Free States

The Free States was a group of Appalachian anarchists who seceded from the United States before the Great War.

Background
Fearing imminent nuclear war and distrusting the government's ties to the Vault-Tec Corporation, members constructed their own bunkers. There are at least seven known bunkers, specifically in the Mire region. The Free States used the town of Harpers Ferry as a staging area and supply point for the construction efforts. This caused conflict with the town's inhabitants, who noticed tourism decreasing since their arrival. Conflict and unrest began between the Free States members and community members, and the Free States were placed under surveillance, documenting membership and their associates. Some businesses refused to do business with the group.

The government launched a propaganda campaign against the Free States followed by seizures of property belonging to members of the movement, claiming "seditious activity." The public prosecutor pressed charges against their leader Raleigh Clay, prompting Senator Blackwell to call for an investigation into the movement leader's imprisonment. In response, the Free States openly seceded from the United States in September 2077, retreating to their bunkers and isolating themselves from the outside world while waiting for the bombs to drop. The military, lacking the resources to fight a prolonged counterinsurgency campaign, decided to cease focus on the group.

The group members survived the war and waited for the all-clear, leaving their bunkers in 2079. With encouragement by Raleigh Clay, the Free States went to Harpers Ferry and turned it into a fortress and trading post. Using salvage and scrap gathered from the surrounding area, they established fortifications to protect themselves and people under their care. Via the Grafton Dam outpost, the Free States connected with the Responders in Charleston.

In 2086, the arrival of the scorched and scorchbeasts caused the Free States members to fall back from Harpers Ferry. Raleigh Clay issued a general order banning all recovery efforts. Abigayle Singh and her father worked hard to create countermeasures and a detection network against the threat, known as the Scorched Detection System.

Using information salvaged from abandoned Brotherhood of Steel camps, the Free States created scorchbeast lures, capable of attracting the monsters, disorienting and trapping them. The entire system was ruined by David Thorpe and raiders, who imprisoned Hank Madigan, trying to ransom a necessary uplink. Both groups were overwhelmed by the scorched. Abigayle Singh is the last known living survivor of the Free States, with her whereabouts unknown.

Locations

 * Berkeley Springs
 * Harpers Ferry
 * Thunder Mountain Power Plant
 * Treehouse village

Related quests

 * An Organic Solution: RadShield can be obtained by the player character after learning about Ella Ames' research.
 * Always Vigilant: The player character may assist the Free States' robot Rover in rebooting the "Scorched Detection Communications" Protocol at various relay towers across Appalachia.
 * Tracking Unknowns: The fate of a missing hunting group searching for ghouls can be discovered.
 * Heart of the Swamp: A strangler heart can be killed after hearing a priority message from Raleigh Clay which starts the event.
 * It's a Trap: Utilize the Free States scorchbeast lures scattered across Appalachia to ground and kill a scorchbeast during the event.

Appearances
The Free States are mentioned $$