[hider=Church of the Children of Atom]
Name: Church of the Children of Atom

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Territory (picture or description) and Geography: The Children of Atom can be found across the East Coast from the Capital Wasteland to Atom's holy island, although they do not govern most of this territory.

History (if using a pre-existing faction, recent history will due):  The Children of Atom originated as a small cult worshiping an unexploded atomic bomb in the Capital Wasteland, in a town that would become known as Megaton.  In early 2277, Confessor Cromwell, having supposedly sensed an encroaching darkness, took some of his flock northward, preaching and gathering new converts along the way- a move that would be later vindicated when cultists of Ug-Qualtoth sacked Megaton.  From Washington DC to Boston, the church grew as more men and women came to accept Atom.

Meanwhile, one group of faithful, led by Confessor Martin and purportedly guided by a vision, came to an island in Maine that was inundated with radioactive fog.  Declaring the island to be Atom's holy land, Martin and his faithful were given a home in an old Submarine base by a rogue Synth.  Things became strained between those living on the island and Martin eventually left, succeeded by the fanatical High Confessor Tektus.  Tensions grew between the Children of Atom, the Synths, and the locals of Far Harbor, but before they could boil over, Tektus took the submarine and departed from the island.  Accompanied by his well-equipped zealots, he put out a call for a crusade against the worshipers of darkness that had desecrated Megaton, and Atom's faithful flocked to him, marching southward towards Washington DC.

In Washington DC, Tektus scoured the wasteland of Ug-Qualtoth cultists through Atom's holy light, retook Megaton from the cultists still desecrating it with their presence, and seized Fort Constantine, intent on using its nuclear arsenal to spread holy Division to the unbelievers.  Facing an impending war, Cromwell reluctantly took up the mantle of Atom's Pontiff and ordered Tektus to stand down, to concentrate on guarding against the Cult rather than seeking further revenge upon them.

United under Cromwell, the crusade ended, and Atom's holy Inquisition was formed to combat the influence of the believers of Ug-Qualtoth.  Megaton has once again begun trading and distributing copies of the Wasteland Survivor's Guide, and the tensions on Atom's holy island have lessened.  Missionaries have been sent west in search of both more men and women to convert and to seek out more of Atom's holy sites, but few have returned.

Population: Approximately 51,000 believers

Government/Domestic Politics: The leader of the Church is Pontiff Cromwell.  Inquisitor Tektus heads the Zealots and Inquisition, with Grand Zealot Richter as his right hand man.  Below them are the Confessors who preside over the communities of faithful across the East Coast.

Notable People: The three most important figures in the Church of the Children of Atom are Pontiff Cromwell- the leader of the Church, Inquisitor Tektus- the head of the militant arm of the Church, and Grand Zealot Richter, a former Enclave Lieutenant and commander of the Church's military forces.

Military: During the crusade, Tektus commanded a small group of elite, well-equipped Zealots, along with a large group of poorly equipped volunteer fighters carrying Gamma Guns.  While the crusade has been called off, Tektus remains in command of 2000 Zealots, equipped with Radium Rifles, Nuka-grenades, rusted pre-war Marine and combat armors, and even a few T-51 power armor suits, mostly looted from pre-war military installations and Atom's island.  The Church also maintains 500 Inquisitors who guard against subversion and heresy.

While they are few in number, Atom's warriors are not to be underestimated- Atom's blessing protects them from radiation, and they are one of the few groups in the wasteland willing and able to detonate nuclear weapons, with no regard for their own safety.

Economy: While most of Atom's faithful are self-sufficient farmers or hunters, the faith maintains its small military arm primarily through scavenging of pre-war military installations and trade in and around Megaton and Far Harbor.

Culture and Technology: The culture of the Church is centered around its faith, and the duty that Atom requires of them.  Technology-wise, the church is adept at repurposing pre-war technology, in particular atomic tech, as evidenced by the radiation-inflicting weapons that they rely upon, and in their successful weaponization of Nuka-Cola Quantum.  In addition, they maintain a pre-war nuclear submarine as well as a single Vertibird, plucked from the Glowing Sea and restored to working order.

Religion: The Church of the Children of Atom is dedicated to the worship of Atom.  Central to this belief is that every atom is a universe in itself, and when it is split, two universes are created from one.  Areas inundated with radiation are holy sites, and Atom's holy island, where the Mother of the Fog resides, is especially sacred.
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