Children of Atom
The Church of the Children of Atom (often shortened to the Children of Atom, or derisively referred to as "rad eaters") is a religious movement built around the worship of radiation and nuclear annihilation as a means of transcendence.
The history of the Children of Atom begins in the town of Megaton, just west of Pentagon in The Capitol. The founders of the religion were refugees who took shelter in Megaton shortly after the Great War in 2077, worshipping the unexploded atomic bomb that lay at its centre. As the town grew, many of its citizens began to worship the bomb as a religious artifact, demanding that it be allowed to sit in the town undisturbed. As it seemed to be a pile of harmless scrap, the town acquiesced. By the mid-2250s, the Children of Atom had formalized their beliefs and their reigning church confessor had enough clout to vouch for newcomers into Megaton. A young wastelander named Cromwell joined the community and became the faith's most fervent adherent, eventually rising to the leadership. By 2277, the 44-year-old Confessor Cromwell became an eccentric distraction to most of Megaton's citizens, and church attendance was steadily dwindling.
Facing extinction, Cromwell sent followers away in all directions. One contingent, led by Mother Isolde, settled in The Commonwealth, in an area known as the Crater of Atom. A second group, led by Confessor Martin, landed in Far Harbor, where they discovered an ancient submarine equipped with a nuclear weapon. The Children grew in strength, thriving in many radioactive zones. As their numbers increased, they began to send out teams to seek out irradiated goods and new converts.
The restructuring of the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel into The Capitol in 2290 saw the expulsion of all open members of the Children of Atom religion. In the years since the expulsion, The Capitol has pursued a policy of persecution and violence against the Children.
By 2289, The Church of the Children of Atom had thousands of adherents spread around the former United States. That year, Confessor Cromwell died. His holy remains were taken to a cathedral in the ruins of Toledo, Ohio, within The Rustlands. Pilgrims from across the wasteland came to pay their respects to the prophet of Atom, many traveling for thousands of miles on foot. This historic gathering gave rise to a new level of organization within the faith, as confessors and mothers from around the region were able to converse for the first time. The assembly became formalized in the First Atomic Diet, an ecumenical council in which 235 mothers and confessors attempted to attain consensus on matters of theology, dogma and practice. Debate was fierce, as disparate enclaves of the church had developed very different practices. But after weeks of argument, the church agreed on a seven point declaration of faith and appointed High Confessor Ozzy I, a supreme leader across all regions. From then on, Toledo's ruins were known as Holy Toledo.
By 2317, The Children of Atom have a presence in most large urban centres within The Rustlands, Midwest Brotherhood of Steel, New California Republic and The Commonwealth. The faith faces significant state persecution in The Capitol and Caesar's Legion, but generally enjoys freedom elsewhere. The relgion is largely unknown in Dixie and Cascadia. Though widespread, the religion is not particularly popular, representing fewer than 1 in 100 in the wasteland. The current High Confessor is Leo I, who presides from Holy Toledo. He is known as a soft-spoken and reclusive leader. He is rarely seen in public and has never appeared at a meeting of the Council of Confessors, Council of Mothers or Council of Inquisitors.
The Children's beliefs centre around their deity Atom and the idea that within every atomic mass exists an entire universe. If an atomic mass is split, its universe divides and becomes two. As such, Atom is a creator god, creating new worlds through the act of nuclear fission. This process is referred to by the Children as Division. As a result, the Great War is cherished as a divine event that created uncountable new universes in one instant. The war's latent radiation represents creation and unification and is known as Atom's Glow. The Children worship Atom by worshiping radiation, his Glow, and through it, they can achieve Division. It is considered the holiest act of transcendence for all of the atoms in a believer's body to split, bringing Division and releasing countless new universes into being.
The Children seek out irradiated areas to set up shrines and other centres of worship. They will also seek out and defend any stockpiles of nuclear weapons, to prevent their disposal or use in a manner not consistent with the tenets of the teachings of Atom. The religion emphasizes asceticism and abolition of the self, as the mortal shell is seen as merely the means for creating new life. However, the Children are not pacifists. Territory affected by radiation is considered Atom's holy domain, wreathed in his Glow. The Children are compelled by their religion to protect their path to salvation through any means necessary. But practicality does temper their religious zeal. For instance, anti-radiation medication is accepted, as it seen as a way for those denied radiation immunity (natural radiation immunity in humans is seen as a special kind of Atom's Blessing) to serve Atom. In fact, the use of Radaway and other anti-radiation drugs is seen as a form of penitence, scouring oneself to embrace the Glow anew.
Revelation is a crucial aspect of the Children of Atom's beliefs. Atom's revelations are imparted to his faithful through a variety of messengers, most commonly a mystical figure they call the Mother of the Fog. This Mother is said to appear to worshippers as a female figure, shrouded in black mist and smoke, and heralds the most important events.
The religious iconography of the Children is based on scientific diagrams representing atoms.
Atom's Gift
Some of the Children of Atom who appear to be unmutated humans, untouched by ghoulification or FEV find themselves naturally immune to the ill effects of ionizing radiation. The faithful have concluded that this is a special blessing from Atom, given to his chosen. In return, Atom expects his these exceptional individuals to prove their worth.
The Non-Human Issue
In 2315, the Council of Confessors met to debate whether or not non-humans could experience Division. There was extensive and heated debate, and the council was almost evenly split. Many of the faithful assumed High Confessor Leo I would make a declaration. Leo had the authority to override the opinion of the council, but chose not to speak on the matter. Many of the Confessors took this as a sign that Leo was rejecting non-human Division. The motion passed and artificial intelligences, ghouls, robots, super mutants, synths and all other non-humans were banned from the church and forbidden to set foot on holy ground.
Linda the super mutant has generated her own interpretation of the Children of Atom beliefs, almost by accident. The tenants of Lindavism include universal acceptance of non-human members and the use of the Loose Juice chem to induce holy visions. Lindavism has a number of adherents, including a ghoul from Gamma Town named Jerry and a contingent of Inquisitors in Gravestone. These Inquisitors are led by a human man who changed his name to Lindon, in honour of his teacher Linda.
The Atomic Storm
It is said that a few blessed Inquisitors are able to call upon Atom to enter an intense religious frenzy. This is called the Atomic Storm, a state of acute, intuitive combat focus. While in the Storm, an Inquisitor feels neither pain nor fear. And so, this dispensation is believed to be only given to those responsible enough to use it wisely. Linda is the only non-human ever observed to experience the Atomic Storm. Rules for this state are listed in the Homebrew Origins and Perks article.
At the First Atomic Diet, the leaders of the church agreed on the following universal declaration:
1.) We are the children of Atom.
2.) Within each of us are uncountable atomic masses, each containing an entire universe.
3.) Atom's Glow is a holy gift, capable of Dividing each and every atomic mass.
4.) Atom grants many other gifts, including holy visions and Atom's Blessing.
5.) With Division, each split atomic mass becomes two entire universes.
6.) Atom is good, Atom's Glow is good and Division is good.
7.) Atom commands us to be good in order to be worthy of Division.
Megaton Bomb: Just outside of Pentagon within The Capitol, this unexploded atomic bomb inspired the religion's founding. It is considered a holy site, but receives few pilgrims due to The Capitol's repressive government.
Crater of Atom: Located southwest of Boston in The Commonwealth, this highly radioactive area contains a missile detonation crater, nuclear plant and missile silo, all worshipped by the faith.
Far Harbor: This remote island in The Commonwealth is home to a nuclear submarine, known to followers as The Nucleus.
Holy Toledo: The faith's administrative center, this The Rustlands city's cathedral still displays Confessor Cromwell's body. The corpse is so radioactive that it lies preserved from decomposition and gives off an intense green glow.
Emancipation Altar of Atom: A small stone church built in the village of Emancipation. The site hosts religious services as well as temporary housing for travelers through the region.
Atom's Rest: A Children of Atom hospice operated in St. Louis. Clients are able to request Division, in this case euthanasia via intense radiation exposure, though the procedure must be approved by the site's confessor.
Gashland: Just north of Gravestone, there is an enormous nuclear crater known as Gashland. The large depression is still highly irradiated and is therefore considered holy to both the Children of Atom and the religion of the Gravestone Cathedral ghouls.
Gravestone Cathedral of Atom: The Children of Atom operate a large religious centre in the south side of Gravestone. Despite the similarities in belief among the Children and the Gravestone Cathedral, there is a heated tension in town between the two faiths. The Children are a narrow minority in the city, and their scorn for super mutants and ghouls fuels a lot of conflict.
Gamma Town Altar of Atom: Though belief in Atom is rare in Gamma Town, the Children maintain an altar, mostly for faithful merchants traveling through the city. The altar is overseen by Confessor Babineaux, an elder member of the religion and influential voice in the faith.
Mount Zion: Before the Great War, the village of Mount Zion, Illinois was home to an extensive nuclear power facility. It was an obvious target for attack and suffered several direct hit from atomic weapons. The staff shut down most of the reactors safely, but Reactor 3 was severely damaged. To this day, its core is a bubbling pool of molten phosphorus, glowing bright enough to burn out human retinae through the eyelids. Pilgrims of Atom regularly journey to Reactor 3 to be touched with the holy light. Most are permanently blinded, but believe they are better for it.
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History
The history of the Children of Atom begins in the town of Megaton, just west of Pentagon in The Capitol. The founders of the religion were refugees who took shelter in Megaton shortly after the Great War in 2077, worshipping the unexploded atomic bomb that lay at its centre. As the town grew, many of its citizens began to worship the bomb as a religious artifact, demanding that it be allowed to sit in the town undisturbed. As it seemed to be a pile of harmless scrap, the town acquiesced. By the mid-2250s, the Children of Atom had formalized their beliefs and their reigning church confessor had enough clout to vouch for newcomers into Megaton. A young wastelander named Cromwell joined the community and became the faith's most fervent adherent, eventually rising to the leadership. By 2277, the 44-year-old Confessor Cromwell became an eccentric distraction to most of Megaton's citizens, and church attendance was steadily dwindling.
Facing extinction, Cromwell sent followers away in all directions. One contingent, led by Mother Isolde, settled in The Commonwealth, in an area known as the Crater of Atom. A second group, led by Confessor Martin, landed in Far Harbor, where they discovered an ancient submarine equipped with a nuclear weapon. The Children grew in strength, thriving in many radioactive zones. As their numbers increased, they began to send out teams to seek out irradiated goods and new converts.
The restructuring of the Capital Wasteland Brotherhood of Steel into The Capitol in 2290 saw the expulsion of all open members of the Children of Atom religion. In the years since the expulsion, The Capitol has pursued a policy of persecution and violence against the Children.
By 2289, The Church of the Children of Atom had thousands of adherents spread around the former United States. That year, Confessor Cromwell died. His holy remains were taken to a cathedral in the ruins of Toledo, Ohio, within The Rustlands. Pilgrims from across the wasteland came to pay their respects to the prophet of Atom, many traveling for thousands of miles on foot. This historic gathering gave rise to a new level of organization within the faith, as confessors and mothers from around the region were able to converse for the first time. The assembly became formalized in the First Atomic Diet, an ecumenical council in which 235 mothers and confessors attempted to attain consensus on matters of theology, dogma and practice. Debate was fierce, as disparate enclaves of the church had developed very different practices. But after weeks of argument, the church agreed on a seven point declaration of faith and appointed High Confessor Ozzy I, a supreme leader across all regions. From then on, Toledo's ruins were known as Holy Toledo.
Today
By 2317, The Children of Atom have a presence in most large urban centres within The Rustlands, Midwest Brotherhood of Steel, New California Republic and The Commonwealth. The faith faces significant state persecution in The Capitol and Caesar's Legion, but generally enjoys freedom elsewhere. The relgion is largely unknown in Dixie and Cascadia. Though widespread, the religion is not particularly popular, representing fewer than 1 in 100 in the wasteland. The current High Confessor is Leo I, who presides from Holy Toledo. He is known as a soft-spoken and reclusive leader. He is rarely seen in public and has never appeared at a meeting of the Council of Confessors, Council of Mothers or Council of Inquisitors.
Beliefs
The Children's beliefs centre around their deity Atom and the idea that within every atomic mass exists an entire universe. If an atomic mass is split, its universe divides and becomes two. As such, Atom is a creator god, creating new worlds through the act of nuclear fission. This process is referred to by the Children as Division. As a result, the Great War is cherished as a divine event that created uncountable new universes in one instant. The war's latent radiation represents creation and unification and is known as Atom's Glow. The Children worship Atom by worshiping radiation, his Glow, and through it, they can achieve Division. It is considered the holiest act of transcendence for all of the atoms in a believer's body to split, bringing Division and releasing countless new universes into being.
The Children seek out irradiated areas to set up shrines and other centres of worship. They will also seek out and defend any stockpiles of nuclear weapons, to prevent their disposal or use in a manner not consistent with the tenets of the teachings of Atom. The religion emphasizes asceticism and abolition of the self, as the mortal shell is seen as merely the means for creating new life. However, the Children are not pacifists. Territory affected by radiation is considered Atom's holy domain, wreathed in his Glow. The Children are compelled by their religion to protect their path to salvation through any means necessary. But practicality does temper their religious zeal. For instance, anti-radiation medication is accepted, as it seen as a way for those denied radiation immunity (natural radiation immunity in humans is seen as a special kind of Atom's Blessing) to serve Atom. In fact, the use of Radaway and other anti-radiation drugs is seen as a form of penitence, scouring oneself to embrace the Glow anew.
Revelation is a crucial aspect of the Children of Atom's beliefs. Atom's revelations are imparted to his faithful through a variety of messengers, most commonly a mystical figure they call the Mother of the Fog. This Mother is said to appear to worshippers as a female figure, shrouded in black mist and smoke, and heralds the most important events.
The religious iconography of the Children is based on scientific diagrams representing atoms.
Atom's Gift
Some of the Children of Atom who appear to be unmutated humans, untouched by ghoulification or FEV find themselves naturally immune to the ill effects of ionizing radiation. The faithful have concluded that this is a special blessing from Atom, given to his chosen. In return, Atom expects his these exceptional individuals to prove their worth.
The Non-Human Issue
In 2315, the Council of Confessors met to debate whether or not non-humans could experience Division. There was extensive and heated debate, and the council was almost evenly split. Many of the faithful assumed High Confessor Leo I would make a declaration. Leo had the authority to override the opinion of the council, but chose not to speak on the matter. Many of the Confessors took this as a sign that Leo was rejecting non-human Division. The motion passed and artificial intelligences, ghouls, robots, super mutants, synths and all other non-humans were banned from the church and forbidden to set foot on holy ground.
Linda the super mutant has generated her own interpretation of the Children of Atom beliefs, almost by accident. The tenants of Lindavism include universal acceptance of non-human members and the use of the Loose Juice chem to induce holy visions. Lindavism has a number of adherents, including a ghoul from Gamma Town named Jerry and a contingent of Inquisitors in Gravestone. These Inquisitors are led by a human man who changed his name to Lindon, in honour of his teacher Linda.
The Atomic Storm
It is said that a few blessed Inquisitors are able to call upon Atom to enter an intense religious frenzy. This is called the Atomic Storm, a state of acute, intuitive combat focus. While in the Storm, an Inquisitor feels neither pain nor fear. And so, this dispensation is believed to be only given to those responsible enough to use it wisely. Linda is the only non-human ever observed to experience the Atomic Storm. Rules for this state are listed in the Homebrew Origins and Perks article.
The Declarations of Faith
At the First Atomic Diet, the leaders of the church agreed on the following universal declaration:
Children of Atom Holy Sites
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Maps
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Holy Toledo
Holy Toledo is the centre of the Children of Atom religion. All important operations of the faith are conducted within the city.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
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