| Don | Mr. Benjamin Steele | Former airship steel mage, now enlivening the Naysmith Exp0loration Machine. |
| Barry | Mr. Arvy Penrington | Avaricious ex-military man with a circumspect past. |
| Will | Mr. Maxwell Ramsey | Egyptologist searching for his missing wife, the daughter of Nefertiti. |
| Mike | Mr. Elton Sherman | Amateur detective; owner of Toby, a basset hound. |
| Sunny | Mrs. Meriweather Gentry Sherman | Changeling from Oberon’s court; new bride of Mr. Sherman. |
| Sheryl | Mlle. Marya Sklodowska | Polish radiologist and tutor trying to avoid the Okhrana. |
| NPC | Mme Claire Eiffel Soussan | Daughter and hostess for the architect of the Parisian tower |
| NPC | Meritaten | Ramsey’s wife; Egyptian priestess of the Fire of Life. |
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.
Pursuit was thwarted by Zodangans, red Martians hostile to Helium. Meritaten was claimed by Sab Than, the prince of Zodanga; Mme. Sasson was claimed by a French-speaking follower of Kali. The rest of the Party escaped with Kal. In Helium the Party investigated the rumours of evil white Martians, resulting in the goddess Issus apparently generating a smoke which killed her High Priest. Another priest entered the room and, seeing Marya standing over the body, called out, “Murderer!”
Kal explained to the Shermans that people don’t die on Barsoom for no reason, therefore the Party would likely be found guilty. They would be summoned to the Hall of Justice before the Jeddak tomorrow. Their good deeds for Helium would be insufficient to balance the death of the High Priest. They would be executed quickly. “We must rescue them.”
Meri: “Where are the dungeons?”
As an adwar, Kal would be able to get past the level of guards at the base of the dungeon tower.
Kal: “I will be exiled from Helium. No question about that.”
Dead of night. Dressed as a guard, Meri investigated the dungeon tower, finding 4 guards playing cards at one table, while 2 more guards played a board game (Martian chess) at another table. 3 corridors exited the guard room from the wall opposite the entrance.
Meri resumed woman’s garb. Sherman took her down as a prisoner.
Helium Guard: “Ah you caught another one. Put her in with the other female. Cell 2-3.”
Not literate in Martian, Sherman took a key from the wall, guessing the order. He chose correctly and took his “prisoner” to the designated cell.
Meri: “Stop pushing!”
In the dark, Sherman saw the brief flash of light on a dagger as a figure sat up in the cell. Marya whispered, “Meri?”
Sherman closed the door and pretended to lock it as Marya admitted to not knowing where the men had been put. In his following search of that (middle) corridor, Sherman discovered an air duct, shielded by a grate embedded in stone. He returned to the woman’s cell to explain his finding to Meri.
In the guard room, two more guards had arrived and were pouring a heated drink. They tried question Sherman about the woman’s capture. He admitted that he wasn’t in on the capture and tried to say as little as possible, hiding his accent.
Meri created a distraction by pulling the grate and stone out and diving into the subsequent wall, shouting, “Maria, come on!” Marya, listening to racing feet down the corridor and shouts of “The prisoner escaped into the wall!” Prepared when a guard discovered her door was opened, Marya slipped past and ran faster than ever she had done before, jumping down the chute.
Sherman: “Has anyone checked on the other prisoners? Which is their cell?”
Guard: “Cell three, corridor 1.” Sherman went to look and returned.
Sherman: “They’re either gone or their hiding. Come with me.”
Guard brought key. Stumbled in. “Good, you haven’t escaped.”
Sherman: “Are you sure?”
Guard recognized ruse as Ramsey launched himself and fell short. Guard drew his sword, shouting, “Guards!”
Penrington stood up, “What’s going on?”
Steele stood as well and punched the guard, breaking his leg. Penrington missed hitting the guard in the head.
Sherman: “Gentlemen, please follow me.”
Steele scooped up the guard’s sword. Penrington tried to knock the injured guard unconscious. Ramsey exited the cell and was spotted by an armed guard just entering the central guard room [some 8 hexes away].
Ramsey: “Company!”
Penrington hit his victim in the arm again, guaranteeing his silence.
[11 at 0] Mr. Steele stood next to the wide-eyed guard. Using the flat of the blade, Steele swung into the man’s stomach [37, 5], downing him but (hopefully) not killing him.
Sherman pointed the way to the woman’s cell. Steele heard the ding of an arriving elevator. Penrington went to the end of the corridor and turned puzzled, “Nothing here.” Sherman encouraged Kal to join the group from his place at the entrance to the guard room.
Steele examined the vent which Sherman asked to be made big enough for entrance.
Penrington returned and picked up a sword.
Kal crossed the room containing one guard’s body, just as the elevator opened.
Authoritative voice: “Guards! This way!”
Ramsey belly-flopped down the vent’s chute. Steele ripped up a flagstone as the rest of the men in various degrees of awkwardness dropped down the chute. The Martians started dropping as the Party exfiltrated from the room below.
Sherman thought that he spotted a grey wolf-like creature lurking in what seemed to be a series of storerooms. He tried to get Meri to track the lightly-moving wolves’ prints in the dust. Kal did not know much about the creatures. He knew a rumour that an underground corridor connected the twin towers for use in time of war; but he did not know where that was. Sherman encouraged moving further from potential search parties.
Eventually, Penrington and Ramsey found a distant area without much dust. The area smelt moist and the sound of water could be discerned behind a wall. One sword was ruined chipping out stone. Once through the wall, the Party found the now-accessible canal to be below floor level. Only Penrington could swim. The swift channel disappeared into a pipe.
The Shermans took a deep breath and jumped into the water together. The rest followed, Steel last. They emerged in the canal inside the city. Sherman explained that exile had been the best possible outcome of the group’s arrest. “Which way is the ship?” “This way.” Penrington thanked Kal who commented, “You have saved my life twice.”
Guards arrived just as the Party’s ship sailed off.
Party tried to decide where to go.
Wizards
Upon Meri suggesting that a wizard might be of use, Kal admitted to only knowing about the Black Wizard of the Black Hills who commanded legions of death. Locals didn’t go there. “All wizards live alone and have powers beyond normal ken.”
The Party questioned him about other locales:
Sola’s History
Sherman to Sola: “What were you before you were a slave?”
Sola explained that slave was a misnomer; she had a unique status in her tribe. The ones who are chosen to breed, place eggs in incubator, and all children are raised by the tribe. However, her parents loved each other and kept their egg secret. Her mother was caught and tortured but did not reveal her father. “My father knows and protected me….”
Sherman deduced that Sola was Tars Tarkus’ daughter. But the green Martians do not know this, and Tars – having been out on patrol – does not know about the torture of his mate. Tars Tarkus might still be in the city with the Jeddak of the green Martians, thus telling him about his wife’s fate might insight a rebellion. At any rate, Tars Tarkus might be a source of green Marines when Ramsey’s wife would be at last located.
Barsoomian City-States
Penrington asked about transactions that are “less than regular.” Kal admitted to a criminal element.
Our Heroes made the decision to go to Ptarth under no disguise. Kal continued to fly the flag of Helium but not as a representative. He commented that the Ptarth fliers were mostly away from the city – just like at Helium. Flag signals indicated a different docking spot than he’d used before, at a building with no other ships.
Debarkation found red Martian rifles pointing at Kal. Sherman advised Sola to hide on the ship. The Ptarthians took Our Heroes’ weapons and killed Toby, calling the Party “Helium spies.”
The Ptarth dungeon was not as nice as the Helium ones: two people per cell; the cell with Sherman and Penrington also had a long-dead body. Kal was taken away for questioning. Clearly Ptarth was indeed planning to ambush Helium.
In the wee hours of the morning, Kal was tossed into his own cell.
Meri threw herself at her door 3 times and felt it give. The women informed the men of this fact, and Steele started breaking his door. Meri opened her door saw 2 guards staring. Penrington threw himself against his door and bounced off.
Both guards swung at Meri who blocked.
Penrington bounced again. Steele smashed his door (again in 3 tries); Marya emerged in time to see that.
Meri crit one opponent, dropping him.
Ramsey followed Steele out. Marya headed away from the fight to see what she could find.
More guards entered in the guard room. Meri muttered, “Hurry up, guys.” The second opponent swung on Meri who aborted to block.
Penrington moved his door. Steele plowed into Kal’s door, bashing it partway in. Meri, noting the additional guards, assumed a defensive stance.
Pennrington wore himself out without taking down his door. Sherman added his effort and also failed. Steele opened Kal’s door to see the red Martian prone, badly damaged.
Kal: “You don’t happen to have a sword?”
Steele: “Not yet.”
Meri failed a block and took damage [in 10 for 3, 9]. Ramsey eyed the downed man’s sword but could not reach it, so punched the swordsman instead, criting [in 13] and knocking him back a hex. The crowd of guards ran to join the fray.
Marya turned around, having found nothing useful along the rest of the corridor.
Steele helped Kal up. Penrington panted.
Penrington managed to move the door a bit more. A red soldier stepped forward and missed Ramsey. Steele rested a moment, watching Kal brace himself against the door. Marya couldn’t get to Kal because of Steele’s massive presence.
Meri blocked her opponent exactly. Ramsey bloodied his opponent’s nose and knocked him out; but the soldier behind sliced Ramsey’s arm [3,6]. Meri disarmed her opponent whose sword landed at Steele’s feet. The silvered man picked up the weapon and moved back into the hall.
Penrington finally broke down his door, falling stunned into the hallway.
Steele: “Mr. Ramsey, move back and I’ll take your place.”
Meri’s opponent drew his short sword and Meri blocked again. Marya paramedicked Kal and became his crutch.
Steele swept two soldiers, criting one [in 13] and killing him – and then [7,28 in the 13 stunning the other. The aluminum man pressed forward, taking the pressure off the fey. A back up soldier critted Steel in the arm [7, 14], doing a bit of stun to the steam mage. Meri killed the stunned soldier.
Penrington armed himself. Thus the Party fought its way out of yet another prison. Steele took a rifle blast [in 16 for 9] – which would turn out to be a problem, he realized, because he had not healed any injury while on Barsoom.
Sherman found Kal’s apparently unguarded ship – and recognized that it was actually being watched. Suggested Penrington ambush the watchers.
XP: 0 xp
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