Scorched Plague

“...the Scorched are lethal. They are nothing less than an existential threat. If we cannot find a way to defeat them, or at the very least contain them, there's no reason to think they won't spread far and wide, transforming or destroying everything in their path.”— Anti-Scorched tactics

The Scorched Plague is a contagious infection that resulted in widespread death in Appalachia following the Great War.

Background

In 2083, the Appalachian Enclave conducted research on mutations, running experiments on bats. When the bats were accidentally exposed to biochemical agents and radiation, they mutated, creating scorchbeasts and the Scorched Plague.^[1] In 2086, Thomas Eckhart unleashed the scorchbeasts into Appalachia.^[2]

The Responders at Morgantown Airport first received word of the Scorched threat from the Brotherhood of Steel, and attempted to develop countermeasures, such as training the Fire Breathers, a group specifically trained to face the creatures.^[3] The Free States operating within the Mire suffered the loss of Harpers Ferry to the scorchbeasts in 2086, and in response, developed technology such as the Scorched Detection System and the scorchbeast lures to track their movements.^[4]^[5]

The Fire Breathers discovered that ultracite deposits become volatile when coming into contact with depleted ultracite.^[6] Using this information, they and the Appalachian Brotherhood of Steel created specialized weapons such as receiver modifications and laser guns to more effectively combat those infected. In addition, the research efforts of Dr. Claire Hudson made progress on the early stages of vaccination development but were forced to abandon their work.^[7] Unable to combat the spread of the plague, some groups fled the region. Ultimately the efforts of the Responders, Brotherhood of Steel, Free States, and Raiders were unsuccessful and their factions destroyed.

In 2102, Vault 76 opened and the inhabitants reentered Appalachia. Following the trail of their overseer, the Vault Dwellers discovered what became of the region's factions, and finished what the groups had started.^[8] They began to manufacture vaccination for the plague after Settlers, Raiders, and other groups began to return to the region.^[9] Later in the year, word of this inoculation would spread beyond Appalachia via caravans.^[10] Upon arrival in Appalachia, the Brotherhood First Expeditionary Force received the inoculation as well.^[11] The Vault Dwellers' efforts culminated in utilizing the region's nuclear missile silos to launch a strike against Fissure Site Prime and subsequently destroying the scorchbeast queen.

Gameplay

The disease is spread by direct contact or droplets.^[12] The Overseer describes the creatures flying overhead to be capable of infecting those below from the sky.^[8] It causes both humans and creatures to transform into Scorched.

The effects start with a series of significant physical changes in its victims. At first, the victim's skin will darken, and smell of ash.^[13] Eventually, intense burning lesions begin to form.^[7] After some time, the victim's skin will split open, exposing the presence of green ultracite crystals that break up from beneath their skin.^[6] The plague results in subjects being controlled by a hive mind.^[14]^[15]^[16] Human Scorched are able to utilize weaponry, including firearms.

Creatures

Appear as Scorched variants

Do not appear as Scorched variants

Beavers
Bees
Blood Eagles
Brahmin
Cats
Chickens
Feral Ghouls (excluding deadly glowing one)
Fireflies
Flatwoods monster
Flies
Foxes
Opossums
Rabbits
Radstags
Squirrels
Super Mutants (excluding behemoths)

Notes

An Arktos Pharma experiment also produced symptoms similar to that of the plague.^[17]^[18]
The player character cannot contract the infection, even before being inoculated to it. Instead, if one is exposed to the disease, they may contract the Blight, which lowers all SPECIAL stats by 1.
The Scorched Plague was originally intended to be a disease contracted from Scorchbeasts. This exists in the game files as both Scorched Plague and Scorched Fever. Completing the An Ounce of Prevention quest would have rendered the Vault Dwellers immune to contracting the disease again. Player characters with the disease would have taken +5% damage from Scorched enemies.
Scorched Grafton Monster variants appeared in Nuclear Winter mode.