Lasher

Father Lasher of the Children (a double entendre) is a member of the Children of the Cathedral, located in the rectory of the Cathedral .
==Background==
Short-tempered and sadistic, Father Lasher is one of the more colorful leaders of the Children, second only to Father Morpheus in authority.Fallout Official Survival Guide p.104-105: "Lasher: Second-in-Command of the CathedralLasher is a short-tempered, nasty individual wearing purple robes. You'll find him in one of the side rooms of the Cathedral. This character is important on a couple of counts. He may be persuaded to give you a COC badge that will let you get past the Nightkin guards upstairs to see Morpheus, and Morpheus can take you to the Master. And, if you prefer to take the more direct and action-oriented route, you can always kill Lasher, take the badge, and use Lasher's robes as a disguise." He was not an original founding member, but a later recruit, who rose through the ranks of the Cathedral in order to instill his own, particular brand of teaching: Replacing idle pleasure with administering teaching pain and bringing a moral center to the Cathedral.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.}"Lasher: "{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) Lasher's teachings were the standard for a while, until they were abandoned in favor of awe-inspiring light and sound shows. Lasher was forbidden from "teaching" adults, but was given free reign to instruct the youngest members of the movement, children and teenagers.Vault Dweller: "{206}{}{Do you teach adults?}"Lasher: "{221}{}{Once I did, but many of methods were abandoned in favor of the loud noises you hear in the Auditorium amphitheater. It is a source of bitterness for me. Fortunately, I can still instruct the children. Now if you will excuse me, I have to prepare for their lessons.}"(Lasher's dialogue) 
As an instructor, Lasher wants his charges to experience suffering. Pain, the most instructive force in the universe, separates man from beast and redeems them,Lasher: "{7416}{}{Scream child! In pain there is redemption!}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) through the forgiveness that follows.Lasher: "{7437}{}{After pain, there is forgiveness, child.}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) In sufficient amounts, it can force the latter to evolve into the former, even children, particularly wicked beasts by Lasher's reckoning, alongside women. His attitude towards evolution focuses on social aspects, rather than biological: Lasher rejects mutation as something to be feared or doubted, as every birth is a mutation of parents' DNA, thus making everyone a mutant. The only thing that matters is guiding them on a moral, productive part, and judicious application of pain is the most reliable path to achieving that.Lasher: "{155}{}{I instruct the children. It is my duty. All children are wicked beasts. It is my duty to force them into evolve into human beings. Perhaps you have heard that I do not tolerate frivolity. This is true. I want my charges to suffer as much as possible.}"Vault Dweller: "{156}{}{And are mutants more evolved than human beings?}"Lasher: "{201}{}{Mutation is nothing to fear. Every birth is a mutation of our parents' DNA. We are all mutants. The only thing that matters is that the mutant is guided on a moral and productive path. This is my job. And this also ends this discussion. Leave me now.}"(Lasher's dialogue) As such, the faithful must embrace pain as their closest friend, be broken and then remade into tools of the Master's will, no longer existing as individuals.Vault Dweller: "{116}{}{I seek the guidance of the Cathedral.}"Lasher: "{168}{}{Learn to embrace pain as your closest friend, for pain is the most instructive force in the universe. Break yourself until you can exist no longer as an individual, then remake yourself into the Master's tool. That is the solution to all of your problems.}"(Lasher's dialogue) The process also purges the mind of evil thoughts and permits it to better comprehend the glory of the Master, and prevents decadence and ease, fostering evolution necessary for survival in the harsh wasteland.Vault Dweller: "{110}{}{Nice rod you've got there! Is that why they call you 'Lasher?'}"Lasher: "{151}{}{The rod is a holy instrument, through which I instruct my charges. Pain clears the mind of evil thoughts and allows them to better comprehend the glory of the Master.}"Vault Dweller: "{153}{}{That's a horrible thing to do to children!}"Lasher: "{200}{}{Decadence and ease prevents evolution, evolution that is necessary for survival in a harsh world. Fortunately, I am a hard man who cares nothing for seductive pleasures. I see that you disagree with me. I do not care about your opinion. Get out of here!}"(Lasher's dialogue) 
The end result of this continuous process of struggle, trauma and recovery is righteousness, and acceptance of the Master's truth without hesitation.Lasher: "{114}{}{Why have you come, initiate? You know that I do not like to be disturbed.}"Vault Dweller: "{115}{}{Forgive me, Father, but I am troubled.}"Lasher: "{162}{}{You are a woman, and therefore you are always troubled. It is an endemic condition of your breed. Tell me your problem, madam, and I will resolve it for you.}"Lasher: "{163}{}{If your heart was not so full of wickedness, sir, you would be at ease. A righteous heart knows no cares. Tell me your problem, but be quick!}"Vault Dweller: "{164}{}{Tell me how to attain righteousness!}"Lasher: "{211}{}{Righteousness is attained through struggle, trauma, and recovery. We are animals who must be continuously be broken until we accept the Master's truth without hesitation. Now that you have heard the truth, seek it with the body of your experiences. Get out of here.}"(Lasher's dialogue) Once that point is achieved, the faithful are rewarded with consecration, and eventually baptism. Baptism is the ultimate honor, and the path to it includes the endurance of pain, acquisition of wisdom and performance of service: Pain is knowledge, wisdom is obedience and service is courage. Finally, the faithful reject the Light that destroyed humanity and pledge themselves to the Darkness, in which all are equal.Lasher: "{131}{}{My quarters are not open to those who have not been consecrated. I must ask you to leave at once.}"Vault Dweller: "{134}{}{I wanted to ask you about consecration.}"Lasher: "{138}{}{That is a privilege reserved for only the most faithful servants. Only baptism is a higher honor.}"Vault Dweller: "{139}{}{And how does one earn baptism?}"Lasher: "{183}{}{By the endurance of pain, by the acquisition of wisdom, and the performance of service. Pain is knowledge, Wisdom is obedience, and Service is courage. }"Lasher: "{185}{}{You must reject the Light that nearly destroyed us all, and pledge yourself to the Darkness in which all are equal. Now that I have told you this thing, go seek it. Seek the Master and his wisdom.}"(Lasher's dialogue)
Lasher's methods are brutal, but survivable. While Lasher believes that failure to learn means that his charge does not deserve to exist, he does not outright kill them. Removal from the genetic pool, as he terms it, happens rarely, and far less often than Lasher would like. Adults tend to die more often than children at their hands.Vault Dweller: "{159}{}{Tell me more about your teaching methods.}"Lasher: "{202}{}{I deal out pain. If the animal is worthy and can learn from it, it evolves into a righteous soul. If it does not, it does not deserve to exist. On rare occasions, the animal is removed the genetic pool, although not as often as I would like. This happens more often with failed grown animals.}"Vault Dweller: "{203}{}{And the Master approves of the teaching methods?}"Lasher: "{186}{}{I have not consulted him, but I am certain he is pleased with the righteous souls I have brought him. It is difficult work, but I do it well. Unfortunately, it is also quite time consuming, which is why I must order to you to leave right now.}"(Lasher's dialogue) In some cases, he will test the Children in other ways, such as practical "jokes": Sending them into the Inner Sanctum to talk to Morpheus... Straight into the arms of nightkin and a substantial amount of trauma.Vault Dweller: "{111}{}{I was looking for the confessional, and one of the High Priests sent me up here. I'm really sorry I ended up here!}"Morpheus: "{115}{MORP04}{ Ahh...Heh, heh heh. That would be Lasher. He so loves getting the worshipers in trouble. This is your lucky day, my ignorant little friend. You may leave now without incident. }"(Morpheus' dialogue) 
Lasher is not above experiencing pain himself, and uses it as a tool for strengthening himself.Lasher: "{7458}{}{My suffering strengthens me}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) His masochismLasher: "{7438}{}{I understand pain. Do you?}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) combines with religious fervor,Lasher: "{7441}{}{The Master gives me the will to survive}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout))Lasher: "{7432}{}{I am protected by the Holies, child.}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout))Lasher: "{7431}{}{The Master is my shield. I feel no pain.}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout))Lasher: "{7429}{}{You shall not harm me, for my cause is holy}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) allowing him to bear the harshest blows with patience.Lasher: "{7428}{}{I bear your blows with patience, child.}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout))Lasher: "{7433}{}{The Holy Flame succors me. Your blows are nothing.}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) He feels the pain,Lasher: "{7439}{}{I may feel your blows, but the pain does not matter}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) but dismisses it, believing it to be an artifact of a weak mind.Lasher: "{7457}{}{Pain is an artifact of a weak mind. I shall endure}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) Instead using suffering to strengthen his convictions and spirit.Lasher: "{7449}{}{Each weakness of body makes my souls stronger, child.}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout))Lasher: "{7456}{}{Though my flesh is weak, my spirit is strong!}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) Plus, he simply likes it.Lasher: "{7440}{}{Do that again, I like your touch}"(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout))
==Interactions with the player character==
===Interaction overview===
===Quests===
* Destroy the Mutant leader: Lasher carries a red COC badge, which grants access into the Inner Sanctum.
==Inventory==
==Notable quotes==
* "Learn to embrace pain as your closest friend, for pain is the most instructive force in the universe. Break yourself until you can exist no longer as an individual, then remake yourself into the Master's tool. That is the solution to all of your problems."
* "The rod is a holy instrument, through which I instruct my charges. Pain clears the mind of evil thoughts and allows them to better comprehend the glory of the Master."
* "I instruct the children. It is my duty. All children are wicked beasts. It is my duty to force them into evolve into human beings. Perhaps you have heard that I do not tolerate frivolity. This is true. I want my charges to suffer as much as possible."
==Appearances==
Lasher appears only .
==References==
Non-game
Category:Fallout human characters
Category:Children of the Cathedral characters
Category:Cathedral characters
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