TEXT: The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  ILLINOIS
  Illinois is a very interesting place; from the rolling hills in the south, the scattering of independent
  settlements on the central plains, to the crumbling ruins of the blasted Chicago metropolis dominating the
  north. Outside of the organized areas, the vast majority of the area's populace is on small farms and ranches.
  1) NUCLEAR TARGETS
  Chicago, SS-18M1 
  Peoria, SS-18M1b 
  Rockford, SS-17 
  Springfield, SS-18M1 
  Elwood Ordinance Plant, Elwood, SS-17 
  Granite City Army Depot, Granite City, SS-19 
  Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, SS-17 
  Zion 1, 2, Nuclear Reactors, Zion, SS-N-17 
  Dresdon 2, 3, Nuclear Reactors, Morris, SS-17
  Discretionary nuclear targets: 
  Scott AFB, SS-17 
  Savanna Army Depot, Savanna, SS-N-8 
  Clinton nuclear reactor, Clinton, SS-N-17
  2) MORROW PROJECT ASSETS
  MARS Force IL-2: Bolthole location unknown, but somewhere in northern Illinois. 10 members with one Commando
  Scout, one Commando V-150 with 20mm, and one Commando V-150 with 75mm LPGS. 
  Frozen Watch Team 54: Bolthole location unknown, but in the Chicagoland area. 
  Recon Team G12C: Frozen on July 16, 1983. Bolthole location unknown, but somewhere in the Chicagoland area. 
  Science Team IL-1: Bolthole location unknown, but somewhere in central Illinois. 5 members, with one Commando
  Ranger with .50 caliber MG.
  3) CHICAGOLAND
  Situation, pre-war: Metropolitan Chicago was the second largest city in the United States and by far the largest city in
  the Northern Midwest. A city of 7.5 million people, Chicago was known for its commodities markets, industries, and
  many major Midwestern businesses. Home of several universities including the University of Chicago, the University of
  Illinois Circle Campus, Northwestern University, and Loyola University, Chicago was a center for learning and culture.
  The Fermi and Argonne labs in nearby suburbs added to this prestige and were major centers for research into particle
  physics and fusion technology. Chicago was also the clearest example of the American melting pot with people of many
  different lands and cultures living side by side, sometimes in peace but as often in conflict. The many ethnic
  neighborhoods of Chicago were famous for their history, their good food, and their diversity. By the time of the War the
  notorious politics of the Daley era were gone but not forgotten. The political straw bosses still lived in their
  neighborhoods though the city machine they had known all their lives was being dismantled.
  Situation, the war: When the War started Chicago was in the middle of an ordinary working day. Although a major
  target, due to a mixture of bad electronics and good luck the 25 megaton city busting missile targeted for Chicago fell to
  the south between Gary and South Chicago. The Southside of Chicago along with most of the downtown area was
  completely destroyed. The North side was virtually untouched. The people huddled in basements in these areas survived
  the initial blast. Crawling from the wreckage they stopped only long enough to bury the bodies of those who had failed
  to make it to shelter along with those who hadn't even tried. Then the real battle for survival began.
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  Situation, post-war: Climbing out of the rubble, the survivors in North Chicago looked with amazement at what
  remained. Far from being vaporized, most of the City north of the Loop area was intact though naturally there was
  heavy damage throughout the City. Evanston was in the best shape while the downtown area near the Loop had suffered
  the most. All that was left south of the Loop were mounds of radioactive debris. A city is more than a collection of
  people and buildings; it is a web of interdependencies. A modern city depends on food from the countryside and an
  incredibly elaborate structure of people and machines to transport it. Without power from generating stations and fuel
  from distant lands there is no transportation, no water, no gas or oil for heat; none of the modern facilities that we take
  for granted. All of these things were gone and under the impact of the War most of the organization to move them had
  disappeared as well. By the end of the first grim winter the population had been reduced to no more then 10,000 people.
  What political structure was left was on the verge of collapsing due to the pressures of having to much that needed
  doing and too few people to do it. In a few short years Chicago had entered a new dark age. Today, 150 years later, the
  City is beginning to emerge from its long slumber. The remnants of a political structure still exist in the "City Machine"
  and the market it has set up at what was Wrigley Field. Northwestern University still has scholars despite their many
  problems. People of different customs still survive on the streets of Chicago haunting the ruins. Some search for things
  to trade to the people that are beginning to come looking for "relics". A new force is moving in the form of the
  mysterious "Green Caps" that have occupied what was once O'Hare Airport. Their strange ideas are being heard
  throughout the City. Despite this the survivors are a grim lot struggling to stay alive in a bitter, inhospitable world. The
  shadow of the past is still found in the ignorance and desperation of the people. The fragile rebirth could collapse at any
  time if widespread fighting were to break out among the people of Chicago.
  The People of the Land: The Chicago area of today has around 15,000 people living in it. A large number of these are
  scattered on individual farms in the surrounding countryside. There are maybe 7,000 people living in what could be
  called the "inner city". This area is loosely defined as being the area where people live in groups or "clans". Most of
  these clans are evenly distributed among the ruins although the most densely populated area is the central area around
  Wrigley Field and Evanston. Among these clans there is intense rivalry over the little arable land available in the ruins.
  Roads: None of the roads marked on the maps are kept up except those that are part of the Freelanes. This means that
  travel is slow and difficult, particularly in the inner city area. There are almost no bridges and while some streams have
  ferries they are not able to carry anything larger than a small cart. In the countryside there will be small trails that
  farmers and other locals use. Within the City there are mainly rubble filled streets which are barely passable. The
  exceptions to this rule are the Freelanes. These are moderately well kept but even they are no more then a dozen feet
  wide and sometimes they narrow to less than six feet. Where streams are encountered there are seldom bridges.
  4) THE MACHINE
  Those with the power: The Chicago city government was fragmented by the War. The Mayor had been killed almost
  instantly. The Chief of Police had died in the first horrible weeks after the War and with him most of his officers. Not
  surprisingly, the pre-war emergency plans and the chain of command collapsed. But it did not leave a vacuum. Pieces of
  the old city political machine still existed. The armory near Humboldt Park was held by a group of police. A handful of
  the City Council had survived although they were scattered across the City. In the Wards of the City, the people who
  had been part of the political machine of Chicago were for the most part still alive. These people stepped in and worked
  to keep the City alive. They organized groups to patrol neighborhoods, bury bodies, and look after the dead and dying.
  They collected food from the homes of people who no longer needed it and from supermarkets whose aisles were filled
  with shattered glass and rationed it out to the survivors. A makeshift militia was formed to stop the madmen who
  wandered the streets looking for someone to kill for the green paper and shiny baubles that had been "money". Above
  all they tried to keep their neighborhoods alive. These efforts at survival worked in Chicago where they would have
  failed in most other cities. Because of the Machine and its city wide grassroots organization which knew the
  neighborhoods like the back of their hands it worked. These people were used to organizing people, talking to them and
  getting them to cooperate. Most had the respect of their people and they were used to reporting to and taking orders
  from a central organization. They were used to making the best of a bad situation and of making the impossible work;
  somehow.
  The Machine: For 150 years now, the pre-war political machine of the city has survived to hold on to power. Over the
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  generations there was much infighting and occasional bloody purges of rival parties. Still, the massive machinery of the
  City Government was too large to not retain control of the city. The "Machine" as it is called, is in absolute control of
  much of the city and controls nearly all the trade and commerce. The "Boss" leads the Machine from the friendly
  confines of Wrigley Field.
  Chicago Today: Today, 150 years after the War, the bones of the situation remain much the same though most of the
  reasoning and history behind what happened has been lost. The Machine still lives in Wrigley Field and is still run by
  the "Boss". The Boss is sometimes also called "The Commissioner of Baseball" which simply means that he is Boss of
  Wrigley Field. The Boss's chief lieutenants are the Commissioner of Power and Light and the Commissioner of Water.
  No one is quite sure what these mean but since they are Commissioners, it is assumed that they run some part of
  baseball. Wrigley Field is no longer called Wrigley Field. It is now called the Freezone. This is because it has become
  the trading center for Chicago where anyone can come to trade in peace. What used to be the playing field is now a
  collection of tents, stalls, and shacks that are used by people who trade at the Freezone. The rest of the City is still
  divided into neighborhoods, most of which fight viciously over their territory or "turf". Most neighborhoods are
  organized into clans that have a single leader (See the section on Clans). There are about 100 soldiers in the Machine
  east of the Canal. The soldiers live in the garrisons they are assigned to or a building nearby. There are also some 500
  people that farm the parks within this area. In a sense these people are a "hostage clan" that does the farming within the
  Machines City turf and then hands over the harvest to the Machine. However, though the fruits of their labor are not
  their own to distribute, these people often think of themselves as being lucky as they are spared the incessant clan
  warfare that is so much a part of the rest of Chicago.
  5) COMMERCE IN THE RUINS
  Best that can be expected: The Freezone works fairly well. There is seldom any violence and these days, seldom any
  need to fight the Glows. Lakers and Traders around Chicago have started coming to the Freezone to trade, particularly
  for the metals, glass, and other relics scavenged from the ruins of Chicago. They also come simply to meet and trade
  with the other people who come to Chicago. Farmers come from the countryside along the Freelanes the Machine has
  carved out. They trade their food for "scrap" metals and other things they can neither make nor find. Money is almost
  never used in trade. Barter is the standard although the Lakers are trying to convince the Machine to start using money
  as the medium of exchange. The scholars from the University also come to trade at the Freezone. They usually trade
  knowledge or their skills for food or other things (particularly books) that they want.
  The Freelanes: The Freelanes are routes to and from the Freezone that the Machine has carved out over the years. They
  lead deep into the countryside where the Machine has its own farms. These farms are farmed by slaves that the Machine
  has captured, taken as tax, or occasionally bought. While this is not to efficient, it is necessary because of the shortage
  of people available to farm the land. The Machine patrols the Freelanes and convoys' people and materials in and out of
  the City. The Machine also has several boats which they row along the Canal and (with the help of the Ginners from the
  University) they have a steamboat running on The Lake to their farms north of the City. This boat runs once a week and
  brings food and other materials into the City while transporting tools and metals out to the farms. The first Freelane is a
  water route, detailed below. The second Freelane runs west along what was Irving Park Drive until it reaches what was
  O'Hare Airport (and is now Ft. Morrow). It then goes south on the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) until it reaches US 5. It
  follows the 5 southwest to the Machines farms near Aurora, Illinois. The Third Freelane runs northwest along Irving
  Park Drive to the Ft. Morrow area. It then turns north on what was I-294. It follows the Tollway until it reaches US 12
  and it goes northwest on 12 until reaching the Machine's farms near the ruins of Wauconda.
  The steamboat: The Freelane most notable is a water route that travels across the North Chicago River to the garrison at
  Willamette Harbor. Here, people traveling north board the City's wood burning steamship that travels along The Lake
  shore to the farms in Northern Illinois. The steamboat machinery is kept up by the Ginner faction at the University in
  return for a share in the food produced up north. There is always one Ginner named Scott MacDonald on board the boat
  and he carries an assortment of tools, wire, pipes, and so on, to fix the engine should it quit (which it usually does). Also
  on board are a dozen long oars of a type similar to those used by galleys in Greek and Roman times. These are an
  emergency backup in case the engine fails beyond Scott's ability to repair it or when the weather gets bad enough to give
  the engine a hard time.
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  Soldiers: While most of Chicago west of The Lake and east of the North Branch of the Chicago River is controlled by
  the Machine there are only a little over 100 "soldiers" associated with the Machine. A soldier is simply a person that the
  Machine trusts enough to give guns and ammo. These soldiers are spread throughout the Machine's turf in garrisons that
  watch the borders and the entry and exits of the Freelanes. Patrols of 7-10 men also travel this area as well as the guards
  that patrol the Freelanes.
  Garrisons: The Freelanes are the lifelines of the City and the Machine will defend them at all cost. To ensure the safety
  of the Freelanes and the City, there are garrison at each point that a Freelane enters the City. The six garrisons are
  strategically placed, defensible buildings. Here people entering or exiting the City are shaken down and a "City Tax" is
  collected from people entering, and a "Highway Tax" is collected from people leaving. Searching people serves the
  double purpose of seeing what there is that is worth taking and checking for weapons. Freelane guards will generally not
  attempt to take weapons away from people in order to prevent unnecessary fights. It is not that they are against violence;
  it is simply that the Machine lost too many soldiers and too many traders in unfortunate "incidents" before this policy
  was instituted.
  6) THE FREEZONE
  Wrigley Field: The Freezone: What was once Wrigley Field is now the City's marketplace as well as the City's political
  and social center. It is one of the only places where people from outside the City meet with the inhabitants on a more or
  less friendly basis. It is also likely that there is no other place on Lakes Michigan and Superior where so many different
  people get together and trade. The headquarters of the Machine since the early days after the War, Wrigley Field still
  houses the main stores of ammunition, food and trade items as well as the living quarters for the Boss, his lieutenants,
  and the 40 soldiers that are garrisoned in the Stadium. The development of a trading area on the playing field began
  about 30 years ago when the Lakers began to arrive in Chicago looking for "relics" to trade with other people on The
  Lakes. While the Machine had at one time or another fought with all of the Clans, they were the only people who had
  contact with both the Clans, and the Outsiders. Initially the Machine acted as a go-between and traded between these
  different groups. Although this gained them a lot in both power and wealth, they soon came to the conclusion that
  politicians from time immemorial have decided; it is easier to tax then to make or trade. So, putting all their eggs in the
  proverbial basket they opened the gates of Wrigley Field and started the Freezone. At the same time they turned the
  northwest route that led to their farms into the first of the Freelanes. Since then, with the wealth gained from taxes, they
  have added the steamboat, the second Freelane to Aurora and an almost unbreakable hold over everyone in Chicago
  who depends on the trading in the Freezone. Since this includes almost all of the clans and both factions at Northwestern
  the Machine has a stranglehold on most of Chicago. Today, they keep order as much by threatening to exclude people
  from the Freezone as they do by force of arms. For a clan to be excluded from trading at the Freezone is a disaster that
  could destroy them by keeping them from getting the food, leather, slaves, or in some cases (illegally) the weapons they
  need to survive.
  The Outer Limits: Outside of Wrigley Field there is the City's only watering hole. It is called "The Outer Limits". This is
  because it is outside the limits of the Freezone, it is outside the limits of the Clan areas and it is definitely outside the
  limits of the very strange "scholars" that come here. The proprietor of this venerable institution is a man named
  "Gordon". Gordon serves everyone, knows everyone, and can tell you everything. Whether he will or not, is another
  matter. First and foremost he has to like you. If he doesn't he won't do anything as crass as throwing you out but will
  simply let it be known that you aren't worth the trouble. Even if he likes, telling you anything unusual will cost you
  something.
  7) THE PEOPLE
  The Clans: Before the War Chicago was one of America's most culturally diverse cities. Americans of many races lived
  and worked together in the many ethnic neighborhoods of Chicago. At the best o times, Chicago was the center of the
  American "Melting Pot". At the worst of times, it was a hate-filled war-zone. The War did little to change this other then
  to make the hates deeper and the fights more desperate. The survivors that lived in the neighborhoods of Chicago were
  able to work together to survive because they trusted each other. Each of these groups had their own land and their own
  way of living. Most clans were ruled by a single strong leader with the young men fighting and searching the rubble for
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  metal or other artifacts that were left over from before the War. Families grew crops, acted as lookouts and kept the
  makeshift houses they lived in from falling in on them.
  Today: At the heart of every clan's territory is a cleared field used for growing food. These are usually centered on an
  area that had been a park or cemetery before the War. This area is the most carefully guarded part of a territory where
  most women and children live and work and where the food necessary for the clans' survival is grown. Because the City
  Machine has forbidden trade in guns to the Clans, they use homemade weapons, traps, and the rubble itself to defend
  their turf. The most common weapons are slingshots (made from pieces of metal found in the ruins), thrown rocks,
  blowguns and an occasional crude, homemade shotgun. Axes, hammers, and spears are used in close quarters but the
  most important weapon found amongst the Clans is the rubble and their familiarity with it. In 150 years, Chicago has
  become a junk heap full of traps, pits, and dangers for the unwary. With a little bit of ingenuity, the Clans have made the
  rubble into a weapon ready to fool strangers and the unwary. There are pits that will drop enemies into the remains of
  the sewers, and sections of wall that can be levered by a single person to fall on people walking beneath them. Pungi
  traps made of rusting nails and other debris lie around corners of old buildings waiting for people to stick their noses
  where they don't belong. All in all, the rubble of Chicago is a dangerous and vicious place.
  Black Clan: This clan is centered in the Oakton�Park Ridge area. They speak Black dialect and French Patois and
  number about 200 clan members and 35 fighters. This relatively small but well-organized group farms what was once
  the forest preserve near I-294. Not normally a cannibalistic clan, they have a standing feud with the Indian Hill
  cannibals (see below) and it is rumored that any member of the Hill Clan they catch becomes part of a ceremony they
  follow at the full moon. It is certain that they never sell these captives as slaves. The Clan's relations with the Machine
  can best be summed up as cordial; though the Clan seldom trades at the Freezone.
  Middle Eastern Clan: This clan is centered around the Bohemian, Montrose, and St. Lucas Cemeteries and the grounds
  of what was the Municipal Sanitarium. It is a mixture of the Greeks, Middle Eastern and Oriental people that once lived
  in the surrounding areas. They speak a mixture of Greek and Lebanese and number some 350 members including 60
  fighters, making it one of the larger Clans. The Clan is very cautious and careful as they own what may be the largest
  single piece of farmland in Chicago. Their relations with the Machine are good but wary, as the Clan is exceedingly
  distrustful of the motives of the Boss.
  Latino Clan: This clan is centered in the River Grove area. They speak Spanglish (a mixture of Spanish and English),
  and number about 230 members including 50 fighters. This clan is one of the most active clans in the inner city, perhaps
  the best farmers (after the University) and the most active in scavenging the ruins in search of relics for trading. They
  sell these at the Freezone and are on good terms with the Machine. They are also not above raiding another clan's turf in
  search of relics. Currently, they are carefully watching the struggle between their cousins and the Ukrainian clan over
  Humboldt Park. Because of recent strong leadership, raids on the clan's turf have dropped sharply. The clan is on good
  terms with the Machine and is satisfied with the trade arrangements that currently exist.
  Hispanic and Ukrainian Clans: These clans are centered in the Humboldt Park area. Their numbers are, 100 Hispanic
  members, including 35 fighters, and 275 Ukrainian members, including 50 fighters. They speak both Spanish and
  Ukrainian. The Humboldt Park area is currently the center of one of the fierce, short-lived clan wars. They are
  necessarily short because no clan can afford to lose a crop lest the entire clan starve. Since both side's hope to capture
  this season's crop intact neither side has damaged the fields. The Hispanic clan attacked the Ukrainians when the
  Hispanics were driven off of their turf to the west. The Ukrainians are defending their turf with all the ferocity that they
  used against the Russians, the Turks, the Poles, or anyone else who invaded their land. For their part, the Hispanic tribe
  is desperate. For them, time is running out. Unless they capture a clan center soon they will be without food for the next
  season. Since they started this fight with fewer fighters then they once had (because of the battle that drove them off of
  their turf), it is doubtful that they will be able to capture this clan center. Instead they will have to try their luck on the
  dreaded south side where nightmare creatures still walk in the daylight.
  Cannibal Tribe: This tribe is centered on the Indian Hill Golf Course and the Kenilworth area. Their size is unknown
  and little is known about this tribe since they do not trade or come to the Freezone and people captured by them never
  escape. It is said that the reason for this is that captives from other clans become the guest of honor at a cannibalistic
  dinner. Even their language is unknown as when their raiding parties are caught they always fight to the death. If
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  desperate, they will kill themselves rather then being captured alive. The only thing certain is that they send raiding
  parties out each week to capture someone for their weekly feasts. The Black, Latino, and Jewish clans are favorite
  targets for these raiding parties but whether this is because of some taste for them or whether it is simply their relative
  nearness to the Cannibals is not known for sure.
  Hillbilly Clan: This clan is centered on the old U.S. Naval Air Station. They speak English and number about 200
  members, including 45 fighters. This clan is descended from people who came to the northern cities from the rural areas
  of West Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Their dialect is distinctly Southern in flavor although they have many
  words and phrases that come from Shakespearean English. Left to themselves it is likely that they would do little
  scavenging but the advantages of trading are obvious to them. They are relatively new at this and have only seriously
  begun to scavenge the ruins in the past five or ten years. The result is that they will often have the richest booty for trade
  at the Freezone and there is often a crowd of traders around them. This richness has attracted a lot of attention from
  other clans and as a result there have been many raids on their turf recently. They have responded to this with a kind of
  relish for fighting that their ancestors generally saved for hunting raccoons. While they do not like the tax charged by
  the Machine, they get along with them tolerably well. One of the chief trade items she introduced was corn whiskey.
  This proved very popular and has made the Hillbilly tribe very rich even considering that most of the "White Lightning"
  they make never reaches the market.
  Jewish Clan: This clan is centered on the Evanston Golf Course and the Skokie area. They speak a mix of Hebrew,
  Russian, and Yiddish. They number some 180 members, including 35 fighters. This clan is one of the most cohesive and
  capable clans in all of Chicago. They have maintained a relatively high level of education and many clan members can
  read and write. The old traditions are still an important part of their lives and while there have been some minor
  accommodations to the new situation the only real difference is that their religion is 4,000 years old instead of 2,000.
  Capable traders, they also farm extensively and well, sharing jobs among clan members. One might almost call their
  group a commune rather then a clan.
  The Galil: This clan has an extraordinary relic�an old Galil assault rifle. This rifle was brought to Chicago by an ex-
  Israeli who returned to Chicago just before the War. It has been carefully preserved and is still functional. While the
  presence of such weapons is not unheard of among clans (after all they make fine clubs) most of them are obviously not
  in working order. The fact that this one still works is amazing. Even more amazing is that they have people who know
  how to use it and ammo that has been carefully preserved. The training has been carefully handed down as a clan
  tradition and the ammo has been kept in sealed boxes, safely stored away. While the ammo is not entirely reliable, 80%
  or more of it still works. There are standing orders among the clan that the rifle is only to be used in dire emergencies
  and then only in a single shot, semi-auto mode.
  8) FORT MORROW
  The Snake Eater Team: The team was drawn from volunteers at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center in June of
  1985, the team is officially designated; Special Forces Special Operations Force Woodstock, or; SFSOG Woodstock.
  The Woodstock identifier refers to the teams freezing location, near the city of Woodstock, Illinois.
  Wake-up: The team was activated some 4 years ago, presumably by a Morrow signal meant for some other team. It did
  not take the team members long to figure out that, as usual, things had gone badly wrong and that they were on their
  own, again. The team made its way into the chaos and ruins of Chicago. The rumors they had heard of organization
  turned out to be hilarious exaggerations. Undaunted, they decided to dig in and make some organization. The team
  noted that what had been the remains of O'Hare Field was a No Mans Land. Much of the land was arable and a good
  crop growing region, many of the buildings being of fortress like construction were still standing. Some still contained
  old equipment. This of course made the area a prize, constantly fought over for the past century. The team decided it
  was perfect for their needs. They quietly moved in on a moonless night and set up shop in the following days.
  Meet the neighbors: Initially, the locals could not believe the gall of the act. Belatedly, some groups decided to attack.
  Superior firepower and tactics beat off all attacks. The Clans suffered horrific losses and could not have mounted more
  attacks had they been foolish enough to want to. Beyond this, the Clans were aware of the fact that this new "clan",
  strong beyond all relationship to their numbers, was odd. They helped wounded enemies. They returned prisoners,
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  instead of selling or eating them. In spite of their obvious superiority, they did not simply take things from their now
  quiescent neighbors. They traded. They talked. They could not be drawn into alliances. They left other people alone.
  Settling down: Within a month the team had the beginnings of a farm, a rudimentary smithy and machine shops, a small
  hospital, and the inevitable still. Word spread. People began to trickle in, usually the dissolute that had been disposed by
  the Clans. Soon others came too. These were often former prisoners of the Snake Eaters or wounded who had been
  returned to their Clans. The team would feed anyone, but anyone who could work had to pitch in and help. The team
  began to teach. Farming, animal husbandry, metal working, reading, sanitation, etc. Unlike the "scholars" the team
  would teach anyone. The only thing they would not teach was military subjects. Nor would they tolerate slavery or
  cannibalism. People came to eat, or to learn, or just to see. Some of them stayed. The team had arrived in March. By
  November the first harvest was in. An unbelievably large harvest by local standards, it, more then anything else, showed
  the locals that this "Clan" knew what it was talking about.
  Fort Morrow today: Today the Ft. Morrow community numbers some 200 souls, including the seven remaining team
  members. The whole of the O'Hare area is now under cultivation or pasturage with the exception of the buildings and
  one of the runways "just in case". The People of Ft. Morrow are free, independent, and self governing. The team has
  reestablished the democratic process on the old "small town meeting" model. Elections are free to all working
  inhabitants of one years residence or more, one vote per person. The team leader has been elected "manager"
  consistently. The team has for the past three years trained some members in military lore. There is now an "army" of
  about 35, armed like the team. The community is self-sufficient in terms of small arms ammo, producing all of their
  own; including the primers. It is not as efficient as the original stuff, since the propellant they make is not as good as the
  original. The people are happy, well fed and looking forward to the future. The community has a herd of about 40 cattle,
  60 or so sheep and goats, and innumerable chickens. They produce their own metal work, generate small amounts of
  electricity in a variety of ways, and produce food and alcohol in quantity. They trade with local clans and with the
  professors of NU.
  Relations with the Machine: Strained at the moment, as the Boss tried to attack the Fort some months ago. The war is
  officially still on, but the status remains quo and no plans exist for renewing hostilities in the near future. Trading
  between the City Machine and Ft. Morrow goes on today through intermediaries. Some of the local people that come to
  the Fort will trade with them and then take these items to the Freezone to trade again. Both the Machine and the Fort
  Morrow people know about this but neither has done anything to stop it. All of this is quite an achievement, the more so
  since the team was not equipped to deal with what they found themselves confronted with. It is all possible only because
  of the training and the dedication of the team members.
  The remaining team: There are currently only seven team members still living, including the Detachment Commander.
  A further five members, including the Team XO; have been killed over the lat four years.
  9) THE UNIVERSITY
  Situation, pre-war: Before the War, Northwestern University was one of the foremost universities in the Midwest. In the
  70s and 80s it was well known for its journalism and business schools, its library and computer science departments. It
  was because of the work done in these last two fields that the school was endowed with a grant by the National Science
  Foundation that allowed an advanced computer to be installed for special research into information retrieval problems at
  the library. Part of the grant was money to "wire" the library completely and connect it to the new Cray computer
  bought for the project.
  Situation, the war: When the bombs fell, the University was in the middle of its fall term, so most of its 20,000 students
  and faculty were on campus. Because the bombs targeted for Chicago fell primarily to the south of the City the
  University survived the initial blast more or less intact. The people who made it to the basement shelters survived.
  Situation, post-war: Most of those who survived realized that the City was likely to become a death trap and so they fled
  to the countryside along with thousands of others who hoped to find food and safety there. Those who stayed were
  either unable to flee or felt that the countryside would be no safer then the remains of the City. Some of those who
  stayed hope to preserve the University as a center of learning, others wanted to use the facilities to rebuild the war-torn
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  world. These survivors did what Universities so often do when faced with a crisis; they formed a committee. The
  Committee for the Survival of Northwestern University worked tirelessly to preserve life and civilization on the campus
  and the surrounding area. The intelligence of the leadership was instrumental is assuring that many people survived and
  the enclave grew rapidly.
  Work to be done: When there was time about the work of the University again, a very simple approach was taken. Such
  organization as there was, was confined to the practical aspects of survival. Everyone was expected to do some work
  towards rebuilding the University, preparing it for winters, foraging for food, collecting water or (years later when the
  fear of radioactive contamination had passed) farming. Scholarly work was still conducted, but in a different manner
  than before. A master-apprentice relationship similar to that used in medieval schools was generally used. Surviving
  engineers worked on developing power sources that would give the University a small but independent power
  capability. This mostly involved cannibalizing equipment from various labs and in particular an experimental lab where
  solar energy research was being done.
  Rebuilding: A terrible attack by Razers upset the University's plans greatly, destroying much and killing man. After that,
  any pretense of study and learning was put aside, there was too much to do in order to survive and too few people to do
  it. Gradually, the University settled into a long slumber. Over the years this pattern became a fixture. Only rarely did
  people come seeking to learn from the scholars. Even more rarely were these people accepted as apprentices since there
  was so little food. The children born at the University that survived became the next generation of scholars though what
  they learned was fragmented and sparse. But what they did learn was eventually passed on to a new generation.
  Although most of the libraries had survived, few people understood much of what was in the books since it was mostly
  beyond their experience and skill. Worse, with no one left to look after the books in the libraries they were often lost,
  destroyed, or misplaced. People began to keep what books they wanted in their own rooms.
  A century of growth: This situation lasted for over 100 years. The only noticeable changes were that true scholarship, if
  less easily acquired, became more noticeable among those who were left and more food was grown in the surrounding
  parks and commons. What finally ended this period was the appearance of the Freezone and the Freelanes. The
  establishment of the Freezone gave the University greater freedom then they had had in the past century. Many different
  people came to the Freezone to trade and most of these had need of one skill or another that could be found at NU. The
  Machine and traders often wanted records done of transactions, maps of major trade routes, or lists of taxes collected.
  Machines or equipment which were broken were taken to the scholars along with relics that were not understood. The
  latter were sometimes offered for trade to the scholars and sometimes the scholars were simply asked their opinion of
  the value of such relics. In addition to all of this, the University brought trade items of their own to the Freezone.
  Glasswork was particularly valuable as that skill had never been completely lost at the University.
  Return to scholarship: The main effect this had on the University was to give the scholars more time for studying. Since
  their skills and knowledge once again had value it was no longer necessary to scavenge and farm for food. This also
  gave rise to a growth in the size of the University. New students were accepted and in a new spirit of growth and
  cooperation, classes were taught on the basics of reading, writing, mathematics, and in some cases, special disciplines
  such as chemistry or engineering. To distinguish between the new students, the older apprentices and their masters, the
  old titles of Bachelor, Master, and Doctor were used. There was even time for some scholars to start to look to the
  libraries again and some effort was made to catalog and rearrange books. In this new renaissance, scholars began to join
  together to plan how the University should be rebuilt. Rather then the old ways of each person pursing their studies
  ignorant of anybody else's work, a new era of cooperation, planning, and discussion was proposed. Ideas such as the
  scientific method, referencing of sources, and the exchange of knowledge between disciplines were eagerly discussed. A
  printing press was planned.
  Not so fast: Unfortunately, not everyone could agree on just how best to serve the future. Fights and debates were daily
  occurrences and this fracturing often hurt the University's ability to function. Gradually, the University became an
  armed camp where two factions fought. The first, an alliance between the Preservationists and the Guardians of
  Knowledge became known as the Librarians and eventually the word became corrupted into a sneering insult;
  "Leebationists". The second group became known as the "Engineers" and later, in a return of insults, as the "Ginners".
  Over the years these names stuck until throughout Chicago the two groups are known as the Leebs and the Ginners
  although no one outside the University has any idea what the names mean. Although the University was fragmented,
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  trade at the Freezone continued. Except that now there were two groups instead of one. While the Machine might have
  overrun the University, they preferred instead to tax both groups to get what they wanted. To them, the division of the
  University was very useful.
  Today: Today, NU continues to split into warring factions. In all there are currently 78 scholars at the University, 46 of
  them are Leebationists and 32 are Ginners. The campus is divided into two camps with certain buildings as the focus for
  most of the attacks. From time to time, the University as a whole is attacked by a new group of Razers from the
  countryside who view the innovations coming from NU as being a dangerous return to the "Old Evils". These attacks
  seldom serve as anything more then breaks from the fighting between the Leebationists and the Ginners unless they
  provide one side or the other with a diversion that can be used to launch a surprise attack against the other side.
  The competitors: The Ginners are centered in the Technological Institute building while the Leebationists are centered
  in what was the Norris University Center. While the University library is primarily under the control of the Leebs, they
  do not have enough people to hold it. From time to time, successful raids by the Ginners are made on the UL. The
  Utility Plant, where the machinery that was used to air condition, heat, and distribute water to the University is, is now a
  marker for no-mans-land along with the labs and classrooms around it. The policy here is strictly "shoot first and ask
  questions later". While the Ginners have the upper hand when it comes to weapons, the Leebationists counter this with
  superior tactics. Generally, when a new weapon is introduced from the Ginner's labs it is only a matter of time before it
  shows up in the hands of the Leebs. Although both sides have their share of fanatics, the Ginners are carrying on a holy
  crusade. They have a Board of Inquiry that meets from time to time to ensure that the work being done by their
  scientists is "correct" and is free from the Leebationist "heresy". In particular they look for books and ideas that are
  impractical, theoretical, or merely "unscientific". This attitude comes from the current head of the Ginners, Melcome
  MacDonald who uses this fear and hate to keep an iron grip over his followers. In reaction to this ferocity, the
  Leebationists have developed a similar group of zealots whose task it is to order the work of preservation and to protect
  the knowledge from falling into the wrong hands (i.e. the Ginners). To this group, the proof of the dangers of knowledge
  are there for them to see in the weapons the Ginners use on them. And, if the stories of old are to be believed, the Great
  War resulted from the evil of allowing Ginners to use knowledge to create machines and weapons of great destruction.
  Because of this belief the Leebs will seize any chance they get to destroy machines or labs. Naturally, there is a certain
  irony in the fact that the Leebs use the weapons of the Ginners but those that think of this believe that they are in a holy
  war that will eliminate the need for these weapons when they succeed in destroying the Ginners.
  Relations with neighbors: Both factions deal with the Machine and trade at the Freezone in Wrigley Field. The
  Leebationists keep records for the Boss while the Ginner's keep the Boss's machinery (and in particular the steamship)
  operational. Otherwise, they trade with Lakers, Traders, local clans, and farmers for food, books, leather, and other
  useful items that they can't make or find at the University. Both the Leebs and the Ginners farm sections of campus and
  some of the nearby parks. Guards are always posted on the crops to prevent raids by clans or the opposite faction. Both
  sides have good relations with the neighboring clans although there is not a lot of trust between the clans and scholars.
  The scholars have a tendency to talk down to the clan members while the clans tend to give the impression that they
  think the scholars are insane. This is all done in the most polite fashion and each side thinks that the other side are fools.
  The cannibal clan immediately to the north of the University, however, is feared and hated by all and it is common
  practice to kill members of this clan on sight.
  10) NORTHERN ILLINOIS
  Northern Illinois has seen a lot of traffic over the last century and a half, as groups of refugees and marauders have all
  left their mark on this region of small towns and plains cities. Today, many scattered settlements can be found in the
  area, though there is no regional empires or even large trade networks. People generally farm and graze and keep to
  themselves. The closer you get to the hulking immense ruins of Chicago, the fewer people you will find.
  Maxwell's Militia: At one time, in the first few decades after the war, a strip of land in the northern half of Illinois was
  part of the huge Maxwell's Militia Empire (see Indiana for a complete description). This zone was basically just a
  corridor for travel from Indiana to Wisconsin and Minnesota and never extended further south than Interstate 74.
  Control even in this zone was never really secure and in a few short years after the death of the Empire's leader, the
  Illinois towns slipped into anarchy and isolation, cutting off the land route to the western half of the empire. Over the
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  years, several other organizations came and went in the region, all short-lived, but all leaving scars on the land and the
  people.
  The ruins of Rockford: Nuked 150 years ago and never able to get back on its feet, the southern edges of Rockford are
  now home to some 90 small-plot farmers and scavengers.
  LaSalle: A small town located at the junction of two interstates, known for an enclave of Gypsy Truckers. There are
  perhaps 400 people in the town, mostly servicing the rigs and drivers of the Truckers. As such, all manner of goods and
  depravity can be found here. This reputation is a bit exaggerated, but it does keep young men traveling here to spend
  their money.
  Freeport: A small town currently under siege by a group of well-armed wandering vagabonds, curiously called "The
  Mutant Fish". The Fish have taken over the entire town and are using hostages to ensure they have control over the
  surviving 100 people. More curiously, the Fish are trying to convince the townspeople that if they worship the "Great
  Fish of the Lantic" as they do, then they will have a thousand years of good harvests and pretty children.
  11) CENTRAL ILLINOIS
  The wide drift plains of central Illinois have always been about farming and cows. While most of the cows are gone,
  people still farm the river valleys and fields. The radiation has made the bluestem grass grow abnormally high in some
  areas, creating dangerous wildfire dangers. During the hot summer months, it is not uncommon to see massive smoke
  clouds from these fires.
  The ruins of Springfield: Nuked by a massive 25 megaton warhead, nothing remains of value in the Springfield area and
  for many miles in every direction there are no people. The grasses to the east are especially high, sometimes reaching
  six feet or more.
  Decatur: Decatur is now home to 800 farmers and herders. This is probably the most organized and best defended town
  in the central plains of Illinois. Settlements for many miles around rely on Decatur for trade.
  Vandalia: Vandalia is home to a ragged band of armed bandits, over three dozen strong, they are known for ambushing
  travelers on I-70.
  The ruins of Scott AFB: Nuked during the war, the rubble has been picked over many times by parties searching for
  food, fuel and weapons.
  12) SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
  Southern Illinois, as you approach the Ohio River, is generally more hilly and wooded. This combination of steep
  valleys and isolated glens has allowed a population to thrive for generations. Numerous small settlements dot the area,
  many linked by family ties and trade routes. The Free State from Kentucky is active in this region, shopping their wares
  to villages near the river.
  Cairo: At the extreme southern tip of the state, the strategic river town of Cairo is home to a large River Trader enclave.
  Taking advantage of its location on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, Cairo has grown rich on taxing and servicing the
  frequent barge traffic on the rivers. Most of the traffic is from the Free State, but a lot of it is independent traders from
  surrounding states. The current population of the town is some 1,200 souls, with almost half living in the town proper.
  Cairo is a comparatively wealthy town, and is walled, gated, and well-patrolled by an efficient and active militia. It is a
  center of trade and commerce for the area, attracting business from all over the region, with regular trade and travel both
  up and down the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Free State merchants control parts of the economy, but have not been
  able to totally take over like they would prefer.
  Marauders: The thickly-wooded Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois is an area of strange rock formations,
  dolomite hills, caves, narrow valleys and tiny isolated towns. It has been a wonderful place to hide for tens of thousands
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - Illinois
  of years, and several groups of bandits keep the Cairo militia busy running them down. Even these bandits know better
  than to ambush the frequent Free State traders that enter the area.
  Carbondale: A simple farming community of 110 people that has grow up around the sheltered remains of the Southern
  Illinois University campus. These people have for generations kept a collection of textbooks safe, hoping to one day
  find a use for them. These are some of the best science and math textbooks left in the Midwest.
  People who have contributed to this entry: 
  John Raner
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Morrow Project, The/Unofficial/Nathan Decker's Travel Guide/The Great Lakes/Illinois.pdf