Caesar's Legion

''War. War never changes. The Romans waged war to gather slaves and wealth. [...]''

''What is your name? My name is Legion, for we are many.''

Marc 5:9

Overview
Comprised mostly of reconditioned tribals and their offspring, Caesar’s Legion was a huge and powerful slaving organization, that used to operate east of the Grand Canyon. Led by the charismatic and cunning “Caesar", the legionnaires were a well-organized fighting force and absolutely merciless in their slavery. It was truly brutal group, which didn't hesitate even to enslave or kill Mormons, despite most tribals and other organizations left them alone, knowing that they often would voluntarily give medical or other aid.

Mimicking the ancient traditions of the Roman Empire, the legionnaires dress in segmented football pad armor and decorated football helmets.

Caesar attempted to destroy the New California Republic presence in the east, and succeeded in destroying one of their major fortifications located east of the Grand Canyon - Fort Aradesh. When Caesar attempted to take Hoover Dam, the Legion was badly defeated. Since that time, Caesar moved east of Texas, past the legendary cyclones that rage for most of the months of the year. Despite this, packs of his legionnaires still operated in the southwest, collecting tribute from tribes in the form of goods and slaves.

Relations with other organizations

 * Hostile relationship with the NCR and its branch - the NCR Rangers, concerning probably slavery problems. The Followers of the Apocalypse were touchy about their connection with Caesar’s Legion - it is from their ranks that the original Caesar came.
 * Hostile relationships with peaceful Mormons.Mormons were shamed also, because of the fact, that from their ranks came Joshua Graham, another notorious Caesar's Legion founder.
 * The Daughters of Hecate reserved a special hatred for Caesar’s Legion - Caesar's Legion had destroyed Twisted Hair by tribals, Hecate's original tribe. Because of it Legion should have hostile relationships with Vipers also.
 * Relations with Hangdogs tribe were not described - in Van Buren it was part of Blackfoot tribe, that was tributary to Caesar. Most of the Blackfoots feared the power of Hecate and her Daughters, but unlike Caesar, they saw being under the influence of Hecate as a necessary evil, since she's "proven" time and she controled the tribe's fertility. According to leaks Hangdogs were planned to be often in league with Hecate.
 * Other tribes were probably neutral (absent in J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game Jackals or Scaven Pickers) or were potential victims (Ciphers and Twin Mothers).

Emblem
In J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game Caesar's Legion standard was black bull on red background and desciription "Legio X".

Van Buren pieces of development



 * "The first fringe of the slaver band, Caesar’s Legion" was planned to encounter and fight in the Circle Junction Train Yards - Chris Avellone's test pen-and-paper campaign.
 * The Daughters of Hecate and Caesar’s Legion was thought as the female and male polar opposites, which was supposed to allow the player, depending on gender, to rule either one and use them to build an army, Postman style - Van Buren first vision.
 * Sharptooth, cut-off member of Hangdog tribe, was planned to be a spy for Caesar's Legion, reporting to their agents in Denver, only because Caesar holds Sharptooth's sister as a slave. If this became known, the other Hangdogs would demand to banish he and his family to the wasteland. Bares-His-Teeth would have no qualms about doing this - according to Blackfoot design document. Before beeing merged by designers with Blackfoot tribe Hangodgs tribe could be planned to live in northeastern Colorado, near Denver - according to J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game.
 * The Prisoner, equipped with Fallout Tactics-like pump-action shotgun and some unknown grenades, together with his five CNPC party, could kill hostile pack consisted of Legion slaver and Legion vexillarius gaining 2545 xp - according to one of van Buren screenshots.

The Caesar's Legion concept authors:
 * preproduction - Chris Avellone,
 * then - J.E. Sawyer - One of the few big things I did on van Buren was taking an organization Chris invented and changing it (perhaps mangling it in the process) into a neo-Roman slavers’ legion with all the weird titles, makeshift costumes, and traditions of that group.

Timeline

 * 2238 - mormon missionary Joshua Graham had encountered in Grand Canyon two Followers of Apocalypse; one of them later established slavers Legion and become its Caesar,
 * between 2238 and 2241 - first tribute in slaves was given to Caesar by Blackfoot tribe,
 * after 2238 - tribes taught by growing in power Caesar's Legion helped it to exterminate powerful Twisted Hair tribe, merciles raiders and slavers,
 * 2249 - a lucrative slave trade is established between Caesar's Legion, Blackfoot tribe and ghouls in the Reservation; since that moment the Legion acquired wide access to weapons, ammunition and armors produced there (things start to fall apart in the NCR - Congress building destroyed, empty space at Hoover Dam timeline),
 * before 2251 the Legion tried to invade Hoover Dam, but failed - Caesar had Joshua Graham burn and thrown into Grand Canyon by tribals; sometime earlier the Legion had destroyed Fort Aradesh,
 * after failed attack on Hoover Dam, but before October 2253, the Legion moved to the east.

War against the New California Republic

 * Fort Aradesh was far east the NCR outpost until the Legion totally destroyed everyone in it. It was the first major loss, that made governor Dodge fear Caesar and gave Caesar the confidence to push forward all the way to Hoover Dam.
 * Dodge didn't understand the motive for Caesar’s Legion attack - because ideology, business and politics reasons were obvious, probably there were no direct motive for attack.
 * The NCR had to cope with internal and external problems in the same time - internal problem was troubles in economy connected with halting production on the railroad lines in year 2245 and rising up the powder gangs, external problem was war against Brotherhood of Steel.

Ouroboros age inconsistency
It was founded by Hecate, but after Caesar's Legion was created, but:
 * Hecate was a young woman, when her Twisted Hair tribe was destroyed,
 * she had spent several months in the Nursery, where she was taught by Diana,
 * Jordon, captain of the Ouroboros elite city guard, was young unmaried man and had been raised there since the age of three years.

October 2253
During the game the Legion presence finally was planned in:
 * Denver, as temporarily used transit camp for the slave transport on the way to the east; it seems, that vexillarius Terrence, Caesar's Legion official in Denver, was planned to be important Caesar's represenative on the southwest, known as Caesar's Legion agent,
 * the Reservation, where slaves are exchanged for weapons, ammunition and armors,
 * Fort Abandon - however in first vision it was planned to be the NCR rundown fort.

Legionaires packs presence in Denver and in the Reservation wasn't permanent:
 * Denver was visited once a year,
 * the Reservation was visited once a month.



Accept one event there was no Legion members at Blackfoot village. Van Buren design documents didn't describe encounters with hunting Legion slavers, however at Van Buren tech demo text extract were some floating texts concerning Caesar and slavery. Meaning of the accident seen on the Van Buren screenshot - hostile Legion slaver and vexillarius - is not certain, however it could be illustration for encounter with hostile Legion pack.

Both packs of Legionaires took slaves from somewhere on the southwest. Some of this slaves could be taken from Blackfoot tribe. Some - from freelance slavers. It seems there was no serious demand on slaves on the southwest. In fact only the Reservation was interested in some significant shipments. Blackfoots sold some slaves to another tribes also, but the only other known tribe dealing with slavery were Hecate's people. So significant part of caught slaves were exported once the year to the east, by Denver camp. It seems also that two packs of Legionaires, some freelance slavers and allied Blackfoot tribe was enough, or had to be enough, to secure Caesar's business on the southwest.

Caesar and accompanig him part of his Legion should have some base, abandoned probably while the Legion moved to the east. It could be located on Texas latitudes in northern Arizona or northern New Mexico. It wasn't described, that the Prisoner was able to find it, so that empty place wasn't probably significant (another, but less probable possibility - it was secret place).

The only known the NCR military action against Caesar's Legion at Van Buren plot was take over of Fort Abandon. It was planned to do by the NCR army renegades accompaning dr. Presper. There is no information about any the NCR retaliation actions after failed attack on Hoover Dam.

Caesar's Legion genesis
The name of the new slaver organization was not only connected with fact, that Caesar's was mimicking ancient Rome. There were some Bible tradition roots also, given probably by ex-Mormon Joshua Graham.

Organizations, that gave some patterns for the Legion development were:
 * Slavers' Guild - for slavery as commercial activity,
 * Twisted Hair tribe - for management of slaving and raiding tribe and its customs,
 * Followers of the Apocalypse - for medical and agricultural knowledge, subversive thinking, military science, including roman army patterns probably,
 * Mormons - for medical and preacher knowledge and may be for some Vault knowledge also.

Caesar's Legion was comprised mostly of reconditioned tribals and their young offspring. High rate of offspring growth could be possible with use of Followes of the Apocalypse and Mormons medical and agricultural knowledge. Reconditioning was performed during hard competition with Twisted Hair tribe. It is possible, that during the war against Twisted Hair tribe the Legion founders and members adopted some violent customs and behavior of their enemies.

It is possible, that thanks to the reconditioning and slaver experience the Legion had more as tough officers and seasoned warriors as centurion Caius Drusus. The reconditioning could be connected with promotion of some prejudices among Caesar's Legion members - legionnaires in Denver assesed people from the southwest as primitives and assholes.

Tribes in Van Buren world were the largest organizations. To be assessed as huge the Legion should farly exceed this numbers.

Caesar's Legion organization
According to J.E. Sawyer the Legion had specific titles, makeshift costumes and traditions.

There is no information about Caesar's Legion structure and organization in van Buren sources. However it is significant, that Caesar created his slaving organization as "legion", a military organization, rather than an "empire", as state-like organization. It was possible to move Ceasar's Legion to the east, so its main resource were people.

Organization solutions partially should originate from northern California slaver organizations experience. Caesar's Legion was powerful and huge, but slaving job was similar as performed by Metzger's and Vortis'es tiny organizations. Especially Metzger used to have some personal guards (13) and cooperated with less liasoned Slavers' Guild members, hired to help with slave runs. Living in Shady Sands Vortis and his 7 slavers had to cope with the NCR Rangers.

There is almost no information about quasi-roman organization features, besides fact, that:
 * the Legion had at least one centurion, who commands detached small slaver pack,
 * similar function could be performed official of a vexillarius rank.

However both known Legion officials carry more responsible duties, then commanding small slavers packs only, because:
 * experienced slaver with centurion position could be necessary to take care of Caesar's busineses in the Reservation,
 * another official could be necessary to represent Caesar in northern areas as Caesar's agent in Denver.

Because of slaver job nature Caesar's Legion shouldn't act as concetrated military power. Exeption could be war against the NCR.

Caesar's Legion packs in van Buren were comparable with: Caesar's Legion pack can be equivalent for contemporary squad, a small military unit led by a non-commissioned officer (seargant or corporal), that is subordinate to an infantry platoon. At least pack encountered in Denver was called like that.
 * slaver packs encountered in northern California and Nevada by Chosen One,
 * tribal slaver packs encountered on the southwest by the Prisoner (Blackfoot and Hangdog).

Caesar's Legion ranks
The Prisoner can talk about them with Terrence. Known ranks were: Outside of Legion ranks were subjugated, allied tribes and freelance slavers, that cooperate with Legion (eg. non-Legion slavers in the Reservation, may be slavers, who captured Ciphers, or Alexandra, the bounty hunter).
 * Legionnaire or Soldier - simple slaver in Legion ranks,
 * Vexillarius - in ancient Roman army vexillifer was special duty post, unique to the legion; he was one of the signiferi (standard bearers); his duty was to carry the vexillum, a military standard displaying the name and emblem of the legion; Terrence was slaver transport pack leader, Denver design document where he appeared is silent, if he was a vexillum bearer; standard bearer was mentioned at van Buren tech demo text extract floating texts,
 * Centurion - in ancient Roman army mid-level officer,
 * Informal position of Caesar's right hand man, held by Joshua Graham,
 * The Legion commander was Caesar.

Caesar's Legion equipment
Caesar's Legion had access to firearems, ammunition, leather and metal armors produced by the Reservation. Probably even miniguns could be possible to acquire there, however ghouls used only two of them. The Reservation didn't manufacture energy weapons. Caesar's Legion firepower could be assessed at the ruined eastern part of Hoover Dam.

The Legion packs equipment:
 * in the Reservation - because of radiation: heavy environmental suits, according to Reservation design document pictures - equivalent for Fallout Tactics environmental armor); as firearms: assault rifles or shotguns; Caius Drusus carried a big .45 handgun - the exact model is unknown (see: discussion),
 * in Denver - good weapons, eg. Hunting Rifle (compare: Larsen's team in Boulder design document or powder gang equipment described in New Canaan design document) and probably some equivalent of leather armors.

Examples of equipment:
 * Shotguns, as a good weapons for reconditioned recently tribal legionnaires. This kind of weapon needs relatively low manufacturing technology level and it was possible to make it at outdorsman camp by tribals (eg. Blackfoot). Shotguns have quite good accuracy also - in Fallout 2 it works as +20% accuracy modifier, that is independent of weapon range and ammo stats. Such an accuracy modifier is connected with Shotgun, Sawed-Off Shotgun, Combat Shotgun and Pancor Jackhammer. Possible shotguns are:
 * "Fallout-like ordinary (double-barreled) shotguns". It was basic and easy to accquire weapon, Fallout 2 slaver master Metzger was armed with such shotgun also.
 * "Fallout Tactics-like pump-action shotguns", seen in van Buren screenshots. According to Burham Springs design document pump-action shotgun was planned to be present there - salvager Phil carries one.
 * Sawed-off shotguns present among van Buren demo sprites.
 * Some undefined shotguns were the NCR army members weapon (eg. used by Maj. Briggs or ex-ranger Ty from New Canaan).
 * Hunting Rifles, as a basic, but decent quasi-sniper weapons. In Fallout 2 world its feature is +40% accuracy modifier. Such rifles were used by slavers during slave raids from Den.
 * Assault Rifles were possible to purchase, because ghouls probably sold its to other slavers, and very likely to Hoover Dam and Maxon Bunker also (the NCR soldiers at Hoover Dam are desribed as armed with high powered rifles); there was no reason, that legionnaires can't be equipped with such weapon.
 * May be Cattle Prods.
 * Some bondage equipment (ropes).
 * Caesar's Legion had access to some chemical storage or technology also - legionnaires in Denver used an anti-dog repellent.
 * Strange chariot concept art can be source of speculations concerning its use and its background, however it is not mentioned at van Buren design documents (eg. other possible self propelled vehicles, presence of hipodrome at the Legion headquarter...).

The Legion music description
Caesar's Legion music description was melody evoking a Roman legions marching tune. It was musical background planned for Legion camp in Denver.

Denver affairs
The Legion pack encountered in Denver was responsible for transport of the slaves to the east, where the new Caesar's headquarter is located. Legion pack appeared there once a year on their way back to Caesar. Every couple of weeks a pair of fast guys out east scout, if the radioactive dust storms have subsided for the season. Once they do, they'll head out.

This pack was led by vexillarius Terrence. Under his command were 5 generic legionaries - Cruz, Wierzbowski, Thunderfoot, Ivory and Marco. One of them could be a sniper (equipped probably at least with hunting rifle, as powder gangs snipers) and two of them were scouts (may be tribal background Thunderfoot was one of them). They were well armed, as far as wastelanders go.

If the Prisoner was in alliance with the Blackfoot tribe, he had in with the guys from Caesar's Legion. They mainly wanted to keep away from the "primitives and assholes" who lived in this part of the continent. After an unsuccessful dialogue Terence and his slavers would attack the Prisoner.

Among the slaves the Prisoner could see Daniel, supermutant Blackjack and captured Ciphers (may be other anonymus Tibbets prisoners also). Blackjack could be sold there by Alexandra, CNPC bounty hunter. The Reservation didn't buy supremutant and ghoul slaves, so if there were any, they were transported to the east [notice: ghoul slaves didn't appear in van Buren design documents].

Acting as Caesar's Legion agent Terrence could purchas or get:
 * Ciphers slaves,
 * Blackjack (this case includs punishment for Hangdogs also, because they promised to deliver him and didn't keep the promise),
 * information about gentle Twin Mothers tribe - for 1000 caps (according to demo text files; it is more likely also, because the Reservation was less accessible and not known to everybody; it is possible also, that both Terrence and Caius Drusus could receive this message),
 * informations from spy within Hangdog tribe (cut off event).

The legionnaires in Denver were camped out in a hotel in southern part of the town with some slaves they've rounded up. They had the lower floors secured with chain link fence and barriers made of junk. They kept the dogs away with chemical repellent sprayed in the area, resprayed every year when they return there. They're alert. They stayed on the 2nd level, though they were watching their surroundings and might have a sniper hiding out on the ground floor. They kept the slaves locked in rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor (there were 30 rooms).

The Prisoner had to deal some way with the Legion slavers, if he wanted to repair klaxon station on the 2nd floor of the hotel, to drive all of the dogs out of the city.

It had never been a concerted slavage effort until the NCR slavagers arrived to Denver, however probably Caesar's Legion had made by slaves some basic salvage and builing works concerning its camp.

Trade with the Reservation
Experienced centurion Caius Drusus was in charge with slave supplies there. Members of Caesar’s Legions were the main suppliers of the slaves for the Reservation. There were other slave traders, but most slaves came from Caesar’s Legion. Caesar’s Legion enjoyed trading human slaves for firearms, armors and ammo. Trade was luxurious, however the Reservation didn't buy supermutant or ghoul slaves.

Caesar’s slave traders came once every month to sell slaves to ghoul Horatio. Should the Prisoner wasted the Slaver Caravan in the Slaver Caravan random encounter, Caius and friends would never show up again to sell slaves. This would concern Horatio, but he would not lose sleep over it since there were other slavers in the wasteland (eg. ghoul slaver Ingmar).

Caesar's Legion needed ammunition such as: 12 ga, 5 mm, smaller amounts of .45 bullets and may be .223 FMJ.

Notice:
 * Slaver Caravan random encounter wasn't unique and according to the Reservation design document this caravan could be destroyed more then one time. It isn't described as Caesar's Legion slaver caravan also.
 * It is not certain where the Legion weapons shipments go, if there were any (travel to the east was possible once a year only, there is no information concerning Caesar's Legion weapons caravans).
 * Delivered slave number estimations (if average long term slave workers number on the Sub-Level 2 was two dozen; according to the Reservation monster roster c.a. 15 slaves can be encountered there, however it can be a faction):
 * 47 - 58 groups of slaves delivered by the Legion on constant monthly basis until October 2253 (47 or 58 - number of months since January or December 2249 to October 2253); unknown number of slaves per month, there can be some fresh slaves at the slave market,
 * since 2249 year ghouls have lost 47 - 58 slave workers (the Reservation average slave time of living 2 years multiplied by two dozen - rarely does a slave lives longer than a couple of years)
 * during 2 years after Belle was born the Reservation wasted ca. 13 slobs (slob waste rate 98%, for creation of 4 Born Ghouls between 2227 and 2251 year were used c.a. 200 slobs);
 * lost slave workers and slobs since 2249: 60 - 71, which can be contrary to over 50 monthly slaves shipments.

Some NPC liasoned to the Legion

 * The Twisted Hair tribe had been one of the most domineering tribes in the wasteland. They regularly had raided their neighbors for food, supplies, and slaves. They had been merciless in their efforts and the other tribes had begonen to fear even the mention of their name. It had been during the reign of the Twisted Hairs that Caesar's Legion had risen up. The Legion had taught the tribes to fight back and the Twisted Hairs had been soon driven from their lands. Weakened and on the retreat, the Twisted Hairs had been then set upon by the Legion and destroyed. No one had been spared, but one woman had managed to escape. The only survivor of this masacre had been later tribal "goddess" Hecate. She established female tribe and religiuos organization named Daughters of Hecate and subordinated male tribe and raider organization named Hounds of Hecate, (former Vipers). Hecate hated Caesar and would like to wipe out Caesars agents in the area. Her further plan was simple. When the tribes were weak enough, her Hounds would sweep down upon them and annihilated them from the face of the earth. The same would come to pass with Caesar and his Legion.
 * Slaving Blackfoot tribe - allied with Caesar. Within this tribe - Bares His Teeth, packleader of the Hangdogs. He was an arrogant leader full of self-importance. He thinked himself a right-hand man of Caesar, and therefore very important in the wasteland. It was planned, that Hangdogs promised to deliver Blackjack to Caesar's Legion. Hangdogs would be hardly punished, if this promise wasn't fulfilled.
 * Alexandra, CNPC bounty hunter, who hanged up in Fort Abandon and was going to make business with the Legion in Denver. She had mormon origin also.
 * Anton, the leader of the non-NCR salvagers in Denver, was from the Midwest, home of the radioactive cyclones, and fled to Denver to escape Caesar's Legion.

Caesar, Hecate and tribals

 * For over a decade since year 2231 four Brotherhood of Steel paladins under Andrea Brixley's command had explored "the east" from Maxson Bunker and had forged relationships with many of the tribes that inhabited the area. Eg. senior scribe Isaac after desertion found his home among Ciphers.
 * Caesar's Legion, established after 2238 year, was comprised mostly of reconditioned tribals and their offspring.
 * Growing in power Caesar's Legion taught the tribes to fight back the Twisted Hair tribe. Hecate, the only Twisted Hair survivor, influenced this tribes and was going to annihilate them.
 * Caesar had executed Joshua Graham by tribals. This tribals feared and hated Graham (according to New Canaan design document). Graham was feared by Blackfoots (according to Blackfoot design document). I seems particullary Blacktoots feared him.
 * Jackals had been moving east to the Boulder area because of pressure from the unified tribes, other tribes despise and fear them. Jackals were supported by a Daughter of Hecate called Crazy Bitch.
 * Other known tribes hosting Daughters of Hecate were Blackfoots with Hangdogs and Twin Mothers. Twin Mothers were not known to Caesar's Legion, they weren't a member of anti-Twisted Hair league and they couldn't harm Hecate. Ciphers and "Iron Lines" refused Hecate's care and because of it they were in conflict with Hecate's people. "Iron Lines" had remained largely immune to the plagues, that haunt other tribes, who went against Hecate’s wishes.
 * The only known tribe on the southwest allied with Caesar were Blackfoots. However they were supported by Hecate also.
 * Blackfoots sold slaves to other tribes and to the Reservation. The only other known slaving tribe in van Buren were Hecate's people (her Hounds aka Vipers). May be ghouls in the Reservation could be regarded as a some kind of "tribe", as Ailis McLafferty described her weapons supply source in Hoover Dam.

Possible explanations of contradictions:
 * Caesar asimilated or took to the east his tribes also,
 * technically - tribes weren't implemented into van Buren or were cut off.

There is van Buren first vision plot also: the Daughters of Hecate and Caesar’s Legion was thought to use them to build an army with Ciphers, Hangdogs, Vipers and Jackals tribes.

The new location on the east


The east was the place, where the new Caesar's Legion location was placed. True power of Caesar's Legion could be seen there, described as huge, powerful, well-organized, absolutely merciless, truly brutal fighting force and slaving organization.


 * Caesar had moved east of Texas, past the legendary cyclones that rage for most of the months of the year.
 * The Legion pack encountered in Denver travelled to the east, in Kansas direction, when the radioactive dust storms subside for the season.

The Midwestern United States (or Midwest) refers to the north-central states of the United States of America, specifically Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Tornados very often appear in the Southern United States also (see: at Wikipedia).

It seems, that the Legion moved east of Texas and the Midwest.

Possible inconsistency: Anton was from the Midwest and fled to Denver to escape Caesar's Legion.

Appearances in games

 * The Legion was initially (when Chris Avellone still worked on the project) to play a significant role in van Buren (Black Isle's Fallout 3).
 * It was mostly cut out because the game was getting too big, although it was planned some minor appearances in the game, which don't affect endfilms (notice: it was planned to be possible to whip out Caesar's Legion packs encountered in Denver and in the Reservation).
 * Black Isle planned to give the Legion a major role to play in Fallout 4: "You wouldn't see their true power until a sequel".
 * It is not certain if they will appear in any future Fallout game, however there is planned some slavers appearance at Bethesda's Fallout 3.
 * The Legion is present in J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game.