Church of the Children of Atom

The Church of the Children of Atom"The members of the Church of the Children of Atom worship Megaton's atomic bomb." "The Church of the Children of Atom believe the war of 2077 was actually a great holy event perpetuated by their god, Atom." (Fallout 3 loading screens) (truncated as the Children of Atom, Church of Atom, or Atomites, sometimes derisively called rad eaters)Winter of Atom, p.9: "The chapter culminates with a third and final battle against the Gigapede. The PCs rally their allies to make a final stand against the Last Son of Atom's army in the settlement they care about the most. They become all that stands between the Atomites, the Gigapede, and their home. Should they fail, many of their allies sacrifice their lives to drive back the Atomites. With the promise of a better spring to come, the Commonwealth embraces a hopeful peace and begins to rebuild."modiphius.net; Fallout Friday: The Winter War: "The Winter of Atom’s main quest line is going to give players of this expansion for the Fallout tabletop RPG a unique challenge fighting a maniacal sect of the Church of Atom, with a radical megalomaniac leader at its helm. In this third chapter of the book—the middle part of the campaign—the Last Son of Atom’s followers unleash an all-out war on the Commonwealth, while the Last Son seeks out his real objective buried somewhere deep in the Glowing Sea. They say war never changes, but since when did a fighting force like this use a gargantuan mutated centipede as a siege weapon?"Donothin Frye on Modiphius' Discord: "My reasoning for the Last Son's naming convention was to sort of emphasize the clear departure in certain regards from more common Atomite doctrine with this new group. I mentioned taking inspiration from real world religious splinters, where one new idea and changing the names of clerical ranking or other titles can snowball into the formation of something seen as new—often considered heretical by its origin religious group."The Sole Survivor: "If you manage to survive despite all that, you must be tough."Captain Olympia Avery: ""Allen Lee: " "Captain Avery: ""Allen Lee: " "Captain Avery: ""(Captain Avery and Allen Lee's dialogue) is a religious movement which worships Atom, a deity personifying nuclear weapons, their detonation, and the resulting radiation. Where most people see weapons of mass destruction, the Children see holy tools of creation. Generally, they believe the world was created when an atom was split, and that each nuclear detonation represents the birth of countless new universes. 
The faith has spread across the north-east of the post-War United States. Atomites have developed their own mythology, with legends, historical figures, and ethics unique to their culture. They also believe in a variety of supernatural phenomena surrounding radiation.
A decentralized movement, the myriad sects each follow their own interpretation of the core dogma. The philosophy of each sect tends to reflect the unique perspective of its leader. These groups range from peaceful believers pursuing coexistence with the rest of the wasteland to militant zealots desiring nothing more than the nuclear annihilation of all mankind.
==Background==
===The Capital Wasteland===
====Megaton====
The history of the Children of Atom is tied closely to the settling of Megaton, a major trade settlement in the Capital Wasteland. The founders of the religion were among the first refugees that took shelter in the crater after the Great War, worshipping the bomb that lay within the crashed aircraft at its center.The Lone Wanderer: "So it was just a collection of traders in the beginning?"Manya Vargas: "Not at first. It was a collection of people trying to get into the vault, people worshipping the bomb, and a few other refugees. Then the traders came. Now the caravans take care of most of the trading, but before they were set up, it was all Megaton. I worked on the caravans with my father for a while. That's how I met that worthless bag of liver spots I call a husband."(Manya Vargas' dialogue) As the crater was settled, the zealous cultists aided in building the walls and clearing the wreckage to make way for the future town. The fledgling Church of Atom had only one condition: that the holy bomb within the crash site remained undisturbed. As it seemed to be inert, and the settlement needed their help to survive, the people of Megaton acquiesced.The Lone Wanderer: "So why didn't they move the bomb?"Manya Vargas: "Some of us wanted to. But the Church of Atom was just getting its start then. We needed their help to build the walls and clear the wreckage. If we'd have tried to move the bomb, they would have refused to help. Besides, a lot of people just wanted to leave it alone. It didn't seem to be hurting anything and who knows what would happen if we messed with it."(Manya Vargas' dialogue) The Church became a permanent element of the town.
Led in worship by a confessor, they live communally in a humble chapel adjacent to the bomb, where they have practiced their faith quite uneventfully for many generations.The Sole Survivor: "How did you discover this place?"Brother Henri: " "(Brother Henri's dialogue) In the twenty-third century, a young wastelander named Cromwell travelled to Megaton and joined the Church. The sitting confessor chose this outsider to succeed him.
By 2277, the 44-year-old Confessor Cromwell has become an eccentric distraction to most of the citizens,Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.66: "Confessor CromwellLittle is known about Cromwell's past: He arrived in his early 20s (he's now 44) and was granted permission to stay due to the blessing and high standing of his successor in the church, who fostered him in the ways of Atom. Eventually, Cromwell proved to be a valuable resource in protecting and aiding the town, and he became an eccentric distraction to most of the citizens of Megaton."(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census) and church attendance is steadily dwindling.Confessor Cromwell: "Ah, my dearest wife..."Mother Maya: "Yes, husband?"Confessor Cromwell: "I've been concerned about church attendance lately, Mother. The town's inability to fully accept Atom's promise is... most discouraging."Mother Maya: "Do not despair, dearest husband. Soon, all of Megaton will bask in Atom's glow."(Megaton conversations; Confessor Cromwell's and Mother Maya's dialogue) At this time, if the Lone Wanderer opens the bomb, they find that it is missing a component called the fusion pulse charge, without which the bomb cannot detonate. In secret, Confessor Cromwell struggles with indecision over whether he should attempt to detonate the bomb himself.Cromwell's terminal His wife and fellow prophet Mother Maya, who claims to personally receive visions from Atom, seems more optimistic about the prospect of imminent "Division." 
====Schism of the Apostles====
In 2278, an offshoot church called the Apostles of the Eternal Light made themselves known by distributing "holy water," and posting pamphlets in nearby Megaton. They were led by a chemist calling herself Mother Curie III, and resided in a small bunker in Springvale. She had been a member of Cromwell's congregation, until the day she experienced a vision while attending a sermon. She believed she was contacted by a divine messenger called the Prophet of Atom, who spoke against the gospel of Division. This compelled her to leave the Church with her son and pursue her own path to the Light. At least one other congregant, Brother Gerard, left to follow her.
====Cromwell's expedition====
However, to adherents of the faith, Cromwell was the great prophet of Atom. It was under his auspices that a group of Children of Atom departed from Megaton at some point between the 2250sGiven his age of 44 in 2077 and his background as a traveler, Cromwell became a confessor no earlier than 2250, at which time he was 17. and the 2270s.Children of Atom have existed on the Island since Old Longfellow was a young man, but were not present during the previous Fog encroachment, when he was a child. This is why they were blamed for the latest Fog encroachment. Heading north, the expedition ultimately arrived at Far Harbor. Martin and Tektus were among those who made the journey from Megaton to the Island. No other named characters are known to be associated with this expedition.
Additionally, the Last Son of Atom travelled from Megaton to the Crater of Atom at some point after it was founded.
===Commonwealth region===
====Settling the Glowing Sea====
At some point, a group of Atomites traveled into the depths of the Glowing Sea, the wastes to the southwest of the Commonwealth. They settled in what would come to be known as the Crater of Atom, believing it to be a haven given by Atom himself.The Sole Survivor: "How did you find this place?"Mother Isolde: ""(Mother Isolde's dialogue) Mother Isolde came to be their leader, if she was not already. She raised a daughter within the cult, known as Sister Dawn, who grew up alongside Brother Ogden. 
The villagers of the Crater of Atom are the only humans who reside in the Glowing Sea. A peaceful sect,Winter of Atom, p. 193: "Isolde fears the Last Son will use Whately Research Facility’s blasphemous stockpile of chemical weapons against her sect and his other enemies. Her sect is non-violent, and they worry that there will never be peace in the Commonwealth so long as the Last Son lives." the flock carry gamma guns, but almost never become hostile, even if physically attacked. Their leader Isolde expresses some unusual tenets, such as the belief that "Atom gave birth to this world, and all worlds.""Atom gave birth to this world, and all worlds. And within this world he gave us the promise of infinite rebirth." (Isolde's dialogue)
=====Arrival of the Last Son =====
No later than 2286, the Last Son of Atom arrived at the Crater, claiming to have served Cromwell in Megaton. He was permitted to stay briefly, during which time he aggressively attempted to convert others to transgressive new ideas. Isolde exiled him for blasphemy. She declared the Last Son a heretic and a false prophet, leading the Children astray with promises of awakening Atom and opening gateways to other universes.Winter of Atom p.193: "Isolde considers him a heretic and false prophet, leading the Children astray with promises of awakening Atom and opening gateways to other universes.""“He left in search of ruins of an old-world military base— Whately Research Facility. What resides within is no gift of Atom’s.” Isolde reveals that she knows the Last Son’s location but does not elaborate on how she received the information. The facility is hidden underground beneath a buried church 12-hours trek west of the crater. The Last Son claimed that he would awaken Atom and open gateways to other universes once he found the facility. He promised those who followed him they would find paradise there—and their enemies would know hell." -Winter of Atom, p. 214 Some of her followers left with him, forming the basis of his sect. Isolde is haunted by her failure to protect their souls.Isolde ordered her daughter to join his following in order to spy on him. Dawn lived among the Last Son's sect for some time, and managed to gain his trust somewhat. She remained close to him, even as he grew erratic from excessive chem use."Mother Isolde assures me Atom will guide me and keep me safe on my mission, but I am still afraid. I remember the Last Son when he stayed here. So kind to us and helping with our struggles, so eager to please. He would smile and speak gently to offer me help, and I would have to play along and listen to his blasphemous ideas. It was worse after he started taking the chems. I watched him once. Berry Mentats, Ultra Jet, and X-Cell, all in one go. I was sure the mix would kill him, but it just made him more confident of his heresy. He was ranting and raving about how the chems would protect his mind from Atom’s Glow so he could lead his flock to paradise. He’d whisper at night of dreams about a child and an obelisk buried beneath the earth. I will do as she asks and follow the false prophet. I will discover the truth behind his lies so that all will know he is no Son of Atom and no Child of this Church. And when my mission is complete, I know Atom will reward me with his Glow as he rewards all his faithful." (Sister Dawn’s Journal, Winter of Atom, p. 211) In her journal, she wrote that he whispered in his sleep, murmuring about an obelisk waiting for him beneath the earth.Winter of Atom, p.211: "Sister Dawn’s Journal The journal contains the following key entry: Mother Isolde assures me Atom will guide me and keep me safe on my mission, but I am still afraid. I remember the Last Son when he stayed here. So kind to us and helping with our struggles, so eager to please. He would smile and speak gently to offer me help, and I would have to play along and listen to his blasphemous ideas. It was worse after he started taking the chems. I watched him once. Berry Mentats, Ultra Jet, and X-Cell, all in one go. I was sure the mix would kill him, but it just made him more confident of his heresy. He was ranting and raving about how the chems would protect his mind from Atom’s Glow so he could lead his flock to paradise. He’d whisper at night of dreams about a child and an obelisk buried beneath the earth. I will do as she asks and follow the false prophet. I will discover the truth behind his lies so that all will know he is no Son of Atom and no Child of this Church. And when my mission is complete, I know Atom will reward me with his Glow as he rewards all his faithful." Suddenly, he captured her and performed genetic experiments on her, as a cruel expression of the resentment he harbored for Isolde. Dawn was transformed into a titan thenceforth known as the Great Glowing One and abandoned to wander the Glowing Sea. 
Elsewhere in the Glowing Sea, he uncovered the Whately Research Facility, a pre-War Vault-Tec affiliated occult laboratory once overseen by his direct ancestor, General John Whately. The site had operated in secret beneath a Catholic church, and went undisturbed after the War due to its remote location. From here, he was able to access an ancient underground ruin, declaring it the City of Atom. The virulent chamber was dominated by an Obsidian Obelisk,Winter of Atom, p.229: "Do not reveal their whereabouts until the rest of the party reaches R6. The Obsidian Obelisk." which the Last Son came to consider his brother.Winter of Atom, p.231: "The Abomination and Obelisk. He considers the tentacled abomination his literal brother— the First Son of Atom. It whispered to him in his dreams and showed him how to read the hieroglyphs on the obelisk. That is how he learned to remove Atom’s Glow from the obelisk and control its power." Using materials he found in the City, he developed a special suit of X-01 power armor which he called AT-0M. The suit allowed him to sense the emotional states of nearby beingsWinter of Atom, p.234: "The Last Son of Atom created this custom suit of power armor from an unfinished X-01 Power Armor prototype. He painted its dark red-steel casing with numerous yellow atomic symbols. Long, bladed tendrils hang from the suit’s arms. When the armor is powered, the arm tendrils sometimes writhe with a biomechanical mind of their own. The helmet piece is partially transparent, revealing the face of whoever wears the armor. Special: When powered, the armor’s strange and experimental scientific alterations allow its helmet to show the wearer details about nearby creatures. The wearer automatically detects non-robot creatures within Long range and gains a vague sense of their current actions, physical health, and emotional state." and functioned as a weapon of mass mind control.Winter of Atom, p.229: "The Children of Atom only managed to excavate a tiny portion of the buried city that pre-dates known history before the Last Son uncovered the crystalline device he’d long dreamt of. The PCs arrive after the Last Son finally integrates the device into his power armor. While wearing the modified armor, he controls the actions of anyone under the effects of the device’s energy field. Wherever he goes, the device’s energy field affects the minds of creatures within several miles."
Back on the surface, he quickly consolidated a militia of devotees, who insinuated themselves across the Commonwealth. Notably, they occupied the All Faiths Chapel in Diamond City, and enjoyed popularity among residents of the Lower Stands for their countercultural views, including their opposition to the Anti-Ghoul decree of 2282.Winter of Atom p.102: "The Children of Atom are taking over the All Faiths Chapel, citing that they need a place from which they can help the locals. Pastor Clements strongly opposes their occupation of the chapel. Most Lower Field residents trust the Children of Atom and support their speaking out about the resource hoarding of the Upper Stand residents. Lower Stands locals frequently agree with the Church’s critical view of the Minutemen—who they claim are nothing more than a self-serving militia looking for a foothold in the city."
===== The Winter of Atom =====
In the Winter of 2286, his organized cult executed a series of vicious attacks against the settlements of the Commonwealth, in a campaign of terror headed by his loyal Gigapede. 
Isolde sent messengers north (including Brother Lucius) to warn the people of the Commonwealth and ask for aid. The Last Son's forces destroyed several settlements, but failed to secure power, and the religion as a whole was almost entirely driven out of Boston, including Atomites unaffiliated with the Last Son.
The Last Son of Atom caused a great deal of generalized psychic disturbance in the area before he and his followers either died in the Buried City or marched west and abandoned the region. Mother Isolde condemned the so-called City of Atom, and considers it unrelated to her deity.Winter of Atom, p. 214: "“He left in search of ruins of an old-world military base— Whately Research Facility. What resides within is no gift of Atom’s.” Isolde reveals that she knows the Last Son’s location but does not elaborate on how she received the information. The facility is hidden underground beneath a buried church 12-hours trek west of the crater. The Last Son claimed that he would awaken Atom and open gateways to other universes once he found the facility. He promised those who followed him they would find paradise there—and their enemies would know hell."
==== The Crater in 2287 ====
Mother Isolde still serves as the leader of the village within the Crater of Atom in 2287. Its glow can be seen from a distance at night. Isolde and her acolyte Henri recognize Far Harbor as holy land, and its Fog as sacred.The Sole Survivor: "Would you be willing to help a fellow Child of Atom? I'm part of a church in a place called the Nucleus, near the town of Far Harbor. You know it?"Mother Isolde: ""(Mother Isolde's dialogue) 
When Brian Virgil escaped from the Institute and fled into the Glowing Sea, he set up in a remote cave near the Crater. He has occasionally traded with the village, but prefers to be left alone. After Isolde's scout assessed Virgil as a potential threat, the Children discussed removing him by force, because some considered his presence an affront to Atom.Note from Brother Hoberman However, because "he has sought refuge with Atom," Isolde has declared Virgil to be under her protection for the time being.The Sole Survivor: "I need his help reaching the Institute."Mother Isolde: "I have heard of this Institute. They hide themselves, trying to avoid the power of Atom. A futile effort. Though he came to trade with us on a few occasions, we have had little other contact with him. It was quite clear he wanted to be left alone. You can find him southwest of the crater, living in a cave. I would approach cautiously, were I you. I feel he does not want visitors."(Mother Isolde's dialogue)
She dispatched a group, accompanied by a reprogrammed assaultron called Atom's Wrath, to find and occupy the abandoned sentinel site. The location of this complex was passed down in secret through generations of Children of Atom. The party were to secure the armaments inside, which included a cache of Mark 28 warheads. They were quickly overwhelmed by feral ghouls infesting the facility. Only Brother Henri survived, and there he remains, serving as the guardian of the holy site. 
====Northern Commonwealth====
Very rarely, the Sole Survivor may encounter Children of Atom while wandering the Commonwealth.There is a random encounter where Children of Atom are fighting Gunners in Fallout 4. Those outside of the Glowing Sea are all hostile to outsiders. They have been known to irradiate water supplies, to the detriment of settlements such as Bunker Hill.Generic children of Atom appearances in Fallout 4 are hostile.
=====Schumacher's group=====
No later than 2286, a group from the north-east were led by a priest named Schumacher to the Commonwealth, where they built a Rad Church in a sewer. The group were unusually competent mechanics, and battled robots recreationally. By late 2287 this group has dispersed or died.
=====Kingsport Lighthouse group =====
At some point before late 2287, a group of Atomites settled the area of Kingsport Lighthouse and built a small dock in a crater centered around a crashed plane, using parts of it in the construction, apparently mimicking the construction and form of Megaton. It was decided that the Kingsport Lighthouse would serve as a place of rest for pilgrims travelling to "the crater,"Kingsport Lighthouse terminal entries; Terminal, The beacon though which crater this refers to is somewhat unclear. The residents of Kingsport Lighthouse regularly feed captured wastelanders to a glowing one they keep and worship,Kingsport Lighthouse terminal entries; Terminal, Heretics while the denizens of the crater house surround their irradiated encampment with deadly nuke mines. They can be seen working the docks here.At Kingsport Lighthouse, a Child of Atom can be seen standing at the helm of a boat, and will not move unless provoked. Others mill about the beach and dock, staring at boxes. If the Lighthouse is extinguished and claimed by the Sole Survivor, Children of Atom will periodically spawn on the docks,Creation kit confirms this. apparently arriving by boat to investigate.
=====Jalbert Brothers Disposal shrine =====
Another small, dangerous group of Children briefly lived at Jalbert Brothers Disposal. They built a shrine here under the leadership of a scribe named Edmund. He construed the "Brothers Jalbert" as holy figures who gathered nuclear materials. A traveling merchant once approached the group to sell his wares. Brother Edmund, utterly manic and deranged, irradiated him to death out of some unclear suspicion. By late 2287, the only Children of Atom here are dead, and the site has been damaged by fire and overrun with wild animals.
===The Island===
====Arrival and Exile====
Confessor Martin and Tektus were among the expedition group from D.C. which landed in Far Harbor, on the Island far to the north (known as Mount Desert Island before the War). The Children became fascinated with the radioactive Fog which covered most of the Island. 
Though initially tolerated by the denizens of the Harbor, they were driven out when the Fog began to encroach on human settlements around the mid-2270s. The Harbormen blamed the Church, and accused them of incurring the Fog, somehow making it more powerful by their very presence. The people formed a mob, and the Children were suddenly exiled from the Harbor. Anna, the doctor of Far Harbor,The Sole Survivor: "How is it you came to this place?"High Confessor Tektus: " "(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue) was wounded in the altercation. Later, she would go to the Children to be healed, and ultimately join them.
At the time of their exile, they encountered an apparition called the Mother of the Fog. This shadowy, whispering figure led them safely through the Fog to the Mount Desert Island Naval Facility, an ancient submarine pen, where a synth named DiMA was living. The Children took to calling their new home The Nucleus, in reference to the armed nuclear submarine rusted into the facility's dock.The Sole Survivor: "What can you tell me about the Mother of the Fog?"High Confessor Tektus: " "(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue)Grand Zealot Brian Richter: ""The Sole Survivor: "I drank from the spring and a woman led me to this icon. Does this mean something?"Grand Zealot Richter: ""The Sole Survivor: "Is there something special about this thing?"Grand Zealot Richter: ""The Sole Survivor: "It was... otherwordly. The woman, she was like a living shadow, cloaked in mist."Grand Zealot Richter: " "The Sole Survivor: "So what exactly happened to me at the spring?"Grand Zealot Richter: " "The Sole Survivor: "So was the Mother real?"Grand Zealot Richter: " "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue)
====The Nucleus====
After a century of loneliness,The Sole Survivor: "If this thing involves the whole island, then you need help. I can be your problem-solver if you let me in."DiMA: " "Chase: ""Faraday: ""DiMA: ""Chase: "Which was a mistake, because Martin is gone and the new Confessor, Tektus, is completely insane."DiMA: ""Faraday: "DiMA's earliest memories are stored in the military computer banks in that base. The prewar security systems and Confessor Martin's good will were supposed to keep them safe."Chase: "But now Tektus is in charge, and he's after DiMA's memories. We don't even know what's in them."DiMA: ""(DiMA, Chase, and Faraday's dialogue) DiMA welcomed the company, and became very close with Martin. The cultists were curious about DiMa, and enjoyed conversing with him, even though he did not share their faith. However, it would not last. For granting the town of Far Harbor permission to stay on the increasingly dangerous island, Martin ended his friendship with DiMA, and banished him. DiMA left the Nucleus to the Children, and established the synth colony of Acadia around 2276.The Sole Survivor: "What's your beef with Avery?"Mitch: " "(Mitch's dialogue) By this time, Tektus had come to be called Grand Zealot.
The Children grew in strength, thriving in their new habitat. As their numbers increased, they began to send teams of zealots to seek out irradiated goods and locations. On one of these expeditions in 2277, Grand Zealot Tektus saved the life of Enclave Lt. Brian Richter, who had been accidentally sealed within a containment bunker alongside the rest of his unit. Having been spared the death by radiation which befell his comrades, Richter became convinced he was spared by Atom's gift. He joined as a fervent adherent of the faith, and rose to the role of Zealot himself.The Sole Survivor: "You seem... different, from most of the people here. Why is that?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: " "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) 
As the fledgling sect grew in power, so did the Fog. Around 2280, the Fog became so dangerous that all of the people living across the island packed up and traveled to the pier, moving their lives to Far Harbor.The Sole Survivor: "You've lost the whole island?"Captain Olympia Avery: " "(Captain Avery's dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "I heard the Children are responsible for the Fog? Is that true?"High Confessor Tektus: " "(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue) This has put the Children on a collision course with the rest of the population on the Island, as they now actively seek to enable the Fog to blanket every inch of the Island, so that it may finally be consecrated as Atom's Kingdom. DiMA and Faraday provided the Harbor with fog condensers to keep the Fog at bay, a decision which angered the Children.
====Decline of Confessor Martin====
The situation escalated by 2287 when Brother Andrews braved the Fog to preach to the people of Far Harbor. Unwisely, he proclaimed to the Islanders that their friends and family had been sacrificed to the Fog, and they ought to accept their grim fate. He was gunned down by Allen Lee almost immediately, becoming the latest in a line of casualties. His death further infuriated the Children, who accused the Harbormen of murdering a peaceful missionary.The Sole Survivor: "What happened to this missionary?"High Confessor Tektus: " "(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue) These escalating tensions weakened the authority of the mild-mannered Confessor Martin.Acadia terminal entries; Faraday's terminal, Faraday's journal He did his best to guide his followers towards peace, but he found little success, as his own faith began to fade.
The final blow to Martin's attempts at peace came from within, when Sister Gwyneth was paging through an old scientific text she had found. She discovered the truth of what an atom actually was: a single speck of matter in a vast emptiness. This ruined her faith in Atom. Confessor Martin spoke with Gwyneth for hours, doing his best to console her, but his own faith was shaken after hearing what she had learned.The Sole Survivor: "What caused Gwyneth to turn her back on Atom?"Zealot Theil: " "(Zealot Theil's dialogue)Sister Gwyneth's visit 
One night, Martin simply disappeared from the Nucleus, never to be seen again. 
====Tektus becomes High Confessor====
Having long been at odds with Martin over the situation with Far Harbor, Tektus quickly usurped the vacated position as high confessor, with Richter as his right-hand, now himself bearing the title of grand zealot.The Sole Survivor: "What happened to the Confessor before you?"High Confessor Tektus: " "(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue) Since then, the church under Tektus has grown increasingly paranoid. Those who do not follow the high confessor's will blindly, and especially any suspected of being in league with DiMA and/or the former Confessor Martin, are treated as heretics and dealt with by the zealots. To weed out the disloyal, Tektus has instilled loyalty tests.The Sole Survivor: "Are you willing to tell me what was happening between you and those two Children when I showed up?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: " "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue)
==Beliefs==
=== Cosmology===
The religion of the Children of Atom is centered around the eponymous Atom and the idea that within every atomic mass in all of creation exists an entire universe. When that atomic mass is split, that universe is released. As such, Atom is a creator deity,The Sole Survivor: "Atom's children? Who are they?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: " "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) sparking endless new worlds through the act of nuclear fission, referred to by the Children as Division. The Great War is thusly celebrated as a divine event which created uncountable new universes in an instant and called most of the world's population to be with Atom. The Children believe Atom caused the War."7. But His prophets were not swayed, and through them Atom's bonds were broken and His trumpets soundeth as the breaking of the world 
8. And where His shackles were loosed a tree of light grew upon the earth and in its blooming, cast forth a cleansing fire" (The Great Division) To them, nuclear detonation represents creation and unification in Atom's Glow: radiation.The Lone Wanderer: "What do you believe?"Confessor Cromwell: "The Church of the Children of Atom is based on the idea that each single atomic mass in all of creation contains within it an entire universe. When that atomic mass is split, a single universe divides and becomes two -- thus signifying the single greatest act of Atom's creation. Where most of the lost children of Atom see that event as simple war and devastation, we see creation and unification in Atom's Glow."(Confessor Cromwell's dialogue)Fallout 3 loading screens: "The Church of the Children of Atom believe the war of 2077 was actually a great holy event perpetuated by their god, Atom." 
===Practices===
The Children worship Atom by reveling in radiation, and spreading it as widely as possible. They emphasize the potential of his Glow (or Light) to transform and create.The Sole Survivor: "So you worship radiation?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: ""(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) They generally seek to achieve some sort of ascension through Division,The Sole Survivor: "What can you tell me about the Children's beliefs?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: " That Glow is the Children's way out of this place. To Division."(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) as the Glow breaks them apart, releasing all of the worlds within them.The Sole Survivor: "What's Division?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: "Release. Release of your potential. Of all the worlds locked away inside you. Broken apart and reborn a thousand times over through the Glow. "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) While obliteration through nuclear explosions is a preferred means of achieving Division, it is also considered honorable to live irradiated and die of natural causes.The Sole Survivor: "What can you tell me about Division?"High Confessor Tektus: " "(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue) Despite their zealotry and the implications of their belief structure, they have never been known to perpetrate suicide bombing attacks. However, they have been known to irradiate water sources used by outsiders, and distribute tainted water to beggars.
The Children tend to spread their influence by seeking out irradiated areas where they might build shrines and centers of worship, which double as staging areas for proselytizing efforts and crusades against the unfaithful. Atomite settlements offer shelter to pilgrims passing through the area on their way to somewhere else. The faithful also seek out and defend any stockpiles of nuclear weapons, to prevent their disposal or use in a manner inconsistent with the tenets of the teachings of Atom.The Sole Survivor: "I'm looking for some bombs... nuclear bombs."Brother Henri: " "(Brother Henri's dialogue)Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition p.34: "CHILDREN OF ATOMConsidered a cult by most outsiders, the Children of Atom worship nuclear material and the radiation it emits. While most members are compelled to spread the word of Atom, Children of Atom are wary of strangers and generally attack trespassers on sight. Unless important business takes you into their territory, approaching a Child of Atom will trigger a firefight.Children of Atom congregate in the Crater of Atom, but smaller groups can be found throughout the Commonwealth.Children of Atom wear rags that offer very little protection, but prolonged exposure has left them immune to radiation and able to withstand a considerable amount of punishment. Although some Children of Atom rely on a variety of handmade pipe guns, others favor the radiation damage offered by gamma guns. Whenever possible, equip armor that offers radiation resistance or stock up on RadAway before engaging these fanatics."(Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Groups, Gangs, and Factions) They are prone to mythologizing their surroundings, such as using the name of the local Jalbert Brothers disposal franchiseJalbert Brothers waste disposal is also the name of a location in Fallout 3. to construe it as the "holy resting place of the Brothers Jalbert."Jalbert Brothers Disposal terminal entries; Brother Edmund's journals
The religion emphasizes asceticism and abolition of the self, as the mortal shell is seen as merely the means for creating new life.The Lone Wanderer: "Why do you worship the bomb?"Confessor Cromwell: "Those who were called to Atom during the Great Division were very fortunate. They were permitted to aid in the process of Atom's creation. We kneel before it and ask that Atom call us to aid him. We pray that out of our meager bodies, he will create new life."(Confessor Cromwell's dialogue) While some Children of Atom are pacifistic and even claim to abhor violence,Mother Curie III condemns violence and will will flee if attacked. Isolde's villagers are scripted to reset to non-hostile even when directly attacked. other sects are malicious or outright violent, to varying degrees. Territory affected by radiation is considered Atom's holy domain, wreathed in his Glow. The Children are compelled by their religion to protect their path to salvation (Division), through any means necessary.The Sole Survivor: "What do you mean 'His domain'?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: ""(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) As a result, any attempts to interfere with the spread of radiation are considered blasphemous.The Sole Survivor: "What's your problem with Far Harbor?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: " "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue)The Sole Survivor: "What profane technology are you talking about?"Grand Zealot Brian Richter: " "(Grand Zealot Richter's dialogue) However, their zeal is somewhat tempered by reason. For instance, anti-radiation medication is permitted, so those denied radiation immunity may still serve Atom. This is considered a form of penitence, scouring oneself to embrace the Glow anew.The Sole Survivor: "You mentioned scouring? What's that?"Sister Mai: " So did you want to peruse the goods?"(Sister Mai's dialogue)
===Iconography===
The Church's religious iconography is based on scientific diagrams representing atoms.Banners, carvings and other imagery throughout Far Harbor. In Megaton, a large scrap metal sculpture of an atom (orbited by subatomic particles) has been affixed to the top of the Church. It was constructed with materials salvaged from a Red Rocket gas station."The ubiquity of Red Rocket and their brand imagery has given it something of a mythic influence over people of the wasteland, turning it into an icon of the safety and prosperity of a vanished age. In Megaton, for example, the Church of the Atom building is topped with a Red Rocket sign scrounged from one station or another. Rumors also circulate of a massive vault, Vaultopolis, built beneath the company's headquarters building some time before the War." (Fallout: The Roleplaying Game) Tektus, High Confessor at the Nucleus, wears a crown topped with a similar sculpture. His congregants tend to tattoo their faces with various designs consisting of circles, which visually evoke concepts like radiation and orbit. Their banners and tapestries share this design, and the circles occasionally align in such a way that they form a symmetrical symbol resembling an eye.
===Ghouls===
Different sects hold various opposing views about ghouls. Confessor Cromwell and Mother Maya respect and revere Gob because of their spiritual beliefs.Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.74: "GobTreated as a freakish, second-class citizen by many people in Megaton (particularly Colin Moriarty), Gob is skittish and nervous, always looking over his shoulder. He does his best to maintain a sense of humor and to be friendly with customers, but this is mostly out of his desire not to be beaten. Confessor Cromwell and Mother Maya treat Gob with respect and an air of reverence because of their spiritual beliefs."(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census) The Holy Light Monastery directly worship ghouls and glowing ones, and considered ghoulification to be a form of enlightenment. The Kingsport Lighthouse sect refer to the glowing one kept in the lighthouse as "the Blessed in the tower."Kingsport Lighthouse terminal entries; terminal, Heretics They also refer to ghouls in general as "those embraced by Atom's glow."Child of Atom: "Perhaps it is those embraced by Atom's Glow..."(Children of Atom's dialogue) Conversely, the sect at the Nucleus hold ghouls to be "unfit for Atom's grace,"Child of Atom: ""(Children of Atom's dialogue) and its members try to avoid ghoulification.The Sole Survivor: "Who?"Zealot Ware: " "(Zealot Ware's dialogue)
In Kansas City, the ghoul cult of Plutonius also make mention of Atom as a religious figure.
===Immunity to radiation===
Some Children exhibit congenital immunity to radiation, but the faith accepts all converts as long as their faith is true.The Sole Survivor: "There's so much radiation on the island. How come people here don't get sick?"High Confessor Tektus: ""(High Confessor Tektus' dialogue) Many live freely in high-radiation zones like the Crater of the Atom without suffering from radiation sickness, ghoulification, or other physiological changes. The Children of Atom claim that this is Atom's "gift" to them, but they seldom elaborate on the nature of this adaptation.
Potential converts are often tested by the imbibing of "waters of the Glow" or "holy water,"Confessor Cromwell: "Behold! He is coming with the clouds! And every eye shall be blind with his glory! Every ear shall be stricken deaf to hear the thunder of his voice! Let the men, women, and children of the Earth come forth to gather and behold the power of Atom! Let those who dwell here in his favored land attend now to the words of the Prophet of Atom! Come forth and drink the waters of the Glow, for this ancient weapon of war is our salvation, it is the very symbol of Atom's glory! Let it serve as a reminder of the Division that has occurred in the past and the resplendence of the promise of our division in the times to come! Give your bodies to Atom, my friends. Release yourself to his power, feel his Glow, and be Divided. There shall be no tears, no sorrow, no suffering, for in the Division, we shall see our release from the pain and hardships of this world. Yea, your suffering shall exist no longer; it shall be washed away in Atom's Glow, burned from you in the fire of his brilliance. Each of us shall give birth to a billion stars formed from the mass of our wretched and filthy bodies. Each of us shall be mother and father to a trillion civilizations. Each of us shall know peace, shall know an end to pain, and shall know Atom in his glory. I urge you, my friends -- come, drink with me and pray... Glorious Atom, I give unto you these feeble bones. I present to your will this frail body. I beg of you to use me as your vessel, guide me to your brilliance, divide each particle and give relief to this rotten flesh. Cast the fragile form of this ephemeral body into new life in the forge of your Glow. Atom, come -- bestow your presence on your unworthy servant. "(Confessor Cromwell's dialogue) provided by the confessor or gathered from a sacred spring. Naturally, this weeds out the weak and infirm, identifying immune persons who are fit to take on more dangerous tasks in service of Atom.Visions in the Fog In the case of the Apostles, they hope the radiation will trigger the process of ghoulification.
At the Nucleus, the un-immune live alongside the immune, and must regularly "scour" themselves of radiation with RadAway to live. They do so either out of necessity (as "Atom is picky about sharing His blessing"), or as a form of penitence.?: "Scour oneself and embrace the Glow anew.""
Some even seem to be able to un-irradiate others just by being near them. Talking to Isolde or Ogden will cause the player to slowly heal radiation damage, which does not occur when talking to other NPCs in the Glowing Sea, such as companions.
However, this "gift" is not exclusive to members of the Children of Atom. Non-members such as Lumpy, the baby Marie, and Brian Richter (who discovered his immunity prior to joining the Children) also possess immunity to radiation. 
===Visions and divine messengers===
Revelation is a crucial aspect of the Children of Atom's beliefs. The faithful are encouraged to divine meaning from vivid dreams and hallucinations.Mother Maya and Mother Curie III are Atomite prophets who claim to experience both prophetic dreams and waking visions. Generic Children of Atom at the Nucleus also discuss their dreams in spiritual terms. Some Atomites practice meditation, hoping to receive divine insight. Some even fast, abstaining from food and non-irradiated water until they reach a delirious state, at which point they may be more susceptible to such notions. Children of Atom commonly suffer from auditory hallucinations, or whispers of the glow.Child of Atom: "Do I hear whispers from the Glow?"
(Generic Children of Atom's dialogue)
Atom's visionary messengers come in a variety of forms. Among the Nucleus sect, the most revered is the Mother of the Fog. The Mother appears as a female figure, shrouded in black mist and smoke, and heralds the most important events. In fact, it was she whom lead their community after banishment from Far Harbor to the Nucleus. Minor revelations may be delivered by other messengers, such as a verdant stag.Brother Devin: " "The Sole Survivor: "You seem like you're expecting someone?"Brother Devin: ""The Sole Survivor: "Atom came to you? What'd you see?"Brother Devin: ""The Sole Survivor: "How do you know your vision of Atom's messenger wasn't just a hallucination brought on by the drugs?	"Brother Devin: ""(Brother Devin's dialogue) This belief in individual revelation also means that the precise tenets of the Children of Atom are constantly in flux, and sufficiently charismatic Confessors can radically alter the course their community takes, from peaceful coexistence to militant expansion and vice-versa.Reformation
===Ability to see radiation===
Some Children of Atom, including Mother Curie III, Brother Gerard, and Brother Devin, claim to be able to visually perceive radiation as a light or glow, to the degree that they cannot recognize the person underneath. This appears to be shared by some members of the Cult of the Mothman. Steven Scarberry applauds irradiated player characters for their "glow," and associates it with his patron deity.Steven Scarberry: ""(Steven Scarberry's dialogue) Wise Charles the Forewarned also speaks of the glow, and utters Light as a proper noun like Cromwell.Confessor Cromwell: "May Atom's Light shine."""(Cromwell's dialogue)Charles: """"(Charles' dialogue)
==Relationship with Christianity==
The Children of Atom appear to repurpose many elements of Christianity in their beliefs. Confessor Cromwell uses language from the Bible (specifically Revelation 1:7) in his preaching. He also proclaims that those who were "called to Atom" at the time of the Great War were fortunate, mirroring the modern Evangelical concept of the Rapture.
In Broken Steel, the holy water pamphlet distributed by the Apostles of the Eternal Light quotes a slightly warped version of Revelation 21:6 (a verse emphasized throughout the main quest of Fallout 3), evidencing a direct connection. Other terminology used by the church and its sects can be tied to Christianity, including concepts of baptismThe Lone Wanderer: "I need to enter the monastery."Brother Gerard: "I'm afraid it is not open to the unenlightened. Your presence would contaminate our great works. However, if you are willing to be baptized in Atom's holy Light, then perhaps I could allow you to enter and meet our leader."(Brother Gerard's dialogue) and salvation. They may also end prayers with "amen."Winter of Atom, p. 205: “Radiant Atom, we offer up to you our beloved sister’s feeble bones. Relieve her of this rotten flesh, this fragile body. Call her back to your brilliance so she may live eternally in the forge of your Glow—so she may live forever in our hearts. Amen.” 
Their affected styles of speech and writing broadly resemble the verbiage of the King James Version of the bible. Their style borrows features and terms from Early Modern English, often improperly. Many of their given titles, such as Father, Confessor, Brother, and Inquisitor, appear to be borrowed from Catholicism. A distinctly Catholic influence can be seen throughout their practices, such as the naming convention of Mother Curie III, the exaltation of the resting places of purported historical holy figures, and the use of holy water. 
Christians already revere a figure named Adam, and some even directly worship him. In Winter of Atom, a convert named Fusion Susan acknowledges the Christian figure of Adam in her lyrics, by invoking Eve.Winter of Atom, p. 125: GLOWING FOR YOU
If the PCs take the time to attend one of Fusion
Susan’s shows at the Oasis, you can describe one of her performances and the song she sings with the follow- ing narration: The lights dim over the Oasis stage, fading into warm sunset tones as Fusion Susan slinks onto the stage and into the spotlight. As light jazz music starts to play from the one-person Protectron band, Fusion Susan croons, singing with powerful longing, wearing her desperate love on her sleeve. Her performance moves all those with a warm heart to tears.
“Glowing for you is easy living
It’s easy to glow when you know
There’s nothing in this wasteland but you
I never regret the years I’m giving
It’s easy to give when you’re in love
I’m happy to do whatever I do for you
Maybe I’m a fool
It’s almost cruel
For I believe
You’re the Atom to my Eve
Glowing for you is easy living
It’s easy to glow when you’re in love
I’m atomically glowing for you” This indicates that the connection is apparent to people within the fiction.
A group of Catholics in the Capital region revere Monica, a post-War saint, whom they allege was miraculously born to ghoul parents.Father Clifford: "Today we hear the story of Saint Monica. She was born in Great Lanta on the shores of the Ocean. Her parents were both Ghouls. Yes, that’s right, I said Ghouls. That she was conceived at all was a miracle. That she was born unafflicted was an even greater miracle. God tested Saint Monica. She did not lead an easy life. Sold into slavery by Raiders, she was forced to sell her body. They took her only son, Ehren, from her and sold him. She prayed every night to God for his safety. She did not pray for herself, although her burden was great. Each night she would preach the word of God to the Slavers. After sixteen years, God provided a miracle. One of the Slavers repented his wicked ways and helped her to escape. Four years she looked for Ehren. Four years she wandered the Wasteland. God looked over her in those years. When she found her son, she found he was a wicked man. Ehren had overthrown his masters and taken their place. He was an owner of men. Ehren took his mother to be his slave, even knowing who she was, for Ehren blamed her for his painful early life. Each day Ehren would think of a new and wicked trial to put her through. She would only smile at him and say, "I forgive you." Each morning she would be miraculously healed as if nothing had happened. When Ehren truly realized her love and God's love was boundless, he flung himself at her feet and begged for Saint Monica’s forgiveness. Ehren released all of his slaves, and they rejoiced. He repented all his wicked ways. Who among us is without sin? Who among us can claim to be innocent? Come, brothers and sisters, let us pray to God and Saint Monica for deliverance from our sins, as Ehren was delivered from his. Amen. Let us pray."(Clifford's dialogue) They hold her to be the patron saint of "lost children," a term which Cromwell both speaks aloud and deploys in a pamphlet.Megaton cult pamphlet The real-world Saint Monica is the patron saint of disappointing children.
==Technology==
The Children of Atom attach little importance to worldly possessions and so they care little for the quality of their equipment. They tend to dress in rags decorated with electrical wiring and salvaged metal items representing the atom's nucleus. For protection, they employ cobbled-together pipe guns or makeshift Gamma guns, relying on the strength of their faith and intensity of local radiation for protection. Some communities do employ more advanced technologies, for example, the Island sect under Confessors Martin and Tektus has access to old Marine armor suits and ancient rifles, which were co-opted as zealot-pattern armor and radium rifles respectively.Far Harbor appearances.
If the Sole Survivor wears power armor among the Island sect, they will voice their disapproval of anti-radiation armor, but express interest in the fact that it is nuclear powered, or "runs on the Glow.""Such machines only serve to separate us from Atom's blessed Glow. Though it is impressive." "Your armor does run on the Glow... so I guess it can't be all bad." (Child of Atom's dialogue, Nucleus) The Last Son of Atom wore a custom suit of power armor called AT-0M which helped him develop psychic abilities.
Brother Edmund expresses a fascination with Old World vehicle engines, because they run on nuclear power. He has assembled a "shrine" from nuclear waste barrels and discarded engines. Similarly, Fusion core candles are ritual objects produced by the Island sect. In a passage of scripture cut from Fallout 4, the author describes pre-War nuclear power as mankind "trapping" Atom's gifts in copper coils, and that the Great War occurred when "His prophets" saw to it that "Atom's bonds were broken."
The Children under Mother Isolde possess a reprogrammed assaultron called Atom's Wrath, indicating a certain mastery of robotics.Atom's Wrath While Atom's Wrath displays no personality, at least two self-determined robots have lived at the Crater of Atom by choice; A pre-War Mr. Handy and a post-War robot of unspecified make.Winter of Atom, p. 208-209: OLD BOOMY Old Boomy is a battered Mr. Handy who speaks with a low resonant voice. He desires to “split” in a grand explosion before decommissioning from age and wear. As a devout follower of Atom, he believes achieving Division will allow him to atone for his past sins. Before finding the crater, he aided in Vault 95’s vile experiments. Programmed to administer medicine to recovering addicts, he did nothing to stop Vault-Tec’s secret plan to later reintroduce addictive substances to Vault 95’s populace. The social experiment ended in carnage, and Old Boomy deeply regrets his part in the Vault’s destruction. After the Gunners opened the Vault, he escaped and found Lil Boomy powered down in a stasis pod. He awoke the robot and named him—the pair have been together ever since. Old Boomy’s plans to end his life on his terms have caused a rift in his relationship with his best friend. The younger robot cannot reconcile with Old Boomy’s desire for Division. Old Boomy features in Side Quest: A Dividing Detonation, p.212.LIL BOOMYLil Boomy joined the Children of Atom when he and Old Boomy found the crater and decided to stay. He has an energetic personality, a higher-pitched voice, and fidgets if he waits in one spot too long. While Lil Boomy has come to have faith in Atom, he is torn between his beliefs and what they mean for Old Boomy. Lil Boomy never experienced life before the Great War and struggles to process grief, leaving him distraught at the idea of losing his best friend. The usually happy-go-lucky robot has taken on an angry, upset demeanor since Old Boomy announced his plans and is desperate to change his mind. Brother Shumacher's group was host to Esther and Eliza, the "Children of Atom Tinkers," who battled robots for fun.
== Organization==
The cult is comprised of several disorganized congregations and movements, tending towards a loosely hierarchical structure in service of esteemed spiritual leaders. Each group is generally led by a confessor or prophet,Mother Maya: "Hello, sweet child. Hello. I don't believe we've met. I'm Mother Maya, prophet of the Atom and embracer of the universal Light."(Maya's dialogue) styled as a fatherConfessor Cromwell: "I am Confessor Cromwell, prophet of Atom and father of the undying Glow. Please child, come to the Church any time. Any time at all!"([[ConfessorCromwell.txt|Cromwell's dialogue or mother of the Glow, though most bear the formal titles of "Confessor" or "Mother."Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p. 86: "Mother MayaMother Maya is 41 and Confessor Cromwell's female counterpart. She and Cromwell are actually husband and wife, but they don't go out of their way to advertise the fact, because they're both so busy promoting the ideals of the church."(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)The cut Confessor Adalia casts doubt on the assumption that Confessor and Mother are counterparts, as does Cromwell's self-description as a "father" These leaders can issue commandments at will. In some groups, the authority of the prophet is absolute.The Sole Survivor: "There must be another way we could make things right."DiMA: ""(DiMA's dialogue) Some leaders may designate an inquisitor to identify and eliminate undesirable elements among the flock,Witch Hunt though this is uncommon.
The warriors and guards of the Children are known as zealots, sworn to defend the faith and protect its followers and shrines.The Sole Survivor: "So you're a Zealot? What is that exactly?"Zealot Theil: ""(Zealot Theil's dialogue) Zealots are often former mercenaries or raiders who converted to the faith, and operate under the command of a grand zealot. The grand zealot typically designates a deputy, tasked with ensuring the fitness of other zealots.The Sole Survivor: "The Grand Zealot sent me. Tell me what you can about Sister Gwyneth"Zealot Theil: ""(Zealot Theil's dialogue) Some zealots may earn the honorary title of crusader.
===Sects===
====Capital Wasteland==== 
*The historic Church at Megaton, led in 2277 by Confessor Cromwell, a traveler who was chosen by the previous confessor. The Confessor and his wife Mother Maya both describe themselves as prophets. This sect is also noteworthy for living as a subculture of a normal settlement for generations, which is otherwise unheard of.
*The Apostles of the Eternal Light, also known as the Children of Light,Curie III: ""
(Curie III's dialogue) a ghoul-worshipping splinter group led by Mother Curie III, who left Cromwell's flock after experiencing a vision.
====Commonwealth region====
*The peaceful group at the Crater of Atom in the Glowing Sea, who are led by Mother Isolde as of 2286.
*The militant sect formed by the Last Son of Atom, who had once served the faith under Confessor Cromwell. Due to their leader's powers of mental influence, they were able to deploy trained animals in combat, including a yaoi guai"If the PCs refuse to cooperate, a desperate battle begins for control over the freighter and its hoard of food stores. Brother Scrapjaw, a Children of Atom Shock Trooper, commands the Atomite unit that acts in the following ways:  10 Children of Atom Fanatics attempt to ascend the outer hull with grappling guns.  5 Children of Atom Fanatics stay back to provide cover fire with bolt-action pipe rifles, targeting enemies who expose themselves on the Top Side.  A trained Yao Guai charges the outer hull and uses its massive claws to rip open an entrance to the lower decks of the USS Germination." (Winter of Atom, p. 95) and the gigapede. This group fell apart after attacking the Commonwealth in the Winter of 2286.
* The hostile group at Kingsport Lighthouse and the adjacent Crater house, who worship and feed a glowing one.
**This settlement seems to be an active port. No other sect is known to operate a sea port, though the Atomites on the Island originally arrived there by boat.
*Another group in the northern Commonwealth, who settled Jalbert Brothers Disposal, delighting Edmund the scribe. By late 2287, they have been wiped out.
*Shumacher's group, who came from the north-east, and resided in a sewer.
*A group which kidnapped Piper Wright in a sewer near Bunker Hill, and were cleared out by Diamond City Security.
====Other====
*An unknown group to the north-east of the Commonwealth.Winter of Atom, p. 71: "The Children of Atom Tinkerers. Two women, Esther and Eliza, control the battling robots. The pair are friends and occasional lovers with a deep interest in robotics. They regularly build robots to fight against one another, and the pit surrounding the platform is littered with their cast-offs. They are generally friendly, though Esther is slightly sour at losing the most recent battle. PCs who succeed on a CHA + Speech test with a difficulty of 1 can convince the pair that they are not hostile. Increase the difficulty of the test by 2 if the PCs made a lot of noise fighting Children of Atom guards elsewhere in the tunnel. If they succeed, PCs can get Esther and Eliza to open up about what the Children are doing in the sewers by spending AP to Obtain Information. If the test fails, Eliza and Esther become hostile. Some information that might be revealed during the conversation:
*They serve Atom under the guidance of Brother Schumacher, a priest of the Children of Atom. They came to the area from the far northeast and had nothing to do with the Last Son of Atom’s sect.
*They are wardens of the Rad Church, a holy site in the sewers. Their sect of the Church won’t look kindly on anybody interfering with it.
*The Last Son of Atom and his sect aren’t looked on favorably by the other denominations of the Church. Many are wary of the Last Son’s zealotry and profane beliefs. However, so far, relations have remained peaceful between sects.
*The Last Son’s disciples in the tunnels beyond Brother Schumacher’s domain will not respond well to the PCs’ attempt to secure a supply route. The acolytes stalk the sewers with terrifying mutants at their side.If a fight breaks out, Eliza ducks behind some scrap to gain 2CD cover. She uses the bot’s remote control (see Eliza’s Dragon, Remote Controlled) to attack the PCs. Meanwhile, Esther tries to escape to warn Brother Schumacher."
*The group on the Island, headquartered at the Nucleus, who were formed by an expedition which set out from Megaton. As of 2287, they are led by High Confessor Tektus, after the previous High Confessor fled in the night.
**The Crater sect are aware of the group on the Island. Brother Henri respects the Fog as "Atom's Holy Veil."The Sole Survivor: ""Brother Henri: " "(Henri's dialogue) If the Sole Survivor joins the faction on the Island, Isolde will recognize their faith as legitimate.
*A hostile and manipulative sect led by Confessor Alvarado in Fallout Shelter.
==Members==
Fallout 3 
*Confessor Cromwell leads the Church and can usually be found preaching outside in front of the bomb. Cromwell will accept donations on behalf of the Church.
*Mother Maya is a Child of Atom and wife to Confessor Cromwell.
*Some unnamed Children of Atom.
Broken Steel 
*Mother Curie III, founder and leader of the Apostles of the Eternal Light, was once a member of Cromwell's congregation. She founded her church after experiencing a religious vision during one of Cromwell's sermons.The Lone Wanderer: "What makes you so sure you're right, anyway? Who are you to speak for Atom?"Curie III: " The only being able to convince me I was wrong, would be the Prophet of Atom /."(Curie III's dialogue) The Lone Wanderer: "Tell me about your order."Gerard: ""(Gerard's dialogue)
** It's likely her son also attended church before his transformation.
*Brother Gerard, first officer of the Apostles of the Eternal Light, was among those who left Cromwell's church with Mother Curie III to form the Apostles.
Fallout 4
Far Harbor
Fallout Shelter 
*Confessor Alvarado
*Brother Thaddeus
*Brother Will
*Sister Olivia
Winter of Atom
==Locations==
Fallout 3
*Children of Atom (headquarters)
*Megaton
Broken Steel 
*Holy Light Monastery
Fallout 4
Far Harbor
Winter of Atom
*The Crater of Atom
*The Rad Church
*The Buried City
==Notes== 
*Signs in Megaton pointing to the church read "Local Cult," indicating that the town's inhabitants think little of the movement.
*True to their beliefs, Atomites in Fallout 4 rely almost exclusively on radiation weapons in combat, mainly the gamma gun and Nuka grenade. They also use nuke mines to secure their territory. While the Children usually only wear rags they boast a significantly large health pool compared to similar NPC types. It has been suggested that they are generally more durable than an average human, in addition to being innately resistant to the typical biological consequences of radiation.
* The gender of the hallucinatory Prophet of Atom which appeared to Mother Curie III corresponds to the gender of the Lone Wanderer, which is a matter of debate among historians.The afterword from the Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Collector's Edition.
*Despite the common conception that Isolde was part of the expedition from Megaton, Isolde's group never mention Cromwell, Megaton, or the expedition, and the relationship between these groups is unclear.
*The Followers of the Winged One also make candles out of fusion cores.
* In Fallout Shelter, one of Confessor Alvarado's disciples quotes Cromwell's sermon in a battle cry: "And every eye shall be blind with His glory!"
**Generic Children of Atom in Fallout 4 also quote this line while swinging melee weapons, among others from the same sermon.
**Cromwell's sermon is also paraphrased in a prayer in Winter of Atom.
“Radiant Atom, we offer up to you our beloved sister’s feeble bones. Relieve her of this rotten flesh, this fragile body. Call her back to your brilliance so she may live eternally in the forge of your Glow—so she may live forever in our hearts. Amen.”
*The faction appears in the scenario "The bomb" in Fallout: The Board Game.
==Appearances==
The Church of the Children of Atom appears in Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, as well as its add-on Far Harbor. They also appear in Fallout: The Board Game, Fallout: Wasteland Warfare and Fallout: The Roleplaying Game, as well as its sourcebook Winter of Atom. Further, Fallout Shelter and Fallout Shelter Online feature quests related to the Church, and unlockable Children of Atom characters.
==Behind the scenes==
*The Children of Atom are overall comparable to the Servants of the Mushroom Cloud, a radiation cult from Wasteland, in their distinctly Christian-influenced worship of radiation and their reclamation of irradiated places as holy sites as ordained by their god. 
**In Fallout 3, the first words of Cromwell's sermon are "He is coming with the clouds," a possible allusion to the Servants of the Mushroom Cloud.
** The Children of the Cathedral from Fallout were based on the same faction, evident in development materials by a cut asset: a stained glass window depicting a mushroom cloud, originally featured on the front of their church. The Children of the Cathedral and the Children of Atom employ some of the same terms and beliefs.
**Radiation cults in Wasteland 2 (2014) and Wasteland 3 (2020) use similar terminology to the Children of Atom, especially in that they believe in an afterlife called the "Great Glow." 
***The M.A.D. Monks of Wasteland 2 directly worship a titan missile they deify as Titan. In Wasteland 3, a bomb very closely resembling the bomb at Megaton is suspended by chains over the narthex of the Primordialist church at Cheyenne Mountain.
***The Flame Deluge Canticle, a religious text of unclear affiliation in Wasteland 2, mentions "Children, too, of Eve," an apparent play on "Children of Atom" (as in "Adam").
* Brother Gerard, an Apostle, appears to have been named for Brother Francis Gerard from A Canticle for Liebowitz, further connecting the Children of Atom to Catholicism. Additionally, his name corresponds to Sister Francis from Fallout, who is also named for the same character, by all appearances.
*The Atomic Priesthood is a real concept proposed by the linguist Thomas Sebeok in 1983. He suggested the creation of a panel of experts, where members would be replaced through nominations by a council. Inspired by the Catholic Church's ability to maintain texts and traditions for centuries, the atomic priesthood would preserve knowledge about locations and dangers of radioactive waste by creating rituals and myths. The priesthood would indicate off-limits areas and the consequences of disobedience. 
**Critics identified the following problems with the concept of the Atomic Priesthood: 
***"An atomic priesthood would gain political influence based on the contingencies that it would oversee."
***"This system of information favors the creation of hierarchies."
***"The message could be split into independent parts."
***"Information about waste sites would grant power to a privileged class. People from outside this group might attempt to seize this information by force."
**General John Whately, ancestor of the Last Son of Atom, was a government official and occultist. His business card read "EMBRACE THE ATOM!" on the back, as seen in the illustration for Whately Research Facility.
**Henri claims that the location of the sentinel site was passed down within the church for generations before he was able to access it.
*The music heard in the Nucleus closely resembles Vats of Goo, the ambient intro music from Fallout, performed in Gregorian chant. Both tracks consist of monotone panned droning and echoed ringing sounds, periodically interrupted by a short rising-and-falling motif. This track is absent from Fallout 4: Music from Far Harbor & Nuka World and has no given title.
**If played simultaneously, they synchronize and resonate appreciably. This can be heard here. The siren from Vats of Goo can be heard in the Nucleus track.
**Additionally, whispering can be heard in the track, even if all of the Children of Atom have been killed.
*In Fallout Tactics (2001), the Plutonius cult in Kansas City makes mention of Atom as a religious figure."(Shouting with religious fervor) And Plutonius said to Atom, "He who collides with another particle will, in turn, split the air asunder with shimmering power until his enemies are vanquished!!!"By purging our lands of the decadent, you will prove yourself worthy of taking the sacred mortal form, of our god "Plutonius", and deliver the flesh of my mighty Lord to your "Bunker of the Holy Brotherhood!"This is how He decrees His Will be done!"(MIS 11 Speech.txt) This usage of Atom predates the Children of Atom's invention in Fallout 3 (2008), but shares similar religious themes.
*In Fallout 4, there is a cut message title connected to the Boston Public Library, DN011ConfessorWesley, which would have been used to name a character as "Confessor Wesley." There is nothing else that is related to such a character anywhere in the game files, though all uses of the word "Confessor" in Fallout 4 are connected to the Children of Atom.
*Four verses of Atomite creation scripture were written and implemented for Fallout 4, then cut from the game. The passage is compiled twice in the files; as a text holotape called The Great Division, and dummied out of the Crater House terminal entries.
==Gallery==
=== Fallout 3 ===
CromwellsPreach.jpg|Confessor Cromwell in Megaton
The Church of the Children of Atom.jpg|Children of Atom church in Megaton
===Fallout 4===
FO4 Crater of Atom Children of Atom.png|Crater of Atom in the Commonwealth
FO4 Crater house (5).png|A Child of Atom at the crater house
FO4-FarHarbor-Nucleus-GeneralView.jpeg|The Nucleus overview
COAShrine-Interior-FarHarbor.jpg|Children of Atom shrine on the Island
Art of Fallout 4 Child of Atom.jpg|Fallout 4 concept art
Fo4FH Crusader of Atom.png|Vault Boy icon in Far Harbor
===Fallout: The Roleplaying Game===
2d20 WoA Prayer.png
2d20 WoA CoA origin.png
2d20 WoA chase illustration.png
FWA The Obsidian Obelisk and Last Son of Atom.png
2d20 WoA Last Son crop.png
2d20 WoA Promo stream CoA.png|UtahimeCosplay's Child of Atom cosplay from an official promotional stream series
2d20 Winter of Atom book.png
2d20 WoA Alt Cover.jpg
===Iconography===
CoA Banner 1.svg
CoA Banner 2.svg
CoA Banner 3.png
CoA Banner 4.svg
CoA Banner 5.svg
==See also==
*Glossary of Children of Atom terms
==References==
Non-game
Fallout: The Roleplaying Game
Cut content
 
de:Die Kinder des Atoms
es:Iglesia de los Hijos del Átomo
fr:Église des Enfants de l'Atome
it:Chiesa dei Bambini dell'Atomo
pl:Kościół Dzieci Atomu
pt:Igreja da Prole do Átomo
ru:Церковь Детей Атома
uk:Церква Дітей Атома
zh:原子神教