Fallout: Equestria - New Roam Innovatus Reviews: Prologue and Chapter I

Video made by me.

Okay, truth is there's really not a whole lot I can say in this introduction, this is another completely blind review.

That being said much like Long Haul, this is a fanfic that I've wanted to read for awhile. So yeah, basically I'm just using my review schedule as an excuse to read a fanfic that I could have already started. But I am very curious about how this goes and I hope you all enjoy this as much as I hopefully will.

So, how far will you go for Roam?

---Prologue: Roam Ascendant---

Video belongs to Sega.

So we open out with a brief introduction of the main character Goldwreath and the situation of the fanfic. He apparently had a peaceful life in Marediolanon up until it was disturbed when an ancient power invaded his home and took it over. He is unwilling to live the life of a servant under the new rulers, so he sets out on a mission to save his people.

Well... that's an interesting way to start out the fanfic, while it sets things up pretty well its a bit obvious in its set up. It could be a little better, but anyway, moving on.

Here we get an actual introduction to the setting of Roam and what had happened to it during the War. It had once been a shining example of Equestria, having a period of peace and prosperity brought about by the values of the time. However slowly Roam descended into a state of poverty, greed, and violence much like the rest of Equestria during the war. The once shining city fell hard only to never truly rise again when balefire rained down from the sky.

Of course as Roam fell into the same chaos the rest of Equestria did, what remnants there where of civilization became prey to the Raiders and Slavers that rose from the ashes of the old world. And so from the gates of Marediolanon one pony saught to free the world from the shackles of the new world.

For himself, and for the Glory of Roam. Imperator Populusque Roamanus.

So after two introductions, we actually finally get an introduction to Goldwreath himself from, well Goldwreath. He gives a brief description of himself, it seems that at this point he is reflecting back on his adventures with... well actually we don't know who, they aren't given a name, just kind of inject themselves in briefly.

Its also at this point that we get some information on Roam and what happened:

"Ah, yes. I used to live in an underground shelter, you know. Much like what most of you lived in. Life in my old home tended to be rather monotonous. Not necessarily boring, thanks to my natural affinity for and like of the notion of rendering civic duty. Days were spent rotating posts, keeping guard at night and at day, taking shifts and giving them up; for me, there was just something so satisfying about keeping the peace. Camaraderie helped keep the rut interesting; see, beyond belief, the fellow denizens of our community were capable of producing such fascinating stories. But we never let our guard down, though domestic danger was unlikely. Such was our burden.

"But such, too, was the role of the urban century, or centuria urbanae: a group of dutiful 80 ponies and zebras. We kept order and peace in our shared home, the underground shelter of Marediolanon, the 50th of a series of copycat 'Stables', the concept of which the Imperial government of Roam had taken directly from their enemy: the Equestrians.

So yeah, it seems that the Roamans had built their own version of the Stables, and they seem to be somewhat successful given that a population had survived in at least one of them. That of course raises the question as to whether or not the copy is as good as the originals, but I guess we'll have to see. Hey, at least they survived, that's more than some of the Stables did.

So anyway it seems that Goldwreath is a guard living in Marediolanon under Praetor Eckris. We get a very basic idea of what life is like in Marediolanon, it seems that it is a rather orderly society that ensures that everyone is kept safe. We also learn that Goldwreath had been a descendant of a senator named Theodorus

So yeah, life in Marediolanon seemed to be pretty nice, but it was all about to come crashing down... I mean of course it is, there wouldn't be a story otherwise would there?

---Chapter I: Paradise Lost---

So we start out on a Thursday, a rather boring Thursday at that, Goldwreath has been assigned to a post on the day before a Holiday, meaning that he'd get the whole next day off. So apparently also being a guard means that they don't get to participate in things like festivals that the rest of the inhabitants are at. It also doesn't help that he and another guard Summer Sands are stuck guarding the entrance to the atrium where the festival is taking place.

We also learn the name of their boss Horus, well that's kind of an interesting name given that its based on Rome not Egypt, but I'm probably thinking about this way too much. Goldwreath comments that Horus would probably be willing to give them the night to celebrate given that there was another Holiday the next day. Apparently he normally lets them join in the celebrations for even the most minor of gods, with the exception of Bacchanalia.

Given that is probably dedicated to Bacchus, who is basically the god of drinking in Grecco-Roman traditions, that might not be a bad thing.

Summer Sands continues to muse on the fact that he'd rather be enjoying the festivities instead of guarding them, even going as far to wonder if Horus would allow him the rest of the day off, which Goldwreath doubts would be the case. Its also mentioned that Goldwreath doesn't actually believe in the gods, only really liking their imagery unlike most of the other inhabitants of Marediolanon.

Though this raises the question as to why its based on the Roman pantheon instead of changing the names... but I'm overthinking this probably.

So when 4 PM comes around their shift is over and they are replaced with a pair of Zebra twins who are always arguing.

Oh, he may have thought it was going to be another day of missing festivities. But that would not be the case today.

Oh that's not ominous sounding at all.

So after leaving the Atrium they head towards their barracks, Summer Sands tries to join his family in their celebration for the festival, only to have his father tell him that he needed to get to the Barracks or he'd be flogged by Horus. This also shows that there is still some lingering animosity towards the Zebras from the Ponies in Marediolanon, at least on Summer Sands' father's part when he mutters about the fact that its better than starting wars.

So Summer of course complains about the fact that they where being excluded from the festivities for the 50th time, the other guards seem to be up to something, and Goldwreath is left to occupy the annoyed pony. So after a few minutes of talking, Summer comes to a realization that he should be celebrating because its his birthday, just as the other guards come up with a cupcake and catch him completely off guard.

We learn that it had been Horus' idea for the Praetor to start these special birthday celebrations, the party goes pretty well and Summer Sands certainly seems to be having fun. Goldwreath leaves the party not long afterwards because he knows that they need to remain vigilant at all times, and also because he didn't want a hangover the next day.

When he eventually comes back after a patrol and helping those from the celebration get back home, Goldwreath falls asleep in the barracks.

When he is woken up rather rudely by Horus, its pretty obvious that something is wrong, and after a few minutes once they're all somewhat recovered, something happens that had never happened before.

Video belongs to Paramount.

That's right, the shelter-wide alarm is going off, which means only one thing, Marediolanon is probably under attack by outside forces. Horus orders them to the entrance, and as they rush to the entrance, a panic starts up around the inhabitants. There's also a brief mention of the banner of Marediolanon having the letters IPQR... not really sure what that means, the closest I can think of is Senatus Populusque Romanus or SPQR, but anyway that's not really important at the moment.

The guards line up into formation, activating a secret attachment on their weapons that ionizes the blades. There is a definite moment of tension as they wait for whatever was coming to Marediolanon. They have no idea what's waiting for them outside other than that whatever it is, they likely don't have the best of intentions for Marediolanon.

"I said STEADY! You are soldiers of Marediolanon, of your home! Whatever comes through that door you will hold your ground!" He stomped a hoof and ferociously drew his sword. "Take heart! Your praetor and his elite guard are with us. Even now they take positions to aid us in facing this foe!"

Video belongs to Universal.

You know now that I think about it, I kinda like Horus, there's something about his style that I just enjoy, very Roman.

The tension keeps mounting as the door is being opened, Goldwreath is starting to lose faith in himself that he'd be able to fight against the invaders.

I swallowed, getting myself together. I was a guard of Marediolanon. This was my duty. The brave populace of our home would stay informed, ready to react appropriately for what was to come. But it was us standing between them and doom. My family, my friends and relatives -- I stood for them. Damn me if I was going to let them down while I breathed. So even as my heart raced and my eyes darted about in suppressed panic, I remained alert and ready.

And finally, the door to Marediolanon is forced open for the first time in decades. The guards are blown back a little, and finally we get a look at the ones that had come to Marediolanon.

There was a silhouette there, standing on the wrecked and bent carcass of our door. The shape of it nearly stopped me dead -- it looked exactly like Horus; same helmet, with a cape that fluttered in the foreign breeze. There was even a sword strapped to the right hip. Two figures followed, each one looking eerily just like guards of the urban century.

Okay, I don't actually speak Latin, but whoever it is says something to them that apparently means to move forward, and what do you want to move forward? I really hate Google Translate. Anyway, Horus attacks the strange armored figures who are caught off guard, and the battle at first seems to be going pretty well... until the enemy attacks with what seems to be a magical energy weapon that devastates the Marediolanonian lines

Some of the guards run back into Marediolanon, the rest are incapacitated by a grenade from the invaders. Praetor Eckris and his Elite guard set up a defense as the invaders enter. Finally the invader leader arrives on the scene, claiming that Marediolanon belongs to them, and introduces himself formally

The officer looked up casually. "I am Thanus Meridius Decimus, legatus de legio IV Valere Victrix Equestrius." His relaxed smile tensed up a bit as he narrowed his eyes and gestured a hoof at the death around him. "We are of the Imperial Roaman Legion. And your leader and I... we have much to discuss."

Dear Celestia that guy has a long name and title... and with that bombshell that the Roaman Legion has come to take Marediolanon, the chapter ends.

---Character Analysis: Goldwreath---

Well, this is certainly an interesting character to start things off with. Goldwreath is for all intents and purposes a Security Pony for a Stable, but he is a much more interesting take on the character. With Fallout: Equestria we mostly have seen society based on Equestria, so this fic and Goldwreath in particular is one of the few times we explore the other side of the coin, the Zebra Empire.

Goldwreath is a character with a high sense of duty to his home, which makes sense given what his job is. He's certainly an interesting character, and this fanfic does a good job of showcasing that. Goldwreath is interesting, and even with everything that's going on he seems to be hesitant about what's going on in his home.

So far Goldwreath is enjoyable and I'd like to see more of him when I continue to read and review the fanfic.

---Final Thoughts---

This is actually a really good start to the fanfic, its well paced and does well to not only set up Goldwreath, but also the world that he lives in through nicely done worldbuilding. Its an interesting idea to explore the universe of Fallout: Equestria in this way, and at the same time gives an interesting take on the concept of the Stable Dweller.

Its not very common that Fallout or Fallout: Equestria explores the other side of the war, and this is one fanfic that does it exceptionally well so far. It grips you without feeling like its poorly paced and it ensures that you get invested in the characters. Its a great fanfic and I highly recommend at least checking it out.

I give the introduction a final score of 4/5, its short and a little repetitive, but ultimately well done.
I give Chapter I a final score of 5/5, its well done and and does well for worldbuilding and characterization.

Fallout: Equestria belongs to KKat.
Fallout: Equestria - New Roam Innovatus belongs to Delvius.

Original Fanfic

Video made by me.

Comments

[Delvius]

Thank you very much for the review I admit it's been a little slow-going since college started, but I do still work on it. While reading I thought that maybe you had made the mistake of saying that Roam was part of Equestria, but towards the end you seemed to show that you knew it was actually in the zebra continent.

Regardless! Yes, it was my explicit desire to show how the war went down from the perspective of another culture. Equestria was multicultural in the inclusive sense, as you know -- earth ponies and pegasi and unicorns all contributed equally to their society and their war efforts. Roam as a society is multicultural in the more dominant sense, like the real Roman empire. That is, they accept other cultures only insofar as they can be integrated and bent to the will of the mother Roaman culture. This results in Roamans being a generally more alike people, slightly less diverse in thought and behavior than their enemies.

Thank you again. You do good work. Also, I feel your choices of videos and pictures are spot on.

[RuinQueenofOblivion]

4336746 Honestly I did make that mistake early on, I'd have gone back and edited it but I wanted the review to be completely blind which meant no fixing my own mistakes to make it more genuine. I did realize my mistake later on though, sorry about that.

That makes perfect sense to me, and I liked that element of the fanfic, its a really interesting idea and I can't wait to see more.

Thanks , I'm glad you like them.