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The Prydwen
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79
Site
For Prydwen loc
Map MarkerPrydwen
People
FactionsBrotherhood of Steel
OwnersLancer-Captain Kells
LeadersElder Arthur Maxson
DoctorsKnight-Captain Cade
MerchantsProctor Teagan
Other
Quests
Act II
Act III
Secondary quests
Radiant quests
Technical
Cell NameBostonAirportExt11
PrydwenHull01 (main deck)
PrydwenHull02 (command deck)
PrydwenHull03 (quarters)
ref id00076a38
0005c92e (main deck)
0014fc54 (command deck)
0021630b (quarters)
TerminalsPrydwen terminals:
Botany Terminal
Knight-Captain Cade's Terminal
Crew's Terminal
Proctor Ingram's Terminal
Captain Kell's Terminal
Elder Maxson's Terminal
Scribe Neriah's Terminal
Outgoing Mail Terminal
Proctor Quinlan's Terminal
Recreation Terminal
 
Gametitle-FO4
Gametitle-FO4

She may not be beautiful, but she's safe, reliable and heavily armored enough to keep the riff-raff from bringing her down.

Kells

The Prydwen is a crucial location in the Commonwealth and the flagship of the Brotherhood of Steel.

Background[]

Though the Brotherhood has once possessed a small fleet of pre-War airships,[1] they have all been destroyed in fighting super mutants or scuttled for parts in the 22nd century.[2] Born at the dusk of the 23rd century, the Prydwen is the first post-War aircraft,[1] a one of a kind advanced airship constructed by the Brotherhood of Steel at Adams Air Force Base, and a manifestation of its rebirth on the East Coast. Initial work began in 2278. Two years alone were spent on designing it by the sharpest minds the Brotherhood had at its disposal.[3] Another two years were spent gathering the parts necessary to enable its construction,[4] with components salvaged from the destroyed Enclave base playing a crucial role in its construction. The Prydwen was launched in 2282, granting the Brotherhood the ability to mobilize its entire division and field it anywhere they need to at a moment's notice.[5][6]

In terms of design, the Prydwen is a 40,000 ton[6] rigid-frame airship, with lighter-than-air gas bags safely hidden inside a lightweight armored plating that surrounds the main deck. Originally powered by an old type fusion plant, it was refitted with an updated plant pulled from the wreckage of an aircraft carrier for the Commonwealth campaign. As such, it has been capable of crossing the vast distance dividing the ruins of Washington, D.C. and Boston in record time thanks to the power of its main engines. The Prydwen can land on the ground in emergencies and to conserve coolant needed to keep it afloat.[7][8] Notably, the airship itself is unarmed, but it always carries enough troops, Vertibirds and supplies to mount a major offensive.[9]

The Brotherhood's airborne aircraft carrier contains all of the facilities needed to make long range operations possible: Barracks, research and development facilities, a medical bay, armory, workshops, and more. During the War for the Commonwealth, the carrier also houses the top leadership of the chapter. Apart from Elder Maxson:

  • Lancer-Captain Kells, the head of the Lancers and Prydwen's skipper, resides at the command deck on the bridge, overseeing field operations.
  • Proctor Teagan, head of the Order of the Sword, acts as Prydwen's quartermaster. His office is in the supply depot in the rear. The head of the airport supply depot, Knight-Sergeant Gavil, answers directly to him.
  • Proctor Ingram, head of the Order of the Shield, works in the power armor maintenance bay. She oversees engineering and maintenance duties both aboard the Prydwen and airportside. It's her job to ensure the reactor remains operational and the ship airborne. She also works towards restoring Liberty Prime, the keystone of Elder Maxson's stratagem against the Institute.
  • Proctor Quinlan, head of the Order of the Quill, oversees Scribe research and recovery operations from his quarters on the main deck, opposite the infirmary. Field Scribes answer to him and he's personally checking every technical document brought in from the field by them or other Brotherhood operatives.

Apart from the three Order leaders, the chapter's most talented physician, Knight Captain Cade resides in the medical bay, treating wounded soldiers and assessing new recruits in order to see if they're combat ready. He's notoriously strict and refuses to clear Paladin Brandis for duty until the Sole Survivor completes either The Nuclear Option for the Brotherhood or completes Mass Fusion for the Institute while working for the Railroad. 

Layout[]

The Prydwen does not arrive in the Commonwealth until the completion of Reunions. Afterwards, it's moored at the Boston Airport and can be accessed by using a Vertibird stationed at the terminal. The first arrival will likely be by using the Vertibird at the Cambridge Police Station, if the player is a part of the Brotherhood.

The Prydwen is divided into four sections: The flight deck, forward deck, command deck, main deck, and the forecastle.

Flight deck[]

Suspended below the primary structure of the Prydwen, the flight deck is a key asset of the unarmed airship. The entire system is designed to accommodate as many as four Vertibirds for docking via four retractable struts. The Prydwen docking is simple - the Vertibird hovers in position, while the strut connects with its dorsal apparatus, then slowly lifts it into a docking position, while the gunship folds its nacelles and rotors for docking. It's a simple, yet highly efficient design that allows for rapid dispatching of air units and Brotherhood squads at a moment's notice.[10]

Command deck[]

The command deck is the nerve center of the airship, containing the command deck proper - which is the usual station of the Elder - used for meetings and planning, the bridge and the helm, where Lancer-Captain Kells oversees the operations of his ship, and the primary stairwell, which connects to the forward gangway and the primary means of entrance to The Prydwen when she is on the ground.[10]

Forward deck[]

The forward deck serves as the primary access point whenever the ship is on the ground and as auxiliary stowage and maintenance access to the forward jet engines whenever she's airborne.

Main deck[]

The heart of the Prydwen, the main deck is built into the main envelope of the airship, right beneath the massive airbags keeping the behemoth afloat. Entered through a ladder straight from the command deck, the main deck can be divided into three distinct levels, depending on where they are relative to the deck structure:[10].

  • The upper level consists of the walkways connecting the gas bags to the deck structure and the forecastle, as well as the roof. The roof is used for two purposes: The fore section is used by the crew as living quarters, containing bunks and eating areas, as well as storing miscellaneous gear. The aft section has been adapted for a field research station under Senior Scribe Neriah, responsible for analyzing the foes the Brotherhood faces (usually by dissecting their corpses) and various additional projects. The laboratory also contains a botany station, though it has been recently vacated after the Senior Botany Scribe took to drinking glowleaf tea.[11][12][10]
  • The central level, or the interior of the deck structure, is the most robust and multi-functional part of the deck. It contains the private quarters of the top members of the Brotherhood, most importantly Elder Maxson, as well as a fully stocked infirmary and medical lab ran by Knight-Captain Cade, archives maintained by Proctor Quinlan, the primary mess hall (where food is served on a first-come, first-served basis), the power armor bays and workshops supervised by Proctor Ingram, and the quartermastery ran by Proctor Teagan.[10]
  • The lower level is situated directly above the flight deck and is used primarily for storage. The aft section is dedicated to heavy munitions, such as Fat Man rounds recovered from Fort Strong. The front section has been organized by Ingram and Teagan into a recreation area, with a supply of alcohol, cigarettes, and a terminal for swapping messages. The terminal has been disconnected from the ship's network for the sake of convenience.

Prydwen quarters, located just next to Elder Maxson's quarters, belong to Paladin Danse, the ranking officer on the ground. After Danse is outed as a synth, they are assigned to the Sole Survivor, along with a promotion to Paladin.

Forecastle[]

The most forward part of the airship, jutting forward and providing troops stationed on it with unparalleled vision range and ability to hit any target they choose. For this reason, the Prydwen's forecastle is outfitted with an unique sharpshooter's stowage, containing a charging laser sniper rifle. The forecastle is also used to hold memorial services for fallen brothers and sisters.[13]

Inhabitants[]

Named
Generic
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Notable loot[]

Related quests[]

Act II
Act III
Secondary quests
Radiant quests

Gallery[]

Concept art[]

Behind the scenes[]

However, one vehicle whose size is both impressive and appropriate is the Prydwen, the only postwar-built airship. We went with a full-on diesel-punk design, combining elements of Zepplins and naval vessels and using mysterious technologies (beyond simple hydrogen) to keep it afloat. Its complement of Vertibirds are of a different variety than the gunships used by the Enclave—better suited to troop transport but modified for deployment from the airship.

The Art of Fallout 4 p.256
  • Prydwen was the ship of King Arthur, according to Middle Welsh poem Preiddeu Annwfn (The Spoils of Annwyf). Arthur Maxson deliberately chose this name.[14]

Appearances[]

The Prydwen appears only in Fallout 4.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Art of Fallout 4 p.256: "Chapter 6 VEHICLES
    AUTOMOBILES REPRESENT one of our best opportunities to convey a sense of the design style of the world before the war. So much of American culture is expressed through the colorful care and trucks people once drove, and although none of them actually work anymore (and also have a tendency to explode), they're one of the most common elements you'll see as you explore the Wasteland. We spent a fair amount of time designing and creating different vehicles. We needed plenty of variety and wanted to use them frequently as set dressing. Each model had a range of colors and conditions, from rusted-out hulks to fairly intact vehicles with the paint still in good condition. We really liked to add a little style with the use of bright accent colors on the cars and other background pieces. Luckily the space-age ceramic-based paint formulations used in the 2070s were extremely resistant to fading and rust.
    The large sedan seen here returns from Fallout 3, along with the classic Fusion Flea, but we also have a host of new vehicles that were late-model designs at the time of the war. The coupe and the sports car have sleek, streamlined styling with rounded cabins and bubble-shaped cockpits. But due to the engineering limitations of the bulky mini reactor engines, the packaging efficiency for most of the vehicles is poor.
    Our aircraft designs were revisited for this project as well. Not having a massive crashed airliner in Fallout 3 always felt like a missed opportunity, given the precariousness of being in the air at the moment of nuclear devastation. This time, since an airport is a major location in our world, we envisioned majestic flying-wing jumbo jets as the preferred method of long-distance travel. These started out much, much bigger than what we ended up with in the game, and even still, the plane wreckage is a bit oversized in comparison to the footprint of our airport.
    However, one vehicle whose size is both impressive and appropriate is the Prydwen, the only postwar-built airship. We went with a full-on diesel-punk design, combining elements of Zepplins and naval vessels and using mysterious technologies (beyond simple hydrogen) to keep it afloat. Its complement of Vertibirds are of a different variety than the gunships used by the Enclave—better suited to troop transport but modified for deployment from the airship."
  2. Kells: "Actually, the Brotherhood of Steel had a whole fleet of these things at one time. They weren't as advanced as the Prydwen, mind you... but seeing them fill the sky must have been an impressive sight."
    Survivor: "Are you kidding me? What happened to them?"
    Kells: "Not sure, really. Most of them were destroyed fighting Super Mutants or scuttled for parts. I think one of them crash landed somewhere in the Midwest. I heard that the wreckage is still there."
  3. Kells: "Now that you've had a chance to roam the Prydwen, what do you think, Knight/Paladin/Sentinel?"
    The Sole Survivor: "She's very impressive."
    Kells: "Yes, quite a feat of engineering, isn't she. It took the Brotherhood's sharpest minds over two years to design and more than twice that to build."
    (Kells' dialogue)
  4. The Sole Survivor: "That's a long time."
    Kells: "Constructing the Prydwen required a vast amount resources... far more than the Brotherhood possessed when we began. We spent the first two years alone gathering the parts. The rest was spent assembling. It was worth the effort. With the Prydwen in our arsenal, we can mobilize our entire division... sending her anywhere that Elder Maxson wishes her to go. Her presence in the Commonwealth ensures that our mission to defeat the Institute will end in victory."
    (Kells' dialogue)
  5. The Sole Survivor: "Where was the Prydwen constructed?"
    Kells: "She was constructed at Adam's Air Force Base just outside of Washington D.C. There was a vast amount of scrap metal and salvageable components there after we defeated the Enclave. We spent the first two years alone gathering the parts. The rest was spent assembling. It was worth the effort. With the Prydwen in our arsenal, we can mobilize our entire division... sending her anywhere that Elder Maxson wishes her to go. Her presence in the Commonwealth ensures that our mission to defeat the Institute will end in victory."
    (Kells' dialogue)
  6. 6.0 6.1 The Sole Survivor: "You sure Ingram knows what she's doing?"
    Arthur Maxson: "Proctor Ingram's managed to keep a 40,000 ton airship aloft for the past five years. I'd say that earns her the benefit of the doubt."
    (Arthur Maxson's dialogue (Fallout 4))
  7. Prydwen terminals; Elder Maxson's Terminal, Ingram IG-444PR - Prydwen Concerns: "Fr: Proctor Ingram IG-444PR
    To: Elder Maxson MX-001E

    As you know, in order to get the Prydwen rapidly to the Commonwealth, I had my engineering team pull her older power plant and replace it with an updated fusion plant we pulled from that aircraft carrier wreckage. I was able to squeeze almost one hundred percent efficiency from the new reactor, but the system is burning through our coolant supply faster than expected.

    As we've been docked over the airport, I've been able to deactivate the main engines to cool down the reactor, but we're still eating up coolant when we're in hover mode. We're eventually going to hit a point where we'll run out of coolant. If that happens, we'll need to put the Prydwen on the ground. I desperately need your help if you want to prevent that from happening. I'll be certain to provide you with the details at our next briefing.
  8. Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition p.345-347: "[4.28] PRYDWEN
    The Brotherhood of Steel know how to make an entrance! A giant dirigible appears once you complete Act I of your Main Quest. It is moored at Boston Airport. This becomes the base of operations for the Brotherhood of Steel for the remainder of your exploration. The ship is a marvel of engineering."
    (Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Map)
  9. Fallout 4 loading screen hints: "While the Prydwen does not have any actual weapons systems, it always carries enough troops, Vertibirds and supplies to mount a major offensive."
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Prydwen's layout.
  11. Prydwen terminals; Botany Terminal, Experiment NRT-001 Log A026: "After some debate, I've decided to name my discovery "Glowleaf." Ingesting the plant must have restorative properties, because I feel healthier than ever. A few of the scribes on the laboratory team think I'm getting addicted to it, but what the hell do they know? Anyone who tells me I can't have my cup of Glowleaf tea can stuff it!"
  12. Prydwen terminals; Botany Terminal, Experiment NRT-001 Log A033: "EXPERIMENT TERMINATED.

    Senior Botany Scribe has been reassigned."
  13. Prydwen terminals; Knight-Captain Cade's Terminal, Kells KS-390LC PM-112: "Fr: Lancer-Captain Kells KS-390LC
    To: Knight-Captain Cade CD-440KC

    I've finished reading your medical report on Knight-Sergeant Merric. The fact that he managed to survive long enough to reach the Prydwen and deliver his report is absolutely incredible. The sacrifice that he made for the sake of the mission is a testament to his dedication and loyalty. We will be holding a memorial service on the ship's forecastle at sunset this evening. I sincerely hope you'll be able to attend."
  14. The Sole Survivor: "Where did the Prydwen get her name?"
    Kells: "Elder Maxson said he took the name from a work of historical fiction. Something about a man who was destined to become a king, and his journey to liberate his people from tyranny and oppression. Seems fitting for such a remarkable ship, wouldn't you say?"
    (Kells' dialogue)
The Prydwen
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