Nightkin

Nightkin is a name for the elite super mutants of the Unity, created by the Master at Mariposa Military Base. The mutants were the apex of mutant development, corresponding with the Master's vision for the future of humanity. As the most successful examples of the transformation, nightkin considered exposure to FEV to be an unambiguous honor and a source of pride. They were provided with the finest equipment the Unity could muster, including Stealth Boys. The Master's death at the hands of the Vault Dweller and destruction of the Unity was a traumatic experience, scattering the nightkin across the West, relying on their stealth gear to evade pursuers. Their reliance on this stealth technology has become an addiction, causing maladaptive behavior, paranoia, delusions, affected speech, brain damage, and most commonly of all, schizophrenia.The Courier: "Tell me about the Nightkin."Neil: "The Nightkin are vicious in combat, and that's if you see them coming. Most don't. They were created to be soldiers, and given devices to camouflage them in battle. Unfortunately, the devices drove most of them mad over time. They spend most of their time at the top of the mountain, but patrol the roads after dark as well. You'd do well to avoid the mountain at night."(Neil's dialogue)
==Etymology==
The term nightkin (as an invented term, nightkin is considered a proper noun and capitalized) ties into the doctrine of the Unity and the Children of the Cathedral, which rejects the light (considered synonymous with the Great War and nuclear weapons), and embraces 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.}"The 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.}"The 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. }"The Vault Dweller: "{184}{}{[More]}"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) The nightkin, or kin of the night, are thus the chosen of the Master, angels in the night redeeming the world through bloodshed. The Master does not actually use the name, referring to all of his creations as simply mutants, suggesting the name was chosen by the nightkin themselves.The dialogue file for the Master, MASTER.MSG, does not contain a single instance of the word "Nightkin." In passing, one outsider mentions that the cult refer to their benefactor as the Night God.The Vault Dweller: "{1016}{}{Cathedral}"Loxley: "{1116}{LOX_82}{Now there's a scary bunch. They strut around all day talking about their Night God, as if he's the next best thing since merchant pockets with holes. They can heal you up pretty cheap. I'll give'em that. You can find'em in that hospital of theirs downtown.}"(LOXLEY.MSG)
Among those not privy to the inner workings of the Unity, the term was used to refer to super mutants in general, especially in the Boneyard.The Vault Dweller: "{158}{}{Then what?}"Laura: "{161}{laura26}{He uses this strange key to open it and disappears. I've never tried to follow him.}"The Vault Dweller: "{163}{}{Why not?}"Laura: "{178}{laura31}{Believe me, if you've seen the Nightkin, you'd know why. Unless you're stupid.}"(Laura's dialogue) Even the Followers, constantly spying on the Children,Nicole: "{185}{Nic_28}{A number of our spies have seen Nightkin coming in and out of the back room of the Children's temple. Something important is back there.}"(Nicole's dialogue) could only establish a correlation between disappearances and the slowly increasing numbers of super mutants,The Vault Dweller: "{260}{}{You sure it is?}"Laura: "{263}{laura53}{For one thing, people seem to disappear a lot around here, while the number of Nightkin are slowly growing.}"(Laura's dialogue) and likely borrowed the term from the Children themselves: Morpheus was keen on presenting the nightkin protecting him and the Cathedral as mutants who merely joined his flock in the near past.The Vault Dweller: "{1000}{}{Nightkin}"Morpheus: "{1100}{MORP50}{The Nightkin came to us a while ago. They might be hideous mutants but they are extremely loyal to the Children. As we all are.}"(Morpheus' dialogue)The Vault Dweller: "{120}{}{Don't you think you're being a bit paranoid?}"Nicole: "{122}{Nic_7}{Call it instinct. We've seen Morpheus and the Nightkin and they don't look like peace makers to us. Their hospitals and message of peace make them attractive, but we know there's evil there.}"(Nicole's dialogue) Nicole and her Followers took this for granted, believing the Nightkin to be simply Morpheus' personal servants,The Vault Dweller: "{1007}{}{Nightkin}"Nicole: "{1107}{Nic_91}{They're the personal servants of Morpheus. They're huge, hulking creatures. Ugh!}"(Nicole's dialogue) unaware that Morpheus was a servant himself to the "Dark God" they considered fiction.The Vault Dweller: "{233}{}{Morpheus is not the leader of the Children. It's actually run by the Master.}"Nicole: "{235}{Nic_45}{Wait a s...the Dark God? You're not telling me he's real.}"The Vault Dweller: "{236}{}{Oh, he's real all right, just not a god. He's a mutant who wants to make everyone a Nightkin, for their own good.}"(Nicole's dialogue)Nicole: "{238}{Nic_46}{What do the Nightkin have to do with this?}"The Vault Dweller: "{241}{}{The Master wants to make everyone a Nightkin. He thinks they're superior, and he thinks that turning everyone into them will save humanity!}"(Nicole's dialogue) Even Talius, the most knowledgeable on the topic and aware of the Lieutenant's existence and role in creating mutants,The Vault Dweller: "{211}{}{What can you tell me?}"Talius: "{212}{}{Those whom the Followers and Children call Nightkin are not what they seem. They have been created by one called the Lieutenant. I believe he may follow another.}"(Talius' dialogue) used the term nightkin loosely to refer to their entirety.Talius: "{103}{}{Greetings brother. My name is Talius. How might I assist you today?}"The Vault Dweller: "{112}{}{Greetings to you as well. I am called }""{113}{}{. How is it that you came into the realm of the Followers?}"Talius: "{221}{}{My entrance into the Followers was quite simple really. It was the Followers who rescued me from the full effects of the transformation into a heinous beast.}"The Vault Dweller: "{222}{}{I do not fully understand. Please, go on.}"Talius: "{223}{}{Once, I was as you are now - a pure human. But, through the intervention of Nightkin, I was taken to some place far removed from here.}"The Vault Dweller: "{224}{}{Please, continue.}"Talius: "{225}{}{I was not of a state in which to observe what transpired. All I had known was that I awoke here and was tended by the good doctor.}"The Vault Dweller: "{226}{}{I am truly sorry to hear of your predicament. I will find those who did this to you and remedy the situation.}"The Vault Dweller: "{227}{}{I am sorry to hear of that. Alas, I am quite busy attempting to survive. Farewell.}"(Talius' dialogue)
Use of the term evolved after the Master's fall, distinguishing them from "regular" super mutants, especially as the adverse effects of Stealth Boy abuse started to manifest. By the late 23rd century, the nightkin have developed pale blue skin, and are known for being unpredictable and intense. They tend to stay in tight communities away from other super mutants, in a large part due to their mental disorders.
==History==
===Creation and the Unity===
The nightkin are the creation of the Master, transformed by the Forced Evolutionary Virus in the vats of the Mariposa Military Base. Those who survived the transformation were granted strength, endurance, and stamina on par with other super mutants. The ones whose intellect remained intact afterward were selected to become nightkin,Children of the Cathedral technician: "{116}{}{This is the birthplace of the superior race! This is the womb from which the armies of god will strike from! From the flesh of the weak comes the next race of man. Those who survive the dip will become the soldiers of god, and with their hands we shall shape the Unity.}"The Vault Dweller: "{118}{}{How does it work?}"Children of the Cathedral technician: "{119}{}{You will be bound in the holy restraints. We will lower you into a vat of the blood of god, the holiest of holies. The FEV will shape and change you. You will be strong. You become a Nightkin if you are fortunate and worthy of the honor, else you will die the most painful death possible. Soon, I will be honored. I will become strong. Then I will fear no man.}"(Children of the Cathedral technicians' dialogue) and provided with the finest weapons and armor available. The easiest way to distinguish a nightkin from lesser super mutants was their appearance; the nightkin wore black uniforms and super mutant armor to signify their status. Their lesser peers did not (with certain exceptions).All uniformed mutants except for Harry are consistently using nightkin protos and they're consistently referred to as being posted at The Cathedral. 
All Mariposa super mutants may have been variously susceptible to the Master's psychic influence,Black Mountain Radio:Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: "" and some were able to articulately communicate with him telepathically.The Vault Dweller: "{156}{}{Did you think to ask a female mutant?}"The Master: "{162}{Mast25}{Reasonable. One moment. Are you sure? What about the other females? It cannot be. Be.}"(The Master's dialogue) A mad servitor of the Inner Sanctum found the nightkin pitiable, and was aware of their sterility.Dane: "{152}{}{I think I'll call my first child Fallout. I had a son once, but the radiation ate him in his mommy's womb.}""{153}{}{Asshole! You just laughed! You didn't give a shit about him or his mother before!}""{154}{}{Mutants can't breed. And we're all going to become mutants! Don't you know what that means! The world will be sterile! Sterile! Sterile! We won't breed! We'll all die!}""{155}{}{Stop him! Stop him! Stop him! Somebody make him stop!}"(Dane's dialogue) He also claimed to hear them cry.Dane: "{156}{}{Master! I shouldn't have said anything. I heard the Nightkin crying and I felt sorry for it.}""{157}{}{What is evil? Evil is when good gets completely screwed up! Evil is when brave people can't be brave anymore! Evil is an anagram of vile! There's got to be a moral standard somewhere!}""{158}{}{Shut up, asshole! Moral standards! It sure as Hell ain't here!}"(Dane's dialogue) 
Due to their capabilities, the nightkin were granted positions of authority in the Unity, typically leading squads of super mutant regulars as sergeants, or staffing sensitive facilities, such as the Cathedral or the Los Angeles Vault, and protecting key figures in the Master's plan.Morpheus: "{7304}{}{I'll let the Nightkin deal with you}"(Morpheus' dialogue)Lasher: "{7404}{}{I'll let the Nightkin deal with you}"(Lasher's dialogue) They were a familiar sight among the Children of the Cathedral, although few except for the high priests were aware of their significance. Most considered them guards and the militant arm of the Children, vaguely aware of the Master,Slummer: "{103}{}{Hello my child. Why do you hold a weapon? Perhaps you need instruction in the ways of peace? }"The Vault Dweller: "{106}{}{I'm on guard duty. }"Slummer: "{165}{}{But we have no guards, except for the Nightkin. What are you talking about? }"The Vault Dweller: "{166}{}{The Master ordered extra security. Not sure why, I think the Nightkin are enough muscle as it is. You got any idea what's going on? }"(Slummer's dialogue) but not how the Nightkin fit into the greater scheme of things. However, they were well aware that the Nightkin were not to be trifled with; love preached by the Children was extremely difficult for them to express,The Vault Dweller: "{199}{}{Are there any other servants of the Master I should watch out for? }"Slummer: "{286}{}{Everyone here is filled with love! But it's hard for some people to express their love, and the Nightkin find it extremely hard to express it. But you shall discover this on your own. Praise the Master! Praise the Holy Flame! }"(Slummer's dialogue) and they were infamous for the bloodshed committed in the name of the Unity. Among the more educated members of the Children, such violence was considered pain of healing,The Vault Dweller: "{194}{}{What can you tell me about the Nightkin?}"Lasher: "{197}{}{They serve the Master. They bring the pain of healing to the world. Angels in the Night, who redeem the world by bloodshed. Curiosity is a foolhardy emotion, but doubly so when it comes to the Nightkin. That is your only warning. I have much to do now. Away with you.}"(Lasher's dialogue) and a warranted response to a world of endemic violence.The Vault Dweller: "{122}{}{This place is boring! Where's the blood? Where's the death?}"Viola: "{165}{}{Upstairs. Ask the Nightkin to shed your blood, they'll be more than happy to oblige.}"(Viola's dialogue) Regular members saw them as mighty killers, rumored to be unkillable and fond of torturing people.The Vault Dweller: "{204}{}{What are you afraid of?}"Zark: "{226}{}{You gotta be joking. The Nightkin are killers. You look at them the wrong way, and they'll cut off your body parts, cook 'em, and feed them to you a piece at a time. They can't be killed. They're the Master's enforcers and they're gonna tear apart the world for him. And I ain't saying nothing else!}"(Zark's dialogue) Rumors circulated of them cannibalizing humans, likely rooted in scare tactics to keep potential gossipers or whistleblowers in line.The Vault Dweller: "{193}{}{Tell me more about the Master.}"Calder: "{147}{}{I can't tell you that! The Nightkin would eat me!}"(Calder's dialogue) The rumors were aided by the fact that the nightkin delegated much of regular street fighting to human members of the Children, like Ton Barracus.The Vault Dweller: "{124}{}{What will the priests say if they hear you talking like this?}"Ton Barracus: "{161}{}{I do my job. They like it when I do my job. They like it when street trash and Followers stop breathing. It lets the Nightkin do other things. Don't mess with me . . . it ain't healthy.}"(Ton Barracus' dialogue)The Vault Dweller: "{171}{}{How'd these people get like this?}"Ton Barracus: "{154}{}{The Master wants peace, and he wants us to get it for him, so we're going to have fun. Capiche?}"The Vault Dweller: "{158}{}{Sounds good to me.}"Ton Barracus: "{227}{}{Well, don't get too eager. Even with the Nightkin, it's still tough fighting. But if we play it smart, we get out ahead. That's the only thing Ton cares about.}"(Ton Barracus' dialogue)
However, while the nightkin had a reputation for bloodthirstiness and violence, and certainly did make short work of spies,The Vault Dweller: "{206}{}{Where's all the caps around here?}"Zark: "{228}{}{I dunno. I looked for them myself! I hear Morpheus got a stash, but the Nightkin guards the main one. I've known guys who went looking around for secret passages who were never seen again. I stopped looking after awhile, and if you're smart, you won't start! Ain't worth it!}"(Zark's dialogue) to the point that the mere idea of them overhearing someone struck terror into people,The Vault Dweller: "{188}{}{Tell me more about Morpheus!}"Zark: "{203}{}{The guy dresses in black, he does his preacher act, then he goes upstairs and counts his scripts. Man, I wish I had it that easy! But I better stop talking about him behind his back, or the Nightkin might hear.}"(Zark's dialogue)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) they were not mindless beasts. Even with the Cathedral's social engineering,The Vault Dweller: "{174}{}{Tell me about the Nightkin.}"Dane"{180}{}{They're mutants. I've heard them talk. I'm very sneaky. I know all their secrets. They hate me. Hate me very much.}""{181}{}{I'm screwed, but this is only Phase 1 of the Cathedral Screwover Plan. When servitors get completely brainwashed, they got to Phase 2. That's when the Master baptizes them in the FEV-2!}""{182}{}{Most die right there. But those who survive become mutants. BIG mutants. Nightkin! The Master thinks that only the Nightkin can survive. He wants to make everyone Nightkin because they're tough!}""{183}{}{You know all this peace and unity bullshit? It really isn't bullshit to the Master. He really thinks that he's saving the world!}""{184}{}{Sterile! We're all going to be hideous, sterile freaks! Sterile! Sterile! Sterile! My name's not Errol! Sterile!}""{190}{}{MOOOO! MOOOOO! MOOOO! Brahmin Nightkin, coming through! Here comes some sterile milk!}"(Dane's dialogue) the nightkin remained distinct individuals, with much of their humanity intact. The flower children were taught to trust the Nightkin and run to them for protection.The Vault Dweller: "{188}{}{Hi kid. What're you doing in this joint?}"Calder: "{197}{}{I give out flowers. Every petal is peace, and the stem is unity. Or are the petals unity and the stem peace? Oh no, I don't remember! Do you want one?}"The Vault Dweller: "{125}{}{Not right now.}"Calder: "{134}{}{Aw! You're no fun. Maybe I should tell the Nightkin about you!}"The Vault Dweller: "{137}{}{Go ahead. And I'll tell them about you.}"Calder: "{156}{}{But the Nightkin like me! They told me that if anyone bothered me, they'd kill 'em. So there!}"(Calder's dialogue)Calder: "{107}{}{I heard about you. You run around the Wastes killing kids! Help! Nightkin!}"(Calder's dialogue) They formed close relationships with each other and were fond of conversation, including jokes, banter,Viscious: "{212}{}{Then use the door, and beware the Corridor. I assume that you have your protection in place?}"The Vault Dweller: "{214}{}{No, not really. Should I?}"Viscious: "{215}{}{Of course! You cannot hope to pass the Corridor without it. What did you do with your nullifier!}"The Vault Dweller: "{216}{}{I left it in my other robes.}"Viscious: "{218}{}{Ah, humor, I like that. [pauses] I do not have one, obviously. You need to go get one from the braindrains on the second level. Unity prevails.}"(Viscious' dialogue) and even gossiping about the Master. Nightkin were well aware that their leader was a horrifying sight.The Vault Dweller: "{202}{}{What's going on around here?}"Dane: "{207}{}{You know, the Nightkin say he's uglier than they are. That means he must be one hideous son of a bitch.}""{208}{}{He's the Man! The Man with the Plan! He plans because he loves us! And if the world gets in his way, screw it! Because that's what love is all about!}""{215}{}{Love is what makes the cactus grow! Love is what makes the brahmin moo! Love is screwing, it's screwing your life! I hate love! I love hate! If the Master hated us, we'd be all right!}"(Dane's dialogue) 
Romantic relationships between mutants and humans were not unheard of.Sarah: "{100}{}{Oh, my god! You killed him!}"The Vault Dweller: "{104}{}{I'm sorry. I didn't know that he was so close to you.}"(Sarah's dialogue) The dipping in the vats was compared to the joining of lovers together in service of a greater cause.Sarah: "{114}{}{Flip, when will I get out of here?}"Flip: "{115}{}{Soon. Very soon. Your time is near.}"Sarah: "{116}{}{I can't wait to be together again.}"Flip: "{117}{}{You will not regret your decision, dearest. The dipping is painful . . .}"Sarah: "{118}{}{Not too much, I hope.}"Flip: "{119}{}{The FEV is very painful, but you will live.}"Flip: "{120}{}{And you will join us. In body and soul.}"Sarah: "{121}{}{We will be together again?}"Flip: "{122}{}{Yes, dearest. Yes.}"Sarah: "{123}{}{I love you.}"Flip: "{124}{}{And I you.}"(Sarah and Flip's dialogue) 
Substance abuse was rare. Drinking was specifically banned at the Cathedral because the Nightkin "don't like it."Ton Barracus: "{122}{}{What do you want, you stupid zombie? Get outta my face before I break it.}"The Vault Dweller: "{126}{}{Hey, what's the problem? A few drinks and we'll be buds!}"Ton Barracus: "{168}{}{We don't drink in here. Nightkin don't like it. You better get a few more clues before you talk to Ton again.}"(Ton Barracus' dialogue) However, they did use medical chems, provided by Doctor Wu.Wu: "{121}{}{What is your problem, asshole? Maybe I put you to sleep, shithead!}"The Vault Dweller: "{122}{}{Do you put a lot of people to sleep, doc?}"Wu: "{161}{}{Nightkin prefer to do that. I give them chems sometimes. Nobody pays attention to Doctor Wu. They're all assholes! Now, you wanna get fixed up?}"(Wu's dialogue) 
Such problems were natural: The nightkin dealt with some of the most difficult tasks, including aforementioned bloodshed, disposal of failed FEV subjects,Dane: "{147}{}{Life sucks, but death sucks worse, and we can't go back in time to stop our birth, so what's the point?}""{148}{}{I think they get the point, asshole! They know the Servitor process screws you! They know this 'baptism machine' just messes . . .}""{149}{}{My name is Dane. I am a Viking. I like ducks. I rape and pillage! Will you rape and pillage with me?}""{150}{}{Oh God! Master, not God! At least I remember my own name. At least I still have that. Most of the other failures didn't, before they shot them. Not pretty corpses either. Nightkin target practice!}""{151}{}{And then there were the ones who lost their minds completely. I wish they were dead.}"(Dane's dialogue) as well as espionage and assassinations.The Courier: "You were a soldier?"Lily Bowen: " Sometimes an assassin. I killed a lot of folks for the Master. "(Lily Bowen's dialogue) Sterility was a known problem to some, but most nightkin seem to be unaware of it, even boasting that they don't share weak loins with humans (although they certainly could feel pain when hit in the genitals).Nightkin: "{2352}{}{I do not share that weakness with you, human!}""{2353}{}{My loins are stronger than yours, human!}""{2354}{}{What a pathetic tactic, human!}""{2355}{}{The Master protects me, human!}""{2356}{}{Your death grows more painful, human!}""{2357}{}{Oof! Perhaps I should test your weak points}"(Nightkin's dialogue) This kind of reinterpretation was a common coping strategy; nightkin coped with the stress of their life by embracing their status as the chosen of the Master, displaying arrogance and conceit,Fallout Nightkin combat message script: "# 14. Nightkin# We are the Chosen of the Master, and all must bow before us. (Damn these bastards are really arrogant); my interpretation is that these boys are smarter and more cunning than garden variety super mutants."(COMBATAI.MSG (Fallout)) believing themselves to be the future of humanity.Nightkin: "{2306}{}{Your death is imminent}""{2307}{}{You have angered your betters, now pay the price!}""{2308}{}{I come for my enemies, wielding Holy Flame!}""{2309}{}{Those who oppose Unity must be swept aside!}""{2310}{}{Death to the enemies of the Master!}""{2311}{}{We are the future and you're history!}"(Nightkin's dialogue) They projected an aura of confidence, appearing not to care, especially in combat, where an enemy advantage in numbers was dismissed due to a strong belief in quality over quantity.Wu: "{113}{}{What do you want?! Will you assholes never learn? I'm tired of using my talents on losers. Shoot straight next time! Don't let them shoot you.}"The Vault Dweller: "{114}{}{I was outnumbered!}"Wu: "{154}{}{You are an idiot! Quality, not quantity! You think the Nightkin care when they're outnumbered? Go cry to your mother, you little baby! Now, do you want to get better or not?}"(Wu's dialogue) Many taunted their enemies, boasting of their superiority to intimidate them, invoking the Holy Flame,Nightkin: "{2312}{}{This is the end!}""{2313}{}{Neither man nor god can save you now!}""{2314}{}{Welcome to your grave!}""{2315}{}{This is the Master's touch!}""{2316}{}{You shall enter Hell this day!}""{2317}{}{You will die at my hand}""{2318}{}{In the name of the Master, die!}""{2319}{}{Now falls the death blow!}""{2320}{}{I shall burn you with Holy Flame!}""{2321}{}{Suffer, human!}"(Nightkin's dialogue) Unity, and the Master.Nightkin: "{2322}{}{Pitiful! Why do you even struggle?}""{2323}{}{Is this the best that humanity has to offer?}""{2324}{}{Your attack is as weak as your spirit!}""{2325}{}{That was your last mistake}""{2326}{}{The Master shields me from his Enemies!}""{2327}{}{You cannot hurt the Chosen}"(Nightkin's dialogue) The nightkin were extremely capable in combat, and their boasts that neither man nor god could save their enemies were rooted in fact. This did translate into a degree of contempt when dealing with a majority of humans, frequently advised not to play games with the nightkin.Nightkin sentry: "{102}{}{Leave me or die!}"The Vault Dweller: "{103}{}{I don't like your tone. If my message does not get to the Master, I will see to it that your death is slow and painful.}"Nightkin sentry: "{109}{}{It is unwise to play games with the Nightkin. Get out of here!}"(Nightkin sentry's dialogue)
This attitude was not universal. Some nightkin held a more nuanced view, considering themselves to be humans, simply reborn, and choosing to follow the Unity and the Master as mankind's best chance for peace.The Vault Dweller: "{131}{}{I'm here to protect humanity from the likes of you.}"Kyle: "{134}{}{What kind of foolish bigotry is that, we are 'humanity.' We're just as human as you are.}"The Vault Dweller: "{136}{}{There is no possible way that you are human.}"Kyle: "{137}{}{My name is Kyle. I was born to a mother and a father, like yourself. The Master just oversaw my rebirth. These muscles, this skin, this strength does not make me any less human than you. I do not like all that the Unity stands for, but it is the best chance for peace that we have.}"The Vault Dweller: "{139}{}{You may be human, but that still doesn't make your Unity right. I guess we will be enemies.}"Kyle: "{140}{}{It is a pity that you act this way, but you will not proceed further...}"(Kyle's dialogue) Others embraced Unity as a religion, praying together with ChildrenPraying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{100}{}{You see some mutants and children kneeling before a video screen.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) in the name of peace,Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{101}{}{Pray with us for peace, child.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) leading meditations on the quality of strength,Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{102}{}{The Unity will prevail if we are strong. Meditate on the quality of strength.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) and embracing faith as necessary to the mission of saving humanity.Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{103}{}{Our mission to save humanity requires faith. Pray with us.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG)Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{105}{}{We must pray to be strong. The change is almost upon us.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) In this approach, the will of the Master was synonymous with salvation,Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{108}{}{I believe in the Master. His will is our salvation.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) and Unity the future, an equivalent of promised land.Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{106}{}{The Unity is our future, brother.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG)Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{107}{}{The Unity is our future, sister.}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) The corollary was hatred for unbelievers and blasphemers, i.e. the enemies of the Unity.Praying super mutant/Praying Child of the Cathedral: "{104}{}{Unbeliever! Blasphemer! You will be punished!}"(SMPRAY.MSG and PRAYING.MSG) Finally, some just sought solace in darkness and solitude, e.g. sitting in the Cathedral at night, staring up at the ceiling in total darkness, and resting.The Courier: ""Dog: " got dark, no people, Dog could sit on floor and look up at ceiling. take off wrist-collar then."(Dog and God's dialogue)
===After the Master's fall===
The destruction of the Cathedral and the Mariposa Military Base by the Vault Dweller in March and April of 2162Fallout Bible 0: "2162	March	3	 Vault Dweller kicks the Master's ass."Fallout Bible 0: "2162	April	20	 Vault Dweller destroys the Military Base. Dogmeat dies defending his master." spelled doom for the Unity. Demoralized and leaderless, the super mutants and the Children fled New California in all directions.Fallout endings; Super mutants: "You managed to destroy the Vats, then you killed the Master before he could realize his twisted plans. With the Master gone, his armies flee to the east in fear of retribution from the remaining normals."The Chosen One: "{119}{}{So, tell me what you know about the Master.}"Leanne: "{144}{}{Well this might take a bit. Be a gentleman and buy me a drink, wouldn't you please? Not whiskey though, Nuka-Cola please.}"The Chosen One: "{147}{}{Sure.}"Leanne: "{149}{}{Thanks. Now let's see... I remember my mom telling me about this huge migration that happened 70... or was it 80 years ago...}"The Chosen One: "{150}{}{Please, go on.}"Leanne: "{151}{}{Really big mutants with weapons as tall as you and me came from the south. Mom said it looked like a big migration of some sort.}"The Chosen One: "{152}{}{How many?}"Leanne: "{153}{}{Don't know, but there were multiple groups of them. Some would continue north, others headed east. No one knew where they were going.}"The Chosen One: "{154}{}{Go on.}"Leanne: "{155}{}{They were quite upset and seemed to be fleeing from something.}"The Chosen One: "{156}{}{Really?}"Leanne: "{157}{}{Yeah, there were also others in dirty, tattered purple robes... they kept babbling about how the Master was dead...}"The Chosen One: "{158}{}{Interesting.}"Leanne: "{159}{}{Some of them even committed suicide right here in town!}"The Chosen One: "{160}{}{So?}"Leanne: "{161}{}{Well don't you see. They were talking about the Master, the one your ancestor killed.}"The Chosen One: "{162}{}{Thanks for the story.}"(Leanne's dialogue) The Brotherhood of Steel helped human outposts drive the armies away with minimal loss of life on both sides of the conflict,Fallout endings; Brotherhood of Steel: "The Brotherhood of Steel helps the other human outposts drive the mutant armies away with minimal loss of life, on both sides of the conflict. The advanced technology of the Brotherhood is slowly reintroduced into New California, with little disruption or chaos. The Brotherhood wisely remains out of the power structure, and becomes a major research and development house." and within twenty years the conflict wound down, with mutants and regular humans making peace.Marcus: "{128}{mcs8}{Long story. Want it short or the whole thing?}"The Chosen One: "{130}{}{Hell, I’m not too busy. Let’s hear it all.}"Marcus: "{136}{mcs10}{Right...After the Master and the vats were destroyed, I wandered a bit. No place to go. One day got attacked by this fool wearin’ power armor.}"The Chosen One: "{137}{}{Really?}"Marcus: "{138}{mcs11}{That was Jacob, from the Brotherhood of Steel. He’d sworn some oath to destroy muties. We tussled for a while – probably a day or two. After a while, we just started laughing. What was the point?}"The Chosen One: "{139}{}{Then what?}"Marcus: "{140}{mcs12}{We became friends. Headed off together. Then other people started following us. Guess they figured if they weren’t safe with a mutie and a Steel Knight, safe just wasn’t going to happen. }"The Chosen One: "{144}{}{What, you’re not killing humans anymore?}"Marcus: "{146}{mcs14}{Oh, what sinkhole are you from? Muties and normals made peace a long time ago.}"The Chosen One: "{147}{}{I’m from a village founded by the original Vault Dweller.}"Marcus: "{249}{mcs42}{The "original Vault Dweller"? You mean the one who killed the Master and destroyed the vats?}"The Chosen One: "{251}{}{Damn right. Gonna do something about it, mutie?}"(Marcus' dialogue) The foundation of Broken Hills around 2181The Chosen One: "{107}{}{Who are you?}"Marcus: "{124}{mcs7}{I’m Marcus. Helped build the place. Now I’m sheriff.}"The Chosen One: "{125}{}{You helped build this place? That must have been a long time ago…}"Marcus: "{128}{mcs8}{Long story. Want it short or the whole thing?}"The Chosen One: "{129}{}{Give me the short version.}"Marcus: "{133}{mcs9}{Right. Me and a human named Jacob built this place around that old bank about 60 years ago. Anyone’s welcome here, long as they keep the peace.}"(Marcus' dialogue) attracted some surviving nightkin, who joined the Unity patrols to protect the pioneering community.WORLDMAP.TXT spawns use nightkin for Unity patrols and regular ones for the town itself. Many mutants began to reevaluate the Master's philosophy, considering the Unity a golden age,The Chosen One: "{223}{}{What about the Master’s hatred for humans?}"Marcus: "{226}{mcs35}{You’re talking a long time ago. The world’s moved on. You want to hear ancient history?}"The Chosen One: "{227}{}{Definitely.}"Marcus: "{230}{mcs36}{Right. Well, never really HATED humans. We just had a better way. These new governments, they think they've got all the answers. Blah, blah. Been there, seen that, got the scars.}"The Chosen One: "{231}{}{So what was the better way?}"Marcus: "{232}{mcs37}{The Master wanted to elevate everyone to his level, so we wouldn’t fight each other anymore. He was convinced we wouldn’t do it by ourselves – couldn’t. We had to be forced to evolve.}"The Chosen One: "{233}{}{Do you agree?}"Marcus: "{234}{mcs38}{While Jacob was alive, I thought the Master was wrong. But it seems that while some men can heed the call and rise above it all, most just run away.}"The Chosen One: "{235}{}{So you think the Master was right?}"Marcus: "{236}{mcs38a}{Jacob heard the call and embraced it. So did the Vault Dweller. But no matter how many rise above, the masses will always destroy them, right?}"The Chosen One: "{237}{}{Maybe.}"Marcus: "{238}{mcs39}{The Master just wanted everyone to see clearly. The Vault Dweller ended that dream.}"The Chosen One: "{239}{}{Sounds like you admired and hated the Vault Dweller at the same time.}"(Marcus' dialogue)The Chosen One: "{239}{}{Sounds like you admired and hated the Vault Dweller at the same time.}"Marcus: "{243}{mcs40}{You’re right. If all humans fought for what they believed in like that, we wouldn’t have needed the Master’s plan in the first place.}"The Chosen One: "{244}{}{The Master wanted to enslave humanity!}"Marcus: "{246}{mcs41}{Don't forget, I knew the folks involved. They were the best humanity had to offer. Your people are going to tell the story a different way, right?}"The Chosen One: "{247}{}{Err… maybe. Umm, I have more questions.}"(Marcus' dialogue) and considering their status as mutants preferable to being a human, thanks to the absence of pettiness, jealousy and hatred.The Chosen One: "{240}{}{You were a human. How can you justify what the Master did to you?}"Marcus: "{262}{mcs46}{My memories of being a human aren't as clear as they once were, but I remember pettiness, hatred, jealousy... I prefer being a mutant.}"(Marcus' dialogue)The Chosen One: "{263}{}{So you think the Master’s plan was right?}"Marcus: "{266}{mcs47}{It was flawed. We should have only taken the best. Look around. Most mutants didn't have the mind or will to withstand the strain. (sigh) If only we had chosen better…}"(Marcus' dialogue)The Chosen One: "{143}{}{Wait… you were friends with a guy from the Brotherhood?}"Marcus: "{216}{mcs32}{Damn right. Best friend I ever had.}"The Chosen One: "{217}{}{Yeah, right, you would’ve dipped him just like everyone else.}"Marcus: "{219}{mcs33}{Hell, yes, I would've. What a great mutant he would’ve been.}"The Chosen One: "{220}{}{I don't think he'd be happy to hear you say that.}"Marcus: "{222}{mcs34}{(laughs) We had this argument all the time. (sigh) I miss that hard-head.}"(Marcus' dialogue) The term nightkin all but faded from use for a time.Fallout 2 contains no text references to "Nightkin," aside from spawns.
 
Problems began when nightkin stealth troops, the elite of the elite equipped with Stealth Boys began to suffer adverse effects of long-term exposure to stealth radiation.Dead Money loading screens: "The Nightkin are Super Mutants, stealth troops created by the Master. They scattered across the wasteland after his defeat, taking refuge in remote locations." The changes in brain chemistry and general damage to the brainThe Courier: ""God: "[SUCCEEDED] , the one use. Pre-War technology, as if it's the cause of all ills, mind and body. I to come out of the cage to protect Dog. Dog is the beast, we simply change cages. "(Dog and God's dialogue) caused by thisThe Courier: "What makes you think that the Nightstalker mutation isn't natural?"Henry: "I've compared the brain chemistry of a Nightkin to one of the local Nightstalkers we killed. They both exhibit similar neurochemical changes. Now, I'm not claiming that Nightstalkers are running around wearing Stealth Boys, mind you. I just don't think it's all a coincidence."(Henry's dialogue) slowly caused mental instabilities, including schizophrenia, hallucinations, and multiple personality disorders.Dead Money loading screens: "Nightkin's prolonged used of Stealth Boy technology has led to mental instabilities, including schizophrenia and multiple personality disorders." Roving remnants of the Master's army, composed of nightkin refusing to integrate,Fallout 2 random encounters of the Master's Army remnants use nightkin protos.(WORLDMAP.MSG (Fallout 2)) were hit particularly hard, especially when their deteriorating mental state was combined with intelligence, charisma, and a crippling fear of being seen, leading many on an increasingly violent quest to gather Stealth Boys.The Courier: "Why does Keene want to leave?"Marcus: "Because of a promise. One I haven't been able to keep. The Nightkin all suffer from schizophrenia. It's the Stealth Boys they use, used to use. Nightkin have a hard time being seen like normal folks. Can't stand it. A few already left to try and find more Stealth Boys. Miserable situation. They either stay here and suffer, or dig up Stealth Boys and lose their minds. Not much of a choice."(Marcus' dialogue) Most nightkin were well aware of the cause of their suffering, but were powerless to control the damage on their own.The Courier: "Why are the Nightkin here in Jacobstown?"Keene: " Instead, we wait and wait. I'm sick of waiting."The Courier: "Why are the Nightkin here in Jacobstown?"Keene: ""(Keene's dialogue)
As such, the term reappeared in the late 23rd century, this time referring specifically to these super mutants suffering from long term abuse of Stealth Boys, twisted and discolored blue by the stealth radiation.Fallout: Wasteland Warfare - Super Mutants: Nightkin: "Creations of the Master, Nightkin are elite Super Mutants. Their purple hue is due to increase experimentation on them, though their name stems from near-constant use and almost addiction to Stealth Boys. This makes them some of the most dangerous variants of Super Mutants, as while they are not quite as strong as standard Super Mutants they are stealthier and have more reasoned approaches to combat – almost verging on tactics." These were former spies and assassins of the Master, who were few in number, but through their combat training, stealth skills, and liberal use of salvaged stealth technologies became a menace in various regions of the West. The Mojave Wasteland was one such area, as Marcus (himself a former nightkin, though not one of the stealth troops)Nightkin: "Head voices say they knew flower girl's father."(Black Rock Cave Nightkin's dialogue) attempted to set up a refuge for mutants at Black Mountain, especially the long-suffering nightkin and the stunted second-generation mutants.Fallout: New Vegas loading screens: "Super Mutants in the Mojave Wasteland are remnants of the Master's Army and the Enclave's experiments at Mariposa Military Base." Although all super mutants were created by the Master with equality in mind, a century later divisions were made by the suffering nightkin: Marcus was pushed out of Black Mountain by Tabitha, a charismatic paranoid schizophrenic nightkin, who immediately proclaimed the "State of Utobitha," (a portmanteau of her name and utopia), creating a fortified area hostile to all humans, and broadcasting her own rants on the air, many utterly detached from fact. One of these was that the nightkin were specifically created by the Master to be superior to other super mutants (stronger, faster, and smarter, like "normal" super mutants were to humans) and placed above them in the Unity's hierarchy. Coupled with Tabitha's claim that she was the highest ranking nightkin alive, this was supposed to make her the supreme commander of all super mutants in existence, and most certainly not crazy, especially not because of overuse of psychologically damaging pre-War tech.Black Mountain Radio:Rhonda: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: "" Tabitha also consistently put down first generation super mutants, claiming they had a "suicidal urge" for not willing to settle at Black Mountain with her.Black Mountain Radio:Rhonda: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: ""Tabitha: ""Rhonda: "" 
These first generation mutants, led by Marcus, resettled at Jacobstown, trying to recreate the Unity promise of equality once realized at Broken Hills,Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.44: "Super Mutants: NightkinBack Mountain, the dominant feature of the area, was unoccupied for over a century after the war. The victim of a direct strike, most of Black Mountain's radar arrays were knocked out immediately. Even though valuable materials were in the buildings that surrounded the arrays, the area was so irradiated that no one survived in it for more than an hour or so. After the fall of the Master, many of the first generation Super Mutants headed east. In Black Mountain, they were able to find a place to set up a camp where they could avoid most of the rest of the world. It took a long time for the Super Mutants to settle in and repair the equipment in the array, but they were finally able to enlist the help of some Ghouls to make the array operational.Over time, Nightkin—more psychotic and temperamental Super Mutants thanks to their preposition and eventual addiction to Stealth technology—and the more thuggish second generation Super Mutants trickled into Black Mountain, which eventually caused problems. The de-facto leader of the community was Marcus, from Broken Hills. Unfortunately, the influx of less-mentally stable super mutants proved to be more than he could handle. Eventually, he was pushed out of the group at Black Mountain. He left with a small group of (mostly first generation) super mutants, ghouls, and friendly humans to found Jacobstown. This left the Nightkin and second generation Super Mutants to fend for themselves. Within weeks, a paranoid schizophrenic NIghtkinIcon sic.png named Tabitha (and Rhonda) progressively turned the satellite array into a fortress against any and all outsiders. She hallucinates regularly, and has convinced the other super mutants (especially the idiotic second-gen ones) that only she can see the threats against them, due to her "magic eyes" (actually a pair of oversized child sunglasses which—of course—she won't let anyone else touch)."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide faction profiles)Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p.44: "Super MutantsJacobstown sits at the same general location as the pre-war settlement of Mount Charleston, a small alpine community high in the mountains west of the Las Vegas Valley. Post-war, the area was of little interest to travelers and scavengers due to its remote location and lack of salvageable material. It was not until the past twenty years that it became a permanent settlement for any group. Marcus, the mild-mannered Super Mutant sheriff of a settlement named Broken Hills, took it upon himself to find a refuge for the "broken-minded" of his kind—low-intelligence Super Mutants and schizophrenic Nightkin. It proved to be more difficult than holding on to Broken Hills, but he eventually discovered Mount Charleston and decided it was a good spot to set up a community.Unfortunately for Marcus, not all of the Nightkin were content to live under his rules. Davidson (who currently talks to a Brahmin Skull named Antler in the bowels of the REPCONN Test Site) and Tabitha (who broadcasts her particular brand of insanity from Black Mountain) broke off on their own, eventually winding up with their own dysfunctional Super Mutant communities. Though Marcus is disappointed at how things turned out, he does the best he can to take care of Lily and the other Super Mutants and Nightkin a Jacobstown."(Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide faction profiles) uniting like-minded humans, ghouls, super mutants, and nightkin who refused to follow Tabitha. They believed Marcus' promise of finding a cure for nightkin schizophrenia. Nightkin factions led by Keene and Davison initially agreed to settle and supported Marcus' and Doctor Henry's research, but the lack of progress gradually turned to impatience and frustration. By 2281, Davison and his nightkin left, following the call of a new god, Antler, and descending on the REPCONN test site and the Bright Brotherhood in search of Stealth Boys. Keene's group remained behind, stretching their patience out a little further.The Courier: "And who are you, exactly?"Davison: "Me? I am devoted to Antler. But before Antler? Hmm... Captain, once. Last name, Davison. First name... don't remember. I commanded a troop of Nightkin. The Master's elite. A great honor, very proud. Something happened. We wandered the desert. Life without Master was... hard. The others' minds going strange, going crazy. But then I found us new master. I find us Antler! Since then, everything's been going really well."(Davison's dialogue) Minor groups of nightkin also isolated themselves across the wasteland, dealing with their state in solitude. One of these groups, at Black Rock cave, did not succumb to the bloodthirst, becoming an almost mystical group that tapped into the one positive side effect of Stealth Boy sickness: The development of psychic abilities. While cryptic, these nightkin could see the changing situation in the struggle between the Republic and the NCR, deaths of major figures, and even read minds to a degree (e.g. they could tell that Arcade Gannon was a "metal man," tied to the Enclave).
Most nightkin chose to rally around leaders, especially new masters,The Courier: "Super Mutant army?"Marcus: "Long story, so here's the short version. The Master created the Super Mutants and Nightkin. The Master thought he could unify everyone. No more differences, no more war. "(Marcus' dialogue) giving leaders like Keene the ability to make or break communities.Marcus: " Without Keene, it'll be hard to convince other Nightkin in the wasteland to come here. And harder to get the ones here to stay."(Marcus' dialogue) While persuading them was hard, especially once they put their mind to it,Marcus: " Better than killing him, I guess. Always a chance I could get him to come back. Not counting on it. "(Marcus' dialogue) their intelligence and charisma was a powerful asset, even if affected by their mental state or personal flaws.The Courier: "What's the story with Keene?"Marcus: " He's got a lot of pull with Nightkin, though. He talks, they listen. Was hoping he could draw other Nightkin to Jacobstown. Keene is saner than most, but I know he's thinking of going his own way again. He's aggressive, impatient. Can't stand sitting around."(Marcus' dialogue)Marcus: " Without the Nightkin around, Jacobstown would be much weaker than it is."(Marcus' dialogue) Part of the reason for their influence was empathy: Only nightkin understood what it was like to be a nightkin, no matter how well intentioned or sympathetic their peers were.The Courier: "What do you do here?"Keene: "I represent the Nightkin. That doesn't mean I don't respect Marcus for what he's trying to do. However, he doesn't truly understand the difficulties of being a Nightkin."(Keene's dialogue) Perhaps the greatest source of this tendency for seeking leaders was the deeply seated longing for the Master and the Lieutenant. Tabitha explicitly used memories of the Master's psychic commands in her propaganda, combining them with existing nostalgiaThe Courier: "When we were sneaking, you mentioned Lou... who's Lou?"Dog: " Miss Lou. Miss the Base. Miss the Church. Don't like here. "(Dog and God's dialogue) for their strong personalities and any additional conditioning nightkin could have received. Dog was one example, serving the rogue Brotherhood Elder Elijah with unparalleled fervor.The Courier: ""God: "[SUCCEEDED] The Master was a strong personality... personalities as well. Dog is slavish, was conditioned to serve the Master until death. The Old Man... Elijah merely came along and opened that door in Dog's mind. Now Dog does whatever the Old Man wants."(Dog and God's dialogue) However, it wasn't universal: Some nightkin, like Lily Bowen, rejected the Master after his defeat, embracing their old selvesThe Courier: "Who was the Master?"Lily Bowen: "Oh, he was a nasty man, dearie. You don't want to know about him. He was the one who made that Super mutant army I told you about."(Lily Bowen's dialogue) and rejecting the Master's army and the Unity.The Courier: "What happened then?"Lily Bowen: "That wicked old Master got what was coming to him, that's what! After his cathedral blew up, I decided it was high time to go home."(Lily Bowen's dialogue) Memories of their time in service remained, as did friendships and enmities developed at the time.The Courier: "Earlier, it seemed like you knew Tabitha. What's the story there?"Lily Bowen: "Tabitha was squad leader when we both worked for the Master. She wasn't very nice at all, but she was good at the chopping. Almost as good as Leo...."(Lily Bowen's dialogue) Their symptoms would also require intervention, though, and could be controlled with medication, at the risk of destroying what's left of their memories.The decisions made to help Lily Bowen during the quest Lily and Leo. 
Dealing with the nightkin mental health crisis is one of the many challenges the Courier can face in the Mojave, on the cusp of the Second Battle of Hoover Dam.
==Variants==
===Fallout===
The nightkin are found in the game concentrated in the Cathedral and the Los Angeles Vault, as well as leading squads of lesser mutants in and around the Mariposa Military Base. While the term is associated with the stealth troops, virtually all uniformed super mutants except for Harry are actually nightkin. Those using the Stealth Boys are equipped with them for an ethereal visual effect, but are otherwise identical to their fully visible brethren. 
Nightkin are among the toughest foes found in the game, and are stronger than "regular" super mutants by a significant margin. Apart from wielding heavy weapons and energy weapons with some of the highest skill levels among non-player characters, they have very high Hit Points (surpassed only by deathclaws, the Lieutenant and the Master), very high armor class (second only to Brotherhood paladins), and their toughness and armor confers protection comparable to combat armor. They are limited only by their AP ("only" 8 action points per turn). 
In fact, master nightkin are more perceptive, agile, and lucky than the Lieutenant (though he has the benefit of nearly double the hit points and better protection, equivalent to power armor):
Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison	Super mutant statistics comparison
Proto # 	Proto name 	S 	P 	E 	C 	I 	A 	L 	AP 	AC 	HP 	Melee Dmg 	Seq. 	XP 	B. Guns 	E. Weaps 	Unarmed 	Melee 	Throwing 	Rad. Res. 	Pois. Res. 	Normal 	Laser 	Fire 	Plasma 	Elec. 	Exp.
9 	Super Mutant 	8 	4 	7 	3 	5 	6 	5 	8 	11 	40 	13 	8 	250 	76 	76 	66 	61 	28 	14 	35 	15 	15 	15 	15 	20 	10
186 	Super Mutant Guard 	8 	5 	8 	3 	3 	5 	5 	6 	15 	50 	13 	10 	300 	75 	65 	90 	65 	30 	16 	40 	30 	50 	20 	20 	0 	25
187 	Mean Super Mutant 	9 	7 	7 	2 	2 	7 	2 	7 	17 	60 	14 	14 	325 	77 	67 	94 	74 	41 	14 	35 	30 	50 	20 	20 	0 	25
108 	Tough Super Mutant 	9 	6 	8 	1 	6 	6 	4 	8 	11 	75 	16 	12 	300 	56 	56 	78 	78 	43 	16 	40 	15 	15 	15 	0 	20 	10
188 	Mad Super Mutant 	9 	9 	8 	4 	7 	8 	8 	8 	18 	100 	16 	18 	350 	78 	68 	96 	86 	54 	16 	40 	30 	50 	20 	20 	0 	25
189 	Deadly Super Mutant 	10 	8 	10 	4 	8 	9 	8 	8 	19 	125 	19 	16 	375 	89 	84 	124 	94 	62 	20 	50 	30 	50 	20 	20 	0 	25
24 	Nightkin 	8 	7 	9 	3 	5 	7 	5 	8 	27 	50 	15 	14 	300 	72 	67 	88 	88 	56 	18 	45 	40 	50 	30 	40 	40 	30
107 	Nightkin guard 	9 	8 	8 	3 	6 	8 	5 	9 	28 	60 	16 	16 	325 	78 	73 	96 	96 	64 	16 	40 	40 	50 	30 	40 	40 	30
190 	Tough nightkin 	9 	9 	8 	3 	6 	8 	7 	8 	28 	70 	16 	18 	400 	83 	83 	106 	101 	69 	16 	40 	40 	50 	30 	40 	40 	30
191 	Deadly nightkin 	9 	10 	9 	3 	7 	9 	4 	8 	29 	90 	16 	20 	450 	84 	79 	107 	107 	62 	18 	45 	40 	50 	30 	40 	40 	30
192 	Super nightkin 	10 	8 	10 	3 	7 	8 	6 	8 	28 	110 	19 	16 	475 	88 	83 	107 	107 	69 	20 	50 	40 	50 	30 	40 	40 	30
193 	Master Nighkin 	10 	9 	10 	3 	8 	9 	8 	8 	29 	140 	19 	18 	500 	99 	99 	129 	114 	77 	20 	50 	40 	50 	30 	40 	40 	30
23 	Super Mutant Lieutenant 	10 	8 	10 	4 	8 	7 	6 	8 	37 	250 	19 	16 	1500 	92 	92 	121 	111 	71 	20 	50 	60 	70 	60 	40 	40 	50
Notable nightkin include:
* Lieutenant
* Kyle
* Viscious
* Super mutant sergeants
* Nightkin sentries
===Fallout 2===
After the fall of the Unity, the nightkin dispersed. Fallout 2 is set 80 years later, and while they are not explicitly mentioned in the game, but they appear in random encounters, as part of Unity patrols around Broken Hills, and as die hard remnants of the Master's army on the outskirts of NCR territories. 
Marcus would technically classify as a nightkin in Unity times, but does not use the term in Fallout 2 or Fallout: New Vegas.
===Fallout: New Vegas===
right|thumb|300px|Tabitha, the leader of the State of Utobitha and the most (in)famous nightkin in the Mojave.
Nightkin make a return in Fallout: New Vegas, 120 years after the fall of the Unity. Long-term Stealth Boy use caused adverse neurochemical changes in their brains, leading to paranoia, schizophrenia, split personality disorder, and other adverse psychological effects. They are distinguished from other mutants by their bluish skin, another side effect of stealth radiation, and a general preference for melee weapons (rebar clubs, super sledges or, in the case of Nightkin masters, bumper swords), though they also appear using ranged weapons (miniguns and incinerators).
Although weaker than "normal" mutants, nightkin have the Toughness and Ninja perks, and use cloaking in combat, which prevents the use of V.A.T.S. (they can be targeted, but the hit chance is 0%, preventing attack queuing).
Boone's Spotter perk does not work with cloaked Nightkin, but ED-E's Enhanced Sensors perk does.
The outfits of the nightkin are a hodgepodge of scraps of clothing, bits of rope, leather and furs mixed with sports equipment, like umpire chest protector and the blades of ice skates. Over the top of the armor, nightkin often wear cowls, multi-colored serapes, ponchos and other bits of cloth with the occasional garden hose as a belt.
===Locations===
* Black Mountain: Nightkin led by Tabitha control the former satellite station, with Black Mountain Radio broadcasting its unique programming around the clock. They feature in the quest Crazy, Crazy, Crazy.
* Black Rock Cave: A small cave with three idle nightkin who should be non-hostile after the completion of Crazy, Crazy, Crazy. It is one of the only places where nightkin idle dialogue can be heard, giving hints about the Courier's companions and reacting to quests.
* REPCONN test site: Davison's nightkin and devotees of Antler (an inanimate brahmin skull) are the principal opposition here, turning the facility upside down in search of more Stealth Boys, and preventing the Bright Brotherhood from making their pilgrimage. They feature in the quest Come Fly With Me.
* Novac: A single nightkin is encountered during the unmarked quest The Screams of Brahmin for Dusty McBride, to investigate the killings of his brahmin. This poor soul suffers from insomnia and tries to silence noises in their head by killing Dusty's brahmin.
* Jacobstown: The nightkin under Keene play a major role in the town's storyline, determining its ending. Additionally, Lily Bowen is a nightkin companion who can be recruited at the town.
* Brooks tumbleweed ranch: A nightkin appears next to the Courier after they approach the ranch, offering to trade wind-brahmin for all their caps. At release, the exchange was bugged, removing no caps, but adding a Stealth Boy to the player's inventory. This is no longer the case.
* Sierra Madre: Dog and God is the sole nightkin at the Casino.
===Characters===
* Tabitha, founder and supreme commander of the State of Utobitha.
* Keene, leader of the Jacobstown nightkin looking for a cure for their condition.
* Lily Bowen, a former assassin working as a herder in the mountain refuge.
* Davison, leader of a rogue group of nightkin who attacked the REPCONN test site and the Bright Brotherhood, and the focal point of Come Fly With Me.
* The "chupacabra" nightkin, a rogue super mutant attacking Dusty McBride's brahmin.
* Brooks tumbleweed ranch nightkin, selling wind brahmin (tumbleweeds).
* Black Rock cave nightkin, who seem to display psychic insight.
* Dog and God, a split personality nightkin and key to Elijah's plans. Unlike others, he does not use Stealth Boys, relying on his monstrous physique and ability.
===Other depictions===
* The nightkin appear in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, as elite late-game enemies led by Attis. They use high-tech stealth suits to protect the Corporate Vault and its secrets.
* Nightkin appear in both Fallout: Wasteland Warfare and Fallout: The Roleplaying Game in several contexts, though their lore has not been substantially expanded in a particular sourcebook or supplement.
== Appearances==
The nightkin appear in Fallout in the Cathedral and the Mariposa Military Base and in Fallout 2 as a hostile encounter on the world map, as well as in various locations in Fallout: New Vegas. A nightkin character also appears in its add-on Dead Money. Additionally, nightkin appear in the Corporate Vault in Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel.
Several nightkin also appear in Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, as units in the Super Mutants faction. Nightkin also appear in Fallout Shelter Online, Fallout: The Roleplaying Game, and the Magic: The Gathering crossover event.
== Notes ==
Nightkin in the original Fallout were, graphically, normal super mutants who appeared blue due to their use of Stealth Boys. Nightkin would first be depicted as blue-skinned in Brotherhood of Steel, which was carried forward into New Vegas and the tabletop products.
==Behind the scenes==
=== Developmental context ===
*Nightkin are an example of Fallouts development cycle and evolving conceptions. Early versions of the Boneyard featured the nightkin invaders, nightkin scouts, and thinker nightkin, led by Uthern, allied with the Children of the Cathedral in the gang war for control over the city. The idea of the nightkin as an elite among the elite was not formulated at the time, and the term was used to refer to all super mutants regardless of their ability (as per FLSUPMUT.MSG). While the thinker were theorized to be "utopian idealists," virtually all super mutants were coded to attack the player at the end of dialogue to represent their attempt to abduct them.
*Eventually, they were reformulated as the apex of super mutant development, distinguished by their black uniform and armor, and placed at the Cathedral, Los Angeles Vault, and as squad leaders at the Mariposa Military Base. However, while all uniformed mutants consistently used the specific nightkin protos and nightkin combat floats (defined in COMBATAI.MSG), the naming was not consistently used and many were referred to as generic super mutant soldiers or sergeants. Only the ones present in the Cathedral and using Stealth Boys (specifically for the ethereal appearance) were explicitly identified as such. In fact, several characters (e.g. Talius) used the term to refer to all super mutants. The term also did not appear at all in Fallout 2 directly, though specific Nightkin protos were used.
*This lack of consistency led players and developers to interpret nightkin as only the super mutants equipped with Stealth Boys. This was the case when Joshua Sawyer conceived of the nightkin becoming schizophrenic due to Stealth Boy use, directly inspired by the novel The Invisible Man and his progression into insanity by taking an invisibility drug.Q&A session with Josh Sawyer during a live charity stream. (reference begins at 8:32:55) He used his idea to create Revelation John, a former nightkin found at New Canaan and it was also used for the Circle of Steel's later iteration, as a group of Brotherhood operatives suffering paranoia and other disorders due to their reliance on stealth tech in the war against the NCR.
*After Van Buren was canceled circa 2003, the idea was retained and reworked for Fallout: New Vegas, released in 2010. Set 120 years after the events of Fallout, the game reintroduced the nightkin as survivors of the Master's stealth units, elite spies and assassins. The idea of them suffering neurodegenerative effects due to Stealth Boy overuse was retained, with the added effect of skin discoloration (all super mutants were green in Fallout and Fallout 2, while the Nightkin in Fallout: New Vegas were blue). Early versions based on Fallout 3 super mutant models also featured milky white eyes, though this was scrapped with the introduction of a new model closer to the original in appearance.
*Fallout: New Vegas used the problem of nightkin suffering these effects as an integral element of the story, underlying the quests at Black Mountain, the REPCONN test site, and defining the future of Jacobstown. A nightkin, Lily Bowen, is also a potential companion. Another, Dog and God, is a core character of Dead Money, which explores the split personality effect of stealth radiation.
**An element of their characterization is that nightkin have an apparent fixation on brahmin: Seen through worshiping one's skull (Davison), ranting about "battle cattle" (Tabitha), killing brahmin to stop their mooing (the "chupacabra"), and attempting to sell "wind brahmin" (tumbleweeds) near a tumbleweed ranch.
FNV Reveal NightKin.jpg|An early version of a nightkin attacking at Black Mountain.
FNV Nightkin attack.webp|A nightkin leader attacking in the same location.
*The term evidently offered a degree of challenge for translators, as no non-English version replicated the term. German is the closest (Nachtvolk, lit. Night People), with other versions taking creative liberties: Spanish and French translate as lit. The Nocturnal (Nocturnos and Nocturne respectively), Polish version as Mroczni (lit. The Dark Ones), Hungarian version as Éjfajzatok (lit. The Nightbreed), Russian and Ukrainian as Shadows (Тень and Тінь respectively), while the Italian and Chinese versions just use the English term.
=== Misc ===
*In Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, the nightkin are voiced by Michael Bell.
*In Fallout 3, the word "Nightkin" occasionally appears in the password list when hacking a terminal.
*The mutant commando advanced character class from Fallout Pen and Paper d20 was based on the nightkin role in the Master's Army.
==Bugs == 
* In the original Fallout, some nightkin that fight unarmed disappear (become "invisible") during the player's turn in combat and can not be targeted. The only way to end a battle with them is to either flee the area or have them be killed by an accidental fire, e.g. by other enemies that miss and hit them or using a burst mode of a weapon targeting any other available target with the intent to hit the supposed "invisible" Nightkin.
* In Fallout: New Vegas, the shaders that make Nightkin invisible are sometimes bugged, causing them to remain invisible after deactivating their Stealth Boys (although they will be treated as visible for the purpose of calculating V.A.T.S. percentages). This has been observed in the REPCONN test site basement and during the encounter near McBride house in Novac, and appears to be linked to reloading a previous save during, or immediately after, an encounter with a nightkin (possibly after being killed).
* Some dead nightkin (namely the ones in and around the REPCONN test site) may respawn alive and will be invariably hostile. This is an unintentional bug related to the game's AI processing: any cells which remains unloaded by the player for more than 72 in-game hours will be reset (containers refreshed, enemies recycled/respawned, etc).
* After the nightkin that has been attacking Dusty McBride's cattle is killed, a nightkin master can appear near the tent in the middle of Novac; it can be encountered as far away as the Highway 95 Viper's encampment, and rarely can even spawn inside the McBrides' house. This nightkin master will be neutral unless attacked by the player character but could be encountered fighting Vipers. If killed, this nightkin will have a minigun in very poor condition and possess The Screams of Brahmin note.
==Gallery==
===Fallout and Fallout 2===
Nightkin with Stealth.png|A nightkin, barely visible in the Cathedral in Fallout
Nightkin Fallout2.png|A nightkin without their Stealth Boy, as they appeared in Fallout 2
===Fallout: New Vegas===
FNV nightkin.png
Lily.jpg|Lily, a friendly nightkin and companion in Fallout: New Vegas
Tabitha.jpg|Tabitha, a nightkin on Black Mountain
Keene.jpg|Keene, a schizophrenic nightkin in the Jacobstown lodge
Davison.jpg|Davison, leader of Davison's nightkin
Dog and God.jpg|Dog and God, a nightkin in Dead Money
DavisonNightkin.png|Davison's nightkin
fallout new vegas nightkin in jacobstown.jpg|A nightkin in Jacobstown
Nightkin master.png|Nightkin master
FNV Collect Edition 25.jpg|Normal nightkin variant concept art, Behind the Bright Lights & Big City
FNV Collect Edition 27.jpg|Armored nightkin concept art, Behind the Bright Lights & Big City
FNV Collect Edition 28.jpg|Hooded nightkin concept art, Behind the Bright Lights & Big City
Fallout Magic Nightkin Ambusher.png|Magic: The Gathering card
File:Fallout Magic Nightkin Ambusher art.jpg|Card art
Fallout Magic Behemoth Sledge.png|Behemoth Sledge
===Fallout: Wasteland Warfare===
Fallout wasteland warfare super mutants nightkin.png|Fallout: Wasteland Warfare
FOWW,Tabitha.webp|Tabitha
===Fallout: The Roleplaying Game===
2d20 Nightkin.png|Image from Fallout: The Roleplaying Game
2d20 Nightkin stylized.jpg
==References==
Non-game
Category:Super mutants
Category:Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel creatures
Category:Fallout: New Vegas creatures
 
Category:Fallout: Wasteland Warfare characters
de:Nachtvolk
es:Nocturnos
fr:Nocturne
it:Nightkin
pl:Mroczni
pt:Nightkin
ru:Тень
uk:Тінь
zh:Nightkin