Deathclaw Sanctuary

Deathclaw Sanctuary is a location in Fallout 3, found in the Northwestern region of the Capital Wasteland. The sanctuary is between Dickerson Tabernacle Chapel and Broadcast Tower KB5 can be reached travelling south-west from Fort Constantine or south from SatCom Array NW-05a. As the name would suggest, it is home to numerous Deathclaws.

Description
The Deathclaw Sanctuary consists of a single, large cave. There are multiple body piles and two pools of blood. The lack of light, twisting tunnels, large obstructions, and its residents make it one of the most dangerous places in the Capital Wasteland.

Exterior
Outside of the sanctuary is a small overhang with many skeletons, presumably victims of the Deathclaws. Further down the face of the cliff is a bridge crossing a large gorge. There are two smaller-than-average Deathclaws guarding the entrance which will respawn every three days. If approached from the correct location, a random encounter can happen.

After The Waters of Life, an Enclave camp will appear on the nearby cliff north-east of the entrance. This usually consists of a Tesla Soldier and an Enclave Scientist, as well as a mind-controlled Deathclaw.

When Travelling to the Sanctuary from the west it is possible to fall into the gorge as it is hard to spot through the rocks. A higher perception level allows you to spot the Deathclaws outside on your compass as a guide.

Outside an average locked footlocker can be found containing a Duck and Cover!.

Interior
The interior is a dark, maze-like cave complex which seems to serve as a nest for somewhere between six and twelve Deathclaws. The sanctuary seems to function both as a nest and a storage place, indicated by the many piles of maimed bodies and body parts that can be found in specific places. Several Wastelanders, Raiders, mercenaries and rotting Brahmin corpses are among them. Many of the corpses will yield good loot.

The Waters of Life
If the cave is cleared out before The Waters of Life, only Deathclaws will be found here. However, after the arrival of the Enclave, a group of soldiers appear to have entered the caves to explore. This has an effect on the unique weapons found here, see the loot section. They spawn alive in the caves, but unless you cleared it out once before, they surely won't be among the living by the time you find them.

The Enclave probably set up camp here to test out the Deathclaws' usefulness to the Enclave military operations. While venturing into the Deathclaw-filled cave was not the brightest idea, the scientists outside have clearly managed to capture some specimens. The research appears to be a success, as one can encounter Deathclaws with mind-controlling devices on their heads in other Enclave settlements (including Raven Rock).

Exterior

 * There is a locked footlocker right outside the cave entrance which contains a Duck and Cover! book.

Interior

 * Bobblehead - Endurance directly south of the entry inside the cave, in the first large chamber - on a short pedestal near a pile of corpses and a Rotting Brahmin. (It is to the immediate left at the bottom of the entry slope, ground level)
 * A copy of Nikola Tesla and You, a Nuka-Cola Quantum, and a Mini Nuke are near the bobblehead.
 * A unique form of the Gatling Laser, called Vengeance in the far southeast of the caves, near a dripping pool of blood.
 * Jack, a unique form of ripper, can be found here on a dead Enclave Officer in the southern part of the cave (only after The Waters of Life).

Bugs

 * The Deathclaws that spawn around the entrance to the sanctuary have been known to suddenly and spontaneously shoot up into the air. This seems to be caused by their spawn points placing them slightly below a surface they should otherwise be standing on, the resulting reaction of the physics engine seems to propel them skyward. (Confirmed xbox 360/PS3/PC)
 * The Deathclaws that spawn near the entrance may also spontaneously die while fighting you. (Confirmed Xbox 360)
 * The torso halves found in the pool of blood near the Vengeance have strange physics applied to them. Picking them up (Either the legs or the torso) results in them spinning in midair -- regardless of whether you are moving or not.
 * The various Deathclaw cages in the enclave base outside the sanctuary, have been known to only show the doors, and not the rest of the container. the doors do however still function. (Confirmed Xbox 360)
 * By the bobblehead, the rear half of a brahmin can be seen sticking out of the ground shaking due to it being stuck through a solid object (the ground). It will always be found like this.
 * The deathclaw that is walking at the pool of blood may not attack you. This makes it easy to get to Vengeance. (Confirmed Xbox 360)
 * This area has a lower framerate than any other place in the game, simply walking through it may cause you to drop to around 10 fps. (Confirmed Xbox 360)
 * An enclave soldier can spawn near the sanctuary when first approaching despite not completing The Waters of Life quest. (Confirmed PC with Broken Steel add-on)(Confirmed Xbox 360/PS3 all add-ons upon exiting cave)