Vance (Fallout 3)

Vance is the mysterious leader and guide of The Family in 2277.

Background
Born in 2236, Vance has led The Family for many years. When he was younger, he decided that life in Rivet City was not for him and began to wander the Wasteland. His decision was motivated, in part, by the realization that he can drink human blood to boost his body's regenerative properties. Subsisting on blood packs he found in hospital ruins, he developed the ability to find others of his kind.

Over time, he gathered these outcasts and founded their home in Meresti. The settlements from which these outcasts came regarded them with closed minds and as abhorrent monsters in need of reform, but Vance regards reform as implying something was wrong to begin with. The people Vance adopts are people after himself: Outcasts with cannibalistic urges from all over the wasteland, united as The Family in the Meresti metro station. He is trying to teach his charges to drink blood (as if they were vampires) instead of consuming human flesh, to teach them to tame their abilities, rather than repress them like in outside societies. In his words, he eliminated "their fears, their inhibitions and their shame," but most importantly, he gave them a family and a sense of belonging. Beneath the sands of the wasteland, they are safe from their extermination sought after from greater civilization.

He is cordial and brave, willing to go to great lengths to save prospective Family members. In fact, he is one of the few wastelanders to survive an encounter with an Enclave patrol in the wasteland, just to save Justin from them. Vance sees himself as a leader, in the sense of a shepherd or priest rather than a king; he has never demanded anyone do anything against their will, he never wishes to put anyone in harm's way and he addresses the residents of Meresti often so they will never stray from their true nature – that of the vampire. Should any one of his flock decide to leave, Vance is disappointed but retains that he shall only guide those that wish to be guided.

Vance is well aware that what he teaches are stories and not facts. He believes this gives them a sense of belonging and purpose in a world that doesn't understand their unusual trait. Although the Family may truly believe they are like the vampires in traditional works of fiction, Vance knows that they retain no abilities or "powers" that distinguish them from any other cannibal in the Capital Wasteland.

Quests

 * Blood Ties: Talking to Vance is a crucial element of the quest and allows the player to resolve it peacefully by forging an alliance with the people of Arefu.
 * I Want to Drink Your Blood: This quest is available after forging the alliance. Blood packs can be donated to Vance in return for bottle caps.

Effects of player actions

 * Upon completing Blood Ties, Vance awards the player his copy of the Shishkebab schematics, no matter which dialogue options were chosen.
 * After completing Blood Ties and getting Evan King to accept Vance's deal on behalf of the people of Arefu, Vance can teach the player the Hematophage perk which causes blood packs to yield 20 HP each rather than the normal 1 HP. Return to Meresti metro station and talk to Vance after completing Blood Ties.

Appearances
Vance appears only in Fallout 3.