Followers of the Apocalypse

The Followers of the Apocalypse, or simply the Followers, are a secular-humanist faction mainly operating in the Core Region and with a division in the Mojave Wasteland.

Background
Originally, the Followers of the Apocalypse was a tribe formed in the Boneyard, with the purpose of educating humanity about the horrors of the Great War, and never to repeat those atrocities again. Forgoing preaching in favor of medical treatment and charity. When the Master died, they controlled the Boneyard with the help of the then-embryonic New California Republic, and accompanied a contingent of the NCR into Nevada, settling in an Old Mormon Fort, close to Freeside where they can save the wretched, and tend to those down on their luck. They take in stragglers of many creeds and colors, including the last few Enclave remnants. Despite the historic name of the place, there are no serious fortifications—just fences and gates with a few armed Followers inside.

History
Sickness was spreading in San Diego (later renamed Dayglow), the only remaining town near the Glow, so Nicole and her parents gathered all the people and organized an exodus to the north. During the trip, however, her parents were killed by marauders. Tired of the killing, and motivated by the death of her parents, she founded the Followers of the Apocalypse, a group dedicated to re-educating and rebuilding the wasteland, and to ensuring that humanity would not repeat the mistakes that led to the Great War.

After founding their group, The Followers of the Apocalypse, they continued traveling to the north and settled in the Boneyard, establishing a headquarters in the former Los Angeles Public Library. The Followers are generally liked wherever they go, since they teach people valuable medical and agricultural knowledge, as well as putting forth many humanitarian efforts. Around 2161, they were one of the few groups to recognize that the Children of the Cathedral were more than what they seemed, and were suspicious of their motives. Talius, a ghoul-like mutant partially exposed to FEV by the Master's forces, found refuge among the Followers, and helped them understand the true nature of the Children.

After the death of the Master, the Boneyard became one of the states of the New California Republic, and the Followers became both a major influence in the newly-founded NCR and the controlling organization in the Boneyard. Growing in power, the Followers begin to organize expeditions abroad. Some became disillusioned with being allied with the NCR and left the Followers, while maintaining the principles of the foundation. (Vidya had left to go to the town of Carbon in Texas, to inculcate the Followers' doctrine in her own way).

The most important expedition was to the Mojave Wasteland where, with the help of the NCR, they traveled into New Vegas, setting up their base of operations in Freeside's Old Mormon Fort, tending to those in desperate need of humanitarian support. They took in stragglers of all kinds as helpers and assistants, including the last few Enclave remnants. With the exception of a medical clinic run by Doctor Usanagi, the Followers maintain few permanent outposts outside of the city, although their agents can be found in different locations throughout the desert.

Over time however, relations between the Followers of the Apocalypse and the Senate turned sour. By 2275, the NCR broke off most of their ties with the Followers, forming their own research and development agency, the Office of Science and Industry. Although the Followers have retained their independence, they are now bereft of official support from the NCR government, and are finding themselves increasingly overwhelmed by demands for their services.

The Followers are touchy about their connection with Caesar’s Legion, a powerful, militaristic slaver empire east of the Colorado River. It is from their ranks that Edward Sallow, now known as Caesar, the founder and leader of the Legion, came.

Society
The Followers' goal is to bring the torch of knowledge to the wastes and facilitate the free flow of information, technology, and supplies equally among all the peoples of the wasteland, though they usually give special attention to those most in need. They often provide education, medicine, and scientific expertise free to all who require it, and their members are frequently found lending their aid to the needy wherever they can. Ideologically, the Followers' principles bear some resemblance to anarchism. Above all else, they support pacifism and cooperation. They oppose organizations and civilizations which seek to thwart these principles, albeit not through violent means.

In terms of organization, the Followers don't have a strict hierarchy; they are a decentralized organization, although regional hubs (such as the Old Mormon fort in Freeside) are established to coordinate efforts of individual members in the field. The Followers don't care about controlling territory, unlike NCR, but rather concern themselves with the welfare of the people. It is said by Ignacio Rivas at the HELIOS One solar plant that they tend to "clean up" after the NCR.

Although once positive, relations between the Followers and the NCR Senate turned sour following the occupation of the Mojave. NCR broke most ties with the Followers, and turned their support to their own OSI, formed by ex-Apocalypse scholars. That said, their relations remain neutral: the Followers' university in the Boneyard continues to function, and individuals from the organization are a welcome sight in smaller communities, particularly on the Republic's frontier.

Relations with the outside
The Followers are generally liked where they go, due to their humanitarian efforts. However, some governments dislike the Followers, as they are generally radical thinkers who occasionally plant seditious thoughts in the heads of oppressed citizens.

Technology
While the Followers of the Apocalypse's technology is remarkable and their technological knowledge is excellent, they don't have the means to replicate it or improve drastically upon it. Thus, they usually have to depend on what they can scavenge, repair, or trade with outside groups. These limitations largely hold them back from their main goal and from spreading their message to other parts of the Wasteland.

Appearances
The Followers of the Apocalypse appear in Fallout, Fallout: New Vegas, J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game, and they were to appear in Black Isle's canceled Fallout 3 named Van Buren. They are also mentioned in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.