Salem

Salem is a coastal city in the Commonwealth in 2287.

Background
Salem was once a quaint coastal town and seaport, made into a tourist destination by the infamous witch trials of 1692. After the Great War, the town's residents worked together to make it a secure settlement. Over the next two centuries, the community became known as one of the safest towns in the Commonwealth. As a consequence, the townspeople grew lax in their defenses. Barney Rook begged the town council to let him train the militia, to teach the citizens how to shoot and fend for themselves. However, they thought he was just paranoid and refused him. When the mirelurks started rising out of the ocean, no one was ready.

Mr. Rook tried to save as many as he could from his roost atop his home, but for every person he saved, three were lost. After the devastation, he vowed to protect the town, and has been doing so for the last couple of years alone. Because he was alone, and couldn't be everywhere at once, he set up a series of turrets around town at strategic locations so he could stay at home most days.

He recently took the turrets offline to conserve ammunition, since the mirelurks had been quiet lately. The Sole Survivor: "Who's Reba? Are you talking about your gun?" Barney Rook: "She's not just a gun! She's top of the line, best gun in the Commonwealth. Made her with my own two hands. Oh, where are my manners? Introductions! Barney Rook, commander of the Salem Volunteer Militia, at your service. I'm also the quartermaster, sergeant at arms, and scribe for all official meetings. This here is Reba. But you two already met when she saved your life." The Sole Survivor: "Thank you, Reba. And thank you, Barney." Barney Rook: "No thanks needed, sir. The Salem Volunteer Militia is at the service of the people of the Commonwealth. Duty is its own reward. Reba says you're welcome. Now, I'd love to sit here gabbing all day like a couple of house wives, but we've got some work to do. And by we, I most definitely mean you. Before you showed up, the Mirelurks had been mostly quiet. And those that were a problem were quickly dispatched by my turret defense system. Since things had been quiet lately, I took the turrets offline to conserve ammunition. Obviously, they need to be reactivated. And that's your mission, soldier. I'm going to continue to hold down the home front while you go reactivate the turrets." The Sole Survivor: "Sounds good." Barney Rook: "Of course it sounds good, I'm a tactical genius. Smartest man in town, as a matter of fact. The turrets should be easy enough to find. They're up high in strategic locations around town. Just be careful. All your noise probably woke up more crabbies and other mirelurks. The town could be crawling with them by now." (Barney Rook's dialogue) By late 2287, the area has become avoided by wastelanders due to Gunner activity in the area, the Church of the Children of Atom worshipping at the radioactive crater down the road, and the large number of mating mirelurks in the waters all around the bay.

The only other known resident of Salem was Andrew Endicott, who was abducted from Salem Village by Zetan aliens in 1697.

Layout
This ruined town has several locales, including the Museum of Witchcraft and Sandy Coves Convalescent Home to the southwest, a Drumlin's Diner to the south, a church and abandoned market stalls in the center of town, a pier and several boathouses to the east, and the Rook family house to the northeast.

Notable loot

 * Guns and Bullets - In Barney Rook's basement.
 * Mini nuke - Underneath the terminal in the bell tower.
 * Fat Man - On the store shelf on the second floor of the boarded-up shop. One of Barney's turrets is also located here.
 * Reba II - In Barney's basement.

Related quests

 * The Devil's Due
 * Gun Run

Appearances
Salem appears in Fallout 4, and is mentioned in the Fallout 3 add-on Mothership Zeta, the Fallout 76 update Wild Appalachia, and Fallout Shelter.

Behind the scenes

 * Salem is based on the real-world location of Salem, Massachusetts.


 * Salem was originally going to feature a questline involving children who gained magic powers through mutations. They would be persecuted by people from the town of Danvers, who viewed them as witches. The magic users were originally given spells from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to use, but these spells were later removed from the engine, causing technical difficulties. Danvers was also cut from the game due to being too close to Salem, leading to the quest being cut and replaced by the quest The Devil's Due.