Bridge Keeper

The Bridge Keeper event is a Special encounter in Fallout 2. This random event can happen at virtually any given time on the world map, and no conditions are known. It is a direct reference to the similar sequence in the motion picture Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

When this event is encountered, the Chosen One finds him/herself standing in front a large chasm, spanned by a rope bridge that is blocked by a brown-robed figure. The Bridge Keeper, when approached, hails the Chosen One and demands that he/she answer three questions. The Chosen One can answer, or decline, however he/she cannot leave without crossing the bridge; there is no exit grid on the near side, and, if the Chosen One has the car, it is inexplicably parked on the far side.

The Bridge Keeper's questions begin, as in the movie, with "What is your name?" and "What is your quest?" The Chosen One can answer truthfully or lie to the first one; the answers to the second all tend to be acceptably true, and will change depending upon the point he/she is at in the storyline. The third question is more random, and is a piece of obscure Fallout trivia, usually based on the intricacies of the SPECIAL system.

If the Chosen One answers all of the questions truthfully and accurately, the Bridge Keeper will grudgingly let him/her pass, while muttering to himself in floats about how he hates his job, occasionally breaking the fourth wall and implying he is an actor in a cheesy, career halting role. If the Chosen One answers the first two questions truthfully and accurately, then answers the third question with another question, the Bridge Keeper spontaneously explodes! This is the preferred method of passing the Bridge, as it most accurately references Monty Python and the Holy Grail and allows you to loot the corpse for the Bridgekeeper's Robes. This can be a boon if the player encounters the Bridge Keeper early in the game, as the robes are equivalent to Combat Armor and weigh half as much. The description of the robes is also quite humorous, noting that the robes appear purple on the inventory screen even though the Bridge Keeper himself appears to be wearing brown robes.

If the Chosen One lies to Bridge Keeper or fails to answer the third question correctly or with another question, the Chosen One him/herself explodes, equivalent to the movie's fatal ejection into the chasm. If the Chosen One attempts to engage the Bridge Keeper in combat, mad, exploding Brahmin will come to his aid, kamikazeing the Chosen One. As such, attempting to fight one's way past him is not recommended.

While of doubtful canon, the Bridge Keeper encounter can be very beneficial if come across early (the author has personally seen it so early as to touch Arroyo), as it is relatively safe and nets an excellent suit of armor for free.