Sell-Swords of Mars
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Adamant Entertainment is pleased to present Sell-Swords of Mars¸ an adventure for our Savage Worlds setting of swords and science beneath the moons of Mars!
The s un beat down from the pink-tinted sky¸ and Jarket Jarul plucked off his helmet to wipe the sweat from his brow. Here¸ on the verge of the canal¸ the air was marginally cooler¸ but he could see shimmers of heat rising from the surrounding hills. Another hour's travel and he would be at the ancient bridges that spanned the Pi-Ramesh Canal. Even now¸ he could see them ahead¸ through the heat-haze. The single¸ threadlike blue-silver span that arched across the canal was a truly ancient bridge¸ made in the days when the canals were first dug¸ beautiful¸ delicate - and impractically narrow for the commercial traffic of the present era. Just beyond it was the heavy slab stonework of a slightly more recent bridge¸ still centuries old and packed with traffic. A single battered desert-runner jockeyed for position among the beast-drawn farm- carts crossing the canal on their way into Pi-Ramesh.
Suddenly¸ a piercing sound rent the morning air. Amplified to the point of pain¸ the note held for a breath¸ then changed to a falling tone that ended in a near-growl that thrummed deep in Jarket's chest. His mount reared¸ terrified¸ and he struggled to keep hold of its bridle¸ but his reactions were too slow¸ and Jarket was dumped into the dusty road as his jalf bolted away. As he rose to one knee¸ the two-toned cry rang out again. Crouching in the roadway¸ Jarket looked away from the skittish animal¸ seeking some view of whatever had startled it.
There¸ beyond the far bridge¸ was the source of that terrible sound - a great triple-legged fighting machine! As he watched¸ paralyzed in awe¸ another machine came into view¸ and then another! Grey Men!
Terror gripped Jarket Jarul's heart¸ for he had never seen the deadly artifacts of the Grey Men before - but all of Mars knew the tales of the destruction they brought. He scrambled to his feet¸ ready to flee¸ even though he knew not where to go.
But then¸ from each of the tripods came a new sound¸ a ‘whooshing' noise unlike any he had ever heard before - and then¸ before his eyes¸ the bridges ahead were engulfed in flame! The mighty heat-rays of the Grey Men melted stone and steel alike¸ sending men¸ carts¸ and vehicles plunging into the canal below!
Jarket Jarul gulped breath¸ and felt the heat sting his lungs. He could see the wave of superheated air blasting toward him from the point of the attack. He drew another gulp of air¸ and sprinted for the canal! He dove from its metal-clad edge¸ and plunged into the water below¸ just as a wave of fire passed over the spot where he had been. His jalf¸ panicked and fleeing¸ was instantly incinerated.
Within seconds of the attack's beginning¸ it was over. Twisted metal and melted stone dammed the canal¸ and the blackened bits of men and animals drifted downstream with the now-trickling water.
Beyond the wreckage¸ the hood of one of the great war machines lifted toward the sky¸ and the terrible hooting cry of the Grey Men sounded once more over the desolation.
The heroes are mercenaries¸ seeking work among the lesser independent cities of Mars. When an attack dams up the only canal of the city of Pi-Ramesh¸ the city's young Queen hires these Sell-Swords of Mars to come to her aid as the city's lifeblood dries up. Can the heroes stop the onslaught of a seemingly unstoppable enemy¸ and save the weakened city?
This adventure requires both the Savage Worlds rule book and the MARS setting book in order to play. For bes