The Rust King is a character in Fallout 76, introduced in the Burning Springs update.
Background[edit]
A larger than average Super Mutant, the Rust King was originally a prisoner of the Enclave being transported aboard EV-21 as it flew over Ohio. When the vertibird was 45 minutes away from it's destination it encountered turbulence, which awoke the sleeping Rust King, who then proceeded to kill the pilot and cause the vertibird to crash, leaving him the only survivor and releasing him into Burning Springs.[1] The Rust King believes above all else that the strong should rule the weak.[2]
The Rust King began wandering Burning Springs, with the locals becoming aware of him through reputation as a "green man". While near Ash Cave he killed the Ash Caver guard assigned to Windmill Gamma by crushing their head through their power armor helmet. This incident troubled Professor Franklin Metter, who wondered if the creature was probing their territory.[3] The Rust King attacked Highway Town on multiple occasions, each time leaving it to rebuild weaker than it had been prior. Eventually, he stopped attacking, allowing the town to recover so that it would one day be able to provide him a challenge.[4] The King invited the citizens of Highway Town to bring their children with him into the wastes. Those that came were given weapons, and instructed by him to fight for the right to join his new army. Some parents sacrificed themselves so their children may join, while others did the opposite. The citizens who refused to partake were the first killed by the newly formed army, their bones left scattered in the wastes.[5]
Upon hearing of a nest of Burning Deathclaws located at the Abraxodyne Chemical plant to the south, the Rust King led his army there in search of a worthy fight. While his army fought the Deathclaws, the Rust King battled the Deathclaw Matriarch, gaining a scar on his chest and losing his left eye in the process. Eventually he ripped the head of the matriarch from it's body, causing the other Deathclaws to flee into the wastes. The Rust King took the eggs left behind in the nest, and had them raised as the first generation of his army's tamed deathclaws. The chemical plant became the capital of the newly formed Rust Kingdom, a nation that the Rust King views as his child.[6][7] The Kingdom is built upon the king's ideals of strength above all else, with the strong lording over the weak. The Kingdom is made up of both those that willingly join and those that are captured. The strong join his army, while those deemed weak fight in the arena, or work as laborers, building the Kingdom. [8][9] Ghouls are welcome in the Rust Kingdom, as the King only cares for what individuals can offer him.[10] The Rust King welcomes rebellion, believing it to be a test of his strength.[11]
The Kingdom began expanding, and recognizing the strategic position of Fort Steuben, the Rust King dispatched a party to bring it into the fold. As with others, the people of Fort Steuben were given the offer of joining the Rust Kingdom, which they refused. The subsequent siege lasted until the next morning, with the King's army eventually breaching the fort and capturing it for the Rust Kingdom. With Steuben conquered, the Rust King dispatched more war parties into Burning Springs to conquer more of Ohio for the Rust King.[12] On December 15th, 2089 the Rust King met with Professor Franklin Metter, extending an offer for the Ash Cavers to join the Rust Kingdom. Knowing it was his people's only chance of survival, Metter accepted the king's terms the next day. The Ash Cavers were allowed to retain their identity, and maintained their way of life.[13]
Upon the Rust Kingdom's expansion reaching the Silver Bridge and subsequent discovery of West Virginia, the Rust King expressed potential interest in conquering the region and dispatched scouts. The scouts returned with stories of the Scorched Plague, and reported that the individuals were weak, having encountered the Cult of the Mothman and basing their judgement of the region on these "bug worshippers". The Rust King decided that the region was weak, and not worth the time to conquer. As the scouts returned, they were followed by members of the cult, leading to a battle. In response to this, the King ordered the construction of Checkpoint Canyon to secure the kingdom's borders. The Kingdom welcomes the border disputes with the cultists, believing it to be a challenge.[14]
When a priest entered Burning Springs, he was captured by the Rust Raiders and brought before the King. When the King heard of the priest's attempts to spread scripture to the people of the wasteland, he became interested, and insisted that the priest spread scripture in his name. He took the priest across Burning Springs, telling him of his deeds such as the creation of his army using Highway Town residents. When the two reached Athens, he bid that the priest go north, and tell others of The Rust Kingdom so that like-minded individuals come and join.[15][16][17][18]
Interactions Overview[edit]
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
| This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | ||
| This character is a ghost. Ghost characters are invulnerable and can be walked through. | ||
Inventory[edit]
Appearances[edit]
The Rust King appears in Fallout 76.
Gallery[edit]
- ↑ EV-21 Black Box Recording
- ↑ The Rust King"Who cares what I am? The weak follow the strong, or they die. It's that simple."
(The Rust King/Dialogue) - ↑ "The guard posted at Windmill Gamma was found dead near her post. In her power armor. With her skull crushed. Through the helmet.
The individual responsible for relieving the guard reported seeing an impossibly large man(?), with green-ish skin, heading away from our territory towards the south.
I inspected the guard's rifle. It had discharged at least three times recently. Troubling.
This is the third "green man" sighting in as many months. I've heard it from scavenger crews, but I did not believe it. And now, it is on my doorstep. It appears something was probing our territory. Curious that it did not approach the camp. Could it be intelligent?
Perhaps it is interested in the windmills? I order increased security details around each site. We can ill afford to lose them."
(Ash Cave Terminal Entries#Security Concerns) - ↑ "We reached Highway Town.
The King once tore through this place with fury.
After, they would rebuild, but weaker than before.
Eventually he stopped, and let them grow.
I asked if this was mercy.
He told me that dung is needed to attract flies.
Life would need to grow if he wished to face a worthy challenge.
I asked him if the people here were insects or challengers.
He said that is for them to decide.
I pray and reflect on Judges 2:21. "
(The King's Witness IV) - ↑ "We came upon piles of bones.
He said this place held special meaning to his army.
He once invited Highway Town to accompany their children here.
He was to recruit the strongest among them.
Scores of parents and children arrived.
They were given a blade and a choice.
The last of them standing would join his army.
Some gave themselves to their children's blades. Others, the opposite.
Some refused. They became his army's first prey.
I gagged and retched at this tale.
I begged him to tell me this was a story, a tall tale to spread fear.
He told me it is not a story. It is scripture.
We made for Athens.
I pray, and pray.
I reflect on Leviticus 18:21... On Kings 3:27... Ezekiel 16:20... Matthew 18:10... "
(The King's Witness VII) - ↑ "The Rust King isn't like a normal man, he's able to go wherever he pleases without fear of radiation poisoning or death. Over time, raiders began to follow him for his strength and slowly his army grew. Hearing rumors of a nest of Deathclaws in the old Abraxodyne Chemical plant, the Rust King headed south to conquer.
Upon entering, the Deathclaws attacked. The fight was brutal, many of the Rust King's men died and the Rust King himself sustained wounds that would have killed lesser men. Even as his chest bled and half his vision gouged out, the Rust King fought the Matriarch, eventually managing to break its neck and rip the creature's head off.
With the Matriarch dead, the surviving Deathclaw fled into the Wasteland, abandoning the nest and the eggs still within. The eggs abandoned in the nest were then adopted by the Rust King and later became the first of the Rust Kingdom's tamed Deathclaws."
(The Rust Kingdom (Location) Terminal Entries#Founding our home) - ↑ "We encountered a Deathclaw.
He killed the brute swiftly, effortlessly.
He told me that he found kinship in the creatures.
They were hunters like him.
He had his men raise them from eggs for the arena.
I asked him if he saw the Deathclaws as his children.
He said this kingdom was his child. His seed, the blood spilled on its soil.
I did not prod further on this subject.
He said this story reminded him of something he wanted to show me.
We continued further down the road.
I pray and reflect on Genesis 9:2. "
(The King's Witness VI) - ↑ Vault Dweller"How do you recruit people? "
The Rust King"Some volunteer, others are taken. The strong become my soldiers."
(The Rust King/Dialogue) - ↑ Vault Dweller"What happens to the weak folk? "
The Rust King"I give them a great honor. They kneel and use their bare hands to build my kingdom, or serve as entertainment in the arena. They are good because they are replaceable."
(The Rust King/Dialogue) - ↑ Vault Dweller"Are Ghouls welcome in your army?"
The Rust King"Humans, Ghouls... You tiny things are all the same. I don't care what you look like, only what you can offer me."
(The Rust King/Dialogue) - ↑ Vault Dweller"So you were aware of the revolutionists? "
The Rust King"No. If I had known that Eugene planned to stifle their efforts, I would have killed him from the start. I don't fear rebellion, I hunger for it. Let the strong rise up and face me. To hinder their potential is an insult to my strength."
(The Rust King/Dialogue) - ↑ "As the Rust Kingdom began to expand, our scouts came across Fort Steuben, an inhabited stronghold overlooking the roads to the north-east. Understanding the strategic importance of this location, the Rust King sent a war party to conquer the bulwark.
The stronghold inhabitants were given a chance to join the Rust Kingdom but instead they decided to fight back. The battle was long, lasting all through the night until the next morning. Eventually the Rust King's men whittled down their defenses and breached the fort, killing all that resisted and sending the survivors to the Arena fighting pit. The stronghold was conquered.
Having taken his new territory, the Rust King began to send his men to the other locations. The siege of Fort Steuben was only the beginning of the Rust Kingdom's inevitable conquest of Ohio."
(The Rust Kingdom (Location) Terminal Entries#Siege of Fort Steuben) - ↑ "I've finally met this Rust King face to face and, I must say, he didn't disappoint. I have never met such a brutal specimen - indeed, he can hardly be called a man at all. He's impossibly large, he crushes poly-laminate composite with his bare hands, and his gaze misses no detail.
He has a natural affinity for savagery, elevating it almost to an art, and yet he is terribly clever. So, a man? I don't think so. Something greater.
There comes a time for even the strongest material to either bend or break. And there can be no real question that, for all our considerable might, the Rust King is stronger than we are.
I am ill. Dying, certainly. My condition has worsened considerably over the past few years. It cannot be hidden anymore, although most know better than to speak of it. Abraxodyne's errant product plays havoc within me. I do not expect to see the spring.
But, I am not afraid, I have outlived my home and have lived well. From blood, dust, and scrap, I have forged an enduring people. A future.
It is to preserve this legacy that I have decided that we will submit to the Rust King. To do otherwise is court a senseless, albeit spectacular, destruction. My people will live as they have, reaving, and building, and tempering, and our traditions will continue. My legacy will persist.
I will send word in the morning that I have accepted his terms, and that the Ash Cavers will join their ranks to his. "
(Ash Cave Terminal Entries#12/15/2089) - ↑ "The Rust Kingdom took over much of Ohio eventually reaching the river that bordered Appalachia. Seeing potential in the new land, the Rust King sent scouts to confirm if the land was worthy of claiming.
Upon their return, they reported that the land was weak. The people were sick with an unknown disease and the non-infected were weak-willed, worshipping a bug for strength. The King decided that Appalachia was not worth the time to conquer, at least for now.
These bug worshippers followed some of our scouts to the canyon road just west of the river and attacked them. To stop the cultist nuisance and indicate the kingdom's border, the king commanded a wall be built within the canyon entrance. In the end; a mighty fortress was constructed.
The cultists continue their attempts to storm the checkpoints walls and every time, we show them the consequences of their actions. Let them try to breach our walls, the Rust Kingdom welcomes the challenge. "
(The Rust Kingdom (Location) Terminal Entries#Siege of Fort Steuben) - ↑ "I had not set more than a foot in this land before they found me.
I was relieved that they riddled me with questions and not bullets.
I told them I traveled to spread the word of the Lord.
They laughed. There is only one lord here, they said.
They took me to him. Their King.
I pray and reflect on Acts 9:15. "
(The King's Witness I) - ↑ "They placed me before his throne. Spiked, and twisted. A crown of rusted metal upon his head.
He asked me if my job was to tell stories about my Lord.
I told him they were not just stories, but scripture.
I said they are accounts of the divine reaching out to humanity.
Events that teach us lessons to live as righteous people in service to the Lord.
This answer seemed to please him.
I pray and reflect on John 18:33. "
(The King's Witness II) - ↑ "We walked among the red hills of his land.
I asked him why he allowed me to live.
He wanted scripture made in his name.
I explained that it isn't so simple as that.
He said I would understand after seeing his kingdom.
We left for a settlement to the north.
I pray and reflect on Ezekiel 28:2. "
(The King's Witness III) - ↑ "On reaching Athens, I told him I could see no more.
He took me to a rooftop and told me we had reached the end.
He pointed me to the north. Commanded me to spread his scripture far and wide.
I asked him if this was a warning to the world.
He told me it was an invitation.
To the strong and like-minded.
To come to his land. To thrive and grow strong.
To challenge him and die by his hands.
I refused. I'd rather cut out my own tongue than lead others here.
He said the look in my eyes would send the message all the same.
He departed.
I sat upon the rooftop for some time. I hoped his men would return.
To kill me for my defiance.
They never came.
I pray and think upon Matthew 4:8. "
(The King's Witness VIII)