The Forecaster

Clay, more commonly known as The Forecaster, is a young Psyker with clairvoyance living under the bridge at the 188 trading post in 2281.

Background
As a clairvoyant psyker, The Forecaster is capable of effortlessly seeing both the future and the past and the occasional spirit communication with his parents. Combined with his sharp senses, the Forecaster can make surprising insights into people and politics, though he suffers terrible migraines whenever his thoughts reach out. To deal with it, he wears "medicine". His medicine is actually a century-old psychic nullifier, which blocks incoming and outgoing thoughts, allowing him to enjoy peace of mind. However, while it prevents the migraines, it also blanks his mind. The Forecaster deals with this uncomfortable state by surrounding himself with ancient artifacts: Books, cameras, flags, and such. The thoughts of the people who made them are "stuck" within, for a lack of a better word, and the Forecaster can safely fill the blank in using them.

The Forecaster has lost both of his parents at an early age, forcing him to find work in order to survive in the harsh wastelands. Thanks to a unique mutation, he didn't have to pick up the shovel or the pickaxe. Instead, he started picking people's brains. Some were rightly impressed (while otherwise creeped out) by this power of his and others are skeptical at best or dismissive at worst. Either way, the Forecaster sells his services for a considerably costly amount, but understandably so since his thoughts cause him immense amounts of pain. And besides, he knows that everyone will come back to him eventually.

Quests

 * Thought for the Day: There is a dialogue option to offer to buy his headgear, but he will refuse the offer. There are also options to "hear his thoughts" on "You," "Here" or "Everywhere," which cost 100 caps each. He is basically a fortune teller. Questioning him about his odd and disjointed collection of pre-War junk will lead him to explain that it's not junk at all, but other peoples' thoughts, because people had to think to make them.

Behind the scenes
The Forecaster was designed by Joshua Sawyer and written/scripted by John Gonzalez. Sawyer was inspired by the experiments of the Cathedral in Fallout and the concept of psykers. He also wanted the first child the player would likely meet to be friendly and helpful. Commenting on supernatural themes in the Fallout series, Sawyer later stated that he somewhat regretted going "a little over the edge" with the Forecaster's powers.

Appearances
The Forecaster appears only in Fallout: New Vegas.

Bugs
If the player character has the Mister Sandman perk, visits the Forecaster at night and tries to pickpocket him while he sleeps, he will get the murder option. However, The Forecaster is a kid and cannot die, but the player character still gets the bonus XP.