canal priests of mars

66 Pages·2003·20.29 MB·English

Marcus L. Rowland
CANAL PRIESTS OF MARS
SOURCES AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THIS ADVENTURE WAS influenced by
countless romantic science-fiction
novels, spaghetti westerns, pulp nov-
els, TV serials, and many other
sources. In particular:
A Fistful of Dynamite (film)
A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!
Harry Harrison
Design
Gangsters (1970s BBC TV serial)
Marcus L. Rowland
The Space Machine, Christopher
Priest
Development
W. G. Grace's Last Case, William
Loren K. Wiseman
Rushton
Diamonds are Forever, Ian Flem-
Art Direction
ing
Steve Bryant
Help (film)
The Golden Child (film)
Graphic Design and Production
Monty Python's Life of Brian (film)
Amy Doubet, Kirk Wescom
She, H. Rider Haggard
Cover Art The Man Born to be King, Rudyard
Dell Harris Kipling
Deadly Litter, James White
Interior Art An article in an old issue of New
Rick Harris, Larry MacDougall Scientist, which I can no longer find,
kindled my interest in perpetual-
Text Manager motion machines and suggested this
Michelle Sturgeon use for liftwood.
Special thanks to John Dallman and
Text Processing
Roger Robinson for cricket informa-
Julia Martin, Julie Amdor
tion, to Bridget Wilkinson for
thoughts on Martian physiology, to
Copyright©1990 GDW, Inc.
Brian Ameringen for recipes and
All rights reserved. Made in U.S.A. Printed in U.S.A.
puns, and to these and other friends
ISBN 1-55878-039-4.
for listening to the plot and laughing
Space: 1889 is GDW's trademark for its role-playing game
at the right places.
of Victorian-era spacefaring.
Finally, I would like to thank the
A catalog of Space: 1889 products is available from GDW.
players at Games Fair '89 who vol-
Just write and ask.
unteered to run through an early ver-
S I N C E 1 9 7 3
sion of this adventure at extremely
short notice, and made many valuable
suggestions.
—Marcus L. Rowland
P.O. Box 1646
Bloomington. IL 61702-1646
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sniper at the Gates of Dawn 4 Miss Charlotte Green 20 Typical Crewmembers 43
Plants 21 In Enemy Skies 44
Unto Us a Child is Born 6 Bracegirdles 21 Black Sails in the Sunset 44
The Worm Cultists 6 Ch'kya/Hus'aalsh 21 Avenger Kite 45
Assassination Plan 6 Kurt Bechwold 22 South by Southwest 46
Seldon Reborn 7 Iko Takimato 22 Movement in the Storm 46
Choosing Seldon 7 Gladys Nicholson 22 Ship Damage Table 46
Preliminary Events 7 Grommett 22 Crash Landings 47
To Find an Honest Man 8 Arthur Grove 22 Repairs 47
A Visit to Lincoln's Inn 8 Sidney Coin's 22 Foothills Diagram 47
Anthony St. John Audley 8 Fi'fkisniil Spiif 22 Welcome to Gaaryan 48
The Amulet 9 Gfiiy'nnuk Zlash 22 Eak'ijiis Grouivr 48
Steerage Passengers 22 Canal Priest Cavalry 49
The Princess Alexandra 10 The Crew 22 Typical Canal Priests 49
A Day to Remember 10 Temple Complex Diagram 49
First Impressions 10 Ships that Pass in the Night 24
Welcome Aboard 11 A Shattering Blow 24 The Temple of the Keepers 50
Jewel of the Heavens 12 The Morning After 26 The Temple and Gaaryan 50
Cross Sections Diagram 13 Repairs 28 Temple Buildings 50
Deck Plans 14 In the Ocean of Night 30 Eye of the Builders Diagram 51
Passenger List 16 Weapon Statistics 31 Temple Chapel Diagram 52
Douglases 16 Landfall 32 Pretrial Jitters 54
Nakimaturas 16 A Sticky Wicket 34 Glaar Skuguu 55
Volaace Zeenkeer 16 Spuulin Dunoos 35 Meet the New Boss 55
Graces 18 Trouble with the Natives 36 What the Stars Foretell 56
Miss Matilda Van Cleef 18 An Odd Little Story 38 Lliss Hadfi 56
Wendles 18 Air Raid 38 A Day in the Life 56
Sir Eric Thwaite 18 Air Raid NPC Table 38 Escape Plans 58
Captain Hugh Crammond 18 Unwelcome Guests 40 Boy's Book 58
Otto Strabismas 19 Troubleshooting 40 Take the Wheel 59
Father A. J. Moriarty 19 The Road to Gaaryan 40 Public Relations 59
Pressburgers 19 Riding the Wind 41 An Unfortunate Accident 59
Hoffmanns 20 Siditkayaa Dunoos 41 Unexpected Reunion 60
Capt. Gordon Carstairs 20 Westward to Gaaryan 42 Home Again, Home Again 61
Lieutenant Fritz Kempff 20 Beyond the Empire 42 Epilogue 62
Lady Jane Evans 20 Little Bird of Passage 42 Ether Flux Generators 62
GDW
SNIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN
return from prayers, the duo intensify
their watch.
"Is that him?"
"No. Too young, and he isn't wear-
ing the amulet."
"That one, then?"
"Too old and fat." An old priest
Sniper at the Gates of Dawn
walks into the garden accompanied
by two richly clothed handmaidens
and a small boy.
SAND GRAINS RUSTLE under a faint camouflage it with sand and shards "Now!"
dry breeze, occasionally glowing and of rock. The long gun booms, and a heavy
crackling where friction has built up They freeze as they hear the thump- ball whistles down to the garden. The
charges of static electricity. The glow ing rhythm of a small troop of boy staggers back and falls. He
is slowly lost as a tiny moon rises gashant-mounted cavalry patrolling twitches and lies still.
above distant hills, and the powdery lower down the hill, and wait for the "Perfect! He is down—you have hit
sand dunes are dimly illuminated by patrol to ride past before completing him in the heart!"
its feeble light. Far away, the shrill cry their work and entering the tent. "Praise to the Old Ones! The Worm
of some small animal which has Dawn. The shrill yapping of a small shall triumph!" A fusillade of mus-
encountered a larger predator is pack of roogies welcomes the first ket shots bursts forth from guards on
swiftly extinguished as it dies. It is rays of the rising Sun, followed by the the compound wall, aimed at the
night at the edge of the Martian des- grunts and cries of various domesti- gun's smoke but falling far short. As
ert. cated animals. The dim light reveals the first troops ride from the com-
Two cloaked and hooded figures a walled compound containing sev- pound towards the hill, the cultists
work their way along one of the sand eral buildings and a luxuriant garden draw their swords and prepare to die
ridges, making sure they are never a hundred yards from the base of the for their faith.
silhouetted against the moonlight. ridge. A door bangs as an early riser Afternoon. Priests lay out the body
Sand shoes muffle their footsteps and starts the day's chores. of the boy. A line of mourners waits
reduce their tracks to shallow depres- On the ridge, a flap in the side of to pay last respects. In one of the up-
sions, quickly erased by the chilly the tent opens to reveal a long metal per chambers the acting high priest
night wind. Now and again a faint gun barrel, followed by the tube of a talks to his acolytes.
clink of metal on metal is heard. spyglass with a deep hood around the "Did either cultist say anything
Eventually they reach their goal—a lens. Both have been carefully before he died?"
near-vertical ridge of ancient rock, scoured and rusted to stop them from "No. Both died in the fight."
about 80 feet high, that separates the reflecting the light. "Have Lieutenant Wee'zuus disci-
desert from the canal zone. They shed Time passes. As the morning gets plined. He should have taken them
their shoes and start to climb. brighter, the noise of a gong drifts out alive."
From the summit it is possible to from the compound, and Martians "It shall be done."
smell the slightly moist air of the stream into the largest building. "How did they identify the high
canal zone. One of the Martians "Where is he?" says one of the priest?"
wrinkles his nose and sniffs disap- watchers on the ridge. "We suspect one of the servants,
provingly. The other gestures for si- "Patience. It's not bright enough for Sha'eenda Hus'aalsh. She left the
lence, pointing at some dim lights at a clear shot yet. He always goes into temple 10 days ago to visit a sick
the base of the slope below the ridge. the garden after they finish their sister in Parhoon. None of the other
Carefully they erect a small tent prayers. I'll get him then." women had heard of this sister be-
painted the exact color of the rock and Later, as the compound dwellers fore."
CANAL PRIESTS OF MARS
"Find out if the story is true—if not, Behind him, the acting high priest "It's worse than that. I can't explain
I doubt that we'll see her again. Check coughs and asks, "Do you have any- this result at all. By every test I can
everyone; there is obviously a spy in thing for me yet?" make, he will not be born anywhere
the temple. Report to me if you learn "I must have made a mistake. on Mars! The high priest will be
anything. I'll be with the astrologer." There's no way that this can be right. reborn in the skies!"
"Let us hope that he died at an Come back in the evening. I should "How can that be possible?"
auspicious moment." have finished by then." "See here, and here. Again and
"We'll soon know. Somehow I Evening. The astrologer completes again, the sky symbol, linked to this
doubt it. This assassination was care- his fifth series of equations and stud- planet. There is no doubt. He will be
fully planned. They wouldn't make ies the result again. He turns to the reincarnated in the heavens."
such a simple mistake." acting high priest. "Which planet is that?"
In one of the towers of the temple, "I've checked this by three differ- "One of the inner ones. Does it
an aging priest pores over a huge ent methods, and I get the same thing matter?"
sheet of parchment covered with every time." "No. This is madness. How can you
complex signs and formulas. He stud- "Go on. Where will he be born? explain it?"
ies an orrery, thumbs an abacus, then Parhoon? Umbra?" "I don't know. I just don't know."
consults a thick scroll. He frowns in "If only it were as simple as that." When Edison crash-landed on
disbelief, crumples the parchment, "One of the kraags? You don't Mars, the acting high priest got his
and starts his calculations again. mean that he will be born a savage!" answer....
GDW
UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN
search for a replacement took almost
a year. Canal transport was badly
disrupted for much of that time.
Members of one of the Canal Martian
subcults of the Worm realized that
they could paralyze the Canal Keep-
Unto Us a Child is Born ers by making them repeat the pro-
cess in circumstances which would
make it almost impossible to find an
heir.
believed to be Seldon reincarnated. The cultists knew that the new high
If he dies, his soul enters another child priest was selected by astrological
who is conceived at the exact moment divination. They gave their own as-
of the previous priest's death. The trologer all the information they could
birthplace of the new high priest is find on the birth of the current high
found by a complicated astrological priest and instructed him to find a
process which narrows down the moment of death that would cause the
search to a small area. Patient inves- maximum amount of confusion. He
tigation then finds a child who was succeeded beyond their wildest
conceived at the exact moment the dreams.
high priest died. All cult activities, Once every nine years the system
other than routine operation of locks produced an extraordinary result, a
and other canal facilities, are sus- period of a few hours in which no
pended during the search for the new possible birthplace existed on Mars!
high priest. By that time the child high priest
would be three years old, roughly five
THE WORM CULTISTS in Earth years.
FOLLOWERS OF THE Cult of the The Worm Cultists contacted
Worm believe that Mars is doomed. Sha'eenda Hus'aalsh, a temple ser-
Any attempt to stop the inevitable vant who was their principal spy at
decline of the Martian race is treated the Canal Keepers' main temple near
as darkest heresy. Naturally, they are Gaaryan. She wasn't in a position to
THE EVENTS OF the prologue took opposed to groups like the Canal assassinate the child, but she could
place several years before Edison's Keepers who try to fight the decay of describe him and draw his picture. He
historic flight. civilization. Although the Worm Cult could also be identified by the Amu-
Most Martians are apathetic about originated with the High Martians, let of Seldon, a medallion that is worn
the gradual decay of their planet, but there are adherents amongst all three by the high priest.
there are some exceptions. Much of Martian races, and many subcults After the child was killed, events
the work of reclamation and canal exist with little or no connection to proceeded as the Worm Cultists
repair is coordinated by the Canal the original cult (whose nature is re- expected. The Canal Keepers lost
Keepers of Gaaryan, a religion reput- vealed in Beastmen of Mars). much of their drive, and the condition
edly founded by Seldon II which is of many canals deteriorated. No new
possibly the most widespread religion ASSASSINATION PLAN reclamation works have been under-
on Mars. The priests consider it their A HIGH PRIEST of the Canal Keep- taken by the Keepers, though some
sacred duty to repair the entire canal ers died three Martian years before local governments run their own
system. The high priest of the cult is the events of the prologue, and the repair projects on a smaller scale.
CANAL PRIESTS OF MARS
Most European colonists don't know at the thought of such a blasphemous sideration as the possible reborn high
of the cult's former importance. The succession. Although their religion priest.
knowledgeable minority think that it does not stress reincarnation, the Martian player characters should
has died out. No Earthman is aware Worm Cultists are not free of super- not be Seldon reincarnated, since the
of the importance of Seldon's reincar- stition. They won't frustrate the Canal Canal Keepers would find them, and
nation in this religion; it is one of the Keepers' plan by revealing the truth the problems described previously
most sacred secrets of the faith, never to "Seldon," in case this information would not have even occurred. Mar-
discussed with outsiders. somehow reactivates his memories of tian player characters should not be
previous incarnations. After all, Sel- members of the Canal Keeper cult.
SELDON REBORN don would be their most deadly en- They should know that the religion
WHEN EDISON LANDED, the Canal emy if he were reborn, and it's best exists and that it used to do a lot to
Keepers decided there could only be to take no chances. keep the canals navigable, but the
one explanation for the mystery; the Sha'eenda Hus'aalsh is now the players should not know any other
reincarnated high priest had been Worm Cult's agent on Earth and has details of the faith.
conceived (and presumably born) as recruited several helpers in the Mar- Other nonhumans may be Seldon
an Earthman. Unfortunately it took tian quarter of London's White- reborn; however, you will need to
them many years to learn more of chapel. Knowing that most Martians change the details of the way the
Earth and refine their astrological loathe the Worm Cult, she has tricked priests find the character to reflect his
techniques to deal with conditions on her recruits into believing that she is racial origin.
another planet. Eventually they were a priestess of the Ground Cleanser It isn't necessary to make a final
able to calculate the exact place of Cult, whose main aim is to end Ter- choice until the team arrives at the
birth. Careful investigation has nar- ran colonialism on Mars. She dis- Canal Keepers' temple at Gaaryan.
rowed the search down to one man: guises ritual killings as assassinations Problems might occur if you select a
one of the player characters! and initiation ceremonies, and she has character who is killed early in the
The Canal Keepers have decided to ensnared many young Martians in her adventure or one run by a player who,.
lure the reincarnation of Seldon to web of deceit. She is poised to strike later drops out of the campaign. It is
Mars and enthrone him as their new as soon as she learns the identity of probably best to make a final selec-
high priest. When this has been done, the new high priest. tion later in the adventure and to
they want to ensure that the next high Naturally the characters know choose a character who has acted in
priest will be born on Mars. Accord- nothing of these events. As the adven- a suitably heroic manner.
ingly, he must spend the rest of his life ture opens, they are in London deal- Any character volunteering to carry
in their temple. To stop him from ing with an entirely different matter. the Amulet of Seldon for unselfish
feeling lonely, he must be accompa- reasons, and without prompting,
nied by a few friends. The acting high CHOOSING SELDON should be preferred in the role of
priest is now on Earth, arranging the ASK ALL THE PLAYERS to choose Seldon reborn.
final details of a complex plot to lure birth dates for their characters. Don't
"Seldon" to Mars. explain why you are doing this. PRELIMINARY EVENTS
Naturally the Worm Cultists know Any character who was born before THIS ADVENTURE contains a large
that something is going on, but they 1870 (age 19 or older in 1889) could number of incidents which usually
don't have many details. The Keep- be the reincarnated high priest of the have several possible results. It isn't
ers weeded out most of their agents Canal Keepers. Although the high possible to predict all the ways in
after the assassination, and the Worm priest is traditionally male, the Canal which the PCs might behave, so be
Cultists have no one in the inner circle Keepers believe that it is possible for prepared to treat the text as a spring-
of the faith. They have guessed that a male spirit to reincarnate in a female board for your own improvisation. If
the Keepers are looking for the new body, so female player characters the plot doesn't seem to be working
high priest on Earth and are outraged need not be totally ruled out of con- as written, change the order of events.
GDW
TO FIND AN HONEST MAN
TO FIND AN HONEST MAN
THE PLAYERS ARE in London at the
conclusion of a recent adventure.
Anthony St. John Audley (Veteran NPC)
While in their lodgings or at their
club, a letter addressed to them arrives AUDLEY IS A GOOD solicitor and can be entrusted with any legal prob-
by messenger. The letter is a brief note lem. He won't discuss his clients' affairs under any circumstances.
on the stationary of a legal firm, and He knows many of the best civil and criminal barristers. One of the
a business card is enclosed. The card partners in his firm is a patent lawyer, a useful contact for inventors
is reproduced below. The note reads: and other scientists.
My Dear Sirs: Audley is not aware of the Canal Keepers' plans for the team. All
Please forgive the impertinence of he knows is what he has been told by his clients—essentially, the in-
addressing this correspondence di- formation he reveals to the team.
rectly to your attention without Motives: Honest, Fair.
benefit of an introduction. However, Appearance: Audley is a soberly dressed, portly gentleman in his
time is of some importance in the early sixties, gray-haired with a neat mustache. He has a habit of check-
business at hand, as you will see if you ing the time (on a large silver pocket watch) every two or three minutes,
would do me the very great honor of whether or not he is in a hurry. His middle name is pronounced Sin-
joining me in my chambers this after- jen.
noon at three. I represent a client who NPC Type: Administrator Experience: Veteran Marksman: 1 Attri-
would appreciate your help in a deli- butes: Mental Arms: Unarmed.
cate matter of some importance, but
I cannot say more except by personal means the area is now used almost ing London. The client was impressed
interview. exclusively by the legal profession. by the team's actions in its recent
The quiet, cobbled streets and court- adventure (whatever that might have
Anthony St. John Audley yards are a total contrast to the hub- been) as reported in the Times. The
Solicitor at Law bub of the surrounding streets; a small client will soon travel to Mars on the
Audley, Butler, & Pryce army of porters keep out the beggars new White Star liner Princess Alex-
5A Fountain Court and peddlers who would otherwise andra. He will be carrying a precious
Lincoln's Inn infest the site. Any adventurer of antique and is extremely worried
Telephone Temple Bar 332
Social Level 1-2 must produce Aud- about its security. He would prefer to
ley's card to gain admission and will travel with a few trustworthy com-
Characters familiar with London be escorted to his office by a sus- panions who could help prevent any
will recognize the Lincoln's Inn picious porter. accidents or theft.
address as indicative of a respectable, The law offices occupy the ground The client would not think of insult-
established law firm, and the fact that floor of a distinguished Georgian ing the team by offering a fee. How-
Audley subscribes to the new tele- building and are as cluttered with ever, Audley has suggested that an
phone service bespeaks a certain papers and document boxes as any allowance for expenses might be in
prosperity. other lawyer's chambers. Audley's order—for example, five guineas (£5
room is expensively furnished and 5s) a day. Naturally the team would
A Visit to Lincoln's Inn relatively clear of clutter, as befits the travel first class on round-trip tickets.
senior partner of the firm. There may be some haggling, and
LINCOLN'S INN is part of the Inns of
Court, a complex of old offices, gar- When the player characters arrive, Audley is authorized to go somewhat
dens, and churches, including some Audley offers them sherry (or tea, if higher. Shortly after a price has been
buildings dating back to the 10th and they prefer lighter refreshment), then agreed to, Audley's telephone rings.
11th centuries. A strategic location explains that he represents a "distin- Audley listens for a moment, then
near Fleet Street and the Old Bailey guished foreign client" who is visit- says, "Show him in." A few seconds
CANAL PRIESTS OF MARS
later a clerk leads in a Martian. He makes a strange mystical sign and now knows that there are Worm Cult-
Audley says, "I'd like to introduce the opens the box, pulling on a silver ists on Earth trying to steal the amu-
representative of the archbishop of chain. As he pulls, the box gently rises let; his room at the Savoy has been
Gaaryan." into the air, and you realize that it is burgled, and Martians were seen
The Martian is a frail-looking youth made of liftwood. Zeenkeer catches leaving the building.
in a somber gray robe. He wears it before it floats away. Zeenkeer decided that he must find
incongruous steel-rimmed glasses Zeenkeer says, "The Amulet of "honest English gentlemen" who
with tinted lenses. As the youth en- Seldon was made when Seldon con- could be trusted to help look after the
ters, a faint smell of exotic spices, a quered Mars and was worn by Sel- relic. He read a report of the party's
little like a mixture of oil of cloves don himself to consecrate his rule." latest exploits which praised the ad-
mixed with pepper, wafts from his Suspended from the chain, the venturers for their courage and honor.
robe. amulet is an oval bronze plaque four He tried to contact them through the
When the door shuts, the Martian inches long by three wide and a quar- government and was directed to "re-
steps forward, bows, and says, "For- ter of an inch thick, fixed to a larger spected lawyer Mr. Audley" as some-
give to be introducing self: I am oval loop which secures it to the one who could arrange an introduc-
Volaace Zeenkeer, secretary-initiate chain. A disk of quartz carved with a tion.
to prelate of Gaaryan." simple map is embedded in a hole in The amulet has now been blessed
Once the formalities are complete, the plaque. Above it are three lines of by the priest at Westminster Abbey,
Zeenkeer recites the Canal Keeper strange hieroglyphics. Apart from a and for the return to Mars, Audley has
cover story, concocted to explain their patina of age, it looks like the sort of persuaded the White Star Line to re-
presence, need for help, and choice gimcrack trinket that would sell for serve some berths on the new liner
of the player characters. a few shillings in Cairo or Bengal. Princess Alexandra, which leaves for
He explains that when Edison land- The amulet is real and is as old as Mars tomorrow. Obviously some risk
ed on Mars, the church of Gaaryan Zeenkeer claims. The "quartz disk" is involved, but Zeenkeer seems con-
was in decline, faltering in its "path is a polished uncut diamond worth vinced that no true Englishman could
of enlightenment through good works roughly £1000, but that is not obvi- fail to help defeat the evil cultists and
and opposition to evil Cult of Worm." ous to anyone but an expert on gems. return the relic to its home on Mars.
The priests had decided that some The map depicts the area around
vital spark of holiness must have Gaaryan in Seldon's time, but it is
departed from the religion. When engraved upside down (by Terran
Edison landed, they decided that "the standards), with the southern ice cap
pure power of faith which is moving at the top. The inscription is a poem
many mountains" had gone to Earth. in Son-Gaaryani—a promise that the
For many years the priests debated canals shall be restored and that the
the situation, deciding that the only waters will flow again, in the name
way to "restore the goodness of all of "Undying Seldon." Zeenkeer can't
things" was to take their most sacred translate it well enough to convey the
relic to Earth and recharge it at the beauty of the words, and he won't try.
"ice caps of Earth's power, from Since the amulet is so holy, the
which your spiritual strength flows": priests were originally accompanied
Westminster Abbey, in London. by several guards. Worm Cultists
learned that the amulet was on the
The Amulet move and ambushed the party near
ZEENKEER REACHES into his robe and the abbey. One priest was killed, but
pulls out a flat, intricately carved the guards held off the cultists long
wooden box, the size of a cigar case. enough for Zeenkeer to escape. He
GDW