Joseph (Fallout)

Joseph (born 2245) is a fictional courier for the Mojave Courier Service, which is active across the post-nuclear apocalyptic Mojave Desert of southeastern California, southern Nevada, and western Arizona. One day, Joseph was captured, shot, and left for dead by a man in a suit, who took his package - a platinum poker chip that was en-route to New Vegas, but was saved from fate by a robot and cared for in a small town called Goodsprings, near the California border. Since then, he developed vengeance and swore to find out who did it to him. Although there are not many videos of him, he appeared in “The Epic Showdown of Joseph the Courier vs. Caesar the Tyrant.” He may appear in an upcoming Fallout: New Vegas series.
== Biography ==
=== History ===
Much of Joseph’s past is unclear, as well as his birth place. However, it can be assumed he was born either in or near Nevada or even New California. At some point, Joseph moved to the New California Republic and later the Mojave Wasteland, which is deserted land that was once the Mojave Desert that stretched through southern California, Nevada, and parts of western Arizona and became a courier known as “Courier Six.”
In 2264, Joseph once passed through Montana, where he had met a woman and had unprotected sex with her. Although Joseph left and had never met her again, he had pondered if she ever became pregnant with his child, but this was unconfirmed. This is mentioned when Joseph nervously asks the Lonesome Drifter if he was seventeen as he was also from Montana, but he was twenty-eight years old, debunking him as Joseph’ possible child, much to his relief.
On one fateful day in October of 2281, Joseph was assigned to deliver a Platinum Chip to New Vegas (Las Vegas before the war). However, Joseph was suddenly intercepted by a New Vegas criminal and Tops Casino Chairman, Benny near Goodsprings, Nevada. After the chip was taken from him and a grave was dug up, Benny proceeded to shoot Joseph twice in the head, certain that it would kill him. However, thanks to Benny aiming at the least fatal parts of his head as well as the fact he used 9mm bullets, which are generally weak bullets, he barely survived, but was partially buried and left to die. He was dug out by a friendly Securitron named Victor and taken to Doc Mitchell in town, where he had surgery done on his head and retested on his skills and abilities.
From there, Joseph recovered and helped the people of Goodsprings against the Powder Gangers, a group of escapees from the nearby New California Republic Correctional Facility. Joseph proceeded to follow clues about who tried to kill him and took his chip, heading eastbound towards Novac for a start. On the way, Joseph encountered the New California Republic in different parts of the wasteland as well as Caesar’s Legion, who massacred the Californian town of Nipton. In response, Joseph murdered the Legionaries there, earning him a bad reputation with the tyrannical gang. Joseph ultimately tracked Benny down in New Vegas, but rather than killing him on the spot, he set up a ploy to reveal Benny’s wrongdoing and persuade his own staff to allow him to murder Benny in his room. It was successful and Joseph murdered Benny without consequence. Joseph was approached by the three major factions of New Vegas - Mr. House from the Lucky 38, who praised him for Benny’s murder, the NCR from New California, who praised his good karma, and Caesar’s Legion from Fortification Hill, who still wanted to take advantage of his skills, despite his wrongdoings, each one requesting assistance from Joseph. Joseph ultimately chose to support the NCR as he figured they could democratize New Vegas and make it more calmer in nature, despite their flaws.
=== Video (Non-Canon) ===
By November of 2281, Joseph finally infiltrated Caesar’s Fortification Hill, situated on an overlook just over the Arizona border across Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. With the help of former NCR soldier Craig Boone and cyberdog Rex, Joseph stormed and killed the Legionaries, but after Boone and Rex were subdued, Joseph killed the other Legionaries and engaged against Caesar himself in one final showdown, using Ballistic fists. After much parrying and striking, both men took heavy swings, but Joseph finally dealt the killing blow against Caesar, decapitating him. As a victory, Joseph sat on his throne with Boone and Rex looking on. Joseph eventually left, but not before propping Caesar’s head on the throne’s seat and his body impaled on spears behind it.
=== Old World Blues ===
=== Dead Money ===
=== Honest Hearts ===
=== Lonesome Road ===
=== Protecting Kimball ===
=== The Second Battle of Hoover Dam ===
=== Happy Endings? ===
After the battle of Hoover Dam, the NCR annexed most locations across the Mojave. Joseph was awarded the highest medal of honor for his service to the New California Republic - the Golden Branch decoration, and was allowed to come and go across the Mojave as he pleases. However, he severed his ties to his allies in some ways:
* Cass celebrated the victory of the NCR with Joseph, but one night as she tried to find him and seduce him into a celebration sexual encounter, she instead came across an NCR soldier, slept with him, and left, roaming free alone.
* Rex, having Rey’s brain memories implanted into his brain, learned to finally settle down as a loyal guard dog and welding his mind with being a scrap dog who has overcome a lot with Old Lady Gibson. Although this could simply mean that Rex’s mind had settled and has either decided to stay with Joseph or go back to Freeside with the King. In any case, thanks to Joseph rebuilding Roxie the cyberdog, she eventually mated with him and conceived numerous Boston Terrier puppies that destroyed everything in their path.
* Veronica was relieved that the NCR and the Brotherhood would become allies, but this also meant that she was still no longer allowed in her former home of Hidden Valley. To protect those close to her, even fearing for Joseph’s safety, she entered a life of solitary as a tinkerer. Although this was her ultimate fate, many creations and fixed technologies can be found be scientists, all miraculously repaired thanks to her.
* Arcade returned to help with the Followers of the Apocalypse for a while longer, but eventually returned to California to become a teacher.
* Raul became a vaquero once again after so long of solitary thanks to Joseph’s encouragement and to this day, there are tales of him still hunting those who preyed on the weak in the New Vegas area.
* Boone, having finally made his peace with his wife’s demise, enlisted back in the NCR. He joined back into the Rangers, but with his regrets still in the back of his mind, he spent his off-duty times hunting slavers across the Mojave. There is a chance that Joseph and Boone are still partners.
* Lily parted ways with Joseph and went back to the west to find old remains of her past.
* ED-E was found by a traveling caravan and it became a protector. Thanks to the Brotherhood of Steel being the ones to rebuild ED-E, they used its information to create an army of eyebots like ED-E.
Thanks to Joseph’s actions, each faction had their fates determined:
* The Boomers established a trade treaty with the NCR as per their agreement and assistance in the Hoover Dam battle. Since then, they began to wander out into the wastes, but still prohibited outsiders from getting inside Nellis.
* The Brotherhood of Steel were signed into an official peace treaty with the NCR, despite continued hostilities in the west. Per a deal, they were given all salvaged power armor suits in exchange that they patrol Interstate 15 and Highway 95.
* With every known leader of the Fiends having been murdered by Joseph, the remainders scattered across the wastes, but without order and organization, they became easy targets.
* The Followers of the Apocalypse were allowed to care for refugees as they saw fit thanks to their efforts in supporting the NCR at the dam. They expanded operations within the Old Mormon Fort and cared for the less fortunate residents of New Vegas.
* Goodsprings saw more trade along Interstate 15 after NCR gained control, but taxes were eventually forced upon them. Those who couldn’t afford to pay them were forced to move onwards.
* The Van Graffs were wiped out by the suicide bomber from earlier due to Joseph not intervening during his job with them.
* The McLafferty Crimson Caravans were blackmailed and later removed from their eastern post, but during their trek back west, they were raided and murdered in a similar manner to how they destroyed the late caravans, including Cass’. The Gun Runners denied any involvement. This was thanks to Joseph finding the evidence required to put them in the spotlight.
* The Great Khans took their leave from Red Rock Canyon permanently during the dam battle and headed north into the Rockies and later the Great Plains, becoming fierce and fearless entities in the region, with the help of parts of the Followers of the Apocalypse, carving a mighty empire, all inspired off of Joseph’s words to Papa Khan of creating their own legacy.
* Jacobstown became a haven for mutants to find peace thanks to Joseph and Lily helping Dr. Henry find a cure for the Nightkin’s schizophrenia.
* Thanks to Joseph, The Kings and the NCR’s temporary truce turned into a permanent full-scale relief for Freeside. While the NCR encouraged the citizens to join them, the Kings maintained their independence.
* The Misfits of Camp Golf were distinguished sharpshooters thanks to Joseph’s training and served for years, holding back attacks on their camp thanks to Mags’ guidance.
* Novac suffered heavy losses from the Legion’s attacks, but in the weeks that followed, the Bright Followers returned to help rebuild and stabilize its defenses, allowing the town to be independent from the NCR.
* The Powder Gangers were eventually recaptured and sent back to the NCR Correctional Facility, where execution awaited the survivors.
* The Powder Gangers from Vault 19 were all killed by Joseph, including Cooke. Those who survived attempted to either flee into the hills or back through the Mojave. Hardly any survived.
* Primm was back under sheriff law thanks to Joseph finding Meyers from the NCRCF and establishing him. He enforces justice in town, but some people still end up dead in Primm, with little to no evidence to convict anyone.
* The Rangers defended the troopers in an admirable fashion thanks to Joseph preventing Chief Hanlon from sabotaging the defenses. While the Rangers survived, Hanlon left and later retired to a ranch outside of Redding.
* After the Remnants of the Enclave assisted in helping the NCR at the dam, they disappeared quickly, but their tales spread across the southwest.
In the ultimate ending, Joseph’s story came to an official close, with the Mojave having shed blood and still does, but it is the way of the world, the same way as it was before the war, because war never changes.
=== Aftermath & Legacy ===
Joseph’s actions shaped the Mojave into what it is now for years to come: a democratic territory of the New California Republic, with some positive changes. Although his current status is unknown as of 2287, with no mentioning of the events that transpired in Nevada, it is understandable as the events of 2287 occurred in Boston, hundreds of miles away.
Although not seen nor mentioned in the games, it will be stated in a community post by MinneEagle that Joseph actually conceived at least three children - twins with Sarah Weintroub from Vault 21 that was the result of a sexual relationship, and a son with Red Lucy from the Thorn, as a result of the two deciding to make love as two hunters. There were reports that there were prostitutes from the Gomorrah that bore children that resembled Joseph, but no-one could point it out. As per his decoration and his status as a legend in New Vegas, added on with the fact that Mr. House had passed away soon, Joseph took over the Lucky 38 as his own casino and opened it to the public at long last. At some point down the road, Paul Taylor, another legendary figure from the Capital Wasteland, arrived in New Vegas to explore, having recently liberated an abandoned town near Shady Sands, New California. The two showed that they wore blue Vault suits and decided to sit down together and tell each other's stories about their exploits.
== Alternative Timelines (Non-Canon) ==
=== Veni, Vidi, Vici ===
In an alternate timeline, Joseph rather became evil and self-centered and hell-bent on revenge, to the point where he would commit atrocities to get his way, allying himself with Caesar’s Legion as he shared their vision: to watch the West burn. Instead of attacking them and allying with the NCR, Joseph joins the Legion in brutalizing the Mojave Wasteland, assassinating Mr. House in a brutal manner, murdering everyone in the Tops Casino to kill Benny, and destroying Goodsprings and Novac, doing everything opposite of what he did in the canon timeline. In the end, Joseph assassinates President Aaron Kimball and leads the charge against the NCR at Hoover Dam, destroying all influence they had and taking over the Mojave, becoming one of Caesar’s top men and much later, his successor, Legate Lanius’ right-hand man.
=== The House Always Wins ===
In this alternate timeline, Joseph sticks by Mr. House and does what he wanted: build his Securitron army, win Hoover Dam, and take over New Vegas. Although this is a favorable outcome for New Vegas, both the NCR and the Legion become his enemies for his actions with Mr. House.
=== The Wild Card ===
In this alternate timeline, Joseph does not side with anyone and would rather make New Vegas independent like it used to be. After assassinating House, Caesar, and Kimball, he singlehandedly takes Hoover Dam and brings down Lanius, taking New Vegas for himself and allowing everyone to live free of rule, although anarchy is sure to follow.
== Appearance ==
== Personality ==
== Killed Victims ==
* Joe Cobb
* Vulpes Inculta
* Benny
* Mr. House (Caused)
* Caesar
* Numerous counts of Powder Gangers
* Numerous counts of Legionaries
* Numerous counts of Fiends and Raiders
== Relationships ==
=== Craig Boone ===
They have a partnership after Joseph helped Boone avenge his deceased wife.
=== Rose of Sharon Cassidy ===
Joseph and Cass have a purely platonic and professional relationship. Much like in normal gameplay with a male courier, if the Lady Killer perk is present, the player can ask her if she is flirting, which she admitted that he may know what to say, she reaffirms that “nothing” will happen between them.
As Cass survived to the Hoover Dam battle, she decided to kick in Joseph’s door to celebrate, but found a hiding NCR Ranger instead and abandoned Joseph.
=== Rex ===
Joseph and Rex have a close relationship as they are partners-in-crime. Rex belonged to ‘The King’, the Kings’ leader in Freeside, New Vegas, but thanks to Joseph’s favors in Freeside, The King allowed him to have Rex as his companion, under the condition he would replace his deteriorating brain, which he successfully did.
== Gallery ==
== Quotes ==
* “Montana? Wait, you wouldn’t happen to be eighteen, would you?” “No sir, I’m 28. Why?” “Oh, thank God! Never mind. So, what about your father?” - Joseph and the Lonesome Drifter, with the former asking if the latter was eighteen, which would be the age of his possible child from Montana.
== Trivia ==
* According to the Fallout wiki, the Courier, whom in this case is Joseph, had a series of events in his past:
** Roughly around 2262 or 2263, Joseph had ventured to Montana, where he had a sexual encounter with a woman he believed he impregnated. This is evident when players as a male Courier speak to the Lonesome Drifter, asking if he was 17, which he denied, stating he was 28 by 2281.
** Joseph had traveled across a large chunk of California, Nevada, and Utah. He took the “Long 15” (Interstate 15 of Los Angeles to Las Vegas in real-life) to Primm, to Circle Junction, New Reno (Reno, Nevada in real-life), Vault City, and Fort Abandon. He also had been on brahmin drives in the Big Circle.
** Joseph was once hired to deliver a package to a community near the Death Valley. This event caused explosions to trigger in that area, creating a harsh place known as “The Divide.”
** Joseph had been to New Reno and watched Bruce Isaac’s performance.
** In dialogue with Little Buster, Joseph apparently had worked as a bounty hunter in the past.
** Joseph is unaware of where he actually came from. But considering some evidence, it is heavily implied that Joseph hailed from either the West Coast, the Mojave Desert, or the Rocky Mountains.
** Joseph mentioned not having visited Utah for some time, implying that he has at least passed through it.
** Joseph was unfamiliar with Christianity, therefore, making him somewhere along the lines of Agnostic or Atheist with non-understanding of Christianity. He could also be a nihilist (a term that describes the carefree who doesn’t believe religion matters).