The Steel Plague is the name given to a proposed evolution of the Lost Hills chapter of the Brotherhood of Steel in Fallout.
Background[]
The phenomenon of the "Steel Plague" was described as the Brotherhood fallen to extremism as a techno-religious dictatorship that would have formed in New California following the premature death of Rhombus and his successor taking power, where their increased fanaticism would have led to the destruction of the infant New California Republic around the 2180s, beginning another "Dark Age" for humanity that would have lasted centuries more.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The Steel Plague is only mentioned in the game's endings if the player character kills Rhombus in the game, preventing his ascension to the position of high elder and resulting in new leadership. The events of Fallout 2 and Fallout: New Vegas have demonstrated that Rhombus' death and the subsequent development of the Steel Plague did not occur and are most likely non-canon. While the West Coast Brotherhood is demonstrated to have become more reactionary over time and ultimately come to war with the NCR, their ideology has seemingly remained largely moderate, with the term "Steel Plague" never appearing in any other Fallout media.
References[]
- ↑ Fallout endings: "The Brotherhood of Steel, under new leadership after the death of Rhombus, becomes an overzealous, techno-religious dictatorship. In 20 years, the Steel Plague devastates the newly formed New California Republic, and starts a Dark Age that could last a thousand years"