Fallout: Equestria - New Roam Innovatus Reviews: Chapter III · 9:22pm Jul 16th, 2017

Video Made by Me.

I have really been dropping the ball lately, I'm sorry, but lets try to get back on track shall we?

This week we travel back to the ruins of the Zebra Empire and to a character that's faced with the challenges that goes with living there. Not much else to say, other than that we're looking at Delvius' New Roam Innovatus this week.

Lets begin.

---Chapter III: Loyalties.

"And where do your loyalties lie? With money? With people? With one's home? None of those matter. Loyalty is wasted on what dies; but an idea, an idea lives on. It eludes, but it can be chased. It is caught with the effort and blood and sweat of those who pursue it. Thus, we must be prepared to shed all our chains in our hunt, or die, body and soul, like anything else we can be loyal to."

Video Belongs to Konami, but frak them.

Its amazing how often Konami related jokes seem to come up in these reviews.

So we get our first look at the world outside of Marediolanon, and even our hero admits that its not quite what he expected:

It was beautiful. I never thought I could say it, but it was. It differed in color and style -- it was wild and exotic. Marediolanon had always tried its best to refrain from being dull. Once a week, the colors of the curtains and blankets would shift; the styles of pillars would change, circulating between blockish and practical to elaborate and detailed. But it was nothing at all compared to the variety that greeted my eyes at that moment. Sharp cliffs lanced down into the earth, then straightened into a plain dark-grey field in the dim light of evening. Smooth rocks turned jagged as though they'd been struck with hammers. The cool air that so resembled my home's air conditioning turned warm as we descended.

As he makes his way out he thinks back to his life in Marediolanon, and he's strangely glad that he had a chance to leave and be free of that old life. Then he reminds himself that he's not free, at least not yet, and that he has a lot to do before he will be. As they reach the Legion camp with its massive gates, he realizes that there was no going back once he passed through them.

A Legion guard orders the door opened and it opens with sparks flying and more Legionaries come rushing out, Goldwreath tries to tell them that he's not a threat but they don't seem to listen. An officer approaches and asks if this means that the inhabitants of Marediolanon are healthy.

The purple-caped zebra shrugged. "Well, I'm not sick yet. And, hell, neither are you! We've been out here for almost seven months now, Euvius. If we were to get sick, we'd have gotten ill the first few weeks. This is honestly getting tedious."

The officer Euvius seems very insistent on making sure that Goldwreath isn't infected with anything, I get the feeling that this is a common problem they have.

Postulma teasingly says that he's clearly infected with something and really hams it all up, its a rather amusing scene, though Euvius is of course not amused. Postulma just dismisses it and leads Goldwreath into the camp. Goldwreath asks if everypony that passes through is given the same treatment and Postulma says that non-Legion types are, and there's also a brief mention of something else that's going on but the details aren't given other than that the environment is harsh.

As he looks around at the Legion camp its a lot more practical in its design than anything else in how its built. There is a feeling, at least to Goldwreath, that the Legion has a chance of rebuilding Roam, and he admits that he'd help them if they stay true to their cause. Goldwreath comments that the Wasteland doesn't seem to be that bad, even if there is some disease.

"Really now," he muttered incredulously. "What makes you say that?"
We were heading down a wide dirt path cutting straight through the middle of the camp. At the end of the path was what was clearly the command tent -- it was the largest, and the flaps were a rich, dark purple cloth. Above the flaps was a wooden pavilion that acted as a mount to a tall flagpole that bore the Legion's insignia: crossed golden gladii, in the background of which was a golden map depicting the Roaman empire at its height. Two soldiers just like Postulma in appearance flanked the entrance.
It was a praetorium, the tent of a Roaman legion's commander. Those guards were praetorians. I wanted to smack myself on the head; how had I missed it? With his purple clothing and darker armor, Postulma was clearly of the Legion's own praetorian guard. And I only realized it now! Eyes locked on the tent and the guards in astonishment at the revelation, I answered in monotone, "It's not dotted with pools of radiated goo. No green-lightning storms. No skin-peeling wind. Seems like a plain desert."
He snickered. "Well, that's because you've just seen a desert. The city of Appolania was built in one, after all. The Roaman empire's geography was very diverse like that."

It of course confuses Goldwreath given that he's in a camp, but he's told that the camp had been named after the city which is just beyond the camp. The city is pretty large with explosions around it, the city is burning. Apparently Appolania is still mostly under the control of those that don't recognize the Legion's authority.

So yeah, the Legion is waging a war over Appolania with the tribals and savages that call it home, that figures doesn't it? Or apparently wars, as in plural, each one against a different tribe, somehow feels like it would be easier just to call it one war, but okay. There are apparently 10 groups fighting for Appolania, and this one is the one that's holding the ridge and they needed the resources of the Stable for the war effort.

Now mind you its worth mentioning that we literally only have the Legion's word to go on here, we don't know anything about the state of things in the Tribes or Appolania. The Legion sounds good, but its hard to tell how much of what they say is the truth, and what the sacrifice in return for stability is.

I'm going to discuss this more in this week's analysis section, so look forward to that.

Goldwreath seems to wonder if maybe his home should've just given in and joined the Legion, that possibly they needed the Legion as much as the Legion needed them. However it was now on Goldwreath's withers to make sure that their debt was paid, regardless of how fair that was, and that now they have to see the truth.

Postulma clicked his tongue and nodded. "Yup. Pretty much the main problem right now, really... and not just with Marediolanon. I can't stress how much more effective we'd be if at least half of the Stables cooperated. We can well accommodate their demands for food and supplies; why don't they send any volunteers? I mean, they can choose not to agree, sure. But gods, they don't care for what's happening out here at all. We promise to do everything in our power to make sure they stay reasonably safe, and that's still not enough. Nothing is ever enough. Mars the Wrathful, they won't listen to reason. They won't listen to-..."
"I'll get them understand," I cut in. He stopped mid-rant and leaned forward to give me a look of confusion. "You're right. They won't listen to reason. But perhaps, given a chance... they can see it."

When asked how, Goldwreath suggests that if they show them what the Legion can do for them, show the camps, show what they defend them against, and maybe there'd be a more willingness to join up. Basically offer them some goodwill, but Postulma isn't quite sure about it of course, but agrees to pass it on to Thanus.

Thanus seems to be the type that will do what needs to be done with restraint, its an interesting way to look at things. Goldwreath wonders if he had maybe overstepped his bounds with that suggestion, but distracts himself with the world around him. He actually likes it, glad to have a chance to be free, relatively speaking, there is a sense of a world of possibilities around him, and its also very cold. Apparently winter is coming.

Video Belongs to Miracle of Sound.

They'll be fine, they've got like 7 seasons before it arrives.

Goldwreath is told that his training will begin tomorrow, it also seems that there's not a lot of food to go around. As usual Goldwreath doesn't get an answer and is taken to his tent for the night.

The Legion has surprisingly nice tents:

"If you'd told me earlier that my life outside would be spent at least partially in the comfort of a two-story tent with a nice home setup and collapsible stairs, I'd have been... very skeptical."
Really, the place had everything a soldier on campaign would need and more. Fit for comfortable living, in fact, which was strange. The couches were practical but not uncomfortable -- hell, I didn't even know of any military that kept couches in their camps. Yet here the Legion was, doing just that. The microwave was another surprise; the non-crude, non-bunk single beds lining the tiled floor near the internally-supported tent walls were just boasting of luxurious expenditures. The place even had its own dining table!

As it turns out Thanus has had this set up in order to help get more recruits by giving recruits better quarters. Okay, that's not what I expected, geez, but its actually pretty nice. He's left alone to settle in, and at this point he's pretty confident that his people need to join the Legion. There is a moment of relief as he hopes that everything would work out and he lays down and falls asleep.

He wakes up about 15 minutes later and realizes that he needs something to drink, its also about dinner time at this point based on the sounds coming from outside. He left the tent and searched for about 5 minutes before finding a drink, only instead of being water its something sour, sweet, and tangy, which he promptly spits out.

"What is this?"
"That, my friend, is posca," Postulma said from right behind me, and I nearly jumped as I rounded on him, instinctively reaching to my hip where my gladius once was. Of course, it wasn't there now, which seemed to amuse the purple-caped zebra.

So apparently Batman has been reborn as a Zebra Praetorian in the Legion, who knew?

Anyway, posca is apparently used for nighttime combat to sneak up on the enemy, its a mixture of wine and vinegar that sharpens the mind, fun stuff. Its made so it doesn't affect the mind too much, so at least they think that far enough ahead, and apparently Postulma has been drinking it. Goldwreath says he just wants some water and Postulma drags him off to meet the first cohort.

As he waits for Postulma to return with his water, he looks up at where his home was. There's a fire there and he wonders what it might mean. It also seems that Goldwreath is the only pony in the camp, which doesn't exactly go unnoticed among the Zebra Legionaries who treat him like an outsider.

Its certainly an interesting idea, it shows that even if he was raised on what's basically Roaman values, he's considered an outsider to the others. Its not something that you usually see in fanfics, but its definitely an interesting idea and I'd like to see how this goes.

Postulma arrives with a bowl that he gives to Goldwreath, its a soup of some sort which he chooses not to eat because of the meat. When Goldwreath comments that Postulma's cape is getting dirty, he just dismisses it because that kind of thing happens and there's not much point in trying to keep it clean. They talk a bit about what happened in Marediolanon and how they approach death, its a rather morbid and disturbing discussion but it has its merits.

Goldwreath admits that he's a bit overwhelmed by this whole thing but sees merits in what the Legion is trying to do. Postulma realizes that he wants death to be more natural, but he says that it won't be that easy:

"Well... if only. Thing is, violence is integral to nature. People are naturally inclined to fight, whether physically or otherwise. It doesn't matter. Conflict is in our essence, and well... out here, acknowledging that is the only way you can keep your head attached to your body. If you don't recognize the necessity of killing, you’ll get nowhere out here. You'll be a corpse, because when you're facing off with the enemy, hesitation is a weakness they'll exploit if it meant they'd live."

Its a rather depressing way to look at things, and again we'll get more into this later.

There's this moment where they discuss the fact that death and violence can be necessary, and Goldwreath says that it'll only be done in the defense of others, Postulma just says "have it your way" before taking another drink.

Their reverie is broken when the order to open the gates is given and Thanus enters the camp along with his Legionaries. There's one dressed in animal skins that serves as the standard bearer for the Legion. Thanus gives orders and a curfew is imposed quickly enough as the inhabitants start to get everything together.

After a brief discussion, Postulma approaches with Thanus who unsettles Goldwreath a bit. There's a brief interaction between Goldwreath and Thanus where he comments that its cold and the Legate takes him to his tent. The tent itself has a very militaristic feel to it that you'pd expect out of a Legate and its pretty spartan in appearance. Postulma goes over some wine options before the Legate gestures for Goldwreath to take a seat.

Thanus has been informed of Goldwreath's suggestion by this point and while he seems open to it, his execution is said to involve fighting somehow. Of course Goldwreath freaks out a bit since he's afraid that this means Thanus will attack his home once more, but thankfully he seems to be wanting to employ other means. He then asks Goldwreath about himself.

"I, uh... you mean, about myself?" I asked, and he nodded. For a moment after I felt sluggish, unsure of what to say. I suppose I'd hyped myself up so much that the sudden drop in tension, and the sudden change in topic from the whole Marediolanon-Legion fiasco to myself, left me... without thought.
But I managed to start with just how I felt, luckily needing no thought. "I'll be honest, I am... confused as hell," I admitted, feeling a great weight leave me. I stifled a relieved laugh as I continued, "You know, it's just a bit much. I woke up earlier today, tired and cake-smothered, expecting to be greeted with just... just another day. Then you came along and, well, I saw death for the first time. Damned if it's still not something that gets to me... and then I found myself leaving my whole life behind. Now here I am, thinking and worrying so much about what to do and what exactly will happen to me... shit, I feel overtaxed."
"I think so," he nodded. "A stone cracks when subjected to heat and chill. Likewise with you -- a person who endures a plethora of different feelings over too short a time can find himself spent, hollow. Believe me, I know. When you're a commander, you deal with it everyday. And you're confused because you've felt too many differing emotions since we knocked on your door. Fear, relief, sadness, awe -- all in quick succession."
I nodded slowly, making him narrow his eyes. "But there's more, isn't there? You're skittish, and more than just from being nervous around me. I think you’re conflicted about something. Mind telling me what it is?" he asked slowly, gently.
"I..." My voice cracked, and I swallowed. Was I that easy to see through? "I-I am. Yes, I am..." I bowed my head and took another quick sip of wine. "Well, you already know it, so I might as well say it." I sighed and looked up at him. "I think I'm betraying my people."

Yeah, it all really comes down to that doesn't it? Loyalty is a tricky thing, especially in this kind of situation, are you loyal to your home or to your nation? Sometimes its not that simple, and we'll see how things go with it.

Thanus wonders about this naturally and Goldwreath talks about what he had expected out of the Wasteland and what he's experienced once more. Thanus seems to be happy with his answers and this idea of doing what is right by both the people of Marediolanon and the Legion. There is even a moment where Thanus asks him to not be so formal because he doesn't want to become too prideful, which surprises Goldwreath.

Thanus thanks him for his time but before he can leave, Goldwreath sees the map of the Legion's plans. Thanus surprises him by giving him a copy of the map, a surprising gesture of trust and good faith. Its a strange contrast to what you expect out of the Legion, and its actually pretty interesting.

Thanus sends Goldwreath out, but not before he asks if he can have some water.

Goldwreath leaves the tent to return to his own as he's studying the map he had been given. There's a sense of loneliness as he realizes that he has no one else with him from his home. He makes his way through the quiet camp back to his tent, going over the unanswered questions before finally falling asleep.

Of course since we can't ever have an easy time he's woken up by an explosion. The camp is under attack by someone or another, and Postulma takes him out into the camp. He finally gets tired of it and demands to know what's going on, and apparently this is part of Thanus' plan to get Marediolanon on their side.

When they reach the gates, Thanus is riding a... I'm not sure what it is, some sort of Wasteland creature as he addresses his troops:

"Praetorians!" he announced, straightening his back to rise to his full height upon the beast. His voice grabbed the immediate focus of his soldiers. "A few months from now, I will be sending my colt off to school in the first restored academy in Roam. I will be tutoring him, singing him lullabies at night. A peaceful existence, unlike the war we know now. There is a future for me, and so there shall also be for you! Thus is the power of determination -- imagine where you will be months from now, and it shall be so. None can limit your worth or potential, only Death!"
"And Death won't take us, not today!" the praetorians roared in practiced unity, grinning and cheering amongst themselves.
The legate smiled. "And I can promise you that, for today," Thanus said, then turned his beast around and nodded up the slope leading to Marediolanon. What I saw astonished me: some of my people, trotting about nervously at the crest of the slope, looking panicked. Then they saw the legate and his assembled troops, and they stopped dead in their tracks, looking fearful. If it were me in their hooves, with no knowledge of the outside, I'd have felt the same crippling indecision and fear; as it was, I was anxious as to what Thanus was going to do with my home. With my people.
His hoof pointed to a trail of smoke I'd not earlier seen. It was emanating from the other side of the mountain. "Now, those savages out there -- those numerous tribes you've fought in Apollania -- have come to assault us. Look at the result! With their wildly-aimed cannons and untrained marksmanship, they have either accidentally or purposefully attacked the shelter of Marediolanon. According to schematics, the part of the shelter struck by the blasts was the engine room, from which all power of the settlement comes from," he declared, looking back to his troops. The image of our engine room, the place I'd once gotten lost in when I was a colt, leveled and caved in with mountainous rubble, brought a fresh wave of anger and loss to the fore of my mind.
"They have attacked innocents," he frowned, shaking his head. "They have antagonized a people they had no qualms with. In their efforts to retaliate against our righteous goals, they have disrupted the fragile stability won by the generous sacrifice of the pony who here now stands in our presence. Tell me, as champions of Roam, of order and civilization, will you stand for this?"
The praetorians roared in the negative, their defiant cries synchronizing perfectly with a set of distant explosions, a few of which landed shells dangerously close to the entrance of Marediolanon. The ponies and zebras assembled up the slope screamed and panicked, and some galloped out of view.
Thanus observed the occurrence, then turned back to his soldiers. "You all know the plan," he finally said when the shouts died down. "Stay with the Aquila, with the first cohort, and you shall not be harmed. The gods protect those who fight for them. Stay in formation! Break the line, and I cannot guarantee your survival. Wait for me patiently, and you shall soon find that the depth of their ranks will ring hollow. Now, on to the battle!"

Okay, that was a rather epic speech, I don't have anything to snark on it, even if some of it feels like it was likely just a bit of spin, major props for that to Thanus.

Goldwreath is ordered to stay with his people, which he agrees to, reaching Marediolanon, the inside of the Stable has been filled with some sort of smoke, figures. Goldwreath gets a quick summary of what happened and that engineering is working on it right now. A message is passed inside to not leave the Stable unless absolutely necessary.

The mountain is being bombarded with artillery cannons of course, and whoever's attacking them are very dangerous and aggressive. The battle isn't going particularly well for the Legion, and Goldwreath heads back to the camp to figure out what's going on. The battle is horrific with hundreds dead by this point, while the Legion is holding the line, things aren't going well against this chaotic enemy.

Goldwreath is told that they have to stay in the camp for now until they're finally called. The fight continues at a stalemate until finally the tide of the battle turns, taking down a Minotaur as tanks join the fray under Thanus' command. The Legionaries cheer for their legate and its, generally a pretty epic scene.

Of course it ends with Goldwreath falling unconscious and the chapter is over.

---Concept Analysis: The State of Nature and the Social Contract---

Now you're probably wondering, where did this come from? There's nothing in the chapter that suggests either thing, at least not on the surface, but to understand this you have to dig deeper into the idea of the Wasteland and what it is.

The State of Nature was a concept first presented by the Philosopher Thomas Hobbes in the 17th century. It was his view of the natural state of mankind before the rise of civilization. This idea was that in this state, everything was chaotic and the law of the land was the law of the jungle, that ultimately the strong survive and basically you could do whatever you want. Hobbes saw this as a bad thing, and so he contrasted this with the Social Contract, the idea that by banding together and forming civilization we left the state of nature, and order was formed.

Later on Jean-Jacques Rousseau talked about the State of nature as being a good thing, about the state of nature being a state of true freedom because you basically get to do whatever you want. And also lots of sex, but yeah, that's not really the point I'm getting at here so lets move on.

The Wasteland in either Fallout or Fallout: Equestria is the world reset to the state of nature. Its where you get things like Raiders, Slavers, that kind of thing because they see the world as being what Rousseau believed. The problem then becomes that in the Wasteland at least, Hobbes was right, you have to have some sort of civilization or the world will eat itself from the inside. Hobbes called this the war of all against all, that's the basic issue with the Wasteland and the State of Nature.

So what's the solution? Banding together into settlements is one solution and its what you see more often than not, but its only one part of the Social Contract.

Since we just reviewed New Roam Innovatus, lets use the Legion as an example in this fic. The Legion, regardless of whether or not it uses the right methods, wants to try and bring a stability back to the Wasteland. Extreme times will sometimes call for extreme methods as the Legion shows, now the problem is of course when it goes to too much of an extreme.

Ultimately, the idea of offering stability and food in exchange for loyalty isn't a bad thing, its ultimately all about how you use that though.

I highly recommend this video, its about the Enclave but it explains this argument very well:

Video Made by Shoddcast

---Final Thoughts---

Okay, this was a great chapter, it really highlights the main character's feelings about the situation, gives a bit of worldbuilding to the Zebra Lands, and shows the Legion in a different light. I don't know how much of this will continue on, but I am very interested to see more of this.

I don't know what else to say here, just check this fanfic out, its a great story so far.

Chapter III gets a score of 5/5.

Read it Here

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

Next week, we continue to revisit old fics with Long Haul..