Barsoom is dying. Howsoever the peoples of that planet struggle, their world hurtles inexorably toward its terminus. Such conditions breed harsh weather and harsher men and women. Yet, unlike the disparate nations of our Earth (Jasoom), in those circumstances most dire and testing, a majority of Barsoomians cleave to honor rather than raw savagery.

Ah, but there is savagery — vast gulfs exist between those living in the towering spindles of Helium and those eking out an existence in oppressive slums and dangerous wastes, where the wise go heavily armed, and slavery is routine. It is in these deplorable, latter conditions the player characters begin their first venture into this beautiful but deadly landscape.

As we begin our adventure, the fearsome green Martians known as the Warhoon have captured you and are forcing you to fight for sport and amusement in their legendary pits. There is not a moment’s breath to worry over death, for, even now, you are pushed out of your pens into the stark Barsoomian sun.

---

Piercing sunlight lanced down into the bloody sand from the circular opening of the arena. Cheering Warhoons cried their bloodlust into the hot day's dying light. The gladiatorial arena was at least seventy feet deep.  It was sheer and unclimbable without inviting attacks from the  Warhoons above. A dome made from the bones of some great, unnamed beast formed a cage atop the pit.

This place was unusual for such Warhoon pits, which were usually uncovered to afford a better view of their captives’ demise, a fact that any Barsoomian native with experience with the green horde would know.

However, there was no time for speculation, as a group of gladiators advanced to the Arena Center. Among them were four capable warriors — two red Martians and two Tharks. They charged without mercy as the captors closed the gates to the pens behind the newcomers, cruel and hateful laughter on their tongues.

"Fight," the guard shouted from behind the closed gate, "or die on your knees!"

In the sand, along the Arena Edge and covered in blood and gore, laid a pile of swords and daggers. Among the diminished weapons were several newer additions. There were precious few seconds left to grab armaments. The first spear was already in flight, headed straight at the newcomers.

This message was last edited by the GM at 22:37, Sat 18 July 2020.

The cacophony of Warhoon cheer, jeers and revelry filling your ears, echoing down into the gladiatorial pit.  Demetrius is shocked to recognize that another Earthman is here before the unknown red woman cries out in words he does not understand but what can only be a warning.   But for Nantas this is all too familiar.  As the pair of red gladiators grab spears and hurl then towards the group and the woman cries, "Beware!" he spies a blade nearby among the pile of weapons left for those who would entertain the Warhoon with their lives.

2 gladiators will throw spears at Nantas and Demetrius (of course).  These are ranged attacks so they'll use Cunning + Reason (11-).  They're at Away range (in the next zone) so it's a D2 challenge to hit either of you.


08:16, Today: Jeddak rolled 18 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,2.  Red Martian Gladiator throw Spear (11-).
- 2 = 2 Successes, 16 = miss
2 Successes = D2 so that's a hit with no extra Momentum

08:16, Today: Jeddak rolled 23 using 2d20 with rolls of 19,4.  Red Martian Gladiator throw Spear (11-).
- 4 = 2 Successes, 19 = miss
2 Successes = D2 so that's also a hit with no extra Momentum

Each of you can attempt to avoid the hit by rolling your Daring + Empathy.  You only need 1 success to cancel the single success they currently have.

The Warhoon gladiators appear to await the outcome of spears, stretching and taking their time to size up these new opponents before closing to engage.

Once you've determined if either of the spears hit you feel free to take your turn.  See Reference thread Action Types table (the 1st one) for list of things you can do during your turn
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:29, Mon 20 July 2020.

22:30, Today: Nantas rolled 19 using 2d20 with rolls of 18,1.  Daring + Empathy = 12.

2 successes from the 1
Nantas has no trouble plotting the path of the spear as it flies towards him.  When it strikes the sand of the arena he is no longer standing there

Nantas please take your turn.  I'll hold the 2 NPCs until players have declared their actions.  NPCs may also follow player orders.  Maybe.  If it fits their nature ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:49, Mon 20 July 2020.

It has been, in simple words, the longest two days of Demetrius' Esper's life. Since wakening alonge and naked on the plain sands of Mars, he wandered for a half-day, wondering if he would die of thirst on this bizarre new place. He was relieved at first when rescued--until it was clear that he was no more than a prize to the green giants who found him.

They at least fed him something semi-recognizable as food and gave him odd-tasting water to drink. This allowed him to regain his senses and learn to walk properly. This place seemed to be of lighter gravity than earth, and so his level of strength was proportionately higher here. He did not have much time to contemplate this before being thrown into the arena.

Now, alone in a mad world, Demetrius figured out the next step. He grabbed a sturdy, curved blade--rather like the one he practiced with in martial arts at home--and stood with the blade in one hand, waiting for the others to make their moves...

Grab a blade. Spend round actively defending against enemies' attack, leveraging Thinks Fast on his Feet.

I don't see any maneuver/action like Active Defense; you're basically always actively defending.  You can still move and attack.  The physical attack for that talent is a melee; so I'm assuming you're going to at least Move to Immediate range to one of the gladiators.  Which one?  That talent doesn't preclude you from attacking as well
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:40, Tue 21 July 2020.

Nantas knows that is fate is grim, right now, but there is a chance that the blades eventually will help him conquer his future. He didn't expect anything much different from this situation, so he isn't too upset. He grabs the two closest blades and rushes to engage whoever threw the spear against him in a melee combat.

11:45, Today: Nantas rolled 14 using 2d20 with rolls of 12,2.  attack.

As Nantas charges the gladiators in the center one of the Warhoon steps forward to meet him, blade vs blade!

Melee uses Cunning + Daring by default, for Nantas thats 9+9.  18- you score a success. 9- you score 2 successes.  So with a 12 & 2 that's 3 total successes.  Now let see if the Warhoon can defend against those.  He'll use Daring + Passion to bravely meet your charge.    For him that will be 5 + 4, so he'll get 1 success each time he rolls 9- and 2 successes for each 4-.
02:27, Today: Jeddak rolled 10 using 2d20 with rolls of 6,4.  Warhoon Gladiator Defend vs Nantas, 9- / 4- .
- Warhoon managed 3 successes, will take no damage


The savage Warhoon parry's Nantas' blade and for a moment the two are locked in place, Nantas staring into the cruel eyes of his savage enemy.

I'll post actions for Aeryn and Patterson tomorrow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:33, Tue 21 July 2020.

With what Demetrius assumes is a curse the red woman looks over the assorted weapons before finally taking a blade of her own.  She calls something to both remaining men before sprinting after the green giant to engage the gladiators.

The green gladiator stands more than twice as tall as the red woman but she never hesitates, with a dive past the giant she springs to her feet and slashes.
With Blade or Bullet - when attacking with melee or firearm use Daring
08:01, Today: Aeryn Arj rolled 19 using 2d20 with rolls of 6,13.  Melee vs Green Gladiator, 14-/6-.
- 3 successes

08:03, Today: Jeddak rolled 35 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,19.  Green Gladiator Defend vs Aeryn, 9-/4-.
- 0 successes, Aeryn has 2 more successes than she needed so she gains 2 momentum, she'll reserve both

Swords roll 2 damage die and are Sharp, causing 1 injury for any Effect rolled
08:11, Today: Jeddak rolled 7 using 2d6 with rolls of 2,5.  Aeryn dmg.
- 1 dmg + 1 dmg & Effect = Green Martian Gladiator takes 3 Injury stress; they don't actually have separate stress trackers like characters do so he just takes 3 stress

The woman's sword draws a thin line of green along the green man's thigh as he completely misses his parry.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:34, Tue 21 July 2020.

"She's right," the man near him admits, thankfully in a language Demetrius undertands, as he quickly moves to take a weapon of his own, "It's kill or be killed here.  No quarter asked or given.  We need to help each other."

With that he sprints after the pair ahead of him.  Demetrius can see the pair of green men engage in battle while the red woman confronts the 2nd.  The Human moves to assist the red woman, hoping to eliminate one of the gladiators probably.

Bounding after her, the man appears to be no stranger to combat.  As the woman goes low he leaps high and takes a vicious swing at the giant.
Heavy Blade - when attacking with melee, roll an extra d20 and if successful do an extra d6 of damage

08:21, Today: Patterson Brood rolled 15 using 3d20 with rolls of 2,6,7.  Melee vs Green Gladiator, 12-/5-
- 4 successes

08:22, Today: Jeddak rolled 22 using 2d20 with rolls of 16,6.  Green Gladiator Defend vs Patterson, 9-/4-
- 1 success, Patterson has 2 extra successes and gains 2 Momentum

For damage, Sword is 2 dice + Patterson's Heavy Blade talent adds another + he'll spend both Momentum gained here for a total of 5
08:24, Today: Jeddak rolled 20 using 5d6 with rolls of 4,5,4,5,2.  Patterson dmg.
- 1-2 = 1 dmg, 3-4's = 0, 5-6's = 1 dmg + 1 effect; Green man takes 5 more stress

Another gash opens on the green gladiator's chest though he makes no cry of pain.

Demetrius stands by the pile of weapons, one in hand, and realizes he must act and act now.

Will give Demetrius an opportunity to finish his turn before I let the 2 green gladiators take theirs.  You still have a Move, Conflict and Speech actions left if you choose to take them.  Turns aren't any fixed amount of time; the combatants are all still whirling and fighting but no major actions take place until each rolls.

[OOC: can I use my QUICK DISARM (GRADE 3) Talent, now?]

Circumstance: When parrying an attack.

When the gladiator attacks and you successfully defend by countering all of his damage (feel pretty certain that will happen though it did surprise me that he actually countered your 3 successes so who knows) THEN you get to roll your immediate Counter-attack.  Nice that that talent doesn't cost you Momentum to use.

I think I actually made 1 mistake already.  Patterson did 5 Stress to the gladiator he and Aeryn double-teamed.  5 Stress in a single attack after target has tried to Defend OR filling the target's stress bar counts as an Affliction.  These guys can only take 2 Afflictions and they're out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:43, Wed 22 July 2020.

Demetrius is shocked as the other human speaks English to him. He nods grimly and runs forward, trying to run as if padding lightly on a rice pad on Earth; even this sends him bounding forward. He leaps into the air, twirling acrobatically as he does; he has his left arm straight in front of him as he brings the blade to bear with his other hand in a classic one-two punch from his bushido training.

Move up and attack the same green martian as the other human and the red martian. One success. If that should be a hit, does 3 damage, plus 2 Injuries (from blade) and whatever effect one gets from an unarmed punch.

21:03, Today: Demetrius Esper rolled 6,6,5,3 using 1d6,1d6,1d6,1d6 with rolls of 6,6,5,3.  Damages: 2D from blade, 2D from Talent
20:58, Today: Demetrius Esper rolled 29 using 2d20 with rolls of 13,16.  Melee attack on green martian #2.</orange>

Green man Defends with Daring + Passion
21:00, Today: Jeddak rolled 20 using 2d20 with rolls of 11,9.  Green Gladiator Defend vs Demetrius, 9-/4-.
- 1 success, he manages to defend Demetrius' attack.

Edit: By the way, great idea prerolling the damage!

This message was last edited by the GM at 02:43, Wed 22 July 2020.