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10:36, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Counting Padans to Zodanga.

Posted by JeddakFor group 0
Jeddak
GM, 63 posts
Threat: 5
Tue 13 Oct 2020
at 01:21
  • msg #1

Counting Padans to Zodanga

The rock of the building-sizes wagon is relaxing but for the oppressive heat, the stink of body odor, and the general despair of those poor souls you can see imprisoned near you.  Aeryn and Nantas are familiar with these behemoth wagons, used to ferry goods along the trade routes between the few remaining Martian great cities.  A handful of smaller wagons and a dozen mounted thoat steeds travel with the main vehicle, serving as guards.  There are several guards stationed upon your level and who pass frequently upon patrol.  You can only assume the lower levels are equally manned.

From the direction you travel, Aeryn and Nantas believe the destination to be the Red Martian city of Zodanga.
Nantas
player, 62 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 4/9/9
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Tue 13 Oct 2020
at 22:12
  • msg #2

Counting Padans to Zodanga

"Zodanga!" Nantas never saw before that famous city!
Demetrius Esper
player, 53 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 8/6/8
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Tue 13 Oct 2020
at 23:46
  • msg #3

Counting Padans to Zodanga

Demetrius had been slowly but surely learning how to flirt with Aeryn. Language and cultural barriers made this an interesting endeavor, but he was up for the challenge--at least in his mind!

At this exclamation from his tusked companion, though, Demetrius turns and, first, in English, says, "Bless you," in jest. He then breaks into Martian. "That word is new to me. What is Zodanga?"
Nantas
player, 63 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 4/9/9
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Wed 14 Oct 2020
at 18:33
  • msg #4

Counting Padans to Zodanga

"Zodanga is one of the most famous and powerful cities of Barsoom! Somebody loves it for its power and its technology, somebody hates it for its desire to command and conquer... exploiting the land and its inhabitants with no restraint.
John Carter was often involved in the wars between Helium and Zodanga... who knows which face of Zodanga we will see... although, being slaves and gladiators, we have to keep our expectations very low: Zodanga is famous for squeezing the helpless."

This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Thu 15 Oct 2020.
Demetrius Esper
player, 54 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 8/6/8
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Thu 15 Oct 2020
at 18:04
  • msg #5

Counting Padans to Zodanga

Demetrius turns and eyes the place. "Sounds like Los Angeles. I hope they're ready for one Earthman to squeeze back. I don't mean to stay in chains forever." He leans back and flexes his muscles. He was still wrapping his brain around his new "superpowers" and the range of the possible. He at least had the math for dealing with gravity down, but a lot of the finer points of his new strength still needed to be worked out.
Jeddak
GM, 65 posts
Threat: 5
Fri 16 Oct 2020
at 01:49
  • msg #6

Counting Padans to Zodanga

"I know not this Los Angeles," Aeryn cautions, "but Zodanga is a dangerous city of Red Men.  Once it was a protectorate of Helium but it too has splintered and been lost in the decades of decline.  The Zodangan's resentment of their conquerors swelled a declaration of war against Helium though neither has engaged in more than occasional border skirmishes for many years.  But should two ships from the opposing cities chance upon one another in the open expanse of Barsoom they will attack without hesitation."

"The Zodangans were always a fractured, contentious lot; the city always a hotbed of sedition. Crime is rampant and even the Assassin's Guild, once thought destroyed, has shown signs of resurgence. It would be no great surprise to find that slaves are common in a great many of its nobles' houses but...I would not expect they would keep Green Men even for servitude.  Zodanga historically held the most fearsome enmity to the green hordes to include the destruction of any Green Man incubators they chanced to find.  Their goal no less that the eradication of the race in its entirety."


It is clear the Helium Navy scout has no love for one of the great enemies of her homeland.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:51, Fri 16 Oct 2020.
Demetrius Esper
player, 55 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 8/6/8
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Sat 17 Oct 2020
at 03:54
  • msg #7

Counting Padans to Zodanga

Demetrius frowns at this revelation. "Well, that's a lot worse than Los Angeles, then. Some resemblance, but worse."

He cocks his head and smiles winningly at Aeryn. "Los Angeles is a large city on my world. It is filled with beautiful women, though none of them equal you in beauty."
Nantas
player, 65 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 4/9/9
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Sat 17 Oct 2020
at 10:55
  • msg #8

Counting Padans to Zodanga

"I noticed that you have no regret about killing to survive... for sure Jasoom trains its inhabitants adequately for the harsh living conditions on Barsoom... whether it is Los Angeles, or... Virginia."
Jeddak
GM, 66 posts
Threat: 5
Sat 17 Oct 2020
at 13:32
  • msg #9

Counting Padans to Zodanga

Aeryn glance about the squalid conditions and then her dirty form before smirking, "Oh yes, a rival to Deja Thoris I'm sure."  As usual she takes these comments with levity.

She awaits to hear Demetrius share more of Jasoom in answer to Nantas' question...
Demetrius Esper
player, 57 posts
Mom: 0 | S(C/F/I): 8/6/8
A (C/F/I): 0/0/0
Fri 23 Oct 2020
at 00:03
  • msg #10

Counting Padans to Zodanga

Demetrius begins to tell the group about Los Angeles. He first describes it physically--the valley, the rolling hills surrounding, the slope down to the Pacific. He lingers on his description of the Pacific, as this gets a reaction from the dwellers of this far land. In the back of his mind, he wondered if he was ever going to see an ocean again himself--this planet sounded quite dry!

He then described life in Los Angeles, emphasizing how it was mostly peaceful but with pockets of violence here and there. "But, the cities in my home do not fight each other. We are part of one nation that takes up half of our continent. And we do not even war with our northern neighbors. It is far more peaceful>"
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