The Cathedral

"Acolytes of the New God"
The Cathedral, occasionally called the Cathedral of Happiness,The Vault Dweller: "{117}{}{What's so special about the flower?}"Flower child: "{121}{}{It's a Unity Rose. It's the color of the Holy Flame, and represents the peace and harmony we'll have when the Children of the Cathedral helps everyone in the whole world become friendly and strong! Uh, do you want one?}"The Vault Dweller: "{125}{}{How much is it, kid?}"Flower child: "{129}{}{It's free. We don't believe in money. The Holy Flame takes care of all of our needs! It's so wonderful! You should join us in our Cathedral of Happiness! Uh, do you want one?}"(Flower child's dialogue) is the holiest site of the Children of the Cathedral and the seat of power for Morpheus and other leaders of the faith. It doubles as a facade for the Los Angeles Vault, concealing the Master's headquarters.
In Fallout, the Cathedral can be found one square west and nineteen squares south of Vault 13, or just south of the Boneyard. It was destroyed in a nuclear detonation on March 3, 2162.
==Background==
===Pre-War===
The Children hold their massive, undamaged Cathedral to be a pre-War structure, a sanctuary spared from the nuclear destruction which devastated all buildings surrounding it. They believe this miracle was meant to facilitate the birth of the Master.
The site of its construction was the center of much activity in the years leading up to the War. The Vault-Tec Corporation opened a demonstration Vault here, where curious people could come to immerse themselves in the experience of Vault life. This demonstration Vault was fully functional, and it was used to full effect when the Great War came.
===Post-War===
The survivors would emerge after 15 years in 2092, and were among the populations who founded the Angel's Boneyard in the ruins of Los Angeles.Fallout Bible 0: "2092 LA Vault opens, the Boneyard is founded and attracts survivors." No information explicitly regarding this site between 2092 and 2156 exists.
In 2152, a mutant ruler calling himself the Master found a group of doomsday cultists, who served a Dark God. Under the leadership of Morpheus, they pledged allegiance to the Master.Fallout Bible 0: "2152 As their influence slowly spreads throughout the wastes, the Master finds humans, doomsday cultists, and rather than dip them in the vats, he demands their obedience as spies - their leader is a man named Morpheus, and he pledges his followers to the Master. Morpheus and his cultists form the future core of the Children of the Cathedral." The Children of the Cathedral were formally established in 2156, and began to spread out into the wastelands to proselytize, and enact the Master's works.Fallout Bible 0: "2156 The Master sees advantages in establishing a benevolent 'religion,' the Children of the Cathedral, and using them as spies in settlements throughout the wastes. Missionaries from the Children of the Cathedral spread slowly across the wasteland, acting as eyes and ears for Morpheus and the Master."The Vault Dweller: "{177}{}{Tell me about the Cathedral.}"Lasher: "{216}{}{The Cathedral is a sanctuary for the human race. When the apocalypse fell on this foul city, the Cathedral was spared, which allowed for the birth of the Master. Thus a healing darkness emerged from a terrible light.}""{217}{}{ When I came, I saw this place lacked a moral center, and so I have endeavored to administer teaching pain to a place once consumed with idle pleasure. That is all you need to know.}"(Lasher's dialogue) They came to live at the Cathedral under his rule, as the public face of the Unity mutant cult.
===Under the Master===
As the heart of the Children's religion, the Cathedral is a hub of diverse cultist activity. Flower children distribute flowers to those who arrive as converts or curious visitors. The grounds are roamed by unreasonable "zombies," failed candidates for servitors, released to mill about and proselytize, serving the cause with what remains of their minds.The Vault Dweller: "{163}{}{What's this place used for?}"Dane: "{170}{}{This is the baptismal. They make Servitors here. When acolytes have been indoctrinated, they bring them here and they go through the process. A few of them survive . . .}""{171}{}{Most lose their minds, but they're still useful. They throw them downstairs, rant at them about the Master and walk around in a stupor. You've seen the zombies. Great slave labor -- and soldiers . . .}""{172}{}{John Brown's body is molderin' in the Grave. John Brown's body is molderin' in the Grave, John Brown's body is a-molderin' in the Grave, and the Master's screwing us overrrrr . . .}""{173}{}{Stop that. It's getting real difficult to hold myself together.}""{179}{}{Ooops! I can't keep myself together anymore! Whee! Whee! Whee!}"(Dane's dialogue) They are joined by the chanters and watched over by the enforcers. Some members of the servitor class may be relegated to certain areas away from the public. 
The massive main chapel, with its ceiling lost in darkness, is used to display holographic images of the Master to the faithful, inspiring awe in the assembled. The holo-projector, hidden beneath the podium, is not common knowledge and most interpret the lights as a supernatural apparition. Father Morpheus occasionally gives sermons in the main nave, but the church area is usually dominated by a giant monochrome display reciting dogma at a feverish pace.The Vault Dweller: "{149}{}{What have you learned about The Master?}"Laura: "{187}{laura33}{Uh, not much. The Children worship him, and sometimes a huge vision of him appears in the main nave of the church.}"The Vault Dweller: "{188}{}{So he's real?}"Laura: "{191}{laura34}{Yes and no. I snuck up to the front one day and found a strange mechanical device with a lens under the altar.}"The Vault Dweller: "{192}{}{Probably a holo-projector of some kind.}"(Laura's dialogue) 
Visitors can purchase souvenirs at the Cathedral shop, receive treatment from the infamously foul-mouthed Dr. Wu, and even seek spiritual guidance from the many thinkers meditating inside rooms and chapels... Or at the end of Father Lasher's prod. 
The northern tower, called the Inner Sanctum, remains locked and guarded. Here, nightkin and servitors dwell in private isolation, literally directly under Morpheus. Several nightkin rest throughout, remaining invisible even in their private libraries and personal quarters. One guards the stairwell. A servitor named Dane talks to himself for hours in his room on the second floor. He hears the nightkin crying.Dane: "{156}{}{Master! I shouldn't have said anything. I heard the Nightkin crying and I felt sorry for it.}"(Dane's dialogue)
In a moment of lucidity, Dane begged the Vault Dweller to kill Father Lasher for his brutal treatment of a flower child.Dane: "{114}{}{They're watching us even now! Mr. Nightkin! Felix and Timothy! Cats! Dogs! Nightkin!}"
"{115}{}{Shut up! They'll think you're a crazy asshole! You gotta get yourself together!}"
"{116}{}{Lasher! You gotta kill Lasher! Save the kid! Poor little Flower Child. Poor me.}"'"{117}{}{Shut up you son of a bitch! Pull yourself together!}"(Dane's dialogue)
===Destruction===
All of this ceased on March 3, 2162, when the actions of the Vault Dweller resulted in the Master and his Cathedral being destroyed in an eruption of nuclear flames.Fallout Bible 0: "2162 March 3 Vault Dweller kicks the Master's ass."
The Vault Dweller may have later visited the ruins and encountered Calder, the abused teen Dane hoped to protect, sobbing and screaming a vow of revenge.Calder: "{101}{}{You! You did it! When I grow up I'm gonna get you! I'm gonna hunt you down and kill you! You killed them all! Aaaaaalllll! [Uncontrolled sobbing].}"(Calder's dialogue)This scene was intended to be cut, but it can trigger if the Vault Dweller has the Childkiller reputation.
==Location==
It is due south of the center of the city, on a small peninsula. The building faces southeast. There are small destroyed urban buildings mere yards from the Cathedral. Due to the erosion of the shoreline, the ocean is nearby.The Vault Dweller: "{142}{}{Tell me about the Cathedral…}"Flower child: "{152}{}{It's a wonderful place near the ocean, where people spend all their time praising the Holy Flame and being good. And everyone there is kind, except maybe Father Lasher. Uh…would you like a flower?}"(Flower child's dialogue)
Youths from the Cathedral sometimes visit a grove across town, where they pick ragged little white flowers they call Unity Roses.The Vault Dweller: "{120}{}{Flower pretty?}"Calder: "{139}{}{Sure is. I picked it myself from a grove across town. Well, it was nice meeting you. May the Master bless you.}"(Calder's dialogue)The Vault Dweller: "{107}{}{What's so special about the flower?}"Flower child: "{121}{}{It's a Unity Rose. It's the color of the Holy Flame, and represents the peace and harmony we'll have when the Children of the Cathedral helps everyone in the whole world become friendly and strong! Uh, do you want one?}"The Vault Dweller: "{125}{}{How much is it, kid?}"Flower child: "{129}{}{It's free. We don't believe in money. The Holy Flame takes care of all of our needs! It's so wonderful! You should join us in our Cathedral of Happiness! Uh, do you want one?}"The Vault Dweller: "{123}{}{Now how's a rose going to do all that?}"Flower child: "{141}{}{Roses won't do that, silly! Only people can change the world. And with the Holy Flame as our master, we'll be sure to make everything nice and special! So would you like a flower…}"(Flower child's dialogue)
==Exterior==
Rising above the sprawling ruin of the Boneyard, the Cathedral is almost pristine. Its stark art deco architecture looms imposingly over the nearby streets, cutting a distinctive silhouette with its flawless, rounded symmetry. Above the ornate entryway is a sculpture of a helmeted, armored angel posing defiantly, its mighty arms extended with palms out as if resisting two forces. Behind these arms, intricate inorganic wings extend upwards, again perfectly symmetrical. The figure is androgynous and depicted from the waist up.
Behind the figure is a large stained glass window which seems to stylize a nuclear symbol as a sun. The central doorway is immediately beneath the figure's chest. There are three doorways, and the doors are intricately carved. The whole structure is covered with fine etchings and intricate patternwork. Huge red cloth tapestries hang from the exterior of the structure. 
==Layout==
===Entrance===
Various devotees, enforcers, and chanters mill about the narthex before the massive structure, under the stony gaze of the radiation angel. The named characters Slummer, Zark, and Calder are found in this courtyard. If one convinces Nicole to aid in the attack on the Cathedral, four Follower scholars will appear from the west, equipped with metal armor (unlootable), two spears, a sledgehammer, and a Ripper.
===Interior===
The main section of the Cathedral has a cruciform layout, inspired by Christian cathedrals. The main nave contains an atrium, which leads to a narrow passageway flanked by side chapels and meditation spaces. The spy Laura leads a service in the small chapel on the west side of the hall, while Viola is in the meditation chamber to the south.
The largest chamber is the central church. Two rows of benches face the elevated altar, where Morpheus stands at his lectern to preach. In his absence, a large monitor in the back displays his ranting visage, which continues to convey propaganda. Sister Francis and Ton, who lead the Children's forces, stand by the locked entrance to the tower, requiring a red badge to enter.
In the rectory to the northwest is Father Lasher, whose office doubles as his quarters, study, and disciplinary space. South of it is the dormitory and the infirmary staffed by Dr. Wu. The opposite end contains the gift shop and a small maintenance chamber with a nuclear generator hooked into the power grid.
The storage room in the back is accessible with the black badge and contains the stairs leading down into the basement and the hidden vault entrance.
===Tower===
The tower, or the Inner Sanctum, serves as the living quarters and offices of certain members of the Children of the Cathedral. It is accessible only to them, their servitors, and the nightkin. The Sanctum has four floors. The nightkin throughout will attack if the player character has any followers, or trespasses (as in, does not have a red badge or wear the purple robes). Fighting on one floor does not turn characters on other floors hostile, and will not affect relations with people on the main Cathedral map.
The stairs are in the northeastern corner of the tower, and all rooms in the tower are to the south and west. There is nothing on the base level. On the second floor, the raving servitor Dane has his own quarters. Two nightkin stand in the chamber to the west. The third floor has two bedrooms and a library with Mach IV computers, and three nightkin. One of them faces the stairwell.
The top floor has Morpheus in the corner chamber and a large barracks for nightkin at the west end of the hall. The footlocker contains the unique Tesla armor.
===Los Angeles Vault===
Located in the basement of the Cathedral, which requires a black badge to access. The entrance to the vault is hidden behind a fake bookcase. The bookcase in the southeastern corner can be used to activate the door with a lockpick, traps, or just wait until Jeremiah opens the door (if the player character has followers or is not disguised as a Cathedral member, he will kick them out; useful to teleport outside the Cathedral).
The access cavern contains several floaters and centaurs, with Mariposa mutants standing watch over the entrance.
===Crater===
Once destroyed, if the player can continue the game, they can visit the Cathedral once again. The nuclear detonation has wiped out almost all traces of the building and the Children, leaving behind a crater surrounded by mere remnants of brickwork and pavement.
==Notes==
* The log of Richard Grey found on the vats control computer at Mariposa Military Base reveals that the Master chose to leave the base in order to find an ideal permanent location for his future operations, to avoid the disadvantages of a "mobile body."
* In Fallout: New Vegas, Lily Bowen can tell the Courier about the explosion of the Cathedral, if they ask about the Master.
* In the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Dead Money, Dog may sometimes say to himself: "I want to go back, back to the base. Or the Church. Liked the Church." As Dog was once a soldier of the Master, "the Church" is a reference to the Cathedral.
* The radiation angel above the entryway resembles art deco sculptures seen on pre-War architecture throughout the series.
** A sculpture called the "Kirby Art Deco Bust" appears in Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, and seems to share its shape with the Cathedral itself when viewed from the front.
==Behind the scenes==
 
*In a development version of the Cathedral, the stained glass window on the front depicted a mushroom cloud. This was changed because it made them too directly similar to the Children of the Mushroom Cloud faction from Wasteland.
*The player was supposed to be able to enlist the Brotherhood of Steel's aid for the assault on the Cathedral, as indicated by the elders' dialogue files. Two crack assault paladins would spawn at the entrance, one with a minigun and 300 rounds of ammunition (150 of each type), the other with a rocket launcher and 20 rockets (10 of each type). Each would carry five super stimpaks. Although the NPCs are still present on the map, they are disabled in gameplay and the Brotherhood does not offer the option to send a strike team to the Cathedral.
*The front of the Cathedral bears a resemblance to the real-world Niagara Mohawk Building in Syracuse, New York.
==Gallery==
===Loot===
BBoS DE GaB Tower of Doom.png|This bookshelf holds three skill books
FAB and Scout Handbook Tower of Doom.png|First Aid Book and Scout Handbook
===Renders===
Fo1 Cathedral background.png|Cathedral background used for talking heads
FO1 Cathedral Architectural Detail Windows.png|Architectural detail of the windows
FO1 Cathedral Architectural Detail Angel.png|Angel closeup
FO1 Cathedral Architectural Detail Doors.png|Doors
Cathedral.png|Cathedral warhead detonation cinematic
===Miscellaneous===
MTG Cathedral crop.png|Magic: The Gathering card illustration
Fallout magic Temple of the False God.png|MTG card
Fo1 Cathedral Front.png|The majestic entrance
Fo1_Cathedral_Tower.png|The tower
Fo1_Cathedral_Ground_Floor.png|The interior
Cathedral_Ruins.png|The Cathedral, after the nuclear explosion
===Development===
Fo1 Beta Cathedral front.png|Early version of the Cathedral front
Fo1 Cathedral Front Beta.png|Early version of the Cathedral facade, reconstructed using the release location area map and Gary Platner's render
===Video===
Fallout Cutscenes- The Cathedral Explodes
==See also==
*Ending cutscenes for Cathedral
==References==
Non-game
Cut content
Bugs
 
es:Catedral
fr:Cathédrale
pl:Katedra
pt:The Cathedral
ru:Собор
uk:Собор
zh:大教堂