Fallout Journal

December 7, 2277

2012-09-17T16:06:00.002-07:00

Today I met some of the more friendly locals of Point Lookout. I found a rundown shack, and stepped in thinking I'd stay there for a day or two, and was surprised to find it occupied. The woman's name was Marguerite. At first she tried to pretend she was sick, but it was pretty obvious she was faking. Then she told me she wanted some help making moonshine. She would do most of the work I just needed to gather the ingredients Punga fruit, yeast, and fission batteries.

I told I would keep an eye out, and decided to head west, I found a mansion that must have been standing for hundreds of years even before the war. Along the way I gathered enough fruit, inside I met an old man we chatted for a while, he told me the mansions name was 'Blackhall' which was also his family name, and he told me about a book that the 'swampfolk' by which I gathered he means those mutated rednecks took from him. Apparently they believe it contains some sort magical properties. He offered me 1,000 caps to bring it back, apparently it has some sort of sentimental value to him, its been in his family a long time. I told him I would do so, but first I looked around the mansion and found enough yeast and fission batteries to make the moonshine. I had to leave some and take a couple trips because I couldnt carry it all, but I brought the stuff to Marguerite and I even helped fix up her still. Anyway, she told me it would be a day or so before the stuff would be ready, so I figured I'd track down the book and thats when I met the other resident here.

Her name was Marcella, and she told me that Blackhall wanted the book to use its black magic, and to bring it to her to destroy it.

I dont know who to believe or what I'm going to do, but it seems the first step is to get the book back.

December 6, 2277

2012-09-13T10:21:00.002-07:00

Well, I found my spy's submarine. And I input the self destruct codes and blew it up, just like he was supposed to.

I made my way back to the hotel, automated programs from 200 years ago detected the destruction of the derelict sub. And directed me to the safe house. I made my way there, and found some decent weaponry, but then the program turned on me. Apparently, the spy was supposed to be killed as his 'reward' for a successful mission. Geez, I thought the Enclave were ruthless bastards, but it seems the Chinese were far worse. Makes me wonder how they are doing after all these years. Have they managed to re-build some sembalance of civilization? Has anybody? Or is all the world just like the parts of the US I'v seen: Communities eking out enough to survive amid so much desolation and death?

I spoke to Nadine, I still want to do a little more exploring of Point Lookout. I was promised treasure dammit!!! And so far I'v got shit all to show for it.

December 5, 2277

2012-09-12T18:21:00.001-07:00

I left Nadine this morning, I went to speak to Desmond. He gave me a jamming device he said would block Dr. Calvert's psychic powers. He told me to put it on the highest place in Point Lookout, the Ferris wheel along the pier.

Along the way Calvert communicated with me..somehow directly into my mind. He told me to destroy the thing, to drop in a trash compactor. I did so...I was tired of him ordering me around, besides whats the worst one ghoul can do?

I returned to the mansion, and it exploded...no doubt Calvert's doing. Damn, it was a beautiful place, if a little rotting, still I could have made a nice summer home there. Afterwords, something, maybe it was Calvert, or maybe it was just my intuition driving me, but something told me to head to the lighthouse just off the coast from the mansion. It wasnt a far swim, but it was still exhausting. After taking a minuet to catch my breath, I found a passage that led to some secret labs.

Decker was waiting there for me. Man was he mad. I dont blame him, lost his home and I didnt even help him with the jamming signal. He wanted me to help him out, I told him no way. Then shot him in the face. Guy was so confident in his skills, but really he was just another ghoul.

I made my way down into the lab. I found something interesting along the way. Apparently, before the war, this place had been used to experiment with keeping peoples brains alive outside their bodies. Not only were they successful, but the brains sometimes developed psychic powers. That would explain Calvert.

I met him in the lowest levels of the basement. He congratulated me on taking out Decker, and then sent robots to kill me. But he was just a brain in a jar, a very sophisticated jar, but a jar nonetheless. . A shotgun blast shattered the glass and no more Calvert. Its actually kind of pathetic that both Calvert and Decker's stories come to an end here. But now I wont be used by either of them anymore.

Now I just have to find what my pre-war spy was looking for..and then I might head back to the Capital wasteland.

December 4, 22277

2012-09-11T20:47:00.001-07:00

I met with Nadine at the pier. She told me she had found that it was Tobar who hacked out the brains. Apparently that was how he was scoring the good punga fruit he was shipping and selling in the Capital wastes. I didnt believe her at first, but then she told me to look in the engine room. I did, Tobar had been locked up in there, he kept the pieces of brains he'd removed in there. Tobar confessed and tried to attack me, I killed him, one shot to the head. That was it.

Nadine has claimed ownership of the boat. I helped her clean out the engine room, I kept the piece of my brain, I know its no good to me now, but I feel like, its a part of me, it should stay near. We spent the rest of the night together, drank beer, hung on the boat. She told me she would allow me free travel on the boat whenever, I told her I wasnt ready to head anywhere yet, I still had business in Point Lookout. She agreed to wait till I was ready to go. Now I go seek out Desmond, I have a lot of questions for him....

December 3, 2277

2012-09-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

Well I found out a few things I, frankly, would be better off not knowing. I stumbled back to the Cathedral, honestly I'm not even sure how I made it, but they let me in when I got back. Most of the tribals seemed far to wrapped up in their 'enlightenment' nonsense to pay me any mind. But then I met Nadine, yea the girl who's mother sent me looking for her. Although she didnt mention how pretty Nadine was, those hazel eyes, that bright orange hair contrasting wonderfully with her darkly tanned skin... Apparently she thought the tribals would be hippie drugs and 'free love' instead of the nonsensical clap-trap they spout.

I'd been asking around to find the tribals leader Jackson, but apparently he spends most of this meditating in some 'sacred cavern.' Nobody would tell me where it was, but Nadine had followed Jackson there and was kind enough to share its location with me. She also offered to help clean up the scar on my head where my brain had been cut out.

Thats right, apparently the tribal initation ceremony isnt just the punga induced hallucinations. While the tribals are drugged out somebody comes along and cuts out a piece of their brain. That explains why my head hurts so badly, and why so many of the tribals seem so out of it. Although it doesnt seem to have effect me too much, at least not that I can tell. Nadine gave me some stuff to clean up the scar, and it seemed to help the pain. I asked her who did this, she said she had an idea and to meet her back at the pier in a few days after she gathered some evidence.

I figured while she was doing that, I'd track down Jackson. I followed her directions to this 'sacred cavern.' And found Jackson in there, talking to somebody else. I dont know who, he was only a hologram. But Jackson said he was the 'true' leader of the tribe, the 'enlightened one.' I spoke to the hologram, and he was definely not 'enlightened,' either in the tribe, or really any sense. Rather he was using the tribals in some sort of game against Desmond. He'd ordered them to destroy the mansion to wipe out a 'jammer' device that 'limited his influence.' He also said something about Desmond being responsible for his body being destroyed, so maybe he's some sort of AI? Like Eden or MARGoT? I dont know. I do know I'm going to talk to Desmond about all this.

But first I'm going to meet Nadine and find out who the hell stole my brain. The thought of it is really pissing me off.

December 2, 2277

2012-09-10T17:08:00.001-07:00

Ugh, I feel like crap. I went to look for the Mother Punga in the tribal's 'sacred bog.' The prison camp where Agent Yang was being held was on the way, so I stopped there first. The place was a war zone, the pre-war defenses in the camp were still active and were engaged in fighting with some feral ghouls. I was able to use the distraction to disable most of the defenses, leaving me with just the ghouls, which are no problem for me.

The camp contained some supplies, ammo, first aid and so on, and then I found Yang's body. One of his teeth seemed to have a false cap, I popped it out and found the self-destruct codes for a submarine. A sub my pip-boy is telling me is still in the area, albeit quite a ways to the south. Its definetly worth checking out. But I think I shall finish my task with Desmond first. The subs been there for 200 years, I doubt its going anywhere now.

I continued my way to the sacred bog. The place was overrun with Mirelarks, I hate those things. Also it was saturated with low levels of radiation. Luckily there were also quite a few punga fruits growing in the area, the plants seem to have anti-radiation qualities. I'm not sure how or why, but its defiantly helpful if you ask me.

Anyway I found the mother punga, it really is huge and kind of freaky looking. I picked the seeds, and some sort of gas emitted from the plant. What happened then is...hard to explain. I had a...vision, bobleheads, or maybe 'bubbleheads' that seemd to be mocking me. Exploding colas... I heard sawing, and thought I saw a giant needle sewing. The dead bodies of moria and elder lyons, and at the end a nuke and I think it exploded. Then I woke up at the entrance to the bog with a splitting headache like somebody sawed my head open.

Apparently the gas had some sort of hallucinogenic quality. I should have guessed, from that tribal's talk of 'enlightenment' and such. Anyway it doesnt matter now. I'v got the seends and I"m going to bring them back to the cathedral

December 1, 2277

2012-09-10T05:59:00.001-07:00

Well I met some of locals today. On my way to Calvert mansion I couple of horribly disfigured 'good 'ol boys' tried to attack me. I dont know what this place does to people, maybe some combination of radiation and inbreeding? But they were tough, almost as tough as a super mutant, and a tad bit smarter(although thats not saying much). They seemed to be using primitive weaponry, nothing the plasma weapons I stole from the Enclave couldnt handle.

I made my way to mansion, and found that, contrary to what Tobar told me, it was not uninhabited. Rather in it there lived a single ghoul and a couple of dogs. And it was under siege from a group of 'tribals.' I helped Desmond(thats the ghouls name) to fight them off. It was a hell of a battle, but the tribals wernt as well armed as either of us. The mansion seems to be suffering from rot, one of the floors broke open as I walked on it and I fell all the way to the basement. After the Tribals were driven back, Desmond taught me a bit about how to hold my ground in combat, and promised more if I would help him find out what the Tribals were up to. Infiltrate the tribals, find out why they want the mansion so badly, and then report back to Desmond. I'm not sure the 'infiltration' is possible, but I can try, if all else fails I can always resort to violence.

November 30, 2277

2012-09-07T15:48:00.000-07:00

We made it to point Lookout. I missed Thanksgiving. Every year in the vault we always had turkey and potatoes and yams for Thanksgiving. This year all we had was some dried punga fruit and reheated Salisbury steak. I guess I'm still not completely used to life out here in the wasteland, as much as I like to think I am.

Anyway, the first thing we saw when we got here was smoke in the distance. Tobar told me it was an old pre-war mansion, one that has been uninhabited for all these years, he seemed to suggest I check it out. But before I did that I decided to set up a place for myself here. Tobar directed me to a local merchant, she's a little weird, claims to be some kind of psychic, but shes well stocked and her prices are fair. I purchased some supplies and then decided to set myself up with someplace I can come back to rest and relax. To that end I took a short walk to a pre-war hotel. This place is so surreal. The Capital wasteland was so desolate everything was destroyed and in ruins. Here its almost as if there wasnt a war, but rather everybody just decided to up and leave this town 200 years ago. You can see all the old shops and buildings and food stands, and everything is lush and green. It feels like this place should be teeming with people, but theres nobody, and nothing but the sound of insects buzzing. It gives me the creeps, I keep having this feeling as if somebody was watching me.

Anyway, I found the hotel, its as empty as the rest of this place, but I found a room. I did some cleaning and dropped some of my gear, its not as nice as my home in Megaton, but its comfortable enough. And then I noticed a computer that was still up, I took a look. Apparently this room was where a Chinese spy was staying 200 years ago. He was under orders to steal something, something big. I figured I could find out what, so I did some searching around the area, I found a safe deposit box where he'd been life orders to meet up with another contact, the problem is this new contact was arrested and imprisoned somewhere quite a ways north. I'll follow up on it eventually but for now I'm going to go that mansion Tobar mentioned, after all my spy isnt going anywhere, but the fire will destroy the mansion....

November 1, 2277

2012-09-07T12:04:00.003-07:00

The riverboat is run by a man named Tobar, calls himself Tobar the Ferryman. He told me about a place called Point Lookout, which is apparently where he gets the Punga fruits he sells in the Capital wasteland, an old pre-war resort town that was largely untouched by the war, and even now the ruins havent been fully combed over. Sounds like just the perfect place to go to escape the Capital wasteland for a while and do some exploring, perhaps by the time I return I'll be ready to settle down or something. Out on the Pier I met a woman named Catherine who told me her daughter Nadine went with Tobar to Point lookout and hasnt come back. I promised her I'd keep an eye out for her.

Not much else to tell right now. We're on the boat, probably for a few weeks according to Tobar. I'v told him about life in the vault, my adventures in the wasteland and my battles against the Enclave. He tells me about the travels he used to make all up and down the coast, from teh commonwealth to Florida. Now he tells me the boat is too old and damaged to go out in the deep ocean, but it can make it to Point lookout and back just fine. I asked him about Nadine, Tobar said he hadnt seen her since they landed in Point Lookout. I dont know if there will be much to write about over the next few weeks, but I'll definetly have something when we reach Point Lookout.

October 30, 2277

2012-09-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

We did it! The Enclave is finally defeated!!!!!

I brought the Tesla coil back to the Brotherhood. Upon my return they informed me that they had found what appeared to be the Enclave's main base of operations, and where the weapon that destroyed Liberty Prime was fired from. That was the good news, the bad news is it was located at Adam's Air Force Base, a pre-war military installation a good ways away from the Capital wasteland.

The Brotherhood wanted me to infiltrate the base using the old presidential metro, there I would use a modified version of the Tesla coil I brought them to get in and set the satalite weapon to destroy the base. The Brotherhood would attack the base to provide cover for me.

Just getting there was the hard part, the Presidential metro had a security system named MARGoT, who controls a number of turrets and security robots. Luckily I found an ID card from an American Senator before the war and was able to use that to convince her to not attack me. But then, I found out that the train was damaged, and it couldnt be repaired until a 'security breech' had been dealt with. When I asked for more details she informed me that her sensors must be malfunction because the intruders showed no body heat and seemed to emanating leathal amounts of radiation. I knew that could only mean on thing: Ghouls. And sure enough I was right, feral ghouls. Fourtunitly with the help of security bots and turrets they were pretty easy to take down. MARGoT was then more than happy to sent a bot to fix the power for the train. And allow me to head to Adam's Air Force Base.

I managed to get in an find the Tesla cannon. The place was crawling with Enclave troops but the Tesla Cannon ate right through them. Even so their sheer numbers made it one hell of a fight. Outnumbered I ran into their mobile command center, a massive treaded vehicle that seemed to be their base of operations. The inside was almost as bad as the outside. But I managed to sneak past most and take down a few and make to the control for the orbital weapon, and set it to fire on Andrew's Air Force base. I also picked up a few new toys for when Super mutants or raiders try to fuck with me in the future. Once it was set to fire, who should meet me but Sara Lyons and a team of Brotherhood Paladins in a stolen Vertabird. I knew she'd recover! We flew back to the Citadel where Sara's father congratulated me on my work, we've taken out the Enclave as a major power in the Wasteland, there will still be pockets of them around, and they might regroup eventually, but for now the bulk of their forces are gone, and the Brotherhood can focus on rebuilding, taking down the super mutants, and distributing the water from the purifier.

As for me, I think I'm gonna wander the wasteland for a while. Theres still plenty of places I havent seen, and I dont think I'm quite ready to settle down just yet. In fact I got back to Megaton tonight, I stopped by the Brass Lantern for some food, and Jenny was telling me about this new fruit, that some guy running a riverboat was selling. I think I'll go speak to him, see if I can get some, or maybe even a ride in his boat.

October 28, 2277

2012-09-06T07:43:00.002-07:00

Liberty Prime may be gone, but the Brotherhood has a new idea for a weapon. The problem, the part they need is underneath Old Olney, yea the same place I sent those slavers to get killed by Deathclaws.

I made my way there, I discovered with the weaponry I stole from the Enclave I was able to take out Deathclaws. with relative ease. I still had to move slowly through the old sewer systems underneath. Taking out the Deathclaws one at a time, and stopping for frequent rest. I met a group of ghouls who had apparently wanted to start their own community under here, the Deathclaws didnt like that. Cant say I'm surprised.

I eventually found my way to the Old Olney powerworks, which is surprisingly still largely functional and free of deathclaws. A little hacking and a few destroyed robots and I found the Tesla coil the Brotherhood wanted. I hope this damn thing was worth it all...

October 24, 2277

2012-08-28T08:23:00.001-07:00

Liberty Prime is destroyed, and the Enclave has some sort of new weapon I'v never seen the likes of.

I helped the Brotherhood, led by Paladin Tristan, assault an Enclave position. With Liberty Prime's help we were able to easily punch through their outer defenses, but then Prime warned us that there was some kind of orbital strike about to occur. What can only be described as 'fire from heaven' rained down on us, killing several Brotherhood members and destroying Liberty Prime. I barely managed to get away. Tristran told us to push inward, to take the Enclave base and capture any information they may have. Luckily, with their outer defenses gone, the Enclave inside were unprepared and easily overtaken, and I found an encrypted message that seems to have some significance, I downloaded to my Pip-Boy. Still..what the hell was that blast? And if it was powerful enough to destroy Liberty Prime do we really stand a chance after all? I suppose I'll find out after I speak to the Brotherhood at the Citadel. But this doesnt look good....

October 23, 2277

2012-08-22T08:28:00.002-07:00

I feel like I got hit by a truck. Apparently I'v been asleep for over two weeks. I dont remember much about the battle. As soon as I saw what we were up against, I took as many chems as I had with me. The Enclave forces had us outnumbered and had superior weaponry to us, but we Liberty Prime more than made up the difference. With his help we were able to easily smash through the Enclaves defensive lines and demolish the force shields they had up around the purifier. From their Sara, myself and the rest of the Pryde entered the purifier and cleared out the Enclave troops. Inside the purifier chamber we encountered Col Autumn once again. I cant say I'v enjoyed killing all the people I'v had to, but Autumn deserved it. After what he did to my dad...to me...I;m glad he's gone for good.

After Autumn was dead and the control room was secure, we got the bad news: the pressure inside the purifier was building up to critical levels. Apparently when my dad flooded the internal chambers he had let water flow in, but not out through the purifier, creating pressure, and it was about to blow. But there was also a lethal level of radiation inside the chamber, it was a death sentence to whoever went in. I volunteered to go in, it was my dads life work, plus I finally understood the meaning behind my moms favorite Bible verse: Revelation 21:6. 216 was the code to start it. So I popped some Rad-X, stepped in and started it up.

I dont remember much about what happened after that. I saw the water drain from the inner chamber and Jefferson's face...or rather the statue of it from before the war...I think there was an explosion. And I had this crazy dream of some dude narrating my life up to this point, and this insane notion that my entire life up to this point had been some kind of simulation, like what I experienced in Vault 112, except....not like that at all.

But all that passed and I woke up to Elder Lyon's face. Apparently I'd been comatose for over two weeks. There was some kind of energy spike when I activated the purifier that did that to me and Sara. She's still unconscious though....Lyons briefed me on what was going on this last two weeks: The purifier is working, the Brotherhood has assumed control of it and is working to ensure fresh supplies of water make it to the wasteland settlements. With the destruction of their main base, the loss of the purifier and the death of Eden and Autumn the Enclave has been largely driven out of the Capital wasteland. The Brotherhood is working to finish the last remnants of them, and Lyons asked for my help in that respect, I agreed, but I might take some time to see what other settlements are up to in this last couple of weeks I'v been out. It seems though that we've finally won....

October 7, 2277

2012-08-22T06:22:00.001-07:00

Good God, I only have a few minutes to summarize everything that happened to me. I found the GECK, or rather Fawks did. He gave it to me. As I left the Vault I was ambushed by the Enclave. They hit me with some sort of concussion agent, next thing I know I wake up in chains, with that Col. Autumn bastard who killed my dad interrogating me about the activation code to the purifier. I tell him I dont know, because I dont. I swear he is about to kill me, but then something funny happens, President Eden contacts him over the intercom, tells him to leave and then lets me go. He says we need to have a chat face-to-face.

I step out and find myself in an amazingly advanced facility, even the vaults didnt have some of the computer and lab equipment I saw here. Its obviously the Enclaves home base. I make my way to president Eden's chambers, he gets on the PA system to tell everybody not to harm me. But then out of nowhere that Autumn bastard gets on and tells everybody to ignore that order and kill me. Motherfucker. Luckily these Enclave assholes are tough, but still human. A shotgun at close range will punch right through their armor and kill them.

I make it Eden's private chambers, and I'm in for my next surprise...theres no person there. Just a bank of computers Eden is speaking to me through. Then I realize he isnt speaking THROUGH them he IS them. It dawns on me that Eden must be some sort of advanced AI program. I'd heard of such things. Although I wasnt sure they had actually been perfected before the bombs dropped. But here he was in the flesh...so to speak.

We chat for a while. He tells me about how he was programmed to run this facility and ensure continuity of government in an emergency, about how the Enclave established themselves on the west coast before migrating here after a defeat by the Brotherhood and somebody known as 'The Chosen One.' And then he gives me his request: He wants me to insert into the purifier a vial of a modified version of the FEV virus that will kill anything effected by mutation. He says this is a way for humanity to 'start over,' to allow those who are 'untainted' by the wasteland to reclaim it. I tell him I wont do it. What he was asking is genocide, period. But he insists he wont let me leave unless I take it. I do. But then it occurs to me, I was able to hack into his subroutines and activate the self-destruct sequence for the facility. Then I high-tail my ass out of there.

When I get out there who should I meet but my good buddy Fawks, giving hell to a group of Enclave soldiers. He tells me he came here to rescue me. I appreciate the sentiment. I ask him if he wants to join me, he refuses, says he wants to explore this world some more first. We both sit and watch the base go kaboomy. Then go our separate ways. Him to make his fame and fortune, me I head back to the citadel. I figure the brotherhood will want to know what transpired.

When I get there, Sara and her father are arguing over whether or not to assault the Enclave's position at the Purifier. Sara wants to, but her father is reluctant to allow it. When I tell him they have the GECK, as well as about the destruction of their main base, he changes his mind however. He asks me to join the attack, and Sara offers me an 'honorary' position among the Pryde. Elder Lyons also suggests that we use that giant fucking robot for the attack. Apparently with Dr. Li and her team's help they were able to get it functional. They say it hasnt been tested sufficiently, but what better trial could there be? The attack will happen any minute now. As soon as the brotherhood has gathered their forces and prepped for combat. In fact I hear Sara calling me now...

October 6, 2277

2012-08-20T15:34:00.001-07:00

I'm writing this locked inside a cell in Vault 87 that I'm sharing with a friendly super mutant.

Thats got to be the weirdest sentence I'v ever written. I should step back and explain. I came back to Little Lamplight and told mayor McCreedy that I'd rescued the kids from the slavers. He let me, still has a bad attitude, and didnt really trust me. But luckily not everybody in Little Lamplight was that way. Amazingly this is an entire society of children, nobody over the age of 16 is allowed in, and those who reach that age must go to Big Town. Theres a natural water supply here, and an unusual cave fungus that serves as the staple of their diet, along with whatever they can scavenge or hunt from outside. They even manage to educate their younger ones. One of the kids, Joseph told me that they had found some old holotapes that, combined with books and practical experience he was using to run a school. Honestly I have to wonder if we underestimate children. We take care of them, try to keep the 'hard stuff' away from them, and limit their choices to what we deem appropriate, yet here is an entire society of children, working perfectly fine. In fact, better than the town for adults they set up. I also have to wonder where more children come from. Maybe children from Big Town are sent here? I didnt see any kids, but that town is such a hell hole nobody probably wants any kids. I suppose that will have to remain a mystery to me.

Anyway I purchased supplied from the merchant in town Knick-Knack. And I spoke to his sister Knock-Knock, who is in charge of keeping the other kids happy through jokes and stories and such. I shared my adventures with her...well most of them anyway. Some, like the work I did for Mr. Crowley I didnt really feel were appropriate to share. Then I asked McCreedy how to get to Vault 87. He said the only way in was through a place called 'murder pass.' Which seemed to be appropriately named. As its a series of caverns overflowing with super mutants. I wasnt able to kill them all, but was able to punch through their lines and make my way into the vault. Clover...didnt make it, seems like everybody near me dies...but I'v learned to live with an accept it, at least she died out here, and not in the ownership of the slavers.

Anyway, inside the vault, the number of super mutants is thinner. And I found what appears to be a...lab. Isolation rooms where people seem to be exposed to something called the Forced Evolutionary Virus, which turns humans into super mutants. Apparently this vault was created as an experimental space for the FEV. And the mutants today have continued that work, capturing people and exposing them to the stuff, they arent smart, but they seem to understand enough to keep this running. In one of the labs was a super mutant who spoke to me through the intercom. His name is Fawks, and he asked me to help him out. He promised in return to help me obtain the GECK, apparently the area its in is too radioactive for humans, but super mutants have much higher rad resistance. I agreed, I broke into a room on the far end, and activated the emergency unlock for the door. I spoke to Fawkes, for some reason he managed to keep his sense when all the other super mutants lost theirs. For that they locked him away as a 'failure.' He doesnt remember much about his former life, but apparently he lived in the vault when there were still humans in it.

Anyway, I'm going to take a nap while Fawks keeps watch for his 'brethren' then when I'm fully rested we'll push our way deeper into the lab to get the GECK.

October 5, 2277

2012-08-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

I did it. The kids are free. Since I'd gotten all the slaves he wanted, the guard let me in. I decided the easiest way to free the kids would be to buy them, but Euology, the leader of paradise falls wanted more than I was willing to pay for them. But he also made me an offer on another, a young woman named Clover. He said she was crazy, turns out he was right. I was going to free her, but she doesnt want to leave, in fact she seems awfully eager to 'serve' me. Honestly I cant really complain about that. And at least this way I'll know she isnt being mistreated.

The kids had their own ideas on how to escape. One of them had activated a computer that was in their room. All I had to do was set up a network connection by sneaking into Euology's room. After that it was simple matter of waiting till night and distracting the guard. I decided to go get a drink at the bar...except one of the slavers, a big guy with a super sledge killed him. Said he was watering down the drinks. I decided not to argue with him, or even to worry about drinks after that...I just took a nap.

When the time came to go, one the children wouldnt go. I told the others to leave her. You cant force her, and we didnt have time to talk her into coming with us. I didnt see Red at the camp. I wish I could have rescued at least her. But for now I think its best I stay away from Paradise falls for a while. I doubt they can connect the breakout to me, but if they do I'm screwed. And in any case I still need to get to Little Lamplight and find the GECK.

October 4, 2277

2012-08-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

Tenpenny has himself quite a tower. Its a pre-war hotel, that he's secured and allows people to live in. When I got there a group of ghouls were trying to convince security to let them in, but they refused. Apparently Tenpenny doesnt allow ghouls in. I convinced the security guards to let me in, and I found out why: Most of the residents are bigoted snobs, they have a hatred of 'wastelanders' and especially of ghouls. The residents all expressed great distain towards me, I'v only actually lived in the wasteland for a little more than a month, but I guess it must be rubbing off on me.

There were a couple of exceptions. The tower's security chief, Gustavo recognized a capable fighter, and asked me to 'deal with' the ghouls. The other was Herbert 'Daring' Dashwood, yes the same guy from those radio shows on GNR. Apparently he and Three Dog got the idea for doing a show about his younger days as an adventurer in the wasteland with a ghoul named Argyle. According to Dashwood the stories: Rockopolous, Penelope Chase, the super mutants, Argyle always saving his ass, were all true. I'm not so sure, I'd bet theres at least some embalishment going on in those programs. On the other hand, with everything I'v gone through, whos to say?

Tenpenny himself, however, wasnt really like the residents. He was a businessman, plain and simple. I actually got the impression that he didnt have anything in particular against ghouls, but his residents who are paying to live there do. In fact he told me if I could convince certain particularly outspoken members to stay he would allow it. It took me some time, but I spoke to most of the residents, most were willing to listen to reason, to accept that the ghouls arent all bad, a few left when it became clear that they couldnt stop the ghouls from moving in. And then there was Susan Lancaster, the slavers wanted her anyway, and I'm sure once shes in Paradise Falls Tenpenny wont care what she thinks about the ghouls.

I then made my way to Roy, the leader of these ghouls, in some of the tunnels near and under Tenpenny tower. There were some feral ghouls, but nothing too dangerous. Roy and his friends were perfectly sociable, and even asked me to help them force their way in. But when I told him Tenpenny was going to let them in, he relented and gave me a ghoul mask, apparently if I wear it near ferals, they'll think I'm a ghoul and wont attack me...neat.

Tommorow I head back to Paradise Falls, with all of their 'special orders' in I should be able to get in. Then I got to figure out a way to rescue those kids, and maybe the others I captured...well except maybe that sniper bastard....

October 3, 2277

2012-08-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Big Town was in big trouble when I got there. The town is pretty much a hell hole. Apparently the Little Lamplight place I visited is only inhabited by children, and when they get too old they are sent here to big town, unfortunately they arent the least bit prepared for actually living outside the caves. I can sympathize, I was in that situation when I first came out of the vault. But to make matters worse the town is under constant attack by slavers and super mutants.

I asked around looking for Red. I found one resident, comatose, apparently wounded in an attack, I fixed him up, my dads skills as a doctor have really come in handy. Another resident, Bittercup tried to hit on me. I accepted, she was cute. If I'm ever back in the area I'll defiantly see her again. She also told me that Red and Shorty had been taken by super mutants to a pre-war police station quite a ways north.

I made my way there, the station had apparently been used as a military outpost during the war, so there was quite a bit of extra ammo and equipment...and super mutants. Red was locked in the jail, I managed to find the key on one of the super mutants. I freed her, she told me that Shorty had been taken the basement, and that nobody had ever come back, I wasnt about to leave him though. She wanted to run back to big town, but I insisted she come with me, not only because I might have needed her help, but because I didnt want her wandering too far off. I still needed to ensure she made it to paradise falls.

We made our way to the basement, there were tougher super mutants down there, but we managed to get to the kitchen, where shorty was talking to one of the mutants, who apparently wanted to eat him. We didnt wait around to listen though, Red and I burst in there and killed him. It was a good day, not only did I help the town and find my target, but I came out with a good deal more equipment to boot. When I got back Red told me that she feared future attacks, and asked if there was anything I could do to help. I noticed a pile of old security bots, and taught the residents how to repair them, maybe they'll help protect the town in the future.

And yes, I did put a slave collar on Red. I felt bad about it, but as bad as big town is I might just be doing her a favor. At least the slavers will protect her from super mutants and ensure she gets food. On the other hand the town needs her as a doctor. Maybe I'll rescue her when I rescue the kids from Little Lamplight. We shall see for right now I'm going to head for my last target.

This last one is one I'v been looking forward to. Susan Lancaster of Tenpenny Tower. Not because I care about her, but because Tenpenny is the bastard who wanted me blow up Megaton and sent mercenaries after me for refusing. Not to mention Crowley wanted me to kill him. I'v heard so much about the man I cant wait to meet him, or at least see where he lives....

October 1, 2277

2012-08-02T16:40:00.000-07:00

Taking the advice of the Brotherhood, I didnt head straight to the door of Vault 87, but to the caves outside it. Inside the caves I found a barricade manned by a kid with a shotgun. He couldnt have been more than 8 or 9 and he claimed to be the mayor of the town of little lamplight, which I can only assume is inside the caverns. I asked him about Vault 87, he said there is an entrance, but they dont go in there. And in any case he wouldnt let me in, he seemed to really hate adults or 'mungos' as he called us. I dont know where that kids parents are, but they really need to teach him some manners. Anyway, he also mentioned that some of the people there had been captured by slavers from Paradise Falls, I told him I'd get them back, and he said he would consider letting me in.

I made my way to Paradise falls, along the way I encountered a couple of super mutants attacking a herd of Bramin. I guess super mutants need to eat too. Anyway when I got there, wouldnt you know it, the guard wouldnt let me in there either. I probably could have fought my way in, but taking on a whole slavers camp on their home turf seemed like a bad idea. The guard did offer me work bringing in new slaves, as well as a handy little device to stun people with, while I put a collar on them. I figured I'd use it on raiders or those Enclave bastards, if anybody deserves slavery its them. But then he offered to let me in if I brought him some 'special' individuals

The first was that sniper bastard holed up in Minefield. He was pretty easy really. I'v learned to step without setting off landmines, combined with some stealth I snuck up to his hiding position, hit him with the stun gun and put the collar on him. Once its on collar has a radio tracker and explosive, so the people over at Paradise falls handle that part.

The second was Flack in Rivet City. I dont really know much about him other than he runs the weapon store with Shrapnal. But apparently he used to be one of the slavers and then one day left them. Anyway, I broke into his room while he was sleeping, stunned him and sent him on his way. I rented a room at the inn here in Rivet city. Tommorow I head over to a place called 'Big town' theres another target there....

September 29, 2277

2012-07-30T16:28:00.001-07:00

I got back to Megaton to pick up a cry for help over the radio...from Amata. She needed help in the Vault. I went there, Just seeing her would be a good thing, but if she needed help...well I felt obligated. It became quickly apparent as soon as I entered that the vault was in distress. The once pristine and clean vault was now covered with litter and graffiti. The guards I encountered tried to kill me, I guess thats understandable, seeing as I had killed several of them as I was trying to leave the last time.

But others were more reasonable and were willing to explain the situation to me: apparently after my dad and I left, things spiraled out of control. A number of the citizens of the vault began to realize the possibility of opening the vault, they saw the possibility of exploration and trade with the outside world. They eventually organized themselves into a proper resistance, led by Amata. Things got even worse when it became clear that the vault had been open, however limited the opening was in the past, that was of course when my dad and I entered, apparently the vault was never meant to open, but the overseer defied orders and allowed limited exploration and my dad to enter and offer his skills as a doctor to the vault. There also seemed to be a contingent among the rebels, led by Butch who wanted to leave the vault forever.

The Overseer in response cracked down hard, remaining adamant that the vault remain closed no matter what. Several members of the resistance were jailed, a few were killed and armed guards were posted at the entrance(the same armed guards who attacked me upon my entry). Having lived above ground I can understand the overseer's concerns, the outside is nothing like the vault: Its dirty, harsh, and dangerous to those unprepared. But I'm not so sure that locking the vault is the solution. When(not if) the super mutants or the Enclave find the vault, the members there wont stand a chance, even most raiders would probably be able to break in once they found the vault. Building relationships with the friendly inhabitants of the wasteland to provide friendships that could help us in a crisis would be our best defense, even just knowing about the dangerous out there would be a huge benefit.

Not to mention the benefits of trading for supplies and of finding new genetic diversity. After 200 years pretty much everybody in the vault is related to each other, if we dont find more people inbreeding and a lack of genetic diversity will destroy us before the super mutants ever have a chance to.

I spoke to overseer about these things, I think, at least at one point he understood these issues. Which is why he defied orders and had the vault opened. I dont know why he changed his mind, he still refused to explain it to me, maybe he was just so scared of what he found? I dont know, but hiding from the outside wont keep it away, at least not forever. He agreed to open the vault, and to step down and let Amata take over as overseer.

I was overjoyed to hear this. I believed that I would be able to finally return to the vault. Perhaps even better, since the vault would be opened, with my knowledge and experience I could act as some kind of liaison between the vault and the outside settlements, honestly it would be ideal for me. I'd still be able to live in the vault near all my old friends, near Amata, but I'd still be able to leave, to visit the wasteland, see the people I'v met out here...it would be perfect. But then Amata told me the grim news: I was to be exiled from the vault forever. Apparently the people down their blamed me for the problems and chaos I'd caused, and didnt think I could be trusted. Honestly I think it was a bad decision, not only because I wanted to return, but I really feel my knowledge and experience of the outside would have been greatly beneficial to the vault. But its her decision. I cant refuse that.

I do know one thing though: If the vault is going to open, or even if it wasnt, I'd want it to open to a world as safe and clean as possible. I'm going to find vault 87, obtain a GECK and get project purity working and away from those Enclave bastards. I dont know how, but I'm going to do it. For Amatas sake.

September 28, 2277

2012-07-26T12:30:00.001-07:00

So much has happened in the last few days, I cant believe it. My dad is dead, those Enclave bastards killed him!!

I guess I should back up a bit and explain. I went to Rivet City and found my dad, hed spent the previous week there meeting with Dr Li and preparing to re-start project purity. When I got there he told me he was ready to head out to the facility, I agreed to go. Part of it was because I just wanted to be close to him, but I also think I'v started to believe in the project. Clean, non-irradiated water would definitively change the capital wasteland, and I should be a part of that I think. When we got the plant I helped clean the lower levels of super mutants, and got some systems of the purifier working. I chatted with my dad, I told him about some of my adventures in the wastes, he seemed particularly proud of the fact that I'd disarmed the nuke in Megaton. It seems so long ago now, has it really only been a little more than a month? Anyway it was a good time, me and him together again. Then, as I was cleaning out a drainage pipe, I saw them...or rather it, a machine, a helicopter, at least it looked like one, I'v only seen old pre-war pics and vids. It landed right outside the purifier and off stepped soldiers. They carried some kind of energy weapons, I'v never seen their likes before, and they wore power armor, but not like what the Brotherhood wears, it seems much more...advanced.

I ran back to the main purification chamber, and found that they had already taken it. They confronted my dad, he had sealed the inner chamber. A man, he called himself Colonel Autumn. dressed in what looked like a pre-war military uniform was telling him that the enclave was taking over the project, and to activate it. Yes its the same Enclave that has been playing on the radio all this time. I'd wondered where they were all this time and, if they really were the remnants of the US Government what they were doing. I'd assumed that they were, like everybody else in the wasteland, small in number, low on supplies, relying on salvaged tech to fight with, and were unable to do much about the problems in the wasteland. But seeing them now...I'm not so sure.

Instead, my dad overloaded the purifier the entire chamber filled with deadly levels of radiation. My dad, collapsed, but before dying he told me to run. And thats what we did, me, Dr. Li and the other scientists. We escaped through some tunnels that run under the purifier. Fighting feral ghouls and enclave members chasing us, we made it outside, emerging just outside the Brotherhood's citadel. Their headquarters I guess. Reinforced from the military command center of pre-war America. Dr. Li convinced them to let us in, and I'v spent the last day or so here, theres some pretty impressive stuff, including a giant robot. Apparently America built it as their ultimate weapon, but it was never deployed. The brotherhood scribes are working on rebuilding it.

I also learned a great deal about the brotherhood. Apparently they started on the west coast shortly after the war. They spread eastward, they have a division in Chicago and now here. Apparently their main duty is salvaging and re-building pre-war technology, but the elder of this branch decided that stopping the super mutants and protecting the people of the capital wasteland was more important. That led to them getting cut off from the west coast brotherhood and also some leaving and forming the 'outcasts.' I'd wondered what the difference between them was, and now I know. Despite their mandate to protect the citizens of the Capital wastes, they seem very wary of 'outsiders.' I suppose I can understand that to some extent. Many of the wasteland inhabitants, raiders and even ordinary wasteland citizens would harm them and take their technology.

But most significantly, I'v learned that this isnt the first time the Brotherhood encountered the Enclave. Apparently 30 years ago on the west coast they had tried to use some sort bio-weapon to kill all mutated humans, the Brotherhood had stopped them, with the help of somebody they call 'the Chosen one.' Whatever that means. In any case, I dont know what the Enclave wants now, or why they want the purifier, but it cant be good. Not that it matters anyway, the purifier still doesnt work.

Dr. Li still thinks we should still be looking for GECK, with the help of one of their scribes Rothchild, I found one, Vault 87. Rothchild also informed me that I cant just walk into the vault, apparently it was directly hit during the war and is too radioactive. But there might be an entrance in the tunnels a ways away. I might try to go there eventually. But I think tommorow I'm going to head to my home in Megaton, I dont want to deal with this for at least a couple of days.

September 25, 2277

2012-07-24T10:38:00.002-07:00

I havent written in the last few days, been busy. I decided to help Hannibal and his group of escaped slaves out. First I went to the Lincoln Memorial, Hannibal wanted to make sure it was safe and secure for them to live in, particularly clear of super mutants. There were no super mutants, but the place was taken over by slavers. I had a chat with them, they wanted me find the location of the escaped slave hideout. I told them they were located near Old Olney, I'd seen a deathclaw nest there when I went looking for the Republic of Dave, I'd steered clear of the place, but apparently they never had been there, they packed up and left good riddence.

The other thing Hannibal wanted was a picture of how the memorial looked before the war. He wants to restore, the statue is missing its head, I know Hannibal has it at the temple of the union, how it got there I'm not sure, but he needs some kind of plan to work off of to fix it. There wasnt any in the memorial proper. I'd seen them growing up in the vault, but I didnt bring any with me. I went back to underworld to get supplies and especially ammo. When I noticed that there had been a Lincoln exhibit in the lower levels of the museum before the war. I figured it wouldnt hurt to check it out the next morning.

It seems that while the friendly ghouls have moved into underworld, the feral ones have moved into the Lincoln exhibit. Nothing too dangerous, I managed to find not only a poster for the memorial, but some other Lincoln memorabilia, his hat, a wanted poster for his assassin, his rifle, and some kind of Lincoln action figurine. I escaped from the underground wounded and hungry, spent the night in Underworld again, and then went back to Hannibal. I told him what had happened, I gave him the picture of the memorial. Hannibal also offered me a decent amount of caps for my other Lincoln memorabilia. I sold it all except for the gun. It still works amazingly, and something about using Lincolns rifle makes me feel like a real badass.

You know it occured to me, I'v spent the last week just wandering around the wasteland helping people. I like to think I'm making a difference, but my dad is just doing the same thing: His project purity is an attempt to help the people of the wasteland. I think I'm going to go apologize, even if I dont help him. He deserves that. He said he'd be in Rivet city, and if not then I'll surely find him in the Project Purity building....

September 21, 2277

2012-07-23T16:55:00.001-07:00

Well I got both the Ant-agonizer and the mechanist to stop attacking Canterbury Commons. I made my way into the Ant-agonizer's lair, fought a few giant ants, but nothing dangerous, certainly not compared to the fire ants near Greyditch. Anyway I met her, she's completely insane, given over to the idea that ants are the superior species to humans, I convinced her to change her ways. I think it hit her when she heard me say her real name that she was human and that not all humans are weak or useless. She left me her costume. said she didnt want or need it anymore, and then she left, I dont know where she went to. I hope I meet her out in the wasteland somewhere.

I decided after that to may my way to the mechanist's forge. I figured if I could convince him the Ant-agonizer was gone he would give up and go back to working as the mechanic for the Commons. No such luck. He asked me to give him the costume so he could destroy it and end her evil once and for all. I realized than that he wouldnt change, he would continue to 'protect' the town. So I told him not to worry about the costume, that there was more evil in the wasteland that needed to be stopped. At least that will get him away from town, and who knows, maybe he will do some good. Maybe....

Also, on the way back here I learned that some people, or at least one person, is taking the wasteland survival guide a little more seriously than I expected. I thought it would be just an interesting collection of survival tips, with some more general advice on how to begin the rebuilding of society. But apparently this guy at least is taking it as some kind of holy writ. Was even willing to give me a 'tithe' when I told I helped write it. Maybe when I get tired of wandering the wasteland I'll set up my own messanic cult, calling myself the 'survival guru.' Or maybe thats too silly? I dont know. But I'm glad my book is making an impact on the wasteland. It's only been a few weeks since I finished writing it, and I'v already encountered this guy and heard three dog giving it a good plug on his station. So in some sense I, or at least my ideas, will live forever. Thats a comforting thought. I really should talk to Moria about publishing this journal....

September 20, 2277

2012-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

I made it to Canterbury Commons. On the way here I found a place that was being used as a hideout for escaped slaves. Their leader, Hannibal, wants to move their safehouse. He asked me to help him with some things in that respect. But right now it seems like we have bigger problems here the Commons.

I walked into town today and right into the middle of a showdown between a self-proclaimed 'super villain' called the ant-agonizer who seemed to be in command of several giant ants, and a 'super hero' calling himself the Mechanist, along side a bunch of robots. I read about this kind of stuff in comic books growing up, but in real life? Seriously?

Afterwords I talked to some of hte locals here, apparently this Ant-agnoizer chick has been attacking the town for some time. But after one of her attacks something snapped in the mind of the local mechanic, he took saw it as his duty to fight her and built an army of robots for that purpose. Derek, a local kid seemed to enjoy watching them. But everybody else said they would be happy to be rid of them, their attacks are a nusicence, and are starting to keep away the caravans. Which is especially bad since the towns main source of income stems from being a 'hub' for the caravan routes. One of the other guys here gave me a little information about the Ant-agnoizer, apparently he heard a while back about a young girl named Tanya Christonff whos family was killed by ants. Perhaps she somehow developed a bond with the ants. Either way I think I'll head up to her lair tommorow. It seems she's the source of the trouble in this town.

September 19, 2277

2012-07-19T17:31:00.003-07:00

So I'v taken to wandering the wasteland. Just to explore, clear my head, maybe learn some things. But mostly just to Figure out what I'm going to do with my dad.

Today I ran into a couple of guys, they seemed to be arguing. I approached them to figure out what was going on, they told me they were looking for someplace far to the north called Oasis. Then they attacked me, big mistake.

Still this Oasis place seemed interesting to me. I wandered north, eventually I found the place, and was greeted by 'tree father' birch, leader of the treeminders, the inhabitants of Oasis. He told me he wanted me to see their 'god.' I agreed, intrigued by what was going on. Oasis really is very beautiful. Lush and green, and fertile, Its unlike anything I'v ever seen outside of old stuff from before the war. I dont think I can properly describe it to most citizens of the wasteland. The treeminders made me do a 'ritual' involving drinking some sort of sap like substance, and then I met their god: a talking tree.

Except he wasnt a tree, not really. I'm not real clear on this point, but apparently he used to be a human named Harold...or Bob? I dont know, it doesnt really matter. And he encountered some sort of...something that made a tree grow out of his head, and it just kept growing. That sounds crazy I know, and I wouldnt have believed it if I hadnt seen it myself. But, I'v heard rumors that mutagenic bio-weapons were used during the war, and the existence of super mutants seems to confirm that. Its possible, if Harold was around during the war he encountered some sort of full strength version of one. Regardless, it seems that Harold, or at least the tree growing out of Harold is responsible for the vegetation around Oasis. It actually is quite impressive and easy to see why people might worship him.

But Harold was tired of being stuck in one place as he is, he wants to die, and asked me to do it. The treeminders wouldnt because they thought he was a god. He wanted me to enter caves under Oasis and find his heart and destroy it. I agreed.

After I spoke with Harold, both Tree Father Birch and his wife Leaf Mother Laurel approached me with their own ideas. Birch wanted me to apply something to the heart to slow the growth of Oasis, keeping it hidden away. Laurel wanted me to apply another ointment that would accelerate it, making the wasteland green sooner. I took both, said I'd consider all options. Afterwords I spoke with the other treeminders, they all have their own reasons for being here, and just as awestruck by the beauty of this place as I was.

In the caves I encountered Mirelarks, dangerous, but not overly so, and I made my way to the heart. It was bizarre, wooden, yet beating. I must say I was tempted by the thought of applying Laurel's ligament to the heart: thought of seeing the whole wasteland like this was very tempting. But in the end I destroyed the heart. It was what Harold wanted, and in a way it fulfills what Birch wanted: Oasis no longer growing, hidden away. Some of Harold's sap...or blood, got on my skin and seemed to harden it or something. Makes me feel a bit tougher actually.

I was fully expecting the treeminders to try and kill me when I got back, I came out of the caves ready for a fight. But Harold spoke to them, told them that he was going to die, and they had come around to the idea. I was even more surprised to find that every one of them was going to stay in Oasis, even without Harold. Bloomseer Poplar seems to think she help the other trees here grow and multiply, expanding Oasis. I actually hope so. I would love nothing more than to see the whole of the wasteland as green and beautiful as Oasis. Tommorow I'm going to head east. I'v heard of a caravan town known as Canterbury commons.