 This 1983: Doomsday page is a Proposal.
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| Capital | Matlock | ||||
| Largest city | Matlock | ||||
| Language | English | ||||
| Religion | De facto Christianity | ||||
| Demonym | Matlockian | ||||
| Government | Autocracy | ||||
| Legislature | Advisory Council | ||||
| Population | ~9,000 permanent | ||||
| Established | 1988 | ||||
Matlock is a confederation of towns in former Derbyshire, United Kingdom. Lying (for the most part) on an 8.8 mile stretch of the east banks of the River Derwent, it is surrounded by a wall 8.9 miles (14.5km) long on its eastern border. After Doomsday Matlock became a market town, but under former entrepreneur Steve Saxon it grew to become a haven for drugs growth, gambling, prostitution, and mercenary activity. Despite having almost nothing in the way of agriculture or industry the confederation remains comfortable from the profits from its activities and intimidation of local farming communities.
History
Pre-Doomsday
A former spa town, Matlock lay on the River Derwent, and has prospered from both the hydrotherapy industry (a post-Doomsday selling point) and the mills constructed on the river and it tributary Bentley Brook. It was an unimportant collection of small villages — Matlock Town, Matlock Green, Matlock Bridge, Matlock Bank — until thermal springs were discovered in 1698. The population increased rapidly in the 1800s, largely due to hugely popular hydros being built. At one stage there were around twenty hydros, most on Matlock Bank. The largest was built in 1853 by John Smedley. This closed in 1954, and re-opened in 1955 as the headquarters of the Derbyshire County Council.
Doomsday
Matlock and its neighbours were not directly affected by Doomsday; no nuclear weapons were detonated in the immediate vicinity. However, Chesterfield (ten miles to the northwest) was half-destroyed when a malfunctioning warhead detonated slightly too early, and was later consumed by a firestorm; furthermore, several devices were detonated twenty or more miles distant - the cities of Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham, and numerous others over Greater Manchester. With no clear governance the police rapidly took charge, putting the area under martial law. Around midmorning refugees fleeing from the damaged cities began to pass nearby, with some residents choosing to join them. Most, however, chose to stay indoors as per the instructions from the intermittent emergency broadcasts.
In the weeks and months following Doomsday, Matlock began to feel its effects. Rainout and fallout affected local crop and animal growth, leading to a number of starvation cases. The Derwent was not directly contaminated by radiation, but human and animal corpses decaying in and near its banks upstream meant that it was a risky source of fresh water. The winter was slightly more cold than usual, causing yet more crop damage and starvation, and the following extra-warm summer meant that harvests failed. The population of Matlock and the surrounding towns fell to less than six thousand as many of the survivors left to seek new land.
1984-1988: Struggles
A ray of hope came to people's lives as they entered the new year. Steve Saxon, a former businessman from Sheffield, his family, and a small armed entourage arrived in the area in February. Upon meeting the town council he was disgusted at how slow and ineffective it was; it had barely instituted any policies into cleaning the houses of the dead or food rationing. As he settled his family in he encouraged his new neighbours to institute policies that he had observed in other communities he had been passing, such as putting all available land to crop growth and numerous other improvised techniques that had emerged amongst Doomsday survivors. This soon earned him a popularity base, and by mid-1984 he was openly challenging the council over issues. In August, in the midst of the baking nuclear summer, he and those loyal to him forcefully dissolved the council meeting and installed himself as sole leader of Matlock, with handpicked advisors. Few were bitter over the changeover; Saxon's supporters had already volunteered for numerous different tasks, such as care of the sick, removal and burial of the dead, and maximising arable land.
However, the following months were still difficult. Starvation cases continued throughout the winter and into 1985. Worse, organised gangs of raiders were starting to form, prowling the countryside for whatever food was available. Matlock suffered three separate incursions between January and April 1985, losing over a hundred lives in the process. Saxon ordered the establishment of a brigade of volunteer defenders, but their numbers (just two hundred) and insufficient, improvised weapons meant they dealt almost no casualties to their opponents, although they were briefly scared off.
Taking advantage of this reprieve Saxon looked to the months again. Another failed harvest was likely, especially on the understaffed farms in the area. Calling a meeting with the leaders of other nearby towns Saxon proposed a scheme to volunteer - and impress, if necessary - enough able-bodied men and women to fully staff the local farms. There was resistance both from the new farmhands and the original farmers, who feared (rightly) that it was a ploy by the towns to force the farmers to share their scant produce. However the appearance of the newly-christened 'Matlock Matchlocks' was always enough to convince the farms to admit their new workers; verbal and even physical abuse remained an issue, however.
That summer there was just enough food to feed the entire valley, although it meant intensive rationing - in many cases, a single piece of bread every other day. However, the population scraped through, and as the nuclear summer's intense heat trailed away into more bearable temperatures the population was happy to praise Saxon for his efforts. That autumn he drew even further acclaim by leading hunting parties out into the increasingly wild countryside, hunting feral flocks of sheep. Allegedly, he even found a wine cellar and returned its contents back to the valley (though various sources state that Saxon was not on the particular scavenging mission that located the cellar).
As 1986 drew closer raids grew again more frequent. One such case saw the attackers attack a makeshift granary in Darley Dale, seizing much of its supplies, and dumping the bodies of those they killed into the Derwent, partially contaminating it. In 1987 the attacks only worsened after a particularly large clan took up residence in the ruins of Riber Castle, proceeding to launch almost nightly incursions into Matlock throughout the entire spring. After a costly battle to drive them out, they merely seized a manor house near Rowsley and resumed the attrition. In July Saxon, who now possessed hegemony over the entire valley in all but name, decided that enough was enough. Hiring mercenary gangs from across the countryside a combined force of over six hundred men attacked the manor in a brutal hand-to-hand slaughter. It was a success, and soon not only had the attacks ceased, the mercenary gangs had found they could make a better living directly serving Matlock rather than attacking it and nearby villages; a relative peace was established in the area. The entire string of good fortune was placed, by a populace with otherwise nothing else to believe in, on Steve Saxon. With a devoted workforce Saxon's powers were nearly unlimited. After 1987 brought the first truly successful harvest, he could suggest such ideas as establishing a market where the local villages and farms could trade their produce. This soon led to opportunistic locals who were otherwise unemployed being able to put what skills they had to good use. A few small workshops were established, but more entrepreneurial individuals found that there was more that could be done. Several churches reopened, charging potential attendees for their use. Those who had scavenged or stashed alcohol could resell it at fantastic prices. The slowly-amassing surplus of wealth allowed gambling to be considered.
Geography
Matlock lies on the east bank of the River Derwent as it flows through Derbyshire. It is enclosed by a large stone which was built to repel raiders, though having been without a major attack for years this wall now is as much about delivering an imposing image as it is for defense. This wall is built along high ground wherever possible; the valley is so steep that there is over a hundred metres difference between its highest and lowest points. The wall connects to the restored Riber Castle which overlooks the south side of the town of Matlock.
The Matlock Confederation is composed of several towns and villages. From north to south:
- Rowsley
- Darley Dale
- Hackney
- Matlock
- Starkholmes
- Matlock Bath
Matlock Bath, originally, was not a part of the confederation, as it lay on the west bank of the river. However, it acted as a useful gateway, was easily defensible, and was decently equipped, so in 1992 it was also admitted after constructing a rammed-earth wall on its western and southern border (its northern being almost impassable, as it was the heavily forested side of the Heights of Abraham).
Foreign relations
Matlock's relationships with other nearby powers varies. It has numerous opponents, but Matlock lacks the army to deal with them, and its opponents generally lack the motive to attack. It also has numerous friendly city-states; Alfreton, ten miles to the southeast, is a fairly close ally of Matlock and provides the confederation with coal. Matlock generally puts this coal to its own use or resells it to visitors at massive prices. Its novelty and unique trade opportunities mean that nomadic clans and tribes generally try to avoid behaviour that would see them banned from the walled state.
It has been encountered by expeditions from the Celtic Alliance, Duchy of Lancaster and the Kingdom of Cleveland, all of whom made note of the state's considerable moral decay. The state briefly entertained a detachment of troops from the True British Army in the mid-90s, but the garrison left when it was decided the state was far too remote to be a useful command centre.