Slavery is a lucrative business in the post-Great War world. Although many of the larger pockets of civilization have outlawed slavery, the practice persists throughout the wasteland.
Organization
Slavery is one of the most controlled businesses in the post-nuclear world. Nearly all of the slave trade in New California is done through the Slaver's Guild, a collection of older slavers who decide prices and organize capture hunts among the people of the wastelands. Anyone caught capturing or selling slaves in the Core Region without the blessing of the Slaver's Guild, is usually put under a number of trials until deemed worthy to be part of the Slaver's Guild or killed. Since the Guild holds so much power, it often controls smaller towns where it operates, although from behind the scenes. Members of the Slaver's Guild have a distinctive tattoo covering most of their face, making them readily identifiable to both friend and foe, allowing the Guild to make fast judgments when someone without "the tat" has a tribal up on the auction block for sale.
In 2241, the head of the Slaver's Guild is Metzger, whose headquarters is in the Den.
Slavers in the Fallout games do not discriminate between people based upon their race, species, or ideology - anyone who can be easily cowed into submission, captured, and fitted with a slave collar is perfectly acceptable "meat" for them to use. Similarly, slavers themselves may be of any ethnic background.
Fallout 2
Fallout 2 is peppered with slavers, most notably in The Den. The Chosen One is able to join the slavers for extra cash, but his/her karma will take a beating, and he/she will be branded permanently as a member of the Slaver's Guild, which may negatively impact the reactions of certain NPCs.
There is also a large slave-holding pen on the NCR/Northern California border run by a slaver named Vortis. Although there is frequent conflict between the slavers and the NCR Rangers, Vortis probably profits off of all the caravans who are known to purchase slaves as porters and sell them off at the end of their journeys. Some random encounters feature slavers as well as slaves, often together. If the player is a member of the NCR Rangers or killed Metzger, slavers will act more aggressively towards the player.
Fallout 3
Slavers play a fairly large role in Fallout 3. Paradise Falls is the slaver headquarters in the Capital Wasteland with Eulogy Jones as its leader. Several quests feature slavery as either major or minor elements, most notably Head of State and its association to slavery and Abraham Lincoln's role as the 'Great Emancipator.' Additionally, the Lone Wanderer can capture people to sell them to slavers. The Lone Wanderer can even buy a slave, Clover, who will then serve the player as a bodyguard. The player does not have the option of activating the explosive collar of Clover. The number of slaves present compared to the number of slavers is remarkably low, showing that the slaves are being shipped off somewhere. It is revealed by Wernher that many of these slaves are shipped off to work at the Pitt in the DLC of the same name.
Fallout: New Vegas
In Fallout: New Vegas, Caesar's Legion is the primary slaving "company" that enslaves any survivors of their pillages that aren't deemed "worthy" of death. Legion slaves can be found at The Fort carrying heavy loads on their backs as well as working to keep the Legionaries fed and healthy. Occasionally, if a slave gets mouthy or refuses orders, they are sent to the Arena where they fight challengers to the death. Jeannie May Crawford of Novac sold Craig Boone's wife, Carla, along with Carla's unborn baby to Caesar's Legion, according to the Bill of sale.
Appearances
- In Fallout the only direct mention of slavery is by the Khans' hostages.
- Slavers appear in Fallout 2, Fallout 3, and Fallout: New Vegas.
- Caesar's Legion are the major slaver faction in the Mojave Wasteland. They were also going to have a major role in the canceled Van Buren.