GURPS: FALLOUT - Fallout GURPS - Free

Chapter 6: GURPS Fallout Gazetteer
This section includes information on the more notable settlements found in
the post apocalyptic North California region in 2162 AD. Information is
based as much as is possible on original games, but in many cases
guesstimates are needed - In the games, populations always were smaller
than written background stuff suggested, for example, vaults had
populations of 1000 or so, but in the computer games you could only see
few dozens of inhabitants. So, for the purposes of this conversion it is
assumed that 'real' populations of locations are always much higher than
you can count heads in the computer games. Population values given are
only rough estimates, so GM is always free to differ from the numbers
suggested here.
In addition, a random system (a bit similar to one found in GURPS Space
and/or GT:First In for colonies/cities) is provided for determining what kinds
of services and shops can be found in a given settlement, based on it's
population rating and other factors. This is intended both for use with
adding detail to existing settlements as well as an aid for the GM to create
new locations.
Settlements
Arroyo
Population: 20+ (PR:1)
CR: 2 TL: 3
Government: Clan/Tribal
Arroyo is a small isolated village of hunter-gatherers in south-west Oregon
founded by the Vault Dweller after he was exiled from Vault 13 by the
Overseer. After the Enclave's destruction, the refugees of Arroyo and Vault
13 resettled, building the tow of New Arroyo on the site of the old village
with the aid of the Garden of Eden Creation Kit.
LA Boneyard
Population: 1000 (PR:3)
CR: 1
Government: Ruled by Gangs
TL: 4; up to TL7 (Gunrunners)
The Boneyard, or Angel's Boneyard, is what remains of Los Angeles, named
so both for its decimated skyscrapers, reduced to their metal "skeleton", and
for skeletons of the dead that littered the city after the Great War. The
headquarters of Vault-Tec was located somewhere in the Los Angeles area,
and a Vault-Tec demonstration Vault, which was not part of the Vault
Experiment, was built there.
LA was pretty much decimated during the Great War. The majority of people
in LA are people who came to the city after the destruction. Most to
scavenge what they could, be it equipment, food or people. Los Angeles
houses gunrunners, gangs, and various people with delusions of grandeur.
The largest concentration of people live in a "suburb" called Adytum.
Most people in LA died after the bombs dropped, due to radiation poisoning,
disease, famine (and each other). Some, however, took shelter in the
demonstration Vault, and eventually most of them emerged in 2092,
founding the Boneyard. Many of them were the founders of Adytum, a
fenced town in the suburbs of the old Los Angeles. Some, however, founded
other communities, like the Blades, the Rippers, the Followers of the
Apocalypse and the Gun Runners.
In 2155, the Master learned the location of the LA Vault, conquered the
inhabitants and set up operations there, and the human cultists began to
use the Vault as their powerbase. Eventually, a monumental building known
as the Cathedral was constructed above the Vault. The Cultists thus became
known as the Children of the Cathedral. Of those that remained in the Vault,
most became the Master's servants and members of the Children of the
Cathedral. Those that left could be part of almost any organization in LA.
In the 2150s, a pack of deathclaws appeared in the Boneyard, taking over
the base of the Rippers. In 2159 Jon Zimmerman, the town's mayor, hired a
band of mercenaries known as the Regulators to help protect Adytum from
the deathclaw and the odd random attack by raiders, who by 2161 were in
control of Adytum.
The Cathedral was destroyed in 2162 either by a man known as the Vault
Dweller or by the Master himself, when he learned that his super mutants
were sterile.
By 2241, Los Angeles became one of the states of the New California
Republic and Adytum became known as New Adytum.
Broken Hills
Population: 300+ (PR:2)
CR: 2 TL: 5
Government: Rep. Democracy
Shortly after the Master's defeat, super mutant Marcus wandered
aimlessly until he encountered Jacob, a Brotherhood of Steel paladin in a
Power Armor who had pledged himself to the extermination of all mutants.
Marcus and Jacob fought for a day or two, but they soon realized the
futility of their battle and became friends (though Marcus always thought
that Jacob would have been improved by a dip in the FEV vats, while
Jacob disagreed, which was always a bone of contention between the
two). As they wandered through the wastes, they attracted a following of
other refugees from the war, who believed that Marcus's strength and
Jacob's power armor gave them the closest thing available to safety.
Eventually, Marcus and Jacob lead the refugees to settling in Broken Hills
to exploit the uranium mine there.
Broken Hills uranium mine is worked on by the towns super mutant
population. The radiation in the mine has minimal effect on them and their
great strength aids in the physically taxing labor. The mine however does
require an air purifier as toxic gas build up makes the mine inoperable less
it is regularly filtered. The towns life blood comes from the uranium mine.
Broken Hills has its own operational refinery operated by ghouls. If you
can purchase uranium ore from a caravan the refinery will produce refined
uranium for you. The town is powered by a small reactor that runs off of
uranium slugs. This produces ample power for the Broken Hills
community. The uranium trade runs to the NCR and Vault City as well as
trafficking Brahmin Herds across the wastes. The uranium trade is so
important to so many towns existence that Vault City will check their
unabiding bigotry for outsiders and mutants and trade valuable medical
supplies and money for uranium ore. Ever since the mines air purifier
broke down uranium production has halted leading to an economic crisis
in Broken Hills.
With the vast demographics and races occupying Broken Hills, a rift
between the super mutants, ghouls and select humans groups has grown.
This has culminated in a conspiracy to rid Broken Hills of it's mutated
brethren through a conspiracy led by human purist and store owner
Joseph. The conspiracy has resulted in the arrest and incarceration of
several of Josephs supporters as well as the murder of several civilians
dumped deep in the towns caves and sewers to attempt at destabilizing
Broken Hills and starting conflict. Joseph also sabotaged the mines air
purifier temporarily halting mine operation. he ultimately hoped to detonate
the purifier and bring the whole mine down on all super mutants working
inside. In opposition to Joseph are the mines foreman and the super
mutant Francis.
The Den
Population: 1500+ (PR:3)
CR: 0 TL: 5
Government: Ruled by Gangs
The dangerous Den is a safe haven for drug and slave trading. In some
ways, the Den might be considered a "mini-New Reno." They are both
semi-stable anarchies with no central authority: while the Den is more
focused on slaving, and New Reno is more focused on prostitution, they
both share an economy dependent on gambling, prostitution, drugs, and
slavery.
Gambling is under the control of Rebecca Dyer, who also sells the
cheapest alcohol in the Den, as she has her own still, rather than
importing it from New Reno. Uncharacteristically given both her location
and her business, she is an scrupulous and decent woman, and a
passionate opponent of the slave trade that underpins the Den's economy.
Her craps tables are unique in the game in that they are truly (pseudo)-
random like an honest game of craps (although, unlike a real game of
craps, there are ways of playing it that allow the player to beat the house
on average). Her tables do not check the player's gambling skill.
For those residents of the Den who tire of the booze, whores, theft, drugs,
and slavery that are so widespread in most of the Den, Mom's restaurant
provides a welcome respite. Mom ensures that the atmosphere is
respectful and bans fighting, cursing, and unlike most Den businesses (but
like the Slaver's Guild), no orphan children stand outside her doors
stealing from those who enter or leave. Mom specializes in rat dishes,
offering rat-loaf, rat-pie, and spaghetti with rat sauce.
12