THE FACTIONS

Bio-Tech - A research group, related to the government research groups from before The Great War. Made up of a group of scientists who found left behind research data and tools, the faction works to redevelop the wasteland of the U.S. and help wildlife such as trees and crops to grow, as well as reducing the mutations in existing animals. A small number of it’s members thought that the group was working towards futile goals and believed that working towards weapon-style viruses would be a surefire method of protecting themselves against the harsh lifestyle, and inhabitants of the U.S.. The group, consisting of 8 members left the Bio-Tech facility and set up their own lab in an unknown location to the west of Rivet City. The team works to create varied viruses, using the FEV as their base. Most viruses are unfinished, as the base is in poor condition and needs repairing, this means that there are no safe places to test their viruses. There is also the issue of a lack of testable subjects.

LoF - A chinese regiment of soldiers dispersed to the U.S continent in hopes of finding improved technology and weaponry. They discover that the U.s vaults are far more advanced than their own, and discover a vile of FEV. After witnessing what he vile does to a specimen they began to seek new sources and discovered the rogue Bio-Tech group. The chinese promised to provide the group with repairs, money and protection as well as bringing them test subjects as long as the LoF was provided with a supply of the finished virus towards the end. During the creation of the virus, the LoF agents began to tweak the virus without alerting the group, in hopes of creating a far more powerful virus that they could use to eventually, wipeout life on the U.S continent and recolonise it.

The Brotherhood of Steel (BoS): A group said to be related to the old United States military, the BoS are known to seek out ancient lost technology and seal it away to “protect” the wasteland from it. Most, however, believe the BoS simply like to collect technology for self gain, and there’s some evidence to support this. Often having little thought for the wasteland around them, the Brotherhood of Steel simply goes in, finds tech, and leaves.

The DC Brotherhood of Steel, however, is much different. Elder Lyons “went native” as they say, and works to bring peace and prosperity to the DC area. He is set on eliminating the super mutant threat, helping distribute the clean water from Project Purity, and protecting the citizens of the wastelands. His daughter, Sarah Lyons, helps her father to keep things going, as part of their elite Special Forces group, the Lyon’s Pride.

The Enclave: After their main base was destroyed, and Raven Rock was reduced to ash and rubble, there weren’t too many Enclave members left in DC. The handful of survivors that were in the surrounding outposts scattered about the Capitol Wastes found their way into the DC ruins, taking over the National Guard Depot, and converting it into a makeshift base of operations. While their numbers may be small, and their new base not even a shadow of what it was before, they are still very dangerous because of their superior technology and incredible training. The Enclave are still not to be underestimated, even if their power over the Capitol Wastes has been drastically reduced.

Shadow of the Apocalypse (SoA):

A small number of people from BioTech Industries thought that the group was working towards futile goals and believed that working towards weapon-style viruses would be a surefire method of protecting themselves against the harsh lifestyle, and inhabitants of the U.S.. The group, consisting of 8 members left the Bio-Tech facility and set up their own lab in an unknown location to the west of Rivet City. The team works to create varied viruses, using the FEV as their base. Most viruses are unfinished, as the base is in poor condition and needs repairing, this means that there are no safe places to test their viruses. There is also the issue of a lack of testable subjects.

Almost nothing is known about this group, and few even know they exist. They are a hidden danger, lurking in the shadows. But they are soon to reveal themselves….

The Regulators: A group of do-gooders, trying to make the wasteland a better place. They kill people who’ve done an extraordinary amount of evil--as well as try to keep the raider and bandit population to a minimum. A very secretive group, it’s said you’d never know you were talking to a regulator unless they were out to kill you--and then knowing wouldn’t help you. Rumor has it, they chop off the fingers of those they kill as proof of the deed….

Talon Company: A group of heartless mercenaries that operate in and around the DC area. There’s no job they won’t take, nothing they are unwilling to do for money. It’s been said they’ve even killed children, if it meant getting a job done. Recently they’ve begun building up their forces in the DC ruins, but nobody really knows why. The BoS has reported several clashes with them in the past months--and they’ve even been known to attack the odd Enclave remnant or two.

Riley’s Rangers: A band of mercs trying to map out the DC ruins. Nobody knows who their buyer is, but they are apparently getting payed good money to do it. Recently they’ve begun to look into the influx of super mutants in the DC area. They have been known to clash with Talon Company on several occasions.

Super Mutants: The familiar Super Mutants, and nobody is entirely sure where they come from. The Enclave might know, but those left aren’t talking. Of course, we all know what these guys are. Big, hulking beasts that have been known to kidnap some people, dragging them off to who knows where...that’s if they don’t outright kill you.

Slavers: Hailing from Paradise Falls, the slavers are...well, slavers. They specialize in human trafficking, using high tech explosive collars to keep people from escaping. The last thing you want to be is caught up by the slavers. They aren’t really the kind sort, treating slaves like dogs.

The Family Still residing in the Merisettie Train station, The Family are no longer a threat to the outlying shantytown of Arefu, thanks to the Lone Wanderer who helped them collect enough blood packs to survive without having to rely on killing humans. They still have a truce with Arefu where they provide protection to the settlement in exchange for more bloodpacks...rumor has it, the Family has slowly been finding other people just like them. Vance still leads the Family, helping new members to keep their cravings under control.

LittleHorn and Associates: Whispers of this underground group abound...supposedly they try to assassinate anyone who attempts to provide too much help to the wasteland...anyone who becomes too “good.” There are some who say they hire Talon Company to kill certain targets of interest. Other rumors would say they have their own operatives throughout the wasteland, much like the regulators. Whatever the case may be, very little is known about this group of evil assassins. Their leader usually asks for the ear of the victim in question as proof that the contract was fulfilled. What is done with these ears? Nobody knows….

The Lost Ones Known as “The Lost” throughout the Capitol area, this group of raiders sprang up a few months after the Enclave’s destruction. They are a cutthroat, nasty group of raiders--even worse than your average bandits. They don’t just like raping, killing, and pillaging. They make an art out of it. You can often see their kills in the wasteland, and know it when you see it, because it will be the most over the top or unique way possible. If they don’t murder someone in an outrageous way, they display the bodies in such a way as to leave lasting memories (and probably nightmares) to those who find the corpses. To make doubly sure people know it was THEM who performed the deed, they often paint their insignia in the victim’s own blood, a circle with the words “Lost Ones,” somewhere nearby.

Canterbury Caravans Ernest Roe has been busy the last couple of years. He unified the trading caravans that were wandering around, creating Canterbury Caravans! The head of the caravan group, he’s responsible for chartering the caravan routes and making deals with new settlements. It’s because of Ernest Roe that the town of Canterbury Commons has expanded to be a trading hub for the DC area, and now boasts a population comparable to Megaton! Because of this, Canterbury now has makeshift city walls constructed from wood beams and standbags, and a fairly sizeable security force lead by Machete (Dominic D’Ellasadro died during a raider attack just a few months before.)

Locations

Fernvale - A rough 3 days walk from Rivet City, the town of Fernvale has been built as a circle around large man made dam. The damn helps to filter the water and make it safe to drink, and to use for irrigating crops. The town has a population of 500-600 people. Many of the families live on large areas of land where they graze cattle and some grow crops. The centre area of the tow holds the shops, and bars while the outer areas are homes and farms. The furthest out building is the dam control tower, where the dams filtration system and power generators are housed. The dam generates decent power for the town, allowing some streetlights to be placed around the town and for the residents to use electrical cooking appliances.
Fernvale has become a trading hub as well, with many towns including RIvet City trading items and services for fresh food and water.

Stonefields - Stonefields is a large city build with stone and marble found in a pre-war mineshaft. The mine has since been restored and now supplies the town with precious metals, gems and the materials needed to continue building up the city. The city sits in the city of a large flatland the earth being the same hard red earth as the rest of the continent.
Stonefield is surrounded by large, grey brick walls with a large gate on the east side. The city itself is full of tall buildings built from white marble,where cracks are often repaired by pouring molten gold into the gaps and allowing it to set. Though the city is large and wealthy, it’s people are sick and starving, many dying from dehydration and illness. The Mayor of the town is an old woman known simply as, Mrs. M. Her home is the central building of the town, built atop a large mountain and is stocked with fresh food and water, as well as a variety of medicines.

The city people pray that their city gate will one day be unlocked, but understand that Mrs. M keeps them shut. For the city’s safety of course…

The Rockeries - Built from an abandoned mine, The Rockers are a labyrinth of blackstone which is inhabited by a number of drug addicts. The addicts find themselves in the tunnels looking for a fix of something stronger and seem to love living in the dark, damp tunnels. Some have set up small camps in larger portions of the tunnels, but others simply roam the darkness until they die of some cause, or until they find their next hit.
There is no source of light in the tunnels, apart from some faint lamps in the small camp areas. Tunnels are miles long with no light, and no sense of direction. Many tunnels have pitfalls leading to the underground spring, and often travellers or addicts will drown in the water.

Very little food and drinkable water is found in the tunnels, some addicts may trade food for their preferred drug but many have traded all their belongings already. It’s rare, but some of the inhabitants of these miserable tunnels carry valuable items for trade, and can be persuaded in a number of ways to give them up. No one is quite sure how the people living in these tunnels haven’t resorted to extreme acts of violence and paranoia, it would seem that the drugs help keep them in a state of mind that enables them to survive in the maddening maze and darkness. Would regular travellers be able to survive as the tunnel’s inhabitants do, or would their minds eventually snap?