Challenger Campaign

050721           Volume VI, Episode 5: Zodanga and Helium

Our Heroes:

Synopsis:
Although the blank piece of foil that Miss Sklodowska had investigated has been stolen, the Party has one piece (liberated by Meri) that has a partial cartouche showing an ibis and a 6-limbed baboon, as well as a drawing of their sponsor’s piece that showed a 9-rayed sun.

The Party made the two day journey to Petrie’s base camp at Hwara, near a small British fort. Penrington was arrested by the military. Miss Sklodowska garnered information from Miss Bradbury and Petrie. That night both the Party’s camp and Petrie’s camp were attacked by Bedouin and Petrie’s notes on a Thutmose frieze turned up missing. Examination of the actual frieze indicated that the 18th dynasty Pharaoh Thutmose took an object of significance to Gaza, possibly a pyramidium.

Trying to rescue Mr. Eiffel and the golden falcon from monks building a pyramidium atop the French tower during opening ceremonies, the Party was hit by a round of lightning bolts, dying en masse. The Party awakened on Barsoom where Penrington accepted an armband (a symbol of slavery) from the green Martian, Tars Tarkus.

Slaves of the green Martians, the Party joined in a battle against red Martians and save 4 of the latter by taking them prisoner. Kal Kailin of Helium told them of white Martians from a place on the third planet called Kemet (Egypt). After meeting the green Jeddak of Jeddaks, the group effected its escape, taking their keeper, Sola, with them. They were pursued.

Over the hill, Our Heroes saw, approaching, three flying ships and some small skiffs. The ships opened fire and the pursuit scattered.
Penrington to Kal: “Can you signal these people?”
Kal: “What was it you said about out of the frying pan into the fire? These are red Martians of Zodanga.”
The command to put down weapons was pretty clear.

With a sour face, Kal Kailin greeted Zul Farrak. Fido and the thoats were left behind on the ground as the Party was taken aboard the flagship and imprisoned below deck. The men were chained with aluminum bonds. The women were locked up in a separate room. Meri and Marya prevented the Zodangan red Martians from killing Sola. As the men were led away – Meri and Meritaten both being physically restrained – last minute instructions were exchanged.
Sherman: “Make a habit of speaking in Anglish. And don’t try to escape until we get to a city.”
Marya: “I don’t fancy jumping from this ship.”

Penrington to Kal: “What will happen to us? Will they treat our women properly?”
Kal: “We will be made slaves. We men will die in the mines and the women will be pressed into service of some Zondangan woman.”
Penrington: “Ransom?”
Kal: “Yes, if you were a prince or princess. I am not. I was at Ptarth attempting to get an alliance; these do not need to know I failed.”
Penrington: “Can we escape?”
Kal: “There are 500 aboard this ship. It is hopeless.”

The men were hustled into a room which fell out from under the Party. The fall slowed and, for a few moments, their weight seemed greater. Then all were taken down a horizontal corridor. The corridor was dim and dusty, similar to earthly dungeons. The prisoners were thrown into a dungeon which was already inhabited. Cursory inspection showed stone walls, no windows, and a sliding-window slit in the door. The men were introduced to fellow captive, Jed Andor, an adwar of Helium.

The women were taken to a guarded floor where a chief woman said, “Come with me!” Shortly, Meritaten – who of course behaved according to her natural rank -- found herself on short rations.

Sola was taken away to yet a third unknown destination, having just enough time to thank the Party for her “rescue” despite these results. It was clear that she did not expect to live long in Zodanga.

Ramsey: “We will lose Kal if we don’t leave soon.”
Penrington: “They will take him for questioning tonight.”
Ramsey: “That’s what I meant. We many have only this day to effect an escape.”

The men were taken to the mines. The ramp to the pits seemed to go down under the city. Its unprotected nature made Steele very uncomfortable. The distance from bottom to top was greater than an earthling leap could manage. The other red Martian slaves seemed happy to observe these fabled white Martians. Most of the slaves were issued buckets, although a few were given picks.
Sherman: “Don’t demonstrate great strength.”
The day was tedious and long.
When the evening approached, the men prepared to make their escape, open for any form of distraction of the guards. Each held, concealed, a rock. As they reached the corridor, a 7th guard approached the group.

Seventh Guard: “Kaor. Do you have the stranger called Ramsey? He is to be taken to the Pit of Plenty and thrown in.”
Penrington took the distraction and his rock and slugged a guard, smashing through the back of its skull.

Steele punched the guard in front, hitting in the thigh. [21,6], stunning him. Penrington stepped towards the next one, hitting in the chest [28, 8], knocking him unconscious.

Sherman smacked another in the torso [30], knocking him unconscious. Ramsey spun around and struck one a critical point in the arm, [14,5], stunning that opponent. The two other guards shouted for more guards. One guard drew his sword on Penrington who aborted to dodge. Kal moved up and drew the sword of the guard first felled. [Kal was the only SPD 3 amongst “our” Martians.]

Steele took a placed shot and finished off his opponent. Penrington continued to dodge and was missed by a 2nd attacker. A guard attacked Sherman who attempted to block with his rock but failed, taking hurt [in 12 for 7, 28] and being stunned. Ramsey noted a blur of noise as something small and potent hit the crouch of Sherman’s attacker: Toby! (Even beagles have earthly muscles.)

Ramsey tried to hit Toby’s target, succeeding in stunning him in the chest.
Penrington: “Mr. Steele, I’ve got these. Take the rear.” Penrington proceeded to miss.
Kal stepped up next to Penrington. Steele picked up a sword.

Steele bulled through and crowded those attacking Ramsey and Sherman. Neither opponent hit him. Ramsey hit his guard anyway, [24, 5 in the 11] knocking the broken-armed Red unconscious. Sherman bled.

Steele sliced off an opponent’s foot. Penrington’s opponent panicked and ran; Sherman, recovered, threw his rock to make a torso crit [30]. Kal and a Zodangan exchanged blows and wounds.

Steele put his two out of their misery. Penrington swung on the last guard and laid him out; it was the commander. Thus, on him, Penrington found a key. Shouting alerted the erstwhile combatants to more guards converging on the scene, so Our Heroes headed in the other direction, opening cell doors along the way. Sola was in the third cell. The men tried to ascertain where their women were. Sola told of a moving room; Kal called it “elevator.”

Steele: “It’s a running battle. Let’s keep moving.”
One red Martian described a place that led to the canal. Penrington refused not to first find the women. Steele kicked open the canal entrance. Kal refused to leave the party although the other red Martian slaves headed toward the canal.

The men hid in a cell while the guards searched the dungeon. Sola chewed some mush and used that as a poltice on Sherman’s belly wound. Despite his repugnance, he had to admit it helped.

*** Meanwhile, Meri, Claire, and Marya served Zodangans– while Meritaten ended up in chains. Later they were taken to royal chambers. There the Zodangan prince, Sab Than, decided that Ramsey should die unfortunately, so that his wife could be acquired. (Martian custom prevents a red Martian from claiming the wife of a man he has killed directly. ‘Tis why it takes so long to get an opportunity to roll on the nefarious acts table.) The prince’s guest -- a distinctively-marked Hindu with a curved dagger -- said, “Yes, she is exactly what I wanted.” In French, he added, “Mme. Sasson, your father would like very much to see you.” The two NPCs were taken away. That evening Meri and Marya tried to climb to the royal chambers some 400 feet above, figuring that the “Frenchman” would take his prisoner away as soon as possible, and that where else would a prince keep his reluctant paramour. However, in the dark, running lights for a small ship could be seen at the top of the tower. As it flew away, Meritaten’s protests could be heard aboard it.

Masquerading as serving girls, Meri and Marya then found the elevator and headed down to the dungeon area where evidence of a mighty battle was ample. They decided to wait at the elevator.

The men showed up and explanations were quickly exchanged. Leaving a trail of mayhem behind, the group headed for a repair bay, all other ships being apparently in the air searching for prisoners from the massive prison escape.

In the repair shop, Steele hunted for the easiest ship to repair. Marya and he worked together [make by 15] on his choice of cruiser. Kal and Penrington searched the area for useful items.
Kal: “If we can just get 4 people to lift this, these are functioning cannons.” Penrington lifted it. Thus the cruiser became armed.
Sherman: “Once we’re out there, we’re just part of the search. <grin>”
Meri figured out how to open the bay door: what normally needed many slaves to lift, opened to Anglish muscle. Kal was impressed. However the craft’s exit was spotted and the night filled with flack, there being gun emplacements on the city’s wall. The ship shuddered once.

Two small one-man crafts followed. Penrington dithered. Meri disagreed. Steele took the cannon and shoulder-fired it. He admired the kick. Thereafter, Steele became the mount as Sherman practiced his range skill. The cannon had 6 shots. One of the pursuers hit the cruiser’s propeller; the other’s weapon apparently jammed. Their ships only had one shot. Kal estimated that 800 hatars at 150/hour would be needed to reach the Twin Cities of Helium.

Marya found material for 4 more shots. Steele carried the cannon below deck. Marya found the loading room and used the 3rd ray properly in order to reload the cannon. Sherman shot down one pursuer as Kal brought the ship into a small Helium outpost. The Zodangan pursuit broke off.

That evening Kal returned.
Kal: “They would really like to speak to friendly white Martians.”
Steele: “What is the distinction between Martians that are friendly or not?”
Kal: “The priests have spoken of dangerous White Martians and the Goddess has spoken that they must be captured.”
Sherman calculated that at least 5 of the Eiffel Tower monks may have survived. Steele pointed out that those killed before the lightning struck might or might not be dead. He inquired about the fleet.
Kal: “The fleet is nominally assisting Ptarth, but unfortunately Ptarth didn’t agree to the alliance, so either they had a change of heart after I left or something else is going on.”
Ramsey: “Like laying in wait to ambush the Helium fleet.”
Kal: “The jeddak, Mors Kejak, wants to meet you.”

En route to the audience hall, Penrington asked about there apparently being no elderly Martians.
Kal: “They take the pilgrimage down the river Issus – to heaven.”
Marya to Ramsey: “Does that not sound a lot like Isis?”
Ramsey: “I would be surprised if there was no connection.”
Kal: “Those who live their allotted lifespan of 1000 years take the pilgrimage. Most do not live that long.”

Mors Kejak told more of Martian ways when Marya expressed interest in learning more of Martian science. “Wizards live in great towers. Like the two who run the atmosphere plants. Another wizard is spoken of as our greatest healer, a medical genius. I’m surprised you have not already met him. I had taken your aluminum man to be one of his synthetic servants.”

The Jeddak arranged for training and education per Our Heroes’ various requests. The first visit was to the temple to learn more about the white Martian prophecies.
High Priest: “You are dangerous white Martians here to destroy our way of life.”
Steele: “We were combating others from our land when we were brought here. We suspect they are your dangerous white Martians.”
Sherman: “We need your help.”
Ramsey: “We want to kill them.”

The Priest lighted a brazier by placing some rare form of the ubiquitous moss onto a glowing stone, called out to the goddess Issus, and began to pray. The smoke swirled up reminiscent of that of the Kali-monks in Gaza. It again seemed to be body temperature. Marya backed up, out of the room. Meri held her breath and also backed away. Toby barked for a moment.
Steele, Ramsey, and Sherman all saw the glowing red eyes; they all stopped breathing, and could not move. Penrington felt a crushing weight and also saw the eyes. He attempted to draw his sword and failed. He said, faintly, “Priest!”

Meri ran in to grab her husband and found her movement slowed by an enormous weight.
Marya grabbed a glow ball and threw it at the brazier.
Meri slowly managed to reach Sherman and touched him; suddenly she felt extremely weak. Feeling like her husband weighed a ton, Meri pulled him towards the door.
After throwing a second globe, Marya threw a chair, resulting in a clatter in the smoke-obscured room. Suddenly Sherman, Steele, and Ramsey could breathe again.
Meri succeeded in dragging Sherman from the room.
Marya: “Covering that brazier would be a good idea.”

Sherman hunted for strapping – ending up outside where ships tended to carry leather strapping. Meri went back in to the smoke-filled room to rescue Toby.
Marya jumped into the room as well and knocked over the only-tilted brazier, scattering its contents -- which included one of the glow balls. The priest keeled over and Marya knelt to paramedic him. He was dead.

Another priest entered and exclaimed, “You’ve killed the High Priest!!”

XP: 2 xp
Note: There will be no game next week.

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