Human Activity

Despite its hostile nature, some groups of people have managed to exploit the international and therefore lawless space of Ryl Madol’s exclusion zone by setting up bases on the outermost islets, on which the toxic lichen is either rare or completely absent.

Outlaws

Ryl Madol’s islets have become a node in global criminal networks thanks to the above reasons. These include pirates, drug-smugglers and human traffickers. Due to the remoteness of the island, it is however not as popular for such activity as one would expect. The outlaws are largely uninterested in the main island and try to keep to themselves and their business with the outside world, but can still become a threat to unarmed scientists and others.

Stalkers and Poachers

“Stalker” is the name given to people who don a gasmask and venture into the island in search of artefacts and anomalies among the ruins, with the intention of trading these on the black market. Some stalkers are more like poachers in that they are more interested in the island’s native life and its alleged medicinal properties. Unsurprisingly, many stalkers do not make it out of the island alive and those that do can sometimes suffer from lifelong health problems. Nonetheless, the money made through the selling of Rylian black market goods is enough to make it worth for some.

Scientists

Various nations have sent research teams, usually armed ones, to Ryl Madol, both out of scientific interest as well as political ones. When not exploring the island, they usually camp on boats and other vessels out at sea, a form of protection protection both from wild creatures as well as outlaws.