Legate Lanius

Lanius is Caesar's Legate, living in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281. He is the final boss of Fallout: New Vegas.

Background
Asking Caesar about the legate reveals that Lanius was a member of a tribe hostile to Caesar's Legion. Lanius was the bloodthirsty champion of that tribe, sometimes ambushing whole groups of legionaires by himself. When Caesar's legion tracked down his tribe, they knew that they wouldn't be able to win so chose to surrender. This act drove Lanius into a blood frenzy; killing the Cheiftain and 15 others of his own tribe singlehandedly before he was brought down. When Lanius woke up most of his face was torn off and Caesar was standing beside him. He offered Lanius a place in the Legion and a mask forged especially for him. Lanius accepted.

Interactions with the player character
If siding with Legion, Legate Lanius will be the one who gives the final order to the Courier, and also the one who congratulates him after the battle. In all other cases, Lanius is the final opponent.

At the battle of Hoover Dam, if against the Legion, Lanius can be convinced into surrendering with numerous Barter and Speech checks, respectively 55, 65, 75, 85 and 100. Convincing him that the vast territory of the NCR is its weakness and that the Legion will not be able to claim and hold it. It is also possible to take a different speech angle to convince him to leave, suggesting that his fight was too easy because a trap lies in wait for him, and that you are only telling him this because it would be dishonorable to defeat a foe in such a way.

It is possible to kill him in one shot before he notices you, bypassing the conversation entirely. Before he talks to you he will appear as a friendly, however. With high enough (Good) karma or speech there is an option to have him fight you alone. The player may also make use of a glitch spot to snipe from in order to kill him easily. Such an alternative position is on a tent next to the grinding stone. In order to reach that location, the player must jump onto a barrel and then onto the tent. The Legate will then be in view and vulnerable to a sneak attack from a Sniper Rifle or similar scoped weapon. Players with high Sneak or a Stealth Boy can simply go into sneak mode and initiate a critical strike on him by standing at the base of the incline which leads to him.

If Caesar is killed during the quest Et Tumor, Brute? Lanius will take over the role of "Caesar".

Appearances
Lanius appears in Fallout: New Vegas. He serves as the final boss of the game during the final battle at Hoover Dam, unless you side with the Legion. He is carrying the Blade of the East.

Behind the Scenes

 * As the final boss, Lanius has the single highest HP of any character in the game, on par with The Master and Frank Horrigan of the first two Fallout games, and in sharp contrast to Colonel Autumn, the pathetic final "boss" of Fallout 3.
 * "Lanius" is Latin for "butcher." "Legates" ('legatus/legati' in Latin) were generals in the Roman Empire, equivalent of the modern general officer.
 * He constantly mentions Mars, the Roman God of War, and claims that his name (Lanius) comes from the Son of Mars, being Caesar himself.
 * Strangely, while it is mentioned that his face was torn to pieces, under his mask he has no injuries but it may be a story invented by Caesar or an oversight of the developers.
 * Though it is implied that Lanius is a savage with no love for the Legion (by Caesar no less). Through dialogue if confronting him in 3 of the 4 major outcomes, it is shown that he does care about the legion and is wiser than his reputation suggests. Though brutal he seems to have a sense of honor as he disaproves of the Frumentarii and the plot with the Omertas to gas Vegas. This is also shown if the Character has a good karma level, he will agree (if the correct dialogue is chosen) to one on one combat.
 * In another tribe/language related to Rome, lanius means: tin spy, which might be a coincidence, or could be a slight to mock him, as he doesnt like the frumentarii, and he has a mask made of tin.