Lasher

Father Lasher or "Lasher of the Children" is a High Elder of the Children of the Cathedral found in his quarters in the northwestern part of the Cathedral in Fallout.

Background
Father Lasher is a short-tempered individual with a sadistic streak, enshrined in his teachings. He is the second in command of the Cathedral, He was one of the later recruits into the Cult, who instituted his own rule in a place once governed by idle pleasure. His harsh teachings focused on separating the men from beasts through the application of pain, but were soon abandoned in favor of awe-inspiring light and sound shows, a source of perpetual bitterness for Lasher, who could only instruct the youngest members of the movement, children and teenagers.

As instructor of the youngest Children of the Cathedral, Lasher wants his charges to suffer as much as possible in order to evolve into human beings. Pain separates man from beast and to him, children are particularly wicked beasts. Notably, Lasher does not have any prejudice against mutants: Since every birth is a mutation of parents' DNA, everyone is a mutant: What matters is that they are guided on a moral and productive path. His job is simply to ensure it happens, implemented through his philosophy.

Father Lasher's philosophy enshrines pain as the most instructive force in the universe. The faithful must be broken and then remade into tools of the Master's will. Furthermore, it allows to clean the mind of evil thoughts and permit it to better comprehend the glory of the Master. Finally, it prevents decandence and ease, fostering evolution necessary for survival in the harsh wasteland. If his charge succumbs in the course of the Lasher's duties, it is considered a sign of them being a beast not deserving to exist.

His convictions go beyond simple applications of physical pain. Righteousness is also attained through struggle, trauma, and recovery, until one accepts the Master's truth without hesitation. Beyond that step, rewarded with consecration, lies only baptism, achieved by the endurance of pain, by the acquisition of wisdom, and the performance of service: Pain is knowledge, Wisdom is obedience, and Service is courage. You reject the Light that destroyed humanity and pledge yourself to the Darkness in which all are equal.

Other interactions

 * If a prospective member of the Children asks for a way past the Nightkin to see Morpheus, he will give the red CoC badge.

Behind the scenes
His methods are similar to those used by Bene Gesserit to discern humans from animals in the Dune series by Frank Herbert.

Appearances
Lasher appears only in Fallout.