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Vault 13 or the Vault of the Holy 13 or simply Holy Thirteen in Arroyo,[1]), is a Vault-Tec Vault located in southern California.

Its location is west of Shady Sands and Vault 15, and east of Mariposa Military Base.

Background[]

Main article: Vault 13

With the death of the Overseer and abolishment of the position after the betrayal that the Vault Dweller suffered, Vault 13 dwellers commissioned the Brotherhood of Steel to acquire and install a mainframe computer, to automatically control and regulate Vault 13.[2]

The Vault Dweller and his group journeyed north, into the wilderness of North California and Oregon, where they ultimately founded a small village called Arroyo, protected by an extensive network of badlands and canyons. Rather than try to rebuild a town, they created a new community with a tribal culture. Over the span of three generations (or eighty years), Vault 13 turned into a myth, known as "Holy Thirteen." In 2241, the grandchild of the Vault Dweller, the Chosen One, was sent to find Vault 13 and retrieve the G.E.C.K. to save the dying village during a historic drought.[3]

Vault 13, however, was seized by the Enclave earlier that year. On May 15, it sent a coded sequence to Vault 13, activating its central computer with an All-Clear signal. Martin Frobisher, spokesman for Vault 13, promptly went through the emergence protocol, playing the Leaving the Vault training video provided by Vault-Tec for the gathered dwellers and ensuring other preparations were complete. A day later, on May 16, 2241, the Vault was opened, only to be met by two Verti-assault squads. Enclave troops opened fire, killing three Vault dwellers on the spot and stormed the Vault. The dwellers were rounded up and removed to the oil rig. On May 17, 2241, a pack of intelligent deathclaws was deployed to the now-empty Vault by Enclave animal handlers to cover up the operation.[Non-game 1]

The pack did not obey orders. Gruthar, the pack leader, organized a proper community in the confines of the Vault, using the voice recognition on the mainframe to provide for the pack. A small community of humans eventually emerged, typically refugees rescued from the wasteland or volunteers. Problems started later in 2241, when a random wastelander stumbled onto the Vault and decided the intelligent deathclaws were the greatest threat to humanity, damaged the mainframe, and bombed Kerith, the matriarch. Taken into custody, his actions forced Gruthar to order thefts of livestock in the surrounding area, preying on NCR brahmin herds to help his pack survive.[4] Eventually, the Chosen One discovered the Vault and recovered the GECK. At the same time, the deathclaws were deemed a security threat and a team under Frank Horrigan returned to Vault 13, wiping the deathclaws and their human cohorts out. The Vault was left empty.[Non-game 2]

Layout[]

Cavern entrance[]

FO2 Vault 13 cave

The link between Vault 13 and outer world. Nothing is here.

Entrance[]

Fo2 Vault 13 Entrance

Some intelligent deathclaws as a welcome

Intelligent deathclaws have moved in, however, they allow humans (who they found in the wasteland) to live among them. They are first brought to Joseph, the herbalist for medical treatment.

Living quarters[]

Fo2 Vault 13 Living Quarters

Who needs to be eliminated?

The living quarters serve now more as a prison for those who disturb the law in Vault 13. Also, a shrine to Vault 13's champion is being built here and it is being tended by Gordon.

Command center[]

Fo2 Vault 13 Command Center

One mother and one computer

The Command center is now a place where the deathclaw matriarch lays her eggs. The main computer is broken and a computer voice module is needed to repair it.

Loot

Inhabitants[]

Deathclaws
Humans

Related quests[]

Notes[]

Fo2 Guardian of Forever Vault 13

Vault 13 command center before 2161, seen in the Guardian of Forever special encounter (Fallout 2)

  • The Vault will be inaccessible when starting the game. However, it can be entered after one day has elapsed in-game.
  • A random, special encounter in Fallout 2 - find a strange giant time stone portal named the Guardian of Forever. After passing through it, they arrive in Vault 13's command center and break the water purification chip in 2161 before returning to the world map screen.
  • The background music "The Vault of the Future" is re-used for Vault 22 in Fallout: New Vegas.
  • If the Chosen One leaves a companion inside the Vault, leaves, allows the deathclaw massacre to occur, then returns, said companion will still be alive.
  • The Vault-Tec elevator decal has a spelling mistake, saying Vaul Tek.

Appearances[]

Vault 13 appears in Fallout 2.

Gallery[]

Areas
Sprites
Cutscenes
Concept art
Vault 13
A GURPS Post-Nuclear Role Playing Game

See also[]

References[]

  1. Martin Frobisher: "Eighty years ago, a hero saved our vault and then the Overseer exiled him. Others followed him into exile and they were never heard from again. We remember the event with shame."
    The Vault Dweller: "Hey! You're talking about *my* ancestor and the people who founded my village. They all came from the Vault of the Holy 13."
    (Martin Frobisher's dialogue)
  2. The Chosen One: "{128}{}{Isn't this the vault overseer room?}"
    Jimmy: "{151}{}{Normally the vault overseer would be stationed here but Vault 13 has been fully automated.}"
    The Chosen One: "{154}{}{Why? I mean, isn't that unusual?}"
    Jimmy: "{156}{}{I don't know the full story but at one point in the vault's history there was a rebellion. The overseer was either killed or overthrown, I'm not sure which. Anyway, the leaders of the revolution didn't want to entrust the fate of the people to another overseer so they installed this mainframe. The records say it was purchased from... oh, what was that name... Ah, I remember, the 'Brotherhood of Steel.'}"
    (Ocjimmy.msg)
  3. Arroyo elder: "{174}{aeld19}{Chosen One, things are not well here. We need the GECK if our village is to survive. Our people grow weak with hunger and our food reserves will not last much longer. Please, find the holy Thirteen and return to us. Go now.}"
    (Arroyo elder's dialogue)
  4. Gruthar: "{103}{}{Do not fear me, human. I do not intend to harm you. I am Gruthar, leader of this deathclaw pack. Why have you come here?}"
    The Chosen One: "{111}{}{I'm investigating raids on the local brahmin ranches. Do you know anything about this?}"
    Gruthar: "{164}{}{(Gruthar pauses and seems to be carefully considering his response to you) I am sorry to say that I ordered the raids on the human lands. I am responsible for the lives of many here. We are running out of food, water, and other supplies. Until I can get the situation corrected, I need to take what I, a deathclaw, can not ask humans for.}"
    The Chosen One: "{166}{}{I'm sorry to hear that. Is there some way that I may be able to help you so that you can stop the raids?}"
    Gruthar: "{139}{}{(Gruthar stares at you intently for a moment.) You would be interested in helping us? Yes, I sense little evil in you. Very well, I shall place my trust in you.}"
    The Chosen One: "{141}{}{Thank you.}"
    Gruthar: "{145}{}{There are many machines here, machines built by humans. Deathclaw hands can not use these machines. However, there is one machine that understands questions. I ask it to run the other machines and it obeys. This machine no longer listens. It will no longer run the other machines. We are running out of food and water. I have ordered raids on the human lands so that we may survive. I am not proud of this and I would put an end to it. If you repair this machine, I will be able to feed my people once again. I will gladly stop the raids. Will you agree to this?}"
    The Chosen One: "{148}{}{Hmm... sounds like the voice recognition module has gone bad on you. Let's go take a look.}"
    Gruthar: "{152}{}{Thank you. The machine is in the vault control center on the third level. If you can repair it, please do so. I am placing my trust in you. Please do not betray it. You are welcome here.}"
    The Chosen One: "{153}{}{I won't let you down, Gruthar. You have my word on that.}"
    (Gruthar's dialogue)

Non-game

  1. Fallout Bible 0: "2242 May 17 Enclave animal handlers drop a Deathclaw unit into Vault 13 from a safe distance to kill anyone investigating the Vault and cloak the Enclave's presence. Other Deathclaws are sent into the desert surrounding Vault 13 to check for any escapees or witnesses."
  2. According to John Deiley, who designed Vault 13, the inaccessible good ending where the deathclaws survive was intentionally scrapped because the Enclave plot required the slaughter of the deathclaws.
Vault 13
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