Fallout Fanon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
They call this place "The Will" because it's strong enough to stand up 'gainst much anything.— Unnamed Resident
Williston
Williston
General Information
Establishment: 1841
Status: conflict zone
Location Information
Location: North Dakota
Societal Information
Factions: Badlands Roughriders
Notable Events: Resources Wars

Great War

Williston, otherwise known as The Will was a pre-war city of the State of North Dakota and part of the Northern Commonwealth. After the Great War, the city's radioactive ruins and surrounding areas became known as the Badlands Territory. It is currently controlled by the Badlands Roughriders.

History[]

Pre War[]

Founded in 1887, Williston was named for Daniel Willis James, a board member of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, by his friend, railroad owner, James J. Hill.

Largely agricultural in its history, Williston boomed in the early 2020s due to large amounts of oil shale in the formation it sat upon, which drew workers from across the country to it. From 2025 to 2040s, Williston saw large growth as major oil drilling facilities made Williston their production capital for the region. Population skyrocketed, and the economy blossomed. However, in the early 2050s, the New Plague began to starve the region. Working conditions only worsened the disease spreading as men and women worked long hours with little or no breaks. Finally, in 2057, it no longer became economically feasible to continue oil production in the region and many left.

In 2055, Williston was chosen to receive the first experimental, long-range, ballistic defense stations under Project Insight by the Commonwealth Defense Administration. Believed to be because of their closeness to the Canadian Border, Williston's selection was really chosen due to its isolated nature thus making it easy to cover up if anything should go wrong.

Following 2070, mining coal became a struggle as much of the abundances of coal had been mined, leaving much of the area scarce of resources. This would close most of the mines, causing a sizable portion of the population to move elsewhere. This trend would continue up to the Great War, with the town numbering 8,000.

Post War[]

When the Great War occurred, the nearby Insight station did its job, sparing the region any direct hits. They could not be saved from the resulting Black Rain and wind-blown radiation. Many would die, and the remainder would turn into ghouls, who would occupy several small camps across the degrading city. As the ecosystem of the world broke down and mutated, the landscape surrounding the city became barren, with erosion common.

Scavengers would arrive in the city in 2100, and by 2122 there were several competing settlements in the ruins fighting over scavenging rights and claims. Raiders, winter, and attrition, would wittle it down to three camps in the ruins. In an attempt to end the fighting, Townly sent runners to the other camps to tell them they were becoming farmers. The scavengers scoffed at this, but unbeknownst to them, Townly had bought some maize from a merchant.

Townly would become the dominant camp after that, establishing a caravan lodge and walling up most of the town by 2128. The scavenger gangs continued to clash over claims, but eventually came to an agreement in 2130, with areas being designated as open or closed. The camps would eventually diversify their economic focuses, and they would also develop into towns of their own by 2142.

This wealth would attract raiders, and they would paralyze caravan traffic by the winter of 2143. The next spring the raiders were somewhat fewer, but it was enough for trade to resume. The various towns would organize militias to counter the raiders, but this would always be a temporary arrangement, the men and women returning home when the raiders were beaten.

In the 2170s, following the sudden arrival of super mutants from the West Coast, men and women of the region banded together for their own protection. These persons later became known as the "Badlands Roughriders" following the construction of their headquarters at the Museum of War. The Roughriders would manage to fight off the mutants, and began to turn their attention to the raiders that swarmed the region since the conflict started.

Under the supervision of the Roughriders, the surface of the town was cleared of feral ghouls, and the sentients were placed in detention. The city would then see again in prosperity as the ghouls and raiders stopped troubling the caravans. This would attract settlers and refugees from that corner of the state, seeking a safer arrangement.

By 2184 Williston had grown a handful of scavengers fighting over turf, to towns that were stable, and a half-dozen caravan companies. For the rest of the century, the towns would see steady expansion, with raiders kept at bay by the Roughriders. The early parts of the Twenty-third century would see ambitious members of the Roughriders along with several merchants attempt to clear some of the sewers, but it would result in little more than wounds and battle stories.

For the next few decades, the town would quietly grow, with the Roughriders ensuring order and peace in the streets. In 2203 a party of Roughriders would repair and repower one of the radio stations in town, using it to spread their propaganda.

Great Raider Wars[]

That peace would be shattered in 2239, when a large band of raiders swept into Uphill without warning, burning the settlement to the ground before moving on to Slack. By this time the Roughriders had come in force, and would engage these raiders in the town. The battle would be brutal and hectic, with civilians trying to avoid gunfire and escape.

The Roughriders would manage to kill or drive off most of the raiders, but most of the town would be damaged in the process. The survivors would be evacuated, sometimes by force, to Townly and the ruins garrisoned. The population of Williston would be halved, with the remaining people concentrated in one place. Three other raider bands entered the city ruins during the wars, but the Roughriders would always manage to defeat them before Townly was threatened. Over time travelers began to call it Williston, being the only settlement in the ruins.

The town would manage to survive the Raider Wars, and would be better able to recover from it. The early 2250s were a time of great prosperity for Williston, with settlers and traders coming to the remote town. This would change with the appearance of the Outriggers, an aggressive raider-cult that set up in the nearby Insight facility. Worshipping machines, the raiders initially sought to extort the outlying farms and ranches before they reached the settlement, though envoys did arrive.

This quickly descended into violence, and the Roughriders had another foe to deal with. The townspeople hoped this conflicted would end fast, but The Outriggers became a constant threat to the town, often sending parties to set up camps in the ruins. The Roughriders cleared these camps out often, but the townspeople remained worried. They were given great cause in 2257, with the battle of Logan's Folly. Expecting their protectors to finally crush the raiders, a small crowd gathered on the outskirts of the town to watch the approach to the Insight facility, only to see many Roughriders cut down by the reactivated defenses.

Some proposed joining the charge while most prepared to flee, but these impulses were stopped by the appearance of a patrol of American Northern Army soldiers approaching the sight. While not enough to turn the battle and break the defenses, the newcomers were able to save two-fifths of the Roughrider force and were cheered as they returned them to town. After it was discovered High MArshall Logan died in the attack, the surviving officers enter negotiations with the ANA. The Roughriders would sign themselves, and by extension Williston, to the ANA, and a new flag would fly over the town. Little would change with the declaration, however, with the town carrying on much the same as it had before, with the citizens more concerned about raiders than Custer.

The town continued to be harassed by the Outriggers and mutant creatures after this, though the Roughriders were usually up to the task of repelling them with minor losses. This changed in 2268 as the raiders started targeting the outlying ranches and farms that fed the town, often able to strike and escape before the Roughriders were able to reach the location. This strategy worried the people of Williston, who feared a famine. While this fortunately never appeared, the economy did slow down from the raiders which did threaten a slow if indirect death. This was compounded by the raiders sometimes taking up camp within the ruins of Williston itself, waylaying travelers and merchants before being chased off by the Roughriders.

Despite this the town continued to survive and even grew some, though this was more due to the increased trade with Manitoba to the north than any local action. Ironically this contact with the north brought the town in contact with another raider band, though this one proved unintentionally useful. While limited in their raids at the time, the Canadians saw the caravans as opportune targets, which brought them into conflict with the Outriggers. This soon escalated into skirmishes between the two sides, allowing caravans to reach the city easier.

This leveled off some as the raiders began to equalize in their conflict, though the Roughriders still did their best to guard the wagons coming into the region. Williston is currently preparing for the winter and the freezing that comes with it, as well as preparing for any further raider attacks.

City Design[]

The city center is composed of large multistoried buildings, but none that could be described as skyscrapers. As of 2287, many pre-War buildings are still standing though have deteriorated to an extensive level. Due to lack of many Vaults in the Midwest, the city utilized the less reliable Pulowski Preservation Shelters which had left the city overrun with ghouls, most of which were driven underground by the arrival of settlers prior the formation of the Badlands Roughriders.

The areas outside of the city center are rolling barren plains and dune hills, with some suburban areas. To the southwest, one can see over the horizon the InsightOne facility which many are reluctant to go to. The terrain is bumpy with little remaining of streets or roads due to the massive dust storms that sweep the area. The main building which seems to rise over the city is the Fortress built from the old Museum of War, the main hub of the Roughriders power.

Landmarks[]

City Hall[]

Formerly one of the grander buildings in the city, following the bombs it has fallen into disrepair and ruin with much of the central rotunda collapsing in on itself. A wing of the facility has recently been claimed by the "church of Pickard" with services held daily.

Museum of War[]

The headquarters of the Badlands Roughriders, it doubles as their barracks and supply warehouse. Converted into a fortress, it has thick walls of stone and scrap metal, as well as turrets and gun-slits. It is here the Roughriders formally joined the American Northern Army after the Battle of Logan's Folly.

City Cemetery[]

The Cemetery fulfills much the same purpose, being a place for the residents to mourn and bury their dead. Ceremonies are common throughout the warm months but tend to become more frequent around August as everyone hurries to beat the cold. It has a small non-denominational chapel as well as a shrine of Pickard.

6R Studios[]

The voice of the Roughriders, 6R has been operated as a military post since its inception. It began to play records soon after, however, and would prove wildly popular among the rank-and-file.

Economy[]

Williston was until fairly recently, an agricultural and scavenging settlement like so many others. Since its incorporation into the ANA and renewed awareness of the rest of the Badlands Territory, it has become a caravan stop, being one of the only safe ways north into Canada. It possesses light industrial capabilities, mainly to repair or retrofit simple parts the Badlands Roughriders might need, as well as a small brewery.

Government[]

Williston is run by the Roughriders, its General setting laws and policies in the town. In practice, the citizens are under a different law than the troopers are and are often left to their own devices, unless they break a law and are then tried in a military court. Taxes are collected every nine months and will equal fifteen percent of each residents wealth.


Advertisement