Bright Brotherhood

The Bright Brotherhood is a religious cult in the Mojave Wasteland in 2281, based in the REPCONN test site west of Novac.
==Background==
A strange cult of ghouls, and a single human fully believing himself to be a ghoul, the Bright Brotherhood is led by a charismatic and prophetic glowing one named Jason Bright. He never turned feral, and has instead built up a small following of like-minded ghouls, clad in the vestments and in the final stages of preparation for their "Great Journey" to the Far Beyond; a radioactive promised land glimpsed in visions by Bright, that is this cult's ultimate goal and destination.
The Bright Brotherhood existed fully since before 2279,The Courier: ""Chris Haversam: "[SUCCEEDED] Oh god! You're telling me the truth, aren't you...? Oh no! How could they do this to me? For two years? My god, I've been a joke to them! Do you have any idea how easy it'd be for me to sabotage those rockets? That'd be a joke, huh? One hell of a joke!"(Chris Haversam's dialogue) but it is unknown when the cult formed or where it started. The reasons can be surmised easily from the purpose of their "Great Journey," however, simple protection from the wasteland and bigoted humanity.
Around 2279, Chris Haversam came to the facility believing he was a ghoul. Even after pleading with him, the other followers were unable to convince him that he was actually still a human.The Courier: "What's the deal with the human who let me in?"Jason Bright: "You're referring to Chris. I doubt you had much luck if you tried telling him that he's human. We had the same discussions when he first appeared, and the same lack of success. He believes he is one of us. Soon enough we realized that Chris was a gift from the creator. He is integral to the success of the Great Journey."(Jason Bright's dialogue) Thus, this makes him the only human follower, although he was not allowed on the ship for the "Great Journey," which Bright says is the will of the creator.The Courier: "So you're going to leave Chris behind?"Jason Bright: "Such is the creator's will. Vision upon vision has shown me that, were Chris to accompany us, he would die in minutes. The radiation around the launch pad alone would kill Chris in minutes. The radioactivity of the Far Beyond is much stronger."(Jason Bright's dialogue)The Courier: "Are these surface-to-surface rockets? Or will they launch you into orbit?"Jason Bright: "I understand your concerns, friend, and I thank you for voicing them. But the creator's will for us has been made manifest."(Jason Bright's dialogue) Jason also believes that it is no coincidence that two humans were instrumental to the success of the Great Journey, as it was the will of the creator and it is his blessing.The Courier: "Goodbye, Jason."Jason Bright: "There is no way that we can thank you enough, wanderer. Your arrival here was a blessing. We will remember you always."Jason Bright: " If you would still help us, wanderer, speak to Chris. He can tell you what is missing. There is no way that we can thank you enough, wanderer. Your arrival here was a blessing. We will remember you always."(Jason Bright's dialogue) He believes that the creator sent the Courier and Chris to expiate the sins of the bigoted humans. For helping the Brotherhood in making the Great Journey possible, they made Haversam a saint of the Brotherhood.The Courier: "Let's talk about Chris."Jason Bright: "After all that you have done for us, I suppose you deserve to know everything... When Chris came to us, we tried to convince him that he was human. But this only angered him. He seemed... lost. We decided to let him stay with us for a few days, over the course of which we learned that his technical skills far surpassed our own. It became clear that the creator had sent him to us, to ensure the success of the Great Journey. Equally clear was that Chris should labor in blessed ignorance of his humanity, and his inability to make the journey himself. It is no coincidence that two humans have been vital to the success of the Great Journey. It is my belief that the creator sent you and Chris to expiate the sins of your kind against mine. You are redeemers both."(Jason Bright's dialogue)The Courier: "Well, it's none of my business."Jason Bright: "Chris shall be declared the Saint of the Great Journey before we depart. I hope this will ease his sadness..."(Jason Bright's dialogue)
Shunned by frightened outsiders, and murdered by nightkin, members of Davison's nightkin who are convinced the Brotherhood are sitting on a mythical shipment of Stealth Boys, the Brotherhood have long come to realize that they are not bound to, or long for, this earth. To escape the barbarity of the wasteland and the bigotry of humans, the Brotherhood seeks to escape to the "Far Beyond," a place of safety and healing.The Courier: "What's the 'Great Journey'?"Jason Bright: "We wish to escape the barbarity of the wasteland, especially the violence and bigotry of its human inhabitants. The creator has promised to my flock a new land: a place of safety and healing... a paradise in the Far Beyond. Preparations for the Great Journey were nearly complete when the demons appeared."(Jason Bright's dialogue)The Courier: "What is this Far Beyond?"Jason Bright: "I have glimpsed it only in visions, wanderer, but what I have seen is truly miraculous. It is a place of light and healing, and I know in my soul that my flock will be safe there."(Jason Bright's dialogue) They intend to get to their promised land on their "Great Journey" by bringing the REPCONN rockets back up to code and blasting off.The Courier: "Are you seriously going to make your 'Great Journey' on those rockets?"Jason Bright: "Yes. The rockets will convey us to our promised land in the Far Beyond. Vision upon vision has confirmed it."(Jason Bright's dialogue) The Brotherhood was close to getting the rockets functional, but after the nightkin invaded the facility, they have been kept away from the launch site. Even if the Brotherhood could get to the rockets, they are still missing rocket fuel and functional thrusters.The Courier: "How can I help?"Chris Haversam: "I was close to completing work on the rockets before we were driven into hiding on the top floor. Two components were missing: a quantity of Isotope-239 igniting agent, and a set of thrust control modules. The igniting agent is highly radioactive, and decays quickly. That's why we can't use the drums that leaked down on the launch pad. It's no longer potent enough. I need you to find an intact, shielded container of the igniting agent. As for the thrust control modules, they were custom-built for these rockets. They won't even launch without them."(Chris Haversam's dialogue) Should the Courier rid the REPCONN facility of the "demons," the Brotherhood will be able to continue with their plans for the Great Journey and go to their "sacred site" in the basement of the facility, where the rockets are held.The Courier: "The 'demons' are gone."Jason Bright: "Praise the creator! And bless you, wanderer! The way is clear. I will lead my flock through the basement to the sacred site! I hope you will come find us there, wanderer! There is much to be done."(Jason Bright's dialogue)
==Organization==
Jason Bright is the leader of these ghouls who blindly follow him. Chris Haversam is the human, who has convinced himself that he is a ghoul, who is in charge of most technology and the rockets required for the "Great Journey."The Courier: "So the 'Great Journey' will use those rockets?"Chris Haversam: "Obviously. It's taken months, but I've nearly got them in working order. Soon they'll take us to the Far Beyond. I was skeptical at first, of course - being a man of science - but Jason is certain, and I believe in Jason."(Chris Haversam's dialogue)
==Technology==
For a nonviolent, religious faction, the Bright Brotherhood is well-armed. Almost all of their members carry some form of energy weapon, including Plasma Defenders, laser RCWs and recharger rifles.
==Outside relations==
The Bright Brotherhood at the REPCONN test site keeps mainly to themselves. Because the Bright Brotherhood keeps its feral brethren and the ghoul bigotry they encounter, they are generally not welcomed by human settlements, who are known to attack ferals on sight.The Courier: "Some folks in Novac want you dead, and will pay to have it done."Jason Bright: "I wish I could say I was surprised. But that is what we've come to expect from your kind. Normally, it's what I'd expect from you. But it was the creator who brought you here today."(Jason Bright's dialogue)The Courier: "I'm here because feral ghouls have been wandering into Novac."Jason Bright: "And they've been shooting them down like animals, haven't they? Those ghouls were members of my flock, even after the madness consumed their minds. We never let them wander free. We kept them safe on the first floor. We kept them contained. The demons must have let them out, somehow... And now they are lost forever, denied the salvation and healing glow of the Far Beyond... Please, wanderer, bear in mind that every feral ghoul you spare now is one that we can save later. Once the way is clear, our feral brothers and sisters will accompany us on the Great Journey. If there are any left..."(Jason Bright's dialogue) There are some Bright followers that are found dead throughout the Mojave, but the nature of their deaths is largely unknown.
However, according to the endgame cut-scene narration (under the right circumstances), some of them are said to have returned from their Great Journey and helped the town of Novac after the Second Battle of Hoover Dam in the rebuilding of the town's defenses.
==Interactions with the player character==
The Bright Brotherhood mainly appears during the quest Come Fly With Me. However, the bodies of dead Bright followers may be found in certain locations throughout the wasteland. 
* Come Fly With Me: Their leader, Jason Bright, believes the Courier to be sent to the REPCONN test site by "The Creator" to allow them to continue with the "Great Journey." He asks the Courier to deal with the "demons" in the facility's basement and to help Chris Haversam obtain the last components needed to complete the rockets.
==Fate==
The Brotherhood's fate is indirectly linked to the fate of Novac in the game's ending slides.
* If their quest is left uncompleted, there is no mention of the Brotherhood. However, feral ghouls from REPCONN that are not reined in by the Brotherhood will ravage Novac after it is attacked by the Legion.
* If the Courier helps them embark on their pilgrimage, the Brotherhood will return to restore the defenses of Novac and in gaining independence from the NCR.
* If the Courier helps them embark on their pilgrimage and assists in a Legion victory, the Brotherhood will return to help evacuate Novac, saving most of its citizens.
* If the Courier kills Jason Bright and his followers or sabotages the rockets and causes them to explode, the resulting radiation will spread into Novac, causing it to be abandoned.
==Notes==
* Jason Bright, Chris Haversam and Harland are the only members who do not wear Bright Brotherhood robes. In Harland's case, he states that he does not buy into the religious "mumbo jumbo," and thus does not wear the robes.The Courier: "You don't look like the other ghouls from Bright's group."Harland: "Guess the outfit gives that away, huh? I never did buy into that religious mumbo-jumbo with the robes and all that shit. It gets lonely out in the wastes, okay? And I don't have to tell you that Bright's group has got some fine-looking ghoulettes in it! Eh... or maybe I would have to tell you... Anyway, I helped them out, and they kept me supplied with ammo and pleasant company."(Harland's dialogue)
* After completing Come Fly With Me by helping fix the rockets, a Radio New Vegas news segment will feature an interview with No-bark Noonan, who witnessed the rocket launch, and correctly states that they were piloted by religious ghouls seeking a better home. Mr. New Vegas introduces the event as an unverified claim by a "local crackpot."Radio New Vegas: "Several unidentified aircraft were spotted flying over the REPCONN Test Site by a local crackpot. He spoke to a toy bear near one of our microphones. 'It's ghouls, I tell you. Religious ghouls in rockets, looking for a land to call their own. Don't you laugh at me! I know a spell that'll make you show your true form! A cave rat taught it to me.'"
==Appearances==
The Bright Brotherhood appears only , and is mentioned in its add-on Old World Blues.The Courier: "So, what, you'd rather just stay here? Never leaving that tank of... whatever that stuff is?"The Courier's brain: "Well, certainly there might be some things I miss about being ambulatory. We have seen some incredible sights, haven't we? Jason Bright and his followers launching into the vast unknown. HELIOS One coming back on-line. But still, given the tremendous, potentially life-ending peril that went along with those... yes. Yes, I'd rather stay here."(The Courier's brain's dialogue)
==Behind the scenes==
Jason Bright was named first when developers designed the cult and then the cult was named after him.Josh Sawyer on Formspring (archived):Denis517: "Is the bright brotherhood a reference to the covenant from Halo? Just confirming speculation."JESawyer: "Not as far as I know. I think Jason Bright's name came first in the design process; we named the cult after him."
==Gallery==
BrightBrotherhoodRobe.png|A Bright follower, member of the Bright Brotherhood
==References==
Non-game
Category:Fallout: New Vegas factions
Category:Old World Blues mentioned-only content
Category:Religions
de:Bright Bruderschaft
es:Hermandad del Iluminado
ru:Последователи Брайта
uk:Послідовники Брайта
zh:光明兄弟会