipers wielding their faction-exclusive Gauss rifle are found throughout Pripyat, the interior of the Chernobyl NPP, and the rooftops of the NPP. The ones encountered in Pripyat and the NPP rooftops are of Veteran ranking, while those encountered in the interior of the Chernobyl NPP (including the Monolith Control Center) are of Expert ranking. Gauss snipers in Pripyat and the Chernobyl NPP interior wear Scientific Monolith suits, while the ones on the Chernobyl NPP rooftops wear the standard Monolith suit with a black balaclava. The Gauss rifle is very powerful and deals heavy damage even against Military Stalker armor or Exoskeletons, but fortunately these snipers have only average aim and have a very long recharge time between shots.

Clear Sky

Experienced

Experienced Monolith troops wear their faction's distinct green-and-white suit, worn with a white gas mask, giving them resistance to firearms on par with other standard Stalkers. They wield an assortment of both NATO and Warsaw Pact weaponry, primarily carrying the AKM-74/2, AC-96/2, or TRs 301 assault rifles. Some experienced Monolith troops wield the powerful SGI-5k assault rifle. All Monolith troops carry armor-piercing ammo in their inventory, which they will begin loading into their rifles if a firefight drags on for long enough. Most carry the 9mmx18 Fora-12 pistol as their sidearm, though the ones wielding SGI-5k rifles carrying 9mmx19 Walker P9m pistols instead.

They are primarily encountered in Limansk and the Limansk Hospital.

Veteran

Monolith's Veteran shocktroopers are equipped with heavily armored Radiation suits (Exoskeleton armor without the mechanical Exoskeleton frame), which are unique to the Monolith faction at the time of Clear Sky. These suits are not as heavily armored as a full Exoskeleton, but still provide vastly superior protection to any other armor except for the "Bulat" Skat-9 military armoured suit worn by Military Stalkers (and some Duty members wearing the repainted version renamed PSZ-9d). Their heavy armor allows Monolith Veterans to withstand 3 to 4 times as much firearms damage as most other Stalkers (including being able to survive headshots from non-armor piercing rounds), while still being fielded in significantly large numbers, unlike Military Stalkers, "Bulat" Duty members, or Stalkers wearing Exoskeletons. These Veteran Monolithians are also equipped with powerful silenced 9x39mm SA Avalanche assault rifles, and carry armor-piercing 9x39mm SP-6 rounds which they will begin loading if a firefight drags on for long enough. They carry .45 Kora-919 pistols as sidearms.

These heavily armed and armored Veteran Monolithians are dispatched on raids into the Army Warehouse area, and support the standard Experienced Monolith forces guarding Limansk and the Limansk Hospital. The Monolith contingent guarding the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant itself is comprised exclusively of Veterans.

Call of Pripyat

Rookie

The less common type of Monolithians, they rely on a classic Monolith Suit and use low-grade weaponry such as AKM-74/2Us. They are very weak (but stronger than Loner rookies), and are much easier to defeat than higher-ranked Monolithians.

Experienced

A very common type of Monolithian. They wear either Monolith Suits or Scientific Monolith suits and have access to more assault rifles and other weapons, including the TRs 301, the Chaser 13 and the AKM-74/2.

Veteran

Semi-common, they equip almost the same gear as Veteran Loners. There are three types of Veterans: the first wears the Scientific Monolith suit and uses the SVDm-2 sniper rifle, the second wears classic Monolith Suits or Radiation suits and uses the SGI-5k or the SA Avalanche. They are just as tough as other Veterans as they are able to withstand many shots (including a headshot in rare cases).

Expert

The most rare and dangerous of the Monolithians. Most of them use the faction variant of the Exoskeleton and use uncommon high-grade weaponry - namely the GP37, the Tunder S14, and the Eliminator, and a rarer version uses the classic Monolith suit and the Vintar BC sniper rifle. Due to their heavy armor and powerful weapons, they are dangerous enemies to deal with.

Trivia

  • In Call of Pripyat, the Monolith is actually neutral to the Ecologists in the game code. The reason for this is unknown since the Monolithians have no contact with the Scientists' Bunker.
  • In early builds of Shadow of Chernobyl, the Monolith was going to be allied with the Bandits but was changed to Mercenary at the final production. The reasons why and what effect on the plot that would have had are unknown.

Gallery

References

  1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, st_dialog_manager, string id: dm_about_149, This place is enchanted with some really shitty magic, buddy. All we do is go 'round in circles looking for our missing friends, but so far we ain't found nothing but monsters. If you get to higher ground you can sometimes hear fragments of their radio comms, but it's impossible to make any sense of them. And that ain't the half of it! How do you explain the appearance of Monolithians from beyond the Barrier? I saw one of them once. He was wounded, his eyes were glazed over and he was mumbling the same words over and over: "Defend the Monolith!" I don't think he could feel pain, 'cause he wouldn't stop trying to grab my buddy's throat until we emptied a few clips into him. What do they want? What made them come back after the emission? I ain't got nothing but questions, friend...
  2. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, st_dialog_manager.xml, string id: dm_cool_info_40, After the Monolithians started flooding back from beyond the Barrier we had the idea to catch one alive and find out how to get through the Scorcher and into the center of the Zone. Man, it took a lot of lives and even more ammo, but we did it. This guy took half a clip right in the chest but he was still pretty lively: grunting, struggling and trying to grab at our leader. We asked him nice and we asked him rough but he didn't tell us shit, just kept screaming "Defend the Monolith" over and over... I figure something must have happened to them on the other side. So we didn't really find out how to get past the Scorcher, but then again if they're coming from beyond the Barrier there must be a way, right? What do you think?
  3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, Col. Kovalsky: "It's useless. First of all, they fight to the death. Our boys managed to get one alive when he was stunned by a grenade, but it didn't help much. We took our eyes off him for a second and he banged his head against the wall so hard that his skull cracked open like an egg."
  4. 4.0 4.1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, st_dialogs_agroprom, stirng id: agr_duty_barman_around_1, Buzz? Well, a whole faction has gone missing. And it's not like they were taken out by people or wiped out by monsters. They just vanished, warts and all. These guys were weird too, with a real hard-on for the Zone. They believed that the Zone was alive, and in its center was a Monolith - a Wish Granter. So they declared themselves the protectors of this Monolith. And then one fine day their whole faction just got up and took off for the center. Yep, right to the Wish Granter. They headed for the Scorcher, crossed the Barrier, and noone has seen them since.
  5. 5.0 5.1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, st_dialog_manager, string id dm_cool_info_25, I heard a whole faction went missing in the Zone. You ever heard of Monolith? Well, they used to protect the Zone from others, but they made a move towards the center right before the emission. Nobody has heard from them since, but recently some real aggressive stalkers have been attacking from where the Scorcher is, killing everyone and asking no questions. I know because I saw them myself around the military warehouses, and I reckon they might be those same Monolithians who disappeared. It wouldn't surprise me, because their uniforms looked real similar.
  6. 6.0 6.1 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, stable_bio_name.xml
  7. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, Lt. Kirillov: "Yeah, we broke into a Monolith warehouse the other day and it was full of ammo for every type of weapon you get in the Zone. I wonder how they get so much weaponry in here. I'm guessing one of the perimeter guards must be selling it to them..."