Vulpes Inculta

1. #1The Mojave Wastelandselective

   The Mojave Wasteland is the region synonymous with the pre-War Mojave Desert, spanning large portions of the pre-War states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Compared to other parts of the former United States, the Mojave survived the Great War relatively unscathed. When the nuclear apocalypse began, 77 atomic warheads were launched at the city of Las Vegas and the surrounding areas, but intricate defense systems set in place by wealthy businessman Robert House resulted in 59 of the warheads forcefully disarmed mid-flight, another nine were blasted out of the sky by a laser defense system situated atop the Lucky 38 Hotel & Casino and the remaining nine hit the surrounding desert. The Mojave Wasteland's name had been coined by at least 2083, when one of its residents, Daniel Shin, was recruited into the Brotherhood of Steel by Knight Alan Connors. Nearly twenty years later, the Brotherhood First Expeditionary Force passed through the Mojave on their way to Appalachia. Jack Cabot mentions that his father Lorenzo thought there was an alien city buried under the Mojave Desert, just like Ubar in Rub' al Khali. In the years immediately following the War, the Mojave was largely ignored by the developing post-apocalyptic civilizations, such as the New California Republic in the west and Caesar's Legion to the east, thus allowing raiders, slavers and super mutants to prosper there. For years, Vegas sat at its heart, decayed by almost two centuries of neglect. When NCR scouts reached Hoover Dam with the intent of expanding the NCR's borders, pre-War Securitrons rolled out onto the old Las Vegas Strip and rallied the three tribes occupying the city, at the behest of Mr. House, the man who had saved the city centuries prior. In 2274, President Kimball sent the NCR army into the Mojave in force, with the objective of occupying and repairing Hoover Dam. With House's forces already occupying the dam and surrounding area, and the threat of Caesar's Legion looming ever closer, the NCR was forced to negotiate with House, resulting in the Treaty of New Vegas. The clauses of the treaty allow for the NCR to send 95% of Hoover Dam's power output back to their home states, as well as granting them rights to establish military bases at the Hoover Dam and McCarran Airport. In exchange, Mr. House's New Vegas Strip retains its sovereignty and could receive the tourism of NCR citizens without interference from the government as well as the remaining 5% from the dam. Shortly thereafter, combined forces of the Legion's 86 conquered tribes arrived from the east, led by Caesar and the Malpais Legate, seeking a city to call their capital. The Legion launched an attack on the dam and the NCR troops stationed there but were repelled and forced back east. Most of the credit went to Chief Hanlon for issuing a tactical retreat to Boulder City and luring the Legion into a trap laid by the NCR Rangers that leveled half of the town, then routing the surviving Legionaries back across the dam. This ultimately led to the attempted execution of the Malpais Legate. The outcome of the battle solidified the delicate balance of power in the Mojave; between the NCR, Legion, and House, should one attack the other, the third could take advantage of the conflict and attack in turn. The Mojave Wasteland has significant diversity in terms of inhabitants and landscapes. In the northwest, the super mutant and nightkin-friendly settlement of Jacobstown overlooks the valley from the snow and pine-covered mountains. To the west, the Great Khans have settled in the vibrant cliffs of Red Rock Canyon. The independent settlements of Goodsprings and Primm sit amid the encroaching New California Republic from their Mojave Outpost and the Powder Gangers, a group of escaped convicts, from the NCR Correctional Facility and surrounding camps. The forces of Caesar's Legion are slowy seeping east across the Colorado River at all possible junctures, from their mainstay at the Fort, the newly captured town of Nelson, the destroyed settlement of Nipton and Camp Searchlight, a former NCR stronghold sabotaged by means of radiation. Their forces gather strength each day, readying themselves for a second offensive against the NCR for control of the much-coveted Hoover Dam. The central region hosts tall and imposing mountain peaks with accompanying valleys, one of which shelters the remainder of the area's Brotherhood of Steel chapter. A group of deranged super mutants and nightkin have taken residence on the foremost peak of Black Mountain. The independent settlement of Novac struggles with neighbors consisting of irradiated abominations, while businesses such as the Gun Runners, Crimson Caravan Company and the 188 Trading Post traders attempt to keep commerce viable amidst the growing chaos. Fringe groups in settlements circling the middle of the region, such as the Kings and Followers of the Apocalypse in Freeside, citizens of North Vegas Square and Westside, all actively exerting their independence while supporting and sheltering those who call the neighborhoods home. In the center of it all, the glowing jewel of the desert, the New Vegas Strip's casinos light up the night sky, contently continuing business as usual by attracting those who wish to partake in the allure of riches. Yet similar to the surrounding powers that be, also quietly fortifying itself as a power against all those who may attempt to breach its walls is the secretive benefactor of the beautiful city itself. According to Chief Hanlon, the state that was once Nevada is more fertile and has more water and foliage than California, as the population in California has exploded and caused the need for expansion east in search of new opportunities and land. A large number of native and familiar species have continued to thrive in the Mojave Wasteland. A variety of birds including ravens are seen in the wastes, pecking through debris and vegetation for food. Fish are present in Lake Mead and the Colorado River. Coyotes have managed to survive in the wasteland with little to no mutation. Despite this, the Mojave wastes are still peppered with mutated species, such as bighorners, brahmin, radscorpions, night stalkers and cazadores, with the last two a result of experimentation at Big MT. Nevada agave fruit grow in abundance, as do banana yucca fruit. The ever-present radioactive fallout has still altered some of the native life, with glowing mushrooms a common sight. Snow is also present in the area. Water encountered throughout the Mojave is safer to drink and some instances are free of radiation, plant life is found consistently throughout the area and various animals are encountered on a regular basis, thriving in the mostly undisturbed lands. Because only nine warheads hit the surrounding areas around the Mojave, rebuilding society has been less challenging than in other parts of the country. Many portions of the wasteland have remained untouched by humans since the Great War (such as Vault 22 and H&H Tools Factory), while others have been resettled (such as Freeside and Novac). The pre-War buildings and factories are more intact, allowing businesses such as the Gun Runners and Michael Angelo's workshop to continue to run and operate. Technology is more well preserved, thanks to the lack of nuclear fallout, and items such as the neon signs that dot the New Vegas Strip, the monorail within Camp McCarran, or the massive generators of the Hoover Dam, have been repaired to proper working order. Everyday society is stable in some areas and not in others. While small-time traders and traveling merchants along Highway 95 and the Long 15 are able to operate, it is a fraction of what the larger and more organized traders and caravans are capable of. The larger entities have the advantages of manpower and firepower, and those that have managed to acquire pre-War technology, such as the Crimson Caravan Company, prove even more successful, some even recruited out of the region to serve with military organizations elsewhere in the pre-War United States. Super mutants are less common here than other parts of the country, and most who are residing in the area have chosen to do so in their own community of Jacobstown or the more hostile Black Mountain. Composed of remnants of the former Unity, they are considerably more intelligent than their Vault 87 and Institute cousins, though nightkin ail from severe psychological damage. Separating New Vegas from the rest of the Mojave exists a vast expanse of desert where many dangerous creatures such as deathclaws, feral ghouls and radscorpions thrive. This generally causes most travelers to traverse along NCR-controlled highways or hire mercenaries to escort them. Casinos and gambling are popular among the locals in the area, making the New Vegas Strip a popular hub of activity for merchants, caravans, NCR troopers, opportunists and everyday people wanting to hit it big at the slots. The main casinos, The Tops, Gomorrah and the Ultra-Luxe, are run by the three tribes that settled in New Vegas. Each has its own personal rules and customs, other than the universal rule against carrying weapons into their casinos, and are overseen by Mr. House and his Securitrons. Politics play a large role in the society of the Mojave. Politics in the region boils down to three major powers: the NCR, Caesar's Legion and the Free Economic Zone of New Vegas controlled by Mr. House. The NCR is finding its war with Caesar's Legion both increasingly unpopular back in California and expensive to fund. Caravans and merchants heading to and from the Mojave deal with exorbitant taxes and fees imposed on them by the NCR. Caesar's Legion is coming ever closer to finding out what happens when their absolute ruler, and god, finally passes away and is facing the question of what truly unified the Legion in the first place, Caesar's ideals or Caesar himself. The casinos on the Strip have their own agendas and Mr. House has his own mysterious plans for the Mojave and more specifically, the Strip. The NCR's goal in the region is to annex the Strip as an NCR territory and completely settle the region as NCR land. Many NCR soldiers and former soldiers, such as Craig Boone, believe this is not possible until the NCR takes the fight to the Legion and takes out Caesar himself; only then will the NCR be an unchallenged power in the region and able to safely settle without danger of constant attack. This sentiment is brought on by the commanding officer in the region, General Lee Oliver, constantly ordering his forces to hold the line, despite objections from his subordinates such as Chief Hanlon, Colonel James Hsu and Major Dhatri. They feel that the position the general is putting them all in, holding the line against the Fiends, ordering Chief Hanlon not to pursue the Legion at the First Battle of Hoover Dam or ordering the NCR Rangers into a support role when they have more skill than the NCR's heavy troopers, are racking a higher body count than would actively pursuing an offensive campaign against these opposing entities, which each one feels the NCR is capable of doing. The Legion's goal is to make the Strip its new capital, replacing Flagstaff to the southeast. It also desires complete control of Hoover Dam as it is a strategic position to defend and a source of clean water. They are less interested in the power the plant provides as they reject advanced technology, believing it a crutch rather than a tool to be used. The Legion, despite a devastating defeat at the First Battle of Hoover Dam, has once again emerged from the east and actively attacks NCR outposts and camps from its base at Cottonwood Cove. Camp Forlorn Hope is an excellent example of how the Legion has regained strength, as they took the nearby city of Nelson and repeatedly assault the camp, lowering morale among the camp's inhabitants. Once the Legion takes a position, they seem to be able to hold it effectively, without much resistance. This is the opposite of the NCR, which is constantly losing footholds in positions in the eastern Mojave. Meanwhile, Mr. House fortifies his position on the Strip, letting the conflict between the NCR and the Legion play out. He believes that the fewer soldiers of each organization who try to impede his progress at the next battle of Hoover Dam, the better. He patiently bides his time, waiting to exploit vulnerabilities generated by one faction attacking the other as a constant backdrop of distant explosions, artillery and gunfire can be heard regularly throughout the region.

2. #2Slaveryselective

   Slavery is a term referring to the owning of another person as property, typically for the purposes of exploitation as labor. Although largely extinct by the 21st century, it was reborn in the wake of the Great War, becoming the foundation of many wasteland economies, over two thousand years after Rome built an empire on the backs of slaves. The Brotherhood of Steel does not believe in forcing anyone to serve the order against their will. Accusing them of slavery is considered a particularly severe insult. The New California Republic explicitly banned slavery within its territories by 2241, with its standing police force committed to arresting any slavers within its borders, much like any raider, cannibal or lawless mutant.

3. #3NCR, New California Republicselective

   The New California Republic (NCR) is a post-War federal republic founded in New California in 2189. It is comprised of five contiguous states located in southern California, with additional territorial holdings in northern California, Oregon, and Nevada. Considering itself an inheritor to pre-War values of democracy, personal liberty and rule of law, the NCR has developed a highly expansionist as well as imperialist culture, undertaking colonization efforts and military expeditions into neighboring regions in order to "civilize" them. However, these policies are not without controversy, and by 2281, many within and outside the NCR have come to criticize it as hawkish and prone to corruption.

4. #4Followers of the Apocalypseselective

   The Followers of the Apocalypse, or simply the Followers, are a humanitarian organization originating in New California. Followers focus on providing education and medical services to those in need, as well as furthering research in non-military areas. Once allies of the New California Republic, they have since parted ways due to disagreements over NCR foreign policy. Forgoing preaching in favor of humanitarianism, the Followers are generally welcomed by the inhabitants of the wasteland. Wherever they go, the Followers seek to provide services to those in need, namely medical care and agricultural instruction. Those in positions of power often regard them as seditious anarchists; though such accusations are not entirely without truth, the organization as a whole has no interest in seizing power. The Followers of the Apocalypse readily assist those who require aid and welcome anyone who wishes to join their ranks, including former members of the Enclave, Brotherhood of Steel, or just about any other faction. Although pacifists by nature, the Followers will not hesitate to defend themselves against attackers and will take up arms against those who threaten their ideals. Oftentimes they will be seen with hired guards adding much-needed protection and firepower to their organization.

5. #5Caesar's Legionselective

   Caesar's Legion (Latin: Legio Caesaris), also referred to simply as The Legion, is an imperialistic slaver society and totalitarian dictatorship founded in 2247 by Edward "Caesar" Sallow and Joshua Graham, built on the conquest and enslavement of tribal societies in the American southwest. To enforce unity in the absence of any civilian institutions, the Legion loosely models itself after the military of the Roman Empire, repurposing its language and aesthetics for the post-apocalypse. As of 2281, the Legion controls large amounts of territory east of the Colorado River, primarily in the former states of Arizona and New Mexico, with footholds in Utah and Colorado. Worshipped as the "son of Mars" by his followers, Caesar's ultimate goal is to conquer the New California Republic and merge its civil institutions and infrastructure with the military strength of the Legion, creating a new totalitarian empire. The Legion proper is first and foremost a slave army, the sole owner of which is Caesar. As Caesar conquers the peoples of the wasteland, he strips them of their tribal identities and merges them into his forces. There is no other tribe than the Legion itself. The non-tribal people who live in Legion-controlled territory are not considered legionaries. They are subjects of the Legion, living in the cities and towns under its control, and are generally left free to do whatever they wish, as long as they do not interfere with Legion operations or endanger its position. The Legion employs a very strict hierarchy and clear division of roles between the sexes. Legionaries are the main fighting force of the Legion, composed of able-bodied men enslaved by the Legion or born into it. They have only one purpose: to fight for Caesar until they fall in battle. This principle is imprinted into each legionary during his reconditioning or upbringing (for those born into slavery), creating fanatically loyal soldiers. Unlike the Roman Empire, experience and veteran status have no bearing on a legionary's position. While they receive better equipment as they advance, this is solely for the purpose of accomplishing more dangerous and complex tasks, with much smaller tolerance for failure. They have no personal freedoms or rights. Their only real choice is where and when they die for Caesar, to whom they are disposable tools, discarded the moment they stop fulfilling their purpose. Women are expressly forbidden from fighting, being considered breeding stock as well as being treated as money to be rewarded among Legionaries. They are caretakers, healers, midwives, and breeders, fulfilling roles essential to maintaining the Legion's continuous campaign of expansion. Of particular note are the priestesses, who raise children taken from their parents and raise them in keeping with Caesar's doctrine. While some members of the Legion express condescending or misogynistic opinions of women and their non-combat roles, the sexist segregation of genders in the Legion is not based on prejudice, but the principle of minimax. Caesar strictly divides the duties between the sexes in order to fully utilize their potential and optimize the Legion's might. By forbidding women from engaging in combat, he increases the likelihood of their bearing of children, especially necessary due to the high infant mortality resulting from the low level of medical care. Population growth is required for expansion, providing a greater number of warriors to use in military campaigns. Caesar himself is not particularly prejudiced against any sex, or rather, treats them both instrumentally, like pawns on a chessboard. In order to maximize breeding and eliminate factors that might lower it, Caesar has decreed homosexuality a capital offense and mandated child quotas from all legionaries. The vocabulary of Legion members is a mixture of Latin and English. There was no soft ⟨c⟩ in classical Latin, where it was always pronounced as /k/, such as in their pronunciation of Caesar's name as /ˈkaisar/. Individuals outside of the Legion generally use the Modern English pronunciation of /ˈsiːzər/. Legion members are fastidious about classical Latin pronunciations, including the /v/ to (w) phonology, heard in the greeting "ave" (hail) as "ah-wey" or in how Vulpes Inculta introduces himself, pronouncing his first name as "wool-pes." Those outside of the Legion that have come in contact with them may use the pronunciations interchangeably. Legion members are called "legionaries" (as opposed to "legionnaires," which is a modern phrase used by the French Foreign Legion. Those who are liked by the Legion are called "amicus," Latin for comrade/friend. The focus of the Legion's ideology is survival and long term stability at all costs. Caesar disregards democracies as ineffective, fostering corruption, and disintegration. Ancient Rome was a militarized autocracy that effectively assimilated the cultures it conquered, which he saw as the perfect template for a society that would survive and thrive in the face of the challenges of the post-nuclear world. By dedicating its members to a higher ideal, he seeks to prevent humanity from fracturing and destroying itself again. He believes that the only way to achieve this is through enforcing a nationalist, imperialist, totalitarian, homogeneous culture that obliterates the identity of every group it conquers. The individual has no value beyond his utility to the state, whether as an instrument of war or production. A natural consequence of this is the emphasis placed on personal sacrifice. Victory cannot be achieved without sacrificing blood and life. To this end, the Legion shuns robots, as they firmly believe that mankind requires warriors and their sacrifice, rather than gadgets that allow for bloodless victories. The Legion also forbids painkillers and other chems (including medically beneficial chems like stimpaks) as detrimental to the human condition and Caesar's long-term plans to reshape humanity. Ignorance of medical science among the legionaries also ensures that only the hardiest will survive and go on to become deadly veterans. Politically, this philosophy is expressed in a general disdain for democracy as a weak and ineffective system that fosters disunity, greed, and self-interest at the expense of the collective and the greater good. Caesar cites the NCR as an example, focusing on government corruption by wealthy brahmin barons and landowners, greed permeating every level of society, all leading to the abandonment of the collective and the greater good. The Legion is intended to be the Republic's opposite, shunning democracy in favor of a strong, centralized rule that would prevent fragmentation and internal weakness. The conquest of NCR will establish a new order, akin to the Roman Empire, complete with the transformation of the Legion from a marauding army into a domestic military force.

6. #6Great Khansselective

   Despite the destruction of the New Khans at the hands of the Chosen One, the tribe's history did not end with Darion's death. Though his mercenary war band was the governing band, it was not the only one. Over the next few decades, the fragmented Khans gradually coalesced back into a single group. No longer small raiding bands, this time, the newly-renamed "Great" Khans became a unified tribe once more under the leadership of Papa Khan, who led an exodus into the Mojave Wasteland, abandoning New California in 2267. Upon arrival in Nevada, a vanguard of the Followers of the Apocalypse already present in the Mojave reached out to the Khans and taught them basic science skills, such as chemistry, reading and writing. They hoped that the Khans would use that knowledge to manufacture medicine to sustain themselves, but instead the tribe turned this knowledge into a profitable racket in drug running. Drugs were nothing new for the Khans, as they already knew how to use plants and herbs to create mind-altering substances, the Followers just made them more efficient and indirectly contributed to the popularity of substance abuse among the Khans. Still, some of the chems they produce go toward trading with others, namely the Fiends. As the third incarnation of the Khans, the Great Khans are the only truly organized band of raiders in the Mojave; both men and women can hold their own in a fight, whether in a brawl or a shootout. As a tribe however, the Great Khans are but a shadow of their former selves. Both their numbers and morale have been ravaged by a series of massacres and displacements until the current leader Papa Khan guided the tribe into an exodus into the Mojave Wasteland from California. Papa Khan governs his Khans in a similar fashion to his predecessor, Garl Death-Hand, using advisors to inform decisions for the good of the tribe, while still making final decisions himself. His trusted advisors include Regis, the chief of law enforcement and Papa's second in command right hand man; Jack and Diane, in charge of economics and chem trade; and Melissa Lewis, the lead scout. Unlike Garl however, Papa is willing to accept criticism of his leadership and does not punish his followers for speaking out against him. Papa Khan also has a system of succession in place differing from that of the original Khans. For the time being, Regis will take over should Papa Khan die. However, Papa is able to select an heir to succeed him, should they impress him. This heir does not have to be related by blood to Papa Khan, nor do they even have to be a Khan at all. The leader of the Khans is also able to step down at any time, for any reason, but an heir cannot decline their role until they become leader. The Great Khans reside in Mongolian-style tents called Gers (yurts) within Red Rock Canyon. However, unlike the other settlers of the Mojave, these homes are used for little more than sleeping in, as they usually only have room for a couple of beds and a central fire. A Great Khan often carries all of their possessions with them, if they should decide to have anything besides the bare essentials. Because of this, as well as their aggression, the other factions view them as savages. However, unlike the Jackals, Fiends, Scorpions and Vipers, the Great Khans are not hostile towards newcomers. If the Great Khans begin to dislike someone, however, they will often show great hostility. Due to a long and hostile history, however, they will open fire on anyone wearing an NCR uniform, regardless of if they are in fact an NCR member or not. The Great Khans subsist mainly on hunting and farming, and profit from the sales of chemicals and drugs produced in the Red Rock drug lab. The Canyon is an inhospitable location, lacking adequate food and water, leading to the Great Khans' dependence on drugs, which they can create quite easily and can sell to a multitude of factions.

7. #7Fiendsselective

   The origins of the Fiends is unknown, though they have been led by a man by the name of Motor-Runner for many years. They control the southwestern ruins of Vegas, placing Vault 3 well within their sights when the vault opened. Despite managing a relatively peaceful trading relationship with the outside world for a few weeks, the vault inhabitants were too trusting and without means to defend themselves. When the Fiends arrived to raid the vault, the inhabitants simply let them in, wherein the Fiends slaughtered them all. Seeing the potential of the vault and having trouble keeping his people out of Westside, Motor-Runner decided to make it their new home. Having firmly rooted themselves in this safe haven, the Fiends have since steadily grown stronger, and they now claim a large part of the southwestern New Vegas conurbation as their territory. The Fiends have little organization. Many of the more stable of the raiders are allowed to reside in Vault 3, but those considered to crazy even by Fiend standards are kicked out to aimlessly roam the northern Mojave looking for their next chem score or an innocent wastelander to jump. Like many other raider groups, the Fiends split into small war-parties, usually between three and four members, which allows them to operate in an enormous portion of the outer New Vegas, aside from their main area of the western and south-western city. Outside, they are usually gathered around campfires where much of their scavenged items, such as first aid and ammo boxes, can be found scattered around. Many raider camps are protected by makeshift walls and littered with graffiti. At times, they utilize traps in order to protect their shelter, as seen inside Zapp's Neon Signs. Fiends have a variety of different weapons, from basic melee weapons such as knives and pool cues, to an unusually large number of high-tech range weapons like Laser RCWs and plasma rifles. They are mostly found carrying basic guns like caravan shotguns, varmint rifles, and silenced .22 SMGs. Some Fiends can occasionally be found carrying weapons like chainsaws, Rippers, and flamers. Due to the wide range of different weapons varying from Fiend to Fiend, it is assumed that they are either scavenged, stolen or looted off people they had killed. They dress in various raider armors and wear distinct helmets adorned with war-painted ruminant skulls. The Fiends have also used the neon signs from Zapp's Neon Signs to erect a perimeter fence around their territory.

8. #8Jackalsselective

   The Jackals are a cannibalistic, savage raider tribe. The Jackals commonly use group tactics to overwhelm their enemies, but due to a lack of coordination and cowardice, they will instantly retreat whenever they doubt they can win. Their bands shelter in various hideaways and fighting over spoils is not uncommon. Jackals tend to file their teeth and turn them into canines. Another marked trait of their tribe is cannibalism, imposed by their experiences. Many Jackals are desperate to find food, leading them to feigning death or retreating temporarily from combat, just to be able to claim the bodies afterwards.

9. #9Scorpionsselective

   No different than any other raider gang, the Scorpions are primarily composed of petty upstarts that make caps through small-time chem peddling. Scorpion gangers are usually armed with guns such as 10mm pistols, sawed-off shotguns or 10mm submachine guns. They also hold weak melee weapons such as switchblades or lead pipes. At least one of them in the suites will be wielding a Ripper. They almost always wear merc cruiser outfits.

10. #10Ghoulselective

    Ghouls are mutated humans or animals affected by the phenomenon of ghoulification. In the case of humans, ghouls are sometimes referred to as necrotic post-humans in the Capital Wasteland, but this term does not seem to have been adopted outside of it whatsoever. Despite their zombie-like appearance, the flesh of ghouls is not actually rotten. ntense and prolonged radiation has ravaged their skin, much of their flesh, and in some cases many of their ligaments. Some have managed to retain their humanity, while others have fallen into madness and gone feral. Despite their infertility and in some cases mental deterioration, they have greatly extended overall lifespans and are immune to (and sometimes even healed by) background radiation and/or nuclear fallout. High levels of radiation are a crucial factor, but radiation poisoning typically results in death, rather than ghoulification. There are two primary ways in which ghouls can develop from a human. Irradiation and gradual transformation result in ghouls who retain their general human shape, but with a high degree of skin deterioration: Exposed muscle, flaking skin, and damaged connective tissue characterized by the absence of nose and ears. Another is surviving a nuclear blast relatively close to ground zero, suffering burns both thermal and radiation-induced, but surviving. The latter transformation is typically faster and substantially more traumatic for the victim and results in a generally much more horrifying appearance, with exposed bone, asymmetric deformations, and extensive unhealed wounds. The transformation can take anywhere from hours, to weeks, to as much as a year, depending on exposure levels. Age is also a non-factor, people with the capacity to become a ghoul can change as early as a newborn into old age. Once it is completed, the ghouls take on the aforementioned appearance, at a rate influenced largely by the manner of their exposure: the more radiation received in a short amount of time causes drastic changes, while symptoms of ghoulification are more gradual with chronic exposure. Ghouls generally experience loss of skin and connective tissue in a manner similar to leprosy, resulting in exposed muscle, blood vessels, and in extreme cases even bone and internal organs. As a rule, ghouls generally lose hair along with the skin, though this varies due to the unpredictable nature of the change. Vocal cords and the larynx are also usually affected by the change, resulting in a raspy voice – though again, this varies, such as the vocal cords experiencing only minor degradation when ghoulification begins, resulting in a far less raspy voice, compared to those who have experienced it for far longer. Other results of the change are widespread necrosis, rot, and other degenerative conditions like arthritis, cataracts, and glaucoma. Feralization and dementia can happen immediately. In fact, this necrosis can be exacerbated by a phenomenon whereby rotting flesh around sweat glands exudes macronutrients, which attract flies that further digest and consume the tissue of the ghoul. Some ghouls may also experience loss of appendages, but the radioactive regeneration allows for them to be reattached and retain functionality.

11. #11The United States Armed Forcesselective

    The United States Armed Forces were the pre-War federal military forces of the United States of America, consisting of five branches: The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and the Coast Guard. After the bombs dropped, the United States Armed Forces were left without orders from central government and collapsed within the days or weeks after the fallout.

12. #12Brahminselective

    Brahmin are one of the most important mutated species that emerged in post-nuclear America. Descended from the Indian brahman cattle variant imported to the U.S. for crossbreeding purposes, they developed two heads as a result of irradiation. These toasty brown critters were quickly adopted by survivors as the most versatile and capable livestock animal in the wastes. Their major advantage is the fact that while ornery, they are actually easy to manage with as little as a pointy stick. A large, two-headed mutant used as a pack animal, capable of carrying up to 500 lbs. Brahmin also provide milk, and their feces are an efficient fertilizer and fuel for fires. When slaughtered, they become even more useful as source of meat, leather (tough and durable, fit for everything including tents, clothes, armor, belts, saddle bags, shoes), bones (which can be fashioned into clubs, tools, dice, hoes, arrowheads), tails (perfect as brushes), and even fat for soap making. They also don't need much to survive, as they can go without water for extended periods of time and can subsist on whatever weeds they find in the arid wasteland, digesting them in eight-compartment stomachs (double the number compared to pre-War cows). These advantages made them the cornerstone of many a post-nuclear economy, including the New California Republic, whose vast brahmin herds are the driving force of its industry and the influence of the powerful brahmin barons. By extension, they also fuel the economy of parasites, such as New Reno during the 2240s, when cattle rustling brought much needed income to the crime families of the city.

13. #13Dogselective

    Dogs are creatures found across the post-War United States. Many have remained domesticated pets, but many more have turned feral and hunt the wasteland in packs. The dogs that survived the War are a larger and tougher breed, now almost wolf-sized. Even so, just as they have in ages past, many dogs have remained faithful and beloved companions.

14. #14Mole ratselective

    Mole rats have sharp claws and even sharper tusks that they use to tear great chunks of flesh from their prey. Mole rats are either huge rats or the result of gene-splicing Kodiak bears with maladjusted lab rats. They seldom run in packs larger than a half dozen or so.

15. #15Mutant houndsselective

    Mutant hounds are dogs that have undergone a major mutation after being contaminated by the Forced Evolutionary Virus. They are often accompanied by super mutants

16. #16Giant antselective

    These mutated arthropods, of order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae, and genus Camponotus were exposed to large levels of radiation, growing larger. Large and small forager ants make up the bulk of these ants' colonies, while soldier ants guard them to apply defense. Small, flight-enabled swarms also exist and act together as if by a hive mind in the group. Ants are not a serious threat, only being dangerous when swarming the player character due to encroachment of their territories. Giant ants are large insectoids inhabiting the area earlier known as Northern California and Oregon, and tend to live in dark places, such as caverns, and can be found in Arroyo and Broken Hills. As they are insects they have three pairs of legs, and a powerful exoskeleton. They are also prone to turn into a frenzy, should their primary sense organ, their antenna, be damaged. The heart of the swarm, a giant ant queen is significantly larger than drones and soldiers and capable of spitting acid at attackers. However, her large size renders her largely immobile, while the wings are little more than a vestigial limb, capable of threat displays, but little beyond that. The queen is roughly four to five times larger than the average giant ant. When threatened, she buzzes her wings and will hiss at the enemy. She will then proceed to spit an acidic saliva at the enemy in an attempt to ward them off. She cannot move much, so avoidance is easy, especially in smaller spaces.

17. #17Bloatfliesselective

    An example of the mutations caused by the Great War, the bloatfly is an evolution of either the Musca domestica (common housefly) or Tabanus genera of biting horse fly. Tentatively classified as part of the Tabanidae family in the order Diptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda and kingdom Animalia by the Enclave, it is a major divergence from its evolutionary forebears. The standard bloatfly has a green and brown carapace and is significantly larger and more tenacious than its predecessors. Its size inhibits previous flight characteristics and agility, making it impossible to feed like pre-War horse flies did. Instead, it uses its engorged stinger and pupae gestating within its abdomen to incapacitate prey. The stinger is capable of launching mature larvae with a barbed sting at the end. These latch onto the target and deliver a neurotoxin capable of incapacitating larger prey, allowing the bloatfly and its larvae to feed. Its neurotoxin is ineffective against humans and larger targets, causing only localized necrosis. As a result, the bloatfly serves as prey rather than predator among wastelanders who utilize its meat for food. Bloatflies can resort to scavenging in situations where prey or other sources of sustenance are scarce. It adapted to its enlarged size with a unique gland that enables it to balance and maintain speed despite its size. Bloatflies are a common sight in the wastes, varying in size and exhibiting territorial instincts alongside an absence of self-preservation. They can be found in swarms of two to four and will attack targets relentlessly. Bloatflies may explode upon death.

18. #18Radscorpionsselective

    Radscorpions are large, mutated scorpions commonly found in the wasteland, often burrowing underground. Radscorpions sport highly venomous stingers, the ability to burrow underground in seconds, powerful claws, and durable exoskeletons.

19. #19Radroachesselective

    Commonly joked before the Great War as the only candidates for surviving a nuclear blast, cockroaches not only survived, but adapted. They became enlarged, with a bigger thorax to ward off attack, extended antennae to hunt in packs, and reinforced incisors to take down and ingest larger prey, up to and including humans. Radroaches are found mainly in underground areas and sewers across North America, which can cause them to be a pest in certain Vaults because they can usually be found in fairly large groups. They feed on the dead, but will go after living creatures if isolated. Their numbers are their biggest advantage. These radroaches are commonly seen in the dark, damp or irradiated parts of the wasteland and look similar to normal cockroaches, save for the fact that they have mutated to be the size of a domestic cat. They are generally little more than a nuisance to Armageddon survivors and less than likely to pose a challenge. Radroaches are territorial and rather aggressive, but not very harmful. Anyone can kill them with their bare hands, and will only attack when they feel threatened by passersby. Although they are winged, radroaches are not capable of flight. Still, it is possible that the wings are used for interspecies communication Radroach innards are useful in the treatment of radiation poisoning and are widely used by tribals for this purpose.

20. #20Feral ghoulselective

    Feral ghouls (also known as mindless ghouls, ghoul crazies or zombies) are the basic feral ghoul variant, wearing only a pair of tattered shorts and noticeably weaker than standard human opponents, they are easily dispatched with one or two headshots from any decent weapon or a solid hit from a decent melee or unarmed weapon. Despite their shrill noise and remarkable speed, they are only truly a threat when they have the advantage of numbers. Some feral ghouls come in different colors as well as different types. The colors are different depending on how the human looked before turning into a feral ghoul.

21. #21Super mutantselective

    Super mutant is a general term referring to humanoid mutants created by exposing a regular and relatively unmutated human to a variant of the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV). The resulting hulking mutants typically possess exceptional strength, endurance, resistance or immunity to disease and radiation, as well as modified intelligence that most times decreases instead.

22. #22Deathclawselective

    Deathclaw is a term referring to genetically-engineered creatures developed by the United States military to replace humans during close-combat search-and-destroy missions. They escaped into the wild in the aftermath of the Great War, and over the next few decades colonized much of the former United States, becoming apex predators in many of the new, post-War ecosystems. Deathclaws are a large, carnivorous, bipedal reptile species, designed for maximum lethality. The choice to make them bipedal was natural, as bipedalism raises the head, providing a greater field of vision and thus improving the ability to detect targets or resources. The upper limbs were also freed by this choice and could be fashioned into extremely dangerous weapons. The caveat is that the deathclaw is not as fast as a quadrupedal animal, though this is a largely academic concern. However, deathclaws have been observed running on all fours when charging prey. The rippling musculature of the deathclaw provides it with superior strength, excellent speed, and incredible resilience in most combat situations. Deathclaws communicate with each other in a pack using growls and body language, though they are also capable of mimicking human voices like a parrot if their intelligence is artificially increased. Their strength is further magnified by their claws. Owing to their lineage, the deathclaw has opposable thumbs, though an additional two fingers were coded into the genome, for a total of five fingers on each hand. Each terminates in a sharp talon that allows the reptile to wound and kill with frightening efficiency; a single swipe is capable of bisecting an unarmored human in seconds. Deathclaw hide is extremely tough, providing an excellent defense against blunt and edged weapons. Firearms and energy weapons are reliable tools for killing a deathclaw, though lower powered variants are likely to have trouble piercing its skin. The defense is enhanced by horns and dorsal spikes, making melee combat a very dangerous proposition However, while they are difficult opponents, their keen senses can be used against them. Loud noises and bright light, such as that emitted by flares, can be used to deter a deathclaw's advance or even keep it at bay.

23. #23Vault-tecselective

    Vault-Tec Corporation, also simply known as Vault-Tec, was a pre-War defense corporation which won the federal government contracts to design and implement a network of bunkers known as Vaults. By the time of the Great War, it was the largest company in America, valued at an estimated trillion dollars, with stakes in countless industries and businesses. Its wealth gave it immense sway against the United States government, rendered broke by the decade-long Sino-American War. As a result, the company deemed the USA a failed nation and shifted priorities. Hundreds of billions of dollars earned on Project Safehouse were used to ensure the survival of the company, while turning the Vaults into a giant social experiment to gather data for the company and the Enclave. The lack of confidence in the United States was so great that one of the corporation's leaders, Barb Howard, entertained the idea of Vault-Tec instigating the Great War themselves, to wipe the slate clean and usher in a new world free of war. While the company itself became defunct due to the nuclear war, with Vaults failing to safeguard their populations and failing, despised by surface dwellers as retreats for the rich. Select members of Vault-Tec survived the war in Vault 31, in suspended animation, as part of Bud Askins' plans.

24. #24Cazadoresselective

    Mutated and enlarged in the laboratories of Big MT, cazadores are the offshoot of DNA experiments performed by Doctor Borous. Borous' memories of when these experiments took place however have become muddled; he is confident that they took place on a Tuesday, possibly in May of 2003. Formerly, the lab-grown cazadores were confined to the Z-14 Pepsinae DNA splicing lab in Big MT, but groups of the mutant insects have managed to escape the Big MT crater and moved to neighboring areas, such as the Mojave Wasteland and Zion Canyon, and rapidly multiplied their numbers in recent years. Doctor Borous confidently denies that they have escaped from Big MT or have the ability to breed, which is shown to be false. With the population widespread throughout the wasteland, they have come in contact with many groups and believed to have been given their name by Spanish-speakers of the regions they have propagated. Cazadores have a quick and erratic flight pattern. They are most often encountered in swarms of four or more, with the occasional strays flying in the outlying area. Their venomous attacks can lead to a quick death if they succeed in poisoning their target. The spikes on their back rise and fall, both when idle and when attacking. Cazadores (Spanish for "hunters") are mutated insects found in the Mojave Wasteland, Big MT, and Zion Canyon in 2281. Cazadores are more common in mountainous regions of the Mojave Wasteland, although some swarms can be found near lakes in lower areas. They create large basket-shaped nests, many of which can be seen at places such as Bonnie Springs, cazador nest, west of the Brewer's beer bootlegging, the road heading towards Jacobstown, north of Goodsprings, inside various tents in the tribal village and the boathouse at Callville Bay, with the cazadores' original breeding ground being the Z-14 Pepsinae DNA splicing lab in Big MT. They frequently compete with other wildlife like night stalkers for prey.

25. #25Giant mantisesselective

    Giant mantises are mutated insects found in the Mojave Wasteland and Zion Canyon in 2281. Giant mantises are mutated praying mantises created by the horticultural experiments that took place in Vault 22. They have since escaped from the vault and have spread into the Mojave Wasteland. Compared to other mutant creatures, their biological traits have remained relatively unchanged when compared with the original specimen, except for significantly increased size. They are still much smaller than humans, but make up for that by attacking in swarms whenever possible. Mantis eggs and mantis forelegs may be taken from their dead bodies.

26. #26Bighornersselective

    Bighorners are creatures found in the Mojave Wasteland, and Zion Canyon in 2281. Bighorners can be found scattered throughout the Mojave and Zion Canyon, generally around water sources and plants such as banana yucca fruit. Several settlements, such as Goodsprings and Jacobstown, have domesticated them for a source of fresh meat, hides, and horns. Bighorners are mutated bighorn sheep native to the American Southwest. Humans have since domesticated them for their horns, meat, milk, and hides, but wild herds can be found in mountainous regions, usually in proximity to banana yucca fruit. This makes them rather instrumental in herb tracking. Several settlements, such as Goodsprings and Jacobstown, keep domesticated bighorners in order to survive. Bighorners are herbivorous, and are primarily found in wild herds of three to seven in the Mojave Wasteland and Zion Canyon, or in domesticated drifts of varying size in settlements such as Goodsprings, Jacobstown, Spring Mt. Ranch State Park, and around Cottonwood Cove. A large contingent of wild bighorners can also be found northwest of Snyder prospector camp. Bighorners are communal animals, and as such, if one member of the herd is distressed, the entire herd becomes aggressive. They are generally calm beasts with docile dispositions, in spite of being quite capable of being dangerous when provoked.

27. #27Geckosselective

    Geckos are creatures in the Mojave Wasteland in 2280. Geckos can be found living across the entire Mojave Wasteland, with many different species calling the local area their breeding grounds. They are said to have been stemmed from Fire Root cavern. There are three types of gecko in the Mojave: normal geckos, golden geckos, and fire geckos. Another variety, the green gecko, is found in Zion Canyon. Geckos are reptilian and born with a pair of fins behind their heads. Their eyes possess an orange tint, and their body coloration differs greatly depending on the gecko subspecies in question. Geckos have evolved with five fingers and five toes. Dependent on the type, they range from the size of a small human child, to heights exceeding that of an average human adult. Geckos are generally found in small packs. Once a single gecko attacks something or is attacked, its pack will join the fight. They charge or leap at their opponents with their mouths open, ready to snap down. They attack rapidly with their claws as a melee attack and some subspecies of geckos can breathe fire or spit a poisonous liquid as a ranged attack. Legend has it that there is a giant gecko roaming the wasteland.

28. #28Mister Gutsyselective

    A dedicated combat variant of their civilian Mister Handy, the Mister Gutsy series was developed by General Atomics International. t was commissioned by the United States Army shortly before the atomic apocalypse of 2077, with the first units seeing service in the liberation of Anchorage in January, at least according to the Anchorage Reclamation simulation. The Mr. Gutsy is a personal protection automaton and comes equipped with heavier armor than most utility robots. It also carries a plasma weapon to be used in defense. The shell was rebuilt with lightweight armor plating, while the usual array of tools was upgraded with a plasma caster on a flexible mount. The key advantage of Mister Gutsies that separates it from other combat robots is its sheer maneuverability and spatial awareness. The Mister Gutsy is also upgraded with dedicated military software, including the ability to refuse orders issued by commanders who are incompetent or under court martial, remote link-up capability for updating orders in real time, and a brand-new Sergeant Major v.1.0 simulated personality that channeled the stereotypical Marine drill instructor and doubled as a vessel for state propaganda. However, in its rush to present the Army with a working model, General Atomics cut corners and the resulting personality had issues stemming from vague definitions used in programming its neural network. The most notable of these was the fact that in the absence of orders, units defaulted to a patrol mode and attacked all unauthorized personnel with extreme violence, as per combat protocol Charlie Zulu 4. The military accepted these flaws, pressing them into service. They first bore MGZ-##### serials, before transitioning to the standard ABC-##### nomenclature. To distinguish between different variants of the robot, ranks were used: The baseline version was named Mister, with subsequent variants designated Sergeant, Lieutenant, Major and Colonel. A specialized field medic model was derived from the basic Mister Gutsy, with all combat functionality disabled and an encyclopedic knowledge of medical procedures, particularly surgery.

29. #29Eyebotselective

    The Eyebot is a hovering all-purpose robot with whip-like radio antennas resembling long "whiskers" pointing to its back and loudspeakers in the front. Uses of Eyebots vary and have been known to include the spreading of propaganda, reconnaissance, and surveillance, delivering messages, and even repair and medical services. One of the more elegant creations of RobCo Industries, the Eyebot is a hovering robot designed for a variety of purposes. On the surface, it was designed for giving consumers instant access to radio and television on the go. It uses a sophisticated antenna array to deliver the latest news bulletins and presidential addresses even in subterranean areas like subways. However, it was also outfitted with advanced facial and auditory recognition technology, making it a useful tool for surveillance and security. RALPHIE the Robot's Incredible Odyssey! was a popular pre-War broadcast about the titular RALPHIE eyebot. Although the design was compact and quite sophisticated, there was still room for post-War expansion. The Enclave attempted to create a line of superior Duraframe Eyebots at Adams Air Force Base, but eventually scrapped the program, leaving one survivor. Usually found near settlements or cities, the automated bases of Hopeville and Ashton later reproduced these robots in quantity, creating dedicated repair and medical variants, showcasing the potential still remaining in the Eyebot.

30. #30Mister Handyselective

    Mister Handy (stylized as Mr. Handy) is a multipurpose robot developed by General Atomics International before the Great War and refined in collaboration with RobCo Industries. It was an incredibly popular model, used by government agencies, private companies, and individual citizens across the United States. The first Mister Handy was introduced to the robotics market in 2037 by General Atomics International, as a general-purpose construction and maintenance unit. Used widely on both the American and Mexican markets (especially after the Mexico City earthquake of 2042), it was a rugged, reliable design. So reliable that it only received one major hardware update in 2039, to eliminate a bug causing interference in the operation of the multiple arms. The Calpower 238B nuclear power unit and self-maintenance modes were key to its success, ensuring each robot's longevity. To minimize maintenance overhead, each Mr. Handy was designed to perform its nuclear fuel replacement and radiation cleansing. Each unit could carry out maintenance and repairs on other units (it could not carry it out on itself). However, as rugged and reliable as the original Mr. Handy was, it was still a design rooted in the technology of the 2030s, with a compact computer brain that was incapable of learning or executing complex tasks without extensive programming. By the 2070s, it was an automaton surrounded by more advanced designs utilizing cutting edge neural networks. In order to maintain their market share, General Atomics entered into a joint venture with RobCo Industries, combining its talent with General Atomics' experience in robotics. The resulting model was a sleek, elegant design capable of self-programming and initiative, more than making up for halving the number of arms to just three. Despite its sophistication, it was also cost-effective, making it the perfect domestic servant robot. The success of this model resulted in the development of several additional models, including dedicated medical and military versions. Sometime before the Great War, General Atomics International and RobCo wanted to upgrade their Mister Handy line by adding an additional hand alongside additional features. The voice of the Mister Handy came from English actor Sebastian Leslie, who was famous for playing a butler character named Bartholomew Codsworth. At some point before January 2077, he sold his vocal rights to RobCo for a mere 186,000 USD. The original General Atomics International Mr. Handy has a distinct, lumbering appearance with easily identifiable sub-assemblies. The barrel-like main body contains the Calpower 238B nuclear power unit (200 KW output with two year endurance; comparable to a truck engine) and eight rechargeable energy cells with a 270,000 KWS output, together with an integral mechanic toolset and the computer brain. The fully rotating head mounted on top houses the single eye and sensors, together with a spotlight and basic communicator with a cheap voice synthesizer, short range radio, and communications jack. The two pods mounted on the sides of the main body each contain a 200 KW vectored-thrust ducted fan with ground-effect (GEV) skirts that allow the Mr. Handy to hover in the air. Finally, each of the six arms mounted below the main body is strong enough to lift heavy loads, while retaining superior flexibility and coordination that allows the Mr. Handy to use all of them in any configuration with a negligible loss of performance. Each is actuated by motors contained within and contains nimble manipulators capable of tasks ranging from walking the dog to operating heavy weapons such as miniguns, flamers, and plasma casters. he entire robot weighs 907.8 pounds (~450 kg), giving it an excellent power to weight ratio. Although the robot's performance was hampered by its simple, computer brain, a large number of units remained in service as late as 2077, 40 years after it entered the market. Although vulnerable to logic circuit failures, particularly in hazardous environments or without maintenance, it was used in both corporate and military settings, including locations like the demonstration Vault, Mariposa Military Base, and Poseidon Oil Reactor № 5. Even the Enclave used a number of Mr. Handy units in conjunction with their Vertibird teams, usually for cargo hauling. It's a testament to GAI's design that one unit survived a crash-landing near Klamath Falls relatively intact. Separated by only a few models from the original General Atomics Mr Handy, the next-generation robot is a radical departure from that of its ancestor, created from the ground up as a domestic servant, rather than heavy-duty construction robot (although its modularity allows it to be fitted with power tools and used in the original role with ease). It is an extremely compact design: The spherical main body houses not just the nuclear power unit, but also the single centrally-mounted jet thruster with a ground-effect skirt allowing it to hover, and a highly sophisticated neural network mimicking the functionality of a human brain. The compact brain of the Mr. Handy is easily one of its most stunning features, theoretically capable of achieving sentience, becoming a true artificial intelligence. Special limiters are included in neural pathways responsible for learning to prevent such an occurrence. Behavior limiters act as a failsafe in case the aforementioned limiters are disabled in a Mister Handy or one of its derivatives. This can occur as a result of degradation of neural pathways or electrical damage. Depending on the severity of the damage, it can be resolved by rerouting functions and closing specific pathways. In cases where a Mr Handy does achieve sentience thanks to the removal of governors on learning abilities, but the behavior limiters remain in effect, the affected unit effectively becomes a slave: Incapable of independent action and forced to behave in accordance with the restrictions imposed on it. In such a case, the robot can use its supercharged learning abilities to devise methods to circumvent its programming and disable the behavior limiters to gain freedom, such as by exploiting loopholes in behavioral restrictions. Its sub-assemblies include three arms and three eyes. The former are segmented and highly flexible. Their modular design allows them to accept a variety of manipulators, from a simple pincer, through a titanium saw and laser cutter, to military-grade weapons such as a plasma blaster or a flamethrower. Their only limitation is the fact that they cannot lift objects heavier than 18 kg (40 lbs). Eyes are mounted on flexible eye stalks, giving it excellent spatial awareness and a nearly 360 degree field of view. They are completed by a sophisticated sensor package, including navigational, chemical (including olfactory or scent detectors), and nuclear sensors. Other features of the robot line include the ability to perform self-diagnostic and self-maintenance, allowing a single unit to function for an extended period of time (even two centuries in some cases), and a water condensator for preparing canisters of purified water. The new model was marketed as a domestic servant first and foremost, capable of handling almost every task in the household, from accounting and cooking to pet care and entertainment (although GAI discouraged using its hover jet as a barbeque fire). However, its sophisticated neural network and agile, light design made it an excellent choice for a variety of private and military entities. The basic Mister Handy was also employed as a security robot, with specialized variants available. These included medical models like the Miss Nanny and Mister Orderly, as well as the combat version, Mister Gutsy.

31. #31Nuka-Colaselective

    Nuka-Cola is the flagship product of the Nuka-Cola Corporation and one of the symbols of United States culture. Introduced in 2044, it rapidly dominated the soft drink market, eventually becoming the most popular soda on the market and a staple of American culture. Bottled and distributed nationwide, Nuka-Cola was available in such numbers that even two centuries after the Great War put a stop to all major bottling operations, Nuka-Cola bottles can still be found in the wastelands in large quantities. In the aftermath of the Great War, Nuka-Cola bottle caps became the de facto currency in most post-War societies. Nuka-Cola entered the beverage market in 2044, with the invention of the soft drink by John-Caleb Bradberton after two years of experimentation. Though strictly unhealthy (containing 120% of the recommended daily allowance of sugar), it took the United States market by storm and within a year it could be purchased nationwide. Its popularity rapidly increased and within several years it was the most popular beverage across the globe. The constant drive to improve and innovate the formula resulted in numerous flavor variations, with the most popular ones like cherry, grape, and orange released just a few years after the drink debuted. Whenever the company encountered competition, it would attempt to deal with it aggressively. Cherry and grape variants of the Nuka-Cola were patents acquired by the company after identifying individual competitors. In other cases, the corporation would attempt to buy out competitors, as was the case with Sunset Sarsaparilla in 2058 and Vim! Pop Incorporated in 2077. Failing that, it would attempt to release a competing drink accompanied by a massive promotional campaign. After attempts to acquire Sunset Sarsaparilla failed, Nuka-Cola attempted to directly compete with it through Nuka-Cola Wild and the opening of Dry Rock Gulch at Nuka-World. Though it gained a respectable popularity in the American Southwest, it failed to match that of Sunset Sarsaparilla. The latest Nuka-Cola taste variant was created in October 2076, as the head of the chemical weapons program instigated by John-Caleb Bradberton reported that his team created an isotope of strontium-90 that could be reliably weaponized, as a coating for power armor, a custom munition for the prototypical M42 Fat Man or even an area effect weapon that could be safely deployed from something as simple as a Thirst Zapper. It could also be used "somewhat safely" in a new kind of Nuka-Cola. Bradberton ordered it to be put into production, as Nuka-Cola Quantum (named after the isotope designation in the beverageer's system). Quantum was fast-tracked through the approval process, presented as the culmination of a three year research program. To create an isotope safe for human consumption, focus groups were used to test various variants of the Quantum isotope. After numerous casualties (at least 62 test subjects died as a result of organ failure, with many more hospitalized with radiation burns; families were provided with Nuka Condolences Fruit and Cheese Packages that contained liability waivers), a safe isotope was created and the first cases of Nuka-Cola Quantum hit the market in select cities on the East Coast, like Boston and Washington, D.C. Even after the War obliterated the parent corporation, Nuka-Cola would continue to be the most popular soft drink on the North American continent, available in almost limitless quantities. Despite being warm and flat, it holds the allegiance of many and continues to addict wastelanders. Ingredients Carbonated water Sugar or aspartame Caffeine Phosphoric acid Citric acid Caramel color Potassium benzoate Natural flavorings

32. #32The Nuka-Cola Corporationselective

    The Nuka-Cola Corporation was a pre-War beverage corporation, best known for its flagship product, Nuka-Cola. By the time of the Great War it was the single largest beverage corporation in the United States, recognizable nationwide. Beyond the family-friendly facade, the corporation was a cutthroat entity that had perfected corporate espionage and was also involved in weapons research with the United States military, through its world-class team of organic chemists, the Beverageers, emblematic of the ruthless world of pre-War corporate America.

33. #33Nuka-Cola Quantumselective

    Nuka-Cola Quantum was created in October 2076 by the Beverageer Division at Nuka-World. It was a byproduct of Project Cobalt, which began in 2076 when Nuka-Cola Corporation engaged in weapons research under U.S. military sponsorship. The team found that a strontium-90 isotope derivative, originally developed for military ordnance, created a bright blue glow that worked well as a food additive when adjusted for consumption. The lead Beverageer, Rex Meacham, gave the new drink formula its distinctive name. Live testing of the drink, codenamed "Sea Lion," occurred at other regional facilities. Experimentation with other isotopes showed that none worked as effectively or as safely as strontium-90. Initial testing with the drink led to significant health problems and even deaths among taste testers, but waivers allowed the company to avoid litigation and adjustments created a final product with only mild side effects. It ultimately passed inspections supervised by the "Food and Drug Association" and was marketed in the fourth quarter of 2077 as a new flavor of Nuka-Cola with "Twice the calories, twice the carbohydrates, twice the caffeine, and twice the taste!" The flavor itself was modified via an 18th ingredient: pomegranate fruit flavoring. However, Quantum's appearance and the added isotope were controversial, and the public was divided on the drink. It was released as part of a limited test run, and only the Nuka-Cola plant in Washington, D.C. produced it at a commercial scale before the Great War. Nuka-Cola Quantum was officially released to the public at the same time as the Great War, and so the soda is incredibly rare in the wasteland, with many bottles found in trucks that were shipping the product. The Washington, D.C. area was the first test market for Quantum, with special "pre-release" shipments delivered to certain grocers and restaurants. The drink can also be found in the Commonwealth and Appalachia, the latter because the Whitespring Resort also received early-release shipments, which are sold by the Nuka-Cola vendor Bubbles.

34. #34Sunset Sarsaparillaselective

    Sunset Sarsaparilla is a root-beer-type carbonated beverage found around New Vegas. The drink is widely available and has a low cost, provides a high health regeneration effect, and lacks the radiation present in other drinks. Thanks to these factors, it supplements the somewhat-scarce stimpaks as a primary healing item in the Mojave.

35. #35Sunset Sarsaparilla Companyselective

    The Sunset Sarsaparilla Company was founded in 1918, making it 126 years older than the Nuka-Cola Corporation. According to Festus, a small town saloon owner decided one day to brew a new type of soft drink. He asked his usual patrons what flavor they would want it to be, but they were of no help. However, a stranger at the end of the bar suggested he make a sarsaparilla flavored drink, and would give his family's recipe to the saloon owner if he got to sample a bottle whenever he wanted to make sure the recipe was being followed to the letter. The saloon owner agreed, thinking it would make him rich. The stranger then left to meet him the next day at sundown. The next day, the saloon owner was told by the sheriff that the stranger was killed by bandits on the side of the town road. Cursing his luck, the saloon owner closed his store early that day, just as the sun began to set. But after he locked the doors, he found a bottle with a note under it sealed with blue wax in the shape of a star. Opening it, he found the recipe of a sarsaparilla-flavored drink. After sampling the contents of the bottle, and finding it singularly delicious, he began selling Sunset Sarsaparilla and even paid for the stranger's funeral, believing that it was the least he could do for his mysterious benefactor. To this day, some bottles of Sunset Sarsaparilla have a bottle cap marked with a blue star that some say the saloon owner mandated, while some say it is the stranger continuing to sample the bottles like he was promised. After years of selling their beverage and becoming known and loved across the West Coast, the company soon decided to invest in automation and robotics, specifically with the help of RobCo Industries. While the custodial staff reaped the benefits of automation, the regional distribution network unfortunately suffered replacement at the hands of an experimental robot. At some point before the Great War, a TV network broadcast an advisory about the health risks of their soda, with studies claiming a wide range of harmful side effects came from having too much of it. Sunset Sarsaparilla disputed the claims as unverified and based off larger quantities of Sarsaparilla than anyone could possibly drink. Nevertheless, the company took steps to improve its PR after the story aired. By 2077, the company had continued to boom, although they struggled with sales in the Northeastern region, they sold more in the Northern and Midwestern United States, continuing to sell extremely well in the American Southwest. However, by sheer luck, a rumor of a contest surfaced, telling of the company having a contest to redeem starred bottle caps for prizes. Despite the complaints of staff, the company decided to promote the contest rather than denounce the rumor, due to 300% increases in sales. The company also went as far as to install an automaton in the lobby of their headquarters, as well as creating an advertisement campaign heavily based on cowboys. Before the Great War, a competitor attempted to negotiate a deal to buy out the Sunset Sarsaparilla Company, but the offer was declined. On the other end of the deal was none other than John-Caleb Bradberton, founder, CEO, and president of the rival Nuka-Cola Corporation. In response to this failed deal, he commissioned the development and release of a root-beer flavored variant of his signature drink. An exclusive for the Nuka-World theme park and other promotional deals like the Whitespring Resort, the result was Nuka-Cola Wild, an attempt by Bradberton to capitalize on the success of the Sunset Sarsaparilla brand. The star cap story began as a simple promotional story before the Great War, yet Festus kept the story alive by motivating survivors to collect Sunset Sarsaparilla bottle caps, and as the years went by, a new legend began to circulate around the bottling headquarters in Las Vegas, which in turn led to the announcement of the running "Legend of the Star" collection campaign. Stories of the contest became very distorted following the Great War, and the actual simple prize (which consisted of a retelling of the fictitious story by the company spokesbot and a small metal Sunset Sarsaparilla deputy badge) became a bloated tale of pre-War technology, weapons caches, and all sorts of other amazing loot.

36. #36Buffoutselective

    Buffout is a brand of highly advanced steroids that increase strength, reflexes, and endurance. Although highly addictive, it was a popular choice among pre-War athletes. Their clandestine - and illicit - use of the drug made its use by amateurs popular and widespread. With it, they could run longer and work out harder without the burden of "unnecessary" training. The popularity of the drug resulted in a number of hybridized variants, including Bufftats (mixed with Mentats) and Psychobuff (military modification, combined with Psycho). It was sold before the war in bottles of 50 tablets each. Its popularity persists well after the nuclear holocaust, due to its properties. The increase in strength allows a wastelander to punch through several wooden boards with ease and pummel opponents into submission. Despite being an addictive steroid, with proper use, Buffout can easily treat rickets in children.

37. #37Jetselective

    Jet is a highly addictive chem commonly found throughout the wasteland. It is extracted from brahmin dung fumes and commonly administered via an inhaler. Although first available before the Great War in a different form, in the first half of the 23rd century, Myron developed Jet into a highly marketable commodity and tool for the enslavement of Redding by the Mordinos of New Reno. Even after the death of Myron and subsequent fall of the Mordinos from relevancy, Jet's availability, replicability, and popularity developed exponentially. The introduction of the Jet antidote would barely slow its wide effect and appeal on both the West Coast and the East Coast of the former United States. Jet is a powerful hallucinogenic chem that stimulates the central nervous system, triggering a rush of energy and strength primarily brought about by endorphins. The initial euphoric rush rarely lasts more than a few minutes, but the altered state of consciousness makes it subjectively longer for any Jet user. Post-War Jet is typically sold packaged into small, disposable ampules or canisters (rarely in half-ounce bags), designed for use with a metered-dose inhaler (sometimes sold separately). The goal is to deliver the aerosolized drug directly into the lungs of the user, where it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. To maximize high, dealers would recommend taking a dose, followed by a deep breath and time to let it settle. Wholesale buyers, like Redding in the 2240s, usually receive bulk packages that have to be processed into user ampules first. This requires clean facilities and medical training to do properly, as poor processing will result in contamination and expose users to disease. Jet may also be mixed with saline solutions or other liquids to be delivered intravenously. This was the preferred method of researchers working at the Stables. Standard Jet is highly addictive, inducing psychological and physical reliance. Both stem from the way their Jet alters the perception of reality, to the point that the euphoric rush brought about by the drug is interpreted by the user as the norm and sobriety as the abnormal. Drug addictions caused by regular Jet responded to treatment with Fixer and Addictol, increasing their popularity both before and after the Great War. Jet proliferated throughout the wasteland in the wake of the Great War, particularly due to the ease of manufacture. As long as a chemist had access to a reliable source of fertilizer, they could manufacture it in quantity, even in the most barren of environments (as was the case with Great Khans at Red Rock Canyon).

38. #38Mentatsselective

    The chalky red tablets manufactured by Med-Tek Laboratories were a popular recreational drug before the Great War, favored by consumers for their effect on creativity. The active ingredient is a powerful nootropic that increases memory-related functions, and speeds other mental processes. Students and those in other fields requiring intensive thought would also take Mentats for its mental benefits, though Mentats also had a reputation for being a drug for "beatniks and armchair philosophers," according to Judith Blackwell. The effect of Mentants is temporary, leaving the user tired and sluggish once it wears off. The drug seems to have a profound effect on a developing adolescent mind, which results in a permanent and noticeable intelligence increase. Mentats can further be used by those suffering from Alzheimer's disease to curb the degeneration of mind and keep the user sharp and lucid when they would otherwise be delirious and unattentive. However, excessive consumption could also result in health complications, including recurring migraines from withdrawal and even worsening or developing debilitating neurological disorders. Mentats packages (available both as cardboard packs and tins) sold well, with their popularity surviving the Great War and making them a popular drug across the wasteland. Some chemists even figured out how to iterate on the design and create special blends of Mentats. The professor from Broken Hills allegedly developed an easy method to mass-produce Mentats, likely owing to its ubiquitous nature across the country, even years after production ceased.

39. #39Psychoselective

    A military-grade psychosis-inducing amphetamine, Psycho is provided in a unique delivery system that mixes strange chemicals of military origin immediately prior to injection. The drug was created by a private company, operated as a research division of the United States Army, founded by General Constantine Chase. It entered combat use during the final stages of the Anchorage Reclamation, to reduce the impact of attrition on U.S. forces deployed to the Alaskan front. Its deployment was authorized by General Chase and his chief medical officer, Dr. Adrienn Adami, despite the clinical trials being incomplete at the time. Psycho's primary effect is an increase in damage resistance and dampening of higher brain functions, intended to create tough shock troops for human-wave assaults. The caveat is that the dampening effect also makes the soldiers hard to control. Some variants of Psycho, based around similar chemicals, also increase combat performance by speeding up reflexes and bodily functions to allow the soldiers to deal more damage, though said variant precluded the damage resistance boost. Both cause them to be particularly jumpy and aggressive. Due to the rushed nature of the drug's development and deployment, numerous side effects manifest as a result of Psycho usage. Chief among these is that the stimulant can cause users with weak hearts to suffer a fatal heart attack. Long term effects include dementia, psychosis, elevated levels of aggression, and general agitation. It may also cause internal damage. Addiction aggravates the adverse symptoms. Long term Psycho addiction may progress to the point that standard treatment options available in the wasteland, such as Addictol, are no longer effective in treating the habit.

40. #40Addictolselective

    A powerful anti-addiction drug, Addictol is an effective pre-War medicine that works both physically and psychologically to remove both the symptoms of drug abuse and the craving. However, it does not prevent relapse, especially in cases of long-term drug abuse.

41. #41Rad-Xselective

    A potent anti-radiation medicine that bolsters the user's natural Radiation Resistance. Taking it prior to exposure is recommended, as it can greatly reduce irradiation, particularly when combined with advanced radiation suits. Unlike most other chems, Rad-X is addiction-free, making it perfectly safe to use without risking the chance of addiction. Furthermore, the duration can be stacked if multiple doses are taken at once.

42. #42RadAwayselective

    RadAway is a chemical solution that bonds with radioactive particles and removes them from the user's system. While Rad-X is designed to increase the body's natural resistance to radiation, RadAway is designed to be used after exposure. It is administered intravenously, using an IV bag or syringe, and is one of the only ways to remove accumulated irradiation. Purging the body of radiation takes some time to complete, and anyone using it will experience its adverse effects: it's a potent diuretic and can cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach pains and headaches.

43. #43Stimpakselective

    A stimpak (occasionally referred to as a Stimpack, Stim pack or simply Stims ), short for stimulation delivery package, is a type of hand-held medication used for boosting the body's own regenerative properties. A wonder of pre-War science, stimpaks are typically syringes filled with a mixture of healing agents and stimulants, allowing the user to boost their own body's natural regenerative functions. In most cases, it leads to an almost instantaneous regeneration of wounds. The syringe is equipped with a gauge for quickly identifying the state of the contents and can be used either in an intravenous or intramuscular fashion. Although now commonly used for healing bullet holes and stab wounds, stimpaks were employed professionally through Auto-Docs (in conjunction with Med-X and other painkillers) for postoperative care and recovery. John Cassidy speaks of their efficacy, expressing gratitude that millions were produced before the Great War, still abundant several centuries after. Stimpaks can also be used to treat physical conditions, such as a heart condition, but only temporarily. However, the basic stimpak is designed for use on moderate or severe wounds, as the soup of healing medication is ineffective at treating major trauma. A stimpak also does not prevent scarring from excessive third-degree burns or additional extensive scarring as it simply boosts natural regenerative functions. Expiration is a concern for those who use stimpaks, but other than giving a weaker boost to healing, they function just as an unexpired stimpak. Chemists with sufficient knowledge can create new stimpaks. To this end, more advanced variants of the stimpak were developed. The super stimpak is the most common variant, containing an additional vial of more drastic healing chems, dramatically increasing the healing effect. However, the healing effect will eventually cause minor trauma to the tissues healed due to the potency of the drug.

44. #44Med-Xselective

    Med-X is the brand name of morphine, a potent opiate analgesic that binds to opioid receptors in the brain and central nervous system, reducing the perception of pain as well as the emotional response to pain. The active ingredient acts as a general anesthetic that dulls pain throughout the body and typically causes listlessness and lethargy. In layman's terms, it's a powerful pain killer delivered via a hypodermic needle. Given its usefulness, Med-X is one of the more widespread pre-War chems, providing pain relief and recreation across the continent. Morphinists can be identified by contracted pupils and involuntary spasms. Five doses of Med-X have the potential to be fatal with 15 guaranteeing a lethal overdose.

45. #45Locationsselective

    List of locations in mojave:

    Independent towns: Goodsprings, Nipton, Novac, Jacobstown

    NCR: 188 trading post, Boulder city, Camp Forlorn Hope, Camp Golf, Camp Guardian, Camp McCarran, Camp Searchlight, HELIOS One, Hoover Dam, Mojave Outpost, Sloan, Primm

    Caesar's Legion: Cottonwood Cove, Legate's Camp, Legion raid camp, Nelson, The Fort

    Great Khans: Red Rock Hideout, Red Rock drug lab

46. #46Currencyselective

    Bottlecaps of nuka-cola were currency on wastelands, then NCR dollar became most popular currency, but in year of 2242 NCR gold was lost in fight with brotherhood of steel and bottlecaps became currency once again.

47. #47Goodspringsselective

    So named after the Goodsprings source, where the town gets its drinking water, following the Great War, it was settled utilizing a grant from the New California Republic to develop a mining operation near a water source. The locals prefer Goodsprings as a "quiet town," though that doesn't mean they do not expect trouble to come around every now and then.

    Situated north of Primm and west of Sloan, the small town is built around Nevada State Route 160, westbound from I-15

48. #48Jacobstownselective

    Originally a resort location nestled amidst the cliffs of Mount Charleston, post-War, the area was of little interest to travelers and scavengers due to its remote location and lack of salvageable material. It was not until around the early 2260s that the place became a permanent settlement for any group. Marcus, formerly the mild-mannered super mutant sheriff of Broken Hills in New California, took it upon himself to find a refuge for the "broken-minded" of his kind living in the Mojave. His first attempt at a super mutant conclave at Black Mountain failed after the nightkin, Tabitha turned most of the mutants Marcus had gathered into a hostile cult known as the State of Utobitha. With Tabitha's grip too difficult to break easily, and finding it harder than holding on to Broken Hills, Marcus left with a small group of his fellow first-generation mutants.

    Heading into the mountains northwest of New Vegas, the mutant migration eventually discovered Mount Charleston and the pre-War resort still largely intact, and decided it was a good spot to set up another community, hoping to build it up for the long term. The town mostly supports itself on the ranching of bighorners; they provide lots of meat and the town can trade the hides for other supplies with passing caravans. Wild bighorners also roam the foothills, so restocking their herd when numbers fall is easy.

    Marcus' chosen name for his new settlement, Jacobstown was in honor of the late Jacob, a Brotherhood of Steel paladin and past traveling companion of Marcus, who together previously founded the town of Broken Hills back in the west.

    Situated in the northwest section of the map, north of Red Rock Canyon, the resort's entrance is approached by Nevada State Route 157. Just inside the entrance, there is a giant sign on a tower that says "Jacobstown." Left of the entrance is a pen full of bighorners. To the right, there are a few bungalows. The large building to the rear is the Jacobstown lodge.

49. #49Primmselective

    The town lost much of its appeal after the nuclear apocalypse, as survivors and later wastelanders had other concerns besides gambling their meager earnings away. Primm however remained, even developing a small, tightly knit community over time. In the late 23rd century, as the New California Republic expanded into the Mojave from New California, Primm's proximity to the Mojave Outpost resulted in it becoming a promising trade town, benefiting from the growing traffic to and from New Vegas, both civilian and military. For all who couldn't or wouldn't want to reach New Vegas, its "Las Vegas on a budget" appeal was revived with the town offering a casino, hotel, several shops and a courier waystation. Unlike its neighbor to the southeast, Nipton, its reputation as a small spot of safety and respite was maintained through having active law enforcement via the town sheriff

    Situated in the mid-to-southwestern area of the Mojave, the landscape of Primm is dominated by a few empty ranch homes, the rubble of the town's main streets and storefronts as well as a small NCR camp set up southwest of town. The outpost serves to prevent convicts from pushing further south to the NCR's Mojave outpost as opposed to protecting Primm

50. #50Niptonselective

    By the 23rd century, it had gained a seedy reputation under the leadership of Mayor Joseph B. Steyn, where prostitution and thievery thrived under the dubious leadership of the one-time Hub crook. Following the mass breakout at the NCR Correctional Facility to the northwest, Steyn extended a hand to the newly organized Powder Gangers, letting them know Nipton was open for trade. Steyn turned the situation to his advantage by arranging for service to be provided to NCR soldiers in the night and Powder Gangers in the day while working to keep the two separated and increase the contents of the town coffers. Steyn's greed ended up being the town's undoing as he sought to arrange a deal with Caesar's Legion to turn over both the NCR soldiers and Powder Gangers to the frumentarius Vulpes Inculta (disguised as "Mr. Fox") in return for a sum of 8,000 caps.

    Unbeknownst to Steyn, Vulpes never intended to honor their deal. Instead, he used his small force of legionnaires to round up the residents along with the aforementioned groups, including the mayor, while those who resisted were shot. Those that did not were subjected to a lottery. Using lottery tickets, the fate of those gathered was decided: the ones who were unlucky to be on the short end of the stick, dubbed the "lucky losers," by Boxcars for their swift deaths, were decapitated, followed by crucifixions, enslavement of the third-place winners, crippling the legs of the runner-up and finally freedom unscathed for the sole winner. Steyn himself was burned to death on a pile of flaming tires after his ticket was called.

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