Andale

Andale is a location in the southern area of the Capital Wasteland

Andale is touted by its residents as "the greatest town in Virginia." However, the town holds a very dark secret. Four families survived the nuclear war and remained in Andale, eventually taking to cannibalism after their food supplies ran out.

Since then, the murder and consumption of outsiders, along with inbreeding between the Andale families, have become a tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Background
To the casual observer, Andale is like a town straight out of a fairy tale. Its residents stroll around the streets in pre-War clothes, greet visitors with impeccable politeness, and proclaim the virtues of the United States. In fact, it's supposed to be the greatest town in the Commonwealth of Virginia, proudly voting Republican in every election, including the most recent one that elected a new governor.

However, as with all fairy tales, the act is just a cover-up. To understand it, one has to dial back the clock. When the Great War came, four families hid in their fallout shelters beneath Annandale. The survivors managed to escape death and emerge into the newly created wasteland. However, their food stocks eventually depleted and they were faced with the prospect of starvation. The families solved it in their own particular way, by preying on unwary travelers that came into town.

The cannibalism was deemed acceptable as a lesser evil, justified using a peculiar interpretation of Christianity and family love. Strict gender roles were imposed on family members (males work and hunt, females take care of the house and bear children), and no relations outside the four families were permitted. The pretense of the American Dream was upheld as a smokescreen, to disorient newcomers and hide the vicious nature of the residents.

For two centuries, the families lived in Annandale (eventually abbreviated to just Andale), new generations replacing the old. The families intermarried, without bringing outsiders into the family. Eventually, everyone in Andale was related to each other quite closely, resulting in each marriage becoming more and more incestuous. By the 23rd century, the pretense was dropped and men married whoever was closest to their ends. Nobody questioned their way of life, except for old man Harris, who realized just how many people perished in the stomachs of Andale's residents.

The town earned itself a sinister reputation, as while nobody realized it was inhabited by cannibals, everyone knew there was something... off about its inhabitants. Everyone, from caravaneers to raiders, gave the town a wide berth.

Layout
Andale is located directly south of the Fairfax ruins and west of the Nuka-Cola plant. The town is comprised of a couple of two-story pre-War houses, one ranch-style home, and a shack. They are all located on a street amid the ruins of other homes and a Red Rocket gas station.

Notable loot

 * Grognak the Barbarian - In the Smiths' basement, lying on the table closest to the door. It may also be on the floor of the basement, on the south side of this same table.
 * Nuka-Cola Quantum - In an overturned truck under the highway north of Andale, towards Fairfax ruins.
 * Tales of a Junktown Jerky Vendor - In the concrete treehouse northeast of Andale, near the road that passes the Red Rocket gas station, approximately halfway between Andale and Fairfax ruins.
 * Dean's Electronics - In the back of a truck down the road (east of Andale) towards the Nuka-Cola plant.
 * Note: There is a chance that this book may not spawn in the truck.
 * Strange meat - 80 total; 10 in each fridge. (Specific fridge locations: three in the Smith house basement, three in the garden shed, one in the kitchen in the Smith house and one in the Wilson house kitchen.) Strange meat can be traded for cave fungus at Little Lamplight in the unmarked quest Fungus Deal. This one location holds more of the item than every other static location in the game put together.

Related quests

 * Our Little Secret
 * Fungus Deal

Appearances
Andale appears only in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes
Andale is based on the real world location of Annandale, Virginia, as Fallout 3 borrows names from several towns in and around the D.C. area.

Bugs

 * Upon first finding Andale, the residents will be in front of the Smith's house facing towards it. Upon approach, Jack Smith will trigger the dialogue of you snooping around in the basement.
 * After completion of the quest, when fast traveling to Andale, all NPCs stay hunched over and alert, still wielding their knives while walking around, even though they are no longer hostile. Conversation can be initiated, and while speaking, they will stand up straight again, but when they finish speaking, they hunch back over. They are also unable to enter any of the houses at such a time.