Thirteen Scepters
In 1969, the United States of America was reorganized from a fifty state system into a republic consisting of thirteen commonwealths. Each commonwealth had a symbolic scepter, kept by each governor as a symbol of authority. In the 24th century, Mirabelle Aditi, the Great Leader of The Capitol, set TASK FORCE BLUE to retrieving these scepters for her.
It was believed that these larger and more balanced administrative regions would end much of the bickering which plagued the republic in its first two centuries. Conflicts such as the American Civil War had been fueled by the parliamentary tactics of the state system, and the senate which was tied to the power of those states. With thirteen governors and twenty-six senators, the US government did become more efficient, and more concordant. For the next hundred years, the governors and senate would be nothing more than an echo chamber for the presidency.
Each scepter was unique, built to represent the land and people of their corresponding commonwealth. Each was made of a custom metal alloy, a recipe unique in the world to that scepter.
Kept in the Capitol Building, Washington D.C.. (Now in The Capitol)
A gold, platinum and antimony scepter adorned with eagles in flight, American stars and topped with the laurel wreath of victory in war.
Kept in the State Capitol Building in Frankfort, Kentucky. (Now in The Capitol)
An iron, tin and titanium scepter adorned with the carnation, goldenrod and iris flowers of the three states, topped with a pair of hands shaking in unity.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Now in The Capitol)
A silver, nickel and aluminum scepter adorned with railroad tracks and cargo ships, topped with a skyscraper.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Now in Caesar's Legion)
A copper, manganese and cobalt scepter adorned with blossoming cacti and beehives, topped with a mountain peak.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Montgomery, Alabama. (Now in Dixie)
An iron, scandium and gold scepter adorned with magnolia flowers, oranges and rockets in flight, topped with a sun dial.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin. (Now in the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel)
An iron, chromium and tungsten scepter adorned with pine trees, sheafs of wheat and snowflakes, topped with a fleur-de-lis.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Boston, Massachusetts. (Now in The Commonwealth)
A copper, zinc and selenium scepter adorned with sailing ships, muskets and tricorn hats, topped with a whale's tail.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. (Now in the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel)
A nickel, zinc and tantalum scepter adorned with bighorn sheep, coyotes, bison and grizzly bears, topped with a Sioux headdress.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Olympia, Washington. (Now in Cascadia)
A gold, cobalt and chromium scepter adorned with mountains, eagles and salmon, topped with a coniferous tree.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Jefferson City, Missouri. (Now in the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel)
A gold, tin and terbium scepter adorned with meadowlarks, bluebirds, goldfinches and scissor-tailed flycatchers, topped with an ear of corn.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Columbia, South Carolina. (Now in The Capitol)
A gold, palladium and niobium scepter adorned with peanuts, peaches and oak trees and, topped with an orchid.
Kept in the state Capitol Building (previously the El Cortez condominium building) in San Diego, California. (Now in the New California Republic)
A silver, titanium and vanadium scepter adorned with humpback whales, damselflies and brown bears, topped with palm leaves.
Kept in the state Capitol Building in Austin, Texas. (Now in Caesar's Legion)
An aluminum, zinc and copper scepter (similar to aircraft aluminum for gunsmithing) adorned with US Army service rifles (Winchester Model 1873, M1903, M1 Garand, M-16 and Combat Rifle), topped with bull horns.
Wanting to avoid violence, Paladin Hector asked his friend and paramour John Giscala if someone from Vault 40 could retrieve the scepter peacefully. Mayor John passed the request to Professor Adabo, Dean of Vault 40. Professor Adabo judged that Lex Garridan could convince her aunt Alexa to give up the scepter. The dean sent an order to Professor Gritch, who passed the command to Lex. It was also Adabo who assigned Mister Man, the mister handy medic, to assist Lex in her mission.
Mayor John gathered a team to assist Lex (they eventually became known as The Heroes of St. Louis). The adventuring party successfully convinced Alexa to give up the scepter and delivered it to Paladin Hector (SESSION 01: A MISSION). Hector invited the party to travel with him to St. Louis, to present the scepter to the ambassador of The Capitol. Mirabelle Aditi, the Great Leader of The Capitol, was collecting the scepters, presumably out of a sense of continuity with the authority of pre-war America. General Lucan and the Midwest BoS leadership in Chicago felt that these symbols were ultimately meaningless and it would be an easy symbol of friendship to hand over the Scepter of the Plains. Paladin Hector additionally thought that it would be a nice touch if a diverse group of Midwesterners (the party included a vault dweller, a mister handy robot, a human hunter, a super mutant and a ghoul) handed over the artifact at the summit itself. It would represent the open spirit of the people of the Midwest.
The party reached the St. Louis Summit and handed over the scepter to the ambassador from The Capitol at about 3pm (SESSION 02: THE ST. LOUIS SUMMIT.) That night, a nuclear detonation rocked the city (what was later known as the St. Louis Attack.) The blast was centered near the St. Louis Arch, the location of the summit. Though it is likely the Scepter of the Plains was destroyed in the blast, this has not been confirmed.
But Dominica successfully retrieved the scepter and was invited by Great Leader to join TASK FORCE BLUE.
Ursus was shocked to discover that the unlikely land mine had not killed him. He had been saved by an even stranger coincidence. The Annie Oakley replica revolver he had stolen from Caesar Altus in Flagstaff had been perfectly positioned over his heart, stopping a piece of shrapnel which would've certainly killed him. This revolver had once belonged to Lex, she won it in a fast draw contest (SESSION 09: GRAVESTONE.) Ursus killed the Synths, slowly murdered the merchant and retrieved the Scepter of the Gulf for Great Leader.
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History
The 1960's were a decade of intense harmony and co-operation for America. People were riding high on the successful atomic bombings of both Korea and French Indochina. America enjoyed the wealth and prosperity generated by their hegemonic position. After Henry Cabot won the presidency in 1960 and 1964, he called upon congress to repeal the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution, a move that carried on its sheer popularity. After re-election in 1968, President Cabot called for a reorganization of the state system, citing inefficiencies, redundancies and a general conflict between developed, urban states and more rural, agricultural states. The president's restructuring committee did not consult any local advisors on the structure of the new commonwealths, nor on the design or construction of the governors' scepters. There were complaints at the reasoning behind the new partitions, but these sentiments soon faded.It was believed that these larger and more balanced administrative regions would end much of the bickering which plagued the republic in its first two centuries. Conflicts such as the American Civil War had been fueled by the parliamentary tactics of the state system, and the senate which was tied to the power of those states. With thirteen governors and twenty-six senators, the US government did become more efficient, and more concordant. For the next hundred years, the governors and senate would be nothing more than an echo chamber for the presidency.
Each scepter was unique, built to represent the land and people of their corresponding commonwealth. Each was made of a custom metal alloy, a recipe unique in the world to that scepter.
The Scepters
(All of these locations are pre-war. Most, if not all, of the scepters have been moved.)Scepter of Columbia
Columbia Commonwealth (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia)Kept in the Capitol Building, Washington D.C.. (Now in The Capitol)
A gold, platinum and antimony scepter adorned with eagles in flight, American stars and topped with the laurel wreath of victory in war.
Scepter of the East Central Commonwealth
East Central Commonwealth (Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee)Kept in the State Capitol Building in Frankfort, Kentucky. (Now in The Capitol)
An iron, tin and titanium scepter adorned with the carnation, goldenrod and iris flowers of the three states, topped with a pair of hands shaking in unity.
Scepter of the Eastern Commonwealth
Eastern Commonwealth (West Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Now in The Capitol)
A silver, nickel and aluminum scepter adorned with railroad tracks and cargo ships, topped with a skyscraper.
Scepter of the Four States
Four States Commonwealth (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (Now in Caesar's Legion)
A copper, manganese and cobalt scepter adorned with blossoming cacti and beehives, topped with a mountain peak.
Scepter of the Gulf
Gulf Commonwealth (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Montgomery, Alabama. (Now in Dixie)
An iron, scandium and gold scepter adorned with magnolia flowers, oranges and rockets in flight, topped with a sun dial.
Scepter of the Midwest
Midwest Commonwealth (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin. (Now in the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel)
An iron, chromium and tungsten scepter adorned with pine trees, sheafs of wheat and snowflakes, topped with a fleur-de-lis.
Scepter of New England
New England Commonwealth (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Boston, Massachusetts. (Now in The Commonwealth)
A copper, zinc and selenium scepter adorned with sailing ships, muskets and tricorn hats, topped with a whale's tail.
Scepter of the North
North Commonwealth (Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Pierre, South Dakota. (Now in the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel)
A nickel, zinc and tantalum scepter adorned with bighorn sheep, coyotes, bison and grizzly bears, topped with a Sioux headdress.
Scepter of the Northwest
Northwest Commonwealth (Northern California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Olympia, Washington. (Now in Cascadia)
A gold, cobalt and chromium scepter adorned with mountains, eagles and salmon, topped with a coniferous tree.
Scepter of the Plains
Plains Commonwealth (Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Jefferson City, Missouri. (Now in the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel)
A gold, tin and terbium scepter adorned with meadowlarks, bluebirds, goldfinches and scissor-tailed flycatchers, topped with an ear of corn.
Scepter of the Southeast
Southeast Commonwealth (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Columbia, South Carolina. (Now in The Capitol)
A gold, palladium and niobium scepter adorned with peanuts, peaches and oak trees and, topped with an orchid.
Scepter of the Southwest
Southwest Commonwealth (Southern California, Nevada, Hawaii)Kept in the state Capitol Building (previously the El Cortez condominium building) in San Diego, California. (Now in the New California Republic)
A silver, titanium and vanadium scepter adorned with humpback whales, damselflies and brown bears, topped with palm leaves.
Scepter of Texas
Texas Commonwealth (Texas, Arkansas)Kept in the state Capitol Building in Austin, Texas. (Now in Caesar's Legion)
An aluminum, zinc and copper scepter (similar to aircraft aluminum for gunsmithing) adorned with US Army service rifles (Winchester Model 1873, M1903, M1 Garand, M-16 and Combat Rifle), topped with bull horns.
Current Whereabouts
Most of these artifacts are thought to be lost, but some of them have appeared in the game. These are:Scepter of the Plains
This was kept at the old state house for centuries. Eventually, the Midwest Brotherhood of Steel built a military camp around the Capitol Building in the ruins of Jefferson City, Missouri and kept the scepter in its display case in the governor's office. The scepter was stolen by Alexa Garridan, who felt that the Midwest BoS should not hold a symbol of democracy. She held the scepter for years, until General Lucan (leader of the Midwest BoS in Chicago) sent an order to Paladin Hector to deliver the Scepter of the Plains to the diplomatic summit happening in St. Louis (General Lucan had not been told about the scepter's theft.)Wanting to avoid violence, Paladin Hector asked his friend and paramour John Giscala if someone from Vault 40 could retrieve the scepter peacefully. Mayor John passed the request to Professor Adabo, Dean of Vault 40. Professor Adabo judged that Lex Garridan could convince her aunt Alexa to give up the scepter. The dean sent an order to Professor Gritch, who passed the command to Lex. It was also Adabo who assigned Mister Man, the mister handy medic, to assist Lex in her mission.
Mayor John gathered a team to assist Lex (they eventually became known as The Heroes of St. Louis). The adventuring party successfully convinced Alexa to give up the scepter and delivered it to Paladin Hector (SESSION 01: A MISSION). Hector invited the party to travel with him to St. Louis, to present the scepter to the ambassador of The Capitol. Mirabelle Aditi, the Great Leader of The Capitol, was collecting the scepters, presumably out of a sense of continuity with the authority of pre-war America. General Lucan and the Midwest BoS leadership in Chicago felt that these symbols were ultimately meaningless and it would be an easy symbol of friendship to hand over the Scepter of the Plains. Paladin Hector additionally thought that it would be a nice touch if a diverse group of Midwesterners (the party included a vault dweller, a mister handy robot, a human hunter, a super mutant and a ghoul) handed over the artifact at the summit itself. It would represent the open spirit of the people of the Midwest.
The party reached the St. Louis Summit and handed over the scepter to the ambassador from The Capitol at about 3pm (SESSION 02: THE ST. LOUIS SUMMIT.) That night, a nuclear detonation rocked the city (what was later known as the St. Louis Attack.) The blast was centered near the St. Louis Arch, the location of the summit. Though it is likely the Scepter of the Plains was destroyed in the blast, this has not been confirmed.
Scepter of Texas
While taking the Dixie train from Jax to Memphis, the party met an agent from The Capitol named Dominica. She openly claimed that she was travelling into Caesar's Legion to retrieve the Scepter of Texas from a legion legate, who kept the thing as a trophy on his desk (SESSION 40: THE HOBO LIFE.) Lex had a dalliance with Dominica, and Arminius mocked her brazen plan as foolishly dangerous.But Dominica successfully retrieved the scepter and was invited by Great Leader to join TASK FORCE BLUE.
Scepter of the Gulf
On August 31st, 2317, while the Current Adventuring Party were travelling through The Capitol, Obscisus Ursus took a Capitol vertibird from Edwards Air Force Base near Pentagon down to Montgomery (formerly Alabama, now in Dixie.) There he tortured a local into discovering the location of the Scepter of the Gulf. It was secretly held in the wagon of a travelling merchant. Ursus set up an ambush for the merchant, but when he sprang to action, he stepped on a landmine. The scene was complicated by the arrival of several Gen 2 Synths. These were exactly like the Gen 2s who assaulted the witness in Gamma Town (SESSION 25: SURPRISE WITNESS) and the ones who kidnapped Lex in Memphis (SESSION 42: LEAVING ON A JET PACK.)Ursus was shocked to discover that the unlikely land mine had not killed him. He had been saved by an even stranger coincidence. The Annie Oakley replica revolver he had stolen from Caesar Altus in Flagstaff had been perfectly positioned over his heart, stopping a piece of shrapnel which would've certainly killed him. This revolver had once belonged to Lex, she won it in a fast draw contest (SESSION 09: GRAVESTONE.) Ursus killed the Synths, slowly murdered the merchant and retrieved the Scepter of the Gulf for Great Leader.
Other Scepters
As Washington D.C., Harrisburg, PA, Columbia SC, and Frankfort, KY, are contained within the current borders of The Capitol, it is assumed that the Columbia, Eastern, East Central, and Southeast scepters are all in Great Leader's hands..
Item type
Unique Artifact
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