Vault 81

Vault 81 is one of the vault series of fallout shelters developed by Vault-Tec. This vault is located in The Commonwealth.

Background
Vault 81 is unlike almost any other known vault in the Commonwealth, in that it still contains sane and active dwellers. After a simple quest requiring either three fusion cores or a successful speech check, the Sole Survivor can gain entrance and meet the vault dwellers.

Vault-Tec created Vault 81 with the purpose of developing a single, universal cure for every sickness that humanity could possibly suffer from, using the residents as human test subjects. The vault was divided into two separate areas: the main vault, where up to 96 residents would make their home for the foreseeable future, and the secret vault, where Vault-Tec scientists would conduct their research and observe the residents as they were unknowingly exposed to different diseases and cures.

On the day of the Great War the vault Overseer, Dr. Olivette sabotaged the call list so the science staff wouldn't get the warning. Despite this attempt three of the secret vault's assigned staff arrived at the vault and were admitted into the vault before it was sealed. Most of the residents made it to the main vault. Despite being understaffed, the scientists began the initial phases of their work. Before the human testing could begin, however, the vault's overseer, Dr. Olivette, suffered a crisis of conscience. She deactivated the disease/cure distribution system and sealed the secret vault's exits, ensuring the residents' safety.

Trapped and with nothing else to do, the scientists continued their research, confining their experiments to their only remaining test subjects: mole rats. Dr. Kenneth Collins modified a Mister Nanny lab assistant to take on greater responsibilities due to the staff shortage, creating Curie. When the scientists eventually died of old age, Curie remained and worked on the cure alone, spending decades conducting trial after trial. She achieved the vault's objective in 2204, perfecting the universal cure. Although Curie had reached a level of self-awareness over the years, however, she was unable to overcome her original programming, which required authorization from a Vault-Tec employee before she could leave the vault and begin a new line of research. She patiently idled in the secret vault for decades, awaiting a response from Vault-Tec security.

Meanwhile, the residents in the main vault went on with their lives, completely unaware that anything was amiss or that they had been intended as test subjects. In 2277, Overseer Baht opened the vault for the first time, allowing communication and trade with the outside world. Although this provided a badly needed source of food and other vital supplies, especially parts and tools to repair the vault's deteriorating systems, many residents maintained an isolationist or even xenophobic mindset, distrusting any outsider who was allowed to enter.

By 2287, one of Vault 81's dwellers, Bobby De Luca, had discovered one of the entrances into the secret vault and used it to store his drugs. Austin Engill witnessed Bobby opening the door, and went in to investigate. He was bitten by one of the lab mole rats, which had escaped containment and started a colony in the secret vault decades before, and infected with an unknown lethal disease. When Bobby revealed the existence of the secret vault, the Sole Survivor agreed to search it for a potential cure. Inside, the Sole Survivor discovered Curie, who handed over the last, unexpired dose of her universal cure. The Sole Survivor either used it on themselves, leaving Austin to perish and earning the animosity of the vault dwellers, or turned it over to save Austin and was granted a room in the vault by Overseer McNamara.

Notable loot

 * Syringer rifle - Rewarded from the quest Hole in the Wall.
 * Medicine bobblehead - In Curie's laboratory, during the quest Hole in the Wall.
 * Mini nuke - In the broodmother room, inside a tipped over locker, during the quest Hole in the Wall.
 * Fragmentation mine - In a locker underneath the stairs as one passes the Overseer Observation Terminal during the quest Hole in the Wall.
 * Stealth Boy - In same room as Vault 81 tech password, during the quest Hole in the Wall.
 * Fusion core - Rewarded from the quest Here Kitty, Kitty.
 * Fusion core - During the quest Hole in the Wall.
 * Overseer's Guardian - For sale at Alexis Combes' shop. She also has Destroyer's leg and Overseers Armguards.
 * Taboo Tattoos issue #16 - In Horatio's barbershop.
 * Grognak the Barbarian issue #5 (+5% unarmed or melee critical damage) - In the classroom, as a reward for the side quest Short Stories.

Related quests

 * Vault 81
 * Hole in the Wall
 * Here Kitty, Kitty
 * Short Stories
 * Dependency

Appearances
Vault 81 only appears in Fallout 4.

Gallery
Vault 81 Refugio 81 Abri 81 볼트 81 Krypta 81 Vault 81 Убежище 81