Caesar's Legion



Comprised mostly of reconditioned tribals and their offspring, Caesar’s Legion is a huge and powerful slaving organization, that used to operate east of the Grand Canyon. Led by the charismatic and cunning “Caesar", the legionnaires are a well-organized fighting force and absolutely merciless in their slavery. It is truly brutal group, which not hesitate even to enslave or kill Mormons, despite most tribals and other organizations leave them alone, knowing that they often will voluntarily give medical or other aid (notice: Mormons live north of Colorado River and Grand Canyon, but they can travel).

Mimicking the ancient traditions of the Roman Empire, the legionnaires dress in segmented football pad armor and decorated football helmets (notice: according to Fallout manual leather armor was designed for Motorcycle Football and other dangerous contact sports).

Caesar attempted to destroy the the NCR’s presence in the east, and actually succeeded in destroying one of their major fortifications, Fort Aradesh (located east of the Grand Canyon). When Caesar attempted to take Hoover Dam, the Legion was badly defeated. Since that time, Caesar has moved east of Texas, past the legendary cyclones that rage for most of the months of the year. Despite this, packs of his legionnaires still operate in the southwest, collecting tribute from tribes in the form of goods and slaves (notice: the only known tribe paying this tribute are Blackfoot).

Relations with other organizations:
 * hostile relationship with the NCR and its branch - the NCR Rangers, who fight against slavery; the Followers of Apocalypse are touchy about their connection with Caesar’s Legion - it is from their ranks that the original Caesar came (Followers are dedicated to reeducating and rebuilding the wasteland, they teach people valuable medical and agricultural knowledge, they are generally liberal thinkers who occasionally plant seditious thoughts in the heads of oppressed citizens),
 * hostile relationships with peaceful Mormons,
 * the Daughters of Hecate reserve a special hatred for Caesar’s Legion (notice: Caesar's Legion has destroyed Twisted Hair by tribals; it was Hecate's original tribe), because of it Legion should have hostile relationships with Vipers (Hounds of Hecate) also,
 * Hangdogs tribe relations are not described - in van Buren its part of Blackfoot tribe, that is tributary to Caesar (however most of the Blackfoots fear the power of Hecate and her Daughters, but unlike Caesar, they see being under the influence of Hecate as a necessary evil, since she's "proven" time and she controls the tribe's fertility).
 * other tribes are probably neutral or are potential Legion victims (eg. cut of van Buren Iron Lines or absent in J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game Jackals, Scaven Pickers, Ciphers and Twin Mothers - latter two were designed as victims).

In J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game (J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Wiki) Caesar's Legion standard had black bull (Venus'es symbol) on red backgroud and desciription "Legio X". It could be refference to Legio X Equestris, that fought for Gaius Julius Caesar in many of his major battles, and Caesar used the its legionaries as bodyguards. Long merging-disbanding history includs bulls emblemed legios X Veneria, Gemina or Fretensis.

van Buren pieces of development

 * "The first fringe of the slaver band, Caesar’s Legion" was planned to encounter and fight in the Circle Junction Train Yards (Chris Avellone's test pen-and-paper campaign).
 * The Daughters of Hecate and Caesar’s Legion was thought as the female and male polar opposites, which was supposed to allow the player, depending on gender, to rule either one and use them to build an army, Postman style (van Buren first vision).
 * Sharptooth, member of Hangdog tribe, was planned to be a spy for Caesar's Legion, reporting to their agents in Denver (only because Caesar holds Sharptooth's sister as a slave). If this becomes known, the other Hangdogs will demand that he and his family be banished to the wasteland. Bares-His-Teeth will have no qualms about doing this (Blackfoot design document).
 * The Prisoner, equipped with Fallout Tactics-like pump-action shotgun (dmg 14-24) and grenades, together with his five CNPC party, could kill hostile pack consisted of Legion slaver and Legion vexillarius gaining 2545 xp (according to one of van Buren screenshots).

The Caesar's Legion concept authors: preproduction - Chris Avellone, then - J.E. Sawyer, B.A. in history.

Timeline

 * 2238 - mormon missionary Joshua Graham encounters in Grand Canyon two Followers of Apocalypse; one of them later will establish slavers Legion and become its Caesar,
 * between 2238 and 2241 - first tribute in slaves given Caesar by Blackfoot tribe,
 * after 2238 - tribes taught by growing in power Caesar's Legion helped it to exterminate powerful Twisted Hair tribe, merciles raiders and slavers,
 * 2249 - a lucrative slave trade is established between Caesar's Legion and ghouls in the Reservation; since that time Legion has been well equipped with weapons, ammunition and armors produced in Reservation (things start to fall apart in the NCR - Congress building destroyed, empty space at Hoover Dam timeline),
 * after attack on Hoover Dam, but before October 2253 - the Legion moves to the east.

October 2253 and after
Known Legion outposts are located in Denver (temporarily used transit camp) and probably in Fort Abandon. There is no Legion members at Blackfoot village (accept one event). There is Legion trade activity in Reservation area present also. Legionaires packs presence in Denver and in the Reservation isn't permanent:
 * Denver is visited once a year as the the stop along the way to the east,
 * the Reservation is visited once a month.

Both packs of Legionaires take slaves from somewhere on the south-west. Some of this slaves can be taken from Blackfoot tribe. Design documents don't describe encounters with hunting Legion slavers (meaninig of the accident seen on the van Buren screenshot - hostile Legion slaver and vexillarius - is not certain).

It looks like two packs of Legionaires and allied Blackfoot tribe is enough to secure Caesar's business on the southwest.

Caesar and accompanig him part of his Legion should have some base, abandoned while the Legion moved to the east. The Prisoner can't find it, so this empty place probably isn't significant.

The only the NCR military action against Caesar's Legion during van Buren game is take over of Fort Abandon. It was planned to do by the NCR army renegades accompaning dr. Presper. There is no information about any the NCR retaliation actions after failed attack on Hoover Dam.

Caesar's Legion genesis
It is comprised mostly of reconditioned tribals and their young offspring (the oldest childred born since the Legion has been created, can be 15 years old). High rate of offspring growth could be possible with use of Followes of Apocalypse and Mormons medical and agricultural knowledge (notice: Hecate's medical and birth service is later).

Reconditioning was performed during hard competition with Twisted Hair tribe. It is possible, that during the war against Twisted Hair tribe the Legion founders and members adopted some violent customs and behavior of their enemy.

Tribes in van Buren world are the largest organizations (eg. there are 300 Blackfoot tribals and about 100 Jackals and Hecate's people). To be assessed as huge the Legion should farly exceed this numbers.

Caesar's Legion organization
Factors of the ancient roman army success, probably admired by Caesar, were:
 * consistent motivation and cohesion.,
 * flexibility,
 * adaptation of good practices,
 * discipline, organization and systematization eg. in training, logistics, engineering or replacements system,
 * military equipment.

There is no information about Caesar's Legion structure and organization in van Buren sources. However it is significant, that Caesar created his slaving organization as "legion", a military organization, rather then an "empire", as state-like organization (it was possible to move Ceasar's Legion to the east).

Organization solutions partially should orginate from north California slaver organizations experience. Caesar's Legion is powerfull and huge, but slaving job is the same as performed by tiny Metzger's and Vortis'es organizations. Especially Metzger used to have some personal guards (13) and cooperated with less liasoned Slavers' Guild members, hired to help with slave runs. Living in Shady Sands Vortis and his 7 slavers had to cope with the NCR Rangers.

There is almost no information about pseudoroman organization features, besides fact, that Legion has at least one centurion, who commands detached small slaver pack (6). Similar function can perform Legion official of a vexillarius rank. However experienced slaver with centurion position could be necessary to take care of Caesar's busineses in the Reservation.

Beacuse of slaver job nature Caesar's Legion shouldn't act as concetrated military power. Exeption could be war against the NCR.

Caesar's Legion packs in van Buren are comparable with slaver packs encountered in northern California and Nevada by Chosen One and tribal slaver packs encountered on the southwest by the Prisoner (Blackfoot and Hangdog).

Caesar's Legion packs can be compared with ancient roman army contubernia also. The contubernium was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army and was comprised of eight legionaries, comparable to the modern squad, known as an octet. It was led by a decurion. Two "servants" (actually comparable to modern support troops) were assigned to each octet. They were responsible for the care of the octet's pack mule, making sure the legionaries had water during the march, and often had special skills like blacksmithing or carpentry. Ten contubernia were grouped into a centuria. Soldiers of a contubernium shared a tent, and were rewarded or punished together.

Caesar's Legion ranks
The Prisoner can talk about them with Terrence. Known ranks are:
 * legionaire or soldier - simple slaver in Legion ranks,
 * vexillarius - in ancient roman army vexillifer was special duty post, unique to the legion; he was one of the signiferi (standard bearers); his duty was to carry the vexillum, a military standard displaying the name and emblem of the legion; this standard consisted of a woven fabric banner, hung on a crossbar attached to a pole or lance (it was common for a legion to detach some sub-units from the main camp to strengthen other corps; in these cases, the detached subunits carried only the vexillum, and not the aquila, and were called, therefore, vexillationes); Terrence is not a vexillum bearer, but slaver transport pack leader,
 * centurion - mid-level officer, the backbone of the professional army, career soldier who ran the day to day life of the soldiers as well as issuing commands in the field; centurions were generally moved up from the ranks, but in some cases could be direct appointments from the Emperor or other higher ranking officials; comparing the centurion to modern military ranks is problematic, as the century falls somewhere between modern platoon size (30-40 soldiers), and modern company size (100-200 soldiers); in fact centurions covered a whole range of ranks; ordinary century commanders would be equivalent to a modern army lieutenants (a first or second) or captains - as platoon or company level units commanders; the senior centurions leading cohorts would be equivalent to lieutenant colonels; the Primus Pilus with his senior staff role (advisor to the legatus legionis) might be considered equivalent to a modern colonel.

Possibly the Legion doesn't need to have separate commander (legatus legionis), because Caesar commands it personally as its dux. As Caesar's right hand man, Joshua Graham could be appointed for second in command position (tribunus laticlavius).

Outside of Legion ranks are subjugated, allied tribes and freelance slavers, that cooperate with Legion (eg. slavers, who captured Ciphers or Alexandra, the bounty hunter).

Caesar's Legion equipment

 * pack in the Reservation - because of radiation: heavy environmental suits (according to Reservation design document pictures it is equivalent for Fallout Tactics enviromental armor); as firearms: assault rifles or shotguns; Caius Drusus does carry a big .45 handgun - probably submachine gun,
 * pack in Denver - good weapons, eg. hunting rifle (compare: Larsen's team in Boulder design document or powder gang equipment described in New Canaan design document).

Shotguns could be primary weapons for reconditioned recently legionaires. It is weapon with relatively low manufacturing technology level. It is possible to make it outdorsman camp by tribals (eg. Blackfoot). This weaapos has a good accuracy also - in Fallout world "basic" shotgun has bonus to hit perk. Among van Buren demo sprites are Fallout-like shotguns, contrary to Fallout Tactics-like pump-action shotgun, present in van Buren screenshots.

Assault rifles are purchased in Reservation (ghouls sell assault rifles to Hoover Dam and Maxon Bunker also).

Caesar's Legion is supplied by Reservation with firearems, ammunition, leather and metal armors produced there. Even miniguns could be possible, however ghouls use only two of them. Reservation don't manufacture energy weapons. Caesar's Legion firepower can be assessed at the ruined eastern part of Hoover Dam.

Caesar's Legion has access to some chemical technology also - legionaires in Denver use anti-dog repellent.

Strange chariot concept art can be source of speculations concerning its use and its background (eg. other possible self propelled vehicles, presence of hipodrome).

Pack in Denver
Legion pack encountered in Denver is responsible for transport of the slaves to the east, where the new Legion headquarter is located. Legion pack appears there once a year. Every couple of weeks a pair of fast guys out east scout, if the radioactive dust storms have subsided for the season. Once they do, they'll head out (notice: Texas is not located east of Denver).

Legion pack encountered in Denver is led by vexillarius Terrence. Under his command are 5 generic legionaries - Cruz, Wierzbowski, Thunderfoot, Ivory and Marco. One of them can be a sniper (equipped probably at least with hunting rifle, as powder gangs snipers) and two of them are scouts (may be Thunderfoot is one of them). They are well armed, as far as wastelanders go.

If the Prisoner is in alliance with the Blackfoot tribe, he has in with the guys from Caesar's Legion. They mainly want to keep away from the "primitives and assholes" who live in this part of the continent. After an unsuccessful dialogue Terence and his slavers will attack the Prisoner.

Among the slaves the Prisoner can see Daniel, supermutant Blackjack and captured Ciphers (may be other anonymus Tibbets prisoners also). Blackjack was sold there by Alexandra, CNPC bounty hunter. The Reservation don't buy supremutant and ghoul slaves, so if there are any, they are transported to the east (notice: ghoul slaves don't appear in van Buren design documents).

The legionnaires in Denver are camped out in a hotel in southern part of the town with some slaves they've rounded up. They have the lower floors secured with chain link fence and barriers made of junk. They keep the dogs away with chemical repellent sprayed in the area (resprayed every year when they return here). They're alert. They stay on the 2nd level, though they are watching their surroundings (they'll be alert to the Prisoner's arrival unless he manage to sneak his way in) and might have a sniper hiding out on the ground floor. They keep the slaves locked in rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floor.

Business with the Reservation
Centurion Caius Drusus is in charge there. Members of Caesar’s Legions are the main suppliers of the slaves for the Reservation. There are other slave traders, but most slaves come from Caesar’s Legion. Caesar’s Legion enjoy trading human slaves for firearms, armors and ammo. Trade is luxurious, however ghouls don't buy supermutant or ghoul slaves.

Caesar’s slave traders come once every month to trade slave with Horatio. Should the Prisoner waste the Slaver Caravan in the Salver Caravan random encounter, Caius and friends will never show up again to sell slaves. This will concern Horatio, but he will not lose sleep over it since there are other slavers in the wasteland (eg. ghoul slaver Ingmar).

NPC liasoned with Legion

 * The Twisted Hair tribe was one of the most domineering tribes in the wasteland. They regularly raided their neighbors for food, supplies, and slaves. They were merciless in their efforts and the other tribes began to fear even the mention of their name. It was during the reign of the Twisted Hairs that Caesar's Legion rose up. The Legion taught the tribes to fight back and the Twisted Hairs were soon driven from their lands. Weakened and on the retreat, the Twisted Hairs were then set upon by the Legion and destroyed. No one was spared, but one woman did manage to escape. Tribal "goddess" Hecate was the only survivor of this masacre. She lives in Ouroboros and rules women tribe named Daughters of Hecate and men tribe named Hounds of Hecate (former Vipers). Hecate hates Caesar and would like to wipe out Caesars agents in the area. Her further plan is simple. When the tribes were weak enough, her Hounds would sweep down upon them and annihilate them from the face of the earth. The same would come to pass with Caesar and his Legion.
 * Joshua Graham, former mormon missionary, was involved in the rise of Caesar and became Caesar's right hand man, shaming the Mormons. After failed attack on Hoover Dam Caesar had him burned and thrown into Grand Canyon by tribals. It was planned that the Prisoner, just after escape from Tibbets, meets Graham at Fort Abandon, hanged by the neck on a pole. Hanged Man wasn't finally planned to appear in van Buren.
 * Alexandra, CNPC bounty hunter, who hangs up in Fort Abandon and makes business with Legion in Denver. She has mormon origin also.
 * Slaving Blackfoot tribe - allied with Caesar. Within this tribe - Bares His Teeth, current packleader of the Hangdogs. He's an arrogant leader full of self-importance. He thinks himself a right-hand man of Caesar, and therefore very important in the wasteland. It was planned, that Hangdogs promised to deliver Blackjack to Caesar's Legion. Hangdogs would be hardly punished, if this promise was not fulfilled.

Caesar and his tribals

 * Caesar's Legion is comprised mostly of reconditioned tribals and their offspring,
 * Legion taught the tribes to fight back the Twisted Hairs tribe; Hecate wants to anihilate this tribes,
 * Caesar had executed Joshua Graham by tribals, who feared and hated him,
 * Blackfoots sell slaves to other tribes, but the only other known slaving tribe in van Buren are Hecate's people (her Daugters and Hounds),
 * Jackals have been moving east because of pressure from the unified tribes, other tribes despise and fear them.

The only known tribe on the southwest allied with Caesar are Blackfoots. However they are supported by Hecate also. Brotherhood of Steel paladins from Maxon Bunker for over a decade explored "the east" (southwest) and forged realtionships with many of the tribes that inhabited the area.

Possible explanations of contradiction:
 * Caesar took to the east his tribes also,
 * technically - tribes weren't implemented into van Buren or were cut off.

There is van Buren first vision plot also: the Daughters of Hecate and Caesar’s Legion was thought to use them to build an army with Ciphers, Hangdogs, Vipers and Jackals tribes.

Appearances in games
The Legion was initially (when Chris Avellone still worked on the project) to play a significant role in van Buren (Black Isle's Fallout 3), but they were mostly cut out because the game was getting too big, although they had some minor appearances in the game. Black Isle planned to give them a major role to play in Fallout 4. It is not certain if they will appear in any future Fallout game.

Legion is present in J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game also.