 | The following is based on upcoming content for Fallout 76. It may be subject to change and is not guaranteed to be released. |
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The Rust King is an intelligent super mutant and warlord leading the Rust King's Army faction operating in Burning Springs. He appears as a major character and antagonist in Fallout 76, introduced in the Burning Springs update.
Background[]
The Rust King's origins are shrouded in mystery, although it is known that he was once a subject of the Enclave from an unknown location of theirs, held prisoner and intended to be transported somewhere by vertibird. After being awoken by turbulence, the super mutant thrashed violently and broke free of his constraints, causing the Vertibird to crash. Although the Enclave personnel were killed, the super mutant survived and left the crash site, beginning to forge a new path in the Burning Springs region of Appalachia.[1]
Now let loose into the wasteland, the super mutant's intelligence and thirst for blood made for a deadly combination, and he quickly rose to power in the Burning Springs region.[2] He sought to build an empire in Burning Springs,[3] seeing it as akin to rearing a child, with the blood being spilled throughout the wasteland as analogous to his seed.[4] His status as a super mutant allowed him to go wherever he pleased without needing to concern himself with radiation or other deadly threats that made humans vulnerable.[5] He started out launching attacks on settlements himself; at some point around or after 2080 or 2082,(Note 1) sightings of him were noticed by the Ash Cavers, with three reports in three months, and he eventually killed one of their guards while she was wearing power armor. Franklin Metter speculated that whatever killed her was intelligent, and may have been probing their territory.[6] At one point, he began attacking the denizens of Highway Town, wreaking destruction on the settlement and forcing them to rebuild, weaker each time.[7] Eventually, he invited many of its residents to join him, making up the ranks of his army. The Rust King declared that only the strongest among them would survive; parents and children alike killed each other in battle after being given this ultimatium and weapons to boot. Those who refused to participate became the first victims of the Rust King's army.[8]
Over time, the Rust King amassed a large following, directing his army in a conquest over southeastern, Appalachian Ohio. He spared Highway Town from further incursions of his wrath, allowing them to grow so that a worthy challenge could rise up and face him from the life of the settlement.[7] Runt describes this arrangement as the Rust King allowing Highway Town to exist for as long as they do not stand against him.[9] Raiders admired the Rust King for his strength and joined the membership of the Rust King's Army,[5] while others joined seemingly out of necessity as the raiders' power grew, viewing resistance as futile.[10] The Rust King and his army settled into their headquarters after hearing whispers of a deathclaw nest at an old Abraxodyne Chemical plant. The Rust King and his men battled against the creatures as part of his growing conquest; many raiders died in the fight, while the Rust King himself incurred injuries that would have killed lesser men. The Rust King is alleged to have beheaded the deathclaws' matriarch with his bare hands, before adopting the eggs left behind. The chemical facility was christened the Rust Kingdom, over which the brutal, intelligent warlord ruled as king.[5]
The Rust King views deathclaws as kin, seeing similarities between his and their abilities as hunters. He directed the eggs to be raised into trained fighters,[4] and the Rust King's Army has since become known for their taming and training of deathclaws.[11] Despite the difficulty of the task, they have found success in this venture, as the Rust King even sought out skilled animal trainers to join the fold.[12][13] The deathclaws are raised at Jackson Junkyard, close by to the Rust Kingdom,[14] and they are brought back to participate as fighters in an arena. This arena was set up within the old Abraxodyne facility as entertainment for the Rust King,[15] while also allowing captives and fighters to prove their worth to the Rust King.[16][17]
Early on in the Rust King's conquest, he saw the strategic value of Fort Steuben after it had been scouted out by members of his army. The Rust King dispatched a war party to take over the fort, which was inhabited at the time. The denizens fought back and a siege ensued, with the combat lasting overnight. Once morning had passed, the Rust King's Army had reduced their defenses and stormed the fort, killing many of its inhabitants and claiming the territory for the Rust King. The survivors were sent to the Rust Kingdom's arena. Fort Steuben was a starting point for further conquests, as the kingdom grew in size and seized control of more locations around Burning Springs.[18] In December 2089, the Rust King met with Franklin Metter of the Ash Cavers. Metter, who was ill, dying and seeking a legacy, agreed to fold the Ash Cavers into the Rust King's ranks, where they continue to survive.[19] Other locations, such as the church at the South Ohio Evacuation Center, could be used a source of prey to teach the "young" of the Rust King's Army, and would eventually be annexed into their territory.[20]
Eventually, the bounds of the Rust King's territory hit the Ohio River. He took interest in potentially conquering lands east of the river, but became disinterested when scouts reported that Appalachia was weak, and the cultists of Point Pleasant were more interested in worshiping a bug for strength. The cultists became a mild nuisance after the North Road Bridge was reconstructed and they attempted to assault the Rust King's Army. The Rust King commanded that extra fortifications be built to mark the border of his kingdom, leading to the construction of Checkpoint Canyon and suppressing the cultists' ill-fated advance.[21]
As of 2105,(Note 2) the Rust King still enjoys near-complete dominance over the Burning Springs region, and he uses his army of raiders as "pest control" to deal with "vermin" in his lands.[22] However, as his power only grows, the Rust King has found moments to contemplate. After capturing a Christian priest, the Rust King allowed this preacher to live and told them that he wanted his own scripture to be written in his name.[23] The priest produced a number of writings detailing their travels with the Rust King, before the king eventually commanded them to spread this scripture north of Athens.[24] The priest refused, but was spared anyway, as they attempted to scatter and leave behind their writings. However, the priest came to believe that they themself carried the Rust King's scripture, not their writings.[25] As such, the priest self-immolated in a final act of defiance against the Rust King.[26]
The story of the priest is one demonstration that not all wastelanders believe in the Rust King's power. The Ghoul sees him as just another example in a long line of those seeking to be tyrants, believing the Rust King to hold "delusions of grandeur" and proclaiming that all kings fall eventually.[27] Many current residents of Highway Town believe that they could topple the Rust King if only the disparate, independent bounty hunters populating the settlement would unite.[28]
The Rust King has a vision for the future, and he seeks a conqueror to advise him and help him rule the wasteland, believing someone like this to be necessary "for what [is] to come."[29] To this end, the Rust King has started doing something he previously did not:[30] he seeks to pit captives against each other in a battle of wits, rather than just entertainment for the arena, as part of a test to determine who is worthy to stand beside him and help mold the wasteland in his and his champion's image.[31][32] This eventually leads to a potential confrontation between Eugene, Silas and a particular Vault 76 dweller with great promise.[33]
Personality and ideology[]
Above all else, the Rust King believes in the supremacy of the strong over the weak.[34] He adheres to the principles of the survival of the fittest[35] and the belief that might makes right.[36] Despite this, he recognizes that strength comes in many forms, and thus allows soldiers in his army who are not physically fit, but may be talented in other ways, such as deception (Ava)[37] or recruitment (Runt).[38] He does not discriminate between human or ghoul, and only focuses on what an individual can bring to him.[39] He wants his army to comprise the best in the land,[38] and believes those strong enough to compete should prove their worth. If he believes that they are not worthy of serving under his banner, then they have no purpose to him and should be disposed of.[40][41] He sees Burning Springs as containing vermin, and his soldiers as the pest control dealing with the vermin.[22] He believes that murder and violence should come naturally to those who are fit to survive in the wasteland.[35] He lacks compassion, seeing kindness and heart as weaknesses,[42][43] and values strong warriors over those who are merciful.[43][44] He also declares his hatred for liars and stolen glory,[45] much like his distaste for cowardice.[31]
Despite claiming to scorn ego[46] and arrogance (or at least unearned examples of these),[47] much of what the Rust King declares is self-serving and hinges on his pre-assumed greatness,[48][49] needing others to prove their worth to him.[40] Much of the Rust King's intelligence lies within knowing how to display and use his strength to his advantage, successfully controlling his kingdom and terrorizing the people of Burning Springs, to the point that they feel they have no other options but to join his army, lest they become a victim of it.[10] However, one weakness of the Rust King's rule is a nearly tunnel-visioned focus on the present. He declares his state of being as killing what he wants, when he wants, but actually spurns long-term planning, instead preferring to focus on what he sees in the here and now.[36] Although he has a vague vision of the future[29] and some strategic acumen,[18] he outright says that "plans are for schemers" and is confident in his ability to maintain his might "whatever may come."[36] While this confidence is seemingly earned given his tenure thus far, the Ghoul believes that the Rust King and his "delusions of grandeur" will eventually fall, like all kings do.[27]
The Rust King is so confident in the supremacy of the strong and their qualities that even if the Vault 76 dweller outright declares their intention to go against him,[50] ignore his rule,[51] or even attempt to challenge his throne outright,[52] he brushes it off as simply humorous, believing that someone of the dweller's caliber and strength will come to their senses eventually, even in the face of straight-forward rejection of his principles.[43] In fact, the Rust King invites opposition, saying that he hungers for rebellion, and any attempts to stifle such a challenge would be an insult to his strength.[53] This does not mean he will tolerate defiance indefinitely, however.[54] Nonetheless, the Rust King also scoffs at overt and performative servility toward him.[55] The Vault 76 dweller can criticize how the Rust King intends to use his desired champion, comparing him to the schemers he claims to detest, which the Rust King strongly rejects as a comparison to an insect.[54] This speaks to the Rust King's confidence in his own dominance, seeing his conquests as comparable to stepping on ants, and that no one could possibly win against him.[56] Until that day comes,[48] the Rust King continues to use Burning Springs as his playground, waging a path of war wherever his army goes.[2]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
| Interactions | ||
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This character ignores combat and cannot be damaged. | |
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This character cannot be killed. | |
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This character starts quests. | |
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This character is involved in quests. | |
Quests[]
- Welcoming Committee: The Rust King is first met during this quest. After an initial introduction, followed by either surviving the Rust Kingdom's arena gauntlet, or killing Silas, the player may talk at length with the Rust King, before being sent out of the arena.
- Might Makes Right: The Rust King starts this quest, dismissing the player from the Rust Kingdom arena and sending them to Highway Town to meet Runt and undertake a number of tasks to prove one's worth.
- When the Rust Settles: Following the previous quest, the player and Eugene set into motion a plan to overthrow the Rust King, which encounters a fatal complication. After surviving another, more dangerous bout in the arena, the player must deal with Eugene, after which they may converse with the Rust King again. The Rust King declares that they will meet again, before the player is removed from the arena once more, ending the quest.
Inventory[]
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Rust King crown Burn_RustKingArmourBody01 |
Notes[]
- ^ (Note 1) The Ash Cave terminal entries first mention the Ash Cavers seeking to use power armor in an entry dated to August 2080, while in another entry dated to April 2082, Franklin Metter writes that they "find [them]selves wanting for power armor." The Security Concerns terminal entry is undated, but mentions that a guard was killed while wearing power armor by the Rust King (or the "green man"), implying that it occurred at some point around or after 2080 or 2082, based on the other entries' reports of the Ash Cavers' availability to power armor.
- ^ (Note 2) 2105 is the in-game year set on the Pip=Boy as of the release of the Burning Springs update.
Appearances[]
The Rust King appears only in Fallout 76, introduced in the Burning Springs update.
Gallery[]
References[]
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