Arefu

Arefu is a small Capital Wasteland settlement consisting of four houses, located on top of a crumbling overpass bridge to the northwest of Vault 106.

The only services available here is from Mr. Ewer, who will repair items once the Blood Ties quest has been completed, and from Evan King, who will give the player various items at daily intervals (also only available once Blood Ties is completed).

Background
Arefu once had more inhabitants than it does in the year 2277, but population has decreased drastically due to the inhabitants either dying or leaving to safer settlements because of creatures, raiders and slaver attacks. Additionally, Arefu has recently become the target of attacks from The Family, and is one of the starting locations for the quest Blood Ties.According to the Prima Official Game Guide of Fallout 3, the bridge used to be connected on both sides. Arefu used to be a larger settlement but after many people were killed the residents blew a hole in the bridge. Whether or not this is true is unknown.

The house at the bottom of the bridge will only be open upon finishing Blood Ties and choosing a solution in which the Family is paid Bloodpacks to send some one to guard Arefu. The only loot in the house is a Pugilism Illustrated.

Just above where the highways leaves the ground you can see a damaged sign that reads CAREFUL, the "c" and the "l" have faded away to spell AREFU, this may likely be where the town got it's name

Layout
Arefu's four houses sit atop a defensible section of the remains of a bridge running across the Potomac River. Part of the overpass has collapsed, making it impossible to enter the settlement from the north. It is one of the stopping points on the trader circuit, and sandbags are also deployed near its entrance to help the inhabitants fend off attackers.

Inhabitants
* Only if you agreed to trade blood packs for protection during Blood Ties.

Notable loot

 * Bobblehead - Repair on the downstairs table inside Evan King's house.
 * Nuka-Cola Quantum: look for a dock on the water just southeast of Arefu. Facing the dock, the Nuka-Cola Quantum is to the left on top of some poles in the water.
 * Pugilism Illustrated on a table in the Abandoned Residence, which is by the brahmin pen nearest the entrance to Arefu. This house is only accessible after negotiating protection of Arefu by The Family and informing both sides of the agreement. This book must be stolen.

Related quests

 * Blood Ties

Appearances
Arefu only appears in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes

 * Just above the entrance (where the highway leaves the ground), you can see a damaged traffic sign that should read "CAREFUL," but on which the 'C' and 'L' have faded away to display "AREFU". A similar town-naming technique is used in many Wasteland settlements such as Novac in Fallout: New Vegas.
 * Arefu is a small village in Romania, most well known for its proximity to the former castle of Vlad III, the prince of Wallachia, who is also known as "Dracula" and "Vlad the Impaler."

Bugs

 * Sometimes, upon discovering Arefu, the map marker will not register the fact you have discovered it.
 * Sometimes, Evan King will not enter his house, even if Blood Ties has been completed.