Rose of Sharon Cassidy

Rose of Sharon Cassidy is companion character in Fallout: New Vegas, and the owner of Cassidy Caravans in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281.
She was voiced by Rachel Roswell.
==Overview==
Cassidy Caravans was a water caravan running purified water from the Mojave to New California and back, but recently Cass was trapped at the Mojave Outpost while her caravan was in the Mojave on its own due to requiring caravan clearance and further on because of the outpost leader Jackson deeming the roads ahead too dangerous.
She would find out her caravan was ambushed and completely destroyed while in the NCR's bureaucratic hell. With Cassidy's Caravans having been completely wiped out, Cass is the only remaining loose end in a competitors' attempt at a monopoly.
==Biography==
Born in 2244, Cass is the daughter of John Cassidy and a tribal woman he met on his travels after parting ways with the Chosen One. Her father upped and left to once more wander the wastes while she was still young - leaving her only a name, a pendant, his shooting skills and propensity for hard-drinking and violence.
Worn down by years of hard luck and a recent rash of terrible misfortunes, Cass is a despondent merchant who is about to get out of the caravan business. She is smart, tough, and steady with a gun, but has not been savvy enough to survive the ruthless caravan wars that have flared up in Nevada since the NCR's expansion.
Though quick to join up with the player for some easy money, she is still interested in finding out if she has been suffering from bad luck or something more sinister. When first encountered by the Courier, Cass is drowning her sorrows at the Mojave Outpost bar.
NCR Ranger reports have reached her that her caravan has been attacked and "burned to ash," placing an even greater burden on her shoulders. However, threats along the road into New Vegas and problems with NCR paperwork have so far prevented her from leaving the outpost to investigate the attack.
==Personality==
Cass has an aggressive and eager, sometimes even impatient attitude, often telling the Courier to hurry up or get on with it, and does not take well to insults or her time wasted. She also enjoys violence quite a bit, much like her father.
She is also very outspoken on the NCR and Caesar's Legion, mostly pointing out the bureaucratic messes of the NCR and the Legion's use of women as breeding tools, but does concede that Legion supply lines are "safe as houses", unlike NCR supply lines. Lastly, Cass treats sex in a very casual manner. 
Cass has inherited her father's heart condition and will show her disgust for chems if the Courier speaks to her whilst under their effects. On another note, her knowledge of the world is considerable, but not without holes. For example, she is not aware that golf is a sport, rather than a person, referring to Camp Golf as a monument to a man of that name and recounting soldier remarks that it used to be a minefield, with mine locations marked by numbers.
==Endings==
===Slide 1 - Personal Questline===
Prerequisite 	Monologue
Cass dies, potentially by the Van Graffs in "Birds of a Feather". 	"Rose of Sharon Cassidy died as her caravan died - in an unmarked grave, another victim of the Mojave."
Recruit Cass, then have her leave the Mojave and travel back west. 	"Despite the destruction of Cassidy Caravans, Cass lived for 30 more years. She made her way back West and passed away in a small shack outside of Vault City, the rose pendant still around her neck."
Complete "Heartache by the Number" by killing Gloria Van Graff and Alice McLafferty. 	"The slaughter of the Van Graffs and the Crimson Caravan caused no end of trouble for NCR back West. Already struggling, NCR's supply lines suffered further as the two caravans withdrew support until the "massacre in the East" was resolved."
Complete "Heartache by the Number" by exposing the Van Graffs and the Crimson Caravan to the NCR authorities, with Alice McLafferty and Gloria Van Graff both alive.	"In the years following the destruction of Cassidy Caravans, NCR used evidence of the plot to blackmail the Crimson Caravan and the Van Graffs. NCR enacted strict trade laws with little resistance, strengthening their supply lines and their position in the Mojave."
Steal the Gun Runners' manufacturing specifications in "You Can Depend on Me" and get ending #4. This ending is added onto - and comes right after - that one. 	"Both the Van Graffs and Alice McLafferty were removed from their post in the East. During their trek West, however, their caravan was wiped out by raiders using advanced weaponry and military tactics. No cargo was taken. When questioned, the Gun Runners denied any involvement, claiming they would have no... public motivation for such an attack."
===Slide 2 - Main Questline===
Prerequisite 	Monologue
Independent New Vegas. 	"Cass lived to see the Courier bring down three armies and by her count, that was three more than she'd expected. She'd kept quiet about that, though."
Side with Mr. House. 	"Cass lived to see Hoover Dam in its Old World glory, humming with power the likes of which the Mojave had never seen. Vegas burned brighter than ever, Securitrons filled the streets, and Cass's heart skipped... just a little. Her last words were to the Dam - and to herself. "We were going full speed ahead... but facing backwards the whole time."
Side with Caesar's Legion. 	"Cass lived to see the mark of the Legion on Hoover Dam. Uncertain of what lay next for the West, she remained silent. As the Legion marched West, she found it difficult to see the Dam as anything more than a gravestone for the Mojave - and everyone in it."
Side with the NCR (part 1). 	"Cass survived to see the NCR flag flying proud over Hoover Dam, and thought for a moment... this is what a hero must feel like. She was about to tell the Courier not to get too proud of himself/herself, then she figured he/she knew that already."
Side with the NCR (part 2). Complete "Heartache by the Number", and play as a male. 	"That night, Cass kicked in the door of his room to celebrate, only to find the man on the bed was an NCR soldier whose barracks had been destroyed. He was cute, though, so after having her way with him, she got the hell out, leaving an empty whiskey bottle as a note. As she walked along the Dam in the night, she felt drunk, content, and happy to be alive. Which to her, was the whole point of it all."
Side with the NCR (part 2). Don't complete "Heartache by the Number", and play as a male.	"So she laughed, said fuck it all, and raised a bottle to the Dam and the ones who had fought for it. As far as she was concerned, the whole thing was proof that playing out a bad hand can pay off in the end... as long as someone like the Courier was holding the cards."
Side with the NCR (part 2) and play as a female. 	"So she laughed, said fuck it all, and raised a bottle to the Dam and the ones who had fought for it. As far as she was concerned, the whole thing was proof that playing out a bad hand can pay off in the end... as long as a woman like the Courier was holding the cards."
==Quotes==
*"They try to put their stake in everything they see. Nobody's dick's that long, not even Long Dick Johnson, and he had a fucking long dick. Thus, the name."
*"Shh... we're hunting sh-theads." - Sneaking with the Courier.
*"Just doesn't feel right, trading history for a slip of paper." - On selling her caravan.
*"I don't mind trailblazing as long as we've got the ammo... and whiskey." - Cass' honesty.
* "NCR and their goddamn nicknames, as if Caesar himself is gonna piss and run if he hears them." - On NCR codenames.
*"Mojave's almost buzzing like a cazador now... Must be the blood Legion and NCR spilling over the Colorado." - General observation.
*"It's not hard for some folks to sell freedom when the alternative is worse, especially if being with NCR is going to get you on a Legion cross." - General observation.
*"Used to call me "Whiskey Rose" back West, before I punched enough people, so now they say it, but quiet and when I'm not around." - On her nickname.
*"Short of caps is what taught me, mostly. Ammo's expensive... so I learned to make every shot count. And hear tell, my dad was a crack shot, so I don't want to dirty the family name. Not out of pride - respect."
*"Crimson Caravan and the Van Graffs... they were behind burning these caravans, and they've got to answer for them. I'm going to get some extra ammo, a few bottles of whiskey, then show them how Cassidys settle accounts." - Ready to get revenge on her enemies.
*"Never realised I had all that anger in me. Makes me wonder how much more I can settle with bullets. You know, when I first heard about them, I was so mad, but there was this little part of me that said, "you can't do to them what they did to you." I say f-ck that part. I feel purified, and I love the fact that there's no more loose ends." - After getting get revenge on her enemies.
*"What did you just say to me? 'Cause you sure as hell got my attention now."
*"What did you... did you put a plug in his cocktube and make him explode?."
*"You know, I was just going to give you a piece of my mind. And now? Now I'm going to put you down." - Preparing to kill the Courier after he/she insults Cass' dead family.
==Gallery==
CassConcept.png
CassGettingHammered.png
CassWithHat.jpg|Cass with her hat.
CassWithoutHat.jpg|Cass without her hat.
CassEndingSlide1.png|Ending slide 1.
CassEndingSlide2.png|Ending slide 2.
CassOutfit.png|Full body and outfit.
==Trivia==
*Cass is 37, a similar age to the male Courier with the Lady Killer perk.
*Cass is the only companion that requires the Courier to make a skill check to recruit.
*Cass is one of the most profane characters in the game, along with Caesar and Boxcars.
*If any amount of whiskey is put Cass' inventory, she will drink it, leaving only empty whiskey bottles.
*When sent to the Lucky 38, a message will show saying "Cass has gone... reluctantly... to the Lucky 38."
*Telling Cass to go back to her family and saying they're dead will turn her hostile, though she must first be asked about her family.
*Judging by her actions in one of the endings, Cass is actually attracted to the male Courier, despite her statement to him, "nothing is going to happen between us".
*To recruit Cass, the Courier must make a Speech or Barter check of 50. Alternatively, her "Whiskey Challenge" can be done with 75 Barter by gathering twelve bottles of whiskey, three of which will be consumed.
*Once she joins the Courier as a companion, Cass will share her moonshine recipe, craftable at campfires or electric hot plates. If the Courier has all of the ingredients on hand, she can also craft moonshine for them without needing a campfire.
*If the Courier has at least 6 Endurance, challenging Cass to a drinking contest will result in her complimenting them on their endurance, though they will still lose it. If the Endurance stat is 8 or more, then Cass will lose and end in a drunken stupor, dismissing all three (or four) of the Couriers at once.
*If she is offered to Mortimer during the quest Beyond the Beef, he will comment that she could skip the whiskey marinade, but everything else is in eatable condition except her liver.
*If told to part ways in Vault 11 right before the "sacrificial chamber," Cass will tell the Courier that "robots here give me creeps," although no robots were present in the entire vault up until that point.
*Rose of Sharon is a common name that applies to several different species of flowering plants that are highly valued throughout the world and originate in the Bible as one of the many names of God. She is named after the character of the same name in John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, which she describes as "some Old World book about dirt pilgrims".
*Despite stating that her tribal mother never taught her to use throwing spears, she will use them effectively if given some. The comment is a reference to dialogue in Fallout 2 between the Chosen One and her father, where John is somewhat ashamed to divulge that he is quite good with throwing spears as it makes him seem like a tribal. He then apologises for the remark upon learning of the Chosen One's heritage.
*With Cass as a companion, opening a conversation with her with a negative Karma (-100) will make her complain about the Courier's behavior. With a Speech check of 65, she can be convinced about trying to improve one's demeanor or simply acknowledging her discontent and continuing the conversation. Speaking to her again with even less Karma (-150) brings a second confrontation. She can again be promised improvement with a Speech check of 65 or just go on with the conversation. After the second confrontation, Cass stops complaining as long as the Courier stays Neutral (Karma -249 or higher). Talking to her again with Evil Karma (-250 or less) will make her automatically disband, with no way of convincing her to stay.
**Talking to Cass repeatedly, regardless of topic, with Evil Karma (-250 or below) will make her disband.
**Cass will never launch the "Heartache by the Number" quest while the Courier has Evil Karma, but it can be continued if already active.
*Depending on the Courier's gender and perks, he/she may subtly assert their position with Cass.
**A male Courier with the Lady Killer perk can accuse Cass of flirting with him - "Miss Cassidy... are you flirting with me?" - to which Cass makes it clear that nothing will happen between the two and he'd better respect that, as she "knows his type".
**A male Courier with a great Speech skill and the Lady Killer perk will make Cass say she "knows his look" and knows he says all the right things to leave a trail of broken hearts across the Mojave.
**A male Courier with the Confirmed Bachelor perk can respond to Cass' flirting by saying they should not be anything more than friends. Cass states that he must have a "Legion" point of view, disappointedly implying that he is not interested in women.
**A female Courier with the Black Widow perk can respond to Cass' comment about not liking "soft men" by saying that men are rarely soft when around her [the female Courier].
**A female Courier with the Cherchez La Femme perk can respond to Cass' comment about not liking "soft men" by saying that they are rarely an issue for her [the female Courier]. With a fairly shocked expression, Cass will defend herself, nervously saying that she meant no offense, and that she does not care who she ends up in bed with when she has had enough to drink. Although she was referring to just men, specifically ghouls and the like, a couple of Nukapedia's bogus pages interpret this as "bisexual".
==Licensing==
This article contains content derived from the "Cass" article on Nukapedia, licensed under CC-BY-SA
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