The Commonwealth



The Commonwealth is what is left of the pre-War American state of Massachusetts in New England. While traditionally called a commonwealth in itself, before the Great War, Massachusetts was also part of the New England Commonwealth of the United States in the alternate history of the Fallout universe. Most of it is a "war-ravaged quagmire of violence and despair" like much of the rest of the former United States, but it is also where Boston and the mysterious Institute are located.

Environment
The Commonwealth suffers from terrible radiation storms which are caused by the Glowing Sea. These storms are almost in the same manner as thunderstorms, with every "strike" emitting radiation across the land.

Organizations
Little is known about the Institute other than that the scientists working in the sealed environment possess highly advanced technology and technological skills. It has created true artificial intelligence (A.I.) and is capable of manufacturing androids, also referred to as "synths" - short for "synthetic humans". One of its branch, the Synth Retention Bureau, is tasked with recovering renegade synths who escape the Institute and to reprogram them. The SRB is mostly composed of Institute coursers who acts as an intervention force.

Another organization active within the Commonwealth, the Railroad, functions in direct opposition to the Institute. Named in honor of the Underground Railroad, the Railroad's mission is the rescue and salvation of synthetic humanoids primarily, though enslavement as a whole is also fought against.

There are more factions in play than The Institute and the Railroad, however. Preston Garvey leads a group called the Minutemen, presently fighting against the vicious bands of raiders and the Super Mutant threat which plague the area. By the time of 2287, the Minutemen are in few numbers, with the supposdly last member; Preston, trying to keep a small amount of people alive from violent Raiders which seek to end them. Their fate is entirely up to that of the Sole Survivor.

The Brotherhood of Steel is present in the vicinity of Boston as well, and own an armored airship named The Prydwen that lurks the skies of Boston. Led by Elder Arthur Maxson, the Brotherhood has reverted to its old ways and is now trying to bring the Institute down along with its synths.

Appearances
The Commonwealth appears only in Fallout 4, and is mentioned in Fallout 3 and its add-ons The Pitt, Broken Steel, and Point Lookout.