Arefu

Arefu is a small settlement consisting of only four houses, located to the northwest of Vault 106. It is positioned on top of a crumbling overpass bridge and is one of the few settlements existing in the Capital Wasteland. The only service available here is from Mr. Ewer, who will repair items once the Blood Ties quest has been completed.

Background
Arefu once had more inhabitants than it does in the year 2277, but population has decreased drastically due to the inhabitants either dying or leaving to safer settlements because of creatures, raiders, The Family, and slaver attacks. Arefu, more recently, is the target of attacks from The Family, especially since Ian West went missing and is one of the starting locations for the quest Blood Ties.

Layout
Arefu's four houses sit atop a defensible section of the remains of an I-495 Capital Beltway bridge. Part of the overpass has collapsed, making it impossible to enter the settlement from the north. It is one of the stopping points on the trader circuit, and sandbags are deployed near its entrance to help the inhabitants fend off attackers.

Inhabitants

 * ¹ Only if you agreed to trade blood packs for protection during Blood Ties.

Notable loot

 * Bobblehead - Repair on the downstairs table inside Evan King's house.
 * Nuka-Cola Quantum just southeast of Arefu there is a dock on the water. Facing the dock the Nuka-Cola Quantum is to the left on top of some poles in the water.
 * Pugilism Illustrated on a table in the Abandoned Residence, which is by the brahmin pen nearest the entrance to Arefu. This house is only accessible after negotiating protection of Arefu by The Family and informing both sides of the agreement. This book must be stolen.
 * If you follow the water that runs under Arefu to the west, you will almost immediately come to a gunboat. Although the various trunks, suitcases, and metal boxes on the stern are empty, the ones on the bow are filled with missiles. Multiple protectrons spawn in this area.

Related quests

 * Blood Ties

Appearances
Arefu only appears in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes

 * Just above the entrance (where the highway leaves the ground), you can see a damaged traffic sign that should read "CAREFUL," but on which the 'C' and 'L' have faded away to display "AREFU". A similar town-naming technique is used in many Wasteland settlements such as Novac in Fallout: New Vegas.
 * Arefu is a small village in Romania, most well known for its proximity to the former castle of Vlad Tepes, also known as "Dracula" and "Vlad the Impaler".

Bugs

 * Sometimes, upon discovering Arefu, the map marker will not register the fact you have discovered it.
 * Rarely, Mirelurks will spawn outside when exiting the abandoned residence
 * Entering Evan King's house while sneaking will be detected by him, even with an equipped Stealth Boy.
 * Sometimes, Evan King will not enter his house, even if Blood Ties has been completed.