Fallout: Lore

The Brotherhood of Steel

"We'll preserve what's best of what's come before and use it. And one day, we will reclaim what was lost. Let us forge a Brotherhood of Steel." — Roger Maxson

The Brotherhood Begins
On January 3, 2076, a team of military personnel was sent to monitor progress at a West-Tek facility in California. The facility was conducting secret scientific research for the American government. On January 7th, they relocated to the Mariposa Military Base in an effort to enhance security.
One of these military persons was a man named Roger Maxson, a captain in the military who's job at Mariposa was to protect the research and scientists inside, despite not knowing what it was. Until October 10, 2077, when he and his men discovered that these scientists were performing genetically engineered tests on unwilling subjects. It was a break of morale for everyone, and the military team members were infuriated.
In turn, the scientists were executed for their crimes, and once Roger Maxson was in control of the base, he radioed in to the United States Army and declared his desertion from them. However, he received no response from the chain-of-command. He found out a while later that the world had ended, obliterated by nuclear warfare, and everything they ever knew was gone. Once November came, Rogers and his band of survivors, including his military team and their families, set out to find shelter in Lost Hills, a nearby government fallout shelter.
There, he and his crew made their home, and eventually founded an organization called the Brotherhood of Steel. They sent out signals and messages all across the United States, using an old functioning satellite they found at the Lost Hills base. Soon people came to join them, mostly survivors who were previously part of the military, and Captain Roger Maxson was made their first High Elder. As they grew in numbers, they also grew in strength; one of the first tasks they took on was searching and salvaging all the technology from the old world as they could. It was a success.
The Brotherhood of Steel became a widespread organization, dedicated to building a new America while also protecting human survivors from any major dangers the wastelands brewed. Sometimes they even fought against their fellow man, all in the name justice and for what they believe is right. Roger had said that the leaders of the old world failed them, in more ways than one, but the Brotherhood of Steel was made to make things right.
Despite the mixed emotions of this powerful band of brothers and sisters, no one can deny that they are dedicated to their cause. This brotherhood still stands after years of hardships and strife, and if that isn't dedication than who knows what is? All thanks to Roger Maxson, the man who will go down in history as the first leader of the Brotherhood of Steel.

All The Way to Appalachia
Roger Maxson send a message over satellite to call out to other pre-war soldiers. He said that America had failed, not because of its people, but because of the evil superiors pulling the strings. This message was to recruit fellow survivors into his fold. The message reached several military bases and radios all across the destroyed nation, including the hills of West Virginia.
Surviving military members heard this message, and learned about the Brotherhood's ideals via Roger Maxson's holotapes. They set up a western headquarters in an asylum in the Cranberry Bog, renaming it "Fort Defiance". The Appalachian Brotherhood began to take in new initiates, and started to grow, until a threat called the "Scorched" came along.
They fought off the hoards of creatures; not only the Scorched, but other mutated monstrosities as well. To no avail. Eventually, despite all their recovered technology and firepower, the mutations got the better of them. They were completely wiped out. The vault dwellers of Vault 76 emerged afterwards, and some found the remains of these Brotherhood of Steel members. They also found the Scorched. It was their problem to deal with now.

The NCR-Brotherhood War
In the year 2231, Jeremy Maxson, descendant of Roger Maxson, had taken position of High Elder. His goal: to push the Brotherhood and it's cause eastward. To do so, he needed more pre-war technology. However, he wasn't the only one scavenging for the old world's trinkets; the New California Republic, or "NCR", were also on the hunt. The two factions had formed an alliance, but hostilities toward each other about who would get the pre-war goodies began to sour their partnership.
Things really escalated when the Enclave, another organization, was destroyed. The Enclave had more technology out of the Brotherhood and NCR combined, and when they disbanded, the two factions fought over who would get their left-behind tech. So, the factions went to war. While the Brotherhood had more advanced weaponry on its hands, the NCR had more numbers. They both fought each other long and hard, but in the end, the NCR won.
After a battle over HELIOS One, a solar plant, the Brotherhood was forced to retreat. They ran, wounded and defeated, up to Hidden Valley where they recovered and eventually left the area. Since then, they never fully returned to the place. Since they never continued the fight after losing that crucial battle, the NCR declared victory. It was an embarrassing loss for the mighty Brotherhood of Steel, but despite the setbacks, they continued their original plans of heading east. It would just take them longer to do so.

Back To The East Coast
     Before the battles with the NCR, year 2244, zthe Brotherhood sent a portion of its members eastward under the leadership of Owyn Lyons. Their main mission was to try and find the lost midwestern Brotherhood chapter, and probably even the longer lost Appalachian chapter. They failed their mission, but upon marching east, they discovered that it was in far worse condition than the west was.
     Elder Lyons decided to take action, and made changes to their mission. The Brotherhood worked to eradicate the slavers of the Pitt, then moved toward the capitol, where they then worked to get rid of the Super Mutant menace. They also took interest in "Project Purity", where a fight broke out between them and the Enclave; a small portion of what was thought to be a long-dead organization had silently started to rebuild itself, and relocated to Raven Rock.
     Years later, by 2287, the Brotherhood had moved farther up north to Boston. Arthur Maxson, another descendant of Roger Maxson, was the Elder who took his best men and the Prydwen (a giant airship) with him there. In the Boston Commonwealth, the Institute, an organization of scientists formed out of survivors in the Institute of Technology, was the problem this time. The Brotherhood made it there mission to get rid of the Institute and save the Commonwealth, but ran into conflict with other factions in the area and even the residents themselves.
     As their influence in the west became shaky, their influence in the east grew to something common people feared. No one wanted to pick a fight with the Brotherhood of Steel; they had working, flying Vertibirds which the people of the Commonwealth and Capitol Wasteland hadn't seen in years. Impressive, or intimidating? Regardless, it was no doubt that they were stronger in the east, and while many questioned their morals, these brothers and sisters of steel banned together to defeat a common enemy. With the help of some famous vault dwellers, ofcourse.

Brotherhood Society and Ideology
     The Brotherhood of Steel could be described as a sort of neo-knight syndicate who bases most of their rules, practices, and combat behaviors after the old United States Army. They have a very sophisticated way of operating. One thing that makes them more sophisticated than the other factions formed is that they have ranks of superiority, with the leader over the entire Brotherhood being called High Elder.
Here are the ranks in order from highest rank to lowest:
• High Elder (commander-in-chief)
• Elder (chapter commander)
• Sentinel (brigadier general)
• Star Paladin (colonel)
• Paladin (major)
• Knight (captain/sergeant)
• Aspirant (private)
• Initiate (recruit)

     There are different chapters, or branches, of the Brotherhood of Steel. The original one in the west, the midwestern one, and the one in the east. Ofcourse, there are other smaller groups of the Brotherhood that went off on missions to different parts of the nation. There is said to be a group in Texas, and another one in Chicago. No matter what branch it is and where they go, they all stick to the same rules and regulations.
     They follow a written code, called the Codex, and if the disobey said code their punishments could be imprisonment or even death. They have no tolerance for things outside of human; Super Mutants, Ghouls, Synths, and other things affected by the radiation are seen as atrocities, and should be dealt with. They are also weary of outsiders not part of their organization, but allow them into their fold if they wish to be a loyal Brotherhood member, but are given medical examinations and maybe even tests before allowed to enter.
     They also have a certain saying, or salute, that they use. "Ad Victoriam", which is derived from Latin, and means "to victory". Their motto, sometimes being printed on flags or armor, is "Semper Invicta", meaning "always invincible".
     The Brotherhood takes their duty very seriously, as every faction should; they honor family, and are skeptic of outsiders, but promise to help the citizens of the wasted nation in any way they see fit. Traditions, their members, and their missions are important to them. So they will do what it takes for their own with pride. Maybe, as some would say, with too much pride.

Conclusion
     From a small group of lost armed forces, to the post-war world's most respected and feared conglomerate, the Brotherhood of Steel has come to the aid of its fellow man. They are hated, they are loved, and they are questioned about their role in life. To that question, any Brotherhood member would tell you that they want to build a better world than the one their predecessors destroyed.
     They might also respond with simply, "Ad Victoriam!" To which a commoner might roll their eyes or stare blankly; especially if they have never met the Brotherhood of Steel before.

Official Fallout Lore