Blood Ties

 is a Fallout 3 quest. It is also an Xbox 360 and PC achievement. Arefu is under siege by the Family, a local gang. Lucy West wants the player to deliver a message to her family in Arefu. If Lucy West is dead or if she was denied by the player Evan King will start the player on the quest by asking them to search residencies in Arefu.

Optional: Deliver Lucy's message
Lucy West can be found in Moriarty's Saloon in Megaton, or wandering around outside. She asks the player to deliver the letter even though she doesn't have any bottlecaps with her. The quest can be declined if one is selfish and aiming for the bad karma path.

Checking on Arefu
Arefu is a small settlement built at an old freeway overpass located northwest of Vault 101. Evan King will toss a grenade at the player during their approach. He apologizes, explaining that the town is defending itself from a gang known as The Family. Evan will ask the player to check the Ewers, Schenzy, and West Residences to make sure everyone is alright, this starts the quest for the player if they do not have it already. The player discovers the bodies of Lucy's parents; further examination shows they have bite marks on their necks and Lucy's brother Ian West is missing.

Finding The Family
When the player reports back to Evan King with news of the West's demise he will tell the player Ian is missing, if the player does not know already, and ask the player to locate the Family. King will give the player three possible locations of The Family either Northwest Seneca Station, Hamilton's Hideaway or Moonbeam Outdoor Cinema. If the player asks King if there are any train yards nearby, examination of the West's having revealed train yard residue on the bodies, King will also mention the Meresti Trainyard. The Family is hiding in Meresti Metro Station which be reached initially via the tunnels under Meresti Trainyard. The Meresti tunnels can also be reached via the adjoining tunnels from Northwest Seneca Station but the train yard offers the most direct route. From the train yard the tunnels are defended by mines and bear traps. Between Northwest Seneca and Meresti there are also several creatures in the tunnels. The front gate is guarded by the sentry, Robert, who will allow the player into The Family's home for 100 caps. Entry can be gained for free if the player passes a Speech check or has the Cannibal perk.

Finding Ian West
Once the player has gained entry the next task is to locate Ian West and determine if he is still alive. Several members of the family will reveal Ian's location and the password to unlock the room where he is meditating.


 * Alan notices that Justin has been trying to befriend Ian and suggests the player talk to Justin about him.
 * Justin believes that Ian belongs with the faimly having witnessed the murder of his parents and done nothing. If the player suggests that Ian needs an 'outside voice' to help and passes a Speech check Justin will reveal the pass code that allows entry into Ian's meditation room.
 * Karl will become annoyed if asked about Ian. The player can respond by seducing Karl, with the black widow perk, or intimidating him if their Strength is high enough.  Karl will then reveal the pass code that allows entry into Ian's meditation room.
 * Brianna feels that Ian could use another friend but that the Family is the best place for him. The player can seduce Brianna with the Lady Killer perk and she will then reveal the pass code that allows entry into Ian's Meditation room.
 * Holly is Vance's wife and refuses to override his orders believing that Ian is a good kid and Vance will set him on the right path as he did for the other Family members. She claims that Ian was not kidnapped but rescued. However, if you have a high enough Charisma, you can convince her to give you the password.
 * Vance is the leader of The Family. A mysterious, charismatic man who is trying to help the members of his "Family" overcome their disturbing hunger for human flesh and encourages them to drink blood instead akin to the mystical vampires in the old stories from before the Great War. If the player fails a Speech check, 42% pass rate at level 100, he will advise the player to ask the rest of the family explain the rules they live by and he will supply the password to the terminal in the main hall. The terminal contains a copy of the aforementioned rules and a note from Vance about the Arefu incident.  If asked about Ian, Vance will insist that Ian killed his parents and he belongs with the family.  If the player passes the Speech check, uses the Cannibal perk, or reads the rules and explains they understand Vance's family he will surrender the pass code that allows entry into Ian's meditation room.

Talking to Ian will confirm he was not kidnapped but voluntarily joined the Family after killing his parents. After a childhood encounter with a threatening Wastelander Ian has gradually been losing his mind and craves human flesh and blood, even that of his mother and father. The player is then faced with the choice of convincing Ian to leave, which requires the letter from his sister Lucy or passing a Speech check, or leaving him with the Family.

Alternative: Vance can be killed and the pass code can be looted from his remains, as well as a Shishkebab and Vance's Longcoat Outfit. This will cause the rest of the Family to attack the player including the gate guard, Robert. Ian will be angry that Vance has been killed but will give the player the same ultimate options regardless. See Bug section for a bug related to this method.

Settling Accounts
Ian's decision must be relayed to Vance and Arefu. Depending on which choice Ian made the appropriate parties will react with enthusiasm or disappointment. Reporting the news of Ian's decision to King will result in a sizable amount of good karma regardless of Ian's ultimate choice. After Ian's decision The Family and the residents of Arefu are considered to be the same faction even before the deal is made with Vance.

Vance must also be convinced to leave Arefu alone if he and the family are not already dead. If the player simply asks Vance to stop attacking Vance will agree. The player can also convince Vance to enter into a deal with the town and use blood packs instead of attacking the town with a Speech check, a Medicine skill check, or an Intelligence check. Regardless of the conversation choice, Vance will award the player with the Schematics - Shishkebab, a flaming sword, after the initial conversation about the deal is over.

If the player brokered a deal they can return to Vance after the deal is relayed to King and asked to be shown the ways of the vampire. The player will then be taught to drink blood and awarded the Hematophage perk which modifies Blood Packs to restore 20 HP. If the player suggested the Family guard the town in exchange for blood Alan will be dispatched to Arefu, fulfilling their end of the deal.

Bug
If the player kills any member of the Family after Ian makes his decision the inhabitants of Arefu will turn hostile even though no one from the town was directly attacked or killed. If the player attacked the family instead of talking to them initially this can be a problem if Robert the gate guard is not killed before speaking with Ian. When the player goes to exit Robert will be hostile but if the player kills him the quest will be failed.