Always culturally and historically backwards, the war and chaos has only sent Arkansas further back in time. Ravaged by starvation and banditry for decades, the state is now the haven for the "Frozen Chosen", a well-organized group of awakened pre-war people and their recent followers. Conditions under thier rule are beginning to improve.
Little Rock, SS-N-8
Pine Bluff Arsenal, Pine Bluff, SS-N-17
Eaker AFB, SAC Base, Manila, SS-18M1b
Little Rock AFB, Titan II Base, 10
SS-18M2
Arkansas 1 nuclear reactor, Russellville,
SS-17
Discretionary nuclear target:
Fort Chaffee, SS-N-17
Tubes: The cryotube technology, some 175 tubes and associated computer hardware, was bought under the table from a subcontractor for Morrow Industries. Bruce and his Council were aware of the missing cyrotubes, and their purpose, but were unable to do much about it without tipping their own hand. As well, there just wasn't time. The Frozen Chosen completed their underground complex in late 1988, just about a year or so before the war. In fact, as the world died around them, just 120 of the 175 tubes were utilized in the end as many of the Chosen could not make it back to the base. These 120 people represented the most fanatical and devout of the Chosen, and were quick to set about their work upon awaking.
Set the timer: The Chosen leadership was unsure what would be the proper amount of time to remain frozen before rising. Some wanted to stay asleep for just 40 days and 40 nights, others for 7 years, and still others for 77 years, all very biblical numbers. In the end, they picked 77 years, sure that by then the world would have been "cleansed of sinners" and accept them gladly. They were wrong, of course, but were very glad that they didn't pick 40 days or even 7 years.
Brave new world: In the chaos following the war, they found a very tolerant age in which they are expanding as quickly as they can make converts, voluntary or otherwise. They have some knowledge of freezing technology buried in the rituals of their religion. Their secret cryo-freezing bunker was located in the Jenkins Ferry Battlefield State Park. Once out and aware of the state of the world, they took over the nearby town of Sheridan and began to gather resources and followers. So far they have amassed a considerable fortune in guns and loot, and "converted" an amazing number of locals to their cause.
The Army of Redemption: Aware that many people will have to be converted by the sword as well as by the words of the Bible, they have raised a large army of "missionaries" from the masses, armed them reasonably well and placed Frozen Chosen members over them. These missionaries each carry small bibles, out of the stocks of literally thousands that the FC put into their bunker before the war. They also carry guns, ostensibly for "self-protection", but often used to convince people of the "error" of their ways.
Relations with neighbors: To be succinct, there are none. The Chosen ae in an isolated area, one not well traveled before or since their rising. They also have a strict and sensible policy of keeping to themselves until they have built up enough power and manpower to venture out with purpose. In a few years, perhaps as early as next year, they will be ready to start "going out into the world to spread the good news". They do have good intentions, and they want to rebuild the USA as a "light unto the nations", but they may find themselves using their guns more than their bibles.
Behind the curtain: It should be noted that not everyone who has converted to their cause has done so out of religious fervor. With the Frozen Chosen enclave offering the best chance of security and steady meals in the region, many hundreds of people have flocked here to join up. Perhaps only ten to fifteen percent of the converts truly believe what they claim to. This will come into play when the army gets away from the home area and out into the field, where that thin veneer of religious conviction might fall away.
Eaker Air Force Base: While just hit with a biowar weapon during the war, this isolated Air Force Base was abandoned soon after Warday. All surviving strategic assets were moved to bases on the East Coast, and the 97th Bomb Wing would later be fed into the general war in Europe, from where it never returned. Over the next century, Eaker AFB was scavenged by numerous local warlords and pretender governments, and when the Kentucky Free State rose to power, they carted off nearly everything that wasn't bolted down. Today, nothing remains worthy of the difficult trip through the overgrown forest to reach the remains of the base.
Mystic Caverns: This vast cave system, south of Harrison in the thick Ozark National Forest, is home to a growing "pseudo-society" of nearly 120 assorted people, all taking advantage of the cave's natural security and cold running water. Of note, three of the residents are former Frozen Chosen from the southern part of the state. These three are the survivors of ten who left the FC last year after a dispute over doctrine. One of the three was a low-level administrator who has intimate knowledge of the FC's operations and plans, though his information is a year out of date.
Jonesboro: Home of a violent local warlord who came to town from Kentucky last year with several dozen hired soldiers and common criminals. He is efficient, if crazy, and very dangerous, and has nothing but hatred for the people around him. The locals in the area have sent a small group south to ask for help from the Frozen Chosen, and they are about halfway there now.
Fort Smith: Now home to some 400 farmers and townspeople. They farm the well-watered land below Hollis Lake and the Lee River. The main settlement is in Van Buren with a smaller outpost around Kay Rodgers Park. The waterways are still a bit radioactive from the nukes on Fort Chaffee, though for some unexplained reason, these people show a resistance to the pollution. They often ascribe this ability to their "special sauce".
Russellville: Home to about 650 people. Many of these are descendents of the staff of the Wal-Mart Home Office, who in the spring after the nuclear war caravanned down here to greener pastures. Amongst the people farming and hunting here are a few Waltons.
Batesville: A small town which boasts 200 assorted farmers and moonshiners. Batesville's moonshine is some of the best in the state and has even found its way into the larders of the Frozen Chosen.
Sheridan: Located as it is at the intersection of seven roads, Sheridan was the logical choice for the first capitol. It was named "New Jerusalem" in a festive ceremony, but the locals have never really caught on to the name and you will hear "Sheridan" still almost as often. Sheridan is a religious bastion now, with nearly everyone spouting scripture and calling each other "brother". Security is tight and sneaking into the city for crime is absolutely suicide. Nearly every open space for miles has been plowed and tilled, and some basic water service and electricity has been restored. Sheridan is home to the 250-man "Levi Brigade" (note that all the brigades are named after the sons of Jacob) charged with capitol security and enforcement of government and religious policies. The Brigade is armed with a variety of weapons, but is in need of more transport.
Fordyce: There are now 5,000 people in the Fordyce area, serving as the main southern entrance to the FC empire. The local Army garrison is the "Asher Brigade", currently the most battle-worth of all the brigades and probably the first to go out to "spread the message" this coming spring. The Brigade is a tight, compact unit, with some 175 men, a gun for every soldier and enough trucks to make them very mobile.
Redfield: Located on the Arkansas River between Pine Bluff and Little Rock, this town is the main river port for the FC. The 150 men of the "Naphtali Brigade" watch the river traffic closely.
Malvern: The population here numbers 1,400. The FC Army's "Dan Brigade" is in town, with 200 men armed with shotguns and assault rifles. Several towns just southwest of Malvern, such as Central and Social Hill, have been set up as "reeducation" camps for converts who have "lost their way".
Arkadelphia: Protected by earthworks and other fortifications, including minefields abreast I-30. A relatively quiet town of farms, fields, and horse-drawn plows that has a growing industry of ammunition reloading and gunsmithing. Home of the "Joseph Brigade", tasked with watching for bandits and funneling converts north to Sheridan. The Brigade has about 125 fighters of varying degrees of skill and fervor. About 50 maybe are hard-core zealots and the rest are just thugs with guns who will say anything to keep their leaders happy. Vehicles include a few jeeps, pickup trucks, autos and a few large trucks.
The ruins of Pine Bluff:These nuked ruins are generally avoided by the Frozen Chosen, though they do offer them a considerable amount of loot and salvage.
The ruins of Little Rock: Obliterated by numerous nuclear warheads, a vast overgrown rubble field is all that remains. Most people shun the ruins, as weird ghosts and shambling zombies have been reported in the maze of rubble. The IBCM complex to the east was heavily blasted, polluting a large triangle of once-productive farmland all the way to the Mississippi River.
Crockets Bluff: An old riverboat steamboat on the White River now serves as the community center for this town of 160 people. Mutant catfish and even more mutated crawfish are common threats, legacies of the nukes on the Air Force Base upriver.
Stuttgart: Mostly destroyed by refugees from the cities, Stuttgart today supports just a small population of about 240 farmers and cattle herders. Life was hard here before the Frozen Chosen began to offer assistance, luring many of the younger men and women to the west. Now, Stuttgart is slowly gaining population as the last generation has decided that maybe the grass is not greener with the Chosen.
Murfreesboro: Home of the Crater of Diamonds State Park, now controlled by a local strongman. He is currently a sort of middle man for the Frozen Chosen, who turn a blind eye to his brutal slavery of his workers in exchange for a share of the diamonds. Some 200 slaves work the diamond mines to the point of death under highly dangerous conditions. The diamonds are mostly hoarded by the FC leadership as they have little economic value anymore.
People who have contributed to this entry:
John Raner
Karl Zohler