“CANON” INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CAPITAL WASTELAND (AKA AFTERMATH INFO)
Thanks to the heroic act of the Lone Wanderer, they activated the Purifier and has given life a chance to thrive in the Wasteland. The Lone Wanderer refused to work with the leader of the Enclave: President John Henry Eden and, ultimately, destroyed their headquarters in Raven Rock. The Enclave’s numbers were decimated thanks to the actions of the Brotherhood of Steel. To this day, it is unknown if members of the Enclave continue to operate. It’s assumed that the remaining members left the Enclave and have assimilated into society in order to preserve themselves.
Over the course of a decade, countless lives have improved with the availability of fresh water. Slowly, the landscape changed from bleak and lifeless to lush and thriving. Greenery from the Oasis spread through many parts of the region, reaching as far as the fringes of Big Town. Food isn’t much of a problem with farming becoming easier and literature such as the Wasteland Survival Guide spreading throughout the whole Wasteland.
For a while, the Brotherhood of Steel worked with the settlers and wastelanders to bring peace to the region. The super mutants were pushed out of the D.C. ruins. Most of the feral ghouls were wiped out. Slavers feared for their lives when the Temple of the Union grew in size and strength. By the end, Paradise Falls was destroyed and the Lincoln Memorial became the shining beacon of former slaves. The D.C. Ruins transformed from one of the most dangerous areas in the region to one of the biggest and diverse settlements in the known Wastelands. Ghouls, former slaves, mutants, and all flourished. They work together to continue to sustain themselves and welcome outsiders into their fold. Other settlements soon joined together to unite and fight against the threats of the Wastelands. Citizens of Rivet City expanded the city into the fringes of D.C. and worked alongside the Brotherhood of Steel to maintain the Purifier and keep it out of dangerous hands.
However, peace was short-lived.
The strength of the Brotherhood of Steel declined when Elder Lyons died. The Brotherhood of Steel went through several different Elders that shared different ideology. A lack of focus and constant change of leaders have led distrust between the settlements and the Brotherhood of Steel. It wasn’t long before fights broke out between the two. By the time Elder Maxson took over, the settlements were ready to separate themselves completely from the Brotherhood of Steel.
Elder Maxson’s aggressive recruiting and iron first tactics didn’t win the Brotherhood of Steel any favors. Some were brought into the fold, including the Brotherhood Outcasts. Most, however, kept their distance. It wasn’t until the Brotherhood of Steel began to aggressively assert themselves as the “only” power in the Capital Wastelands that the settlers fought back. Trades between the two were cut. Brotherhood of Steel members were barred from entering settlements. A war nearly broke out when Rivet City wanted the Brotherhood of Steel to remove themselves from the Purifier at Jefferson’s Memorial.
In the end, the Brotherhood of Steel retreated themselves to the Citadel and Adams Air Force Base.
While the presence of the Brotherhood of Steel disappeared, the scourges of the Capital Wasteland used the time to crawl out of their hiding spots. The slavers found salvation in one of their most esteemed customers: the residents of Tenpenny Towers. In exchange for residence in the tower, the slavers purged the tunnels of the ghoul presence (feral or otherwise). Their territory expanded into the previously infested tunnels, allowing the slavers to operate under the cover of darkness. Soon, stories about them spread. They became the boogieman of the Capital Wasteland.
Wastelanders and settlers up north faced an unexpected threat: Dave. When Dave didn’t when the election in the Republic of Dave, he went into exile. Rather than accept the loss, he believed that the entire thing was rigged. It was his birthright to lead… and not the small slice of the Wasteland. Against all odds, he was able to bring control to the remnants of the super mutants, feral ghouls, mutated creatures, and raiders of the Wasteland. Along with doing everything in his power to seize lands from Camp Lamplight, Arefu, and Big Town, Dave has flooded the economic market with his own currency.
“Dave Dollars” are utterly worthless and made out of garbage (mostly discarded wrappers and boxes).
It didn’t help matters when Moira Brown in Megaton made a fatal mistake. Her carelessness caused the settlement of Megaton to explode. The residents that survived were mutated by the nuclear blast (including Moira). In its place, the area became a contaminated field that drew the Children of Atom to the region only to die of radiation poison or become ghouls themselves. Dave took advantage of the situation and claimed the area as his kingdom. In his madness, he threw himself into the crater… and crawled out as a ghoul. These days, he orders his army to bring settlers to the “Miasma” in order to undergo a transformation and join his fold.
Everyone was in a shock when the Brotherhood of Steel reappeared after a few years. They emerged with a monstrous aircraft and left the region. Those that remained continued to patrol their territory, confronting anyone that trespassed. The aircraft never returned to the Capital. News spread about the commotion in the Commonwealth and the results. The Brotherhood of Steel lost greatly. The great aircraft Prydwen was destroyed and their numbers decimated. It’s assumed that Elder Maxson died while on board. Soon, the remaining members in the Capital became splintered and went their separate ways. These days, rumors have circulated about the Citadel being haunted. It’s common to hear about would-be explorers attempting to get in… and never leaving.