Athabaska Dick

"Athabaska" Dick is a rather mysterious individual who can be found in Redding, not far from the local casino. Speaking to him does give the feeling that there is more to him than what shows.

Background
Athabaska has the appearance of a miner who knows his way around a pit, complete with a large beard and general scruffiness. His drawl just completes the image of a typical rugged cowboy (one addicted to Jet, that is). Most people just call him Dick, although there are some that call him Athabaska. He works occasionally for the Morningstar Mine, though his real value lies in the information he can provide. He is an excellent source on the history of Redding, including the Great wanamingo mine, shut down after wanamingos attacked it and the slave miners simply blew up the entrances to trap the monsters inside.The Chosen One: "{139}{}{Hear any interesting rumors?}" Athabaska Dick: "{146}{}{Well, not much lately except about them goll-dang Wanamingos.}" The Chosen One: "{147}{}{Want-a-mongols? What the heck is that?}" Athabaska Dick: "{158}{}{You're tellin' me you ain't never heard of the Wanamingos?}" The Chosen One: "{160}{}{Nope, never heard of anything like that. Tell me about them.}" Athabaska Dick: "{165}{}{Well, some say they were here before the A-bombs, H-bombs, and all-what-else hit. Others say they were jean-eti-cally injuneered as weapons. An' then there's some what says that they're from a whole differ'nt planet. }" The Chosen One: "{166}{}{What are *they*? Who cares where they came from, just tell me what *they* are.}" Athabaska Dick: "{168}{}{Well, I don't rightly know what they are 'zactly. But I kin tell you this: they shut down the Wanamingo Mine just west of town a few years back.}" The Chosen One: "{169}{}{The Wanamingo mine?}" Athabaska Dick: "{171}{}{Yup. And the Great Wanamingo was the richest strike in these here parts, too. But now, nobody'll go near it. Heck, you could even buy it from Ascorti if you wanted to. But nobody will.}" The Chosen One: "{173}{}{I could buy it? Is it worth anything?}" Athabaska Dick: "{176}{}{Well, not right now it ain't. Haven't you heard anything I've said? It's filled with them damn Wanamingos. But if'n someone was to clean the place out - well that'd be a brahmin of a differ'nt color. Heck, you wouldn't even have to kill all of 'em.}" The Chosen One: "{177}{}{What do you mean?}" Athabaska Dick: "{179}{}{Well, there's some stuff in there that the owners of the Morningstar and the Kokoweef mines here in town would sure pay a pretty penny for.}" The Chosen One: "{180}{}{What kind of stuff?}" Athabaska Dick: "{182}{}{Well, ya see, mines used to be dug out by big machines. Heck, those machines are built to last. Both mines got big diggers. But - an' here's the money question - the dang little control chips weren't made so tough. Neither mine's got a chip that works. Heh-hee.}" The Chosen One: "{183}{}{I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at here.}" Athabaska Dick: "{185}{}{Well, what I'm saying is that either mine owner would pay for one of these digger-control-chips. Heck, if they had a workin' machine and the other mine doesn't, they'd shut the other mine down - or buy 'em out - in no time.}" The Chosen One: "{186}{}{Too bad nobody knows where to get one of those chips, then.}" Athabaska Dick: "{188}{}{Squee-gee out your dang ears! I told you where to look for the damn chip. Ain't you been listening to a word I said? The Wanamingo mine had machines, and they were workin' 'til the time the mine got shut down. Prolly still chips down there. Jist waitin' fer someone to come along an' take 'em.}" (RCDICK.MSG)

Other interactions

 * Athabaska offers the first hint at the Find the excavator chip quest by explaining to the Chosen One about the last working excavator chip in the Great wanamingo mine excavator that either Kokoweef mine or Morningstar Mine would do anything to have.
 * When asking about wanamingos, Athabaska will talk the player character's ear off until they fall asleep. If they continue listening, they will learn at the very end about how the slave miners escaped the great wanamingo mine. Listening to his story multiple times gives a different middle part of the story for a total of three parts.

Effects of player's actions
If the player character completed Deliver jet antidote to Painless Doc Johnson, Athabaska Dick will comment on how the thought of Jet makes him sick and that he thought he was going to die last time he used Jet.

Appearances
Athabaska Dick appears in Fallout 2.