Fallout Lore | How Can The Mother Allow Us To Discern the Difference Between Human and Synth? |
- How Can The Mother Allow Us To Discern the Difference Between Human and Synth?
- What is considered to be “law enforcement” in the Wasteland?
- In-game or canon source that states US military captured Shanghai?
- How tough/experienced are the NCR Rangers?
- Why does the Enclave still exist in Fallout 3 while in NV only a few remain?
- Most intelligent creatures?
- Why is the NCR morale so low in FNV?
- What’s the strongest PA?
- How are most vaults structured?
- What is the history of the Crimson Caravan and the Water Merchants?
- What are the weapons of the Marked Men and why are they so much better than the player’s weapons, especially at higher levels?
- What are the Legion’s battle tactics and how does it relate to their weapons and armor?
- What year is the cutoff for all music before being canon?
- Does each settlement have their own police force, settlement guard, defense force?
- What lore in Fallout 3 that contradicts with the lore in Fallout Tactics?
- What were the weapons of Vault Security?
| How Can The Mother Allow Us To Discern the Difference Between Human and Synth? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 08:39 PM PDT One theory suggests that the Mother is simply an Atomist or Hermit who uses stealthboys to vanish and reappear in hallucinatory visions experienced by other CoA. At Haddock Cove, from within an attic, you find notes written in a particular style. Next to the notes attic, we find a CoA flag and a mannequin, which implies that this person simply guides newcomers into believing that Atom is real through psychedelic experiences. This implies that she has very human desires, specifically for her flock to move towards a certain direction. In this theory, the Atomist would be around 27 years older by now (2060-2287) and would likely be a middle-aged hermit. She (or he) wouldn't need mutations or extended life to perform these illusions. Indeed, in the Trial of Brother Devin the Sole Survivor must act as an emissary of Atom to convince Devin to stop his fast. To do this, the Sole Survivor does this by irradiating themselves and taking up a cloak and hood, thus, imitating the supernatural. Furthermore, it's not the first time we've seen men - who perform altruistic actions in a clandestine manner - become gods in the eyes of others. See Randall Clark's terminal entries from the Fallout: New Vegas' Honest Hearts DLC. For this next section, I will mention the Mother as the Hermit. Problems with this theory arise when we consider the following:
For this reason, I offer a different theory as it isn't the first time Bethesda dipped its toes into far more preternatural subtext.
(Heck, even before F3, there's a literal ghost you can talk to in Fallout 2.) The Krivbeknih in F3 is a direct reference to esoteric texts like the Necronomicon from H.P. Lovecraft's works. Holotapes, terminal entries, and dialogue suggest that the book had a form of paranormal influence to it; as many of the deformed Swampfolk and ghouls like Jaime Palabras devolved into ritualistic practices forming around the eldritch God. Indeed, Obadiah Blackwell even attempts to use the Kriveknih, mentioning the return of Ug-Qualtoth, to perform a ritual... it's effects unclear.
Perhaps, the Mother - its existence justified by the inclusion of eldritch entities / influence from the aforementioned - is actually a humanoid version of the Fog made manifest. And it takes on messengers of its own, which explains the notes and spying. That the radiation is almost like skin or hair to the living island that is Far Harbor. Mariners on the docks talk as if the island is alive, cruel, and violent, like how early American settlers regarded nature and the unknown. The Children of Atom talk as if the fog is an extension of Atom's will made corporeal, as the radiation storms and fog coincide nicely with their teachings they brought from Megaton. What I find strange is that DiMA, even with his constant observation of the CoA and Far Harbor, from their culture to their conflicts, not once did he mention the Mother of the Fog. This entity that is regarded as sacred to the CoA. And perhaps, this was done intentionally...
The only faction that seems far removed from the radiation and the plights of the island are the residents of Arcadia. By contrast, the Sole Survivor witnesses an attack on Far Harbor fairly early on by the island's fauna as a result of broken fog condensers. DiMA's commune of synthetic individuals (and those who simply believe they are Synths) were never bombarded by the island in such a way. Even when Arcadia lacks fog condensers surrounding it. Almost as if they aren't "seen" by the animals, only by humans.
It might explain why Tektus reacts in hostility towards DiMA and Arcadia in general: not only is Far Harbor protected with fog condensors from Atom's love, DiMA physically cannot understand an Atomist's metaphysical reality. Be it due to a difference in opinion on faith or the fact DiMA's synthetic brain is incapable of perceiving of higher order concepts like religion, it is clear that Synths see things from a pragmatic, scientific lens. What hallucinations and visions the Atomists see are an amalgam of poor living standards, radiation poisoning, and religion. Synths can't possibly see the Mother as anything outside of that. The following is from a holotape titled "An execution" and can be found in the pump control room southwest of Echo Lake Lumber.
To the Atomists, however, the Mother had led them to Far Harbor. Some, like Confessor Martin, had realized her plan for them: to become one with Atom, as previous terminal entries suggested his inclination was to use the Nucleus to do so. Another interpretation is presented here, when Brother Andrews was killed and Martin discusses the potential to push the mariners at Far Harbor off their land. Naturally, this leads down the route Tektus would suggest in disabling the condensers. This narrative assumes that even the reasonable members of the CoA could only be led down one particular path. One could interpret this as a pagan entity wanting man to return to nature. And what would Far Harbor become afterward? We know that Trappers went insane from the Fog, some even cannibalizing a stray Synth who got lost on his way to Arcadia. It's reminiscent of postcolonial fears of pagan, nature-based faiths and a return to primitive savagery, which Bethesda has somewhat toyed with in this DLC as the world outside Far Harbor is almost mythologized in folklore and suspicion. Atom's Spring is somewhat supernatural as drinking toxic, radioactive effluent shouldn't give you such a specific vision. Even with the strong evidence that there was a human being there to guide you, this could be explained as the island working off a proxy. I believe the Sole Survivor received these revelations from the island or the Mother (as one are the same at this point). The SS quite literally drank from the land.
The Mother does not seem like a universal entity; rather than being a messenger of Atom that can be invoked from as far as Colorado or Utah, the Mother is a specific entity born from the prevalent radiation, fog, and mutation that's endemic only to the island. Like the Nicnevin (Queen of Faeries) from Scottish folklore or Baba Yaga (a witch with chicken legs) specific to Slavic mythology. I don't think in the future Bethesda will want to elaborate on the Mother, much like how the overt occultism and mention of a Necronomicon-like tome was more of a one-off from Point Lookout, but you never know. Conclusion: Perhaps, this was the developer's wry nod at the idea while humans can't discern who is and who isn't a Synth, the supernatural powers that be on this island can. That nature knows it's own, even if it has been scarred by nuclear fallout. I truly believe that the Mother is a pagan entity or even deity spawned by the post-war environment. The Mother is simply a reflection of her environment. It signifies the brilliance of Bethesda's writing when they can pull off occult, otherworldly concepts like this yet always keep their "out" close to reality. The out being the Hermit with the stealth boys explanation. Of course, there are caveats to what I've presented: major one being Kasumi who is heavily implied to not be a Synth. I understand if all you, dear reader, took away from this long rant was that I over-complicated and over-thought Bethesda's original intentions. I get that. Still, Arcadia remains unmolested from the elements, which I always found was not only intriguing, but intentional on the developers part. Arcadia is only destroyed by other humans (BoS, Far Harbor, Institute, or CoA) , not nature. [link] [comments] |
| What is considered to be “law enforcement” in the Wasteland? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 06:36 AM PDT |
| In-game or canon source that states US military captured Shanghai? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 10:48 PM PDT As part of research for a write-up of the Sino-American War (really the PLA), but the only source I can find regarding Americans actually holding the city were from the Fallout Bible. I know the marine Randall Clark got his armor from was stationed to Shanghai, but all that tells us is there was a US presence in the region. While that could indicate the US captured the city, we should not assume that either. A PLA commando could be stationed in DC, through the Mama Dolce front, without the PLA actually having control over the city. Are there any more clear-cut references I overlooked? [link] [comments] |
| How tough/experienced are the NCR Rangers? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 08:55 AM PDT |
| Why does the Enclave still exist in Fallout 3 while in NV only a few remain? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 06:57 PM PDT In Fallout 2 the Enclave is destroyed, and that fact is preserved in New Vegas, however in 3 they seem to be in one piece, is this another cell of the Enclave kind of like the BoS has different cells? Or how is it explained? [link] [comments] |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2021 12:29 PM PDT I've been wondering about this for some time now: out of all the mutated creatures, which ones are the most intelligent? as far as I know deathclaws are pretty intelligent, but is there like something where all the creatures are listed by intelligence? [link] [comments] |
| Why is the NCR morale so low in FNV? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 09:54 AM PDT |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2021 09:44 PM PDT So I always thought the enclave x01/x02 were the most advanced toughest armor. But in 76 the lore kind of points towards the t51. So what's the strongest? Idk the lore that well but love pa and thought it would be a fun post. And I just mean pure power. Not what was economical feasble. [link] [comments] |
| How are most vaults structured? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 10:20 AM PDT |
| What is the history of the Crimson Caravan and the Water Merchants? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 10:20 AM PDT |
| Posted: 21 Apr 2021 08:56 AM PDT |
| What are the Legion’s battle tactics and how does it relate to their weapons and armor? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 08:52 AM PDT I always imagined them to use tactics similar to the Japanese in WW2, with their prevalence on melee weapons and "honor" in combat. [link] [comments] |
| What year is the cutoff for all music before being canon? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 02:55 PM PDT Do we know roughly at what point irl music cuts off to just being some being canon? [link] [comments] |
| Does each settlement have their own police force, settlement guard, defense force? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 06:42 AM PDT |
| What lore in Fallout 3 that contradicts with the lore in Fallout Tactics? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 10:12 AM PDT I know Tactics isn't canon, but I always wondered what piece of Tactics lore contradicts with modern fallout games. [link] [comments] |
| What were the weapons of Vault Security? Posted: 21 Apr 2021 06:43 AM PDT EDIT: I know that I asked this question, but I accidentally took down the post. [link] [comments] |
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