PRN:
The nation and its people
PRN Lore (as created by Trevor Clemons):
Henry Johnson-Early Years
Henry Johnson was born in a settlement named, “New Windsor”, on October 12, 2230, located on the outskirts of Madison, Wisconsin. In 2238, a team from Vault 39 entered the town, looking to exploit a largely intact GenCor research facility located on the North end of Madison, on the Research Center campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Their mission was to explore the facility and recover whatever tech they could. The vault scientists were delighted to find that the research facility had escaped the majority of direct damage from the war, and they uncovered an intact, fusion-powered deep freeze, along with some mostly-functional RobCo terminals. They learned that GenCor was developing gene therapies for humans, and part of that research focused on using viruses to insert genes for increased intelligence into adults. The logs left in the facility yielded a lot of information, but the team was unsure what to do with the viruses stored in the deep freeze, as they held a great deal of potential for gene therapy. The problem was that they knew that once the viruses were thawed, they would become non-viable unless they infected a host body within a few hours. What they did not know, was that some of the strains of the virus they uncovered had never been tested before the war, and were extremely virulent.
Virus GCES2077M is a porcine flu virus that would produce common cold symptoms in humans after a latent period of about a week. The later stages of the infection were destined to be quite severe, with a 95% mortality rate. After spending considerable time setting up the laboratories for studies, the vault scientists thawed out the virus and began using animals as hosts for the viruses. While the effects of the virus on the animals were hardly noticeable, the virus passed easily from the animals to all of the vault scientists within the first few weeks of their research, due to their enhanced virulence.
Soon, each of the infected scientists started passing the virus to the rest of the town, never suspecting that they were experiencing anything worse than a minor cold. However, the scientists started getting violently ill at about the two-week mark. The sickness involved coughing and sneezing and continuing to worsen to vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, and destruction of the lining of the large intestine, leading to a discharge of a watery, black stool, usually followed by death. For obvious reasons, the sickness was soon darkly referred to as, “Black River”. Within two months after animal trials began, out of a town of over 100 people, only 6 survivors remained. Obviously, Henry Johnson was one of the six survivors of New Windsor, and the only child among the survivors.
Fortunately, since each of the survivors had fought the virus off on their own, they gained immunity to the virus. That said, the virus passed on the intelligence genes as intended, and each survivor made remarkable gains in their intelligence. Since Henry was a child, he benefitted the most, resulting in a genius-level intelligence. Should the Black River become virulent again, the survivor’s immune systems could be used to prepare a vaccine for the virus. But now, only two survivors are still alive: Henry Johnson, and Myra Barringer. And one should assume that the virus is still out there, as the animals from the lab and many animals in the settlements carried the virus-and most likely passed it around to the wild animals around New Windsor. Unfortunately, given the onset of events, no one checked to see if the test animals also gained in intelligence; but if so, that may prevent some serious problems in the future for farmers in the area.
The survivors of New Windsor caught a passing caravan and traveled West to a settlement on the southern bank of Lake Wisconsin, called simply, “The Commune”. The Commune was built on a natural peninsula-being naturally protected on three sides by a river and a series of wooden palisades, in what used to be called, “Pine Bluff”.
It was led by Jeremiah Ferrel-a descendant of some of the local farmers that survived the War. Geographic isolation was a boon for the Commune, and despite the occasional passing Raider attack, Jeremiah’s extended family continued to prosper and grow in their settlement over the years, and by the time Henry Johnson arrived, the settlement had grown to over 60 people in 12 different families, with the nearby river providing water power to a blacksmith and a cloth mill.
Hard times make hard men, and Jeremiah Ferrel was as hardened as they came. He did care about the safety of his family, but he was not naturally kindly, and raised his family to be callous, sometimes even cruel. He never let people who joined the Commune forget that he and his family had taken the others in, and not the other way around. He treated newcomers like second class citizens or even peasants. But for all his faults, he was a good organizer, and his family had a lot of practical skills they shared with others to make the Commune self-sufficient
Growing Up :
By the time Johnson was 14, he was widely revered as a prodigy. He saw military matters as a top priority to the survival of Commune and started training with the Commune militia. That Summer he went with them on a foraging mission to Antigo, Wisconsin. In Antigo, there was an old Army Reserve station there which had been targeted by one of the Chinese nukes. Fortunately, the missile flew wide of the mark and the armory avoided a direct hit, with the missile falling far West of the town. Unfortunately, most of the town was still in range of immense radiation, resulting in a firestorm that largely consumed the town. The Army Reserve building, being brick, only lost its Western wall and metal roof, which weakened and collapsed in the intense heat. Most of the insides were destroyed, as well, as flammable materials shortly burst into flame from the high temperatures.
Digging through the rubble of the building, Johnson was the one who discovered the entrance to the basement, hidden under the remains of the roof. Using blocks and tackle, along with their combined strength, the foraging team was able to move the major roof beams that blocked the entrance, and after digging through the rubble, gained access to the basement door. The basement was nearly pristine, having been protected from the heat by the massive concrete floor of the armory up above. Inside they found the storage rooms for armor and small arms, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition, which they immediately looted, but more importantly, they came back with enough people and brahmins to remove the rest of the treasure-with enough armaments to equip a company of over 150 soldiers with rifles, crew support weapons, grenades, and anti-tank missiles. In addition, the team found several Field Manuals on their new weapons, as well as a manual on basic infantry tactics. (Unfortunately, no power armor was found on-site, as the Armoury Reserve unit was an administrative unit.)
With its new military capability, the reputation of the Commune grew considerably, and many settlers sought to join a safe place to live their lives in peace. Henry Johnson advanced his career, and after the death of Ferrel’s son, Elijah was named Captain of the militia at the age of 21. The militia continued to go out on foraging missions, and during a mission to what was left of Green Bay, Henry Johnson found an English translation of the book, “On The Juche Idea”.
Revolution:
Johnson was entranced with the book and the ideas within it. Learning that the nation of North Korea overcame many obstacles by their oppressors, and grew from being a backward, agrarian society to the greatest military power in the world within a single generation under their beloved, “Eternal Leader”.
Seizing on the idea that Juche was the philosophy that would be the guiding light for humanity to claw its way back to civilization, Johnson brought the book to Jeremiah Ferrel while he was supervising the harvest. Ferrel glanced through the book, and then threw it back at Johnson saying, “You moron! This is a complete waste of time! How in the Hell did someone like you come to believe that this garbage would work?” Johnson was crestfallen. Rebuked by his leader-someone he looked to as a father figure, in a way the relationship between the two soured. Rumors of Johnson’s impending demotion swirled around him, and that’s when he hatched a plan.
One cold November night, Johnson caught Jeremiah Ferrel at the granary office, working on tallies for that year’s harvest and plans for the upcoming year. Johnson and three of his most trusted lieutenants forced their way into the office. Without a word, three of them immediately jumped the old man, held him down, and stabbed him through the heart. Then, the team brought in a cage containing a mole rat, released it in the office and locked the door. As hoped, the rat immediately savaged Ferrel’s body as it lay on the dirt floor, mangling the corpse and destroying the evidence of the stab wound.
The next morning, Johnson’s daughter, Bridget, found his mauled, partially eaten body, along with the hole that the mole-rat dug through the floor to make its escape. Horrified and bereaved, she presented little resistance to Henry Johnson’s announcement that he was taking over the leadership of the Commune on November 7, 2252.
At the funeral of Jeremiah Ferrel, Henry Johnson gave an emotional eulogy, giving the man he had murdered high praise. Afterward, he outlined what he said were plans that Ferrel had shared with him-that the Commune had to grow and become a strong, independent nation. The Commune was blessed by its good fortune, and its destiny-its obligations, really-was to claw a new civilization out of the maws of the Wasteland for the benefit of mankind.
Over the coming year, Johnson slowly introduced the ideas of Juche to the population, focusing on the positive aspects. Militia missions were sent into the surrounding area, setting up outposts and patrolling the countryside to reduce the threat from raiders and other hazards; while inviting settlers with specialized skills to come join the growing town of Commune. However, a faction of dissenters, led by Bridget Johnson, started to resist his efforts to expand Commune into a larger state, and bring the surrounding area into its influence.
On the night of December 8, 2253, Bridget Ferrel, suspicious of Henry Johnson causing her father’s death, staged an uprising. While her band captured two of Johnson’s lieutenants, Henry Johnson slipped away into the frozen countryside. Rounding up soldiers stationed at the surrounding outposts, Johnson returned to Commune on January 15. Seeing their ousted commander, the militia opened the gates and joined Johnson’s re-take of the city.
Ferrel and her henchmen were captured after a brief skirmish and placed into custody. Three days later, after Johnson was convinced that there was no other threat of rebellion, Johnson sentenced them to death, as all expected.
What was not expected, however, is how they died.
Johnson had each of the seven prisoners chained to an upright post in the ground, outside of the town. A fire was built up in a ring around the prisoners, and when lit, it slowly roasted them all to death over the course of three hours of agony.
The next day, Henry Johnson gathered up all of the members of Commune and made a speech at the site of execution. Known as the “Rise From the Ashes”, speech, Johnson declared a new State: The People’s Republic of the North. Johnson declared that Ferrel’s band had died because of their greed. Their lust for personal power and gain was identical to the lust for power and gain which had led to the destruction of the world.
And in the new world, there could be no tolerance for such dangerous corruptions in the face of human survival. He called for a new way of thinking; the development of what he called, “The Ideal Juche Person”. In the old way of thinking, one would do whatever necessary for the survival of themselves and their family. In the new way of thinking, the citizens would look at each other as important as members of their own family, and do whatever necessary to care for each other.
Any of the old personal greed was to be shunned and was considered a destructive force. Anyone guilty of such thoughts or self-serving actions was to be declared an Enemy of the PRN.
The Rings :
The first residents of the “School of the Juche Idea”, were three raiders that were captured after their band attacked one of the outposts. The School was set up in 2253 at one of the town’s outposts, six miles away from Commune. The principle was simple: The individual would work the land for the good of the Whole, according to one’s ability, one way or another. The prisoners were chained together to keep them from running away, yet they managed to run away, anyways. After that, Johnson instructed his Minister of Education, Adam Voorhes, to come up with a more efficient system. Walls were considered but were deemed impractical if the prisoners were to work the land. Voorhes then came up with the idea of forcing the prisoners to wear shock collars that would explode if they got beyond the range of a short wave signal emitted from the outpost, or detonated by remote control.
Under these conditions, the prisoners would work the land in large circles, with clearly marked boundaries at the farthest reaches of the signal. These were later known as, “Juche Rings”, or simply, “The Rings”. It was decided that each Ring would act as both as a slave farm and an early warning system, putting their undesirable citizens far away from the main settlements while also acting as a tripwire for Raider attacks. Each outpost was built around a stone tower, with a generator and an antenna on the roof. Barracks for the 5-10 soldiers stationed there were inside the tower. A wall and gate surrounded the tower, with outbuildings for food production and housing the prisoners within sight of the tower. Prisoners are officially referred to as, “Novices”, and are given a number that is used in place of their name. They work 10 hour days, with a two-hour break for lunch and study of the Juche principles, 7 days a week. Their quarters are sparse but are kept reasonably warm and comfortable by Midwasteland standards. Theoretically, a novice can, after serving a minimum sentence of 2 years, be recommended for release if the political officer in charge of the Rings believes that they can be returned to society as productive citizens. But, it is not common-theIr labor is simply too valuable. Usually, a novice is only released based upon their family ties with the leaders of the PRN.
The Juche Idea and Red Radio:
The PRN is held together by a set of values that are constantly preached by the People’s radio station, “Red Radio”, based in Johnsonville. The Minister of Information, Robert Mason, is responsible for teaching Juche values to the populace both through the schools and through their only radio station. Criticism of the State or the Supreme Chancellor is forbidden, and those who would engage in such talk would be sent directly to the nearest Ring. The hosts of Red Radio are required to always talk of the State and the Supreme Chancellor in glowing terms, and play inspirational music glorifying the State.
In addition, the hosts keep up a steady stream of warnings against the hazards of the lands beyond the PRN borders, and how the PRN is the last hope for humanity. In general, this bombardment of propaganda has done its work, and the average PRN citizen is convinced that they are on a mission to save humanity, and failure will mean extinction. It has resulted in a cult-like belief in most of the populace. And if some people’s hearts are not filled with a genuine love for the Supreme Chancellor, even among the cynical there is a realization that the PRN is the probably the best thing going for humanity right now; and the desired ends justify the means, however distasteful, of achieving them. Those people who cannot be inducted into the mindset of Juche usually flee within a few months if they don’t end up in the Rings, of course.
The People’s Army:
Even before the Revolution, the militia was serious about their training. Jeremiah Ferrel was nothing if not thorough about planning for the protection of his family among the hazards of the Wasteland. But after Henry Johnson took over as Captain, the militia became much more professional, well drilled in infantry tactics, and had good know-how about how to fix, and eventually, make firearms. Each PRN soldier is tasked with both policing duties within the PRN and expeditionary duties outside. They also serve as Ring guards, taking week-long rotational shifts at the Rings and other outposts.
The People’s Army also makes up the majority of the workforce for public building projects, and pitch in during harvest season. When a new territory is added to the PRN, the soldiers put down their rifles and pick up their mattocks and shovels to begin building a fortified outpost. Most of the combat armor from the Bethany Army Reserve post is still in use, but there is not enough to go around. However, all soldiers are issued body armor and a helmet, as a minimum; so it is not unusual to see a mix of uniform combat armor with red stars, and other types of Raider-type armor, among PRN troops. The PRN military now consists of almost 500 soldiers and officers, Upon enlistment, each conscript is given four weeks of basic training where they learn political theory and basic infantry tactics. If the average PRN citizen is an avid supporter of Kimjongilism, by the end of their basic training the average soldier is a true fanatic; convinced of their moral superiority and their crucial mission of delivering civilization back to humanity. Those who prove themselves worthy may be given more extensive training, as well as more responsibility. Officers attend an officer’s night school for an additional two weeks, where they are taught leadership and advanced political theory by their superior officer.
The People’s Navy:
Lake Wisconsin is actually part of the Wisconsin River. As such, despite having had nuclear fallout concentrate in various bodies of water, the river has largely flushed out the majority of the contamination downstream. After two hundred-plus years after the Great War, the lake has seen the return of various species of plant life and animal life, albeit often-mutated forms.
Being a restored site on the water, Commune already had a number of small boats that had survived the war either intact or in repairable condition. This has allowed the PRN to cobble together a fleet of small and medium-sized craft to act as merchant ships, fishing boats, and naval patrol boats. These crafts allow the People’s Navy control of the Wisconsin River; which is used for trade and travel.
The land bridge between the peninsula and the mainland creates a natural harbor for their navy, and their fleet docks there, as well as numerous fish suppliers.
Their “navy” itself is largely made up of re-fitted, fusion-powered speed boats, each holding 4-12 Marines outfitted with small arms. “Capital ships” are larger yachts and houseboats, and can carry larger munitions such as salvaged and home-built, single-shot cannons, or technologically advanced small arms such as mounted Mini and Gauss guns. This allows the PRN to put troops on the ground, quickly, up and down the Wisconsin River, as well as challenge any other boat that travels on it.
Architecture of the PRN:
The Commune was built on the ruins of a small, lakeside community, far away from large concentrations of pre-war buildings. As such, almost every building in the Commune is relatively new, made of local materials, and follows a simple architectural style. As the PRN spread Southward, the PRN Army took with it its architectural style. In many respects, the towns of the People’s Republic resemble those of the Old West. Most buildings are made with thin, clapboard walls, or stacks of sod, with wooden roofs. More sturdy structures out of timber frames and wattle-and-daub infills have recently started replacing the earlier structures.
The main building in Commune, known simply as Commune Hall, is made of a stone foundation with timber framed walls, and can seat 500 people. In all of the settlements, a similar, community gathering place is built as the hub of communal life. All masonry is made out of a rough, undressed field stone. Rounded arches are used where necessary. The streets are paved with cobblestones, and are lined with a simple drainage system that acts as an open sewer, (despite efforts other wise). Underground sewers are not in place as of yet, nor is running water-but there are foraging parties bringing back scrap plumbing to the capital. For now, strict laws about cleanliness and the disposal of human waste keep a lid on most diseases, and there are several people in the Rings who have committed Defecation Crimes. Needless to say, despite the weathered wood and roughly constructed buildings, the streets are kept very tidy. Around each of the towns are palisades of upright timbers and stone. The walls are topped in strategic areas with thick, wooden bunk houses with shooting ports in the side, many of which are re-enforced with sandbags made of the local hemp. All of these have been built by the People’s Army, and are the first structures constructed by the People’s Army when they enter a new area. Outposts are strictly of utilitarian design. Aside from the central stone tower, which houses the communication gear and a detachment of PRN soldiers, the buildings of the settlers are a mix of sod cabins, log cabins, and conical sod and timber lodges, (some of them can get quite big). Animals are often housed in the same buildings as the settlers, particularly in the winter.
Technology of the PRN:
The PRN is primarily an agricultural people, with technology adapted to make the most of their natural resources. As such, many 19th century inventions and industries, such as animal-drawn plows, water-powered machinery, windmills, etc. are in abundance here. The PRN eschews pre-war towns, as they are focal points of radiation, ghouls, and disease. Apart from the rusting wrecks of vehicles along the sides of the roads and recycled materials used in their buildings, there is little of the pre-war world to be seen in PRN settlements. Of course, higher technology is not entirely forgotten. The State owns all of it, of course, and it is used, when possible, to the benefit of the People.
Old style, non-digitized CNC machinery, welders, drill presses, and the like, have been transported from the ruins of surrounding farms to the Republic and a respectable industry has been built up there to manufacture textiles, leather, basic machinery, etc. Manufacturing of more advanced technological, 23rd-century staples is possible, such as machine gun turrets, but building energy weapons and the like are beyond their reach at this time. In spite of his past, the Supreme Chancellor has counseled the military to be on the lookout for people with scientific and other technically advanced skills, that can be convinced, coerced or enslaved to expand the Republic’s technical know-how.
Battle of the Freaks:
On the morning of April 4, 2262, a band of two dozen Super Mutants made the mistake of wandering into the territory of the PRN. They came within range of one of the outposts, who radioed back the location of the imminent attack by, “Giant green freaks”. The outpost was destroyed in short order, after the settlers and the soldiers had fled for their lives. Later that evening, however, a company of 100 PRN soldiers arrived at the demolished post, catching the Super Mutants lounging around in the twilight, eating their pilfered food, and generally feeling pretty good about themselves. The result was a sharp, hard fight, the likes of which the PRN had never seen before. The Super Mutants had brought with them miniguns, a missile launcher, and even a Fat Boy. Eventually, the Super Mutants were killed to a man, but they had inflicted enormous damage that shocked the army. The battle made Henry Johnson re-evaluate his priorities.
Being largely isolated from the major population centers, Commune hadn’t experienced nearly the scale of problems that other areas of the Wasteland have experienced. Apart from wandering feral ghouls, raiders, and the occasional Deathclaw, the PRN hadn’t been seriously challenged up until then. It was this event that convinced Henry Johnson that humanity itself was threatened with extinction-and replacement-by the Freaks. He was convinced that he had to redouble his efforts to expand the protection of the PRN to others, for their own good, whether they wanted it or not, all for the sake of the species. It was better for humans to be forced to work in the Rings than it was for humanity to die of it’s own hubris. Johnson also realized that it was paramount that the People’s Army enhance its military capabilities, before they inevitably ran into stiffer resistance than even the Freaks had given. Knowing that he was unlikely to find another Army Reserve post that hadn’t been completely looted, this meant that foraging parties would have to go farther, trying to gain allies and add to the territory of the PRN. It also meant, more likely than not, that the PRN would have to enter combat with numerous foes, whether dangerous bands of other humans or Freaks, and would likely have to acquire their heavy weapons off of their dead foes after a hard fight if they were to be acquired, at all.
Expansion of the Republic:
The PRN has at its core a fervent policy of expansion with the fewest number of casualties possible-to all involved. Before the PRN determines that it is time to expand their territory, the people in that territory have already had personal experience with the PRN. Political officers-the Kommisars-are the first troops in the vanguard, and will approach the settlements and try to win their hearts and minds, all the while giving glowing praise of the benefits of citizenship.
Should the Supreme Chancellor determine that the territory has enough resources, both human and otherwise, to benefit the PRN, then the Kommisars will return to the area, accompanied by a large fighting force, (varying in size according to the job at hand), to offer the dwellers in the area a choice: join the PRN as full citizens, or leave.
If the residents decide to violently resist, they are met with overwhelming force. Survivors go to the Rings. Regardless of the means, the end result is the Army detachment building an outpost and securing the area. The site is improved as needed to support the outpost’s material needs, and make room for other displaced settlers that may come later; preferably to form a town.
The Economy of the PRN:
Even under the strict laws of the PRN, the town of Commune has grown into a large community of over a thousand people, with well over that in the surrounding countryside, protected by PRN troops. Around the charismatic Johnson, a cult of personality grew, and it was declared, that he would only be referred to by his title, “Supreme Chancellor”; even when he was not personally present. Through the efforts of the Kommisars and the People’s Army, Supreme Chancellor has kept and expanded control over the People of the North.
The benefits of being a citizen of the PRN are many and expanding as well. Free health care, free food, and other staples of life were provided by the state. Health clinics and hospitals were created, small factories were built along the river, and the town grew into a respectably sized city, selling cloth, foodstuffs, and other crafts to the surrounding communities. Citizens were required to work on their assigned farms, or other specialized jobs in return for their life staples, and a small salary of PRN-printed notes called, People’s Dollars, for miscellaneous expenses. A citizen of the PRN would be able to spend their entire life, if they shunned luxuries, without having to spend a single cap. In fact, caps were outlawed within the PRN, being used only for trade among other peoples of the Midwasteland and declared the property of the PRN. Caps were allowed to be traded for People’s Dollars, but People’s Dollars were not (officially) traded back to caps. A black market has emerged, and accordingly, the Juche Rings have grown alongside the black market; Where they serve as harsh reminders of the fate of the Enemies of the People.
The economy of the PRN is, thus, actually two economies. The internal economy of People’s Dollars, and the external economy of caps. The outlawing of caps has allowed the PRN to establish an illusion of prosperity, which is maintained by the unchecked printing of Dollars, which the State then uses to pay its citizens and they can exchange them at PRN stores for goods and services. It also encourages people to buy goods at PRN settlements. The banning of caps has other purposes, as well. It simultaneously denies the citizens of the PRN the ability to move easily between PRN territory and other territories, while it ties their fates to the fate of the PRN which backs their money, thus further encouraging loyalty to the State. Any citizen who leaves the PRN would have to leave with only the clothes on their back. All other property belongs to the State.
The PRN Today:
As the PRN has expanded into other territories, its reputation has grown. Many, hearing the tales of the Juche Rings and the strict rule of Johnson, fled their farmsteads. Others resisted, and either died trying or were captured and added to one of the five Juche Rings. However, given the rapid expansion of the PRN, there are still many areas that are ignorant of the full threat that the PRN poses to their current way of life. As of 2296, PRN territory is spread out over hundreds of square miles in the former states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. It boasts a burgeoning capital, Johnsonville, (formerly Commune), a small Navy and a fleet of trade boats, two dozen towns, and almost a hundred outposts.