Cottonwood Cove

 is a location in Fallout: New Vegas. It is a base for Caesar's Legion. When approaching the village with Boone, he informs you that this is a Legion slave camp and he is going to kill everything in it. You have the option of joining him or stopping him.

Decanus Severus is second in command here, serving under Aurelius of Phoenix. If you have 50 Explosives skill you can tell Severus how to disarm NCR frag mines. If you have the Schematic for Powder Charges, you can also show him how to make them. This will earn you experience and Legion Fame (no NCR Fame is lost). Speaking with Aurelius of Phoenix gives you the opportunity to turn in NCR dog tags for a reward.

Layout
To the south are several buildings with random loot, with the mess hall on the docks in the river. In the center of camp is the two story head quarters with tents just north of this building. Veteran Legionaries patrol near the Headquarters with Legionaries Explorers and Legion Mongrels patrolling all access points. Aurelius of Phoenix is found in the second story of the headquarters building.

SPOILER:

Just south of the entire encampment (on the hill and quite visible) is an abandoned truck with copious amounts of nuclear waste. A lockpick of 50 will open the back and release the radioactive contents on the encampment. Viola! Justice is served, and Camp Searchlight is avenged. Anders, the crucified Great Khan is spared from this radioactive death, but still must endure crucifixion. If you want to free the Weathers, ensure this is accomplished before releasing the radioactive righteousness into the camp, as they will die otherwise.

Inhabitants

 * Anders, a crucified Great Khan.
 * Aurelius of Phoenix, Centurion Leader.
 * Canyon Runner, Slavemaster.
 * Cursor Lucullus, ferryman.
 * Decanus Severus, second in command.
 * Kenny Weathers, slave and son to Mrs. Weathers.
 * Mrs. Weathers, slave.
 * Sammy Weathers, slave and daughter to Mrs. Weathers.

Related Quests
Left My Heart

Anders, a Great Khans gang member can be found crucified on the road into the cove. When killed you fail the quest Oh My Papa, and there doesnt appear to be anyway to release him (xbox 360)

Render Unto Caesar

You must go through Cottonwood Cove to take the barge to The Fort. BEWARE: Taking Boone with you will cause make him shoot at the Legion, making them hostile, and thereby fail the quest.

Appearances
appears in Fallout: New Vegas.

Other
The entire camp can be cleared on a small rock using a mid to long ranged weapon; e.g-a scoped hunting rifle, sniper rifle. For other encounters like this, it is useful to recruit Boone into your service as he is good for taking out enemies from a long range - and in one shot for most creatures - quickly and easily.

In Cottonwood Overlook, there's a transport truck on a hill overlooking Cottonwood Cove which contains radioactive waste drums. With a lock pick skill of 50, you can release the drums, killing everyone in the camp. Doing this will also kill the slaves, if not released before hand.

Bugs

 * Seeking out Cottonwood Cove on the 'Render Unto Caesar' while Craig Boone is your active companion will make everyone hostile to you, despite Boone not being visible (likely stuck at the Lucky 38)and the fact that you have Caesars mark.


 * Just after releasing the slaves, if you go to the radioactive truck at Cottonwood Overlook and release the barrels, you can equip your binoculars and watch as the three slaves are continuously spawned as running entities escaping from the camp. They no longer continuously spawn after you return to the camp, indicating that it is a scripted sequence gone awry.