 | For the super mutant, see Gammorin (super mutant). |
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 | The following is based on Fallout Tactics and some details might contradict canon. |
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Latham was a Brotherhood of Steel Paladin that later became known as "Gammorin," leader of a super mutant army that fought against the Brotherhood of Steel.
Background[]
A powerful man, the barrel-chested Latham is one of the most important humans in the Midwest. As Paladin Latham, he was was a member of the Brotherhood of Steel force that departed New California in the 2190s to track the remnants of the Master's army that were fleeing the region eastwards. He was an influential member of the order, responsible for developing tactics and training procedures for the moving force.[1][2] His personality is best described as confident, arrogant, but with a gentlemanly tone to his speech.
His life defining moment came during the Great Air Convoy. During the passage over the Rocky Mountains, Latham's air ship was badly damaged and crash landed near the pre-War city of Osceolla, where they were taken into custody by the very mutant force they were sent out to track down. Led by Gammorin, the super mutants managed to take less than a half of Latham's forces captive due to casualties sustained in the crash. While they were sentenced to be killed for Gammorin's amusement, Latham noticed the discontent at the decision in the mutant's group and challenged Gammorin to single combat to the death.[3]
The duel took place on January 5th and was won by Latham, barely. The Paladin suffered numerous fractures, lacerations, and brain damage. Regardless, he firmly established himself as the leader of the super mutants.[4] As their leader, he discovered that the super mutants are a simple, good people, with a loyalty stronger than that shown by regular humans. With the help of other crash survivors, he organized the mutants, creating a proper fighting force once more within six months. However, he began to notice symptoms of brain damage sustained in the duel: hallucinations and bouts of angers and depression.[5]
Everything prospered and the group slowly made their way back west until April 9th, 2196. A scouting party sent out by Latham returned, with just one survivor. The super mutants breached the entrance to Vault 0, waking the Calculator from its slumber and triggering the pacification protocols. The lone survivor inadvertently led the robots to Latham's headquarters. After taking heavy losses, the group was forced to flee. Latham and his men eventually returned to Osceolla, where they finally had time to regroup.[6][7][8]
However, the stress compounded the old brain injury, leading to even more vivid hallucinations. When Latham killed a fellow scribe, Nathan, in March 2197, he realized his grip on sanity was slipping.[9] His progressively worsening mental state suffered further when his men and the forces of the Eastern Brotherhood finally clashed on April 6th, 2197. Witnessing tribal Brotherhood soldiers killing his adopted tribe, men who dedicated themselves to his banner, he suffered deep shock and engaged the Brotherhood. The combined physical and mental trauma caused him to discard his old identity as Paladin Latham and fully embrace the character of Gammorin, super mutant leader, sworn enemy of the Menace from the West.[10]
Gammorin's Army proved to be a difficult foe for the Brotherhood. As Latham was responsible for laying down many of the procedures the Brotherhood used every day, the mutants were able to counter battle tactics and reconnaissance efforts with ease.[1] As such, during the first large scale battle between the Army and the Brotherhood, at St. Louis, the mutants were able to rout the enemy forces and entirely destroy six out of eight veteran squads committed to the battle. General Simon Barnaky participated in the battle directly, but was captured in combat.[11][12] Subsequent attacks included the death of most of Brotherhood's intelligence operatives, stunting the organization's reconnaissance records.[13]
However, although the Brotherhood reeled from the super mutant attacks, suffering devastating losses, it did not surrender. With a much more powerful industrial base and source of man power, in the form of villages and towns annexed by the Brotherhood, they held the line and managed to secure several victories against the super mutants, including the successful defense of Kansas City and the recovery of a nuclear warhead in working condition[14] and the conquest of Jefferson City, along with Latham's research project into curing super mutant sterility.[15] The Brotherhood's key asset was a small, highly resourceful squad under the command of someone known simply as the Warrior, which was deployed to Osceolla when the Brotherhood learned that Gammorin was, in fact, Paladin Latham.
Due to his actions against the Brotherhood, the former Paladin was sentenced to death for treason and to cull the security risk he posed.[16] When confronted by the squad in his bunker (a situation he expected),[17] Latham remained defiant, though courteous. He saw the wisdom in sharing the technology with the wastelanders, embodied in the Warrior and his squad. Yet he also saw confirmation that the Elders were as blind as ever, leading the Brotherhood in the wrong direction, letting the Menace in the West grow in strength. Only he and his mutant army were standing in the way of the robotic monstrosities.[18]
Paladin Latham, Gammorin, leader of Gammorin's Army, was slain by the Warrior's squad in honorable combat.[19] His death evoked mixed feelings in the Brotherhood, as while he was the leader of a military force that caused it to sustain devastating losses, he remained a Paladin. His army disintegrated, splitting into warring factions, vying for control. A number of super mutants joined the Brotherhood, continuing to serve a higher cause. Latham's legacy was not forgotten.[20]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
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This character provides miscellaneous services. |
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Mission objective[]
- As the head of the super mutant army, Gammorin is a powerful character as far as his stats are concerned. If he is permitted to engage in melee combat, he can be dangerous. However, the Tommy Gun he uses as default is largely ineffective against the armor at the player's disposal at this point in the game.
Inventory[]
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Brotherhood metal armor |
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Tommy gun | |
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3 stimpaks 100 .45 caliber rounds | |
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empty |
Appearances[]
Latham appears only in Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel.
Behind the scenes[]
- Though not included in the actual game, the Journal of Sir Latham can be found in the game files and provides additional information on the backstory of the character. It was intended to be included in the game, but was apparently left behind when the development cycle was drawing to an end.
- Latham/Gammorin was voiced by Dwight Schultz, who also voiced Hakunin in Fallout 2.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Osceolla mission briefing: "This revelation explains how the Super Mutants were able to counter our battle tactics and reconnaissance efforts, as Paladin Latham wrote many of the procedures that we use today. At first, we believed the mutants had successfully interrogated General Barnaky. But records prove that our methods were compromised before the general fell into enemy hands."
- ↑ Latham: "I wrote your training exorcises!"
- ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 10.1.4.
We have crash landed north of a camp occupied by Super Mutants. We believe these to be remnants of the Master's army as encountered by the first Vault Dweller. Although the archives mentioned that some of these Super Mutants might actually be friendly, we found little to like about these ones, especially the chief.
The leader of this camp went by the name of Gammorin. We were set upon by his patrols soon after we pulled ourselves from the wreckage. Bound and gagged, the mutant guards dragged us back to their camp. Fully half of us had been killed by the crash, and now less than half of that survived the treatment of our mutant captors.
We were scheduled to be killed for the amusement of Gammorin. It was not hard to see that several of the Super-Mutants were unhappy with this. In fact, I was amazed to discover that they were not as savage as I had been previously lead to believe.
I challenged Gammorin to single unarmed combat. It was to the death. There could be no other outcome in my mind. If I die, it will in combat." - ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 0.0.1.
I am awake.
To tell the truth, I remember little of the battle. The gash on my head, along with multiple fractures and breaks, paint an adequate picture. However, the mutants are now expecting me to lead them since I laid Gammorin to rest. I will record more later. I fear my brain has been set awry by the fight. I will try to rest until I can think clearly." - ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 0.5.8.
The Super Mutants are a simple but good people. While considered stupid by many, they show a loyalty stronger than I have seen in many humans. They live life the only way they know how. I have begun to organize these Mutant forces with the handful of fellow humans who survived the crash. I have recovered physically but I find myself prone to mysterious fits of anger and depression. But much worse are the hallucinations." - ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 1.4.5.
Today is a day filled with absolute horror.
Only one mutant returned from a scouting trip that was ten soldiers strong. He staggered back to camp and collapsed without a sound. He died in my arms while trying to hold back the blood pouring from his mouth.
Before I had a chance to close his eyes, the menace was upon us! Metallic death machines entered the camp undetected by my sentries! I have never seen creatures such as this before, but they seemed unstoppable. It was only the sheer power and, more importantly, our numbers that allowed us to defeat these three machinations of death.
Our losses were staggering. - ↑ The presence of Latham's airship at Osceolla suggests this was the original crash site. Given the distance between Osceolla and Vault 0, this means Latham's group was moving West.
- ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 1.8.2.
We are resting now. Humans and mutants alike, hanging their heads and trying to catch their breath. Who knows how far we retreated? Twenty miles? Forty even?
Once we put enough distance between us and this... this Menace from the West, then we can regroup and plan a counter-strike." - ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 2.3.4.
I am not well. This morning I thought I was attacked by a Deathclaw. Too far from my SMG, I lashed out with my Ripper, slashing the beast's throat. My vision cleared in time to see Nathan the scribe's eyes go cloudy. His neck in ruin, his blood covering my hands. How can I go mad when humanity is in such dire peril?
I must maintain my sanity. I must." - ↑ Journal of Sir Latham: "Journal of Sir Latham, Entry 2.4.2.
My scouts engaged an enemy today. The sound of chain guns and explosions hasting my steps. What I observed in that fight changed me to the core of my being.
My mutant scouts were engaged by a Brotherhood patrol. For the first time in my life, I was frozen in battle.
I watched, curious even, tribal looking Brotherhood soldiers laughing manically as they cut down my new companions.
My mutant companions, who dedicated their life to me as their leader. I lifted my weapon then, and fired again and again.
When it was over, with Brotherhood corpses littering the ground, my head suddenly cleared. I now know my purpose and, more importantly, I finally know who I am.
I am Gammorin - sworn enemy of the Menace from the West." - ↑ St. Louis briefing: "At 0900 yesterday, while on patrol, Fang Squad encountered a large contingent of heavily armed Super-Mutants in the region known as St. Louis. They fought bravely against this overwhelming force and managed to radio in a distress call right before they were annihilated.
Eight battle-hardened squads led by General Barnaky rushed to the scene and are now in pitched combat with the Super-Mutants. While we were able to push them back initially, our losses have been staggering. As a result, we need to pull our forces out of there immediately. This battle is lost." - ↑ St. Louis mission debriefing: "The Super-Mutant army destroyed a total of six full squads of our Brothers. This is a large setback for the Brotherhood, since those squads contained some of our finest veteran soldiers. We shall not forget our Brothers who fell in the line of duty, nor shall we let these feelings get in the way of our duty."
- ↑ Jefferson City briefing: "We have suffered another setback, Brother. Most of our Intelligence Operatives were killed in the surprise ambush last night. I can scarcely believe it myself, but we now have to accept the possibility that the Super Mutants are familiar with our covert methods.
What is left of our intelligence ops, has discovered the location of one of the Super Mutant's staging areas. The mutants have a, semi-permanent military base in the rubble-strewn city of Jefferson. Additional reports describe multiple generators are supplying power directly to one large structure. Our scribes believe that this structure is a weapons manufacturing plant.
You have two objectives to complete here, warrior. The first is to render all of these power generators permanently inoperative. Without power, their factory is useless. Your second objective is to force the mutants into a rout. If we can get them running, they'll lead us to either their main base or to General Barnaky." - ↑ Kansas City mission
- ↑ Jefferson City mission
- ↑ Osceolla briefing:"Even now, many of the Elders are having trouble coming to terms with the fact that he has betrayed us and turned against the Order - but the truth must not be denied.
Your first objective is to assassinate Gammorin. He is a dangerous man and his knowledge of our inner working could prove our undoing. Without his guidance, the Super-Mutants will lack the leadership and discipline to be a continual threat. - ↑ Latham: "If they come, they'll only send one squad. Trust me."
- ↑ Latham: "Welcome brothers. Welcome. What a fine bunch of soldiers I see before me. If only the West Coast Elders could see you. They would have finally agreed with us about sharing the Brotherhood's wealth of education and technology. But I digress.
Do you believe you can stop the Menace from the West? Your eyes give you away "brother." They tell me you don't even understand who or what the Menace is. The Elders have always been blind to what is not in front of them.
But it ends here.
The General is not here for you to save, I'm afraid.
And you cannot save me... or yourself.
Now, show me what you've learned! - ↑ Latham: "I did not sacrifice my very identity to be beaten by those I strive to save! Ask yourself what you will gain by killing me?!
Judge me not by my actions but by my goals!
This undead enemy will not stop until all life has been extinguished!
Why can't you see that?
Why?!!" - ↑ Osceolla debriefing: "Today is a day of joy and sorrow for the Brotherhood. Gammorin was a traitor, a murderer, and a deceiver, yet he was a Paladin. His brave deeds once brought much hope to the wasteland. Yet, something happened to him when the Great Storm ripped his airship from the Convoy and crashed it to the ground. From that moment, Gammorin was born, and the Brotherhood lost its favored son.
With their leader dead, the mutants have split into factions. Some have turned to internal fighting as they wrestle for control, others have EVEN offered to join the Brotherhood. Though the mutant menace is far from ended, they are severely weakened. It will be some time before they gather their strength. Dagger Squad is out on patrol now hunting any mutant stragglers."
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