The CompleTe

Canal priesTs of mars

By marCus l. rowland

inTerior arT By paul daly

heliograph, inC.somerville, ma, usa

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CreditsThe Complete Canal Priests of MarsPublished By Heliograph, Inc. Somerville, MA, USAISBN 1-930658-11-7ISBN-13 978-1-930658-11-0

Originally published in an abbreviated version by GDW, Inc. in 1990 as Canal Priests of Mars and reprinted by Heliograph, Inc. in a double edition with Beastment of Mars in 2000. The Complete Canal Priests Of Mars contains a substantial amount of all-new text the previous edition does not contain, as well as all new art and graphics.

Written by Marcus L. Rowland.Interior art by Paul Daly.Interior diagrams, maps, & handouts by Matt Goodman after designs by Marcus L. Rowland.Proofreading and helpful comments by Christopher Beiting and Ronald L. Johnson.

Copyright 2009 Heliograph, Inc. except as noted below.

Space 1889 is Frank Chadwick’s registered trademark for his game of Victorian Era space-faring.

Text Copyright Marcus L. Rowland ©1990, 2009.

Art on pages 1, 6, 7, 9, top of 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 24, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 37, 39, 47, 49, 53, 57, 58, 59, 61, 66, and 73 Copyright 2002, 2009 By Paul Daly. http://www.comicspace.com/pauldaly/

Graphics on pages 14, 23, 27, 33, 63, 67, 69, 71, 75, 76, 77, 79, 85 and the handout section Copyright 2009 Heliograph, Inc.

Orrey from The Complete Encyclopedia Of Illustration By J. G. Heck. Copyright 1979 by Crown Publishers Inc. http://www.randomhouse.com

Lion & Unicorn (in telegram) from Graphic Ornaments 1900. Copyright 1998 By Pepin Press. http://www.pepinpress.com

Growler illustration from Transportation: A Pictorial Archive From Nineteenth-Century Sources Selected by Jim Harter. Copyright 1984 by Dover Publications Inc. http://www.doverpublications.com

Harmonium graphic from Music and Musicians by Albert Lavignac, (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1906). Copyright 2008, Florida Center for Instructional Technology. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart

Black Maria graphic from Pearson’s Magazine, 1903.

ITC Benguiat by the International Type Corporation. http://www.itcfonts.com

Algerian Mesa & Algerian Mesa Plain by FontMesa. http://www.fontmesa.com

Bulfinch, Telegram, ExtraExtra, Black Gothic, Text Serif Regular and Heavy by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society. http://www.cthulhulives.org

Printed By Lightning Source. http://www.lightningsource.com

Heliograph, Inc. 26 Porter Street Somerville, MA 02144 http://www.heliograph.com

Author’s Sources & AcknowledgementsThis adventure was originally published by Game

Designer’s Workshop in 1990. Unfortunately it was edited to fit a standard format, with 15,000 words cut including most of the first section. This publication contains the full text of the original manuscript, with some minor grammatical and stylistic changes and afterthoughts.

Since the first publication several readers have commented on a minor point; Milton Keynes did not exist in the 19th century, it was founded as a new town after the Second World War. This village was originally used to avoid naming a real MP or constituency, and as an in-joke for British readers. Recently I learned of the bizarre origin of the town; it was built around a rural railway station, one of several originally constructed to meet the needs of Queen Victoria on the route from London to Balmoral. She had a weak bladder and was afraid to use the lavatories aboard trains...

The plot was influenced by countless romantic SF novels, spaghetti Westerns, pulp novels, TV serials, and many other sources. In particular

FilmsA Fistful of Dynamite Help The Golden Child Monty Python’s Life of Brian

TVGangsters 1970s BBC TV serial

BooksA Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah! By Harry HarrisonThe Space Machine By Christopher Priest WG Grace’s Last Case By William Rushton Diamonds Are Forever By Ian Fleming She By H. Rider Haggard The Man Born To Be King By Rudyard Kipling Deadly Litter By James White

An article in an old issue of New Scientist, which I can no longer find, kindled my interest in perpetual motion machines and suggested this use for liftwood.

Special thanks to John Dallman and Roger Robinson for cricket information, to Bridget Wilkinson for thoughts on Martian physiology, to Brian Ameringen for recipes and puns, to Christopher Beiting for cleaning up the text files and helping to keep up interest in this adventure, and to many other friends for listening to the plot and laughing at the right places.

Finally, I would like to thank the players at GamesFair 89 who volunteered to run through an early version of this adventure at extremely short notice, and made many valuable suggestions.

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TaBle of ConTenTs

Prologue: SniPer At the gAteS of DAwn .. 1

introDuction: unto uS A chilD iS Born ..... 3 The Canal Keepers...........................................3 The Worm Cultists ...........................................3 The Assassination Plan ....................................3 Seldon Reborn ................................................3 Choosing Seldon .............................................4 Optional Subplots ............................................4 Preliminary Events ...........................................4

PArt 1: the Amulet of SelDon ................ 6

chAPter i: to finD An honeSt mAn ......... 7 Compliments From The Bench ......................7 Jasper Fortescue-Smythe ...........................8 An Intriguing Invitation .................................8 Anthony St. John Audley ............................9 Trouble Shooting .........................................9 A Distinguished Foreign Client .......................9 The Icecaps Of Power ..................................10 Sneel Asnuun ..........................................10 Volaace Zeenkeer ....................................11 Many Dangerous Thieves ............................11

chAPter ii: the feniAn connection ........ 13 A Bumpy Ride .............................................13 Gunman & Driver ....................................13 Crimes Against The Revolution ....................14 Map: Fracotti & Co. ..................................14 Now Here’s My Plan... ..................................15 Michael Garvin .........................................15 What Is A Harmonium? ............................16 An Unexpected Delivery ..............................17 Ts’kkiiss ..................................................17 Unwelcome Guests .......................................18 Bill Craig & Martian .....................................18

chAPter iii: ...AnD SuDDen DeAth ........ 19 A Question of Faith ....................................19 We Must Pretend That He Still Lives! ............20 Typical Constables ...................................20 George Bradley, Dean of Westminster .......20 Arthur Conan Doyle..................................21 Detective-Sergeant Ian Bulstrode ..............21 The Wrecking Crew .....................................22 Jii’x Srt’iiss ..............................................22 Air Cane ...............................................22 Map: The Building Site .............................23 A Little Corner of Mars ................................24 Dining Out .................................................25 The Sands Of Mars .....................................25 Staff of the Sands of Mars ........................26 A Memorable Meal .....................................27 Map: The Sands Of Mars ...........................27

Sha’eenda Hus’aalsh ................................28 Trouble Shooting ........................................29 Bombe Surprise ..........................................29 Martian Bombers .....................................29 Parting Shots ..............................................30

PArt 2: A PASSAge to mArS ................. 31

chAPter iV: the Princess AlexAndrA ... 32 A Day To Remember ...................................32 Combat Using Sky Galleons of Mars ........32 Map: White Star Line Terminal ..................33 First Impressions ........................................34 Welcome Aboard The Princess Alexandra ...35 ..Deckplans: Princess Alexandra .............37 Passenger List ............................................38 John Douglas, Marquis Of Queensbury .....38 Lord Alfred Douglas .................................38 Hirakaya Nakimutura & Family .................38 W.G. Grace & W.G. Grace Jr .....................38 ..Illustration: The Passengers. ..................39 Miss Matilda Van Cleef .............................40 Patrick Wendle MP & Family .....................40 Sir Eric Thwaite ........................................40 Captain Hugh Crammond .........................40 Professor Strabismås ................................40 Father A.J. Moriarty ..................................40 The Pressburgers .....................................41 The Hoffmans ..........................................41 Captain Gordon Carstairs .........................41 Leutnant Fritz Kempff ...............................41 Lady Jane Evans & Miss Charlotte Green ..41 The Plants ................................................41 The Bracegirdles ......................................42 Miskiita Ch’kya.........................................42 Kurt Bechwold .........................................42 Iko Takimato ...........................................42 Gladys Nicholson .....................................42 Grommett ................................................42 Arthur Grove & Sidney Collis ....................42 Spiif & Zlash ............................................42 Steerage Passengers ...................................42 The Crew ...................................................42

chAPter V: A meSSAge from home ....... 44 The Captain Would Like To See You ............44 What Am I Bid? ...........................................45

chAPter Vi: ShiPS thAt PASS in the night .. 47 A Shattering Blow .......................................47 The Morning After... ...................................49 In The Ocean of Night .................................51 Shotshell Pistol ........................................54 Landfall ......................................................54

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PArt 3: with roD AnD gun ABoVe the

cAnAlS of mArS ............................. 57

chAPter Vii: Peril in PArhoon .............. 58 A Sticky Wicket ...........................................58 Spuulin Dunoos .......................................59 Trouble With The Natives ............................60 An Odd Little Story .....................................62 Air Raid ......................................................62 Cultists From The Sky! .............................63 Map: Prince Albert Hotel, Third Floor ........63 Unwelcome Guests ....................................64 Trouble Shooting ........................................64 The Road To Gaaryan ..................................64 The Nimrod ................................................65 H’ftukk ....................................................65 Riding The Wind ........................................65 Siditkayaa Dunoos ...................................65

chAPter Viii: weStwArD to gAAryAn ... 66 Beyond The Empire ....................................66 Little Bird of Passage Stats .....................66 Typical Crewmen ....................................67 Deckplans: Little Bird Of Passage............67 In Enemy Skies ...........................................68 Black Sails In The Sunset ............................69 Cards: Avenger & Little Bird Sky Galleon 70 Noachis ......................................................70 South by South-West ..................................70 Movement In The Storm ..............................71 Map: Foothills of Noachis .........................71 Crash Landings & Crashes ..........................72 Repairs .......................................................72

PArt 4: Born to Be King ..................... 73

chAPter iX: the eye of the BuilDerS .... 73 Welcome To Gaaryan ..................................73 Eak’ijiis Grouivr .......................................73 Typical Canal Priests ................................74 Canal Priest Cavalry & Guards ..................74 The Temple of The Keepers .........................74 The Temple & Gaaryan ...............................75 Temple Buildings .......................................75 Map: The Temple Grounds .......................75 Map: The Dome .......................................76

Map: The Chapel ......................................77 Perpetual Motion Machines ..........................78 Meet The New Boss... ..................................80 Glaar Skuguu ..........................................80 What The Stars Foretell ...............................81 Lliis Hadfii................................................81 A Day In The Life ........................................82 Escape Plans ..............................................83 The Boy’s Book of Flying Wonders ............83 Take The Wheel ..........................................84 Public Relations ..........................................84 An Unfortunate Accident .............................84 Chapter X: Happily Ever After? ...................85 An Unexpected Reunion ..............................85 Constable Brian Daley, aka Finn McEwan ..87 A Whisper In The Dark ................................87 Epilogue ........................................................88

hAnDoutS Whitely Handbill ............................................89 Whitely Handbill Reverse ................................90 Telegram .......................................................91 Audley’s Card ................................................91 Growler .........................................................91 The Great Wheel ............................................91 White Star Line Terminal Full Page Map ..........92 Sky Galleons Card: Fenian Spear ....................93 Sky Galleons Card: Aerial Steam Launch .......93 Sky Galleons Card: Avenger .........................93 Sky Galleons Card: Little Bird Of Passage ....93 Welcome Aboard ...........................................94 Princess Alexandra Info ................................95 Princess Alexandra Deckplans ......................96 Passenger Illustrations ...................................97 Princess Alexandra Deckplans With Grid .......98 Princess Alexandra Passenger List ...............100 Little Bird Of Passage Deckplans With Grid .101 Prince Albert Hotel Plans With Grid ..............101 Foothills of Noachis (Storm) Map ..................102 Temple Grounds Map ...................................103 Chapel Plan .................................................103 Space 1889 Resources ................................104 Space 1889 Character Sheet .......................105 Forgotten Futures Ad ..................................106 Savage Worlds Space 1889: Red Sands Ad .107

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The CompleTe Canal priesTs of mars 1

prologue: sniper aT The gaTes of dawn

Sand grains rustle under a f a i n t d r y b r e e z e , occasionally glowing and

crackling where friction has built up charges of static electricity. The glow is slowly lost as a tiny moon rises above distant hills, and the powdery sand dunes are dimly illuminated by its feeble light. Far away, there is the shrill cry of some small animal which has encountered a larger predator, swiftly extinguished as it dies. It is night at the edge of the Martian desert.

Two cloaked and hooded figures work their way along one of the sand ridges, making sure that they are never silhouetted against the moonlight. Sand shoes muffle their footsteps and reduce their tracks to shallow depressions, quickly erased by the chilly night wind. Now and again there is a faint clink of metal on metal. Eventually they reach their goal; a near-vertical ridge of ancient rock, about eighty feet high, that separates the desert from the canal zone. They shed their shoes

and start to climb.From the summit it is possible

to smell the slightly moist air of the canal zone. One of the Martians wrinkles his nose, and sniffs disapprovingly. The other gestures for silence, pointing at some dim lights at the base of the slope below the ridge. Carefully they erect a small tent, painted the exact color of the rock, and camouflage it with sand and shards of rock.

They freeze as they hear the thumping rhythm of a small troop

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of gashant-mounted cavalry, patrolling lower down the hill, and wait for them to ride past before completing their work and entering the tent.

Dawn. The shrill yapping of a small pack of roogies welcomes the first rays

of the rising sun, followed by the grunts and cries of various domesticated animals. The dim light reveals a walled compound a hundred yards from the base of the ridge, containing several buildings and a luxuriant garden. A door bangs as an early riser starts the day’s chores.

On the ridge, a flap in the side of the tent opens, to reveal a long metal gun barrel, followed by the tube of a spy-glass, with a deep hood around the lens. Both have been carefully scoured and rusted to stop them reflecting the light.

Time passes. As the morning gets brighter, the noise of a gong drifts out from the compound, and Martians stream into the largest building.

“Where is he?” says one of the watchers on the ridge.

“Patience. It’s not bright enough for a clear shot yet. He always goes into the garden after they finish their prayers, I’ll get him then.”

Later, as the compound dwellers return from prayers, the duo intensify their watch.

“Is that him?”“No. Too young, and he isn’t

wearing the Amulet”“That one, then?”“Too old and fat.”An old priest walks into the

garden, accompanied by two richly-clothed hand-maidens and a small boy.

“Now!”The long gun booms, and a

heavy ball whistles down to the garden. The boy staggers back and falls. He twitches and lies still.

“Perfect! He is down... you have

hit him in the heart!”“Praise to the Old Ones! The

Worm shall triumph!”There is a fusillade of musket

shots f rom guards on the compound wall, aimed at the gun’s smoke but falling far short. As the first troops ride from the compound towards the hill, the cultists draw their swords and prepare to die for their faith.

prolog: sniper aT The gaTes of Dawn

In one of the towers of the Temple, an ageing priest pores over a huge sheet of

parchment, covered with complex signs and formulae. He studies an orrery, thumbs an abacus, then consults a thick scroll. He frowns in disbelief, crumples the parchment, and starts his calculations again.

Behind him, the acting High Priest coughs, and asks “Do you have anything for me yet?”

“I must have made a mistake, there’s no way that this can be right. Come back in the evening, I should have finished by then.”

Evening. The astrologer completes his fifth series of equations, and studies

the result again. He turns to the acting High Priest.

“Well, I’ve checked this by three different methods, and I get the same thing every time.”

“Go on. Where will he be born? Parhoon? Umbra?”

“If only it was as simple as that.”

“One of the Kraags? You don’t mean that he will be born a savage!”

“It’s worse than that. I can’t explain this result at all. By every test that I can make, he will not be born anywhere on Mars! The High Priest will be re-born in the skies!”

“How can that be possible?”“See here, and here. Again and

again, the sky symbol, linked to this planet. There is no doubt. He will be reincarnated in the heavens.”

“Which planet is that?”“One of the inner ones. Does

it matter?”“This is madness. How can you

explain it?”“I don’t know. I just don’t

know....”

When Edison crash-landed on Mars, the acting High Priest got his answer....

Afternoon. Priests lay out the body of the boy. A line of mourners waits to

pay the last respects. In one of the upper chambers, the acting High Priest talks to his acolytes.

“Did either cultist say anything before he died?”

“No. Both were killed in the fight.”

“Have Lieutenant Wee’zuus disciplined. He should have taken them alive.”

“It shall be done.”“How did they identify the High

Priest?”“We suspect one of the servants,

Sha’eenda Hus’aalsh. She left the Temple ten days ago, to visit a sick sister in Parhoon. None of the other women had heard of this sister before.”

“Find out if the story is true—if not, I doubt that we’ll see her again. Check everyone; there is obviously a spy in the Temple. Report to me if you learn anything; I’ll be with the astrologer.”

“Let us hope that he died at an auspicious moment.”

“We’ll soon know. Somehow I doubt it. This assassination was carefully planned, they wouldn’t make such a simple mistake.”

An Orrey.

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The CompleTe Canal priesTs of mars 3

inTroduCTion: unTo us a Child is BornThe Canal Keepers

Most Martians are apathetic about the gradual decay of their planet, but there are some exceptions. Much of the work of reclamation and canal repair is coordinated by the Canal Keepers of Gaaryan, a cult founded by Seldon II, which is possibly the most widespread religion on Mars. The priests consider it their sacred duty to repair the entire canal system. The High Priest of the cult is believed to be Seldon reincarnated. If he dies, his soul enters another child who is conceived at the exact moment of death. The birthplace of the new High Priest is found by a complicated astrological process, which narrows down the search to a small area. Patient investigation then finds a child who was conceived at the exact moment the High Priest died. All cult activities, other than routine operation of locks and other canal facilities, are suspended during the search for the new High Priest.

The worm CulTisTsFollowers of the Cult of the Worm

believe that Mars is doomed. Any attempt to stop the inevitable decline of their race is treated as darkest heresy. Naturally, they are opposed to groups like the Canal Keepers who try to fight the decay of civilization. Although the cult originated with the High Martians, there are adherents amongst all three Martian races, and many sub-cults with little or no connection to the original cult (whose nature is revealed in the adventure Beastmen of Mars).

The assassinaTion planA High Priest of the Canal

Keepers died three Martian years before the events of the prologue, and the search for a replacement took most of a year.

Canal transport was badly disrupted for much of that time. Members of one of the Canal Martian sub-cults of the Worm realized that they could paralyze the Canal Keepers by making them repeat the process, in circumstances which would make it almost impossible to find an heir.

The Cultists knew that the new High Priest was selected by astrological divination. They gave their own astrologer all the information they could find on the birth of the current High Priest, and instructed him to find a death moment that would cause the maximum amount of confusion. He succeeded beyond their wildest dreams; once every nine years the system produced an extraordinary result, a period of a few hours in which there was no possible birthplace on Mars! By then the child would be three years old, roughly six in Earth years.

The Worm Cultists contacted Sha’eenda Hus’aalsh, a temple servant who was their principal spy at the Canal Keepers’ main temple near Gaaryan. She wasn’t in a position to assassinate the child, but could describe him and draw his picture. He could also be identified by the Amulet of Seldon, a medallion that is worn by the High Priest.

After the child was killed, events proceeded as the Worm Cultists expected. The Canal Keepers lost much of their drive, and the condition of many canals deteriorated. No new reclamation works have been undertaken by the Keepers, though some local governments run their own repair projects on a smaller scale. Most European colonists don’t know of the cult’s former importance, the knowledgeable minority think that it has died out. No Earthman is aware of the importance of

Seldon’s reincarnation in this religion; it is one of the most sacred aspects of the faith, never discussed with outsiders.

selDon rebornWhen Edison landed, the Canal

Keepers decided that there could only be one explanation for the mystery; the reincarnated High Priest had been conceived (and presumably born) as an Earthman. Unfortunately it took them many years to learn more of Earth and refine their astrological techniques to deal with conditions on another planet. Eventually they were able to calculate the exact place of birth. Careful investigation has narrowed the search down to one man; one of the player characters!

The Canal Keepers have decided to lure the reincarnation of Seldon to Mars, and enthrone him as their new High Priest. When this has been done, they want to ensure that the next High Priest will be born on Mars. Accordingly, he must spend the rest of his life in their temple. To stop him feeling lonely, he must be accompanied by a few friends. The Acting High Priest is now on Earth, arranging the final details of a complex plot to lure “Seldon” to Mars.

Naturally the Worm Cultists know that something is going on, but they don’t have many details. The Keepers weeded out most of their agents after the assassination, and they have no-one in the inner circle of the faith. They have guessed that the Keepers are looking for the new High Priest on Earth, and are outraged at the thought of such a blasphemous succession. Although their religion does not stress reincarnation, the Worm Cultists are not free of superstition; they won’t frustrate the Canal Keepers’ plan by revealing the truth to “Seldon,”

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in case this information somehow reactivates his memories of previous incarnations. After all, Seldon would be their most deadly enemy if he were reborn, and it’s best to take no chances.

Sha’eenda Hus’aalsh is now the Worm Cult’s agent on Earth, and has recruited several helpers in the Martian quarter of London’s Whitechapel. Knowing that most Martians loathe the Worm Cult, she has tricked her recruits into believing that she is a priestess of the Ground Cleanser Cult, whose main aim is the end of Terran colonialism on Mars. She disguises ritual killings as assassinations and initiation ceremonies, and has ensnared many young Martians in her web of deceit. She is poised to strike as soon as she learns the identity of the new High Priest.

Meanwhile, other organizations h ave b e c o m e aw a re t h a t something is happening, and are making their own plans to investigate or take advantage of the situation.

Naturally the characters know nothing of these events; as the adventure opens they are in London, dealing with an entirely different matter.

Choosing selDonAsk all the players to choose

birth dates for their characters. Don’t explain why you are doing this.

Any character who was born before 1870 (aged 19 or more in 1889) can be the reincarnated High Priest. No exact date for the murder is specified; if you prefer, it could have taken place shortly after Edison landed, since it would take some time for the news to reach Gaaryan. In this case Seldon must be very young. Although the High Priest is traditionally male, the Canal Keepers believe that it is possible for a male spirit to reincarnate in a female body, so female player characters need not be ruled out

of consideration as the possible reborn High Priest.

Martian player characters should not be Seldon reincarnated, since the Canal Keepers would find them and the problems described above would not occur. Martian player characters should NOT be members of the Canal Keeper cult; they should know that the religion exists, and used to do a lot to keep the canals navigable, but should not know any other details of the faith.

Other non-humans may be Seldon reborn; however, you will need to change the details of the way the priests find the character to reflect their racial origin.

It isn’t necessary to make a final choice until the adventurers arr ive at the Canal Keepers temple at Gaaryan. There might be a problem if you select a character who is killed early in the adventure, or one run by a player who later drops out of the campaign. It is probably best to make a final selection later in the adventure, and choose a character who has acted in a suitably heroic manner.

Any character volunteering to carry the Amulet of Seldon without prompting, and for unselfish reasons, should be preferred in the role of Seldon reborn.

opTional subploTsThis adventure assumes that

there is no reality in the Martian belief that Seldon has been reborn as one of the player characters, and that the Amulet of Seldon has no supernatural powers. If you prefer, it is possible to change events to assume some mystical power behind either or both of these beliefs. Both of these options require some extra work by the referee.

If Seldon really has been re-born, you should choose him early in the adventure, and describe a series of dreams about Mars, which gradually become clearer and more coherent as

the adventurers near the temple. Events within this adventure should be modified to protect the character from serious harm; for example, all attacks should do minimal damage or miss completely. When the Canal Keepers reveal the “truth,” the character should be told that he has just realized that he really is Seldon. Once this occurs, the character must make moderate Intellect rolls to take any actions which conflict with the interests of the Canal Keepers. Optionally, oppose the characters’ Intellect to that of Seldon (6), with the winner making the final decision. Other players are not affected by this internal conflict.

If the Amulet really has unusual powers, you must decide what they are. For example, it might allow weak telekinesis (lifting Intellect ounces at a maximum distance of Intellect feet), pyrokinesis, or some other psychic ability, once it has been “recharged” by prayer. Naturally this recharging becomes a much more important element in the adventure. If you are also using the first optional plot, the Amulet will only work for the true Seldon.

preliminary evenTsThis adventure contains a large

number of incidents, which usually have several possible results. It isn’t possible to predict all the ways that players might behave, so be prepared to treat the text as a springboard for your own improvisation. If the plot doesn’t seem to be working as written, change the order of events.

If the player characters haven’t worked together before, you may wish to develop a common background that explains their involvement. In play-testing all of the characters were associated through varying relationships to Sir William Perkins, a blackmail victim who commits suicide before the adventure begins.

Early parts of this adventure are

inTroDuCTion: unTo us a ChilD is born

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The CompleTe Canal priesTs of mars 5

set on Earth and on board a liner bound for Mars. It’s advisable to ensure that the adventurers don’t have any other space transport (such as a private yacht) available. If the adventurers have previously taken part in adventures in the rule book and Tales From The Ether, they may own an Ether Flyer equipped with Cyrus Grant’s Ether Propellor Governor. If so, they receive the telegram below from America shortly before this adventure begins.

If the adventurers decide to check this message and visit Grant, they’ll find workmen pulling shards of broken equipment out of the walls of a wrecked laboratory. The prototype unit has exploded, destroying most of the instruments around it. Scientist characters may want to check the theory and help Grant with a new design; he explains that he has done the preliminary work, and

is waiting for the Edison company (who are now licensees for the Grant patents) to build some prototypes and test them in the huge vacuum chambers at Menlo Park. There’s nothing to be gained by impatience.

If the adventurers ignore this warning and decide to use their ether flyer, give them a bumpy ride! The flyer starts to roll and pitch within minutes after the ether drive is activated, then the governor disintegrates in a shower of smashed diamonds. The ether screw is damaged and loses most of its thrust, and the force of the explosion starts a slow leak in the solar boiler pipes. An emergency landing is imperative. If this happens while the adventurers are f lying to see Grant, there is just enough power to reach the landing field next to his laboratory, but the crash landing smashes liftwood

panels or other vital components. If they are travelling elsewhere, they end up in an embarrassingly inconvenient location (such as the grounds of a convent), and the flyer has to be transported to Grant’s laboratory by land and sea. In either case the flyer will need extensive repairs; luckily Grant feels responsible for the incident, and is prepared to pay for the work.

If the team has an ether flyer from another source, you may need to adapt these events. For example, there might be a general recall of a particular model of ether screw, with the same consequences.

Whatever happens, tr y to leave the team unharmed and in England; they should not be personally involved in repairs to their ether flyer. Two months pass, and the team become involved in an unpleasant scandal....

URGENT REPEAT URGENT WARNING STOP PROTOTYPE ETHER GOVERNOR

HAS FAILED DURING LONG TERM ENDURANCE TEST STOP SYMPTOMS

SUGGEST CUMULATIVE STRAIN AFFECTING CRYSTAL STRUCTURE COMMA

FAILURE LIKELY TO DESTROY ETHER SCREW STOP FAULT IS INHERENT

IN DESIGN STOP YOUR FLYER HAS OLDEST UNIT STILL IN SERVICE

STOP IMPERATIVE YOU GROUND FLYER PENDING REPLACEMENT OF

GOVERNOR AND RE HYPHEN CALIBRATION OF ETHER DRIVE STOP

ALL WORK WILL BE AT MY EXPENSE STOP ESTIMATE TWO TO THREE

MONTHS FOR REFIT STOP MANY APOLOGIES STOP GRANT

This Form must accompany any inquiry made respecting this Telegram.

POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS.Office Stamp.

If the Receiver of an Inland Telegram doubts its accuracy, he may have it repeated on payment of half the amount originally paid

for its transmission, any fraction of 1 d. less than 1/2 ; and if it be found that there was any inaccuracy, the amount paid for repetition will be refunded. Special conditions are applicable to the repetition of Foreign Telegrams.

Charges

to pay}.............................Handed in at Office of Origin and Service Instructions.

Words. Received here

See page 91 in the handouts section for a ready-to-print version.

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