Scorched Plague

“...the Scorched are lethal. They are nothing less than an existential threat. If we cannot find a way to defeat them, or at the very least contain them, there's no reason to think they won't spread far and wide, transforming or destroying everything in their path.”— Anti-Scorched tactics

The Scorched Plague is a mutagenic infection that ravaged Appalachia between 2085 and 2103, wiping out nearly all human life in the region save for those sheltered within Vault 76. By 2103, through the efforts of the Vault Dwellers of Vault 76, the plague's inoculation had been distributed to many Appalachians, including settlers, the Crater Raiders, the Brotherhood of Steel and those at Nuka-World on Tour, halting the spread of the disease to humans. As of 2105, the plague still exists.

Background[]

Origins[]

The origins of the Scorched Plague begins with the Scorchbeast; originally, what was once a typical bat was grotesquely mutated via the machinations of the Appalachian Enclave's biochemical experiments around 2083, deep below the Cranberry Bog.^[1] While containment of these creatures was far from successful, it would not be until 2086 that the megalomaniac aspirations of then-Secretary of Agriculture turned President Thomas Eckhart unleashed the Scorchbeasts entirely on an unsuspecting Appalachia.^[2]

In the early stages of these experiments, the bats appeared to have an uncanny ability to attract other animals, but the biochemical experiments were considered a failure. It was not until the bats were accidentally exposed to both biochemical agents and radiation that the Scorched Plague came to be.^[1] From a naturally-secreted particulate falling from their wings, the Scorchbeasts spread this infection wherever they reached.

Regardless if it were a human, animal or mutant, the Scorched Plague was able to infect nearly every living thing it touched, with possible droplet methods of infection,^[3] with few exceptions. The plague starts with a series of intense physical changes in its victims. At first, the victim's skin will darken, and smell of ash. Eventually, intense burning lesions begin to form all over the infected body, which would appear to be smoldering.^[4] After some time, the victim's skin will split open, exposing their reddish-pink flesh and the strange presence of green ultracite crystals that break up from beneath their skin. At this point, the infection has fully taken hold of its victim, transforming them into a Scorched.

Coupled with these physical changes is the degradation of the victim's mental faculties, more so if they are human. Most importantly, however, is their assimilation into the Scorchbeast's hive mind. As a Scorched, the victim is completely enthralled to the will of the hive mind, hostile to everything that is not already infected. In the case of Scorched humans, the assimilation into the hive mind is not completely absolute, as infected humans may demonstrate some awareness as to what state they're in. Physically, however, they have little to no ability to go against the greater whims.

Every Scorched was a vector for greater infection, a purpose with which they are compelled to fulfill until they totally succumb to the disease within them and are left as nothing more a petrified, ashen husk.

Scorched humans made up the breadth of the Scorched Plague's victims. Most human Scorched are able to effectively utilize weaponry, including firearms. Fighting carriers of the Scorched Plague in and of itself was extremely dangerous, as transmission was a great risk, coupled with the then-lack of any form of inoculation.

Initial scorchbeast sightings were often dismissed as rumors or hallucinations, but soon the various factions of Appalachia would be forced to assess the severity of the unstoppable plague. Many scrambled to develop means with which to combat the spread of the disease, developing a variety of countermeasures in an effort to destroy, contain or even cure the plague. However, divisions and hostility would set in; some dismissed the severity of the plague, others simply underestimated the threat and were too late to make a difference, or squabbling politics and mutual distrust between organizations would lead to the downfall of every major player in the region.

FO76 Responders map — Responders map during the Scorched Plague havoc

In the end, despite the organized research capabilities of the Responders, militarist might of the Brotherhood of Steel, survivalist pragmatism of the Free States and reckless brutality of the Raiders, each of these once-powerful factions would be snuffed out and destroyed, one by one, until all of Appalachia fell silent. Some were fortunate enough to flee the region before every human in Appalachia was either dead or Scorched by the year 2103, that is, excluding the Vault Dwellers of Vault 76.

The Responders at Morgantown Airport first received word of the Scorched threat from the Brotherhood of Steel, and were able to rapidly develop an assortment of countermeasure against the plague. The formation of the Fire Breathers, along with the discovery of depleted ultracite munitions, allowed the Responders to maintain a degree of control over the plague. Most important of the Responder's research efforts under Dr. Claire Hudson was the early stages of a vaccination against the plague; however, circumstances halted the inoculation project just short of a successful vaccine.^[4]^[5]

The Free States, operating within the Mire, suffered the loss of Harpers Ferry to the Scorchbeasts in the earliest stages of the plague in 2086, though the environment of the Mire and decentralized nature of the Free States allowed them some reprieve as they developed anti-Scorched technology such as the Scorched Detection System and the Scorchbeast Lures. These technologies first allowed the Free States to track the presence of Scorchbeasts, and neutralize them.^[6]^[7]

The Fire Breathers discovered that ultracite deposits become volatile when coming into contact with depleted ultracite.^[8] Using this information, they and the Appalachian Brotherhood of Steel created specialized weapons such as receiver modifications and laser guns to more effectively combat those infected. In addition, the research efforts of Dr. Claire Hudson made progress on the early stages of vaccination development but were forced to abandon their work.^[9] Unable to combat the spread of the plague, some groups fled the region. Ultimately, the efforts of the Responders, Brotherhood of Steel, Free States,and Raiders were unsuccessful and their factions destroyed.

The Scorched Plague is not known to have spread outside of Appalachia. In fact, the Skyline Valley region of Appalachia experienced almost no exposure to the plague, apart from one victim who was infected during a trip to Watoga and was swiftly killed after succumbing.^[10]

Efforts of Vault 76[]

In 2102, Vault 76 would finally open after 25 years, and the residents of the Vault re-entered an Appalachia that had been devoid of all human life for years. Following the trail of the overseer, the Dwellers would discover what became of the region's factions, and were able to finish what the divided groups had started. Finalizing the vaccine and inoculating themselves against the Scorched Plague, the residents' efforts would culminate in utilizing the region's ICBM silos to launch a nuclear strike against Fissure Site Prime and subsequently destroying the scorchbeast queen.^[11] What remained of the Appalachian Enclave, would be instrumental in the destruction of the Scorchbeast threat, as navigating the automated promotion systems from within the Whitespring bunker are what enabled the Vault Dwellers to access the region's nuclear payloads in the first place.^[12]

A year later, in 2103, the Vault 76 overseer and the Dwellers began to manufacture vaccination for the plague after Settlers, Raiders and other groups began to return to the region.^[13] Later in the year, word of this inoculation would spread beyond Appalachia via caravans.^[14] Upon arrival in Appalachia, the Brotherhood First Expeditionary Force took the inoculation as well.^[15] Victims of the Scorched Plague are still found across Appalachia in 2105.

Biology[]

A Scorched is created when a human, or other creature, comes in contact with a scorchbeast, as the mutated fungus-like plague called the Scorched Plague that it carries mutates those infected. The skin goes through a rapid change from a charred black to blood red lesions as if they have been flayed alive. Complete loss of hair and cataracts of the eyes also occurs and green ultracite crystals begin to protrude randomly from the skin. As well as affecting the appearance, those infected also succumb to complete degeneration of mental faculties. The infection of the Scorched Plague essentially creates a hive mind that connects all Scorched to the scorchbeast queen.^[16] The queen can then command these scorched at will.^[17] The only instincts left for those infected are violent aggression towards everything but other scorched.

The plague has some inexplicable connection to the hyper-radioactive ore known as ultracite; the characteristic green crystals that penetrate from the flesh of the Scorched are ultracite crystals.^[18]

Wandering, statue, petrification[]

FO76 Petrified corpse (01) — A petrified Scorched

When not acting violently or being directly controlled, a Scorched will enter its wandering state. This state is simply that, the Scorched wanders mindlessly around any given area unless either ordered directly by the queen, it finds a non-Scorched or until it enters its statue state. The statue state is the beginning of the end for an infected Scorched as the Scorched will stay in their statue position they are stuck in until they petrify from the inside out leaving only a radioactive, petrified corpse. The petrified corpse is the delicate remains of any Scorched who has stayed in their statue state for too long. The corpse itself is ash like with prominent veins of green ultracite visibly cover the petrified corpses, along with the remaining protrusions of ultracite crystals. The petrification process also destroys the clothing and weapons they had,^[19] but occasionally some possessions may survive the petrification.^[20]

This means that all Scorched have a set lifespan until they inevitably succumb to their disease. The petrification process can take longer depending on the activity around any given area, as any disruption to a Scorched while going through petrification will awaken the Scorched and revert them back to their wandering state. Even in death though, a Scorched's petrified corpse is a strong source of radiation to any unwise enough to disturb it.

While the wandering state is universal among infected Scorched, the statue and petrification process for the Scorched is entirely unique to the human species as no other infected species leaves behind a petrified corpse. It is unknown why the statue and the petrification process only affects humans.

Characteristics[]

The disease is spread by direct contact or droplets.^[21] The Vault 76 overseer describes the creatures flying overhead to be capable of infecting those below from the sky.^[22] It causes both humans and creatures to transform into Scorched.

The effects start with a series of significant physical changes in its victims. At first, the victim's skin will darken, and smell of ash.^[23] Eventually, intense burning lesions begin to form.^[9] After some time, the victim's skin will split open, exposing the presence of green ultracite crystals that break up from beneath their skin.^[8] The plague results in subjects being controlled by a hive mind.^[24]^[25]^[26]

In humans[]

Main article: Scorched

Scorched humans are able to use melee weapons and firearms. They wear tattered civilian wear, military uniforms and faction outfits such as the varied dress of the Responders or raider armor. Their vocalizations refer to themselves in the plural, with typical phrases being "we are one" or "never alone."^[27] They can be summoned by a scorchbeast and will often appear in waves for a coordinated attack on a target.

In 2103, following the elimination of the scorchbeast queen^[28] and the subsequent campaign by the Vault 76 expeditioners to spread a vaccination to the settlers and raiders who have returned to Appalachia,^[29] the Scorched influence on the region fell into decline. Fixtures comprised of the dismembered corpses of Scorched are sometimes found mounted onto the walls of outposts and strongholds claimed by regional factions such as the Blood Eagles or the Cult of the Mothman, showing how they are managing to combat the Scorched as well with the vaccine available.

Scorched1TT — Scorched in final, petrified state

As the disease progresses, scorched become more immobile, and remain in a statue-like state when at rest. When alerted or approached, they will revive out of the statue state and attack or start patrolling the vicinity. In the final stages of the disease, the statue state becomes permanent and victims turn into petrified corpses, and are no longer an active threat to others. The corpses can be searched for some small junk items, or destroyed, and will then disintegrate into a pile of radioactive debris.

From the emergence of the Plague until its diminishing, there were no known cases of ghouls becoming Scorched. Feral ghouls are known to be highly resistant to the Scorched Plague.^[30] Scorched bear some resemblance to ghouls, however there is no known link between the two.

Creatures[]

Appear as Scorched variants[]

Mammals
Amphibians and Reptiles
- Anglers
- Deathclaws
- Frogs
- Gulpers
- Radtoads
Arthropods
Snallygasters

Do not appear as Scorched variants[]

Except where otherwise noted, all creatures below are susceptible to the Scorched Plague, it's just that their Scorched variants are not present in-game.

Notes[]

An Arktos Pharma experiment also produced symptoms similar to that of the plague.^[32]^[33]
The player character cannot contract the infection, even before being inoculated to it. Instead, if one is exposed to the disease, they may contract the Blight, which lowers all SPECIAL stats by 1.
Scorched Grafton Monster variants appeared in Nuclear Winter mode.

The following is based on Fallout 76 cut content.

The Scorched Plague was originally intended to be a disease contracted from Scorchbeasts. This exists in the game files as both Scorched Plague and Scorched Fever. Completing the An Ounce of Prevention quest would have rendered the party immune to contracting the disease again. Player characters with the disease would have taken +5% damage from Scorched enemies.

End of information based on Fallout 76 cut content

Appearances[]

The Scorched Plague appears only in Fallout 76.

Behind the scenes[]

The Scorched Plague is similar to the real world fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which destroys an animal's soft tissue, causing death during hibernation. The fungus has destroyed a large portion of the tricolored bat (Pipistrellus subflavus) population, from which scorchbeasts are possibly descended, as noted by Ella Ames.^[34]