TEXT: The Morrow Project Travel Guide - The San Luis Protectorate
  THE SAN LUIS PROTECTORATE
  This is keyed to the Colorado entry in the Morrow Project Travel Guide.
  Located in the now fertile post war San Luis Valley, a unique arrangement between two symbiotic groups has been
  working for 120+ years. The Anglo-Hispanic population numbers 6,500+ and their benefactors/protectors number a
  constant 62. They collectively control the entire valley from Saguache in the north (pop 950) to Antonito in the south
  (pop 900). They also control the entrance to Bennett Pass at Del Norte in the west (pop 1000) to Fort Garland at the pass
  through the Eastern Rockies (pop 900). There are four regional Mayors located in the four "Regional Cities" of the SLP
  (all are locally elected humans). The "Capitol" is located in the rebuilt city of Alamosa (pop. 1500), in the geographic
  center of the Valley.
  A small number of very well maintained vehicles (Low-Boy tractor trailers, a steam shovel, road graders, backhoes,
  dump trucks, flatbed trucks and a bulldozer) are kept fully operational, but almost always in storage. Nevertheless,
  transport is almost exclusively by railroad and horse drawn wagon. The trains are five 1930's era 2-8-2 Mikado steam
  locomotives, formerly from the long defunct Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Located, transported, maintained,
  and repaired by the vampires of the SLP, they are the cornerstone of the success of the Valley. The primary products of
  the SLP are cattle, corn, potatoes, carrots, apples and wheat. Under the expert tutelage of the Vampire enclave, the
  human citizens of the SLP also produce various other lesser products for local consumption. There is even a small
  cotton plot (five acres) for local textile production. Throughout the SLP there are various saw mills, wheel wrights,
  coopers, blacksmiths, masons, sewage plants, livery stables, cobblers, three slaughterhouses and a foundry for metal
  working, rolling gun barrels and repair/replacement of train parts.
  Origins:How all this all came to be started on the opening day of the War. On War Day, when the bombs detonated over
  Maryland, 43 year old Michael Garrett, US Army Corps of Engineers (ret) was just starting his second week of
  orientation at the Peterson Technologies Corporate HQ in downtown Brunswick. Although seriously injured and
  poisoned by the blast and shockwaves that struck their city, Michael and 91 of his surviving co-workers did not perish
  from either the attack or the Devil's brew of toxins and fallout from the surrounding strikes in the area. Rather, they
  were forever changed much like their unfortunate cousins in Claggettsville to the east. (See the children of the night
  entry for Maryland)
  Unknown to anyone (including them, initially), the following conditions manifested. Their skin lost all melanin content,
  giving them a skin tone of alabaster. Their hair fell out and their features became cadaverous. They developed a thirst
  for blood and plasma, and found only it could sustain them. They found they could read others surface thoughts.
  Sunlight would cause severe sun burns within seconds of exposure. Their vision, strength, stamina, and athletic ability
  quintupled (but only at night). During daylight hours, they became sluggish and listless. They were completely sterile,
  but for the first few years their condition was quite contagious through blood borne exposure. While not Immortal, their
  lifetimes would be measured in centuries, not decades. Even though their condition is not remotely supernatural, it was
  viewed as such by all they met. They were, in fact, a severely altered by product of radiation, pollution and Bio War.
  The group overcame whatever hostile group they encountered. Nevertheless, after three years of constant warfare,
  attrition decreased their numbers to 64. Michael, the strongest and wisest, was made leader of the group. It was his idea
  to look for a new home in the depopulated west. He also discovered that they could live off of animal blood as easily as
  human. This allowed them to be shunned as sickly nomads. When the group arrived in mid Colorado in 1994, they
  identified the San Luis Valley as a possible home. What few locals they encountered were disorganized, scared and
  hearty. After a few scattered battles, the locals of the valley accepted their fate as food for the abominations. However,
  something amazing happened. During their travel west, the group dynamic changed dramatically and became more
  interested in creating than destruction. The group had become "Vegans" (in that they only consume human blood during
  military operations, otherwise living on animal blood). Together, the San Luis Valley survivors and the Maryland
  Vampires would work together to build a better future.
  Rise of the San Luis Protectorate: The San Luis Valley (SLP) is a fertile area rich with cattle grazing areas as well as
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - The San Luis Protectorate
  extensive tillable fields. Crops were planted almost indiscriminately, cattle were bread with abandon and a vast array of
  civic works projects was begun. Wells were dug, drainage ditches were created, roads improved, train tracks laid,
  houses built, sewage treatment established, schools set up, medical stations created and the list went on and on.
  Construction was performed primarily at night with the Coven acting as technical support and direction. Citizens work
  hand in hand with the Vampires, although admittedly, the coven usually acted as advisors, only getting directly involved
  with the trains, training and military affairs. A small number of cattle was set aside to feed the coven, alleviating the
  need for blood storage in bulk. Literacy in the Protectorate is (since 2029) 100%. Every citizen has the equivalent of a
  high school education by the age of 18 and most further specialize in agriculture, animal husbandry, engineering,
  business management, medicine, or trade craft. As word of their prosperity spread, the trickle of immigration swelled.
  The idea of living with Vampires was initially a big problem, but after seven generations, the citizenry of the
  Protectorate consider it as natural as sunlight. Life expectancy in the SLP is 62 for men and 66 for women,
  notwithstanding tragedy, disease and war.
  "Governor" (his official title) Garrett sent out teams to survey the surrounding area for salvage, potential enemies and
  general layout. One such team discovered the abandoned Cumbres and Toltec Railroad museum. The locomotives had
  been lovingly maintained before the war, and were stored in excellent condition. Getting them to the valley was simply
  a matter of driving them on existing track all the way to the new capitol at Alamosa. Track outside their area of control
  was pulled up and used to lay new routs throughout the protectorate. Within 30 years, the entire SLP was outfitted with
  main lines, spur lines, sidings and loading/unloading stations. Cattle are moved from grazing ground to slaughter house
  by rail, as are produce and finished goods. Each train has one permanent passenger car for moving citizens from home
  to work, school or where they are needed. Horse teams are only used for short hauls and field work, or traveling outside
  the Protectorate. Box cars, cattle cars and produce cars are added and removed as needed. One locomotive (the Toltec
  Zephyr) is a dedicated passenger carrier and runs the ring of the Protectorate three times daily. The other trains are used
  as needed.
  History of the Valley:
  War Day +1: No bombs land in or near San Luis Valley. The closest actual bomb blast is Pueblo, followed by Colorado
  Springs, et al. Santa Fe was targeted, but the bomb never arrived. Rioting breaks out in the Santa Fe region, though,
  effectively cutting off contact to the south. Citizens of the valley are concerned with the loss of power and
  communications, but the region is both agricultural AND poverty-stricken (in 1989); people are used to making due
  with very little. The locals just hunker-down and wait.
  War Day +1 Month: The San Luis Valley is home to several Colorado Counties. Officials from these Counties meet at
  Alamosa (city), to discuss the situation. Alamosa has always had the best economy in the region, so their County
  government is perceived as being "the best"; which translates into leadership during the crisis. Refugees from the
  destruction in the east are starting to cross the mountains, and diseases are starting to spread, taxing the local medical
  facilities. Refugees from the south are fleeing the violence around Santa Fe--and are also bringing disease and violence
  with them.
  War Day +1 Year: Death and disease are ravaging the small communities of the eastern valley, closest to the mountains.
  Banditry, violence, and disease lead to a breakdown of authority in the south. Most County governments have either
  collapsed, or handed their authority over to Alamosa. The "Emergency Council" in Alamosa has combined all surviving
  State and Local Police Forces, as well as what little National Guard resources there were into a single defense force. The
  Alamosa government has also called for Valley locals to move closer to Alamosa, where they can be protected.
  War Day +2 Years: The Governor in Santa Fe attempts to annex all of the San Luis Valley. Alamosa County now
  contains the majority of the Valley's population--somewhere around 30,000 people--and the population of Alamosa City
  is almost 13,000. The Alamosans are able to muster sufficient force to make the Santa Fe invasion withdraw, but
  casualties are high. This is the first of many failed attempts, over the years, made by the Governor of Santa Fe to annex
  the Valley.
  War Day +3 Years: New waves of disease hit in the spring. The city infrastructure of Alamosa has been stretched to the
  breaking point. The hoped for stability hasn't appeared. Panic and rioting in Alamosa, many flee the town to try and
  
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  survive on isolated farm and ranches. A fascist element takes control in Alamosa, and orders anyone who cannot prove
  residency in the city from before the war to leave. The government in Alamosa cuts the rest of the Valley loose to fend
  for itself.
  War Day +4 Years: Total population of the Valley has dropped to 7,000, mostly along the banks of the Rio Grande
  River. Only 3,000 live in Alamosa. Everyone is just barely scratching by at subsistence level. Population would
  continue to slip until the coming of Michael Garret to Alamosa.
  War Day +5 Years: Except for a few scattered communes of a couple dozen people, scattered across the Valley,
  totaling, at most, 5-6 hundred people, Alamosa has the greatest population, at 1,000 folks. It was around this time that
  Michael Garret and his followers came to the valley. At first they are happy to just begin catching and herding wild
  cattle & bison for their..."needs", but eventually an "incident" with local humans revealed their presence, and trouble
  ensued. Although not pacifists, Garret and his people, at first, tried simply relocating. They did this a couple of times,
  before Garret decided to put an end to it once and for all. During the night, he and his closest lieutenants slipped into the
  residence of the Warlord who ruled in Alamosa, woke him up, and attempted to hammer out a contract for co-existence
  with the man. The now-nameless Warlord just couldn't see the light of reason so, as the light of dawn began creeping
  over the mountains, Garret turned to the Warlords wife and asked the now-famous question "What about you, lady? If
  you were running things, could you live with this deal?" The Warlord's wife--history remembers her name as "Donya"
  Lucinda Gutierrez--smiled coldly at her maniac of a husband and answered "sure, I can do that". Before she'd even
  finished speaking, Garret had ripped her husband's throat out, and he hit the floor, dead. Since that day, Garret and his
  followers have quietly, peacefully, assumed roles of leadership among the humans. Using their skills and strengths to
  make a better life for themselves, as well as the "humans" that they see as their "charges", they begin to oversee the re-
  development of the San Luis valley.
  Technology: Project Classification: D, with some elements of C. Good steam locomotive transportation, small-scale
  steam engines used on-site for mechanical power at the few factories and mills in operation, as well as to power
  irrigation pumps. Limited electricity in larger towns. Horses, and horse-drawn vehicles are primary modes of personal
  travel. A small stockpile of pre-war automotive vehicles are kept stored for emergencies and construction. Candles and
  oil lamps used commonly for illumination. The settled towns have (primitive but functional) sewage treatment plants
  that produce methane gas, which is then piped around the town for use in heating and illumination; wastewater and
  "manure" are used in agriculture.
  Literacy is a mandatory 100%, as is a basic education to a 10th Grade level. "Adams State College"--renamed "Donya
  Gutierrez College" after it was re-opened in 2010--is located in Alamosa. Gutierrez College follows the old four year
  pattern, offering degrees in agriculture, animal husbandry, education, civil engineering, and, in the last 30 years,
  business management (DGC's knowledge and resources are solidly Tech Level C).
  The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center--aka as just "The Hospital"--continues to operate. However, despite the
  best efforts and intentions of "Los Maestros" Drs. Addams and Delgoni, the medical technology of The Hospital is Tech
  Level D. The knowledge of 20th Century Medicine is still available, but the ability to practice most of it is limited.
  Military: The SLP has a standing militia of 500 citizen soldiers, broken into 10-50 person companies. They train two
  days a week, and are armed with bolt action rifles. The rifles are copies of the 1903 Springfield rifle chambered in 30-
  06. One in eight has a 3x scope. They are made in the village of Mosca at the SLP's solitary weapons plant. Actually a
  small warehouse with a steam generator, three lathes and some milling machines, they are produced at a rate of four a
  month. Side arms consist almost entirely of .44 Peacemaker revolvers acquired through trade with Springfield,
  Colorado. Transport in the SLP is usually by train, but horses are also available. The few motor vehicles available to the
  SLP are too unreliable to be used in military actions. The SLP also has an Air Force. This consists of one ancient
  Stearman biplane, used as an occasional recon aircraft and crop duster. It is armed with an equally ancient M60 MG
  mounted to the top wing, but it has never been used in combat. The Coven amassed an impressive array of pre war
  military hardware during their travels, but 130 years of attrition, wear and use has dwindled this to personal weapons.
  Defending the Capitol city is an immobile M60A3 MBT built into a pillbox overlooking the city and a M42 Duster
  AAA vehicle mounted on a flatbed rail car. One M113A2 APC is located at each of the regional capitols for tactical
  support and Military defense. Lastly, there are 24 Coven commandos in three eight-person teams: (Alpha, Bravo and
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - The San Luis Protectorate
  Delta), that act as an invasion counterforce. As night fighters, they have no peer. They are each armed with: M25A2
  Sniper Rifle (.338 Lapua),H&K MP5SD, Colt P14 pistol with silencer, a compound bow, twelve throwing knives, a
  vicious razor sharp sword and a piano wire garrote. Specific weapons carried depend on mission profile.
  Notable Citizens: 
  Col. Michael Garrett US Army (ret) (V):"Governor pro tem": Leader of the San Luis Protectorate from the Capitol in
  Alamosa. He is the most powerful of the Vampires, and by far the wisest. He is responsible for the present state of the
  Protectorate. While not one to suffer fools, he is amazingly patient and slow to anger. Reverently respected and mildly
  feared by vampires and humans equally. He owns the one of the two operational automobiles in the SLP, a near mint
  condition Barracuda Blue 1968 Pontiac GTO. Michael lovingly maintains the vehicle that is only driven on Festival Day
  (May 23).
  David Drake, Samantha Carstairs, Tran Nguyen, Hiryu Nakamura (V):Regional Magistrates of the San Luis
  Protectorate. All were former lawyers. They hear all court cases, dispense rewards, justice and facilitate area public
  works projects. They answer directly to Gov. Garrett.
  Dr. Susan Addams, Dr. Anthony Delgoni (V):Former Morrow Project surgeons that became vampires and joined the
  coven. They were members of a MP medical unit that collided with the Coven as it was moving west through
  Oklahoma. An unfortunate misunderstanding followed by a gunfight left two members of the Coven and all but two of
  the surgeons dead. They were offered to join the Coven or die. Dr. Delgoni now runs the tiny Medical College in
  Alamosa. In the last 90 years, he has graduated 93 pre war quality doctors (10 of which are from Santa Fe) and 18
  surgeons. Dr. Addams is the on-call Surgeon of the SLP, training area medics, performing physicals, diagnosing
  illnesses and directing the SLP's pharmacology center. They both have published various books in their fields now used
  daily in the SLP.
  Consuela Augustine Gonzalez (H):17th elected Lt. Governor of the protectorate. She is the highest ranking human in the
  SLP and as such, reports weekly to the Governor on the state of the SLP. She travels from community to community all
  week adjudicating disputes, issuing proclamations (what few there are), collects taxes and input from the populous on
  their needs and problems. She is 37, savvy to lascivious behavior, whip smart and immune to bribes. She is married to
  Chief Locomotive Engineer Manuel Cordoba Gonzalez. She travels around the SLP in an ancient Harley Davidson with
  a sidecar. Her driver (a local minister) calls himself "Father Guido" (which the Coven finds hilarious, for no apparent
  reason).
  Albert Burkett (H):Major , C.O. of the SLP Guard. Headquarters is the former First Union Bank on Tremont Avenue in
  Alamosa. His staff car is the only other operational automobile in the valley; a 1954 Willies Jeep in surprisingly good
  shape (in that it still runs from time to time).
  Juan Villalobos Sanchez de Ramierez (H):Air Marshal of the SLP Air Force, Chief Pilot and Director of Air Operations.
  As the SLP Air Force consists of one biplane and an eight-person ground crew, this is a silly title, but he is an
  outstanding pilot. He is also an insufferable, pompous blowhard. Amazingly, his ground crew is fiercely loyal to him
  and they perform daily miracles keeping that dilapidated wreck in the air. He picked his title himself.
  Saul Goldstein VII (H):Chairman of Goldstein Enterprises. This is the only corporation in the SLP. This family run
  company owns 2 sawmills and a furniture factory just south of Saguache. Their furniture is Old World in construction
  and quality. As such, it is in high demand everywhere. They transport their wares around the SLP via train.
  Relations with neighbors: 
  The New Mexico "aka Santa Fe" Government:Relations with this Empire run between warm to pre arctic. They are the
  principle trading partner with the SLP, but their envy and greed occasionally gets the best of them. Trade goods consist
  primarily of produce, furniture, and cattle in exchange for coal, salt and raw materials. The location for exchange is the
  southern-most city in the SLP of Antonito. Over the last two decades, the amount of "custom orders" has increased ten
  fold. four times in the last 80 years the Santa Fe Government has attempted to invade the SLP. Their superior numbers
  allow quick initial gains, but at night, they lose troops by the score. Within 3-4 days, attrition and a disintegrating
  morale causes the invaders to rout and flee.
  
  The Morrow Project Travel Guide - The San Luis Protectorate
  La Hunta:Twice a year, a train load of produce, cattle and goods travel East through the mountains from Fort Garland to
  La Veta. There, Ballooners, Gypsy truckers, and trade caravans meet to trade goods and information. It is a recognized
  free trade zone throughout the region. Trains never travel to La Hunta itself as it represents too much open ground
  without protection.
  The Apache Empire:The AE attempted to invade just once 90 years ago. They sent an invasion force of 250 of their best
  braves to test the defenses and if possible, take over. For three days they ran roughshod over the border areas and swept
  the small defense forces aside with ease. On the 4th day they set camp in a small border town. The Sentry on the West
  side of the encampment stormed into camp the next morning irate that he stood watch all night without relief. When he
  entered the camp he found the entire force dead. Several had their throats ripped out, many were killed execution style
  and all of the other sentries were beheaded. Several dozen braves were drained of blood. A thorough examination of the
  camp told him this was accomplished by 24 men. A letter written in blood was impaled in the chest of the war chief,
  held in place with his own war lance. It said, "Your villainous sacrilege of this sacred place has incurred the wrath of the
  spirit of Quetzelcoatl. Leave this place and never return or I will visit my wrath upon you and yours in your home
  lands". While this message in the 20 century would have been laughable, in this time and place, the effect was
  electrifying. While the Apache Empire trades with the SLP, they do it through intermediaries in Santa Fe.
  The Rook Territory:To the north of the SLP is the Rook Territory. This area is largely unexplored by the SLP, as the
  Rooks are as good day fighters as the SLP Commandoes are night fighters. They mercilessly defend their territory and
  only wish to be left alone. Occasional scouts and bounty hunters are encountered on the borders, but they respect SLP
  Borders in reciprocal fashion. The only real interaction started 70 years ago. Twice a year, the Rooks send 25
  mercenaries to Saguache where they travel by train to Fort Garland. There, they board the trade train to La Veta, acting
  as security. Quiet, vicious, anti-social and professional, they protect the train and their charges with their lives, which
  they sell very expensively. They have a present kill ratio of 38-1. After the trip, they return directly to their territory.
  What makes these folks tick is an issue of continued speculation.
  Life in the SLP:Laws in the SLP are not lax, but far from draconian. All trials are by jury and all defendants are
  assumed innocent until proven guilty. Gone are the excesses of the 20th century, as the common good, spirit of the law
  and common sense are the norm in the courtroom. As there is no monetary system in the valley other than standardized
  barter, guilt of minor offences confers basic punishments like shunning for a day or two, bread and water, or a dirty job
  like mucking the community horse stalls. Moderate crimes such as assault, fraud, theft or poaching (hunting on a
  neighbors land) confers sentences on work crews of a week to a year depending on severity and repetition. Particularly
  heinous crimes like murder, rape, incest, torture or treason are ALWAYS held at the Capitol of Alamosa. Guilt carries
  one of two punishments: Banishment or Death by Draining (self explanatory) to be performed by the regional
  Magistrate in which the offence occurred. Overturning authority of this verdict resides solely with the Governor. In 120
  years, this has only occurred two times. While this system may seem open to abuse as the Magistrate gets a meal out of
  the deal, the jury decides on all sentences. The Magistrate serves only to verify truth of prosecution, validity of judicial
  activities and sentencing oversight. Naturally, with a Vampire on the bench, courtroom procedure and conduct is
  incredibly civil and polite. Contempt of court penalties can be somewhat on the severe side.
  The Vampires:The vampires of the SLP are a surprisingly gregarious lot. They act as teachers, advisors, adjudicators,
  technical support and four are renowned musicians (having had a century to perfect their craft). They spend much time
  writing technical manuals, farming almanacs, training guides and practical biology lessons. Aside from those mentioned
  previously, the remainder of the Vampires resides with the various locals around the SLP. It is considered a great honor
  to have an esteemed member of the coven live in ones household, and there is no shortage of potential hostels awaiting a
  vampire border. A handful even has their own domiciles, and one lives a life of total solitude; having spent the last 70+
  years trying to find a cure for the Vampire condition. Considering that the average age of the Vampires is 160+, they are
  veritable fountains of knowledge, wisdom and skill sets. Most are masters of 3 or 4 trades, and are more than willing to
  share their skills with others.
  The Citizenry:Life in the SLP is, considering the time and state of the world elsewhere, very good indeed. There is no
  starvation, hunger, oppression, forced conscription, coercion or institutionalized oppression. While not paradise, it is a
  land of opportunity and hope. By day the citizenry run everything, from the markets, trade, Trains, cattle, and all other
  non judicial activities to the schools, shops, farms and all mercantile activities. For the last 30 years or so, the SLP has
  
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  operated almost totally independent of the Coven. There has been talk recently amongst the Coven itself about moving
  West to establish a new community. As of the last yearly Founders day poll, the citizens of the SLP overwhelmingly
  voted that they feel they are not yet ready to stand alone.
  The truth is that if the Vampires were to leave, the SLP would likely be swallowed up by the Santa Fe Government
  within a decade.
  Written by Karl Zohler and used with permission.
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/The Morrow Project/Unofficial/Nathan Decker's Travel Guide/Travel Guide Additions/Mini Adventures/Colorado - San Luis Protectorate.pdf