Game Map Notes
SYRTIS MAJOR
THE CITY of Syrtis Major is situated at a major junction of several grand canals and was a major citystate and mercantile center for centuries before it became the capital of
Seldon's empire. The remains of the Imperial palaces are still imposing, although most of them were abandoned long ago. One of the smaller palaces is now inhabited by Amraamtaba
X, Prince of Syrtis Major, deposed by the British in 1880.
The City
THE MAJOR points of interest in Syrtis Major are shown on the opposite page and detailed below.
The Old Barracks: Originally one of the government buildings of Seldon's empire, it has been heavily rebuilt inside and out. The 5th Martian Foot is quartered here.
The New Barracks: This building was constructed by the British in 1887 and incorporates part of the old Martian Imperial Mint. The South Wales Borderers are quartered here, and this is the location of the main British arsenal on Mars.
The Emerald Palace: Constructed completely of the pale green Meroe limestone (hence its name), the Emerald Palace is now the residence of Amraamtaba X, Prince of Syrtis
Major. The Prince holds no power and is the last of his lineage. When he dies, his lands become crown property, and his children will be forbidden to call themselves "Prince"
by the Treaty of Parhoon, which ended the Second War of Parhoon Succession
and legalized the annexation of Syrtis Major (among other citystates) into the British colony. Amraamtaba's lands are already under the direct administration of the British governor, and his only income is a British subsidy. Amraamtaba quietly hates the British and
plots against them endlessly and incompetently.
The Residency: These buildings contain the offices and quarters of the governor-general of the colony. The residency is the administrative center of the colonial government. The
buildings are of human construction, and plants from Earth were imported to make the place as comfortable as possible for the farfiilies of Her Majesty's officials.
The Legation Compound: This area is a mixture of new human-built buildings and older buildings of Martian construction. The compound is surrounded by a low wall and contains
the diplomatic representatives of several nations. The following nations maintain embassies: the Empire of Germany, the Republic of France, the United States of America, and the Empire of Russia. The following maintain consulates, or ministries of less than full embassy status: the Kingdom of Italy, the Empire of Austria-Hungary, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Portugal, the Kingdom of Holland, the Holy See, and the King of Siam.
The Shipyards: This facility is the only fully equipped European shipyard on Mars, and is the only place where modern aerial gunboats can be built on the planet. Vessels of other
nations must either be purchased from the British or imported in pieces and assembled.
The Harbor District: Located at the junction of the canals, the Great Harbor once serviced the fleets of canal boats that came to Syrtis Major. Now it has become a criminal quarter, home for every sort of low character and wretched ne'er-do-well imaginable.
The Bazaar: This is the market for all the wealth and treasures of the world. Here, for a price, one can buy anything from a paper of dressmaker's pins to 100 Winchester Model 1886 repeaters.
The Explorer's Club: This rebuilt Martian building once housed the Martian canal excise offices under the Seldons. It now serves as a home away from home for members of the
Explorer's Club. Membership is restricted to British subjects, and the dues are s per annum.
Local Conditions
SEVERAL ELEMENTS of life combine to form the current local conditions.
Politics: Conditions are somewhat disrupted by the present war, and a spy scare is currently in effect. The majority of the population is still Martian, and it is feared that many
of them harbor secret anti-British and antihuman sympathies. Some quarters of the city are not safe for humans in parties of less then four, and they must be heavily armed even
in such numbers.
Crime: Crime is about the same as in London back on Earth: rampant. It is mostly crime against possessions, however. In most cases the criminals are more interested in
knocking their victims unconscious and making off with their goods than in killing them. Cases of out-and-out murder of humans are still fairly rare, but people do disappear, especially from the harbor district.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:56, Tue 01 Sept 2015.
