Vault 81
Vault 81 in Fallout 4 is one of the most interesting vault locations in the whole of Fallout 4 itself, with it’s own quests and mysteries.
The video deals with Vault 81’s story and introduces the unique companion Curie.
The video deals with Vault 81’s story and introduces the unique companion Curie.
Vault 81 one of the most important vaults I’ve come across in all the Fallout games so far.
Seriously this vault is absolute fucking gold, whether you’re a new fan brought in by the massive coverage this games got recently or an old fan, who remembers when this game was isometric and turn based.
You can both come together in the knowledge this is truly an impressive location.
Not only does this place give us a fairly unique experience of visiting a vault, that’s still being in a state of use by it’s inhabitants. But it is also rich in lore and gives us Fallout fans plenty of theories to be working on into the future.
But Roley, what do you means? Why did you say the vault still being inhabited by it’s residents, albeit their decedents is only fairly unique.
Well you see, we have visited a working vault before, but to visit that we’re going to have to Doctor Who it’s arse.
So come me with viewer, as we traverse space and time to visit this magical event. Come on it’s okay grab Roley’s hand. I said grab my hand, I didn’t ask you to touch that, honestly fucking taking liberties.
It’s ok we’ll move past it, I gotten over it.
Seriously this vault is absolute fucking gold, whether you’re a new fan brought in by the massive coverage this games got recently or an old fan, who remembers when this game was isometric and turn based.
You can both come together in the knowledge this is truly an impressive location.
Not only does this place give us a fairly unique experience of visiting a vault, that’s still being in a state of use by it’s inhabitants. But it is also rich in lore and gives us Fallout fans plenty of theories to be working on into the future.
But Roley, what do you means? Why did you say the vault still being inhabited by it’s residents, albeit their decedents is only fairly unique.
Well you see, we have visited a working vault before, but to visit that we’re going to have to Doctor Who it’s arse.
So come me with viewer, as we traverse space and time to visit this magical event. Come on it’s okay grab Roley’s hand. I said grab my hand, I didn’t ask you to touch that, honestly fucking taking liberties.
It’s ok we’ll move past it, I gotten over it.
Goodneighbor Shirt
Guardian Of Forever
This Easter egg location in Fallout 2 has a giant stone time portal called the "Guardian of Forever" and allows you travel back in time. You basically go back and through your fiddling about, actually break the water chip for vault 13 and thus start the events of Fallout.
Now honestly if you haven’t already got a copy of the early Fallout games get your hands on them seriously. It’s a totally different experience and they are fucking dirt cheap.
I’ve put a link in the description where you can get your hands on them. Now using those links will help support the channel, but more importantly give you access to some of the best Fallout games made.
My personal recommendation would be Fallout 2, it’s what got me hooked on Fallout in the first place.
The one huge advantage vault 81 has over this experience, is we actually see people living inside and going about their lives.
But to find out what really went on here, we’re going to have to look past the surface as we share vault 81‘s Untold Story.
Now honestly if you haven’t already got a copy of the early Fallout games get your hands on them seriously. It’s a totally different experience and they are fucking dirt cheap.
I’ve put a link in the description where you can get your hands on them. Now using those links will help support the channel, but more importantly give you access to some of the best Fallout games made.
My personal recommendation would be Fallout 2, it’s what got me hooked on Fallout in the first place.
The one huge advantage vault 81 has over this experience, is we actually see people living inside and going about their lives.
But to find out what really went on here, we’re going to have to look past the surface as we share vault 81‘s Untold Story.
Should Be Avoided Like Genital Warts
Upon arriving at vault 81’s main door we’re greeted by their security, in not a too friendly a manor.
Now this slightly xenophobic attitude towards you is shared by some of the other vault residents, as you make your way around this lovely clean location.
I just want you to note that some of you may think this makes the people who live in vault 81 bad, but that’s not true at all. You see we pick up bad habits like giving words positive or negative connotations, purely through other people trying to force their politics on us.
These shitty sticks they whack you with are the ist, ism and phobias. Like sexist, racism and really pertinent to this example - xenophobia. What I’m saying is the more intelligent amongst you don’t jump to conclusions, they know words are just used to describe things and that people are really judged by their actions.
Anyone who thinks these words are inherently bad or negative, really do have shit for brains and should be avoided like genital warts.
You see the vault 81 residents have lived in there own protective bubble all this time. Not needing anyone but there fellow citizens for anything, all they knew is outside of the vault was full of danger. Be it from radiation, mutated beasts or the worst threat of the wasteland - bad bastard people.
Now this slightly xenophobic attitude towards you is shared by some of the other vault residents, as you make your way around this lovely clean location.
I just want you to note that some of you may think this makes the people who live in vault 81 bad, but that’s not true at all. You see we pick up bad habits like giving words positive or negative connotations, purely through other people trying to force their politics on us.
These shitty sticks they whack you with are the ist, ism and phobias. Like sexist, racism and really pertinent to this example - xenophobia. What I’m saying is the more intelligent amongst you don’t jump to conclusions, they know words are just used to describe things and that people are really judged by their actions.
Anyone who thinks these words are inherently bad or negative, really do have shit for brains and should be avoided like genital warts.
You see the vault 81 residents have lived in there own protective bubble all this time. Not needing anyone but there fellow citizens for anything, all they knew is outside of the vault was full of danger. Be it from radiation, mutated beasts or the worst threat of the wasteland - bad bastard people.
Safe In Protective Seclusion
Again crossing over to Fallout 2 and one of the images that’s burnt into my memory is the intro. It shows a vault door opening and the strangers outside, then gunning them down.
I know some of you will say the Enclave had the right to stand their ground and the guy waving, was clearly an act of aggression, but you get my point.
It’s only when we meet vault 81’s overseer, going by the name Gwen McNamara, we learn why we got in in the first place.
So we learn that it’s only because of a need of supplies that this place is even open.
The overseers surname, McNamara has been seen in the game before. In Fallout New Vegas a certain Nolan McNamara is in charge of the Brotherhood of Steel.
It’s weird how these two characters share a surname and a position of power facing the same decision. Both leaders entrusted with keeping their people safe in protective seclusion and both with a fear of outsiders.
But unlike Nolan, who has to be convinced to form a better relationship with others, Gwen has made that decision without any outside coercion.
She knows she needs to form those bonds to keep the place going. The details on her personal computer tell us that the structural integrity of the vault is being brought into question.
Presumably the supplies they are so desperately in need of are cement and wrenches. Having seen this cunt trying to tighten the concrete walls. Now I’m no structural engineer, but I’m pretty fucking sure he’s doing it wrong.
I really don’t know if I should mention this to someone in the vault. I mean I don’t want to lose a guy his job, but he’s a fucking idiot isn’t he?
Anyway we’ll worry about that another time.
I know some of you will say the Enclave had the right to stand their ground and the guy waving, was clearly an act of aggression, but you get my point.
It’s only when we meet vault 81’s overseer, going by the name Gwen McNamara, we learn why we got in in the first place.
So we learn that it’s only because of a need of supplies that this place is even open.
The overseers surname, McNamara has been seen in the game before. In Fallout New Vegas a certain Nolan McNamara is in charge of the Brotherhood of Steel.
It’s weird how these two characters share a surname and a position of power facing the same decision. Both leaders entrusted with keeping their people safe in protective seclusion and both with a fear of outsiders.
But unlike Nolan, who has to be convinced to form a better relationship with others, Gwen has made that decision without any outside coercion.
She knows she needs to form those bonds to keep the place going. The details on her personal computer tell us that the structural integrity of the vault is being brought into question.
Presumably the supplies they are so desperately in need of are cement and wrenches. Having seen this cunt trying to tighten the concrete walls. Now I’m no structural engineer, but I’m pretty fucking sure he’s doing it wrong.
I really don’t know if I should mention this to someone in the vault. I mean I don’t want to lose a guy his job, but he’s a fucking idiot isn’t he?
Anyway we’ll worry about that another time.
Gorilla Shirt
Our First Hints That Something Is Wrong
The main meat to this story starts to reveal itself when a young boy, named Austin Engill, gets stricken with a strange illness after wondering into a long hidden area.
Before we see this secret vault within a vault, I want to show you the information on this terminal, as it will make sense of what you are about to see.
So if we look at what was outlined to be the vault’s main purpose, we see that it was intended to look for a cure for all diseases.
If we look at this information on it’s surface, we’d think kind natured vault tech were doing good, looking for a cure. The only thing wrong with that, is we know that’s not how vault tech forward rolls.
There is more evidence to come that points to fowl play, but even right here on this old terminal we have our first hints that something is wrong.
The private logs of the original overseer, say how they were a replacement for vault techs, seemingly first choice, after he became ill. And that they are shocked that they have been picked because of their personal political views.
Now having been to other vaults within the franchise, I now vault tech tested for allsorts in their aptitude tests, including an applicants political views. There is information of that happening in Fallout 4, but that’s an untold story for another time.
Before we see this secret vault within a vault, I want to show you the information on this terminal, as it will make sense of what you are about to see.
So if we look at what was outlined to be the vault’s main purpose, we see that it was intended to look for a cure for all diseases.
If we look at this information on it’s surface, we’d think kind natured vault tech were doing good, looking for a cure. The only thing wrong with that, is we know that’s not how vault tech forward rolls.
There is more evidence to come that points to fowl play, but even right here on this old terminal we have our first hints that something is wrong.
The private logs of the original overseer, say how they were a replacement for vault techs, seemingly first choice, after he became ill. And that they are shocked that they have been picked because of their personal political views.
Now having been to other vaults within the franchise, I now vault tech tested for allsorts in their aptitude tests, including an applicants political views. There is information of that happening in Fallout 4, but that’s an untold story for another time.
Locked The Fate Of Vault 81
I just want you to put yourself in that original overseers shoes for a moment.
On the one hand the work going on in the vault will save countless future lives, by eradicating disease from humanity. But the cost is that you will sacrifice ethics in medicine and science, so you know that will lead to a dark place. Besides that you will be condemning a population to secret torture and eventual death.
And on the other hand with the action the original vault overseer took, you may have cost humanity it’s future. For a start the scientists who didn’t get the phone call would have most likely perished outside when the bombs fell. They didn’t know for sure another safe haven for scientists existed, where they could come up with these cures.
It’s this original overseer forcing their political views on the world, that has locked the fate of vault 81, a choice they had to live with until the end - unless they have some way of going back in time that is.
By now you’re wondering what happened to the three scientists who where sealed up in this secret area. Did they stay normal or did the years of isolation make them become twisted and perverted. Who knows, maybe they became such degenerates, the sight of another man’s hairy sweaty arse was too much to resist.
Well let’s find out as we look in this back passage.
On the one hand the work going on in the vault will save countless future lives, by eradicating disease from humanity. But the cost is that you will sacrifice ethics in medicine and science, so you know that will lead to a dark place. Besides that you will be condemning a population to secret torture and eventual death.
And on the other hand with the action the original vault overseer took, you may have cost humanity it’s future. For a start the scientists who didn’t get the phone call would have most likely perished outside when the bombs fell. They didn’t know for sure another safe haven for scientists existed, where they could come up with these cures.
It’s this original overseer forcing their political views on the world, that has locked the fate of vault 81, a choice they had to live with until the end - unless they have some way of going back in time that is.
By now you’re wondering what happened to the three scientists who where sealed up in this secret area. Did they stay normal or did the years of isolation make them become twisted and perverted. Who knows, maybe they became such degenerates, the sight of another man’s hairy sweaty arse was too much to resist.
Well let’s find out as we look in this back passage.
Curie
Now as soon as we move into this area you notice it’s in ruins, structures have been destroyed and then it clicks. The damage caused here is probably responsible for the trouble vault 81’s been having.
It doesn’t take too long before we find the culprit for all this carnage, the uniquely named vault 81 lab mole rat. But what did they want with these mole rats we wonder and it’s as we search for an answer we find one of the scientists terminals.
While it doesn’t give us answers just yet, I think it’s weird to be this side of the original overseers choice. I mean this is most likely the terminal they were using to contact the overseer, so this contains a small piece of their point of view.
We wind our way through this decayed structure until we meet a robot by the name Curie.
It doesn’t take too long before we find the culprit for all this carnage, the uniquely named vault 81 lab mole rat. But what did they want with these mole rats we wonder and it’s as we search for an answer we find one of the scientists terminals.
While it doesn’t give us answers just yet, I think it’s weird to be this side of the original overseers choice. I mean this is most likely the terminal they were using to contact the overseer, so this contains a small piece of their point of view.
We wind our way through this decayed structure until we meet a robot by the name Curie.
The Needs Of The Many Outweigh The Needs Of The Few
With this we now have our answers. By not having access to humans, the scientists turned there attentions to using the mole rats as their test subjects. They focused their efforts on completing the task they had set out to do.
This was in their mind a noble task, after all and no doubt gave them a certain level of normality to their lives.
It’s the two terminals in this location that give us some Fallout lore treasure.
The first is the terminal you get to when you first enter, it contains all the bullshit vault tech was feeding these poor scientists.
Like the phrase “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few“. If you’re not triggered by that, then your most likely the weak kind that goes along with that way of thinking.
That kind of brain washing gets you to fight against the instincts evolution has took millions upon millions of years, to hard code into your fucking dna. When you give yourself up to this 'higher cause', you're stating no individual has any value, only the task at hand is to be valued.
This type of collectivism makes you no better than a worker ant, saying goodbye to any notion of personal rights and freedoms, as they only get in the way of this 'higher cause'.
This was in their mind a noble task, after all and no doubt gave them a certain level of normality to their lives.
It’s the two terminals in this location that give us some Fallout lore treasure.
The first is the terminal you get to when you first enter, it contains all the bullshit vault tech was feeding these poor scientists.
Like the phrase “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few“. If you’re not triggered by that, then your most likely the weak kind that goes along with that way of thinking.
That kind of brain washing gets you to fight against the instincts evolution has took millions upon millions of years, to hard code into your fucking dna. When you give yourself up to this 'higher cause', you're stating no individual has any value, only the task at hand is to be valued.
This type of collectivism makes you no better than a worker ant, saying goodbye to any notion of personal rights and freedoms, as they only get in the way of this 'higher cause'.
Mankind Divided Shirt
Curie Is His Greatest Achievement
And this is why this vault is so brilliant, because in a caged area of this very room is a computer marked “Curies terminal”.
Now we’ll start with Doctor Collins personal archives.
Reading through these gives you a snap-shot of life trapped in this cement prison. We get a mention of a woman named Liza and how he hopes she got to her vault in DC, meaning she could have been an original dweller of one of the vaults from Fallout 3.
Liza could be her full first name, but Liza is also used as an abbreviation for Elizabeth.
More importantly we see doctor Collins repurposed a miss nanny robot as something to occupy his time and help keep the group normal.
As time passed the group took to Curie seeming human, helped along with her personality growing with time. One entry shows the doctor notes it feels wrong to keep tuning her personality and opts to allow her to evolve naturally.
Doctor Collins last entry is quite sad and is no doubt marking the end of the scientists lives. Collins leaves a log that Curie is his greatest achievement and that he only hopes for her to have more experience of the outside world, expressing his sorrow that he won’t be there to witness her reaction.
In fact reading Curies entries in the terminal do give you a peek into her evolution. First forming opinions on the team of scientists, then expressing remorse as the ravages of time took it’s toll on their bodies and killed them off one by one.
The supposed corrupt files seem to be because Curie had conflicts dealing with her emotions, as she lost the men she had grown to know.
*Side note: I have checked the numbers and symbols to see if they meant anything, but I drew a blank, so if anyone else wants to look into it be my guest.
Now we’ll start with Doctor Collins personal archives.
Reading through these gives you a snap-shot of life trapped in this cement prison. We get a mention of a woman named Liza and how he hopes she got to her vault in DC, meaning she could have been an original dweller of one of the vaults from Fallout 3.
Liza could be her full first name, but Liza is also used as an abbreviation for Elizabeth.
More importantly we see doctor Collins repurposed a miss nanny robot as something to occupy his time and help keep the group normal.
As time passed the group took to Curie seeming human, helped along with her personality growing with time. One entry shows the doctor notes it feels wrong to keep tuning her personality and opts to allow her to evolve naturally.
Doctor Collins last entry is quite sad and is no doubt marking the end of the scientists lives. Collins leaves a log that Curie is his greatest achievement and that he only hopes for her to have more experience of the outside world, expressing his sorrow that he won’t be there to witness her reaction.
In fact reading Curies entries in the terminal do give you a peek into her evolution. First forming opinions on the team of scientists, then expressing remorse as the ravages of time took it’s toll on their bodies and killed them off one by one.
The supposed corrupt files seem to be because Curie had conflicts dealing with her emotions, as she lost the men she had grown to know.
*Side note: I have checked the numbers and symbols to see if they meant anything, but I drew a blank, so if anyone else wants to look into it be my guest.
Overlook The Terrible Things They Would Do
The reason I said this area was so brilliant, can be summarised on these two terminals.
You have vault tech billy bullshitting the scientists into a 'higher cause', which saw them overlook the terrible things they would do for the “greater good” and give up all notion of an individuals rights and freedoms.
Then that same group, who have been brainwashed into this way of thinking, then take a robot and create a free thinking individual.
Just think how those two things are juxtaposed.
A robot that is very much an unthinking, unfeeling slave to whomever is in control of it. Very much a tool of collectivism like a worker ant is, set free by those who were themselves trapped in that position.
You have vault tech billy bullshitting the scientists into a 'higher cause', which saw them overlook the terrible things they would do for the “greater good” and give up all notion of an individuals rights and freedoms.
Then that same group, who have been brainwashed into this way of thinking, then take a robot and create a free thinking individual.
Just think how those two things are juxtaposed.
A robot that is very much an unthinking, unfeeling slave to whomever is in control of it. Very much a tool of collectivism like a worker ant is, set free by those who were themselves trapped in that position.
Greatest Disease Ever Known To Man
If you remember when we we’re first greeted by Curie, she tells us how she was working on this 'cure all' treatment and that unfortunately this is the last one in existence.
Now presumably she could make more given the right circumstances, after all the knowledge is stored in her. But what would be the cost of that information getting out?
As noted on one of the terminals, just what would vault tech do with this knowledge? They could possibly reverse engineer this 'cure all' to create the greatest disease ever know to man.
She also comments at the begging of the conversation, "oh another stranger". Which could be the junkie who used this secret vault to get high or even the kid who took ill - and is the reason we entered this location in the first place.
But just think how far Curie is and how many robots, turrets and infected mole rats you have to pass to get here. They would have killed either of those two long before they got this far.
We know they both came in the same secret way, the closest exist is locked via a terminal. So just who the fuck was she talking about?
Maybe it’s Doctor Forsythe that asks for a sample of blood when you meet him.
Rachel who works with him can be found saying it’s unusual how healthy the residents are in the vault. Maybe the doctor is continuing the work that was done on the mole rats.
Now presumably she could make more given the right circumstances, after all the knowledge is stored in her. But what would be the cost of that information getting out?
As noted on one of the terminals, just what would vault tech do with this knowledge? They could possibly reverse engineer this 'cure all' to create the greatest disease ever know to man.
She also comments at the begging of the conversation, "oh another stranger". Which could be the junkie who used this secret vault to get high or even the kid who took ill - and is the reason we entered this location in the first place.
But just think how far Curie is and how many robots, turrets and infected mole rats you have to pass to get here. They would have killed either of those two long before they got this far.
We know they both came in the same secret way, the closest exist is locked via a terminal. So just who the fuck was she talking about?
Maybe it’s Doctor Forsythe that asks for a sample of blood when you meet him.
Rachel who works with him can be found saying it’s unusual how healthy the residents are in the vault. Maybe the doctor is continuing the work that was done on the mole rats.
Half-Life 3 Confirmed Shirt
The Mole Rats Were What Killed The Scientists
As for those mole rats that got tested on, they weren’t just your average mole rat. They had already been genetically altered, before they even entered vault 81.
You could easily say vault tech knew about the inevitable war, so engineered them to be tough. As a food source or of a way to get this 'super cure' out to the people of the wastes.
But the facts show vault tech chose someone to be in charge of this vault, knowing they wouldn’t allow the human tests to be carried out.
They knew the first overseer would sabotage the experiment, vault tech knew the scientists had nothing to do but experiment on their genetically altered mole rats.
They made the rats more aggressive, stronger. That’s why they thrive in the harsh world of the radiated wasteland.
A conversation with Curie confirms how one mole rat, named Clyde, was clever, broke out and even released the others.
Curie goes as far as to say the mole rats were what killed the scientists.
Look at the damage they’ve caused to the metal and concrete structures of the vault. They were never meant to be contained here. They were meant to escape and infect everyone they came across.
In reality with their search for the ultimate cure the scientists opened Pandora’s box, releasing all the evils of the world through the infected mole rats.
Now if you know your ancient Greek mythology, you’ll know that after Pandora opened the box and let all the evils of the world out, the only thing to remain was hope.
And that isn’t the last batch of the cure, but Curie herself. Through her existence mankind still has hope.
But hey that’s just my opinion, so join me next time as we dig a little deeper into another mystery.
You could easily say vault tech knew about the inevitable war, so engineered them to be tough. As a food source or of a way to get this 'super cure' out to the people of the wastes.
But the facts show vault tech chose someone to be in charge of this vault, knowing they wouldn’t allow the human tests to be carried out.
They knew the first overseer would sabotage the experiment, vault tech knew the scientists had nothing to do but experiment on their genetically altered mole rats.
They made the rats more aggressive, stronger. That’s why they thrive in the harsh world of the radiated wasteland.
A conversation with Curie confirms how one mole rat, named Clyde, was clever, broke out and even released the others.
Curie goes as far as to say the mole rats were what killed the scientists.
Look at the damage they’ve caused to the metal and concrete structures of the vault. They were never meant to be contained here. They were meant to escape and infect everyone they came across.
In reality with their search for the ultimate cure the scientists opened Pandora’s box, releasing all the evils of the world through the infected mole rats.
Now if you know your ancient Greek mythology, you’ll know that after Pandora opened the box and let all the evils of the world out, the only thing to remain was hope.
And that isn’t the last batch of the cure, but Curie herself. Through her existence mankind still has hope.
But hey that’s just my opinion, so join me next time as we dig a little deeper into another mystery.
Very Interesting Themes
You can tell they put a bit of effort in Fallout 4's Vault 81, as it deals with some very interesting themes. So I decided the best way to tell this story was with 'live playing sections' and then discussing any points raised in the vault itself.
Doing a video this length really does burn you out and I was sure nobody would have the attention span (short videos are king on Youtube) to watch it. As it turns out, the watch times are good and it has more views than my Vault 111 video. I put this down to not many (if any, I didn't really do a detailed check) videos about Vault 81 existing at the time I made this.
I feel like quite a few Fallout stories could pass through vault 81 in the future, either directly detailing a link to this place or at least mentioning it in passing.
Doing a video this length really does burn you out and I was sure nobody would have the attention span (short videos are king on Youtube) to watch it. As it turns out, the watch times are good and it has more views than my Vault 111 video. I put this down to not many (if any, I didn't really do a detailed check) videos about Vault 81 existing at the time I made this.
I feel like quite a few Fallout stories could pass through vault 81 in the future, either directly detailing a link to this place or at least mentioning it in passing.
Kalzor