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REX RICHAND THE WARLORD OF MARS 1

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Rex Rich and the

Warlord of

MarsAn Adventure for Spirit of the Century

2009200920092009 versionversionversionversionby bill White

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SCIENCE WONDER STORIESSCIENCE WONDER STORIES #1 The Secret of the Kaisers War Machine

Well-to-do Princeton drop-out REX RICH joins the French Foreign Legion when

the French aviation contest in which hes competing is cancelled at the

outbreak of the Great War. There he meets troublemaker JACK REDSTONE, whojoined up to avoid a stint in a Paris jail cell. After a big battle in which

their unit is decimated by an unstoppable German Dreifusspanzertripod-tank,

they transfer to the French flying corps. Meanwhile, in an observatory in the

Swiss Alps near Geneva, DOCTOR EINSTEIN discovers radio signals from space

and responding signals from somewhere in Germany. A tense confrontation with

PROFESSOR PLANCK at the University of Berlin leads to Einsteins detention on

University grounds. Luckily, LUCY LOVELACE is in Berlin with her American

diplomat father, and (with nowhere else to turn) she contacts her old school

friend Rex to help her carry out a daring rescue in the heart of Prussia

itself!

SCIENCE WONDER STORIES #2 Max Mensch in No Mans Land

Marine corporalMAX MENSCH leads his men into no mans land to rescue downed

pilot Jack Redstone. Trapped between a German tripod and an Allied land

leviathan in mortal combat, Max and Jack must run a gauntlet of steel to

return to friendly lines! They are pinned down and Jack is wounded. All seems

lost, but Lucy Lovelaceis nearby as a volunteer ambulance driver; she

sallies forth from the aid station to create a distraction. All make it back

in time to congratulate Rex upon his triumphant return from bombing

Rundfunkstelle Rot to stop Professor Plancks Quantum Radio from receiving

alien super-weapon blueprints.

SCIENCE WONDER STORIES #3 Escape from Mars

On the Red Planet, young Red Martian scavenger TAN-GLIIL forages amid the

ruins of a once-proud civilization until he and his people are taken captive

by the cruel Black Martians, who reward the traitor TEL-JANRU with rulership

of the Reds. Tan-Gliil is taken to the flying city of the Black Martians tobecome a gladiator in the slave-pits. He escapes, acquiring a set of Black

Martian data crystals which he uses to aid his one-man rebellion against his

captors. Meanwhile, the powerful but degenerate Black Martians come

increasingly under the thrall of Tel-Janru, who sets plans of conquest into

motion. Pressed hard, Tan-Gliil infiltrates the Black Martian base on Phobos,

where he escapes from Mars through a one-way time-space vortex to planet

Earth!

SCIENCE WONDER STORIES #4 Rex Rich and the Sky Pirates of Africa

At wars end, when Rex Rich and Jack Redstone attempt a record-breaking

around-the-world dirigible flight, their journey is cut short over equatorial

Africa by a squadron of sky pirates, who shoot down Jacks scout plane and

take Rexs dirigible in tow to a secret base. Their leader AIR-BARON ZEVO

challenges Rex to a series of contests to demonstrate the superiority of homo

futurian -- Futurian man! Meanwhile, Jack befriends a tribe of intelligent

apes who help him repair his plane. Homing in on the radio beacon that Rex

secretly activates, Jack manages to find and infiltrate the Futurian base.

Together, the two friends make their escape, and Rex returns to Hub City with

secrets taken from the Futurians that he will use to start his own aviation

company.

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SCIENCE WONDER STORIES #5 Max Mensch vs. the Kidnappers of Zanzibar

Lucy Lovelace disappears in Constantinople while on assignment from her new

job as a reporter for the Hub City Tribune. Alerted by an anonymous telegram,

Max Mensch and Jack Redstone follow her trail to Zanzibar, where Lucy is

trying to conceal her identity as a reporter in the seraglio of SULTAN

SINBAD, the notorious slave-dealer. When Jack falls prey to the wiles of the

Sultans intoxicating courtesan MISTRESS SHEBA, Max Mensch gets them both out

of the villains clutches so that Lucy can write the expose that spurs the

British authorities to action.

BONUS STORY: Snap Redstone and the Young Rocketeers of America

Jacks kid brother SNAP REDSTONE travels from Iowa to Hub City for the Young

Rocketeer of America contest, with Dr. Einstein, Rex Rich, and Princeton

professor and rocketry pioneer ROBERT GODDARD, SR. as judges. Snap has to

work hard to compete with Goddards son ROBERT GO-BIRD GODDARD, JR., whose

goofy grin drives Snap crazy. Its a close contest, but in the end Snap

learns a valuable lesson when his miscalculations send his rocket beyond the

target range and his entry is disqualified. But Rex Rich is sufficiently

impressed that he hires Snap as a junior engineer with Rich Aviation!

SCIENCE WONDER STORIES #6 Rex Rich and the City of Wonders

Rex and Snap travel to the Atlantic island of Bensalem to consult the WorldBrain, a vast automated information archive, accompanied by Dr. Einstein, who

is en route to a League of Nations meeting in Geneva. Rex is caught up in a

high-stakes remote-control battle against the wily Sir Herbert George, GAME

MASTER OF BENSALEM, in its Micromachical Arena. Rex is only able to win when

Snap and Dr. Einstein work together to create a fleet of radio-controlled

miniature dive bombers that scatter Sir Herberts clockwork cavalry. Rex

emerges from the World Brain with a smug look on his face, but tells no one

what he learned.

BONUS STORY: The Man from Mars against the Futurians!

Tan-Gliil crashes in the sea. He is washed up on the shore of a sun-drenched

Mediterranean isle. He becomes ill and pale. Cared for by SOFIA SANTE, his

psychic powers do not return in time to warn him about her. ADMIRAL TIRSANO

arrives to take the Martian aboard the Futurian science-dreadnought New

Atlantis and interrogate him with a Hypnosis-Inducing Field Illuminator, or

HIFI set. The New Atlantis recovers the saucer. Luckily, Tan-Gliils powers

return and he escapes, soaring off into the skies of Earth.

SCIENCE WONDER STORIES #7 The Enigma from Outer Space

Rex Rich and Jack Redstone arrive in Germany to see the prototype Panopti-

sonde Rocket that Snap has built to help Dr. Einstein test his theories. When

Tan-Gliils flying saucer shows up in the middle of the rockets test flight,

all five find themselves trapped in a strange mindscape of their memories,

dreams, and fears. A dark presence haunts this mirror-world, a horrible alien

interloper from beyond the stars. It takes a combination of Rexs leadership,

Dr. Einsteins intellectual gifts, Tan-Gliils psychic prowess, Jacks

insouciance, and Snaps nave and boyish optimism to drive away THE ENIGMA

FROM OUTER SPACE.BONUS STORY: Hub City Confidential: Max Mensch Case Files #1

Max Mensch is torn when his new job keeping nosey reporters away from secret

projects at Rich Aviation gets him in dutch with Lucy Lovelace. But when a

saboteur strikes at Hub City Airport, Max needs Lucy to help him track down

the culprit, and the two face off aboard a Futurian skyship against the

diabolical MAESTRO MYSTERIOSO, master of illusion.

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HAND OUT PLAYER PACKETS.Each player rEach player rEach player rEach player rankankankank----orderorderorderorderssss characterscharacterscharacterscharacters by preference for play. Assign characters toplayers so that we maximize satisfaction across all players. For example: If twoplayers put Rex first, and the only character without a player preferring him/her

first is Tan-Gliil, then the player who ranked Tan-Gliil lowergets Rex and theother player gets Tan-Gliil.

--- P L A Y E R ---

CHARACTEREinsteinJack

LucyMax

RexSnapTan-Gliil

ASSIGN COMPANIONSIf Rex, Jack, or Snap are not taken as PCs, they become companions to other characters;other unselected characters become NPCs. They count as Great companions, which gives thePC access to 1 skill each @ Great, Good, Fair, and Average (chosen from character sheet:the companions Superb skill becomes Great, pick a Great skill to be Good, a Good skill tobe Fair, and a Fair skill to be Average) and 1 Advance (a STUNT or another column of

SKILLS beginning at Good). The player can allow the companion to be taken out in lieu oftaking a moderate consequence. The PC can use the companions Aspects, but pays to tagthem with his or her own Fate points.

Jack: to Snap, to Rex, to MaxJack: to Snap, to Rex, to MaxJack: to Snap, to Rex, to MaxJack: to Snap, to Rex, to Max, to Lucy., to Lucy., to Lucy., to Lucy.Rex: to Jack, to Snap, to MaxRex: to Jack, to Snap, to MaxRex: to Jack, to Snap, to MaxRex: to Jack, to Snap, to Max, to Lucy., to Lucy., to Lucy., to Lucy.Snap: To Jack,Snap: To Jack,Snap: To Jack,Snap: To Jack, to Dr. Einsteinto Dr. Einsteinto Dr. Einsteinto Dr. Einstein, to Rex., to Rex., to Rex., to Rex.

SuperSuperSuperSuper----Simple Minion Rules:Simple Minion Rules:Simple Minion Rules:Simple Minion Rules: So minions work the same way, except that their base skillcolumn starts at the characters level minus 2 (e.g., Good rather than Great) and they canbe taken out in lieu of a minor consequence on the character.

GIVE AWAY FATE POINTSGive everyone 5 Fate Points.Give everyone 5 Fate Points.Give everyone 5 Fate Points.Give everyone 5 Fate Points. If someone doesnt get their first choice of character, they getbonus fate equal to how they ranked the character minus 1. So if the player who got Tan-Gliilhad ranked him 3rd, she would receive 2 additional Fate Points, or a total of 7. Note that thegame runs best with 5 players. Any PC who received a companion gets an additional Fatepoint.

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Dr. EinsteinDr. EinsteinDr. EinsteinDr. Einstein

A Little Thought-Experiment We Meet Again, Professor Planck!

The Greatest Mind of All Time! Fight for Peace

The Secret of the Kaisers War Machine Im In Your Debt, Fraulein Lovelace

The League of Nations Needs Dr. Einstein Check Your Math, Herr Redstone

My Usual Methods Are Useless Here Quantum Uncertainty Is Involved!

Jack RedstoneJack RedstoneJack RedstoneJack Redstone

Checkered Past Seen the Inside of a Jail Cell

Glad to Know You, Max Lucy, You Are One Hell of a Woman

As Strong As An Ape Any Landing You Walk Away From

Whatd I Do This Time? Do I Look Like Im Worried?

But Snaps Just A Kid! You Dont Owe Me Anything, Rex

Lucy LovelaceLucy LovelaceLucy LovelaceLucy LovelaceAll Over Europe Daddy Was A Diplomat

Trust A Womans Intuition, Boys Dont Spoil The Moment By Talking, Jack

Max, Youre My Hero! Sob Sister

I Just Need to Ask A Few Questions The Hub City TribuneWhat Are You Up To, Rex? A Girl Likes To Feel Appreciated

Max MenschMax MenschMax MenschMax Mensch

A Rough Neighborhood Its A Mitzvah!

Trench Coat Im No Einstein

Oy Vey! This I Need Are You Tough Enough, Jack?

Ill Keep My Eyes Peeled If Only She Were Jewish

Do You Have Any Enemies, Mr. Rich? Danger, Schmanger

Rex RichRex RichRex RichRex Rich

Brains Behind This Outfit What Is It This Time, Lucy?

War Hero Jack Redstone Saved My LifeWealthy Aviation Entrepreneur Im Paying YouJust Make It Fly

I Learned Some Things From the World-Brain Einstein, Youre A Genius!

Ive Heard Good Things About You, Max Thats A Risk Im Willing to Take

Snap RedstoneSnap RedstoneSnap RedstoneSnap Redstone

Farm Boy The Right Tool

A Little Too Much Juice Second Place in the Rocket Contest

That Goofy Go-Bird! Golly! Its Just Like Dr. Einstein Said!

Wheres Jack? Well, Thats Something I Hadnt Thought About

A Few More Adjustments Mr. Rich Wont Like That

TanTanTanTan----GliilGliilGliilGliil

Red Martian Foraging in the Ruins of MarsTel-Janru Betrayed Us All! Mars Must Be Free!

Get Out Of My Mind! I Must Consult the Data Crystals

Torn Between Two Worlds Sofia Sante, Beautiful Betrayer

Only Dr. Einstein Can Help Me Let Us Join Our Minds Together

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Rex Rich and THE GREAT ROCKET RACE

Set out the HUB CITY AIRPORT MAP and put character counters on it, alongwith a counter for the Redhawk rocket plane.

Today is the day of the big rocket-plane race between the Army andthe Navy to see which intercontinental interceptor will go intoproduction. Rich Aviations design is the Navys entry; the Armysrocket-plane was built by Dr. Robert Goddard and his team, with his

son Robert Jr. or Go-Bird as the pilot. The winner of the race getsa big contract with the War Department.

Everyone gets one free tag on each Aspect in a zoneso you can be in a zoneand tag Bystanders when I try to shoot at you (You cant get a bead onme!), and then on your next turn move into an adjacent zone and use the

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Bystanders there to do the same thing on the next exchange. The one thingyou cant do is use your free tag to cancel out someone elses invocation of thesame Aspectso I cant turn around and use my free tag on Bystanders to saythey hem you in and make it easierfor me to shoot you. But I could use them to

help my block on the same turn: I shoot wildly into the crowd, and their panicprevents you from getting away easily.

HAND OUT FATE FORHAND OUT FATE FORHAND OUT FATE FORHAND OUT FATE FOR INITIALINITIALINITIALINITIAL COMPELSCOMPELSCOMPELSCOMPELSExplain ASPECTS as traits, attitudes, possessions, and other features of thecharacter that define his or her identity, persona, and relationships. Tell theplayers, Im going to compel one of your Aspects to explain why youre here.Normally, youd be able to refuse the compel by paying me a Fate point. Imgoing to advise you not to do that right now, but you can if you wantbut you

may lose spotlight time if you do.

REX, youre the brains behind this outfit, so youre here. MAX, youre keeping your eyes peeled for trouble, working for Rex. JACK, you have to ask yourself: what did you do this time? Because

youve agreed to test-fly your kid brothers untested rocket-plane, theRich 1922 Redhawk, in a race against that creep Goddards plane.

SNAP, you need to make a few more adjustments on the Redhawkbefore its 100% ready to fly.

LUCY, youre here because the Hub City Tribune needs a story.

The League of Nations needs you, DR. EINSTEIN, to observe the test,which skirts disarmament protocols under discussion in Geneva.

Finally: Only Dr. Einstein can help you, TAN-GLIIL, and Dr. Einstein ishere. Thus you are too.

Introduce a few more compels:REX RICH. Lucy interviews Rex Rich (compel What Are You Up To, Rex?): Rex,

didnt you in fact take out a huge loan to finance the construction of the

Redhawk? And doesnt that mean that if you lose the race, you also loseyour company? Why would you do such a thing? Thats A Risk Im Willingto Take (2 Fate). Hang the AspectAll In On This One on Rex. If Rex doesntget the contract, he loses access to his Headquarters and his Resources areat -2 until Rex wins his company back (requiring a Superb test of Resources,Leadership, or some other skill as appropriate vs. the Superb Resources ofnasty Boss Fowler, the eminence grise of Hub City).

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JACK REDSTONE Arent you worried that going bar-hopping on the nightbefore a big test flight was a bad idea? Do I Look Like Im Worried? TakeMore Than A Little Hung Overduring this scene. If Jack accepts, tell Max hecan self-compelAre You Tough Enough, Jack? to hang the aspect Only

Slightly Less Hung Over Than Jack on himself during this scene as well.

START THE ACTIONSTART THE ACTIONSTART THE ACTIONSTART THE ACTION.... The order of action is [Go-Bird], Snap, [Sofia], Max,[Gottlos], Jack, [Baron Zevo], Rex, [Gen. MacArthur], Lucy, Tan-Gliil, Dr.Einstein.

General MacArthur is eager for the race to begin, and even though hes thejudge, authorized by the War Department to award the contract to the betterplane, hes rooting for the SCREAMING EAGLE, the Army-sponsored entry built

by Robert Goddard and his son. Unless the REDHAWKvastly outperforms theArmys plane, MacArthur will probably give the contract to the Goddardsbutmaybe he can be persuaded to judge the contest on the merits.

GoGoGoGo----Bird Goddard.Bird Goddard.Bird Goddard.Bird Goddard. Superb Engineering (+5); Great Pilot, Guns (+4), Good Resolve,Resources, Science (+3); Fair Athletics, Contacting, Drive, Rapport (+2); Average

Academics, Endurance, Fists, Stealth, Survival (+1). Aspects: Goofy Grin; My Dad InventedLiquid-Fuel Rockets; I Want It To Go Really Fast; Dont Think Youre Smarter Than Me; Ha Ha,Snap, I Beat You!; I Shook Hands With Dr. Einstein; The Rules Dont Apply To Me; Bankrolledby Secret Futurian Silent Partner; Someday Ill Go To The Moon; I Wont Sweat The Details.Headquarters (Goddard & Son Rocketeering, Inc., Hub City N.J. Superb Rocket Workshop

(+5); extensive security); Scientific Genius (+1 w/chemistry, +2 w/explosives); WeirdScience (concoct fancy retro-science rocket fuels); Contact (Dr. Robert Goddard, Sr. (Dad);independent, great quality , Science +4, Academics +3, Contacting +2, Leadership+1); Custom Ride (1922 Peugot 161; +1 to Drive; spend Fate to declare a minor device hasbeen installed). Toughness 1 , Composure 3 , Fate 5 .

SCREAMING EAGLE futurized Douglas Cloudster rocket plane, Fantastic Speed[+6], Epic Cost [+7], 1 month to build at Goddard Rocketeering.

Gen. MacArthur.Gen. MacArthur.Gen. MacArthur.Gen. MacArthur. Superb Resolve (+5); Great Leadership, Contacting (+4); Good Alertness,

Athletics, Intimidation (+3); Fair Endurance, Guns, Stealth (+2); Average Academics, Drive,Science, Survival, Weapons (+1). Aspects:A Patriot First; Small-Town America; Beat Navy!;Lead From The Front; Bring Me My Horse!; A Tactical Diversion; Politically Savvy; Air Power IsThe Key!; Bucking For Promotion; Washington Insider. Big Man in the Military (use Contactingfor military Resources); Big Name (+2 to Rapport or Intimidation the first time you interactwith someone if theyve heard of you); Command Presence (use Leadership for Rapport to getpeople to do things), Equestrian (use Athletics for riding), Custom Ride (Duesenberg staff car;+1 Drive); Toughness 2 , Composure 5 , Fate 5

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VICTORY CONDITIONSVICTORY CONDITIONSVICTORY CONDITIONSVICTORY CONDITIONS. So winning the contract requires both winning the race(i.e., returning to the airport first without crashing) and convincing MacArthur tobe fair (i.e., taking him out via social interaction), unless the SCREAMING

EAGLE crashes.

The course requires that the two planes take off together, fly out to sea where afew barrage balloons have been tethered to old mothballed destroyers, shootdown the targets, and return to base.

THE COURSETHE COURSETHE COURSETHE COURSE

Rocket EngRocket EngRocket EngRocket Engine Ignition.ine Ignition.ine Ignition.ine Ignition. These are independent tests of Engineering, versus a

difficulty of Superb. Failure takes out the plane on the runway unless the pilotaccepts consequences. Spin gives a +1 bonus to take-off, representing asmoother ignition sequence.TakeTakeTakeTake----OffOffOffOff.... These are independent tests of Pilot, versus a difficulty of Great (+4).Failure takes the plane out on the runway unless the pilot takes consequences.Spin gives a +1 bonus to the outbound leg roll, representing a faster ascent.Outbound Leg.Outbound Leg.Outbound Leg.Outbound Leg. This is a contest of Jacks Pilot skill vs. Go-Birds. The fasterplane gets a +1 bonus, +2 if the difference is 3 or more. The winner gets abonus equal to the shifts that may be divided among the weapons test andinbound leg rolls, representing quicker arrival at the weapons test site.Weapons Test.Weapons Test.Weapons Test.Weapons Test. These are independent tests of Guns, versus a difficulty ofMediocre (+0). Failure means that the plane cant receive the contract, even if itgets back home first. Spin gives +1 bonus to the inbound leg roll, representinga quick run on the targets.Inbound Leg.Inbound Leg.Inbound Leg.Inbound Leg. This is a contest of Jacks Pilot skill vs. Go-Birds. Again, the fasterplane gets a +1 bonus, +2 if the difference is 3 or more.The winner arrivesback at Hub City Airport first.Landing.Landing.Landing.Landing. These are independent tests of Pilot, versus a difficulty of Great (+4).Failure takes the plane out unless the pilot takes consequences. Spin gives a +1bonus to the rocket engine shut-off roll.Rocket Engine ShutRocket Engine ShutRocket Engine ShutRocket Engine Shut----Off.Off.Off.Off. These are independent tests of Engineering, versus adifficulty of Superb (+5). Failure takes the plane out with a great big explosion,unless the pilot takes consequences.

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JACK REDSTONE. But Snaps Just A Kid. Theres no way a youngster like Snapcould have put together this rocket-plane without making some mistake;youd better double-check the wiring underneath the panel, here. Make anEngineering roll (which Jack doesnt have) vs. Great difficulty; if Jack fails,

hang Crossed Wires on the REDHAWK.

SNAP REDSTONE. Snap can use Engineering to get rid of the UnmadeAdjustments aspect that hangs on the REDHAWK; he can also use hisUniversal Gadget stunt to add improvements to the rocket-plane. Boy, thatGo-Bird Goddard is obnoxious, Snap. You just cant concentrate on thoselast minute adjustments! Are you going to let him rub it in about beingSecond Place in the Rocket Contest?

MAX MENSCH. Roll Maxs Alertness (+2) vs. Sofias Stealth (+3) to spot afellow with binoculars and what looks like a wireless set on his back out inthe fields surrounding the airport. If he fails, say, Max, Youre No Einstein,so you dont see theres a man out there with binos and a wireless set outin this field right here, isnt that right? Otherwise, Max can go after him.

TAN-GLIIL. You feel an insistent throbbing in your skull, like that caused by themental emanations of a Black Martian terror weaponbut its coming fromsomewhere close by here on Earth! Get Out of My Mind! Take -2 on allactions until he uses his action to succeed at a Superb Resolve test. Foreach turn that he accepts the connection, Tan-Gliil can roll Mysteries (albeitat -2) vs. Resolve of Dreifusspanzer Gottlos to gain more information aboutthe tripod (i.e., reveal a random aspect).

LUCY LOVELACE. Lucy, you need a big story or your editor will bury your copyon an inside page, and thats no good. Who are you going to talk to try todig up a good story? She may try to talk to one of the PCs, in which casecompel as follows:

Max, Youre My Hero (Max); I Just Need to Ask a Few Questions (Snap, Jack, orDr. Einstein); Trust A Womans Intuition, Boys (Tan-Gliil);orWhat Are YouUp To, Rex? (Rex).Make a Rapport vs. Resolve maneuver on the characterin question; if you win, you get to hang the aspect Distracted by Lucy on thecharacter and they take a -2 on their next action because she distractedthem. Let the player role-play the response, and give out Fate if they arebound by their Lucy-related Aspects.

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DR. EINSTEIN Herr Doktor Einsteingiven that youre a committed pacifist,and that youre in the middle of a militaristic field experiment that may be incontravention of the treaties being arranged right now back in Geneva,

whatshould you be doing? (Let Dr. Einstein tell you which Aspect hell self-compel):Fight for Peace. Take a Fate point for trying to convince someone to call off the

race and generally making a nuisance of yourself.My Usual Methods Are Useless Here. Take a Fate point for using a skill you

have at 2 or less to act [maybe compel this in response to Fight for Peace]

THE PLOT THITHE PLOT THITHE PLOT THITHE PLOT THICKENSCKENSCKENSCKENS

MEANWHILE, Max should be pursuing the man with the binoculars, who isreally Sofia Sante, Futurian spy and saboteur. She will be in communication withthe Zevodrome, and will use her Alertness (vs. targets Alertness) to try to putTarget Spotted! tags on Dr. Einstein, Snap Redstone, and of course Rex Rich.

SofiaSofiaSofiaSofia SanteSanteSanteSante.... Superb Deceit (+5); Great Alertness, Fists (+4); Good Athletics, Resolve, Stealth(+3); Fair Drive, Empathy, Endurance, Survival (+2); Average Academics, Art, Engineering,Investigation, Guns (+1). Greek; That Perfume; Exotic Beauty; Futurian; Deadly DoubleAgent; Cover Identity; If I Cant Have You, No One Will; Hell Hath No Fury; We Are MuchAlike, Are We Not?, Saboteur. Clever Disguise (resist scrutiny of disguise with Deceit), Mimicry

(imitate mannerisms), Master of Disguise (pay Fate to go undercover), Infiltrator (UseInvestigation to send message or leave clues), Linguist (speak many languages), Toughness, Composure , Fate 5 .

Sofia has a flower in her lapel; it takes Great Science or Academics to recognizeit as a species of African violet known to grow in what was once German East

Africa and is now the Bensalem-run mandate territory of Tanganyika; spin onthe roll will identify it as growing mainly on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. Ifshe beats Max, she will leave the flower on his unconscious body. Also in herpossession is a photograph of Go-Bird Goddard shaking hands with Dr.

Einstein while Rex Rich hangs a medal around his neck. Snap Redstone lookson, clearly disgruntled. A banner hangs above the scene; it reads YoungRocketeers of America.

At the other end of Sofias radio connection is Air Baron Zevo. He is aboard theZevodrome now cruising at top speed for Hub City Airport with the goal of

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kidnapping the scientific expertise that Zevos ally Professor Planck needs inorder to complete his new machinery. He will demand updates from AgentCarlos and if he doesnt get them try to browbeat the person on the other endfor information about his or her location, activities, and companions.

Air Baron Zevo.Air Baron Zevo.Air Baron Zevo.Air Baron Zevo. Superb Resources (+5), Great Leadership, Rapport (+4), Good Endurance,Engineering, Resolve (+3), Fair Contacting, Fists, Intimidation, Weapons (+2), Average

Academics, Art, Athletics, Gambling, Survival (+1). South African By Birth; A Touch ofGenius; The Secrets of Bensalem; Behold Futurian Man!; Sky Pirates of Africa; After Them,You Fools!; Curse You, Rex Rich!; Futurians Are Everywhere; Now I Possess the Zevodrome; AWorld To Conquer. Zevodrome [3] (maximized zeppelin, alternate use (aircraft carrier);armed; conscious (Crack Crew: Well Follow You To Hell, Zevo); skilled (Guns +4, Pilot+3, Engineering +2, Alertness +1; Stunt: Damage Control (roll Engineering to removeconsequences at difficulty equal to shifts))); Gyrotroopers and Armored Biplanes (Guns +3,Pilot +2, Endurance +1; 3 squadrons; We Are Futurians! Stunts: Mass Fire (+2 to Guns

when used to block); Gyro-pack (futuristic miniaturized helicopter, +1 to Pilot) or ArmoredBiplane (futuristic biplane, +2 toughness)); Personal Gadget (gyro-pack). Toughness 3 Composure 3 Fate 10 .

Note that Zevos minions work like companions: they can be taken out in placeof other consequences, reducing the shifts of an effect by an amount equal totheir value (4 in the case of the Zevodromes crew and 3 in the case of eachsquadron). They are not themselves targetable; they are targeted as a side effectof fighting against Zevo and the Zevodrome.

While the rocket-planes are testing their weapons out at the target site, theZevodrome will float into view over the airport and the armored biplanes willstrafe the field, and Dreifusspanzer Gottlos will be lowered from a winch to thefield, there to wreak havoc while Sofia and the gyrotroopers capture Einstein,Snap, and Rex.

Dreifusspanzer Gottlos (Tripod Tank Dreifusspanzer Gottlos (Tripod Tank Dreifusspanzer Gottlos (Tripod Tank Dreifusspanzer Gottlos (Tripod Tank GodlessGodlessGodlessGodless).).).). Superb Endurance (+5); Great Guns,Might (+4), Good Drive, Resolve, Intimidation (+3); Fair Alertness, Deceit, Fists, Survival(+2); Average Athletics, Empathy, Rapport, Science, Weapons (+1). Prussian Heritage; I

Have My Orders; Hand-to-Hand in the Trenches; Shattered Body, Shattered Soul; GiantWalking War Machine; Thick Armor Plating; Towering Over the Battlefield; Bristling WithOrdnance; There Can Be No Peace For Me; I Still Serve the Fatherland.Armor (UseEndurance to defend in combat); Grappling Arms (Use Might in combat to grab andimmobilize opponents); Prototype Car [2] (maximized, speculative, walking tank, +1 toDrive); Personal Gadget (+1 to Guns, +1 to Endurance [craftsmanship], quantum raycannon [special effects]). Toughness 5 , Composure 3 , Fate 5 .

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Tan-Gliil will recognize Gottlos as employing Black Martian technology. Dr.Einstein will recognize the quantum ray cannon as the handiwork of his old foeProfessor Planck, and of course recall the Secret of the Kaisers War Machine.Max, Rex, and Jack will vividly remember battling tripods similar to this one on

the Western Front during the Great War; Lucy has seen them as well. The onewho gets closest to it first notices markings associated with General Lettow-Vorbecks Schutztruppe Deutsch-Ostafrika. Fair Academics will recall thatLettow-Vorbecks small troop was the only colonial German force not to havebeen defeated in open combat during the Great War; it fought its way intoMozambique and was repatriated after the war ended.

Snap may spot what looks like a satchel charge attached to the underbody ofthe Dreifusspanzer, wired to a small radio receiver; it will take Engineering

modified by Athletics to shimmy up there and cross-wire the thing to eitherdefuse it or make it blow up. The explosion could be quite deadly.

Gottlos will go after Einstein or Snap or both, grabbing them and handing themoff to gyro-troopers to be carried back to the Zevodrome. MacArthur will puthimself at risk, posturing defiantly at the biplanes and gyrotroopers who will tryto take him out. Go-Bird will be ordered to attack Jack, and will have to obeyhis secret Futurian mastersbut hell try to do it sneakily, at the target site, andpretend it was a mistake. If he makes it back to the airport, hell try to land onthe Zevodrome.

Once the targets are captured, Zevo will begin to withdraw. He will cheerfullyabandon Gottlosthat monstrosity, as he saysin order to cover thewithdrawal, activating a secret self-destruction device to blow it up. It starts tobeep and a lamp lights up; everyone has one exchange to get as far away aspossible before it goes off, taking out anyone in the zone and doing a Superbattack on those adjacent, -1 for each zone further out.

In summary:

The rocket race will begin and things will go pretty smoothly until the rocket-planes get to their target practice site; there Jack Redstone will be shot at byGo-Bird Goddard just as Air Baron Zevo attacks Hub City Airport in hisZevodrome with armored biplanes and gyro-troopers; meanwhile, Max Menschwill tangle with Sofia Sante. The overall plan is for Dreifusspanzer Gottlos to

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wreak havoc while Sofia and the gyrotroopers capture Dr. Einstein, SnapRedstone, and/or Rex Rich.

Meanwhile, General MacArthur will try to impress people with his military

bearing and obvious heroic qualities, hanging Aspects on them like, MacArthuris a genuine American hero. When things go south, hell throw himself into thethick of things. If he sees a flying saucerlike the one that Tan-Gliil hashellwant it for the United States military, and hell do his best to get his hands on it,ordering the land leviathan from nearby Raritanic Naval Arsenal into action.Otherwise, hell do his best to get himself in trouble; hopefully the PCs will feelsome obligation to get him out of it!

As the GM, your goal is to take PCs out hard and fast, so that the game can

move on to the next phase. Give Fate to make people want to give up!

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Rex Rich and The Shining Mountain

ABOARD THE ZEVODROABOARD THE ZEVODROABOARD THE ZEVODROABOARD THE ZEVODROMEMEMEME

Air Baron Zevo will try to withdraw once hes wreaked some havoc and takensome prisoners. If necessary, he will leave Gottlos behind as a distraction andthen activate its self-destruct sequence.

If Zevo gets away, he may have captives.

If Rex RichRex RichRex RichRex Rich is captured, hell be treated as a dangerous and despicable enemy.Zevo will order him staked out on the deck of the Zevodrome, a Superb test ofhis Endurance. If he fails, he takes a consequence at least as bad as the shifts

against him (i.e., 1 or 2, minor; 3 or 4, major; 5 or more, severe). If he getsspin, he escapes his bonds.

If Jack RedstoneJack RedstoneJack RedstoneJack Redstone is captured, hell be treated like Rex.

If Max MenschMax MenschMax MenschMax Mensch is captured, hell be treated like Rex, too.

If Snap RedstoneSnap RedstoneSnap RedstoneSnap Redstone is captured, hell be given a Futurian uniform and a bunk withthe Zevodrome crew. They will say, Youre one of us now! Welcome to the

Futurians! and explain that among Futurians, technologists and scientistsreceive the highest honor, and because of their expertise deserve to be runningthings. He will be assigned as cabinmate to young Dolph Schicklgruber, a GreatWar veteran from Austria who joined the Futurians after the war after decidingnot to become an artist. Dolph will tell him how the Futurians were founded bythe great Baron Rosenkreuz 500 years ago on Bensalem with the purpose ofleading mankind into an era of scientific, technological, and politicalenlightenment. Compel Well, Thats Something I Hadnt Thought About to getSnap to play along.

Dolph Schicklgruber.Dolph Schicklgruber.Dolph Schicklgruber.Dolph Schicklgruber. Good Mysteries (+3), Fair Leadership, Resolve (+2), Average Art,Intimidation, Rapport (+1). Born in Austria, The Soul of an Artist, In the Trenches at Ypres,Germany Was Betrayed, Welcome to the Futurians!, Incipient Megalomania. Composure 2,Fate 3.

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If Dr. EinsteinDr. EinsteinDr. EinsteinDr. Einstein is captured, hell be taken to a cabin in the gondola with a tinyporthole through which he can see the ocean below. CompelA Little ThoughtExperiment to have him spend his time pondering a scientific puzzle thats beenon his mind.

If Lucy LovelaceLucy LovelaceLucy LovelaceLucy Lovelace is captured, shell be treated as a guest, and be asked to dineat Air Baron Zevos table each evening. She may be able to use Rapport orEmpathy to learn of his plans to conquer Mars by opening up a space-time gateand leading an army into the past to colonize and transform the dying planet,eventually returning to Earth to conquer the future!

If TanTanTanTan----GliilGliilGliilGliil is captured, Zevo will want to recruit him as an ally in the attack onMars; if he wont agree, hell be staked out on deck. If Sofia Sante is on board,

she will try to persuade him to join Zevo, who knows what Tan-Gliil revealed toher about Mars (in Science Wonder Stories #6): that it is a dying planet ruled bydegenerate Black Martians who follow the traitor Tel-Janru.

Somewhere over the Atlantic, a transport plane will land on the Zevodrome anda bevy of beautiful German maidens will disembark. They believe that they aregoing to find work overseas; conditions at home are desperate.

Soon, the ocean gives way to desert, then jungles, then savannah. Dead aheadis a great snow-capped mountain. The journey takes about 4 days.

If anyone manages to escape from their quarters, it will require Stealth orBurglary to sneak past the crew to do whatever they want to do. They can sneakinto the radio room and send a message; they will manage to contact the USSDefiant, on patrol in the South Atlantic (it is a flying warship). The Defiant willcontact the War Department back in Washington, which will try to reach Rex.Meanwhile, a search will begin aboard the Zevodrome; test the escapeesStealth versus the crews Alertness; failure means recapture, success meanscontinued freedom, spin means access to where ever they want (the EngineRoom, the Arms Room, the Flight Deck, etc.).

If the escapees try to leave the Zevodrome in a plane, the Zevodrome will givechase (use the chase rules), trying to shoot them down. In any event, they landor crash in the middle of the Amboseli Plain. If Jack is with them, one of theintelligent gorillas from his previous African adventure will eventually meet and

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guide them; otherwise, they meet a Tchagga tribesman whom they mustbefriend.

OoOoOoOo----ooloolooloolp, Intelligent Apep, Intelligent Apep, Intelligent Apep, Intelligent Ape (companion)(companion)(companion)(companion).... Stealth +4, Survival +3, Might +2, Endurance +1.

Msonge, Tchagga TribesmanMsonge, Tchagga TribesmanMsonge, Tchagga TribesmanMsonge, Tchagga Tribesman (companion)(companion)(companion)(companion).... Survival +4, Stealth +3, Weapons +2, Alertness+1.

The Tchagga live in small villages of beehive-shaped thatched huts. For money,they use red and blue glass beads and lengths of cloth called doti. They mainlygrow bananas.

The Zevodrome circles above the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro and then descendsinto the caldera, at whose floor has been constructed a secret science base;

there Professor Planck has been attempting to construct the space-time gate aswell as a vehicle capable of making the passage.

THOSE LEFT BEHINDTHOSE LEFT BEHINDTHOSE LEFT BEHINDTHOSE LEFT BEHIND

As the Zevodrome cruises away, some may desire to give chase. If possible, AirBaron Zevo will try to shoot down any pursuers; those shot down will be takenaboard the Zevodrome by gyro-soldiers. Otherwise, the limited endurance ofchasing planes will require them to turn back, although theyll be able to note

the Zevodromes southeasterly course heading. Tan-Gliils flitter can sustain thepursuit, and keep out of sight of the Zevodrome, for as long as its pilot desires.With sufficient data, Tan-Gliil may even be able to project its course.

Investigation highlights the following facts:

(1) An unusual flower was found near where a strange man was seen withbinoculars and a new-fangled looking radio set. The flower is an African violetthat grows mainly on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

(2) Air Baron Zevos main area of operations has always been Africa.

(3) The tripod-tank had markings associated with a German colonial force thatoperated in what is now Bensalemite Tanganyika.

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The Zanzibar ConnectionThe Zanzibar ConnectionThe Zanzibar ConnectionThe Zanzibar Connection. Goddard, Sr., will be mystified by his sons betrayalin the skies. He will cooperate with investigators to reveal his sons complicitywith the Futurians, and can help explain whythe desire to go to the Moon.Air Baron Zevo must have literally promised my son the Moon! Examining the

records of Goddard Rocketry, Inc., reveals numerous shipments made from theirfactory to a shipping agent in Zanzibar. The most recent shipment left a fewweeks ago and should be arriving there any day now! Examining blueprints inGo-Birds office is a good test of Engineering; success identifies the design asparts of what can only be a launch cannon built into the top of a mountain likethat proposed by Sir Herbert George, the Game Master of Bensalem.

The address in Zanzibar will bring the characters face-to-face with MadameSheba if they pursue it; she will purr and be seductive but ultimately reveal that

the goods are picked up by dirigible. The most recent shipment is waiting to bepicked up; a Futurian crew aboard a small dirigible will come calling for it.

Madame Sheba.Madame Sheba.Madame Sheba.Madame Sheba. Superb Art (+5), Great Athletics, Empathy (+4), Good Rapport, Resolve,Resources (+3), Fair Contacting, Endurance, Sleight of Hand, Weapons (+2), AverageLeadership, Stealth, Survival (+1). Exotic Beauty; Sublime Dancer; In the Harem of the Sultan;How Can Any Man Resist Her Charms?; Bejewelled Costume; Hidden Weapons; I Can Feelthe Fire In You, Jack; A Woman Always Lands On Her Feet; Jealousy Becomes Her; NewTimes in Zanzibar. Minions (servants and guards as needed); Headquarters (Sinbad House,bordello on Baghani St.).Toughness 2, Composure 4, Fate 5.

If Sofia Sante escapes, she can and will reveal something to the characters via amessage of some kind (perhaps via the radio she left behind; otherwise, anunsigned telegram from Zanzibar telling the PC with whom she was mostimpressed):

Your friends are in great danger. they are being taken to

the heart of the shining mountain. hurry Or you will

never see them again. A FRIEND.

She does this once she finds out that women are being duped or tricked intobecoming Martian colonists; Sofia believes this sort of thing is unconscionable.It takes a Good Academics result to figure out that The Shining Mountainmeans Kilimanjaro; only Fair is required if Africa is already known to be thedestination.

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If Sofia is captured, she will be willing to reveal where Zevo is bound for herfreedom. She will try to convince her interlocutors that this is a good idea, andthat she will give up her life of evil to join them. She will, of course, later betraythem only to double-cross Zevo once she finds out about the German women.

Other possibilities include mobilizing resources to track the Zevodrome; it takesa Fair result to reveal its headed for Africa, a Great result to narrow the resultsdown to Bensalemite East Africa, and an Epic (+6) result to pin down MountKilimanjaro as the ultimate destination. Failure gives Zanzibar as the answer.

THE SHINING MOUNTAINTHE SHINING MOUNTAINTHE SHINING MOUNTAINTHE SHINING MOUNTAIN

Use Survival to move from zone to zone, but flying characters may move onezone as their action for the turn. The zone in the top right corner holds theentrance to a cave that leads to the secret Futurian base at the bottom of thecaldera. The base can be seen from the alpine desert zones: when PCs enter

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either zone, add a zone marked caldera with a Survival 8 boundary above thealpine desert zone on the right, with the Futurian base just beyond it. TheZevodrome will float above the mountain (as its own zone), and gyrosoldiersand armored biplanes will patrol.

Professor Planck.Professor Planck.Professor Planck.Professor Planck. Superb Science (+5); Great Art, Engineering (+4); Good Academics,Rapport, Resources (+3); Fair Alertness, Empathy, Resolve, Sleight of Hand (+2); AverageContacting, Deceit, Intimidation, Mysteries (+1). Entropy Explains So Much!; University ofBerlin; You Think God Does Not Play Dice, Eh, Einstein?; Secret Weapon; Quantum Radio;They Laughed When I Told Them My Theory!; A Message from Mars; I Will Behold A FinalTheory; The First Planck Constant Is Evil; All Hail the Futurians! Scientific Genius (physics,specializing in quantum physics); Mad Science [2] (quantum uncertainty); World FamousScientist (use Science among those who are aware of your reputation in place of Rapport,Intimidation, Deceit); Secret Weapons (Universal Gadget). Composure 2, Fate 5.

Secret Weapon:Secret Weapon:Secret Weapon:Secret Weapon: Uncertainty Cannon (use Science to attack; a successful attack sends thecharacter elsewherein this instance, probably to Mars, or else just out-of-phase with theuniverse. For each level of consequence accepted, roll 2dF. On a +, move the target left orup; on a -, move the target right or down. Obviously dont move off the map). This couldmake the fight in the Futurian base positively dreadful for the PCs, as Planck sends them allacross Mount Kilimanjaro. Note that he can use it to attack at range, and will probably use itto cause unfortunate rescue-minded PCs to crash their planestag Secret Weapon to pay offthe pilot of that plane or vehicle.

Professor Planck is trying to open up a dimensional gatewaya wormhole, as

Dr. Einstein likes to sayto Mars 65 million years in the past, the source of thequantum radio transmissions he received during the Great War. This is ascientific and engineering puzzle (i.e., Science modified by Engineering) ofLegendary + 2 difficulty (=10) that he has so far been unable to solve. Heneeds a scientific insight in order to put the final piece into place. The mouth ofthe interdimensional vortex would be unstable! The polarity of the negative masscannot be sustained!

(a) Tan-Gliils data crystals contain a scientific insightscientific insightscientific insightscientific insight that will allow him to treat his roll as

being ++++ (+4).(b) He can gain a scientific insightscientific insightscientific insightscientific insight with a Science vs. Science contest; however, for every pointthat his opponents Science skill is below his, the value of the insight is reduced by one (sothat winning the contest vs. someone with Great Science allows him to treat his roll as + + +[+3] while winning against Mediocre Science allows an insight that produces a [-1] roll; inother words, subtract 4 from the opponents skill to determine the quality of the insight).

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If Snap agrees to help, this removes the -1 restriction (since Snaps Engineeringis equal to Professor Plancks Science) and lets Planck make the Science rollnormally to see if he can do it. If he succeeds, a gateway opens; if he fails, it stillopens, but in a catastrophic and explosive fashion, sucking everyone in!

So, everyone probably winds up on Mars, just as the Warlord of Mars hadplanned!

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REX RICHAND THE WARLORD OF MARS 22Rex Richand the Red Planet

TELTELTELTEL----JANRU, Warlord of Mars.JANRU, Warlord of Mars.JANRU, Warlord of Mars.JANRU, Warlord of Mars. Superb Athletics (+5); Great Mysteries, Weapons (+4); GoodEndurance, Leadership, Rapport (+3); Fair Resolve (+2); Average (+1). Red Martian; A

Reputation for Cruelty; Traitor To His Own People; Bow to Me! I Am Your Leader!; BlackMartian Super-Science; Plans for Conquest; Radium Sword; Secret of the Kaisers WarMachine; Mars Needs Women; We Meet Again, Tan-Gliil! Psychic (use Mysteries forparanormal insight); Telepathy (use Mysteries in place of Rapport and Empathy w/asuccessful test of Mysteries vs. Resolve); Warlord of Mars (Minions: Black Martians, GreenMartians, Tripods, Flitters); Radium Sword (slice through anything; +1 Weapons[craftsmanship]; mysterious PC-defined problem). Toughness 3, Composure 2, Fate 20.

The Flying City of Mars.The Flying City of Mars.The Flying City of Mars.The Flying City of Mars. Unbelievable Maximized Plane. Armed.A City in the Sky! RedMartian Slave Pens. Gladiatorial Arena. Control Tower. Arsenal. Telepathic Antenna Array. LiftMatrix Pods. Grand Concourse. Landing Pads. Breeding Chambers.

Black MartiaBlack MartiaBlack MartiaBlack Martians.ns.ns.ns. Mysteries +4, Weapons +3, Resolve +2, Endurance +1. Psychic (useMysteries as super-scientific Alertness); Psychic Attack (use Mysteries vs. Resolve to attack);Martian Super Weapons (gain +1 bonus to attack if you invent new Martian super-weapon, e.g., scintillating heat beam; 1/session per Martian). Black Martian Super-Science;Degenerate Race on a Dying Planet.Green Martians.Green Martians.Green Martians.Green Martians. Fists +3, Endurance +2, Survival +1. Code of the Warrior; Fear theWarlord!Flitters.Flitters.Flitters.Flitters. Pilot +4, Guns +3, Alertness +2, Stealth +1. Unbelievable Plane. Armed. Light andLethal; Fast as Lightning.

Tripods.Tripods.Tripods.Tripods. Endurance +4, Guns +3, Drive +2, Alertness +1. Unbelievable Tank. Armor (cantake 1 moderate consequence). Walking War Machine; By Your Command, Warlord.

Set everyone up on the Mars map. Useperception rolls for initiative andspotting (who can see whom) andmaneuvering rolls to declare relativeposition. Zevo will attempt to storm theFlying City. The Warlord of Mars will tryto capture everyone and send his forcesthrough the interdimensional vortex.

If anyone frees or otherwise befriends RedMartians, its possible that one or more may serve as companions. In that case,give them Survival +3, Stealth +2, Alertness +1.

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