The Pitt

The Pitt is a city state and a leading industrial settlement in the Pennsylvania Wasteland in 2277.

Background
The Pitt was once the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following the Great War, survivors established a settlement on the remains of a city at the confluence of rivers. The rivers seem to provide a clear resource, and enough of the city was cleared by the bombs that a new settlement could be established. However, radioactive material and unidentified mutagens mixed into the groundwater, causing it to become slightly mutagenic and highly carcinogenic. As a result, the people in the new settlement began to change ever so slightly. Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.43-44: "Pitt Raiders Pitt Slaves Trogs Wildmen Following the Great War, survivors established a settlement on the remains of a city at the confluence of rivers. The rivers seem to provide a clear resource, and enough of the city was cleared by the bombs that a new settlement could be established. However, radioactive material and unidentified mutagens mixed into the groundwater, causing it to become slightly mutagenic and highly carcinogenic. As a result, the people in the new settlement began to change ever so slightly. ''The changes were subtle, not nearly to the degree of the Super Mutants or the various Wasteland creatures, but over the next 140 years, it became undeniable that something was affecting the people of The Pitt. Starting from the first few years, children were often born with strange growths or extra vestigial limbs. The mutations never went far beyond the occasional hunchback or cleft palate, but it wasn't long before the vast majority of the residents of The Pitt developed some sort of physical deformity in their lifetimes. Although many children were born "clean," the older they got, the more likely that a problem would develop. The most disturbing change that the environment caused was not nearly as noticeable as the physical deformities. The infected water and poisoned sky began to cause neurological damage to those exposed to it. People became more hostile, violent, and short-tempered; they became known as "Wildmen." Their emotions became out of control, and their actions often teetered on primal. In severe cases, mutated humans devolved into hunched, savage beasts nicknamed "Trogs." Over the first 50 years, The Pitt quickly degenerated into a dangerous den of murderers and rapists; even cannibalism was not uncommon. The only loyalty was in strength, and the only organization was between those who were strong enough to control others and those who were controlled. Rumors of the horrors of The Pitt spread throughout the Wasteland, and all travelers knew to avoid it at all costs. However, The Pitt became one of the most self-sufficient communities in the Wastes. Granted, their self-sufficiency relied on the citizens occasionally eating one another, but they functioned without trade or export. In 2042 [sic], Star Paladin Lyons of the Brotherhood of Steel led the Scourge, a large-scale military action that wiped out nearly the entire population of The Pitt. In a single night, the Brotherhood swept through the city, eliminating any resident who put up a fight. Although the intent of the Scourge remains unclear, several unmutated children were taken from The Pitt by the Brotherhood and placed into initiate training. The motivations for the Scourge are unclear to this day, but many in the Brotherhood note that it was a marked change in the way the Brotherhood operates. Additionally, it is known that something was recovered from The Pitt during the Scourge, although to date it would seem that only Elder Lyons knows what it was. It is said that a Brotherhood of Steel Paladin from the Scourge stayed on in The Pitt, seeking to bring law and order to the unwashed masses and creating an underclass of Pitt Slaves in the process, guarded by Pitt Raiders under his personal command. However, in the decades following the events of the Scourge, nobody has heard anything from The Pitt. Travelers who have gone to investigate have not returned, and no survivors have emerged."'' (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide faction profiles)

The changes were subtle, not nearly to the degree of super mutants or the various Wasteland creatures, but over the next 140 years, it became undeniable that something was affecting the people of The Pitt. Starting from the first few years, children were often born with strange growths or extra vestigial limbs. The mutations never went far beyond the occasional hunchback or cleft palate, but it wasn't long before the vast majority of the residents of The Pitt developed some sort of physical deformity in their lifetimes. Although many children were born "clean," the older they got, the more likely that a problem would develop.

The most disturbing change that the environment caused was not nearly as noticeable as the physical deformities. The infected water and poisoned sky began to cause neurological damage to those exposed to it. People became more hostile, violent, and short-tempered; they became known as "wildmen." Their emotions became out of control, and their actions often teetered on primal. In severe cases, mutated humans devolved into hunched, savage beasts nicknamed "trogs." Over the first 50 years, The Pitt quickly degenerated into a dangerous den of murderers and rapists; even cannibalism was not uncommon. The only loyalty was in strength, and the only organization was between those who were strong enough to control others and those who were controlled. Rumors of the horrors of The Pitt spread throughout the Wasteland, and all travelers knew to avoid it at all costs. However, The Pitt became one of the most self-sufficient communities in the Wastes. Granted, their self-sufficiency relied on the citizens occasionally eating one another, but they functioned without trade or export.

The Scourge
In 2255, then Star Paladin Lyons of the Brotherhood of Steel led the Scourge, a large-scale military action that wiped out nearly the entire population of The Pitt. In a single night, the Brotherhood swept through the city, coming south from Mount Wash. Gunning down everyone and everything that looked like it would put up a fight, it was a cleansing that finally managed to calm the Pitt down.

In the end, the Brotherhood slaughtered over a half of the Pitt's population, including the wildest and most dangerous inhabitants, creating a power vacuum.

Although the intent of the Scourge remains unclear, several children were taken from The Pitt by the Brotherhood and placed into initiate training (siblings deemed mutated or at risk of mutation were abandoned). Additionally, it is known that something was recovered from The Pitt during the Scourge, although to date it would seem that only Elder Lyons knows what it was. The Brotherhood suffered only one casualty: Initiate Ishmael Ashur was assumed killed in action. The Brotherhood knights who fought with him reported to have witnessed him getting buried in rubble from a collapsing building. Many in the Brotherhood note that it was a marked change in the way the Brotherhood operates.

Post-Scourge
Ashur had in fact survived being buried by the rubble, but he was knocked out cold by the event and remained unconscious for days. He was woken from his involuntary slumber some time after the Brotherhood had marched on from the area. His unwitting savior was a female scavenger who survived the purge, trying to pull him out of the rubble and strip him of his armor. He did not let her take it, but spared her life. After questioning the scavenger, he learned that she and her family were staging raids into other parts of the Pitt to gather supplies. Recalling recon data and his Brotherhood knowledge, he realized that this was the only operational steel mill the Brotherhood has seen. Ashur decided that it was a chance for a new beginning. To this end, he harnessed the scavengers, who were more than happy to appease the man they perceived as god, to build a city from scratch. The task wasn't as hard as it appeared to be at first sight, as while the Brotherhood looted the city a lot, they also cleared out a lot of trogs and wildmen, leaving behind plenty of salvageable goods.

The city grew rapidly under Ashur's lead and care. He ruled with a necessary iron fist, buying and capturing people for slave labor, pressing raider gangs into his army, all in order to keep his city growing. The harsh methods were necessary, as the virulent, toxic environment of the ruined city of Pittsburgh and the related Troglodyte Degeneration Contagion precluded normal procreation. Ashur considered his brutal approach a temporary measure, until a cure for the mutations was found. He and his chief scientist, Sandra Kundanika (who happened to be Ashur's wife), focused on developing it. The solution came in the form of a child, their child. Marie was born without mutations of any kind and soon exhibited immunity to them. Her parents were elated and focused on developing a way to share Marie's natural resistance to mutation with others, so that the Pitt can grow normally.

But until such a way is found, Ashur continues to lord over the Pitt, building his vast raider army and the economical might of the Pitt, until he can fulfill his goals of freeing his people from the ravages of sickness and uniting the wastelands under his banner.

Slaves can earn their freedom and ascend to the ranks of Ashur's raider army by winning fights in The Hole. Quite a few of Ashur's finest are former slaves, including Reddup, Mex, Gruber, Hammer and Squill.

Trainyard
The main train yard for The Pitt has long since fallen into disrepair, and the main rail bridge into the city has fallen into the highly toxic river. In addition, the tunnel is blocked, preventing further journey on rails. A small scouting party of Pitt raiders guards this yard, ready to report back to the main gate if any enemies are spotted or if slaves try to escape. This is moderately well guarded and is the last stop between the Wasteland and The Pitt.

Bridge
Despite ruling The Pitt with an iron fist, there are still pockets of resistance throughout the city, not least of which is an old slave trading post near the Wabash Bridge, which is now under the control of wildmen. The bridge is a dangerous trap-filled pathway with vicious dogs and a sniper, but it's better to face these than dive into the river below, as radioactive death is instantaneous. On the north side of the bridge, slaves periodically attempt to flee and are blown apart by the many scattered mines. Down the street is the main gate to Downtown, guarded by the ever-offensive Mex and his lackeys.

Downtown
Home to the majority of the slaves working in the nearby steel mill, Pitt Downtown is a gruesome, grimy, and desperate place, where Pitt raiders rule and slaves are treated worse than dogs. From the main courtyard, with a hole and a furnace, there’s an alley leading northeast toward a 'Market Square', where the majority of the Slaves plot rebellion. Above the ground, and accessed only after victories in the Arena, are the upper scaffold pathways and bridges. These are home to Pitt raiders, who can keep constant vigil on their property down below.

Steelyard
Once the main steel-producing center of The Pitt, recent and increased activity by wildmen and trogs have rendered this a dangerous deathtrap. Slaves unlucky enough to be ordered to work in this gloomy location are soon killed or eaten (or both) by the inhuman trogs and wildmen that prowl this grimy area. The steelyard is dangerous in other ways, too, as there are a variety of ledges, planks, walkways, and pipes to plummet off of. However, it is here you must forage for as many steel ingots as you wish to find. You need a minimum of ten from here, the supply plant, or the abandoned area. Within this area also lies an abyss similar to the one found at Mama Dolce's.

Uptown
Uptown is primarily the Pitt raider residential district, with defenses and lighting constantly checked to ensure no trog incursions occur. Part of the crumbling tenement blocks hold a number of wandering raiders, all loyal to Ashur. Much like Downtown, you are able to access the ground and upper levels via a series of scaffolds and catwalks. North of the open-plan tenements is an Abandoned Apartment. To the east is the main Courtyard and the entrance to the power plant and Haven interior.

Haven
Dominating this expansive courtyard plaza is a giant effigy, flanked by two gouts of intermittent ﬁre. A twisted monument to the sickness, this has the added benefit of keeping trogs away, as they are light-sensitive. However, Ashur knows from past massacres that the lights must be kept on to avoid a trog influx. The effigy stands at the foot of Ashur’s base. It is a skyscraper known as Haven, due to the safety and experimentation into curing the sickness that takes place inside. Haven is the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning.

Appearances
The Pitt appears in the Fallout 3 add-on The Pitt, and is mentioned in Fallout 3 and ''Point Lookout. Pittsburgh is also mentioned in Fallout 76.

Behind the scenes

 * The bridge that the Lone Wanderer uses to enter The Pitt exists in real life as the South Tenth Street Bridge.
 * Several buildings on the skyline, including the BNY Mellon Center, PPG Place, and the U.S. Steel Tower are real buildings in downtown Pittsburgh.
 * The Pitt could be a reference to the George. A Romero film Land of the Dead. Both are set in Pittsburgh, which is split into a poor part and a rich part where the leader lives in a tower. Outside Pittsburgh in both the film and The Pitt are animalistic creatures (zombies in the film, trogs in the DLC) and if you follow Wernher's path, the creatures invade the rich area, like in the film.
 * Haven is the Fallout universe's version of the Cathedral of Learning, a central building on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.
 * There is a Holotape in Rockopolis that mentions The Pitt.

Gallery
Concept art by Adam Adamowicz