Vance (Fallout 3)

Vance is the 41-year old, mysterious leader and guide of The Family in 2277.

Background
Vance adopts outcasts with cannibalistic urges from all over the Wasteland into the Family which resides in the Meresti Trainyard. He is trying to teach his charges to drink blood (as if they were vampires) instead of eating human flesh. His followers have described him as having a "sixth sense" about people who are good candidates for the Family. Vance is typically encountered during the Blood Ties quest. Despite appearing shady, and being disliked (although not personally) by Evan King, he is fairly cordial towards the player, and shows no hostility should you state your intentions of taking Ian West with you when you go. Vance is quite a smooth talker, who chooses his words carefully and weighs the actions of those who he is dealing with; in other words, be prepared for tough speech checks if you want to come to terms with him.

To gain positive karma and friendship with the Family, you can make a deal with Vance. You can have the citizens of Arefu donate the Family a periodic supply of blood packs to keep them sustained and to insure they no longer harass the town.

Upon completing Blood Ties, Vance awards the player his copy of the Shishkebab schematics, no matter what dialogue options were chosen.

Vance is the only source of the Hematophage perk which causes blood packs to yield 20 HP each rather than the normal 1 HP. Return to Meresti Trainyard and talk to Vance after completing Blood Ties and getting Evan King to accept Vance's deal on behalf of the people of Arefu.

Vance states clearly and repeatedly throughout the PC's discussions with him that, besides their ability to drink blood, he and the Family have no other relations to vampires as commonly portrayed. He mentions specifically that he can't turn into a bat and that he does cast a reflection in a mirror.

Statistics
Vance has a very high amount of health, being significantly tougher than a standard human non-player character. His durability is slightly less than that of a joinable non-player character companion and (with his armor), slightly more than that of a super mutant brute. His weapon of choice is the Shishkebab. Combat with him can be difficult, if the player chooses to deal with the Family violently.

Quests

 * Blood Ties: Lucy West in Megaton hasn't heard from her brother Ian West in a while and asks you to go to his home in Arefu to investigate. When you arrive, you discover Ian missing and their parents savagely murdered in their home. Evan King, the defacto leader of the small town, also asks you to find out what's happened to Ian. Unbeknownst to everyone, he has been adopted into The Family by its leader, Vance. To discover Ian, Vance, The Family and the rest of the story, travel to their underground headquarters located in the Meresti Trainyard.
 * I Want to Drink Your Blood: After completing Blood Ties, you have the option of donating blood packs to The Family.

Effects of player actions

 * If you convince him to accept blood packs from Arefu you can then give him any blood packs you have for caps.

Appearances
Vance appears only in Fallout 3.