The Prydwen is a location in the Commonwealth in 2287. The flagship of the Brotherhood of Steel, the Prydwen serves multiple roles for the Brotherhood, including those of aircraft carrier, command center, clinic, personnel quarters, equipment maintenance bay, and research facility. It will be moored to the air traffic control tower at Boston Airport shortly after the Sole Survivor exits Fort Hagen during the quest Reunions.
Background
The Brotherhood once possessed a small fleet of pre-War airships, but the Prydwen is the only one to remain operational.[clarification needed][1] The airship was constructed by the Brotherhood of Steel at Adams Air Force Base.[2] The sharpest minds the Brotherhood had at its disposal spent two years on its design.[3] Another two years were spent gathering the parts necessary to enable its construction,[4] with components salvaged from the destroyed Enclave base playing a crucial role in its construction. When the Prydwen was finally launched, it granted the Brotherhood the ability to mobilize its entire division, allowing it to be fielded anywhere at a moment's notice.[2][5]
Weighing 40,000 tons, the Prydwen can land on the ground in emergencies and to conserve the coolant needed to keep it afloat.[5][6][Non-game 1] The airship itself is unarmed, but it always carries enough troops, Vertibirds, and supplies to mount a major offensive.[7] The Brotherhood's airborne aircraft carrier contains all of the facilities needed to support long-range operations: a clinic, an armory, barracks, workshops, research facilities, and more.
During the conflict in the Commonwealth, the carrier also houses Elder Maxson and the chapter's top leadership. Lancer-Captain Kells, the head of the Lancers and the Prydwen's skipper, is posted on the bridge on the command deck's bottom level, overseeing field operations. Proctor Teagan, head of the Order of the Sword, acts as the Prydwen's quartermaster, with his station in the armory on the main deck. The head of the airport supply depot, Knight-Sergeant Gavil, answers directly to him. Proctor Ingram, head of the Order of the Shield, works in the power armor maintenance bay on the main deck. She oversees engineering and maintenance duties both aboard the Prydwen and at the airport. It's her job to ensure the reactor remains operational and the ship airborne. She also works towards restoring Liberty Prime, the keystone of Elder Maxson's stratagem against the Institute. Proctor Quinlan, head of the Order of the Quill, oversees research and recovery operations from his quarters on the main deck, opposite the clinic. All field scribes answer to him, and he personally checks every technical document brought in from the field by scribes or other Brotherhood operatives.
Apart from the Elder, captain, and three Order leaders, the chapter has other prominent members aboard the Prydwen. Knight-Captain Cade, one of the Brotherhood's most talented physicians, works in the clinic on the main deck, treating wounded soldiers and assessing new recruits to confirm whether they are ready for combat. He is notoriously strict, and refuses to clear Paladin Brandis for duty until the Sole Survivor completes either The Nuclear Option for the Brotherhood or Mass Fusion for the Institute while working for the Railroad. Senior Scribe Neriah is the head of the Brotherhood's biological research department, and works in her lab on the main deck's top level. She is responsible for the dissection and analysis of fallen foes (such as super mutants and synths) in the hopes of finding any weaknesses or special traits that may be useful to the Brotherhood. She also works to develop a new anti-radiation medicine more potent than Rad-X, but needs more viable blood samples from the Commonwealth's creatures to create it.
Layout
The Prydwen is divided into three exterior areas (the flight deck in the east, and the lower foredeck and small upper forecastle in the west) and three indoor areas (the command deck, main deck, and quarters). During the quest Shadow of Steel, the player character's Vertibird docks at the flight deck's northern gantry. At the eastern end of the deck is an elevated control and storage room overlooking the area, while to the west is the entrance to the command deck in the ship's midsection.
The command deck has three levels. The top level is Elder Maxson's observation deck, with a central ladder leading up to the main deck and access to the exterior flight deck to the east. The middle level is a storage area, with access to the exterior foredeck to the west. Finally, the bottom level features the bridge, where Lancer-Captain Kells can be found. The foredeck offers excellent views.
The main deck has three levels and a network of catwalks patrolled by sentries. The deck is contained within the vessel's airbag, with the hydrogen inside several canisters around the outer hull. The access from the command deck is on the middle level, which features (from south to north): Elder Maxson's quarters, the key-locked quarters to the west (only accessible after completing the quest Blind Betrayal and being promoted to paladin), Lancer-Captain Kells's quarters to the east, Knight-Captain Cade's clinic to the west, Proctor Quinlan's quarters to the east, the mess hall, Proctor Ingram's power armor bay, and Proctor Teagan's armory. The top level serves as barracks and living quarters, also housing Senior Scribe Neriah's research area, while the bottom level features storage and a small recreation area. The upper catwalks above the top level lead to an exit to the small forecastle in the south.
Inhabitants
The Prydwen's crew includes:
Optional crew members:
- Madison Li, if convinced to join during the quest From Within.
- Paladin Brandis, if convinced to rejoin during the quest The Lost Patrol.
- Predictive Analytic Machine, if reprogrammed during the quest Tactical Thinking.
- Professor Scara, if convinced to join during the quest Liberty Reprimed.
Notable loot
- C.I.T. recon report holotape - On the command deck's bottom level, on top of one of the southern computer stations to the left of the helm.
- X-01 power armor Mk1 helmet, Gauss rifle, Fat Man, two mini nukes, fusion core, and a large amount of ammo - On the main deck's middle level, in Proctor Teagan's armory to the north, behind a Master-locked security gate controlled by a Master-locked terminal. All must be stolen.
- Commando armor, Honor, Death from Above, Vengeance, and Sentinel's Plasmacaster - Sold by Proctor Teagan. Honor and Death from Above become available after becoming a paladin, while Vengeance and Sentinel's Plasmacaster become available after becoming a sentinel.
- Knight-Captain Cade's report holotape - On the main deck's middle level, next to the terminal in Knight-Captain Cade's clinic.
- Quinlan to be deleted holotape - On the main deck's middle level, on top of a file cabinet in Proctor Quinlan's quarters.
- Maxson was right holotape - On the main deck's top level, on a nightstand between two beds in the southwest.
- Your new assignment holotape - On the main deck's top level, on a barrel next to a bed in the southeast.
- Personal log - 142 holotape - On the main deck's top level, on a nightstand opposite the outgoing mail terminal in the east.
- Lucia's personal key - On the main deck's top level, in Initiate Clarke's footlocker during the quest Duty or Dishonor.
- From Lucia - On the main deck's top level, in Initiate Clarke's footlocker during the quest Duty or Dishonor.
- Knight Lucia's log - On the main deck's top level, in Knight Lucia's footlocker during the quest Duty or Dishonor.
- Nuka-Cola Quantum - On the main deck's bottom level, on a metal shelf opposite the recreation terminal in the east.
- Three mini nukes - On the main deck's bottom level, next to the mini nuke crates in the north that are recovered from the Fort Strong armory during the quest Show No Mercy. Two are on top of the crates, and the third is on the floor next to the northwestern crate.
- Long range laser rifle - On the forecastle, in a crate labeled "sharpshooter stowage."
- BoS II T-60b power armor - Reward for the quest Shadow of Steel.
- Steadfast BOS combat armor chest piece - Reward from Lancer-Captain Kells for the quest The Lost Patrol; the armor is not received if the quest is instead turned in to Paladin Danse.
- Exemplar's T-60c torso - Reward from Lancer-Captain Kells for the quest Duty or Dishonor, if Initiate Clarke was persuaded to turn himself in.
- Visionary's T-60c helmet - Reward from Lancer-Captain Kells for the quest A Loose End.
Pickpocket or dropped on death
- Eight complete BOS II T-60 power armor suits - All must be stolen (however, see also the Notes section below regarding free access to the two suits in the power armor stations). Three are worn by the patrolling sentries, three are worn by the stationary sentries on the flight deck, command deck, and main deck, and two are in the power armor stations on the main deck. (The sentries will maintain their patrols and posts even after their armor is stolen, but if they are killed, they will eventually respawn with new sets of armor.)
- Prydwen armory key - Held by a Brotherhood knight-captain on the main deck.
- Final Judgment - Held by Elder Maxson.
- Maxson's battlecoat - Worn by Elder Maxson.
- Brotherhood medic fatigues - Worn by Knight-Captain Cade.
- Brotherhood officer fatigues - Worn by Lancer-Captain Kells.
- Airship captain's hat - Worn by Lancer-Captain Kells.
- Quinlan's armor - Worn by Proctor Quinlan.
- Teagan's armor - Worn by Proctor Teagan.
- Science scribe's armor - Worn by Senior Scribe Neriah.
- Bomber jacket - Worn by some Brotherhood crew.
- Engineer's armor - Worn by some Brotherhood crew.
- Medical goggles - Worn by some Brotherhood crew.
- Welding helmet - Worn by some Brotherhood crew.
Related quests
Notes
- The Prydwen will appear in a cutscene when the player character exits Fort Hagen during the quest Reunions, flying in over the map's western mountain range and making its way across the Commonwealth until it finally anchors above the Boston Airport. After this, the Sole Survivor can visit the airship during the quest Shadow of Steel offered by Paladin Danse.
- If the Sole Survivor has not yet dealt with the Brotherhood of Steel when the Prydwen shows up (by avoiding the Cambridge Police Station), the optional Brotherhood quest Reveille begins, where the vessel is only referenced as "the Brotherhood of Steel airship."
- If the Prydwen is destroyed, its remains can be visited, and respawning Brotherhood corpses can be found and looted. Brotherhood scribes, knights, and paladins may appear and attack the Sole Survivor. However, the Brotherhood squires will disappear from the game, having died in the blast.
- Bringing certain companions onto the Prydwen will cause different reactions from the Brotherhood personnel.
- Bringing Nick Valentine aboard causes a generic Brotherhood member to question whether the player character is concerned that Nick is a "spy." A member also exclaims that "machines shouldn't have free will," leading Nick to rhetorically ask the commenter whether they believe that because they forfeited their own free will long ago. A member also states that Nick "disgusts" them, leading Nick to retort that "the feeling's mutual."
- Bringing Hancock aboard causes a member to ask the Sole Survivor whether "that thing" is "tame," leading Hancock to chuckle and mumble "hardly."
- Bringing Strong aboard causes a member to shout "mutie aboard," leading Strong to say the member is being too loud and he wants to throw them off the bow.
- Bringing X6-88 aboard causes a member to observe that something is "off" about the Sole Survivor's "pal," leading X6-88 to state his synth designation and status as a courser, and casually note that he could easily kill all personnel aboard without a second thought.
- Bringing Dogmeat aboard causes a member to either compliment him by saying that he is a tough-looking dog, or insult him.
- When pickpocketed, most items will respawn periodically.
- The two suits of T-60 power armor in the power armor stations can be accessed via the stations, allowing them to be upgraded and looted without stealing.
- The exterior and command deck are oriented east to west, but the main deck is oriented north to south.
Behind the scenes
- The Prydwen shares its name with a ship from the early Welsh poem Preiddeu Annwfn; the vessel in the poem served as the ship of King Arthur.
- It is pronounced by multiple characters in different ways. Military frequency AF95 broadcasts pronounce it "preed-win," whereas Paladin Danse and Lancer-Captain Kells pronounce it "prid-win." The Welsh pronunciation is "prid-when."
- The vessel is mentioned in the Art of Fallout 4.[Non-game 2]
Bugs
Stealing from the armory on the main deck can result in all Brotherhood members turning hostile against the Sole Survivor. This can happen regardless of whether the Survivor is detected, and even if a Stealth Boy is used. (However, this only happens if a significant amount of loot is stolen.) One solution is picking up the desired item and moving it outside the armory before stealing it, which will not alert the Brotherhood.[verified]- Killing the Brotherhood lancer-sergeant on the northern Vertibird gantry on the flight deck may result, after a save and reload, in an invisible corpse with an untargetable version of the NPC standing over it. The invisible corpse may be looted, and may even be moved, but will revert to its original position on reload. There is no known fix for this issue, but it is ultimately harmless. This bug has also been seen with the scribes on the flight deck.[verified]
- After completion of the quest Airship Down and destruction of the Prydwen, the vessel will still appear as a fast travel destination in the Pip-Boy. Attempting to fast travel to the Prydwen will yield the message "Fast Travel is currently unavailable from this location," regardless of where attempted.[verified]
- After killing Kellogg in the quest Reunions, the Prydwen may not be seen in the sky, and Military frequency AF95 may not play. This can be fixed using the console command setstage 2bf21 1, which will teleport you to the roof of the Cambridge Police Station and direct you to board the vertibird.[verified]
- [Platforms needed] Directing a companion to the quarters while it is still locked may result in the companion becoming stuck there.[verification overdue]
Gallery
References
- ↑ Brotherhood soldier (1):"I still can't believe I was posted to the Prydwen. I mean, look at her... she's one of a kind."
Brotherhood soldier (2): "Actually, the Brotherhood of Steel had a whole fleet of these things at one time. They weren't as advanced as the Prydwen, mind you... but seeing them fill the sky must have been an impressive sight."
Brotherhood soldier (1): "Are you kidding me? What happened to them?"
Brotherhood soldier (2): "Not sure, really. Most of them were destroyed fighting Super Mutants or scuttled for parts. I think one of them crash landed somewhere in the Midwest. I heard that the wreckage is still there."
Brotherhood soldier (1): "Wow... I had no idea."}}
(ConvBoSAirportPrydwen07Scene)[clarification needed] - ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Sole Survivor: "Where was the Prydwen constructed?"
Kells: "She was constructed at Adam's Air Force Base just outside of Washington D.C. There was a vast amount of scrap metal and salvageable components there after we defeated the Enclave. We spent the first two years alone gathering the parts. The rest was spent assembling. It was worth the effort. With the Prydwen in our arsenal, we can mobilize our entire division... sending her anywhere that Elder Maxson wishes her to go. Her presence in the Commonwealth ensures that our mission to defeat the Institute will end in victory."
(Kells' dialogue) - ↑ Kells: "Now that you've had a chance to roam the Prydwen, what do you think, Knight/Paladin/Sentinel?"
The Sole Survivor: "She's very impressive."
Kells: "Yes, quite a feat of engineering, isn't she. It took the Brotherhood's sharpest minds over two years to design and more than twice that to build."
(Kells' dialogue) - ↑ The Sole Survivor: "That's a long time."
Kells: "Constructing the Prydwen required a vast amount resources... far more than the Brotherhood possessed when we began. We spent the first two years alone gathering the parts. The rest was spent assembling. It was worth the effort. With the Prydwen in our arsenal, we can mobilize our entire division... sending her anywhere that Elder Maxson wishes her to go. Her presence in the Commonwealth ensures that our mission to defeat the Institute will end in victory."
(Kells' dialogue) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Sole Survivor: "You sure Ingram knows what she's doing?"
Arthur Maxson: "Proctor Ingram's managed to keep a 40,000 ton airship aloft for the past five years. I'd say that earns her the benefit of the doubt."
(Arthur Maxson's dialogue) - ↑ The Prydwen terminal entries; Elder Maxson's terminal, Ingram IG-444PR - Prydwen Concerns
- ↑ Fallout 4 loading screens: "While the Prydwen does not have any actual weapons systems, it always carries enough troops, Vertibirds and supplies to mount a major offensive."
Non-game
- ↑ Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition pp. 345-347: "[4.28] PRYDWEN
The Brotherhood of Steel know how to make an entrance! A giant dirigible appears once you complete Act I of your Main Quest. It is moored at Boston Airport. This becomes the base of operations for the Brotherhood of Steel for the remainder of your exploration. The ship is a marvel of engineering."
(Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Map) - ↑ The Art of Fallout 4 p. 256: "Chapter 6 VEHICLES
Our aircraft designs were revisited for this project as well. Not having a massive crashed airliner in Fallout 3 always felt like a missed opportunity, given the precariousness of being in the air at the moment of nuclear devastation. This time, since an airport is a major location in our world, we envisioned majestic flying-wing jumbo jets as the preferred method of long-distance travel. These started out much, much bigger than what we ended up with in the game, and even still, the plane wreckage is a bit oversized in comparison to the footprint of our airport.
However, one vehicle whose size is both impressive and appropriate is the Prydwen, the only postwar-built airship. We went with a full-on diesel-punk design, combining elements of Zepplins and naval vessels and using mysterious technologies (beyond simple hydrogen) to keep it afloat. Its complement of Vertibirds are of a different variety than the gunships used by the Enclave—better suited to troop transport but modified for deployment from the airship."
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