The Badlands
A diversity of life in the ruins
The Badlands are a large region of radioactive contamination in what was once the midwestern United States. The epicenter of the contamination is the southeastern corner of what was once Nebraska, where it is believed three nuclear power plants used to operate. While the area remains extremely hazardous, contrary to what might have been expected, a plethora of unique flora and fauna exist in the region, some now truly unique due to genetic mutation. People dwell in the wastes as well, some as strange as the other forms of life that surround them.
Geography
Most of the Badlands actually look quite pleasant. Much of the landscape consists of tallgrass prairie and savannah in the highlands, and dense forest and wetlands in the lowlands. Vast fields of wild grain crops, rolling hills, and big skies are the primary landscape features, especially in the Fringes. Many a settler has been tempted by its beautiful landscape.
However, the closer one gets to the epicenter of the disaster, the more one begins to realize that things are not quite...right. Vegetation becomes more scattered and sparse the closer one gets to the site of the blasts.
The geography can be divided into three regions in roughly concentric circles:
The Fringes by Diane Morrison
The Fringes
The outer ring of the Badlands is the most "normal" appearing region, but contamination still gets into the groundwater or soil. A few determined and hardy folk live out here, either because they prefer the lawless environment, or because they are the descendants of stubborn folk who never left. They tend to seem a bit "off" to others. A local dialect has developed over time.Poison Lands by Diane Morrison
The Poison Lands
Vegetation begins to look weak and straggly in this region. Some is extremely bizarre, from an odd purple grass to stunted trees that might be as dangerous as they look. Contamination is still at high levels, and respirator masks are standard equipment. Dust storms are a lethal danger here. This region is populated mostly by roving, savage bands of raiders who prey upon the Fringers.Deathlands by Diane Morrison
The Deathlands
The landscape here is pure nightmare fuel. Hardscrabble wastelands and blasted plains of black glass where the reactors once stood are the dominant features. Life in this area is bizarre to say the least, suggesting an alien landscape more than any previously-known earthly environment.
Fauna & Flora
Herds of wild cattle, buffalo, and wild horses roam freely over the area. Wolves, coyotes, and packs of wild dogs keep their populations managed. Wooded glades harbour deer. elk, and even some moose. Small mammals, such as racoons, beaver, weasels, and foxes are common, and there are a plethora of waterfowl. There is an incredible diversity of wildlife, and more of it than existed in the area prior to The Cataclysm.
Flora, if anything, is even more diverse. There are lush tallgrass prairies, oak savannahs, lakeshore dunes, wild grain fields, shallow and rocky soils, wetlands, and deciduous forests.
But the closer one journeys to the Deathlands, the stranger, and the sparser, life becomes. Odd mutations begin to reveal themselves, and many have started to breed true and evolve into odd new species. The most contaminated areas are barren deserts, some as empty as the surface of the moon is said to be.
History
Chernobyl by Wendelin Jacober
Tourism
Most people believe that anyone who wants to go into the Badlands to "see the sights" is an obvious lunatic. However, there are no shortage of lunatics in the world, and the Badlands attract curiosity-seekers and determined naturalists who want to observe this unique environment up close. Some enterprising Fringers have even begun opening up rudimentary inns to accommodate such travelers, and there are many who will work as local guides for barter (and just as many who will fleece the stupid "Outlanders" of their belongings and head into the hills without so much as a fare-thee-well.) Many such casual visitors are never seen again.
The Badlands are an excellent place to hide if one wants to escape justice or persecution, so it also attracts fugitives, outlaws, misanthropes, and religious cultists looking to escape society for whatever reason. It is said that the Desperadoes have safe havens throughout the Badlands for just this reason, some of which are extensive underground complexes with advanced filtration systems -- and arsenals.
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Published Books
Serial:
#1 Showdown
#3
The Vigil
#5
The Reaping
Novel:
Once Upon a Time in the Wyrd West (Wyrd West Chronicles #1-6)
Anthology:
Gunsmoke & Dragonfire (featuring The Teeth of Winter (Wyrd West Chronicles #7)
Maps
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The Badlands
The borders of the Badlands, shown against a map of the former United States
Type
Wasteland
Related Professions
Once Upon a Time in the Wyrd West
It's like a wonderful mashup of Fallout and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Love it! Especially the point about flora and fauna flourishing in the area. It's very reminiscent of real life Pripyat, where nature is coming back strongly. Quite an enjoyable read!
My research on Pripyat was my primary inspiration for this article. Thanks so much, Tobias!