Jackals

The Jackals are one of the three groups of raiders that originated from Vault 15, the other ones being the Khans and the Vipers.

Characteristics
The Jackals are a typical group of raiders. Nothing concerns them but survival. They typically use ambushes and group tactics to overpower their victims. They are considedered cowards though, and will not attack unless they know they can win. Otherwise they will band together in their hideaways and fight over spoils. . Normally small family groups, they sometimes join forces against bigger targets. They will even bring women and children along to further augment their advantage in size. They use unarmed and melee weaponry, and the occasional firearm.

They file their teeth to sharp points, and are proud of their long hair. Many became savage and cannibalistic after a winter storm trapped them, forcing them to eat each other for survival. Some even resort to feigning death or running away from fights, only to return later and claim the corpses from each side. Generally they despise all mutants, and refuse to eat them because of the taste.

Origins
The original Jackals came out of Vault 15 in the 2100s due to overcrowding in the vault. They fought extensively against the other two raider groups from Vault 15, until they were defeated by the Khans in 2135. After that, most of them fled east of California. Though they were once very feared, but along with with the vipers, they were all but destroyed by the NCR.

Brutalized by the Republic, the remaining Jackals were pushed further east, towards the Mojave Wasteland. The relative lawlessness of the Mojave appealed as a perfect roaming grounds for them. Gangs from this raider tribe are commonly found along the highway south of Primm and west of Nipton. Their local center of operations is a Nevada Highway Patrol station, although they can also be found in small camps elsewhere in the wastes.

Each band consists of about three normal fighters and a leader, the leader usually wearing Metal Armor. The leader's health is significantly higher than the others. They often hide behind billboards and other obstructions, ambushing any passing travelers as they pass by.

Appearances
The Jackals appear only in Fallout: New Vegas. They were mentioned by Ian and Killian Darkwater in Fallout. They were originally meant to appear in the game, but were cut from the final version. The Jackals would have appeared in Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 by Black Isle Studios, as well as in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2.