Name: The New California Republic (NCR)

Flag:



Territory (picture or description) and Geography:

California and Western Nevada as States, Western Oregon and Baja as Territories (Military governed zones).

Population: 1,000,000

Government/Domestic Politics: Liberal Democratic Federation with a Unicameral legislature and a separation of powers divided between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. The head of state and of the government is the President, with the Senate of the New California Republic based in Shady Sands. The model is based on that of the Pre-War united states, a federal system with state legislatures and executives and a national legislature and executive.

Politically, the NCR is divided into multiple parties.

New Republican Party – Led by President Winters. The New Republican Party is the one party closest to the Tandist legacy. Advocating a meritocratic and technocratic base, the New Republican Party supports domestic reform along internalist, ensuring food security through scientific methods as opposed to expansionism. In foreign policy, it enacts a “Good Neighbours, Good fences” platform of genial neutrality, focusing on respect for internal sovereignty rather than expansionism.

Democratic Alliance Party – Led by Senator Moore. The Democratic Alliance Party was Kimball’s party, it is the antithesis of the New Republican Party. It advocates an outward looking platform, securing food and water through seizing viable lands. Expansionist but democratic, suggestions of a coup attempt were roughly shut down during a conference of powerbrokers, its natural allies are the industrial and agricultural barons and the military.

Communalists – A movement headed by a single mutant, the Communalists are led by the Ghoul known as Ted Jones, a Pre-War Socialist who now heads a growing movement calling for the radical reformation of the NCR into a society based on the group not the individual, of government not business, of nation not citizen, of revolution if no reformation.

National Reform Party – A breakaway from the Democratic Alliance Party, the National Reform Party believes in a reform of the NCR. Led by Marcus Wolfe, the National Reform Party has grown to stand for a return to Pre-War America. Anti-Mutant, Anti-Democratic, Anti-Capitalist, the National Reform Party prowls in the wings of NCR politics, waiting for the right moment to strike, to sink its claws into the NCR and reshape it into the image it believes it should be.

The Cabal – A shadowy group of figures that represent the “Invisible hand of the market”. Enclosed in a smoke-filled room with the blinds shut tight, this faction is composed of the leading industrialists and agriculturalists of the NCR. Based out of the Hub, the Cabal believes in ensuring their business is the business of the NCR.

Notable People:

President Winters – A lifelong politician, President Winters was the former senator for Maxson before winning the election following Kimball’s resignation.

General James Hsu – Chief of Staff for the NCR military in the wake of Oliver’s dismissal, Moore’s move to politics and Hanlon’s suicide. Hsu is a political nonentity, but commands the NCR military with an ever more concerned view at the actions within and without the NCR.

Senator Cassandra Moore – Hero of the Highway war, Moore personally led the counterattack and pacification campaign against the 80s. Resigning from the military, Moore was drafted into the Senatorial seat of New Reno and outspoken in her views, was duly elected to the leadership of the Democratic Alliance party.

Ted Jones – Chairman of the Communalist Party, Ted Jones was born in Pre-War california and worked as part of the Los Angeles Commune, protesting the imperialist-capitalist policies of the USA before radicalising. Captured and tortured, Ted Jones escaped execution by a single hour when the bombs fell. Mutated by the radiation, Jones has lived in the Boneyard for centuries and now, has his sights set on forging the NCR into a New Communal Republic.

Marcus Wolfe – A denizen of Vault City, Marcus Wolfe epitomises Vault thinking, society ordered and secured, uniformity without divergence. With the upcoming midterm elections, Wolfe leads the National Reform Party, standing for the Vault City seat, he aims to push his agenda across the NCR, turning a human majority into a human totality by any means necessary.

Military (try to be somewhat realistic):

Army of the New California Republic – 25,000 soldiers. 10,000 of which are split between Baja and Oregon to pacify and uplift the new territories. Unchanged from the Mojave campaign in equipment, reforms have been made, weeding out those unsuitable for service. As a result, the Army is much more professional, but has jettisoned around 15,000 service personnel into the midst of an economic recession and political upheaval.

Air Force of the New California Republic – Consisting of Five Vertibirds and 10 Douglas A-1 Skyraiders. All Skyraiders are currently based in Baja and Oregon to act as force multipliers against tribal uprisings and raider incursions. Plans for expansion have stalled for years, upkeep is sketchy and as such, for the past three years, all Vertibirds have been grounded.

Navy of the New California Republic - A glorified coast guard, the NCR navy consists of a 10 PBRs and 3 Point Class Cutters. Once again, all PBRs are deployed in the territories whilst funding arguments have resulted in 2 of the 3 cutters being waylaid in port pending refurbishment approval.

Economy: Wage based economy backed through fiat currency.

The economy of the NCR is the largest on the American continent. A troika of agriculture, industry and services make up the vast majority of this preponderant economic behemoth.

Culture and Technology (include views towards slavery and mutants): An industrial liberal democratic society, the NCR is founded on principles of anti-slavery and anti-discrimination. A nation espousing the tenets of individual freedom, equality before the law, social cohesion and suchlike. Views range from stone age to atomic age, radios and newspapers and adverts and more influence and shape the NCR much akin to the nation-states of the pre-war age. Reactionary to Radical, Liberal to Conservative, Capitalist to Socialist. All of these and more find themselves welcomed and at home in the melting pot of the NCR.

Technologically the NCR moves between Industrialisation and Post-Industrialisation in its local economies from location to location. Radio and telegram are the main avenues of communication, mass transit provided by electronic railways and buses. It does not achieve the awesome and dreadful heights of the Institute, nor does it fall to the tribalism rife across the globe. It is a nation state in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. It makes its way through the wreckage and ruin, repairing, remaking, rediscovering all that was lost and little by little, learns more and more.

Religion: Secular State. Religious toleration practiced barring unacceptable tenets (Human Sacrifice, Cannibalism, Tax Avoidance etc). A number of religions practiced, but most citizens tend to be irreligious.

History:

The NCR has stood for a hundred years, but never in all its years, not even during the height of the Enclave’s power nor the total-war era of the NCR-Brotherhood war, has it seemed so close to defeat as it stands now.

The events of the Second Battle of the Hoover Dam were, to understate them, a crisis of confidence for the NCR. A national humiliation, dust and blood covered soldiers trudged home escorted by row upon row of gleaming Securitrons. What followed next was a flurry of events, the emergence of story upon story, the confession and suicide of Chief Hanlon, General Oliver disgraced, dishonourably discharged then driven to a drunken death and Kimball forced to resign after a tenuous year of attempting to hold power.

Kimball’s presidency might have ended, but his party remained, its politics remained and even disgraced, they clung deep into the heart of the NCR. Kimball had improved living standards, and a reasonably successful expansion into Baja and then Oregon had secured a reasonable amount of territory for veterans and settlers to take advantage of. All of this however had come at the cost of a budget deficit, uncontrolled military spending and increasing taxes.

Suffice to say, when Kimball finally was forced to resign and new elections were called, the subsequent election led to a New Republican majority. Spending was reined in, the military cut down to size and taxes scaled back. Since then, the NCR has undergone a varied change. The conclusion of the Highway war has led to the revitalisation of the Democratic Alliance as an opposition party, with the Cassandra Moore drafted, that is elected in a special election demanded by petition, as the senator for New Reno and then elected as party leader.

For the majority though, the divide between the haves and have-nots grow clearer and deeper by the year, most startlingly displayed with the “Californian Agricultural Revolution” following the implementation of data secured from Vault 22. Genetically modified properties have led to the eruption of allergies across the NCR among the lower classes, but tellingly not the upper classes, as the newly enriched diets contrast to the poorer meals of the past years. Furthermore, the new crops have resulted in agriculture being less manpower intensive, intensified by a government subsidisation programme to industrialise much of the process.

Worsening this unemployment crisis is the slimming down of the NCR military and the subsequent reduction of the military-industrial complex that supported the bloated military. Even then the civilian industry finds itself increasingly given over to industrialisation, electrification and at some extremes, roboticization. With Baja and Oregon lands already sold off to the highest bidders in a successful short-term attempt to balance the budget, calls now grow for new lands to be found, for increases in state welfare programmes and more.

Name: The Legion (de facto name, de jure name being “The Caesarian Empire”)

Flag (picture or description):


Territory (picture or description) and Geography: The exact territory of the Legion is hard to mark down, however they have major footholds in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico. Smaller ones however are present in Nevada and Oklahoma, along with recent incursions and outposts in Texas, Wyoming, Idaho and Mexico.

History (if using a pre-existing faction, recent history will due. The RP start date is 2290):
Not many know this, but Legate Lanius survived the battle for Hoover Dam. There he was before Vulpes Inculta, wounded but vengeful, just barely having escaped the Courier’s wrath after feigning death. Oh how full of hate he looked even without his facial expression visible and yet… down on his knees, he didn’t look so tall. Vulpes could have saved the man’s life, but as he looked upon the man, and then upon the millions of lives of America he wondered: why?

And so Legate Lanius died alone, inglorious, and by a stab to the back. Lucius - Caesar’s right hand man - would have been next in line. But Vulpes knew that wouldn’t do, oh no. Vulpes made sure to let everyone know of the death of the Legate, and that in his last dying breaths the Frumentarius had been designated his successor. It was proclaimed to all that the battle was a pyrrhic victory in fact, a blow dealt to the unity of the unholy Western Axis and the advance of the invader halted — nevertheless the work of the Legion had just begun.

His show of power went well with the dedicated Legionnaires, but to those who weren’t there to see it in person at the Fort and who had better memories of their tribal past it wasn’t enough. The inevitable rebellion and attack of opportunists was predicted by Vulpes however, who instantly started mobilizing the rallied Legionnaires who didn’t revert to their tribal pasts and sent his troops to march all across the territories the Legion had conquered. He had to act fast, for with more than three quarters of Legion controlled territory facing some sort of assault the Legion now effectively had no supply lines, no means of reinforcement, and were permanently encircled.

A blitzkrieg of sorts had to be undergone, but though the lightning strikes done by Legate Aurelius were masterful they were not fast enough. Vulpes knew it was time for his experience in the Frumentarii to shine, and that it was time for desperate measure. The ghoul locked in one of the Legion’s cages calling himself John Doyle was released. Vulpes gave him the moniker Dolos, and so a new Frumentarius was found. A great campaign of terror was started to clear the path for the Legion’s conquest and it worked very well with the Ghoul that was a former CIA Director at its head. It was a hard fought conflict, and not the entirety of Legion territory could be truly restored. But the state resembled something of its former self, and all looked to Vulpes Inculta for what to do next. He made an announcement: Caesar had ascended to his father Mars in Elysium, while the Legate was there right by his side. Now it was up to Vulpes to lead the Legion to glory and finish Caesar’s vision.

Now he was at a crossroads. He could continue upon the same path set by his predecessors which had worked to a point. Caesar was wise, but Vulpes knew the truth that the man was weak. Legate on the other hand was mighty, but he was a fool. None could see it yet, but Vulpes knew he was better than either man, and he would succeed where those lesser men had failed. He would bring order to America, he would be its salvation.

The reconquered tribes were told that with the West pacified they could now revive memories of their pasts. Orders were given for Legionnaires and Frumentarii to cease harassing the Brotherhood of Steel to the East and the Mormons to the North-West, Emissaries sent to these groups instead to establish relations such that they could be learned from; Scribes and Missionaries were invited to study and preach, and trade commenced. Intellectualism was promoted rather than vilified, and the distinction between a tribe and community was abolished while mandatory service for all able bodied men was replaced with a system of quotas for troops such that tribes might develop, while advanced troops may be levied from more advanced communities previously doing naught but a little trade to deserve the unparalleled safety the Legion offered. People were to make families rather than reproduce by means of systematic rape and there was even something resembling a distinction of personal and state property created.

The mind of Vulpes Inculta was running on overtime, hundreds of schemes and plans devised every day and indeed he did get ahead of himself; just as the Legion entered a recovery phase it once more almost collapsed.

The changes Vulpes had made were too many and too fast, and much of the old Guard of the Legion wasn't happy about it. In quiet and dimly lit tents Lucius met with Gabban who in turn met with Centurions Severus and Antony, while Marcus Licinius Crassus was met with to insure that there would be supplies and structural support for a slowly planned attempt to usurp Vulpes Inculta.

As the Legion had taken back most of its territory it looked North to take vengeance upon the 80s tribe for their raids upon the Legion while it was weak, it was discovered they were busy fighting the NCR. Seeing no real purpose in fighting the remaining dreggs Vulpes found it more prudent to demand tribute of them, which many saw as the last straw.

It was not quite a revolt and not quite a coup, but it certainly was devastating given the warring the Legion had just gone through. However Vulpes had proven himself by the reconquista to the tribes and enough officers that he had worth to hold his own. It was not enough to get a fast victory however, which was desperately needed lest vultures once more descend against the infighting Legion. Thus, a controversial move was made to free that vast majority of current slaves the condition they stand and fight for the Legion. This did make a few officers defect to the rebels, but ultimately it padded the numbers of the loyalists enough such that they could overrun all strongholds of rebellion. While much blood was shed and lost they were routed, most going North to flee the vicious Frumentarius’s wrath. It was not only the warriors that went against Vulpes that were punished of course. The few communities and tribes that joined the rebellion were razed to the ground and its folk taken for slaves, while more than half of Priestesses of Mars had their heads mounted on sticks.

Vulpes made sure that this showed that any kindness he had was not a sign of weakness. He purchased several robobrains from the Mid-Western Brotherhood of Steel such that the captured ringleaders of the foe could suffer in eternal torment for all to see that fate of those who oppose him and that such would never be tolerated.

At last, a sort of peace reigned. The Legion’s manpower was heavily depleted following all this death, and even many of the warmongers such as Aurelius were war-weary. This time was thus used for many internal projects to invest for the future be they for infrastructure, agriculture or industry.

Yet Vulpes was also aware of the fact that the Legion was built on war, and indeed he could not delay his grand vision of an America to which order was brought for too long. Very soon the Legion once more began to expand. They made sure borders remained static in the West, delaying that conflict for later doing likewise not pushing East into the territory of the Brotherhood of Steel. All other directions however, were fair game. One by one tribes were conquered and the prestige and threat of the Legion grew again. Their manpower was replenishing and even approaching the point of surpassing what it was (at least, on paper), and they even started to conquer some proper communities with some degree of technology rather than just tribes.

Still, there would always be those unhappy with the ongoing rule. Many remained loyal to Vulpes during the civil wars because they simple feared the alternative being even worse, and one such man was the Legate at the time — Aurelius of Phoenix. There were many supporters who concurred with him, and so he decided he would make changes in the most direct and bloodless way possible, that rather ironically being by challenging Vulpes Inculta to a duel knowing the Frumentarius would have no choice but to accept if he wanted his reputation to not collapse.

Ripper to gladius, weapons clashed but eventually Vulpes was disarmed and a great slash to his gut forcing him down. Aurelius rested on his laurels however, and as he basked in adoration Vulpes removed a stiletto from his boot and cut the man’s throat before lodging the weapon in his knee to immobilize him. The Frumentarius didn’t kill the man however, and instead called forth medical personnel to stabilize him.

The Legate was too popular and valuable to kill, and thus for his honourable service all of the men loyal to him were put together and told the following: they were to conquer all they came upon in Mexico until they found oil for the glory of the Legion, and they would not return until they were either successful or dead.

With a problem gone, Vulpes turned towards other frontiers of the Legion. He appointed his longtime comrade Alerio as Legate, and though this once more raised eyebrows he was ordered to conquer the region along the I93 around Caliente, culminating in taking the rich settlement itself.

Alerio more than proved himself, crushing any resistance the local tribes offered in short order before creating an artful and rather frightening siege of the settlement, which after some expert word-smithery was taken without a single death on either side.

Using the new definition of a settled community as a tribe in and of itself and with the numbers further padded by using Tributary peoples like the Utah 80s as tribes, the Empire of the Legion could count two hundred tribes to its name. Vulpes sees double that as the threshold for when he can finally be ready to once more strike upon the NCR, and now prepares to announce the same to his people when his under-construction capital of Caesarsgrad Novus. What the future holds for the Legion is uncertain to say the least. The gambit in Mexico may well not pay off with the Petro Chico oil long since sucked out over the more than two centuries since the bombs fell. While much autonomies were provided it may still eventually start feeling overstretched much like the NCR, and if all the neighbours of the Empire band together against them the Legion would collapse in less than a day. But for now Vulpes Inculta continues Caesar’s vision, correcting it where it went wrong and making all he comes upon kneel before the Bull.

Population: Without proper censii at the moment, the population is estimated to be a little above a million. The actual population fluctuates very rapidly with the many wars and conquests the Legion has, but the extreme natalist policy ensures that it has a general trend for rapid growth.

Government/Domestic Politics:
The Caesarian Empire is ruled by an Emperor - the Caesar - Vulpes Inculta. At will he may overturn any choice or event within his domain as his right with none able to contest it. However, he is more than aware he cannot efficiently manage every single thing by himself (though he gives it his best effort) and naturally delegates much of his rule. Over the years following the death of Caesar Vulpes has created a fairly efficient if not fully developed bureaucracy. Tribes and communities (the distinction abolished a few years after the death of Caesar) across the territory of the Empire now have some measure of autonomy, their own chieftains, mayors, and other leaders allowed to rule however they want so long as they meet their quotas of tributes to the Legion, and obey all mandates of the Emperor. Furthermore, he has assigned Princeps to rule over every region in the Legion such that the communities under their rule may coordinate for mutual prosperity and defence. A great amount of domestic affairs are ultimately overseen by the Officiorum ab Famulatus, but much power is also given to people without any proper title, for example the liberated slave Siri. The most pressing question for the Emperor is who will succeed him, for though he has dealt with most fifth columns rather viciously and effectively, it is far from guaranteed a good person will come to rule. Provisionally it is Legate Alerio, followed by Mr. Doyle, followed by Cato Hostilius who will rule should Vulpes Inculta die unexpectedly, but he hopes to eventually groom someone human, and a leader rather than spymaster to continue the great legacy of the Legion.

Notable People:
Flavius Valerius Augustus Maximus Vulpes Inculta Pontificus Constantine Invictus Caesar, more simply known either as the Emperor or Vulpes Inculta - The Desert Fox, Rangers’ bane, Emperor of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, defender of Christians, Warrior of Mars, Protector of Oklahoma and Nevada, and so many more vain titles that their reader will usually have to stop for breath a few times before continuing. In a way he has shown the Legion to be far more meritocratic than the false democracy of the NCR, having risen from simple tribal nobody all the way to Emperor of one of the largest nations in post-war America. He is a well spoken person of many skills. A tactician, a strategist, a logistician, given a radio and opportunity he will micro-manage battles at the scale of even individuals, without his macro-management suffering the slightest amount. He is a speaker to put Emissaries to shame and a fighter to gut whole groups of men without even turning his ripper on, but he can not match either of his predecessors in where they are most proficient. He is conscious of this and so he doesn’t try to simply follow in their footsteps, but rather uses his own proficiencies to carve out his own glory. Though he has issues facing him daily he has nevertheless managed to become a popular Emperor with devout followers from the lowest tribals to the highest officers. Vulpes Inculta is a ruthless leader however, and his many kindnesses compared to his predecessor should not be mistaken for softness; those who have tend to end up with their heads as decorating pointy sticks. His cunning is his greatest trait, only getting better with age (this fact admittedly in part thanks to kidnapped Followers of the Apocalypse ensuring his health remains perfect).

Aurelius of Phoenix - Aurelius was once the Legate of Vulpes Inculta’s new Legion. However, he at some point challenged the man to a duel where Vulpes snatched victory from the jaw of defeat. Despite this treachery Vulpes showed the man mercy, and with all of his followers he is sent to conquer Mexico, told to return with his banner or wrapped in it. With a formidable army, he now marches for the rich oil fields, pipes, and refineries of Petro Chico.

Centurion Maximus Alexus - A valuable centurion, he heads the Oklahoma campaign.

Centurion Maximus Dead Sea - Yet another Centurion, he heads the Colorado-Nebraska Campaign

Cato Hostilius - though formerly a Frumentarius, the bulky man was trusted by Vulpes Inculta and was thus assigned to oversee the Praetorians

Centurion Maximus Otho - A Centurion loyal to Aurelius of Phoenix, he has been assigned as a sort of aide to the man.

Centurion Maximus Lucullus - Centurion in charge of the Idaho-Wyoming incursions, distinguished himself under Legate Alerio in the conquest of Caliente.

Legate Alerio of Caliente - though this brought much frustrations to the Centurions of the Legion, the Frumentarius Alerio has been the Legate of the Legion ever since Aurelius of Phoenix was forced to step down from the role. He has been instrumental in insuring the reforms Vulpes envisioned have gone through, and the conquest of the region around Caliente combined with the short lived siege and bloodless annexation of the place earned him the respect of his skeptics.

John Doyle - Known to most in the Legion outside of its upper leadership as Dolos, he is a ghoul who before the bombs dropped had the rather high up position of being a regional CIA director. Caesar had imprisoned him only a few weeks before the battle for Hoover Dam, his knowledge entertaining and impressing the sickly Emperor, while Lanius frankly was not interested in micro management as low as executing the fellow. Vulpes however saw the full value of the man upon his ascension to power. The fellow was liberated, but under a quite simply condition; he would sew the entire skins of men upon himself to look as a man. Setting a precedent for much more ghouls to join the Legion, Mr. Doyle has been an invaluable asset to Vulpes’s new Legion. He has insured that the Frumentarii are an intelligence agency the likes which none save perhaps the synth program could match. His heinous creativity cannot be understated, most recently one must note his introduction of more mutants into the Frumentarii. This comes in two main forms, one being Nightkin and the other fellow ghouls. Retrieving radioactive materiel from Camp Searchlight and Techatticup Mine, he has a great many vile plans concocting in his head; Mr. Doyle loves his new job, the work echoing to his old scheming and villainy against the Chicoms and their hippy-beatnik comrades.

Lupa - A Frumentarius that sided with Aurelius, he has likewise been exiled to the Mexican campaign to head all other Frumentarii loyal to Aurelius. Of course he is aware many Frumentarii have been imbedded in the army sent South to watch upon him and his master, but he has been able to detect far from all of them.

Centurion Atticus - Assigned to the Nevada theatre, he is there to organize raids and the likes in the territory of Nevada including New Vegas to insure neither the NCR nor their affiliates decide the Legion is weak.

Canyon Runner - The leader of the Speculatores, he is conscious of the fact that while he is a competent man he is most certainly out of his depth in running an organization of the scale and importance he does. Vulpes Inculta and other Legion leaders concurred, and they have been building the infrastructure for integrating different parts of the Speculatores all across different branches of the Legion, with Canyon to be the head of the new Speculatore Legionnaires; he is simply to hold the line until heads for the Speculatores of other Legion branches are groomed.

Karl - Disgraced following his failure in the conversion of the Great Khans to the cause the Legion, things were not looking good for Karl. However Vulpes was far more understanding than any other leader of the Legion, as well as being arguably more pragmatic; thus he gave the fellow a "second chance", and it more than paid off. Doing his best to pay off his life debt to the new Emperor he turned many tribes to the Legion with a soft word here and there and by his work many a bloodless acquisition of territory happened. However, his valuable Frumentarii experience in addition to his oration and experience with tribals lead him to being a sort of overseer of the Tributarii, if not quite its de jure leader. Officially just another Frumentarii, Karl has reserved himself a valuable place in the Legion, many frontier operations to annex or make tributaries of different tribes coordinated by him.

Picus - In spite of his disgrace during the ordeal of Camp McCarran his value was noted by Vulpes Inculta and following some successful suicide missions he was considered redeemed much like Karl. He is somewhat of both a right hand and odd-job man for Vulpes Inculta, some believing the Frumentarius will lead the Frumentarii-Speculatores in the coming second-wave reforms.

Siri - Part of the Great Slave Liberation that Vulpes had once done with the aim of creating reserves of manpower for himself during the rebellions of Legionnaires, Vulpes Inculta singled her out as a practical woman with experience of many of the Legion’s new citizens and warriors, and has been given somewhat of a role as Minister of Science; while it was far too late for her to learn to proper Doctoring she could pave the way for others to do so.

Marcus Scribonius Libo Drusus - Head of the Officiorum ab Famulatus, the position has been changed from one of simply managing the slave trade to one of controlling the entire economy of the Legion including treasury, infrastructure, industry and agriculture. A man of numbers and hard results, he has been responsible for the gradual introduction of computers into the Legion much to the satisfaction of his beloved Emperor.

Goliath - A very, very large supermutant not quite the size of a behemoth carrying a chainsaw as a knife and a minigun as a pistol, it is almost two and a half metres tall. The beast is a bodyguard to Emperor Vulpes Inculta, never speaking a word to anyone save a select few of the Legion’s highest positions; it is unclear if of the intelligent or stupid strain of supermutants to most, and perhaps for his own safety the Emperor makes sure this secret is well guarded — even of the Praetorian and Tributarii Guards only Cato Hostilius speaks to the monstrosity.

Military (Be realistic for your factions population):
The military of the Legion is a rather complex structure, Emperor Vulpes Inculta gradually growing regretful of the overcomplication it has come upon and in more recent reforms is going through changing it. Every single community in the Legion has to make sure that at any time no less than a tenth of its menfolk are serving within the Legion, the finer details being left to individual communities and tribes to decide. There are many options for service of the Legion, the very largest being the Legio Auxilia. Making up slightly more than 40% of the Legion’s frontline forces (usually kept as garrisons rather than spearheads of invasions), auxilia are the formations that a community raises up with its own funds and craft proportional to the community’s capabilities. This can be troops that are little more than tribal warriors with slings and spears, to trained operators carrying combat armour and modern firearms bearing many modifications on their picatinny rails (albeit typically leaning very heavily to the former extreme). Most commonly they will be infantry, but it has not been unknown for communities to make artillery, mounted, or motorized contributions to the Legion. The man managing the auxilia is a Centurion Markus Paleologos.

Marginally less common but far more visible and emblematic of the Legion are proper Legionnaires who make up slightly less than 40% of Legion armed forces. Externally they look rather similar in many ways externally, Vulpes judging their past outfits to be practical while still creating a great deal of morale for the men in it. However, in most of the theaters of war the Legion operates in they have ceased using leather armour, sports equipment, and other improvised armour. Knowing that this equipment is not ballistic and would not stop a bullet the Legion has found no use for this outside of combat with tribes who use more primitive weapons that can actually be stopped by this. Thus, instead all Legionnaires have come to use a reinforced steel helmet based on their old ones and cuirasses created by trained blacksmiths with additional pieces of steel armour to cover face and limbs given to troops either participating in static defence or harsh assaults. While this metal armour shan’t stop a rifle at the range they’re supposed to be used at, it will stop shrapnel and ricochet bullets while maintaining extreme efficacy against primitive, tribal weapons. While obviously not all faced this standardization, the general issue weapon of a Legionnaire are the Remington rolling block for about a third of troops and the Browning Hi-Wall rifle for about a quarter. The rifles will be with bayonet, scopes occasionally making their way forward too. This was a calculated choice, Emperor Vulpes Inculta being interested in modernizing and standardizing the Legion to have a firearm for every man. The .45-70 cartridge was found to be excellent as well as the rifle that spits it for the ease of maintenance and creation of them in great quantity. Their great power makes them excellent for both war and fighting mutant beasts, while the bayonets mean the inheritance of melee prowess all old-model Legionnaires had is not lost. However, it is also important to note that while the organizational reforms have reached all of the Legion, the reforms in equipment have only reached some theatres of war. Most notably, the Mexico front under Aurelius of Phoenix has had this reform only affect about a fifth of the troops, while the Nevada front has maintained more or less the same equipment as during the era of battles for Hoover Dam largely to prevent the NCR and newly independent Vegas from learning of the great many changes to the Legion. New Legionnaires have far more enlisted men than auxilia, conscripts only padding the ranks from communities that did not meet the quota of 10% male military service with auxilia. Legionnaires now have far more leadership positions than in the past with small scale officers being more common to prevent the disaster of the first battle for Hoover Dam from repeating with Prime and Veteran Legionaries now being NCOs rather than simply advanced troops that went forth after the recruits were all cut down. The Legion also inherited motorized and mounted positions from the past, motorcycles and chariots fashioned from cars being the mainstay, most weapons of LMG and heavier class reserved for being mounted upon these vehicles. In recent times Emperor Vulpes has also come to introduce a considerable artillery segment to the Legion. Initially this was merely trebuchets and ballistae to deal with walled communities and for use of garrison defence, they have slowly started to cast civil war era artillery — namely Parrott guns for use in both direct and indirect fire. The current Legate of the Legion is Alerio; though a former Frumentarii his grand plan capability and the fact Vulpes Inculta trusts him unlike the now dishonored Aurelius of Phoenix makes him an ideal choice. Though largely he focuses on proper Legion activity, he is technically the coordinator of all Imperial military activity.



Only about 5% of the Legion’s armed forces (but undoubtedly its most valuable members) are the Frumentarii. Feared by all who have heard of the Legion, Frumentarii are responsible for far more of the recent conquests of the Legion than all Legionnaires and Auxilia combined. Though they are but a twentieth fraction of the Legion’s armed forces they receive almost half of its investments. Frontliner Frumentarii carry advanced modern equipment such as combat armour, heavily modified assault and marksman carbines, low light optics, true grenades, and much more. However only slightly more than half of Frumentarii are seen on proper battlefields doing raids and such on communities. While in their heads people visualize the Special Forces side of them, they are also an intelligence agency. Many are both covertly and openly embedded in Legionnaire and Auxilia units as well as communities and tribes to act as political officers. Likewise they go into the lands of both foe and ally to ply subterfuge surpassed by none save the synths of the Institute in the East. Assassinations, bribes, terrorist attacks, rebellions, all have been orchestrated by the Frumentarii, and there is a rather insidious explanation for their unrivalled success; John Doyle - a ghoul that in a life long ago was a Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. With this new utilitarian tolerance of mutants, there have even come to be frightening rumours of the Frumentarii using stealth-boy covered Nightkin in their campaigns of terror.



About 5% of the Legion but nevertheless noteworthy are the Speculatores. Scouts, Explorers, occasional Assassins, Vexillarii, Emissaries, road patrols, Sappers, Combat Engineers, and more. These are generally equipped far better than Legionnaires with scoped sniper rifles and the likes, though they are not at the level of Frumentarii. With that said, Vulpes Inculta has been doing the bureaucratic infrastructure to eventually merge the Speculatores into being Frumentarii and Legionnaires depending on what their particular job is.



The Praetorians are approximately 5% of the Legion’s forces, their role slightly broadened from the past as little more than a bodyguard for Caesar into a general sort of hyper-elite national guard. However, the Praetorians have in their equipment largely stayed uniform to their pre-reform self. They are still almost entirely focused upon melee combat with heavy armour super sledges being their mainstay. Much like other parts of the Legion, Vulpes has made sure many members of the Praetorians are secret Frumentarii after Mr. Doyle told him to read the bits of Roman history wherein Praetorians were the downfall of Emperors. The most important change however has been the introduction of super mutants to the Praetorians however, for where a normal human can take a bullet for their Emperor a super mutant can take a whole grenade, with most of the intelligent ones being sent to the Praetorians rather than becoming Legionnaires as their more stupid cousins. Recovered suits of power armour go to Legion Centurions first and foremost, but in the rare cases that there are spare ones they will be allocated to Praetorians.



The final and most recent introduction to the branches of Legion armed forces are the Tributarii. Modelled after the Varangian guard of old, they are a flexible force synthesizing traits of all the other branches of the Legion’s troops. Tributarii are specialized elites from different tribes united into one force that does not lose tactical individuality from each tribe’s men when they fight as a cohesive whole. Most Tributarii come from regions adjacent to those directly under the control of the Empire (part of a process into truly becoming part of the Legion), the group also taking some inspiration from the French Foreign Legion when Mr. Doyle helped form them. The Tributarii are typically equipped in a corresponding way to their preferred method of fighting, their supplies very personalized usually being somewhere between that of Praetorians and frontline Frumentarii.



A non-negligible portion of the Legion’s combat power comes from simple mercenaries. In territories it is too difficult to march a Legio or Frumentarii into (but that are nevertheless in need of destruction) will find mercenary groups (most typically raiders, but at times professionals of all sorts) arriving in short order to wreak havoc. Often mercenaries will be manipulated beforehand into doing the Legion’s bidding for a very cheap price with Frumentarii getting said groups addicted to chems produced in the Imperial heartland. These do not factor into the calculation into the Legion’s total armed forces, but they are far from rare — they often outnumber combined forces of Frumentarii and Speculatores on battlefields.



Economy:
The economy of the Legion is based on a near eternal state of war, and the spoils of war are most certainly the most important thing keeping it afloat. However, Vulpes saw where Caesar was short sighted and he has spent a good portion of his rule developing the civilian economy of his Empire. He micromanaged on a level as low as placing phosphorescent signs along traders’ routes, to ordering mass production of printing presses such that literacy might spread in the domain. Following the reversal of Caesar’s anti-intellectual policies Missionaries, Scribes of the Brotherhood, and other intellectuals have helped restore a few factories to working conditions, while codified supply routes were created so that craftsmen of various communities could ply their art on a grand scale. While certainly backwards compared to the NCR and other more advanced factions of post-war America, the Legion can now properly create its own goods rather than relying on plunder, a fact which Vulpes knew would eventually bite Caesar’s Legion in the ass eventually. Farms were constructed, and even educational centres were built in many a community that lacked them, many of these past investments already paying off. The fruit of his efforts that Vulpes is most proud of is the Legion's advanced drug trade. While any non medicinal or combat purpose chems are strictly banned in Legion controlled territory, they have become a major source of narcotics amongst all their neighbouring territories save that which is controlled by the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel. This serves a twofold purpose of a great influx of wealth to Vulpes's Empire, while also destabilizing the neighbours of the Legion such that they may eventually become easy pickings. As a byproduct of the farming and chem production the Legion created, they have also created a non negligible ethanol production system. However, with the goals Vulpes wants to reach before having another go at the NCR he knows he needs far more fuel than that, and experiments with biofuel have been made, albeit with spectacular failure thus far. Though in the short term this was expected, it has made abundantly clear to Vulpes Inculta he must go South in search of oil.

Of great importance is to note the volume of trade traffic going through Legion territory. The unparalleled safety provided by the assimilation of raiders has kept the Legion economy afloat through many crises. It is for this purpose Frumentarii purposefully ensure neighbouring locales are unsafe such that more and more traders would be motivated to take their merchantry to the Legion.

Finally, the value of slave labour cannot be understated. A great amount of people are forced to work dangerous but oh so valuable mines, ranches, and other jobs nobody would work of their own volition, while the sale of excess ones to other civilizations makes a massive profit. Vulpes has massively reformed slavery, and while not as cruel and omnipresent as in the past it is nevertheless a daily sight in Legion territory.

Culture:
When discussing the culture of the Legion it is first and foremost important to note the fair amount of variance it has come to see following the early reforms of Vulpes Inculta to the rule of tribes under the control of the Legion. Many like those in the NCR try to echo the America of distant past with their suburban homes and nuclear families Many others echo to distant, primitive tribal pasts, while a great man are somewhere in between living lives people during the American civil war would find familiar. But most important is what people call the Caesarian culture, a great many parts of it inevitably seeping or forced into the many peoples subordinate to Emperor Vulpes Inculta. The Caesarian culture is communitarian, militaristic, and autocratic. Above all else one must be loyal to the Empire and its people and failure to follow this rule is the greatest of sins, one which even martyrdom may hardly even absolve a person of. Those who do not fall in line with the Caesar’s mandate are dehumanized, and their fate as slaves is seen as naught but justice. While the old model of systematic rape for growth of the Legion has been abolished, men and women are expected to procreate without pause until past the age of fertility, with great penalties if they do not.



The Emperors both past and present are venerated as Holy. Local tribes are only allowed to practice their own faith on the condition Caesar and his successors are given a place in their theology, while Christian groups must be told to canonize or at the very least venerate them as martyrs should they want permission to remain on the territory of the Legion, the Cult of Mars likewise holding a Holy role for the Caesar and his namesakes. This explains much of the behaviour of people within the Legion as in a sense their Imperialism is a sort of eternal crusade for their respective faiths. In Legionary culture military service is seen as the highest honour rather than a burden, with constant propaganda everywhere to reinforce these values everywhere. Indeed, the novel printing presses of the Empire are largely used for this purpose and even children still learning to read have their first words on paper be ones describing the glory of service to the Caesar.

Technology:
The Technology in the Legion held territory has great variance, with communities ranging from illiterate tribals living no longer than thirty years as hunter-gatherers to advanced people with running water, radio, and air conditioning. The Legion of today is still primitive in contrast to the Brotherhood to the East, and the NCR to the West. However they are far ahead of what they once were under Caesar. Literacy is more than 50% and steadily rising, while some factories have been restored and something akin to a university has been erected. They have the ability to cast civil war era artillery and ammunition for it, and they can properly maintain and replace parts for more advanced firearms (if not quite make new ones yet) rather than simply cleaning them until eventually just discarding them. Mechanists make chariots out of cars while chemists distill ethanol to fuel them. They create their own chems for both internal consumption and external sale, and have even started the use of computers for many purposes. They have a long way to go in their learning, but a great many intellectuals have been invited to the territory of the Legion from Mormon Missionaries to Brotherhood Scribes. Furthermore, Frumentarii have gone on a long campaign of kidnapping scientists from groups that would not willingly come to them, largely Followers of the Apocalypse. Vulpes is very ambitious, and with his cunning it is more than possible his desires to see the Legion arise into an advanced nation before he dies will come to fruition.

Religion:
There are three main religious groupings in the Legion, which for the moment are divided almost in perfect equal proportion. First is the Cult of Mars, the group being leftovers from the old religion that worships the now deceased Caesar. In the years following the death of Caesar Vulpes had to cull more than half of them, with the rest being forced into the Frumtarius’s new Order. By the order of the new Emperor it was, Caesar the Son of Mars was proclaimed to have ascended and joined father Mars as well as Sol Invictus - the demiurge - in Elysium. While most of the surviving Priestesses follow the new theology of the Cult of Mars, there are nevertheless some who quietly preach the old faith, a soft fifth column forming. With that said, though they preach the old faith they do not hold even a fraction of the power they once did given they no longer have the governmental responsibility of raising all children born in Legion tribes. Rather ironically the founding religion of Caesar’s Legion is now the only one facing a measure of persecution; Frumentarii will harass Priestesses stepping out of line, while troublesome ones that don’t actually break any rules but are noted troublemakers will simply disappear, their sisters forced to come up with an explanation lest they face the same fate. Nevertheless their ability to drum up some grunts for the Legion is still very much valued, as well as their joint actions with Frumentarii in getting small primitive tribes to join the Legion. The second are the religions native to the tribes under the Legion, these ranging from all sorts of animism and shamanism invented post-war, to pre-war Native American faiths, to variants on Christianity with the largest being a sort of Catholicism amongst the tribes descending from Mexican folk. The only restriction maintained upon worship in Legion territory is the fact it must not be seditious against the Legion. The third and final group of religions in Legion territory is that brought by missionaries invited by Vulpes in the years following his ascension to power. For the most part these are Mormons, though there are some Catholics and other - once more mostly Christian - groups. They face the same absence of restriction as tribal religions save for the fact they must not preach anything seditious or contrary to any values of the Legion. Some Frumentarii have placed themselves into Missionary groups or had Missionaries convinced to join them. These politicized Missionaries have come to be used by the Legion as soft power to tribes who the Priestesses of Mars fail to work their speech upon.

Name: New Vegas

Territory and Geography: Robert House has built an immense wall around the outer edges of New Vegas (which include South Vegas, Westside, Freeside, the NCR Farmland, and McCarran Airport). Mr. House has largely left the rest of the Mojave to wither away and rot, though stubborn settlements still exist.

By this point, has specifically occupied Hoover Dam/Boulder City, the REPCONN Test Site, Nellis, and Quarry Junction as immensely well-defended outposts and has kept I-15 safe for eastward travel into New Vegas, though he does not exercise control over the southern regions of the Mojave.

New Vegas is ruled from the impossible heights of the glistening Lucky 38.

History:

With the help of the Courier, Robert Edwin House drove both Caesar’s Legion and the NCR out of the Mojave Desert, leaving him with nearly a decade of peace and quiet to sculpt the ruins of the Old World into his dream. As he had done with the three families of the New Vegas Strip, Robert House corrupted many of the tribes and independent communities, disintegrating their original identities and refashioning them with old world values and aesthetics.

Soon the population of New Vegas swelled, and an internal economy emerged. Following The King’s tragic death due to a heart attack (and the suspicious demise of Pacer), the largely directionless Kings were an easy target for Robert House – he offered them a casino of their own on the New Vegas Strip (now known as “Kings Casino”) and unstoppable incentives—wealth, women, and power—which ultimately won over many of the surrounding communities.

Anyone who was not onboard or not of use to Robert House’s blast furnace of an economy was quickly pushed out of New Vegas and forced to make it on their own out in the wasteland. South Vegas was rebuilt into an array of Levittown-style homes for the residents of New Vegas to conduct their orderly existences, most of which eerily emulated that of the old world. Freeside and Westside were renovated and comprised many private businesses for those who were not affiliated with the casinos. A gigantic, virtually impenetrable wall was built around the outer edges of the city.

By 2285, New Vegas was a ghostly image of an age long-forgotten. Swing music lingered in the air. Air conditioning rejuvenated the houses. Resourceful men and women wearing peacoats, suits, and pencil skirts kissed their children goodbye in the mornings before contributing to the economy of a faceless man whose intentions they did not fully comprehend. Yet, despite the array of old world facsimiles wandering through New Vegas, one could not deny that the place was clean. Orderly. Safe.

By the latter half of the 2280s, the rest of the forgotten Mojave Wasteland began to wither away like a malnourished animal. Robert House had cunningly embargoed the wasteland’s community from any trade out of New Vegas and waited for desperation to lure the most resourceful people of the wasteland into his services. Uncoincidentally, the Courier disappeared. Many assumed that Mr. House had simply become too powerful and too ruthless to bear, but it is said that only Robert himself knows of her fate.

An entire workforce was hired in Quarry Junction, who provided the building materials for New Vegas to build upward. New skyscrapers emerged. The city became a shining treasure of absurd proportions as the world outside rotted. Citizens of the NCR arrived in droves, many of whom settled permanently in New Vegas. Tribes continued to have their identities bastardized by the allure of it all.

With the Courier out of the picture, Robert House took it upon himself to manipulate the playing field to his ultimate benefit. He sent securitrons to lace the gigantic rock formations along the walls of the Big Mountain with C4. The resulting landslides and debris clouds completely devastated the once incredible Big MT Research Center.

The Three Families grew tense as Robert House began to more heavily tax their profits, and as a response, he decided to do away with the old. In a matter of weeks, Marjorie, Cachino, and Swank all disappeared with very little in the way of leads, and they were replaced with compliant members of the families. Despite the lack of evidence toward any particular killer, public assumption is that House orchestrated their removal.

New Vegas now hummed along in perfect synchronicity. In 2289, Robert House instituted the “Immortality Clause”, a stipulation in all business contracts that upon the death of any New Vegas resident, their face, mannerisms, and voice would be uploaded onto one of the city’s countless securitrons. As deaths mounted from dangerous working conditions in Quarry Junction and mob violence on the Strip, the citizens of New Vegas began to be surrounded by ghosts. Suicide rates steeply rose, but for the fortunate that were compliant and not heavily idealistic, New Vegas offered a stellar quality of life that could be found nowhere else…

Population: 7,000

Government/Domestic Politics: New Vegas is run by its sole proprietor, Mr. Robert Edwin House. “Micro-dealings”, as House refers to them, are now carried out by his new protégé, a man known as Dean Domino. Under the condition that the Sierra Madre Casino may one day be renovated to be run by Dean (a likely impossible dream), he is at House’s service. Considering that no one other than House could even dream of accomplishing such a feat, this created an infallible link of loyalty.

Notable People:

Dean Domino – Mr. House’s unlikely right-hand man and replacement of the disappeared Courier. A skeptic might see this relationship as a vanity project on House’s part, as Robert was a fan of Domino’s music in the Old World, but in reality, the man’s cunning and debonair nature appealed greatly to the proprietor of Vegas.

Danielle Raymonde – The most beautiful, mysterious, and talked-about woman in New Vegas, curiously handpicked by Robert House to run the Ultra Luxe Casino & Resort. Her connection to Mr. House is one of secrecy and debate.

“The King” – A quiet, handsome, proud, but malleable young man with an impressive head of hair who replaced the previous man of the same name. He now runs the Kings’ Casino, one of the most successful in New Vegas.

Billy Knight – Once a successful Tops comedian, now a charismatic talk show host and anchor, albeit one that is corroded and limited by House’s influence. He is known for often distastefully injecting humor into grave and serious headlines.

Benny – His ethos as the “one who stood up to the man” has inspired small bits of personal hope for personal success in New Vegas. He is considered both alive and dead, depending on who you ask.

Military: New Vegas is protected by its growing number of securitrons, now being slowly manufactured by a human workforce in North Vegas. House has hired entire mercenary armies both at home and abroad to manipulate the balance of power in the region, though he has exercised plausible deniability and has never been held culpable for any of their doings.

Supposedly, Robert House is in the midst of developing a Mark IV Securitron, one that he considers to be the “perfect” soldier.

New Vegas is in the beginnings of developing a human military, bannered under the old world flag. It has gone poorly thus far, as he has failed to find any wise and reliable officials to develop training programs.

Economy: Robert House has developed a powerful internal economy, as most of his citizens earn money working in his factories, restaurants, quarries, what-have-you and proceed to lose most of it gambling on the Strip. In addition, the ruined farms have been renovated to provide food for the region, though House still enjoys a remarkable tourism/trading relationship with the NCR.

New communities have indulged in New Vegas tourism, including some from the 80s and countless other tribes that have managed to come across an adequate amount of caps.

Culture and Technology:

Technology is crucial to the snowglobe that is New Vegas – Mr. House has indoctrinated his residents to become unwaveringly supportive of technological development as the beacon of the future. As a result, Mr. Handys have been repaired and produced—with staggering prices—and many civilians own laser weapons for self-defense. Somehow, Fisto (and others like him) has a steady stream of customers (perhaps out of bounds of House’s vision when he asked his populace to embrace tech).

As long as they are willing to play by House’s rules and live in his image, ghouls are welcome in New Vegas, though the general snobbish demeanor of the city has a tendency to look down upon them.

Life in New Vegas very much looks like a recreation of the world of 2077 – Mr. Handys preemptively cook dinners and eagerly wait for the working class to return home on each day. The faux grass of the perfectly symmetrical yards in South Vegas have glistening white picket fences surrounding them. Yet there is an uneasiness to it all, as if something in the perfect façade has got to give.

Religion: The citizens of New Vegas enjoy religious freedom, so long as it falls within the bounds of what House considers “proper decorum” (a term that has been used rather vaguely in order to prosecute people). There are pockets of practiced Christianity, but there are no established churches.

Important Locations:

The Strip: Now outfitted with new, tall casinos. A splendor to behold and the place where impulsive dreams go to die.

Freeside: Now humming with electricity, Freeside is a hodgepodge of smaller casinos and local businesses.

Westside: Filled with residential apartments for those who wish to live on lower rent.

South Vegas: House’s own Levittown – a gigantic array of perfect residential blocks.

North Vegas: Farmland.

Hoover Dam: The key to pulling this all off – the source of Robert House’s nearly limitless supply of energy.

REPCONN Test Site: Now operated by House and a growing team of scientists, House has begun to develop his dreams of catapulting toward the stars. However, very little in the way of tangible progress has come into play. Many consider this venture a leech on New Vegas’ economy.

Quarry Junction: Operated by a gigantic crew of physical laborers. Responsible for virtually all of Robert House’s new structures.

Primm: Run remotely and heavily defended by House in order to facilitate northward NCR travel toward Vegas. It now enjoys a bustling economy caused by mass population exoduses from Goodsprings and Novac toward it, as well as being one of the only places supply caravans can afford to gamble.

The Commonwealth Provisional Government

Flag (picture or description):


(Top: Unofficial flag of The CPG designed in Diamond City by Becky Fallon circa 2289. Combining elements of pre-war symbolism with that of The Minutemen.)

Territory (picture or description) and Geography: The CPG is nominally in control of most of the region known as “The Commonwealth”. Including the Boston area. However, the level of control it is able to actually enforce varies from settlement to settlement. Some of the more rural settlements outside of the immediate area of Boston simply refuse to recognize the CPG at all. Closer to Boston and “The Great Green Jewel” the CPG is more universally recognized as the legitimate authority, and its primary seat of power is located in Diamond City itself, the unofficial capital of the fledgling government. The notable exceptions to this are Goodneighbor, which refuses to recognize the CPG in any form and Vault 81 which despite overtures has so far refused outright annexation and instead maintains its own independence.

The Castle is also maintained as the headquarters of The Minutemen and is nominally under CPG control as a result.

History (if using a pre-existing faction, recent history will due. The RP start date is 2290):

After the man once named ‘Nathaniel’ known only now as the ‘Sole Survivor’ emerged from Vault 111 in search of his son, he found the world he had once known was gone forever. Using his military experience and with the help of those he met along the way, the Sole Survivor managed to infiltrate The Institute and finally found his son. What followed between them is known only to a select few within The Institute...

What is known to the wider Commonwealth however, is that The Institute made its presence known to Diamond City in early 2288 when Gen-1 Synths began to appear one day to distribute medical supplies and rations. Soon enough Institute Synths began to train their weapons on raiders and mutants infesting The Commonwealth with extreme prejudice. Despite their enormous distrust of the ‘boogeymen’ who’d haunted them for so long, the people of Diamond City and The Commonwealth at large could not deny the much needed help they received, or turn it away so readily. A positive article written by Piper Wright where she famously wrote ‘...perhaps now The Institute can be a part of our future.’ Was distributed widely in Diamond City and beyond. Many would still never fully trust The Institute or its secretive cadre of scientists, but at a minimum they would accept their help and resources.

That same year, Madison Li stepped forward as the new leader of The Institute, the fate of The Sole Survivor unknown, and extended an offer of cooperation to the people of The Commonwealth via The Diamond City radio broadcast. She hearkened back to earlier days when The Commonwealth had tried to band together for the greater protection and unity of all. The Commonwealth Provisional Government was soon formed with the cooperation of Diamond City’s newly elected Mayor, Becky Fallon. Some still remembered Madison Li from when she had first arrived in The Commonwealth many years ago from The Capital Wasteland and this won her enough trust to have a leading role in the formation of the new government. Those of a more cynical mind however, might simply say that no one dared to oppose her, knowing full well she represented The Institute itself and thus the terrifying power it wielded over them.

Support for the CPG greatly increased when it was learned that the recently reformed Commonwealth Minutemen were throwing in their lot behind this new state. The new General, Ronnie Shaw, had personally traveled to Diamond City and given her word to back the CPG with whatever meager forces she had currently available to her. Recruits to The Minutemen flooded in shortly afterwards. Around this same time an agreement was also finally reached with settlement of Bunker Hill and, more importantly, the caravans. It became clear to all then that The CPG was going to be more than just a failed attempt this time around.

Since that time the numbers of CPG citizens has been steadily growing, with new settlers flooding into Diamond City and many other settlements in The Commonwealth beyond. Sanctuary Hills has become a thriving town, and Diamond City has started to become overcrowded and overflow its previously well-kept boundary. With new prospective residents coming in everyday, they are being forced to settle just beyond the hallowed boundary of ‘The Wall’ into the ruins of Boston that surround The Great Green Jewel. Even with this being the case though, Diamond City remains one of the safest cities in the region.

The future of the CPG is yet unclear and there are many, many threats to its continued existence, both within and abroad. Madison Li finds herself in a tenuous position, and while she is herself no true politician, she’s kept The Institute contained and The CPG from collapsing into itself thus far. Perhaps there is a chance that the CPG will form into a strong unified nation wirh Boston at its center, or perhaps it is doomed to eventual failure. Only time will tell.


Population: Approximately 10,000 within the immediate area of Boston itself. With an unknown number in smaller outlying settlements. The ‘actual’ number of CPG citizens is essentially unknown however since no census has yet been taken and loyalties vary from person to person and even day to day.

Government/Domestic Politics: The Commonwealth Provisional Government is, as the name implies, a Provisional Government: meant to serve as a transitional authority while The Commonwealth unifies and begins to form a proper nation. The CPG Council (made up of representatives from various major settlements or groups) serves as the executive and legislative body, enacting laws, establishing law and order, and organizing The Commonwealth Government as best as they are able.

Notable People:
The Council for the CPG Includes:

Dr. Madison Li - current Director of The Institute, and for all intents and purposes acting President of the CPG. Although she does not officially hold that title nor would she outwardly claim to. Madison is a cold leader but one who has both sympathy and compassion for the plight of the wasteland. Li was left embittered and cynical following her experiences in The Capital Wasteland, she sees The Commonwealth and The CPG as her chance to do things the right way this time - her way.


(Director Madison Li - CPG Propaganda Photo taken in Diamond City)

Becky Fallon - newly elected Mayor of Diamond City. Becky is a no-nonsense leader, and not one to shirk either responsibility or confrontation.

Ronnie Shaw - General of The Minutemen. Gruff and grizzled, Ronnie is a veteran Minutemen officer who's seen more than her fair share of battle. She’s more than a little distrustful of The Institute and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion on the matter.

Kessler - Mayor of Bunker Hill/Representative of the Bunker Hill Caravans. Kessler is both a shrewd politician and a sound businesswoman. She’s looking out primarily for her stakeholders in Bunker Hill and their bottom line.

Wiseman - Leader of The Slog and a representative for the more rural settlements outside of Diamond City. Kind and forgiving, but most of all an incredibly skilled farmer. Wiseman was a natural choice to elect to The CPG Council both as a sign of solidarity with the disenfranchised ghoul population and the farming settlements of The Commonwealth.

Nick Valentine - No official position, but nominally an advisor. A condition for the people of Diamond City agreeing to work with The Institute was that he be given a position on the CPG Council.

Military: While not ‘officially’ designated as such, The Minutemen are effectively the de facto military wing of the CPG. CPG leadership can reliably expect to receive support when they call on them and the General of The Minutemen sits regularly on the CPG council in Diamond City to discuss affairs in The Commonwealth.

However as a standing army they lack proper organization and discipline, as The Minutemen by design are a militia force: citizen soldiers who take up the call to arms when needed. A force of 200 minutemen are permanently located at The Castle, but the rest (some 300-400 approximately) are split between various settlements in The Commonwealth. Many of whom are not considered active until the call goes out for help. They are armed and armored with a wide range of equipment ranging from virtually nothing but pipe rifles, to a standard uniform and laser musket. They also have access to large mortar artillery pieces but these are limited to The Castle and Quincy Outpost.

Commanders: General Ronnie Shaw commands The Minutemen from The Castle, their headquarters and primary base of operation. Shaw is generally well respected and well liked amongst her soldiers for her fearlessness and grit, and her appointment to become the next General was widely supported. Colonel Preston Garvey commands the second largest organized group of Minutemen located at Quincy (approx. 70+), where after retaking the town from The Gunners, they set up a permanent defensive outpost to keep an eye on Gunner movements and other threats from the south.

Other forces: Aside from The Minutemen, the officers of Diamond City Security protect the immediate area in and surrounding Diamond City, and if needed, have been known to work with The Minutemen in operations beyond their normal jurisdiction. They are moderately equipped, but their limited experience fighting outside of the limits of Diamond City itself means they are obviously better suited to police and security work than military operations. However, they are still tenacious fighters and have gained significant combat experience defending against the various threats to their beloved Great Green Jewel, mutants and raiders included.

A final, and perhaps a bit unusual, potential source of military support comes in the form of ‘The Mechanist’. Initially, the rogue robots of The Mechanist were seen as a menace, attacking caravans and settlers alike when they first appeared not long after the CPG formed. However shortly after appearing the robots quite suddenly ceased their attacks. Little thought was given to it by the wider Commonwealth, but in secret a holotape appeared at the Diamond City Mayor's Office some time afterwards. Recorded on it was a profuse apology and explanation for the robot’s actions laid forth by a woman named Isabel Cruz, who claimed to be The Mechanist. She asked that her identity be kept secret, but she offered to help The CPG in any way she could as recompense for her unintended slaughter of the people of The Commonwealth, claiming that a programming error had been responsible and that she had never intended the deaths to occur. She closed with an offer for The CPG Council to meet her in person. The CPG Council has yet to respond...

With Madison Li in control of The Institute, The CPG can also count on some support from the more than formidable forces at its disposal. However, many Minutemen, Diamond City Security, and others refuse to cooperate directly with The Institute’s Gen-2 Synthetic Soldiers. This combined with pushback from within The Institute about deploying Synth assets above ground in such capacity has led Madison Li attempting to dial back the usage of Institute forces and instead rely on human CPG soldiers wherever possible. This has, frustratingly, also led to further accusations that The Institute is “holding out” and that it has some ulterior motive to keeping its military in hiding.


Economy: The economy of the CPG is, much like the government itself, only now starting to form. Rural CPG settlements tend to be agrarian and mostly trade food crops, medicinal plants, and scavenged items from the waste both to each other and to the various caravaneers which connect the settlements. Diamond City itself is a hub of trade and a constant stream of potential business flows into its market from travelers, citizens, merchants, and others from even outside The Commonwealth.

Aside from agriculture, the city of Boston is a lucrative source of scavenged items and scrap as are a number of other locations in The Commonwealth such as the various Old World factories. Many scavengers brave these ruins to bring back some choice items for use in trade for things they need or for use as raw materials to create something else.

The single most important aspect to the CPG’s growing economy however, is the Caravaneers of Bunker Hill. Represented by Kessler on The CPG Council, the caravaneers keep the various settlements in The Commonwealth connected, and also help to facilitate trade to areas outside of its borders. Knowing how vital these routes are in expanding The CPG’s influence and power, the council has invested a lot of money and manpower in keeping these caravans safe and secured, and has worked closely with Bunker Hill to expand already existing routes as well.

Culture and Technology (include any views towards slavery and mutants etc.):
Technology in the CPG varies significantly. Most of the CPG, and The Commonwealth at large, is just now beginning to implement some manufacturing and standardized production. In particular The Minutemen have begun experimenting with producing their own weapons, uniforms, and equipment at The Castle. While settlements across The Commonwealth are starting to utilize larger scale food production and machinery to aid in their agriculture. However while these are promising starts, the overall current technology level is quite low compared to other more established nations. With scavenging and only rudimentary food and material production being by and large the norm.

The obvious exception to this overall rule is The Institute itself, which in contrast has access to some of the most advanced technology in the world. Dr. Madison Li has done her best to introduce some of The Institute’s science to the wasteland, but faces many challenges in doing so. The first and perhaps most pressing is pushback from within The Institute itself as scientists and personnel within the underground haven do not wish to see their technology “wasted” on the surface or stolen by those whom they see as little better than savages. Likewise, many CPG citizens are skeptical and distrustful of utilizing Institute resources or supplies. Madison knows that The Institute’s technology is the key to The Commonwealth’s long-term advancement, but faced with these issues she has been forced to settle for very gradual incorporation, lest she face outright rebellion from both sides.

As a result the only significant Institute technology Li has managed to apply to above ground uses so far is The Institute’s genetically engineered crops, created as a result of Bioscience's experiments at Warwick Homestead. CPG farmers are largely unaware that the seeds they were provided were given by The Institute, instead being told they were created in Diamond City’s own Science Center. The introduction of the GMO crops however has been a huge success, with crop yields across the CPG being more than tripled since their introduction.

In terms of culture, The Commonwealth Provisional Government models itself on some semblance of pre-war values. The rule of law and representative government being amongst these. Human slavery has been unequivacolly outlawed in The CPG. Knowing (mostly) no other super-mutant other than the violent type, mutants are afforded no rights and the majority of CPG citizens will shoot mutants on sight. Ghouls however, have gained some guaranteed protections, although given the wide-spread prejudice against them, they mostly keep to themselves in settlements such as The Slog. Wiseman was brought on to the CPG Council partly to represent rural settlements, and partly to also help heal the wounds that places like Diamond City have caused with non-feral ghouls in recent years.

Religion: The religion of the CPG varies widely from person to person, and no official state religion has been established. For example The All Faiths Chapel in Diamond City is still maintained as a place of spirituality for anyone to attend. Aside from that, provided your religion does not involve actions which violate CPG laws you are welcome to practice it. The notable exception is the Children of Atom, who are usually considered unwelcome in most CPG settlements. Not only because many of their members are zealous and hostile, but because the nature of their religious practice tends to lead to any area they occupy becoming contaminated with radiation. Missionaries from The Glowing Sea continue to request to meet with the CPG Council in Diamond City, but thus far they have been denied.

Other Important Info:

Nuka World - The raiders located here have been eyeing the situation in The Commonwealth closely. While not overly fearful of the infant CPG Government, The Institute's apparent involvement means they are keeping their distance. Disagreement flares between the gangs as to what their next steps should be, and for the time being they are biding their time: raiding the outskirts of CPG controlled territory and only picking apart the odd caravan when they get the chance. They do not wish to invite unwanted attention….

The Railroad - The Railroad has all but dispersed in The Commonwealth. After fighting nearly to the last to protect what Gen-3 Synths remained in The Commonwealth, remaining members of The Railroad realized their fight was futile and given The Institute’s current reversal on the Gen-3 program...also by and large made moot. The rest of The Railroad’s operatives either faded back into the general populace, or trekked north to chase rumours of a hidden Synth sanctuary somewhere. Hoping they might be of some use there...

Vault 81 - Vault 81 has been approached by the newly formed CPG many times in the last couple years to try and warm them up to joining the CPG as a very valuable settlement. However, despite an offer of their Overseer gaining a position on the council and other prestigious benefits, the Vault has stubbornly refused to be annexed. Relations between the CPG and the Vault are cordial enough to warrant regular trade between the two, but it is by no means a firm alliance. The citizens of Vault 81 are so far content to remain secluded in their Vault and distrustful of the wider world.

Covenant - The small town of Covenant is another holdout against The CPG, largely because they suspect The Institute is and will remain the “true power” behind it and no amount of platitudes or assurances will convince them otherwise (although they do not directly state this to any visitors). The town deals only with the caravaneers of Bunker Hill and even that is quite limited. Secretly The Compound, the true reason for Covenant’s existence, remains dedicated to fighting against the Synth menace. Down in their secret lair, members of The Compound entertain conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory about how The Institute now rules The Commonwealth as a shadow government. They see the Gen-3 program recall as only another trick that The Institute has played and are now more than ever committed to rooting out the Synths from amongst the population...regardless of whether or not they actually exist...

Goodneighbor - Goodneighbor, as expected, has not joined The CPG. And only one attempt was ever made to extend an offer: Mayor Hancock stripped the diplomat naked and forced them to walk back to Diamond City with nothing but a sign around their neck reading “By the people...for the people. ALWAYS.” Since then, relations have been cold at best and outright hostile at worst. Some particularly rowdy members of The Triggermen have been known to take potshots at Diamond City guards and even Minutemen on occasion, resulting in small skirmishes. The CPG Council in Diamond City recognizes that Goodneighbor is a problem that will have to be dealt with eventually if their nation is to be more than just a dream, but it's one that they’ve yet to think of a good solution to. For now they are content to ban any trade with Goodneighbor (which tends to be illicit chems anyway) and stop all traffic to the town. This has left the merchants in Goodneighbor in a bind, and Mayor Hancock is starting to feel the pressure of staying outside of The CPG. Neither he nor anyone else in his town of outcasts is as yet willing to come crawling to Diamond City (and even worse, The Institute) though.

Sanctuary Hills - Sanctuary Hills has become a thriving settlement in the North, following its resettlement by the survivors from Quincy and The Minutemen’s stalwart protection. A makeshift wall surrounds the town with the only access being across the wooden bridge from the south. Trashcan Carla and other caravaneers regularly stop in at Sanctuary to rest and resupply for their northern routes and of course trade goods with the locals. The town thrives on selling purified water, locally grown food, and trading valuable scrap and technology salvaged from the nearby empty Vault 111. It proudly displays the CPG flag and a small garrison of Minutemen are stationed here (30+) so as to quickly respond to threats in the north. The route between Sanctuary Hills and Diamond City is considered key and The Minutemen regularly patrol it to safeguard travellers.

Diamond City: Since the formation of the CPG the population has exploded and the city has become overcrowded. The buildings in the lower districts have built upwards to compensate with ramshackle apartment buildings and miniature junk 'skyscrapers'. The 'upper stands' now surrounds the wall with scaffolding connecting houses and individual buildings all around. Outside of The Wall settlers are starting to squat in nearby ruined pre war buildings and structures. Diamond City security does its best to protect these new areas, but beyond the safety of The Wall nothing is certain. Because of the massive population increase, the parts of Diamond City that had once been able to grow crops within The Wall itself are now long gone, and the city is almost entirely dependent on shipments from The Commonwealth’s farmers.


(Diamond City, 2290)

(Seal of The Institute)

Territory and Geography:

The Institute itself. A hermetically sealed, underground facility complete with research labs, manufacturing capabilities, spacious living quarters, and a pleasing aesthetic environment for its denizens to enjoy which includes a simulated night and day environment. The Institute is located directly under the old ruins of The Commonwealth Institute of Technology in Boston.



History:

After the “Sole Survivor of Vault 111” emerged in later 2287, no-one expected him to survive, let alone thrive, in the hellish wasteland that was once his former home. Least of all his own son.

When Shaun, who had become known as “Father” to the scientists in The Institute, released Nathaniel from cryostasis, he wasn’t sure what to expect. He was surprised, and intrigued, when it became clear that not only was Nathaniel going to live, but he seemed hell-bent on finding his son and avenging his wife. Eventually with the help of some resourceful friends in The Commonwealth, he did both.

Nathaniel killed the mercenary Kellog and after utilizing the dead cyborg’s memories, he infiltrated The Institute and discovered that not only was his son still alive, but he had become The Institute’s leader. Now an old man, Shaun greeted his father warmly and offered Nathaniel a place with him at The Institute. Nathaniel was reluctant, but not wishing to lose his son for a second time, stood with him. He even aided his son in completing a personal dream: the completion of the Phase 3 Project which would enable The Institute to have sustainable power for generations to come. But secretly Nathaniel also began to work for his own interests. He framed Dr. Justin Ayo, head of the SRB, for facilitating Synth escapes and got him banished to the surface: a veritable death sentence. Some thought it improbable that Dr. Ayo could have had anything to do with the escapes, but as he was an unpopular man, those that questioned the investigation simply shrugged and believed it to be for the best...

It was then in a shocking move, that Shaun announced that Nathaniel would take his place as Director of The Institute when he passed, which given the advanced stage of cancer which was ravaging his body, would likely be soon. Despite their reservations, the scientists of The Institute trusted Father, and believed his choice of heir to be a sound one and that the legacy of the son would be continued by his own parent.

They were wrong.

When his son died, Nathaniel began a personal campaign to ensure The Institute would never again inflict the damage it had done to his own family. He forced it to open itself to the surface by sending synths to Diamond City laden with food, water rations, and with medical supplies. He also ordered an immediate halt to further operations on the surface including any and all kidnapping, experimentation, or replacement by Gen-3 operatives.

These actions, while divisive, were largely borne by the scientists in The Institute with only minor grumblings. Many of them did feel some sort of guilt for the things they’d done, or at least some notion that it might be adversely affecting those above. Others however, lamented the restrictions to their scientific efforts and resources. This calm response would not last with Nathaniel’s next act however.

Nathaniel then ordered an immediate halt to the Gen-3 program and charged Robotics with destroying its Gen-3 production facility and immolating any notes related to the project. He then tasked The Institute’s Coursers with rounding up any and all remaining synths to bring them to The Institute for decommissioning: wipe their minds, and disintegrate their bodies. The Courser’s complied with usual absolute obedience. Several scientists in The Institute believed this had now gone too far. Whatever faith Father had in this outsider was obviously widely misplaced, and his appointment was a sham. The scientists, led by doctors Max Loken and Lawrence Higgs, stormed the Bioscience labs. Lawrence, as a leading member in Facilities charged with security, had access to the security systems in the area and quickly took control of both the Synths tasked to guard the location as well as the doors and automated turrets. They declared their intent to hold out here until The Director resigned and left his position, leaving The Institute to return to the surface. With them in control of The Institute’s food supply, it was not an idle threat.

What they did not count on was how Nathaniel had been waiting for just such an opportunity to present itself. Utilizing a secret Director’s override to the Bioscience labs, Nathaniel could have simply shut down the security and apprehended the group. Instead, he utilized the override to power down the Synth gorilla habitat in Bioscience. Dr. Holdren’s aggressive personal “pets” were unleashed on the protesting scientists, tearing many limb from limb in a horrific display of brutality. Courser squads then burst into the Bioscience and rounded up any who survived. Nathaniel, a pre-war soldier who’d seen the worst that the Alaskan Front had to offer, wanted to make it clear that there was going to be no debate: no questions or doubts. He was in charge now. The surviving ‘rebels’ were teleported to the surface, lined up against a wall in Cambridge, and executed by firing squad. Nathaniel made sure that anyone in The Institute who might need to personally see this act: did. There was no resistance within The Institute after that, and Nathaniel finished the work of recalling The Gen-3 program. The Railroad did attempt to stop the recall of those Gen-3’s already in The Commonwealth and still under Institute control, but despite a heroic guerrilla action they were ultimately unable to prevent it.

Nathaniel looked to utilize The Institute’s remaining military forces to restore order to The Commonwealth. Coursers and Gen-2 units were deployed to eliminate the many raider and super-mutant bands still operating in the wastes with brutal efficiency. Despite their incredible combat skill, many Coursers were lost in battle after battle across The Commonwealth and it soon became clear what The Director’s eventual goal was. Once enough of their number had been cut down, Nathaniel ordered the remaining Courser units to also be ‘decommissioned.’ In his mind, he had just killed two birds with one stone.

His work was far from done though and with so much yet left to do, Nathaniel, the ‘sole survivor’ found that the memories of his family and the world he’d left behind weighed on him heavily. He’d survived the Sino-American War and The Great War that it led to, but the horrors of everything he’d seen and experienced along with the loss of his wife and only child was a burden he could no longer bear. He stopped eating, slept little, and slowly began to recede into seclusion. The Director’s Quarters in The Institute became a secretive hermit’s holdout. The windows and doors sealed shut while Gen-2 Synths stood guard outside. Soon, no one saw or spoke to The Director at all. Finally, a gunshot rang out in The Institute’s concourse one day. Synth security forced their way into the quarters to find a tragic scene: Nathaniel was dead. Lying next to him in a pool of his own blood was a damaged pre-war photo of his wife and son, and a .44 magnum revolver.

Nathaniel was buried with little fanfare at his home in Sanctuary Hills, and following his death Madison Li assumed the directorship. She’d worked closely with Nathaniel ever since he’d taken The Directorship and she’d tried her best to reign in his most hot-headed impulses. She had disagreed with the execution of the rebellious Institute scientists, but could do little to stop it. She had however counseled him closely when relations with the surface were initiated. When she took the position of Director, a collective sigh of relief was felt across The Institute and there was hope that things might become business as usual again. Much to the chagrin of some who simply wanted things to return to that status quo, Madison continued the policies that Nathaniel had implemented: restoring relations with the surface and reigning in The Institute’s lines of experimentation.

Madison also proceeded to banish those scientists she felt had personally wronged her. Dr. Holdren, spared from the sole survivor's wrath by virtue of his work and vehement protestations of innocence, was banished as Madison knew he’d played some part in both the FEV program and her friend, Dr. Brian Virgil’s, disappearance. So too was the recently returned Dr. Zimmer, who’d come across Madison Li ten years ago when she was still in The Capital Wasteland working as a scientist at Rivet City. Li banished him simply for the insults he levied against her all those years ago. A scientist named Dr. Xavier Morales watched these banishments with interest...knowing that more were likely to follow.

For these three, enough was enough. It was clear that anyone from the surface was incapable of leading The Institute, and so the exiled Dr. Holdren and Dr. Zimmer established a secret laboratory in the abandoned Vault 88. From here they continue the work that Dr. Li has stifled. This includes research into the Gen-3 and FEV programs by utilizing documentation, materials, and research samples that the scientists managed to save before they could be destroyed. All while Xavier continues to feed them information from inside as he plays the obedient member of a nigh defunct and disempowered Directorate. The three of them plot to get rid of Li and return The Institute back to its former ways of isolation and ‘peaceful’ experimentation.

Madison meanwhile, is making her own maneuvers in The Commonwealth. With the establishment of the Commonwealth Provisional Government and herself as its de facto leader, Li is now the most one of the most powerful individuals in the region. She knows and understands that if The Commonwealth Provisional Government is to transform into the great nation she and others want it to be: The Institute is going to be an integral part of that. Now all she has to do is get its scientists to come along one way or the other….

Population: Approx. 1,000 scientists and their families. Along with an unknown number of Gen 1 and Gen 2 Synths.

Government/Domestic Politics:

The Institute is divided administratively into five separate research divisions and each of its scientists fall into one of these divisions. They are:

Robotics - Synth research and production. Since the Gen-3 recall, it is limited to Gen-1, Gen-2 production and tasked with limited enhancements to both of these.

Facilities - Engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, public health and safety, and internal security systems.

Advanced Systems - Energy research, weapons development, and ‘cutting edge’ projects.

Bioscience - Biological and chemical research, medicine, and food production.

The Surface Security and Intelligence Bureau (or SSIB) - With the end of the Gen-3 program and the need to retain errant Gen-3’s no longer an issue, the former Synth Retention Bureau was retooled for surface security and intelligence operations. Director Li, despite her overtures to the surface, is not entirely trusting of those above-ground either and she recognizes the importance of the SSIB.

Notable People:

Current Members of The Directorate:
Dr. Madison Li - Director of The Institute. Madison Li stepped up when Nathaniel, the ‘Sole Survivor’ tragically committed suicide. She’d been essentially hand-picked by Nathaniel as a natural next-in-line choice since he viewed her as an ‘outsider’ who had not fully become complicit with The Institute’s more egregious actions. She views her ascension to the Directorship as long-due. As far as she is concerned, The Institute’s work can begin in earnest now that a competent and capable leader is guiding policies.

Dr. Alan Binet - Division Head Head of Robotics, replaced Shaun/Father as Division Head. Binet was a steadfast proponent that the Gen-3 Synths were verging on becoming fully sentient constructs. He did not oppose the elimination of the Gen-3 program, as he thought it best that their production be stopped. Despite his reservations, Binet also did not oppose the decommissioning of existing Gen-3’s. His complacency was secured by granting an exemption for his Synth-wife, Eve, and appointing him to lead Robotics (a position he’d yearned after for years). This act of going along with the destruction of the Gen-3’s however, earned him more than a little resentment from his son.

Dr. Rosalind Orman - Division Head of Advanced Systems, appointed by Dr. Li to replace her so she might have more time to focus on surface affairs. Rosalind is both an energetic and incredibly intelligent woman. She’s less concerned about Institute politics and issues on the surface and more wrapped up in the science of it all.

Dr. Issac Karlin - Division Head of Bioscience, replaced Dr. Holdren following his exile. Dr. Karlin grew fond of The Warwick Family following his work on the Warwick Initiative. Not wishing to see the family without a father figure, Karlin lobbied to have the Gen-3 on assignment at Warwick Homestead wiped of Institute-related memories and allowed to remain. Thus, while he is not aware of it, Mr. Warwick is one of the few Gen-3’s allowed to remain on the surface. Since then Karlin has been an advocate for direct intervention on the surface, and regrets past Institute actions.

Dr. Allie Filmore - Division Head of Facilities - Allie has gone along with the recent shake ups in power and politics in The Institute with little fuss. Naturally as Head of Facilities, she is concerned with the day-to-day maintenance of The Institute and its people and she leaves long-term thinking to others. She continues to serve as a valuable source of advice and information to Madison Li.

Dr. Xavier Morales - Division Head of SSIB, replaced exiled member Justin Ayo and former head Alana Secord. Xavier began his career in the facilities division working with The Institute’s internal security systems. After moving to the SRB, he distinguished himself in the division and became notable for working late in the night. When the sole survivor arrived, Xavier found himself in an uncomfortable position as Justin Ayo was soon accused of aiding and abetting Synth escapes (a crime Xavier knew Ayo did not commit). When Ayo was banished and Alana Secord appointed as Division Head, Xavier saw the way things were heading and towed the line of the new regime. Once Madison Li took charge, and Alana shortly thereafter stepped down voluntarily from the role, Madison appointed Xavier to take Alana’s place as the head of the newly formed SSIB (Surface Security and Intelligence Bureau). Xavier has had to act the part of the dutiful watch-dog to Director Li, in secret however, he wants nothing more than to be rid of her and is in league with the exiled members to see that done. .

Exiled Members:
Dr. Clayton Holdren- Former Division Head of Bioscience, exiled for his participation in the FEV Program. Clayton is an odd fellow, a man who is seemingly always friendly (to an uncomfortable degree) and who delights in his work. Those that truly know him however, understand that beneath this friendly facade is a scientist hell-bent on results and pushing the boundaries of biology. Holdren was an integral part of the FEV Program under former Director Shaun, and Dr. Brian Virgil reported directly to him on project progress. Because of his role in FEV at The Institute, as well as his potential involvement in Virgil’s death, Madison banished him permanently to the surface.

Dr. Victor Zimmer - Former Division Head of the now defunct SRB. Exiled member of The Institute. Dr. Zimmer had been away from The Institute for some time, pursuing his own agenda on the surface. When he returned to find it in chaos and none other than Madison Li in charge, he needed little other reason to agree to his own banishment.

Others:

Robert Joseph "RJ" MacCready - MacCready serves as The Institute’s essential replacement for the mercenary Kellogg. Having grown up in Little Lamplight and The Capital Wasteland, MacCready had heard of Madison Li and her work on Project Purity. MacCready was desperately seeking a cure for his son, Duncan, who had fallen mysteriously ill with an unknown malady. When Madison made her appearance as the new Director, MacCready managed to contact her and forged a deal. Intrigued by the mercenary’s apparent skill and reputation in The Commonwealth, and perhaps feeling a bit nostalgic in recognizing his connection to her old home, Madison drew up a contract. MacCready was furnished with treatment for his son, a home in Diamond City, and a comfortable pile of caps in exchange for his services above ground. MacCready reports directly to Director Li, and takes orders from no-one in The Institute but her.

Dr. Brian Virgil - Virgil, despite helping the Sole Survivor reach The Institute, Virgil was an unfortunate victim of The Institute’s current byzantine politics. Virgil stayed hidden for some time in the Glowing Sea after having made Nathaniel swear to not reveal his location or even that he was still alive to anyone. He was unable to recreate his mutant cure and continued to slowly deteriorate. Then when Madison Li took charge of The Institute he’d intended to reach out to her for help as soon as he was able. Before that could happen however, Virgil was killed under unknown circumstances. Madison eventually discovered where he’d gone, but by then it was too late. Madison, with good reason, suspects the killing of Virgil was done under orders from someone in The Institute itself.

Military: The Institute’s military is primarily composed of its Gen-1 and Gen-2 Synths. These older model units are still reliable and still highly advanced combat effective troops, serving as effective light to medium infantry in most situations. They are typically armed with a manufactured Institute energy weapon (pistol or rifle in most cases) and Gen-2 units are equipped with variants of a hardened plastic armor - with armor tending to protect vital points only on the synths body. All in all a fully equipped Gen-2 Synth is a decent match for a human combatant in strength and resilience, if not as intelligent as one.

The numbers of Synths the Institute has at its disposal is considerable, outnumbering its human population considerably as they are able to produce them relatively cheaply, and quickly.

Economy: The Institute’s economy is almost entirely self-sufficient as they are able to produce and manufacture nearly everything needed from within. Bioscience produces The Institute’s food while the Facilities division ensures nearly everything else from clothes to purified water to furniture is available to its residents via advanced manufacturing processes. About the only thing needed from outside is raw material, which the surface has in abundance. Previously The Institute would simply collect whatever it needed from The Commonwealth with little consideration given to who it affected or how. With Madison Li currently in charge that has obviously changed. Now The Institute has been forced both to scavenge sparing from the surface, and to focus more on raw material mining below ground. Acquiring raw materials has thus become a more tedious process, but less impactful on the surface dwellers overall.

Culture and Technology: Essentially a post-scarcity society compared to the rest of the post-apocalyptic world, the people of The Institute want for little and have access to a standard of living that exceeds that of even the pre-war world. Synths perform the day to day menial tasks which frees up the scientists to pursue both their work and other leisurely pursuits as they wish. The scientists are often extremely devoted to their chosen field of work and more often than not spend off-hours studying or pursuing minor projects associated with their research. As a result the work-culture of The Institute is extremely competitive and has evolved into a kind of strict meritocracy, where skill and experience is valued for advancement above all else. This of course is one of the reasons why Father’s (Shaun’s) appointment of Nathaniel to The Directorship was so controversial: they viewed the appointment as sheer nepotism given there were so many other qualified candidates for the role.

In terms of technology, The Institute is one of if not the most advanced groups in the world. With their technology spanning all known sciences from their research into Synths to even teleportation.

For those in the know, super-mutants are considered to be little more than failed experiments: with the Gen-3 Synth the perfected form of the FEV and the apex of research into the Forced Evolutionary Virus. They also condemn human slavery as a barbaric practice which only illustrates how far the surface has fallen (Gen-3’s are not considered human of course). But are highly unlikely to directly chastise anyone on the surface for practicing it.

Religion: There is no official religion in The Institute and by and large the scientists there are mostly atheist, agnostic, or some variant thereof. There are also no places of worship inside its walls. However a religious scientist would also not be unheard of, and there are some members who have at least some sense of spirituality (Alan Binet for example). Those that do largely keep these views to themselves as in The Institute if something cannot be backed up by the burden of scientific proof, it is meaningless to consider as anything more than speculative philosophy: something fun to chat about while enjoying coffee and nutritional supplements in the cafeteria, but irrelevant anywhere else.

Name: Issac Jabsco

Operative Codename: ‘ORION’

Age: 28

Bio: Younger brother to the former Commander of Talon Company, Issac is a skilled mercenary who rose through Talon’s ranks by performing tasks and missions considered near suicidal. Driven by a need to prove himself when compared against his older brother, Issac routinely defied death by performing skillful stealth operations and acts of sabotage with cunning and precision. Some of these acts included assassinations of high ranking raider bosses, slaver kingpins, and even a member of The Brotherhood of Steel at one point. When The Enclave began its takeover of the Capital Wasteland following the defeat of The Brotherhood at Adams Air Force Base, Issac saw the way the winds were blowing and began offering his services to Enclave High Command in a variety of roles. He’s displayed remarkable loyalty to The Enclave as an employer and seems content to curry favor with the new power in the region to his benefit. It is for this reason, and under recommendation from some of his junior officers, that Supreme Commander Alan Sutler has commissioned his services for a particularly sensitive mission to The Commonwealth…

Equipment and supplies:

1 Talon Company Combat Armor (insignias removed)
1 Combat Helmet
1 N99 10mm pistol + ammunition
1 M79 Grenade Launcher
30 40mm grenades
1 Scope Combat Rifle + ammunition
1 Combat Knife
1 portable deep range transmitter
1 Hazmat suit
1 Gas mask
1 backpack containing a medical kit, a portable tent, and various miscellaneous supplies
Several bags containing 2,000 caps
Various wasteland disguises
1 Vault 101 pipboy loaded with maps of the region and scouting data (when plugged in to the deep range transmitter, it provides a direct encrypted connection to EnclaveNet)
4 Paradise Falls Slave Collars
Robots Including:
1 Eyebot scout
3 Mr. Gutsy units provided by The Enclave to assist in carrying supplies and guarding camp.

Name: Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel

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Territory and Geography: Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, and southeastern Colorado.

History: The Midwestern branch of the Brotherhood of Steel started in the aftermath of the Master's defeat, with a dispute over the topic of sharing technology with and recruiting outsiders. The Elders ruled against the sharing of technology, and dispatched the disagreeing minority to the east to pursue the remnants of the Master's army. The Brotherhood constructed a fleet of airships and sent the dissidents eastward.

The airships were caught in a storm and scattered, and among those lost was the expedition's leader. The survivors manged to land in Chicago where they established a main base and began recruiting wastelanders and tribals in exchange for protection and technology. The Brotherhood spread out, fighting its way through raiders, Super Mutants, techno-religious cults, and eventually, an army of robots that had emerged from Vault 0, controlled by an insane intelligence called the Calculator. With an army consisting of conscripted humans, ghouls, Super Mutants, reprogrammed robots, and even intelligent Deathclaws, their finest warrior besieged Vault 0 and destroyed the Calculator to put an end to its threat to all intelligent wasteland life.

In the aftermath of the Calculator's destruction, the Brotherhood established Vault 0 as it's main base, a fortified treasure trove of pre-war technology. Without the Calculator and its data, however, they were unable to make use of its robotic army or the knowledge it held. With the Brotherhood's territory overstretched due to their aggressive efforts to push into Colorado to stop the Calculator, they began losing ground to raiders. Eventually, however, they managed to consolidate their power, and with a steady supply of wasteland recruits as well as their mutant and nonhuman allies, the Midwestern Brotherhood begun to grow in power.

In the second half of the 22nd Century, the Brotherhood faced its first real threat since the Calculator: a ruthless military force called Caesar's Legion swept through Colorado, assimilating all tribes that it came into contact with. The fighting between the Legion and Brotherhood was small-scale but brutal, with both sides resorting to the same ruthless tactics. Fortunately, with the Legion worn down from the capture of Denver and most of its forces committed elsewhere, the conflict did not escalate. When one of the Legion's agents approached the Brotherhood and proposed an armistice, the Brotherhood agreed to it. They remains wary of the Legion, however, and continue to watch carefully for signs of possible infiltrators.

With the consolidation of their territory, the Brotherhood Elders decided to finally re-establish contact with the other Brotherhood of Steel divisions. According to the gangs that traveled the length of the I-80, the Brotherhood's main west coast branch had fought, and lost, a war with the NCR. Additionally, they knew that at least one Brotherhood expedition had been sent to the ruins of Washington DC. The Brotherhood constructed a few small reconnaissance airships and sent them to the east and west, hoping to discover the fate of their long-separated brothers and sisters.

Population: 405,000

Government/Domestic Politics: The Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel rules as a feudal military order. At the top is the High Elder, the supreme commander of the Brotherhood's military and civil governor. The brotherhood's territory is divided into four regions, each led and administered by an Elder: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Vault 0. Below the Elders are the Generals, Paladin Lords and Paladin Commanders who administrate their allocated fiefdoms and command their forces. While the culture of the different regions vary greatly, the Brotherhood handles all of them in the same way- they provide technology (mostly agricultural and medicinal) and military protection in exchange for tribute in either able-bodied conscripts, taxes, or a mixture of the two.

The Brotherhood's policy on mutants is "anything that will pledge itself to our cause is a boon". The Brotherhood includes ghouls, Super Mutants, and even intelligent Deathclaws in its ranks, and forbids its subjects from mistreating them. While some in the order continue to harbor prejudices against mutants, the extended lifespans of ghouls and Super Mutants has allowed them to slowly but surely rise through the ranks and make up a not-insignificant portion of the upper echelons.

Notable People:

High Elder Renald

Current High Elder of the Brotherhood of Steel. Originally a tribal conscript from south of Kansas City, he took the name Renald when he officially joined the Brotherhood and spent the next few decades fighting its enemies first as a full-time Brotherhood soldier, then as an elite Paladin, then as a commander of men and women, and finally as the Elder of the Vault 0 Region. In 2288 was elected High Elder.

By the standards of the original Brotherhood of Steel, Renald is not what one would picture in a High Elder. While he no longer wears war paint and his balding head can no longer sport his tribe's distinct hairstyle, the side-cape on his left shoulder and the spear on his back suggests a man from a more primitive society. By any other Brotherhood standards he'd come off as a barbarian, and even by the Midwestern Brotherhood's standards he is considered rough-hewn. He himself considers his look to be "knightly" rather than "tribal".

Many within the Brotherhood see Renald's appointment to high elder as a sign of the the rising influence of former tribal in the Brotherhood hierarchy. His appointment was not without opposition, particularly from Brotherhood leaders in Missouri and Ilinois who would have preferred a leader with a more civilized background. Their concerns were ultimately overridden by others with the justification that the Warrior also started out as a humble wasteland conscript, but some still worry that & is lacking in the skills of diplomacy and administration. This is a sentiment that he himself does not entirely disagree with, and he generally defers to other high-ranked subordinates for diplomatic matters particularly involving less martial nations.

Head Scribe Lucan Wainwright

Head Scribe Wainright is a literally shining example of the organization's tolerance of mutants. He is not just a ghoul, but also a rare example of a non-feral Glowing One. Because of the lethal radiation he emits, he must wear a modified hazmat suit at almost all times. The suit also serves to conceal his ghoulish appearance and ease communication with those who would be unsettled by it.

Lucan was the son of traders from the more developed regions of Missouri. He joined the Brotherhood as a scribe of the Order of the Shield, where he specialized in the study of nuclear power. His duty encompassed not just maintaining power armor, but also the atomic generators that kept the Brotherhood military bunkers powered.

While repairing one such generator in 2265, he was injured in an explosion that severely damaged the generator's radiation shielding and was unable to evacuate before lockdown procedures sealed him in the room. When the Brotherhood sent in a hazmat team to repair the damage, they found Wainwright, still alive but turned into a Glowing One by the immense radiation, and sane enough to have made jury-rigged repairs to the generator.

In the decades since, Wainwright has become one of the Brotherhood's most senior scribes. While his rise to Head Scribe is largely due to his knowledge in the field of the nuclear power systems that the Brotherhood's bunkers, power armor, and vehicles rely upon, Lucan has taken a particular interest in the study of biological mutations. The position of of Head Scribe also carries with it a certain degree of diplomatic responsibilities, particularly in dealings with technologically advanced nations, although there exist some concerns that his status as a radioactive mutant may severely hinder him in this area.

Military: The Brotherhood's military is composed of several different elements- lower rank conscripts, higher rank elite troops, and its special auxiliaries. While all troops receive the same training and the higher echelons adhere to the same the same doctrine and education, they vary greatly from region to region. Troops in Missouri and Illinois tend to lack a martial background but many of them are already literate and educated. Brotherhood forces from Kansas are mostly descendants of the Reaver Movement and share many of their beliefs and customs. Lastly, their forces in the Vault 0 region are mostly drawn from tribals and retain their martial traditions, often wearing warpaint and carrying spears into battle.

Initiates are the lowest-ranked and most numerous of the Brotherhood's military. They compose conscripts and levies, given basic, brutal military training and provided with simple arms and armament. Initiates are equipped as is most convenient for the region- those from Illinois and Missouri wear leather armor mass produced from Brahmin hide, those from the radioactive dust bowl of Kansas craft and wear all-encompassing Reaver banded armor, and those from Vault 0 wear metal armor forged from scrap. Each initiate is provided with a basic firearm, but many also carry their own weapons into battle.

Squires are composed of Initiates who have proven themselves, and expressed an interest to join the Brotherhood of Steel permanently. They wear improved versions of initiates' armors, and are provided military-grade firearms such as assault rifles and combat shotguns.

Knights serve as mechanized infantry and are recruited from Squires who have not only demonstrated skill and valor, but also also a proper understanding of the Brotherhood's dogma and doctrine. Missouri and Illinois Knights wear combat armor, those from Kansas wear armored environmental suits, and Vault 0 Knights wear Tesla Metal Armor, and those of all ranks are allowed use of high-tech weapons such as laser and plasma rifles. Additionally, they are often provided with vehicles ranging from scrap metal technicals to pre-war infantry fighting vehicles.

Paladins are the most elite and most iconic of the Brotherhood's regular forces. Recruited from worthy knights, they are the only troops allowed access to the Brotherhood's unique power armor. They carry the finest weapons that the Brotherhood can obtain, including Gauss and pulse rifles.

Reprogrammed Calculator robots are used primarily as security forces in and around Vault 0 and the surrounding manufacturing facilities. Because of the effort required to reprogram them to function without their Calculator, the Brotherhood has only been able to reincorporate a small part of its original army into their forces.

Brotherhood Deathclaws are the result of a long-standing alliance with a group of intelligent Deathclaws. They are easily distinguished by their mammalian characteristics and human-like intelligence. They serve much as the original military envisioned them, as vicious close combat troops and peerless trackers. They also use their keen senses to aid the Brotherhood Inquisitors in identifying possible infiltrators and spies.

In addition to their infantry, the Brotherhood employs a number of vehicles for military application. Most commonly seen are repaired pre-war military trucks and jeeps, often bearing crude post-war modifications. The Brotherhood also possesses operational pre-war tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, and has even created their own unique model of APC. The Brotherhood is also one of the few factions with an air force, consisting of multiple small recon airships, two massive, heavily armed command airships, and a number of military helicopters. Scribes are currently working on finishing the Calculator's work on the Hellion prototype aircraft, although progress has been slow.

Economy: The Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel's economy varies across its territories. Illinois's industries are primarily low-tech manufacturing, steelmaking, farming, and fishing. Missouri is the Brotherhood's trade hub, where almost all river and rail traffic passes through. Missouri is also home to many farms and ranches, and is mined for limestone and lead. Kansas's industry is almost entirely high tech manufacturing out of the Calculator's old facilities in Canyon City and the Great Bend, worked by the technological wizardry of the Reaver tribes. Vault 0 is the base of operations for the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel, and almost all of its resource, primarily in the form of tribal-run sustenance farms and former Calculator manufacturing plants, are dedicated to sustaining it.

Culture and Technology: While the Midwestern Brotherhood was originally nearly indistinguishable from the original Brotherhood of Steel aside from a few doctrinal disagreements, they are nearly unidentifiable as Brotherhood offshoots after almost a century of living separately. Both in doctrine and in the aesthetics of their power armor, they come off as more untamed and earthly compared to the Brotherhood, but no less chivalric. They do not look down more upon primitive cultures; in fact, they have learned a great deal of knowledge in the fields of survival and natural science from the tribals and wastelanders that they interact with. Furthermore, they pay little heed to the ways or history of the old Brotherhood, to the point that most of their members do not even know who Roger Maxson was. To most of the Midwestern Brotherhood, they were founded when they landed in Chicago, and it was Barnaky and the Warrior that made them what they are today.

Technology is allocated according to need and necessity, thus most places don't have anything more complicated than farm tractors, steam engines, wind turbines, and scrap metal automobiles. In the manufacturing plants and military bunkers, however, the Brotherhood maintains technologies much more akin to their West Coast counterparts, such as power armor, robots, and fusion reactors. Despite the fate of the Brotherhood's original airship, they have continued to utilize and develop airship technology, and have also poured resources into finishing what the Calculator started with the prototype Hellion aircraft.

Missouri and Illinois are the most "civilized" and developed of the Brotherhood's territories, and the people tend to be farmers, herders, and traders. They tend to turn their noses up at more primitive cultures, but interact well with other "civilized" folks. Illinois also includes a few 80s gangs that have accepted Brotherhood sovereignty in exchange for protection, unrestricted access to the region's I-80 stretch, and a steady supply of automobile tech. Unlike the more primitive regions, tribute is generally paid in taxes rather than conscripts. Travel is generally done by railroad or river steamer.

Much of Kansas remains a radioactive dust bowl, traversed by road or rail. The Brotherhood has only very loose control of the region outside of major settlements outside of the cities. Most of the inhabitants of Kansas are descendants of the Reavers that fought and later allied with the Brotherhood, and now use their technological expertise to run the high-tech manufacturing facilities in the Great Bend and Canyon City, to be shipped by road to Vault 0 or by rail to Missouri. Because of the radioactive dust storms, protective gear is ubiquitous, and those growing up in Kansas are experts in surviving hazardous environments.

Vault 0 is the military headquarters of the Brotherhood of Steel, with comparatively little non-military development. Within the vault itself, the Brotherhood leaders use its communication systems, once intended to oversee the Vault program, to coordinate the Brotherhood's military forces. While the technology to control the Calculator's robot army was lost, the sight of reprogrammed robots in Colorado is not an uncommon one. In addition to the military applications, Vault 0 contains detailed data on every single Vault-Tec vault which has allowed the Brotherhood to track down further pre-war technology, including two functional Garden of Eden Creation Kits.

In contrast to the high-tech interior of Vault 0, most Brotherhood-affiliated settlements in Colorado are primitive tribal villages. Most Brotherhood troops recruited from this region are former tribal warriors, and many retain their tribes' identities even as they make it into higher echelons in the Brotherhood. Knights and Paladins often wear face paint or strange hair styles under their helmets and many of them carry piston spears. They tend towards being more ruthless and merciless than their eastern counterparts, and the potential threat of Caesar's Legion to both the Brotherhood's geopolitical position and the vassal tribes' identities has only further encouraged these attitudes.

Super Mutants and ghouls live alongside humans in Brotherhood territory, and discrimination against them is banned. The Brotherhood has investigated the possibility of bringing more Super Mutants into the fold, but preliminary expeditions have been discouraging, claiming that most other FEV mutant strains are too stupid and/or violent to be recruited.

Lastly, while most wastelanders view Deathclaws as nothing more than animalistic predators, the hairy, semi-mammalian Deathclaws of the Midwest are intelligent. They live far from human settlements in matriarchal families almost akin to tribes, and subsist by hunting. Similarly to the human tribes, they pledge a few of their own to serve the Brotherhood in exchange for food (usually live), protection, and veterinary aid.

Religion: Religion differs across the Brotherhood's territory. Missouri and Illinois are largely non-religious although pre-war faiths such as Christianity survive in the region. Kansas is dominated by the Reaver Movement, and many of the tribals retain their faith even after rising into the higher ranks of the Brotherhood. Lastly, the Vault 0 region has a diverse mix of tribal faiths, which like the Reavers often continue to hold onto them even after becoming full-fledged members of the Brotherhood.