Desdemona

"I have a question. The only question that matters. Would you risk your life for your fellow man? Even if that man is a synth?"

Desdemona, also known as Dez, is the leader of the Railroad in the Commonwealth in 2287.

Background
Desdemona's cautious nature and professional demeanor make getting to know her difficult. These personality traits also leave her history enigmatic. She is first mentioned in Pinky Thompson's logs of September 2276, indicating that she has been a member since at least that date. Desdemona was later voted into the Railroad's Alpha position around December 2277, after Thompson resigned.

At some point in her life, Dez knew someone called Sam, who was most likely dear to her - and is most likely deceased, since her last words are of Sam and that she is "coming home" to them.

Other interactions

 * The Sole Survivor must seek her aid after dealing with the Courser, and getting his chip; as she and her people are the only ones who can decode it.
 * If the player character does not speak to Desdemona prior to entering the Institute and accepting a mission, she shuns the player character and the Railroad quest line ends.
 * If one is a Railroad agent but is Banished from the Institute then this also ends the Railroad quest line as the player character remaining undercover was vital to the plan. Desdemona encourages the player character to stop the Institute with the Commonwealth Minutemen as she sees it as the best remaining option for protecting the synths.

Appearances
Desdemona appears only in Fallout 4.

Behind the scenes
Desdemona is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello, wherein Desdemona is accused of being an adulterer and sleeping with Othello's comrade, Cassio, by the manipulative and evil Iago. Desdemona is then suffocated with a pillow by her husband, the aforementioned Othello (though she is crushed with the ceiling of a house in the original Italian version).

Bugs

 * After completing the main quest line with the support of the Commonwealth Minutemen, if on good terms with the Railroad and the Sole Survivor returns to their hideout, Desdemona will speak of Glory as if she had died even though Glory can be seen walking about. If trying to interact with Glory she will stay silent and not say any dialogue.
 * In her speech to Railroad HQ informing them of the Sole Survivor's successful infiltration of the Institute, she may incorrectly refer to him or her as "Wanderer" even if he or she chose a different code name when joining the Railroad.

Desdemona Desdémona Дездемона