Piper Wright

Piper Wright is a reporter living in Diamond City in 2287 and possible companion of the Sole Survivor. She runs her own newspaper called Publick Occurrences, which she operates with her younger sister, Nat.

Background
Piper grew up in a small community on the outskirts of the Commonwealth with Nat and their father, a member of the local militia. After her father was found dead under suspicious circumstances, Piper learned that he had discovered a raider plot to sack the town. His superior, Captain Mayburn, arranged to leave the main gate open and unguarded one night to allow raiders access in exchange for a cut of the loot and had Piper's father murdered to keep him silent.Piper Wright: "Always on good behavior, aren't ya?" The Sole Survivor: "I try to be." Piper Wright: ''"Seems like you're doing better than "trying." I appreciate it. Too few folks can be bothered. Course, in my experience, if you want to do real good, playing nice only gets ya so far. I mean, look at Diamond City, a place I've been trying to warn of real danger. But every issue I publish, all I hear is: "Oh, Piper, why don't you ever publish anything happy? Piper, why can't you write something nice for a change?" It's enough to make me wanna to hang up my hat some days."'' The Sole Survivor: "Is Diamond City really in danger? It's not like there's Raiders pounding on the gate." Piper Wright: "Are you kidding me? There is a very real chance that the city leadership has been infiltrated by an Institute Synth. A synth under the control of an organization widely known to kidnap or murder anyone that stands up to them. I'd take Raiders at the gate any day of the week over that. Course, making sure folks are actually listening... that's a battle in itself..." The Sole Survivor: "Sounds like it must be exhausting." Piper Wright: "Heh, no kidding. But people, they deserve to know the truth. Sure, it can be scary, knowing what's really out there. A night doesn't go by I'm not afraid some Institute drone'll decide today's the day to pay 'ol Piper and family a visit. But it's worth it. Because I know the truth, that's what protects us." The Sole Survivor: "Scared, huh? Could've fooled me." Piper Wright: "I'm pushy, not crazy. Honestly, these days, I'm more scared for my sister. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her. But I'm not the only one with something to lose. That's why people deserve to know what's out there, good or bad." The Sole Survivor: "Couldn't agree more. How can you protect you and yours if you don't know what you're facing?" Piper Wright: ''"Exactly. Most folks, though, they'd prefer a comforting lie. Not me. I've seen firsthand what the truth can do. My sister and I, we grew up way out in the Commonwealth. Tiny little settlement. Our Dad, he was part of the local militia. "Keeping the Raiders off our backs and the Mirelurks out of our latrines," as he'd describe it. Well one day, our Dad turns up dead. His captain, asshole named Mayburn, claims Raiders must've gotten him on watch. Well, I didn't buy it. I start making inquiries. Turns out, the captain, he'd sold out. Thought he wasn't getting paid enough to babysit the town. He was going to leave the gates open one night, let a group of Raiders sack the place, and take a cut of the profits. My dad found out and was going to turn Mayburn in, but Mayburn got to him first. And I wasn't about to let that bastard get away with murder. I tried talking to the Mayor but he wouldn't listen. So I papered the entire town in posters, "Wanted for Gross Dereliction of Duty. Captain Mayburn." The Mayor sure wanted to talk after that. The town threw Mayburn out on his ass and were dug-in when a very surprised group of Raiders finally showed."'' (Piper Wright's dialogue)

The local authorities did not believe her claims and refused to investigate. Piper then created and circulated wanted posters featuring the captain and a list of his crimes. The conspicuously public accusation got the attention of the town's mayor, who accepted Piper's evidence. The settlers, outraged by the story, exiled Mayburn. When the raiders eventually showed up expecting the gate to be wide open, they instead encountered prepared defenses by alerted townsfolk and were driven away.

Eventually, Piper and Nat saved enough money to relocate to Diamond City, where she began her career as an investigative journalist. Her fervor for discovering the truth made her popular for a while, but eventually, public opinion turned against her because her articles were seen as being "too negative" which caused her to get into a lot of trouble. Despite multiple death threats and an assassination attempt, finding herself in sticky situations is a point of pride for Piper, who feels getting into trouble is just part of chasing the truth.

Recently, Piper has written a controversial article containing an interview with Eustace Hawthorne called The Synthetic Truth accusing Diamond City's mayor McDonough of secretly being a synth, although she has no concrete evidence, only speculation about events such as where the mayor has eaten his noodles. In response, McDonough banned Piper from the city, saying the article is all lies, although Piper is determined to get back inside the city.

Piper has a rapport with Nick Valentine as they both are investigators. She is sympathetic to the plight of synths and has an open dislike for the Brotherhood of Steel due to their self-serving nature, technology hoarding, anti-synth policies, and in her eyes, lousy fashion sense.

Quests

 * Jewel of the Commonwealth: Piper is encountered stuck outside Diamond City after Danny Sullivan closed the gate by order of the mayor. She makes up a story about the Sole Survivor being a trader in order to be let back in.
 * Story of the Century: Piper asks the Sole Survivor to join her in her office after meeting them at the gate, as she wants to interview them for an article in Publick Occurrences. The result is the three-part story View from the Vault.
 * Reunions: Piper and Nick Valentine have a conversation with the Sole Survivor about what to do next in the search for Shaun after Kellogg is killed.
 * In Sheep's Clothing: Piper can be found attempting to apprehend McDonough after shooting Danny Sullivan when his identity as a synth is discovered.
 * The Enemy of My Enemy

Effects of player's actions

 * When the Sole Survivor first encounters Piper she is on the verge of exile from Diamond City for writing an article suggesting that Mayor McDonough is a synth. While arguing with the gate guard to be let back in, she asks for the Sole Survivor's assistance in bluffing past security. Once inside, Piper gets into an argument with the mayor who accuses her of spreading lies. When the dialogue is complete Piper asks the Sole Survivor to stop by her office. Completing an interview with her leads to Piper offering to travel with the player character and watch their back as they adjust to life in the wasteland.
 * Piper becomes available as a companion after completion of Reunions, even when the player character has not completed Story of the Century beforehand.
 * At maximum affinity Piper awards the Gift of Gab perk, which doubles experience from persuasion successes and finding new locations.
 * Piper is a potential candidate for romance, an option that unlocks after reaching the highest level of affinity.
 * Piper can be caught talking to Nick Valentine about "one of his clients" as Nick refers to you, as after hearing this conversation, Piper will say, "Well, well. Speak of the devil...'
 * If Piper is the Sole Survivor's traveling companion, she is neutral on initiating an attack and killing the Children of Atom in the Crater of Atom. She is still negative on taking any items from their settlement after killing them, though.

Other interactions

 * If the Sole Survivor has found Nick Valentine before traveling to Diamond City, the gate will already be open and the mayor will be interacting with Piper inside.
 * Paladin Danse has a line of unique dialogue during the introduction with the mayor at Diamond City gate, despite his normally being unavailable as a companion until later in the main quest. If the Sole Survivor states that they believe in freedom of the press, Danse will comment, "I believe the press often manipulates the truth in order to deliver their agenda."
 * Diamond City security will tell the player character to be careful about having her as a companion because of the trouble between her and the mayor.
 * If the Sole Survivor hasn't done her interview yet, then exits Diamond City and enters again later, Piper can be found in Mayor McDonough's office accusing his secretary of sleeping with him.
 * As the Sole Survivor's companion, she will often offer aid in the form of "sweet" food and drink (bubblegum, gumdrops, Nuka-Cola, Sugar Bombs or sweet rolls). This is similar to Strong who offers food as well, but in the form of meats.
 * Bringing Piper back to Diamond City may cause Nat to run up to her and relate a story about being given detention at school. Piper may then tell her she is grounded, much to Nat's chagrin; however, another conversation has Piper congratulate Nat on getting detention (due to punching a boy who was annoying her), telling her never to change.
 * She also has an interaction with the Sole Survivor about how she believes Nat idolizes her too much, hoping that time apart will prevent Nat from growing up to be like her. The Sole Survivor can choose to offer advice on how to deal with the situation.
 * Occasionally, when passing Takahashi, Piper will tell the Sole Survivor she wants to introduce them to her informant. She will jokingly interrogate Takahashi, finishing by saying that Takahashi "spilled the beans, I bet your name isn't even really Blue."
 * Visiting the upper levels with Piper will cause Wellingham to pretend to loudly throw her out, while secretly sharing a bit of gossip and intrigue with her.
 * If the player character ends the main quest by siding with the Institute and then talks to Piper, she might be distraught and angry at the player character for the world thus created, though the player character can still have her travel with them as a companion. However, if the player character's affinity with Piper is high enough (or grows high enough), she will write an article titled Fear the Future? where she is revealed to be more optimistic, though still wary, of the future.
 * If the player character ends the main quest by siding with the Railroad, the Brotherhood of Steel or the Minutemen and talks to Piper afterward, she will express relief that the Institute is gone, and will write an article titled The Boogeyman banished?.
 * She has a unique line during Boston After Dark, chastising the Sole Survivor if they ask what a dead drop is.

Fallout: The Board Game

 * Piper can be found randomly when taking a card from the loot deck. While Piper is the active companion, the player character can exhaust her to explore an adjacent tile.
 * When the player character performs the camp action, she will become unexhausted. However, if the player character does not have the Vilified trait, she must be discarded.

Appearances
Piper appears in Fallout 4, Fallout Shelter, and Fallout: The Board Game.

Behind the scenes

 * In the Creation Kit, the road goggles have the editor ID "ClothesPiperGoggles." She is only ever seen wearing them pushed upon her forehead.
 * In her concept art, it appears Piper would have had shorter hair. She also would have worn a fedora rather than her reporter cap. One other concept design shows her with what appears to be an aviator's cap and camera equipment on her.
 * In Fallout 76, players can wear Piper's press cap, Piper's road goggles and Piper's trench coat.
 * Piper's interactions with Mayor McDonough seem to be inspired by Bob Woodward's and Carl Bernstein's reporting of the Watergate scandal which eventually led to the resignation of President Nixon. This is further lampshaded by Mayor McDonough's "I Am Not a Synth" speech.