Scrappers

A Scrapper is a somewhat uncommon profession for Dwellers of The Divided City. The outskirts of the city are filled with endless mountains of scrap, from basic construction materials to complete technological gadgets. It's the job of a Scrapper to travel into those outskirts, colloquially known as The Scraps, and retrieve any useful items to sell or trade for other goods and services, or to keep for themselves.

Scrappers work closely with Collectors, and members of the Collector's Guild will often have a number of Scrappers working under them. A Scrapper who retrieves something of value usually returns it to their Collector employer for a finder's fee, and it is sold or traded on from there.

Tools & Skills

Scrappers rely on a few common tools: energy scanners to detect useful items, others to search for specific materials or warn of oncoming dust storms, and specialised armour and helmets to protect against the hazards of The Scraps. Most also keep a personal vehicle, commonly a motorcycle with a sidecar for hauling back what they find. Beyond scavenging, many are knowledgeable about technology and machinery and able to maintain their own equipment.

Dangers

The unstable terrain of The Scraps is a risk in itself: piles of scrap can collapse without warning, and a Scrapper caught beneath one can be killed or trapped. A damaged mask means exposure to the toxic air, and sickness or death with it. Dust storms are a constant danger, and the closer one ventures to The Shroud, the worse things become — there are many reports of Scrappers losing limbs, going mad, or disappearing through it, never to be seen again. Many Scrappers also speak of creatures out in the wastes — Scrap Dragons, Marauders, and others — that are said to be only myths and fairy tales.

Reputation

The work pays inconsistently — a Scrapper might return from several expeditions with nothing of value, then earn well from a single find. Due to their association with the Collector's Guild, Scrappers aren't often seen as very popular amongst the general public, and to many the profession is seen as a joke. Despite this, the role is genuinely important: by retrieving discarded High Riser technology from The Scraps and trading it for bits, Scrappers help keep technology in circulation amongst Dweller society.