Codex

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“Ah, the Codex. If it's in there, we have to abide it, if it's not, it's not important. It documents our history, too. Part of what Scribes like me do is update it. Hmm... I wonder... Nah, they'd probably catch it if I rewrote the Founder's axioms.”— Veronica

The Codex is the core dictating constitution of laws and orders of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Background

Created by the Brotherhood's founder, Roger Maxson, the Codex dates to the first decades of the Brotherhood. Members of the Brotherhood who take the required Oath of Fraternity swear to adhere to its commandments and conduct themselves with honor.^[1]^[2]^[3] Should a member break the Oath, the Council of Elders would be the ones to decide their fate as a Brotherhood member.^[4]

The Codex contains text that formulate the Brotherhood's core tenets, doctrines, responsibilities of its members, and other essential elements of the Brotherhood's ideology and organization. Members of the order are expected to abide by its contents, with topics not covered by the Codex considered unimportant,^[5] such as idle conversation.^[6]

It also serves as a record of the Brotherhood's history, in conjunction with its essential component, the Scrolls, and contains axioms attributed to the Founder, Roger Maxson. One of the duties of the Brotherhood's scribes is to maintain and update it. Theoretically, a scribe could alter any part of the Codex, even the axioms, but there would be consequences were they to be caught doing so.^[5]

Scrolls

The Scrolls are part of the Codex, utilized to record the lives, achievements, and other details of the members of the order.^[7]^[8] These records include the circumstances of each member's entry into the Brotherhood, a description of their personality and standing, deeds such as battles, tech recoveries, and promotions, and end with a description of their death or reassignment.^[7] Recovering the holotags to confirm demise is considered acceptable if resources do not permit a proper recovery and burial.^[9] The responsibility for maintaining the Scrolls is assigned to the Head Librarian of a Brotherhood bunker.^[7]

Brotherhood chapters and detachments are expected to remain in contact with Lost Hills to synchronize the contents of Scrolls, Roger Maxson describing it as the deeds enduring forever in them.^[3] The Elder in command of a chapter may order certain names to be struck from the Codex in the case of desertion or insubordination. The procedure was carried out with respect to Henry Casdin and the Brotherhood Outcasts after their departure from under Elder Lyons' command.^[10] Paladin Leila Rahmani faced that risk after losing contact with Lost Hills, which caused some concern that she had gone rogue.^[2]

Excerpts

"Shield yourself from those not bound to you by steel, for they are the blind. Aid them when you can, but lose not sight of yourself, it says." – Arthur Maxson
"Fear those who do not pledge to the Brotherhood for though their eyes may be opened through service, they are now blind." – Arthur Maxson
"Give way your suspicions to the wisdom of thine Elder. Where he shows trust, so shall you." – Arthur Maxson
"Through discourse, we gain the strength of our Brothers' minds." – Star Paladin Cross
"We do not help them, or let them in. We keep knowledge they must never have." – Elder McNamara

Notes

In Fallout: New Vegas, if the player character has the Terrifying Presence perk while doing the quest I Could Make You Care, they have the option of using the dialogue "I will cast down your Codex and bask in the dying agony of those who hold it dear" which will, in turn, scare away the Brotherhood of Steel members who are tracking down Veronica.

Appearances

The Codex is mentioned in Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and in Fallout 76.

References

↑ Arthur Maxson: "It's not simply the outsiders that we are wary of, anybody who has not taken the Oath of Fraternity is suspicious to us. "
(Arthur Maxson's dialogue)
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Encrypted broadcasts: "This is Elder Roger Maxson broadcasting to Paladin Leila Rahmani, secure private channel. I’ve sent the Scribes away. This message is not being recorded in the logs. I’m speaking to you now not as your Elder or commanding officer, but as a friend.
Leila, I know you and I have had our disagreements, but I still believe you understand the value and purpose of the Brotherhood. You wanted this mission, though I am sure you have suspicions about why you were chosen. I still hope you are simply unable to answer our broadcasts. We may not see eye to eye, but you know the Codex and are sworn to it. The alternative… I don’t wish to entertain it. For the time being, I have suppressed that suggestion among the officers and kept it out of our other attempts to reach you, but if you do not report in soon, I may be overruled.
Your mission out there is important no matter what you may think. You are still one of us. Still a Paladin of the Brotherhood, duty-bound. Broadcast on any Brotherhood channel, encryption be damned – just do it.
Maxson out. Message repeats."
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Encrypted broadcasts: "First Expeditionary Force, this is L-H. Elder Maxson recording.
Paladin Rahmani, your unit has now been out of contact with Brotherhood headquarters for over three months. Our Scribes estimate that your unit should be entering Appalachia and closing in on the ATLAS Observatory shortly. It is imperative that your first order of business after securing the facility is to reestablish communications and provide a full report on your activities during the period of radio silence.
You now represent the Brotherhood in Appalachia. When you restore contact with us, there will once again be one Brotherhood on both sides of this land and your deeds will enter the Scrolls forever.
Adhere to the Codex. Conduct yourselves with honor.
Maxson out. Message repeats."
↑ Vault Dweller: "Isn't there any way for you and Rahmani to reconcile?"
Daniel Shin: "Rahmani broke her Oath. Under normal circumstances, it would be up to the Elders to decide her fate as it relates to the Brotherhood. It is not my wish to be so shameless as to act in their stead. But if Rahmani is left to continue leading this force unofficially, the damage will be irreversible. Something must be done. And I am the only one left to do it."
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 Courier: "What's the Codex?"
Veronica: "Ah, the Codex. If it's in there, we have to abide it, if it's not, it's not important. It documents our history, too. Part of what Scribes like me do is update it. Hmm... I wonder... Nah, they'd probably catch it if I rewrote the Founder's axioms."
(Veronica's dialogue)
↑ Daniel Shin: "Idle conversation is not listed in the Codex."
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 Lone Wanderer: "What are the Scrolls that you mentioned?"
Scribe Jameson: "Scrolls are kept by the Head Librarian of each Brotherhood bunker. The Scrolls are a record of the Brotherhood itself. Into each Scroll is written the name and deeds of each of our Brothers. Battles, what technology he has recovered, when he was promoted. Everything. The last entry for each Brother is that Brother's death. It is important, as the way a man dies is just as important as the manner in which he lives. And so each man who nobly serves the Brotherhood ascends into our history, to be remembered by those who come after him."
(Elizabeth Jameson's dialogue)
↑ Fort Atlas Terminal Entries; Brotherhood: Chapter Scrolls
↑ Scribe Jameson's report to Elder Lyons
↑ Lone Wanderer: "Tell me more about the Outcasts."
Henry Casdin: "We were cast out for our dedication to the Brotherhood's true goals. Lyons wanted to play hero to the locals, instead of doing his job. We were proud to leave him, so we kept the name "Outcasts" and wear it with pride. A big "fuck you" to the old man. He may have struck our names from the great Codex, but we'll be vindicated in the end, and our names will be restored."
(Henry Casdin's dialogue)

Brotherhood of Steel

Groups

Fallout • Fallout 2 • Fallout Tactics • Fallout: BOS • Fallout 3 • Fallout: NV • Fallout 4 • Fallout 76

Divisions

2nd Monument Defense Detachment • First Expeditionary Force • Lyons' Pride • Recon Squad Artemis • Recon Squad Gladius • Romeo Squad • The Circle

Locations

Fallout		Lost Hills

Fallout 2		Den Brotherhood Outpost • Lost Hills • NCR Brotherhood Outpost • San Francisco Brotherhood Outpost

Fallout Tactics		Bunker Alpha • Bunker Beta • Bunker Delta • Bunker Epsilon • Bunker Gamma • Chicago

Fallout: BOS		Automated Training Center • Carbon • Los

Fallout 3		Adams Air Force Base • Arlington Library • Fort Independence • GNR Building Plaza • Rockland Car Tunnel • The Citadel • Washington Monument • White House

Fallout: NV		Brotherhood of Steel Safehouse • HELIOS One • Hidden Valley Bunker

Fallout 4		Boston Airport • Cambridge Police Station • The Prydwen • Waypoint Echo

Fallout 76		Brotherhood Graveyard • Camp Venture • Drop Site V9 • Fort Atlas • Fort Defiance • Survey Camp Alpha • Watoga

Related Articles

Chain That Binds • Codex • Characters • Divisions • Equipment • Events • Locations • Logos • Outcasts • Prydwen • Quests • Ranks • Scourge

[1] Arthur Maxson: "It's not simply the outsiders that we are wary of, anybody who has not taken the Oath of Fraternity is suspicious to us. "
(Arthur Maxson's dialogue)

[EC1-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Encrypted broadcasts: "This is Elder Roger Maxson broadcasting to Paladin Leila Rahmani, secure private channel. I’ve sent the Scribes away. This message is not being recorded in the logs. I’m speaking to you now not as your Elder or commanding officer, but as a friend.
Leila, I know you and I have had our disagreements, but I still believe you understand the value and purpose of the Brotherhood. You wanted this mission, though I am sure you have suspicions about why you were chosen. I still hope you are simply unable to answer our broadcasts. We may not see eye to eye, but you know the Codex and are sworn to it. The alternative… I don’t wish to entertain it. For the time being, I have suppressed that suggestion among the officers and kept it out of our other attempts to reach you, but if you do not report in soon, I may be overruled.
Your mission out there is important no matter what you may think. You are still one of us. Still a Paladin of the Brotherhood, duty-bound. Broadcast on any Brotherhood channel, encryption be damned – just do it.
Maxson out. Message repeats."

[EC2-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Encrypted broadcasts: "First Expeditionary Force, this is L-H. Elder Maxson recording.
Paladin Rahmani, your unit has now been out of contact with Brotherhood headquarters for over three months. Our Scribes estimate that your unit should be entering Appalachia and closing in on the ATLAS Observatory shortly. It is imperative that your first order of business after securing the facility is to reestablish communications and provide a full report on your activities during the period of radio silence.
You now represent the Brotherhood in Appalachia. When you restore contact with us, there will once again be one Brotherhood on both sides of this land and your deeds will enter the Scrolls forever.
Adhere to the Codex. Conduct yourselves with honor.
Maxson out. Message repeats."

[4] Vault Dweller: "Isn't there any way for you and Rahmani to reconcile?"
Daniel Shin: "Rahmani broke her Oath. Under normal circumstances, it would be up to the Elders to decide her fate as it relates to the Brotherhood. It is not my wish to be so shameless as to act in their stead. But if Rahmani is left to continue leading this force unofficially, the damage will be irreversible. Something must be done. And I am the only one left to do it."

[veronicaUpdate-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Courier: "What's the Codex?"
Veronica: "Ah, the Codex. If it's in there, we have to abide it, if it's not, it's not important. It documents our history, too. Part of what Scribes like me do is update it. Hmm... I wonder... Nah, they'd probably catch it if I rewrote the Founder's axioms."
(Veronica's dialogue)

[6] Daniel Shin: "Idle conversation is not listed in the Codex."

[scrollz-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 Lone Wanderer: "What are the Scrolls that you mentioned?"
Scribe Jameson: "Scrolls are kept by the Head Librarian of each Brotherhood bunker. The Scrolls are a record of the Brotherhood itself. Into each Scroll is written the name and deeds of each of our Brothers. Battles, what technology he has recovered, when he was promoted. Everything. The last entry for each Brother is that Brother's death. It is important, as the way a man dies is just as important as the manner in which he lives. And so each man who nobly serves the Brotherhood ascends into our history, to be remembered by those who come after him."
(Elizabeth Jameson's dialogue)

[8] Fort Atlas Terminal Entries; Brotherhood: Chapter Scrolls

[9] Scribe Jameson's report to Elder Lyons

[Casd-10] Lone Wanderer: "Tell me more about the Outcasts."
Henry Casdin: "We were cast out for our dedication to the Brotherhood's true goals. Lyons wanted to play hero to the locals, instead of doing his job. We were proud to leave him, so we kept the name "Outcasts" and wear it with pride. A big "fuck you" to the old man. He may have struck our names from the great Codex, but we'll be vindicated in the end, and our names will be restored."
(Henry Casdin's dialogue)

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