Followers of the Apocalypse

The Followers of the Apocalypse, or simply the Followers, are a secular-humanist faction based in the Core Region, and have established their presence in the Mojave Wasteland. Their goal is to tend to the inhabitants of the wasteland, as well as to ensure that the horrors of the Great War are never to be repeated. To that end, they serve as keepers of knowledge, a position which provides them with the skills they need to carry out their mission.

Forgoing preaching in favour of humanitarianism, the Followers are generally welcomed by the inhabitants of the wasteland. Wherever they go, the Followers seek to provide services to those in need, namely medical care and agricultural instruction. Those in positions of power often regard them as seditious anarchists; though such accusations are not entirely without truth, the organization as a whole has no interest in seizing power.

The Followers of the Apocalypse readily assist those who require aid, and welcome anyone who wishes to join their ranks, including former members of the Enclave. Although pacifists by nature, the Followers will not hesitate to defend themselves against attackers, and will take up arms against those who threaten their ideals.

Background
The origins of the Followers can be traced back to the settlement known as Dayglow, located in the ashes of what was once the city of San Diego. Due to their proximity to the Glow, locals found themselves falling to illness at an alarming rate, either due to their exposure to high levels of radiation or some other, unknown cause. Eventually, they were forced to relocate, and began a mass migration to the north. Among their number was a young girl by the name of Nicole, who would later become founder and leader of the Followers.

The migrants were exposed to countless hardships. Many died from environmental causes or otherwise. After the deaths of her parents at the hands of marauders, Nicole had enough: she founded The Followers of the Apocalypse, dedicated to lessening the suffering of others, as well as to ensure that humanity would not repeat the mistakes that led to the Great War. The newly-christened organization continued traveling to the north and settled in the Boneyard, establishing their headquarters in the former Los Angeles Public Library. The library's books and databases provided them extensive access to a wide array of subjects, such as agriculture and history. Aside from supporting their humanitarian efforts, this access to information would also firmly establish the Followers as keepers of knowledge.

Around 2161, the Followers of the Apocalypse were one of the few groups to suspect that the Children of the Cathedral have ulterior motives. Despite their claims of having peaceful intentions, the emergence of the Children coincided with a sudden surge of unexplained disappearances, especially of those who objected to their cause. 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 and the "Dark God" they served. Although pacifists by nature, the Followers were determined to stop the Master's plans by any means necessary, even if it meant resorting to armed conflict. They began secretly gathering intelligence on the organization that could prove useful in the upcoming showdown, using one of their members to infiltrate the organization and spy on them. They also provided informational and material support to those who sought the destruction of the Master and the Cathedral, such as the Vault Dweller.

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. One of their most important expeditions 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. Around this time, a number of Followers left the organization to pursue their own agenda. Some, like Vidya, sought to escape politics at home and perpetuate the foundation's humanitarian mission elsewhere. Others discarded their idealistic creed and used their teachings to satisfy their own personal goals.

Organization
The Followers' goal is to bring the torch of knowledge to the wastes and facilitate the free flow of information, technology, and supplies among 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 secular-humanism. Above all else, they support pacifism and cooperation, and oppose those who seek to subvert these principles. Though they loathe violence in all forms, they will defend themselves against those who seek to take their lives or otherwise jeopardize the future of humanity.

The Followers of the Apocalypse do not 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.

The Followers of the Apocalypse accompanied the NCR into Nevada where they settled in at the Old Mormon Fort. Despite the historic name, the Old Mormon Fort offers few serious fortifications. Just some wooden fences and gates with few armed guards to protect its largely unarmed inhabitants. 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 across NCR-controlled territory.

New California Republic
After the induction of the Boneyard as one of the constituent regions of the New California Republic, the Followers of the Apocalypse became one of the most influential organizations in the Core Region. Taking on the role of the republic's technical advisors, researchers and educators, their headquarters in the Boneyard Library became a university. Although closely associated with the NCR government, the Followers retained their independence and pursued their own separate goals.

However, by 2275, the NCR broke off most of their ties with the Followers, who disagreed with the government's expansionist policies and increasingly jingoistic attitude. The Senate then set up their own research and development government agency: the Office of Science and Industry, poaching some of the Follower's members in the process. Although bereft of any official support, the Followers of the Apocalypse continue to function and their university in the Boneyard still remains one of the foremost centres of education and research in the wasteland. Relations between the two remain cool, although the NCR is reluctant to denounce them due to their helpfulness and popularity among small frontier communities benefiting from their assistance.

Caesar's Legion
Caesar, founder and leader of Caesar's Legion, was once Edward Sallow, a Follower scribe who specialized in anthropology and linguistics. Using the historical knowledge and education he acquired under their tutelage, Caesar created a highly sophisticated society based on Ancient Rome, using it to unite dozens of tribes under his banner. Needless to say, the Followers of the Apocalypse are uneasy about their connection to a man who has created an empire based on militarism and institutionalized slavery, and have denounced the Legion's brutal methods of conquest. Though both sides follow completely different philosophies, Caesar himself holds some measure of respect and appreciation for raising him as a child and providing him with an education, in spite of his derision for their ideals.

Freeside
The Followers of the Apocalypse are highly respected in Freeside, where their main base of operations is located. Locals and NCR squatters alike admire them for their charity. They maintain an amicable relationship with the Kings, whom the Followers praise for the security they provide, as well as their chivalrous attitude; in turn, the Kings appreciate the Followers for providing much-needed services to those that live in the area. Cooperation between the two is just about the only thing that keeps Freeside from collapsing into chaos and strife.

Technology
While the Followers of the Apocalypse's knowledge of science and technology is excellent, they lack the ability to reproduce it in significant quantities or introduce improvements. Following their separation from the NCR government, the Followers are lacking in the resources and manufacturing capabilities needed to provide the supplies they need to carry out their humanitarian mission. Due to their pacifist creed, they are somewhat lacking in terms of military technology, though their knowledge and expertise in other subjects such as agriculture and electrical engineering is considerably broader and often more in-depth than most.

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.