Burham Springs

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The following is based on Van Buren design documents and is not canon.

“But fix thine eyes below; for draweth near

The river of blood, within which boiling is Whoe'er by violence doth injure others.

O blind cupidity, O wrath insane, That spurs us onward so in our short life,

And in the eternal then so badly steeps us!.”

Burham Springs or Burning Springs, as it is called nowadays, is a place somewhere in the American southwest.

Burham Springs is a horrible wreck of a pre-war mining community that has been burning for decades. Only a tiny handful of people continue to linger in the dreadful place. The constant threat of death by fire, smoke, radiation, and horrible monstrosities keep the rest of the world away. The smoldering coal mines contain a wealth of technology, but the risk is too great for most people to bother.

The Agricola robots can be found there, as well as horribly mutated creatures called the Gehennas and the Molechs.

History

2039

Prometheus Coal, a division of Poseidon Energy, opens a coal mine in central Utah. A small village opens up nearby. It is called Eagle Rock.

2066

With more important things to spend their money on, Poseidon Energy closes the inefficient and dangerous Eagle's Rock mine complex and sells it to the U.S. government.

2074

Government decision makers order the dumping of radioactive waste into Eagle Rock's lower mines. Enclave politicos help secure a contract for Poseidon Energy to develop and use their AGRICOLA mining robots in the operation of the dumping ground. Not surprisingly, the AGRICOLA lab turns out to be a pretty good bunker as well.

2077

Bombs drop. Two Poseidon scientists are still trapped in the lab. After four years, one dies of natural illness. After one more year, the other commits suicide.

2238

NCR explorers discover Eagle Rock and quickly realize that it is a source of energy and some water -- albeit a dangerous source. Within the year, NCR miners are there, and more come shortly thereafter. Many of them are dregs/outcasts from other communities.

2245

NCR halts production on the railroad lines. The need for coal diminishes and the Powder Gangs rise up.

2247

NCR 5th Engineering Division blows up Burham Mines, causing incredible fires to break out all over the area, even in veins of coal encased in rock. Many die. Many become gehennas. NCR abandons Burham Springs.

2248

Twelve daring people, including Phil, Sparky, and Frank LaFrancis, drift into Burham Springs to start salvaging. Two years after the end of this influx, all are dead except Phil, Sparky, and Frank.

2250

The Blackfoots try to take out Phil, Sparky and Frank twice. Between those attacks, the Vipers attempt the same. Both groups fail.

2253

The Prisoner escapes from Tibbets, dooming the world and creating a holocaust of epic proportions. He passes through Burham Springs during his quest.

Appearances in games

Burham Springs did not appear nor was mentioned in any of the published games, but was to appear in Van Buren.

Sources

• Van Buren leaks at the No Mutants Allowed forum
• A comment on molechs and gehennas by Sean K. Reynolds at No Mutants Allowed

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