Through the Green Wastes

They rode through the vast sandy openness of the region, known as the Green Wastes as only the green men could survive for long there, for rest of the day.  Niven noted that the “sand” was not the same as Earth sand.  It was more akin to powdered volcanic stone, but reddish in color.

As the sun was setting, they were passing through a ravine, where it was cooler, when DH realized that there were approaching a Cazarn (Desert Wasp) nest.  A moment later, three giant insects emerged from the top of a small pile in the center of their path.

The guard dismounted and engaged with his twin scimitars.  A Cazarn approached and he sliced into three pieces.  Niven and Craven shot with their pistols from their mounts and killed the other two insects.

Three more emerged from the top of the mount before them.  Kallor and Craven spurred their war gashants to attack.  Craven attacked one in mid-air leaping over the chasm that was the nest entrance, but missed.  Niven dismounted and shot one with his Lee-Enfield.

Six more appeared.  The guard slew the insects with every strike.  The gashants and the swords slew the rest until no more appeared.

Camp for the Night

They made camp nearby.  All was quiet until on second watch, when Kallor was attacked by a Chu’grahk.  The massive six-limbed cat, with a row of small, sharp, horns along its back and dappled fur pounced on him and raked him savagely.  The commotion awakened Niven who rose to assist Kallor.

Craven woke up and activated his Deflection device.  Kallor defended himself while Niven ran up and attacked with his sword.  The Chu’grahk recovered from the blow.  Ruhkgar awakened and advanced, swords drawn.  Kallor retreated.  Niven, Ruhkgar and Craven all hit with their swords but could not pierce its hide.  The beast attacked Craven but did not hurt him.

The beast attacked Craven and knocked him down.  Ruhkgar hit it and stunned it.  Kallor drew his sword and attacked to no effect.  Niven hit well and nearly cut off its head.  The Chu’grahk dropped to the ground.

Kallor continued on third watch.  There were no encounters.  He bound his wounds, and then field dressed the beast to take the hide. Then he started a perfect fire for roasting the meat.  Ruhkgar tried to cut off the Chu’grahk’s head as a trophy, but mangled it.  He took the teeth instead.

Niven took 4th watch.  A Busharbal burst from beneath him and attacked.  He shot and missed.  Craven and Kallor were awakened by the shot.  The creature slapped Niven with a tentacle to no effect.  Niven missed with his sword.  Craven hit with his sword to no effect.  Kallor moved into position.  Ruhkgar awakened and charged up.

Niven sliced into the Busharbal and stunned it.  Kallor stabbed its trunk and killed it.  They dumped it in the carrion pile.  The rest of the night was quiet.

Continuing On

In the morning, a mass of carrion creatures were descending on the remains of the Chu’grahk and Busharbal.  They packed up and departed quickly.  Around midday, they came across a large herd of eegar.  The giant grazers filled the open space before them  for a distance in both directions.  Ruhkgar advanced making loud noises.  The herd separated to let the caravan through.

Toward the end of the day, they arrived at the outcropping marking the shore of the ancient sea.  There were numerous caves in it.  Kallor searched and found a large cave that was sufficient to shelter them and their mounts.  Ruhkgar collected rocks to protect the entrance.  The night was quiet.  As the sun was rising, Niven noted three gashants grazing below them.  

When they awoke, Craven suggested that the gashants would enable them to lighten the load of their beasts.  Kallor approached slowly on his mount.  The newcomers approached looking for food.  Kallor lassoed them and added them to the caravan.  They unloaded the baggage from the two war gashants and continued on to the Sardai village.

The Sardai Village

Around noon on the third day, Kallor advised them that they were getting close to the Sardai camp. They crossed a field of orange water-weeds. Kallor grew concerned, as they should have seen signs of Red Nomad life at this point. The field was only half-cultivated.  When they arrived at the location of the camp, there was nothing but barren plain.

Ruhkgar discouvered burial mounds.  He knew that Red Nomads needed to be ready to move at a moment’s notice. Often, this was preceded by a violent encounter, usually with a Green Martian tribe. Many times, the Red Nomads needed to move while some of their number was away, hunting, gathering, or scouting.   They buried the dead in the direction they were going, using the center of the camp as a guide.  Using the mounds, the hunters could find their way back to the tribe.

Kallor knew that Water-Weeds were a prized plant amongst the Red Nomads. They resembled orange straw and grew to about a foot in height. Water-weeds produced their own water, which sat in the center of the straw. Properly cultivated, a small bundle of water-weeds could provide enough water for a Martian for a day.  Kallor suggested cultivating enough  water weed to replenish their supplies and satisfy the gashants.

However, water-weeds also had a side-benefit.  Animals came to graze the water-weeds, making it a good hunting ground and a dangerous place to be. While Red Men primarily went into a field of water-weeds for the water, Green Men used it to hunt.  While they were watering their mounts, one of the pack gashants was attacked by Spirit Hound.  The green hairless dog with blue tongue barely revealed itself before Ruhkgar and Niven cut it down.  

They waited for the animals to satisfy their thirst and then continued in the direction they had been heading.

Attack in the Night

In the evening, as the sun was setting and they arrived at a suitable camping spot, they discovered the bodies of four red women.  Caravan determined that they had been attacked by green men.  They buried the corpses and made camp.  Again the night was quiet.

On the fourth watch, Kallor noticed four green warriors approaching.  He shot and killed one.  They charged at him.  Niven and Ruhkgar joined Kallor.  The gree warriors attacked Kallor and Niven and Kallor was wounded.  He was then hit again.  Niven was also hit, but not injured.  Kallor shot but missed.  Ruhkgar taunted the greens and the third attacked him.

The greens attacked but missed.  Kallor missed.  Ruhkgar then split his opponent in half.  Craven advanced to help Niven and hit his opponent.  Niven hit it as well and it was stunned.  Kallor retreated to bind his wounds.  Ruhkgar attacked but missed.  Niven hit and knocked the opponent down.  The greens missed.  Craven hit the down opponent but did no injury.

The green recovered and struck Niven down.  Craven killed it.  Kallor attempted to bind Niven’s wounds.  Ruhkgar hit the last one to no avail.  He attacked again and missed.  Kallor defended Niven”s prone body.  Craven shot and killed the last green man.

The Team

  • Sir Lyton Niven, Gentleman Thief and Spy
  • Capt. Philip Harrison Craven, WWI Flying Ace
  • Kallor Muldane – Red Martian Explorer
  • Ruhkgar – The Surviving Caravan Guard