Once a man, this feralglowing one is the son of Mother Curie III, leader of the Apostles of the Eternal Light. While meditating in Springvale, Mother Curie was approached by four members of Lyons' Brotherhood of Steel on their water delivery run to Megaton. When they found her there, she told them where she was from, and they gave her some crates of Aqua Pura and told her to share the water with her people.[1] In her religious stupor, she took this to be a vision from Atom himself, interpreting the Brotherhood members as "armored angels" of Atom who gave her the water to be "blessed" with radiation to spread the cult's message of "enlightenment" to everyone.[2][3][4][5] In their eyes, this is a humanitarian mission, bringing salvation and "warmth" to the suffering people of the wasteland.[6][7][8]
In her vision, Atom didn't call upon his flock to seek Division, but rather "Enlightenment;" she believes that salvation in Eternal Light can only be attained through Atom's supreme and total Enlightenment[9][10] -- in other words, salvation is only possible by taking in radiation and becoming a ghoul, though few are able to surpass the level of Enlightenment and reach Eternal Light.[11][12] They see this transformation as a "rebirth" for the suffering so that they no longer fall to starvation, illness, or age, needing only "Atom's Glow" (radiation) to be happy.[13][14]
Curie's own son has, in her eyes, undertaken the transformation to become one of Atom's enlightened by becoming a glowing one. Now, she believes that he is living in both the "real" and "spiritual" realm and has taken the final steps on the journey towards salvation in Eternal Light, remaining passive and mostly unresponsive within the monastery despite having become all but feral. The truth is that the radiation has degenerated much of her son's cognitive function, and only instinct is preventing him from attacking in his confusion.[Non-game 1]
Sun of Atom is one of two non-hostile feral ghouls in the monastery; the other is Atom's Champion.
Sun of Atom has a Karma value of Evil, but Atom's Champion has Neutral Karma instead.
The Fallout Shelter quest Springtime for Atom deals with a sect of the Children who are obsessed with "E-Ster," an event in which the Children must "save Daylight" by creating a "Sixth Sun."[15][16]
↑The Lone Wanderer: "How do you make your 'holy water'?" Curie III: "It was a gift from Atom. I was meditating right here in Springvale, when four of His armored angels came to me. When I said I was from Megaton, they gave me barrels of 'Aqua Pura,' and said I should share it with my people. They were very clear on that. Naturally, I understood Atom's message. And so, I've been busy blessing this holy water and sharing it with the world." (Curie III's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "Where did you get your water?" Gerard: "Our Luminescent Mother went to meditate outside of the city, and as she wandered in a trance, she was visited by Atom's angels of war. These angels brought her 'Aqua Pura.' Water so pure, so pristine, and so unsullied that she knew it would make the perfect vessel for Atom's Glow. Since that day, she has busied herself consecrating Atom's pure water into the Waters of Light." (Gerard's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "I'm sure you mean well, but this has to stop." Gerard: "Stop helping the needy? I don't think so. And even if I did, it's not my decision to make. Blessing of the holy water is overseen by Mother Curie the Third, our Luminescent Mother. And she's far too busy to speak with outsiders." (Gerard's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "You know this water is full of radiation, right?" Gerard: "It's full of Atom's Light, if that's what you mean. Brighter and warmer than any water I've ever seen before. Blessing of the holy water is overseen by Mother Curie III, our Luminescent Mother. But her work keeps her busy within the monastery at all times." (Gerard's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "Isn't there some way I can convince you to stop?" Curie III: "We're doing holy work here, tending to the suffering and hopeless. Our holy water gives warmth to those who would only die unsaved, otherwise." (Curie III's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "Please, you're endangering innocent people who think your water is safe." Curie III: "You judge what you do not understand. By introducing them to Atom's Light, we are saving them from a life of misery." (Curie III's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "How do you make your 'holy water'?" Curie III: "It was a gift from Atom. I was meditating right here in Springvale, when four of His armored angels came to me. When I said I was from Megaton, they gave me barrels of 'Aqua Pura,' and said I should share it with my people. They were very clear on that. But when I shared some with my Enlightened brethren, it made them terribly ill. I questioned why Atom had brought a pestilence upon us. That's when I thought to consecrate it with Atom's Light. And lo and behold, it removed the pestilence and made the finest holy water imaginable!" (Curie III's dialogue) Note: This is the response given should the player have completed the questProject Impurity by infecting the water supply with modified FEV.
↑The Lone Wanderer: "Tell me about your order." Gerard: "Ah, the Apostles of the Eternal Light were first introduced to the majesty of Atom's Glow by the holy teachings of Confessor Cromwell. And we were content to stay in Cromwell's Church, until Atom gave a vision unto our Luminous Mother. She learned that Atom did not call for Division, that sundering which drives us apart. Atom calls for Enlightenment, the warmth which feeds us. For it is only through Atom's supreme and total Enlightenment that we may attain salvation in Eternal Light." (Gerard's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "You mean, you turn people into Ghouls?" Curie III: "That's a vulgar term, used only by those who are jealous of their gifts. We recognize them for the Enlightened beings they are. But to receive such Enlightenment, people need to be exposed to a tremendous dose of Atom's Glow. That's why our holy water is so important! Sadly, only a small number of supplicants truly achieve Eternal Light. The rest must be satisfied with Enlightenment and an end to their suffering." (Curie III's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "Turning people into Ghouls? But that requires an amazing amount of radiation!" Curie III: "That's correct, it does. But we can work miracles with our holy water. Free of impurities, this 'Aqua Pura' is perfect for carrying Atom's blessing. Sadly, only a small number of supplicants truly achieve Eternal Light. The rest must be satisfied with Enlightenment and an end to their suffering." (Curie III's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "Why are you doing all of this?" Curie III: "Why, to offer Enlightenment to all those who suffer, of course. No more, no less.Atom came to me with a vision: the starving, the ill, the weak, all being made whole and well by receiving the sacrament of Atom's Glow. And so, with our holy water, we can make this vision a reality. When exposed to Atom's supreme Glow, the ill are reborn in his glowing visage. Those reborn never hunger, never suffer, and never age. All our Enlightened brethren need is to know Atom's Glow, and they are happy." (Curie III's dialogue)
↑The Lone Wanderer: "You'll see the true power of Atom when I detonate that bomb in Megaton." Curie III: "No! No you mustn't! We left Cromwell's church precisely because we DON'T believe in the Great Division.Atom calls us to reach Enlightenment through becoming one with his Glow. We believe in transformation - not destruction.Please, leave the Great Symbol of Atom alone. Let the Confessor preach his misguided message to the heathens. Join us here. Gain enlightenment." (Curie III's dialogue) Note: This line can be spoken if the player has yet to complete the questThe Power of the Atom.
↑Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.97: "Son of Atom When a human transcends mortality and straddles the ether, they can be seen to be both living in the 'real' and 'spiritual' realm. Mother Curie III firmly believes her own son to have taken the final steps on this journey. In fact, much of her son's higher functions have disappeared, and only instinct is preventing this confused Glowing One from attacking." (Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
of Atom
