Warlords of Barsoom

A Martian campaign...

Characters

Initial GM: User:Brantdanger

Spencer A. Jefferson, played by User:Johnm

Humphrey Buckskin, played by User:Jesster

What Happened

April 1864- Fairfax, Virginia. Confederate scouts spot the Union army advancing on Fairfax. As the Confederate Army approaches the town, they conclude they have arrived minutes late to prevent the northerners from entering the town. Assigned to the Confederate's 14th Cavalry Regiment one 2nd Lieutenant Spencer Alexander Jefferson of Virginia, and one First Sergeant Humphrey Buckskin of Maryland.

Being known for their tenacity in battle, their commanding officer, Col William "Old Corneater" Calhoun orders the regiment to ride ahead of the advancing Confederate force and outflank the Union infantry, now marching south from Fairfax to engage the Confederates. Lt Jefferson and Sgt Buckskin lead their regiment in the attack on the Union lines. As they close into firing range and drop the Union standard bearer, shots erupt from the concealment of the forest to their left, ripping through them and ending their lives.

The consciousness of each man rises above the scene of chaos and carnage, viewing the battle and their now mangled bodies lying limp on the battlefield. They watch the entirety of the battle, and the Confederate surrender at the end of the day (including Old Corneater's 3 course meal with the Union commander). As night falls, their attention is drawn to the night sky, particularly the red planet of Mars. They feel themselves hurtle across the unknown distances of space. Blackness overtakes them.

As they come to, they find themselves lying upon a vast expanse of yellow moss covered ground. They are devoid of any clothing, or sign of injury. Their first attempts at sitting upright propel them into the air, causing confusion and an ungraceful landing. Learning quickly to move by a series of jumps, they make their way to the only structure visible to them- a large, square structure without doors or windows. The men are able to reach the thick glass roof of the enclosure, where they are met with a view of what appears to be hundreds of perfectly round, gleaming white eggs, 3 feet in diameter. The mens' attention is kept by this new find, as well as the belief that their minds are playing horrible tricks upon them.

Their inattention allows a force of 15 foot tall green "men", each riding a giant 10 legged mount, to descend upon them and catch them unawares. The apparent leader holds a 40 foot long lance in two of its four hands, the metal tip of which is held inches away from Sgt Buckskin's head. The green men soon become amused at the uncoordinated, yet impressive jumping ability of the earthmen, and make them repeat several jumps before grabbing the men and riding away from the structure. The Lt and Sgt are shocked at the appearance of their massive captors:

The band rides for two hours, across a barren landscape until they reach a city comprised of ancient structures made entirely of marble, and built to normal human scale. 800 to 900 of the green people, both male and female, are currently making their homes within the structures.

The Sgt and Lt are taken before an audience in a central plaza, and made to perform several jumps for the assemblage of greenmen. They are treated as both guests and prisoners, and are assigned to stay with a greenwoman known as Sola.

Sola leads them to the second story of a deserted building and gestures to where they will stay. She brings them a meal consisting of a cube of something resembling tasteless cheese, and some milky substance (this meal is repeated twice a day, and is the only food ever offered the earthmen while prisoners of the green men). They earthmen also quickly learn that a large animal, resembling a 250 lb squat dog, with 10 legs and huge head and mouth (that when opened reveals three rows of teeth), has been assigned to watch them. The earthmen learn the animal is called Woola.

The following day, the earthmen are herded into an oversized chariot, pulled by one of the huge mounts, known as a Thoat. Over 100 chariots and riders make the trip back to the point where the earthmen encountered the green men the day before. A hole is torn in the walled structure, and hundreds of four foot tall hatchlings come streaming out of the enclosure. They are caught by green women and placed in chariots. One hatchling is caught by Sola and is placed in the chariot with the Lt and Sgt for the ride "home".

Over the course of the following two weeks, Sola begins training the hatchling in weapons skills and speaking the language of Barsoom. The Lt and Sgt join in the training each day, and make enough progress at the end of two weeks to be able to exchange information with Sola.

The earthmen are fortunate to have fallen in with Sola, as it becomes apparent to them that she alone among the females of Thark, has compassion enough to see to the well-being of the prisoners. And among the green men, only the leader of their original captors, known as Tars Tarkas, displays an interest in their progress.

They learned much about their strange new world including:

• The band of green men they now "belong" to are known as Tharks, being named after their capitol (and lone) city of Thark. The Tharks are but one of the green hordes upon the planet. Nor are the green men the only race on Barsoom.
• There is a facility known as the great atmosphere processing plant, which is large enough to produce the breathable atmosphere for the entire planet.
• All Barsoomanians are practically immortal, if left to live out their lives. Only a small fraction escape a violent death, either in accident or battle. Those that escape death take a voluntary pilgrimage down the River Iss in the Valley of Dor once they reach their 1,000th year, never to return.
• There is a code of honor binding all races on Barsoom which states one may only defend themselves in personal combat with a weapon equal or inferior to the attacker's weapon. No man may kill a woman, nor may a woman kill a man. Theft is practically unheard of, as is lying (if someone does not wish to tell the truth, they simply remain silent). There is assassination however, and a good assassin is held in high regard (for assassination is performed by blade, not gun- and an honorable assassin allows his target to defend himself. Thus making the assassination a duel to the death).
• Barsoomanians prefer to fight with swords (usually using one long sword and one short sword), but also employ the use of pistols and rifles. The ammunition used in the ballistic weapons consist of a glass cylinder covered in an opaque paint. Inside the cylinder is a mixture containing radium. When the cylinder strikes an object, the outer shell breaks, exposing the mixture to the atmosphere. If there happens to be any light, the mixture reacts violently, causing extreme amounts to damage to the struck object.
• The females of all races lay eggs instead of giving birth. The eggs require 10 years before hatching.

During this time of education, Woola, the Thark guard dog, switches his loyalties from the Tharks to Sergeant Buckskin, due to the Sergeant's kindness.

In the third week on Barsoom, the Tharks shoot down airships that happened to fly too close to their deserted city. (The airships of Barsoom are large craft made of wood and steel that move silently through the air and posses some resemblance to watercraft of earth). The Thark ambush on the peaceful airships is savage and efficient. The earthmen watch as the accuracy of the green men's radium rifles pick apart the ships. Crippled ships descending too close to the ground are pulled down by grappling hooks and the decks are swarmed by the green horde. The earthmen run out into the streets to help dispatch the men falling from the ships. These men are identical to earthmen, save for their reddish-copper skin. The Sgt picks up a pistol and, in the pursuit of scientific inquiry, blows apart one of the red men.

Watching from a distance, the earthmen spot two small figures among the Tharks returning from the last ship to be overrun. The Lt and Sgt are able to get closer to the two small figures as they are brought into the city's central plaza. They see the figures are two women, of immense beauty and grace, with reddish-copper skin, coal black hair, and wearing nothing but jewel encrusted harnesses and sandals. Sola tells the earthmen the women are members of the red race of Barsoom, their craft hails from the nation of Helium, and that the women will be brought before the Thark chieftains later to explain their presence in this part of Barsoom.

The Sgt and Lt are present at the central plaza when the two women, Dejah Thoris and Tara of Helium, are brought before the cheiftains. Lorquas Ptomel, leader of the assembled Tharks, asks Dejah Thoris why her ships attempted to fly through this region. Dejah Thoris replies:

"It was a purely scientific research party sent out by my father's father, 
the Jeddak of Helium, to rechart the air currents, and to take atmospheric 
density tests."

"We were unprepared for battle," she continued, "as we were on a peaceful 
mission, as our banners and the colors of our craft denoted. The work we 
were doing was as much in your interests as in ours, for you know full 
well that were it not for our labors and the fruits of our scientific 
operations there would not be enough air or water on Barsoom to support 
a single human life. For ages we have maintained the air and water supply 
at practically the same point without an appreciable loss, and we have done 
this in the face of the brutal and ignorant interference of your green men.

"Why, oh, why will you not learn to live in amity with your fellows, must 
you ever go on down the ages to your final extinction but little above the 
plane of the dumb brutes that serve you! A people without written language, 
without art, without homes, without love; the victim of eons of the horrible 
community idea. Owning everything in common, even to your women and children, 
has resulted in your owning nothing in common. You hate each other as you 
hate all else except yourselves. Come back to the ways of our common ancestors, 
come back to the light of kindliness and fellowship. The way is open to you, 
you will find the hands of the red men stretched out to aid you. Together we 
may do still more to regenerate our dying planet. The granddaughter of the 
greatest and mightiest of the red jeddaks has asked you. Will you come?"

As Dejah Thoris finishes the speech, Tars Tarkas rises to speak. But before he could answer, a younger chieftain jumps to Dejah Thoris and strikes her down. The chieftain erupts in laughter, as do the rest of the Tharks; Tars Tarkas is the last one to join in. At the sight of the princess being struck, the gentlemanly Lieutenant Jefferson draws his radium pistol (acquired from a dead red man) and blows off the head of the offending chieftain. The Lt is then removed of his pistol, bound and taken from the chamber and placed in a deserted building, where another calot (or Thark watch dog) is placed in charge of him.

That night, 3 Thark women, 2 children, weapons, a harness, food, 2 thoats, and a chariot are presented to the Sgt. Sola explains that the assets belonged to the dead chieftain, and would go to the Lt, however his killing with a pistol was outside of the code of honor, so the Sgt will keep the goods, and inherit the rank of the dead chieftain, until Lt can later prove his innocence through combat.

The Lt escapes from his bonds, slips past his guard dog, and jumps across roof tops until he reaches the building where Sola and the Sgt are quartered. After conversing with Sola, he realizes it's in his best interest to not attempt an escape at this time. She informs him of the horror-inducing creatures known as White Apes. (These being the only creatures on the planet a Thark would rather avoid than fight). He makes his way back to his room of imprisonment and ties himself up as well as possible. The Sgt makes his way to the quarters of Dejah Thoris and Tara, and has a brief conversation in which she assures him an air fleet will be dispatched within a few days to search for her and Tara.

The earthmen greatly enjoy the company of the princesses over the next few days, finding a few precious moments when they are able to place themselves in the company of the women. Sola tells the men the band of Tharks are now leaving for their homeland. Giant chariots are hooked to giant mounts, and the caravan of Tharks starts its journey home.

During travel, Lt Jefferson, with bound hands, attempts witty conversation with Dejah Thoris several times a day- with some success. Meanwhile, the Sgt rides up and down the line, talking with Tars Tarkas, checking on his Thark women and hatchlings, and checking on the princesses and Lt Jefferson. Sola works on resizing the harness of the fallen chieftain to fit the smaller frame of the Sgt.

On the third night of travel, the band camps at the base of a cliff face. In an attempt to impress Tara, the Sgt jumps 15 feet to a ledge on the face. It appears to be a cave, but he cannot see inside. He drops down, then returns with a torch. He enters the cave holding a torch in one hand, a pistol in the other, and wearing nothing but boots. As he traverses further into the cave, his ears pick up the sound of something moving rocks about. In the flickering torchlight, a group of the enormous White Apes of Barsoom appear from the shadows and charge the earthman. He beats a hasty retreat while emptying deadly radium rounds into the apes. As he reaches the mouth of the cave, Tharks spring in above his head to enter close combat with the apes. The Sgt escapes to the ground. Sounds of metal piercing flesh mixed with the snapping of bones is heard outside the cave. The Sergeant's actions wins him respect from the Thark chieftains, and unbeknownst to him, they decide he is to permanently retain his Chieftain rank. He is given responsibility for looking after the Lt, and decides to untie and arm him. When asked by Tara how he was able to make the jump to the ledge, the slow talking Sgt replies, "I sort of bended my knees, then stood up real quick."

As the Thark caravan slowly moves its way across dead sea bottoms the following day, scouts report Warhoons (rival tribe of the Tharks) advancing on their position. Warhoons appear on a ridge on the right of the caravan. Warhoon cavalry crests the ridge and descends on the caravan while Warhoon riflemen begin firing into the caravan. Tharks return fire, while the band's leaders, Lorquas Ptomel and Tars Tarkas, lead Thark cavalry directly into the Warhoon lines.

As battle erupts, the earthmen find themselves with the princesses at the caravan's rear. Slowly, the caravan grinds to a halt. Sgt Buckskin bades Woola to stay and protect the princesses, while the earthmen ride forward to engage the enemy. A horrific firefight ensues at the head of the caravan. Bodies are blown into fragments, mixing with those of slaughtered mounts. The earthmen are able to repel one wave of Warhoons. Then another wave comes into view upon a ridge, and starts its descent on the earthmen. As the Lt and Sgt open fire, huge explosions tear through the ranks of the Warhoons. A warship of Helium has flown into the battle in its attempt to locate the princesses of Helium. Its heavy caliber radium guns rend apart both man and beast, cratering the ground with every blast. A lone Warhoon makes his way to the earthmen, only to be quickly dispatched by their deadly fire.

The men quickly wind their way through battle to the location of the beloved princesses, only to find the rear chariots have already been stolen and led away by Warhoon cavalry. Lt Jefferson, on foot, gives chase to the stolen chariots, while Sgt Bucksin rides to aid the vastly outnumbered Tharks still fighting. As the Sgt closes on the melee, he is witness to the most ferocious fighter his eyes have ever seen. Wielding four swords with expert skill, a blood splattered and exhausted Tars Tarkas savagely metes out death to advancing Warhoons, until the dead bodies pile high and the ground runs thick with gore. The Sgt fires his remaining shots into the closely knit Warhoons, covering himself and others with a fine mist of blood.

Lt Jefferson advances on the stolen chariots, dodging heavy fire with superhuman leaps, until reaching relative safety at the bottom of a ridge. Several feet above him, Warhoon riflemen lie in wait for their chance to extinguish his life.

On the battlefield, the Warhoons cut the Thark ranks down to Tars Tarkas, Sgt Bucksin, and two chieftains. The Sgt spots the Helium warship, and pulls dead bodies over himself as familiar explosions once again rip through men and ground. Men on the ship's deck have spied the Sgt and attempt his rescue. A rope ladder is dropped to the Sgt- and as he begins his ascent, the Warhoon riflemen open fire on the warship. The warship returns fire, destroying the riflemen's position. Rock and dirt bathe Lt Jefferson, positioned below the ridge occupied only seconds earlier by the Warhoons.

The warship quickly moves to the Lt, and he climbs aboard. New ranks of the horde of Warhoon come into view as the warship attempts to follow the stolen chariots. Polished hardwood and metal fly from the side of the warship as the green horde pours radium rounds into her. The ship's captain orders retreat and a return to Helium. The Sgt yells out the ship must try to pick up Tars Tarkas as it flees the battle. A ladder is thrown over the side, and the Thark climbs quickly aboard. The red men of Helium's Navy are ordered to stand down at the sight of their deadly enemy standing aboard their craft. The ship opens throttle and speeds home to Helium.

Epilogue to the first session:

The Earthmen are hailed as heroes among the fair citizens of Helium. They receive honors, weapons and riches during public ceremonies. The Lieutenant is given the rank of Captain in the Navy of Helium for his protection and companionship of Dejah Thoris throughout her ordeal among the Tharks.

In order to plot a course of action, the earthmen quickly take part in a series of meetings which include Tars Tarkas and the leadership of Helium. Tardos Mors, Jeddak of Helium, (and grandfather of Dejah Thoris), is overjoyed to know Helium's beloved princesses may yet live, but is stricken with grief at the thought of what fate now befalls them at the hands of the Warhoon horde.

The Earthmen are offered training in Helium's fighting forces, while Tardos Mors is faced with the decision of how many aircraft and fighting men to pull from the burgeoning battle with rival red nation Zodanga (over the rights to the atmosphere processing plant).

Meanwhile Tars Tarkas, chieftain among the Tharks, swears allegiance to Humphrey Buckskin of Maryland. Tarkas cannot speak for his people, but promises to return to Thark in an attempt to convince the Thark jeddak, Tal Hajus, to ally with Helium and march on Warhoon.

The fate of the faithful Woola, and of the princesses of Helium are presently unknown.