Arroyo elder

“
The Elder is just that – old, older than you can remember. Still, she has the strength and fire to lead the village through these hard times.

”
**Arroyo elder** is the village's leader in *Fallout 2*, as a direct descendant of the Vault Dweller.

## Background

The Elder was born to the Vault Dweller and Pat on October 2, 2188, in the village of Arroyo. For twenty years, she grew up and lived in the village, brought up in its ways. She survived her mother and when the Vault Dweller vanished from Arroyo on January 16, 2208, she became his successor. The Elders of Arroyo ruled as a regency council while the future Elder was preparing for the Temple of Trials. She was schooled extensively in various sciences, mathematics, and, of course, weapon skills. Rigorous physical training was also an integral element of the process.

After completing the Temple of Trials gauntlet, a mystic test involving plenty of hallucinogens brewed by Hakunin, and losing her handgun, she successfully ascended to her position as Elder. Her ruled was characterized by stability and wisdom, while the Temple test was revised as a result of her criticism. Her rule was "interrupted" by pregnancy in 2220, with the future Chosen One born on March 23, 2221. The identity of the father was not disclosed in tribal records, for reasons unknown. It's entirely possible that it was an embarrassment for the Elder. Although it was not known at the time, the child would be pivotal to the fate of the wastelands, including Arroyo. When the worst drought in decades hit Oregon in 2241, the Chosen One underwent the same trials as his mother before embarking on a quest to retrieve the GECK, so that the dying village can be saved. The Elder had little to give her son, beyond the $152 and a water flask. Little did she suspect that she would next see her son on Control Station Enclave.

The reason for this was the Enclave's need for test subjects from the wasteland. As descendants of Vault 13 dwellers, the Arroyo tribesmen were a perfect fit for their purposes. On July 20, 2242, a fleet of Vertibirds carrying assault troops landed in the village. Soldiers in power armor herded the gassed villagers into the cargo holds, cutting down those who tried to resist with laser weapons, including Hakunin.

However, the Chosen One would foil the Enclave's plans. In Fall of 2242, he destroyed the oil rig and the Enclave's genocide program. In the process, he saved both the Vault 13 dwellers and Arroyo tribesmen, evacuating them to the tanker and returning them to the mainland. With two halves of the same ancestry reunited, the Arroyo elder was finally happy. She wished her father would be there to witness what his grandson accomplished. She passed away in her sleep a few months later, knowing that New Arroyo would flourish under the care of her son.

## Interactions with the player character

### Interactions overview

* Find Vic the Trader.
* Retrieve the GECK for Arroyo.

### Quests

* Finish Temple of Trials: The Elder is technically the quest giver.
* Find Vic the Trader.: The Elder starts the player on the first bread crumb in the game's storyline.
* Retrieve the GECK for Arroyo.: The overarching quest of the game is started by the Elder.

## Appearances

The Arroyo elder appears only in *Fallout 2* as a talking head.

## Gallery

* "I cannot help much. So much has been lost from the Long Ago. What wisdom do you seek?"
* "Congratulations, Chosen One, you have survived the Temple of Trials. Are you ready for your quest?"
* "Being a coward will kill us all! Including you. You passed the Temple Trials. We have faith in you. We need you."
* Render with different lighting
* The elder in Arroyo
* The elder in Control Station Enclave

## References

2. ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2208 January 16 *After writing the F2 manual memoirs, Vault Dweller vanishes from Arroyo and is presumed dead. The Vault Dweller leaves the Vault Suit behind, folded on the bed. Some say the Vault Dweller was taken by the sky spirits, others say that the Vault Dweller felt it was time to move on and leave the Elders to guide Arroyo to its destiny."*
3. ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2210 February 2 *Vault Dweller's daughter ascends to role of Village Elder. She rules with a steady hand, and her wisdom is greatly respected."*
4. ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "2221 March 23 *The "Chosen One" is born. The Chosen One's father is not recorded in the tribal records. The reason for this is unknown, but the Elder may have simply been embarrassed."*
5. ↑ Elder intro
6. ↑ Hakunin: *"{265}{hak109}{Dark souls came. They took everyone.}"*The Chosen One: *"{266}{}{Dark souls? What do you mean?}"*Hakunin: *"{267}{hak110}{A rush of wind came. On it were great dragonflies that spat flame. Evil men crawled from the beasts' bellies and brought death to our warriors.}"*The Chosen One: *"{268}{}{Our warriors couldn't stop them?}"*Hakunin: *"{269}{hak112}{The spirit was willing, but the spearheads were weak. The evil ones burned our warriors with the lights of hell.}"*The Chosen One: *"{270}{}{They killed everyone?}"*Hakunin: *"{271}{hak113}{All were dead or taken. My spirit returned to flesh only to reveal the truth to the Chosen.}"*The Chosen One: *"{272}{}{What happened to the ones taken?}"*Hakunin: *"{273}{hak114}{The beasts swallowed all, then took to the winds.}"*The Chosen One: *"{274}{}{Uh, which way were the winds that they followed going?}"*Hakunin: *"{275}{hak115}{Did you never listen when I taught you the yearly dance of the wind spirits? South, of course.}"*The Chosen One: *"{277}{}{Oh, those winds. Of course. }"*Hakunin: *"{278}{hak116}{Yes, they traveled the wind south. I overheard the dark souls speaking. They planned to rest their beasts at a place named Navarro before crossing the great basin of our earth-mother's tears.}"*The Chosen One: *"{279}{}{What shall I do?}"*Hakunin: *"{281}{hak117}{For me, nothing. Chosen, you must seek the fold of the dark ones and rescue our people.}"*The Chosen One: *"{282}{}{I will try.}"*Hakunin: *"{283}{hak118}{You are the Chosen. You must do.}"*The Chosen One: *"{284}{}{Hakunin?}"*The Chosen One: *"{280}{}{Basin of tears?}"*Hakunin: *"{286}{hak120}{An ocean of tears, cried by a mother for her children.}"*The Chosen One: *"{287}{}{Oh, the ocean. But what shall I do?}"*Hakunin: *"{288}{hak121}{A strange mist stole their minds and sent them to the land of Sleep. The evil ones walked among the dreamers, yet did not dream.}"*(AHHAKUN.MSG)
7. ↑ Fallout Bible 0: "**5. Why in the final scene in Fallout 1 and 2 nothing is said about players friendly NPCs ? I'd love to know what happened to Marcus, Tycho, Ian, Cassidy or Vic afterwards. - Kreegle**
**The Elder**
*The Arroyo elder lived for many years after the destruction of the Enclave. She seemed pleased that the ancient separation between Vault 13 and the Vault Dweller had been reconciled, and many were the times she told you she wished the Vault Dweller were alive to have seen the reconciliation take place.*""*Certain that the safety of the new village had been secured and the new community was flourishing, the Elder passed away a few months later in her sleep. Many of the older Arroyo residents believe that she now lives in the vault of the sky, telling the Vault Dweller of your brave deeds.*
**The Elder, 2**
*[Matt Norton's comments] The end movie is just finishing – the tanker sailing toward the view at full speed. In the distance is a massive explosion of the Enclave oil platform. The tanker draws closer as the screen fades to black. The Elder, the player character, and all the tribesmen are escaping on the tanker, though we do not see them. The Elder speaks in voiceover. She is pleased, even a little mischievous.*
*"Oh, did you see that? That was a good explosion!*""*Chosen One, you are worthy of your name. I am alive, the tribe is saved, and the evil ones are dead. By the Vault Dweller, you are a hero indeed!**""**All the village will honor you when we get home – even your Aunt Morliss. We will roast a gecko and feast. There will be a shrine to you in the temple. Children will be taught your name. With you to protect us, we will certainly grow and prosper.*""*That was a good explosion, wasn't it? I think I would like to see more explosions...*"