Caesar's Legion



Caesar’s Legion was a huge, powerful and merciless slaving organization, led by the charismatic and cunning Caesar. The legionnaires were a well-organized fighting force, that used to operate east of the Grand Canyon. In J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game Caesar's Legion standard was black bull on red background and desciription "Legio X".

Timeline

 * in year 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 year 2238 and 2241 - first tribute in slaves was given to Caesar by Blackfoot tribe,
 * after year 2238 - tribes taught by growing in power Caesar's Legion helped it to exterminate powerful Twisted Hair tribe, merciles raiders and slavers ,
 * in year 2249 a lucrative slave trade was 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) ,
 * before year 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
Caesar attempted to destroy the New California Republic's presence in the east, and succeeded in destroying Fort Aradesh, NCR's far outpost located east of the Grand Canyon and one of NCR's major fortifications. The next stronghold controlled by NCR on the east was Hoover Dam, but when Caesar attempted to take it, his 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. There were left packs of his legionnaires, that still operated in the southwest, collecting tribute from tribes in the form of goods and slaves.

Genesis
Organizations, that gave some patterns for the Legion development could be Slavers' Guild - for slavery as commercial activity, Twisted Hair tribe - as a slaving and raiding tribe, Followers of the Apocalypse - for medical and agricultural knowledge, subversive thinking, possible military science and 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.

Organization
There is no certain information about Caesar's Legion structure and organization in Van Buren sources. It is significant, that it was named after military unit, rather after than an state-like organization. It was possible to move Ceasar's Legion to the east, so its main resource were people. Talking about numbers, the Caesar's Legion should farly exceed three hundreds of Blackfoots, to be assessed as a huge organization.

The Legion had specific titles, makeshift costumes and traditions. Some information concerning quasi-Roman organization features appeares with two Legion's officials holding ranks of centurion and vexillarius and commanding small detached slaver packs present on the southwest. Both officials carried more responsible duties in fact, beeing Caesar's representatives in the Reservation and Denver. Caesar's Legion pack encountered in Denver was called a squad, however it is not certain if pack or squad was formal name for its the smallest military unit. It is possible, that slavers' experience aqquired in northern California included cooperation of Caesar's personal guard with some freelance slavers, as well as dealing with the hostile New California Rangers. It is possible also, that reconditioning and slaver experience resulted with appearing more as tough officers and seasoned warriors as centurion Caius Drusus or Joshua Graham. That reconditioning could be connected with promotion of some superiority prejudices its members.

Ranks
The Legion had specific titles and/or ranks. The Prisoner was able to talk about them with Terrence. Known ranks were: The commander-in-chief of the Legion was Caesar. There was position of Caesar's right hand man also, held somewhen by Joshua Graham. Outside of Legion ranks were subjugated and allied tribes as well as some cooperating freelance slavers.
 * Legionnaire or Soldier - simple slaver in Legion ranks,
 * Vexillarius - the only appeared was a pack leader ,
 * Centurion - the only appeared was a pack leader ,

Equipment
Mimicking the ancient traditions of the Roman Empire, the legionnaires dressed in segmented football pad armor and decorated football helmets. Caesar's Legion had access to firearems, ammunition, leather and metal armors produced by the Reservation. Appeared and mentioned pieces of equipment used by legionaires were:
 * Shotguns - a simple and accurate weapon suitable for reconditioned recently tribals, legionaires appeared in the Reservation were probably armed with it and possible examples of shotguns were: ordinary double-barreled shotgun, used by slaver master Metzger from Den, pump-action shotgun used against legionnaires and sawed-off shotgun, appeared among Van Buren demo sprites,
 * Hunting Rifles - decent quasi-sniper weapon used by slavers during slave raids from Den ,
 * Assault Rifles - possible to purchase in the Reservation, used probably by legionaires appeared there ,
 * heavy environmental suits, woren by legionaires in the Reservation ,
 * at least some equivalent of leather armors,
 * an anti-dog repellent, sprayed by legionnaires around their camp in Denver ,
 * there were possible also some other single small arms, like a big .45 handgun carried by Caius Drusus ,
 * possibly some other slavers' specific equipment, like Cattle Prods.

Strange chariot concept art can be source of speculations concerning its use and its background, eg. other possible self propelled vehicles or presence of hipodrome at the Legion headquarter. It is not mentioned at Van Buren design documents however.

Relations with other organizations
Casear's Legion was truly brutal group in hostile relations with many factions present on the south-west.


 * Legion had 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, because Caesar was their former member.
 * Legionaires didn't hesitate 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 . 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, because Caesar's Legion had destroyed by tribals Hecate's original tribe - Twisted Hair. Because of it Legion should have hostile relationships with Vipers also.
 * Blackfoot tribe 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. During Van Buren development Hangdogs were merged with Blackfoots. It was planned, that Hangdogs promised to deliver Blackjack to Caesar's Legion and they would be hardly punished, if this promise wasn't fulfilled. According to leaks Hangdogs were planned to be often in league with Hecate.
 * Other tribes were probably neutral, like absent in J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game Jackals or Scaven Pickers, or were potential victims, like Ciphers and Twin Mothers.

October 2253
During Van Buren gameplay the Legion presence finally was planned in:
 * Denver, at temporarily transit camp prepared 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 some slaves were been sold ,
 * Fort Abandon - however in Van Buren's first vision it was planned to be the NCR rundown fort ,
 * hostile random encounters.



Legionaires packs presence in Denver and in the Reservation wasn't permanent - Denver was visited once a year and the Reservation was visited once a month. Accept one planned event (appeared as effects of Handogs punishment, when Blackjack wasn't delivered) there was no Legion members presence at Blackfoot village. It seems 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. 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.

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.

Denver affairs
The Legion pack encountered in Denver was responsible for transport of the slaves to the east, where the new Caesar's headquarter was located. Legion pack appeared there once a year on their way back to Caesar. Than every couple of weeks a pair of fast guys out east scout, if the radioactive dust storms had subsided for the season. Once they did, they headed 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 and two of them were scouts. 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 encounter Daniel, supermutant Blackjack and captured Ciphers. 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. Acting as Caesar's Legion agent Terrence could purchase or get Ciphers slaves, Blackjack and information about gentle Twin Mothers tribe, for 1000 caps.

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 were 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. 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 and drive with 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 Legion 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 or slavers from Slaver Caravan random encounter.

Caesar's Legion needed ammunition such as 12 ga, 5 mm, smaller amounts of .45 bullets and may be .223 FMJ. However it is not certain where the Legion weapons shipments go, if there were any. Travel to the east was possible once a year only and 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 :
 * there were form 47 to 58 groups of slaves delivered by the Legion on constant monthly basis until October 2253 ; number of slaves per month was unknown, there could be some fresh slaves at the slave market also,
 * since 2249 year ghouls have lost from 47 to 58 slave workers ,
 * with 98% slob waste rate, during 2 years after Belle was born the Reservation wasted ca. 13 slobs, for creation of 4 Born Ghouls between 2227 and 2251 year were it was used c.a. 200 slobs,
 * there were from 60 to 71 lost slave workers and slobs together, from 2249, which is rather contrary to c.a. 50 monthly slaves shipments.

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.
 * 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, especially Graham was feared by Blackfoots.
 * 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".

Possible explanations of contradictions is, that Caesar asimilated or took to the east his tribes also, and 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 moved. True power of Caesar's Legion could be seen there - 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. It seems, that the Legion moved east of Texas and the Midwest. There is possible inconsistency however - Anton, hostile salvagers leader, was from the Midwest and fled to Denver to escape Caesar's 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.

Development
The Caesar's Legion concept authors were Chris Avellone during preproduction and 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.
 * According to Chris Avellone's test pen-and-paper campaign The first fringe of the slaver band, Caesar’s Legion was planned to encounter and fight in the Circle Junction Train Yards.
 * According to Van Buren first vision 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.
 * 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 . Before beeing merged by designers with Blackfoot tribe Hangdogs tribe could be planned to live in northeastern Colorado, near Denver.
 * According to one of Van Buren screenshots 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.

Appearances in games

 * The Legion was initially, when Chris Avellone still worked on the project, to play a significant role in Van Buren. It was mostly cut out because Van Buren was getting too big, although it was planned some minor appearances in the game, which don't affect endfilms.
 * It was planned to give the Legion a major role to play in Fallout 4 - You wouldn't see their true power until a sequel.
 * The Legion is present in J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game.