Credits

Scenario Authors: Rose Bailey and Audrey Whitman

System Designers: Rose Bailey, Meghan Fitzgerald,
Jordan Goldfarb, and Danielle Lauzon
Editor: Dixie Cochran
Art Directors: Michael Chaney and Richard Thomas
Art: Chris Huth
Cartography: Rose Bailey and Mike Chaney

2016 Rose Bailey. All rights reserved. Text and illustrations are the property of
Rose Bailey. Reproduction without the written permission of the publisher is ex-
pressly forbidden, except for the purposes of reviews, and one printed copy which
may be reproduced for personal use only. The mention of or reference to any com-
pany or product in these pages is not a challenge to the trademark or copyright con-
cerned. This book uses the fantastic for settings, characters and themes. All mystical
and supernatural elements are fiction and intended for entertainment purposes
only. This book contains mature content. Reader discretion is advised.

2
Introduction 5 Sample Characters 12
Ksenyia Malaya 12
Rules 6 Zillah 13
Characters 6 Sunny Lucio 14
Basics 6 Sisera Ipato 15
Actions 6
Lasting Consequences 6
Adventure 16
Exerting and Exhausting Traits 7 The City of Vance 16
Talents 7 Festival in the Plaza 16
Drama Points 7 The Plaza 17
Spending Drama Points 7 The Action 17
Gaining Drama Points 8 Searching the Dredge 18
Strain 8 The Dredge 18
Conditions 8 The Action 19
Combat 8 Cornering Ruvar the Blue 21
The Combat Round 9 The Crypts 21
Ranged Weapons 10 The Action 21
Combat Maneuvers 10 Resolution 24
Minions 11 Customizing the Adventure 24
The Map 11
Links 25

3
4
 Introduction
Return now to dying Mars in its last age of glory.
A planet of flashing swords and choking sands, of
winking courtesans and lantern-lit canal cities. Mars,
where fortune and death are two sides of the same
obsidian chit, where lost cities and dry oceans stretch
between the last bastions of civilization. Where the
First Martians, the monument-builders, are but a
haunted memory. Where the Red Martians become
decadent and reckless in their last days. Where the
Pale Martians rule the wastes, remembering a history
whose weight would crush a lesser people.
5
In this adventure, youll find yourself in Vance at
festival time. When revolutionaries strike a visiting
prince, youll need to explore the citys dark under-
belly, before racing across its towered tombs!
Live, fight, and love on Mars, a world of red death
and strange mystery, a world of savagery and romance.
Welcome to the jumpstart for Cavaliers of Mars,
a roleplaying game of swashbuckling adventure on a
dying world. This book includes sample characters,
the rules that power the game, and an action-packed
adventure to introduce the setting.
 Rules
Cavaliers of Mars is powered by the DEIMOS
system, in which a heros motivations and approach
to problems strongly influence her chance of success.
In combat, heroes face off with their enemies in con-
tests of tactics and chance.
Characters
Your character is made up of Traits, each ranked
as a die size from d6 to d12. For example, your char-
acters Traits might include For Love d8, With Force
d6, and Cavalier d8.
Traits include Motivations, Methods, Origins, Ca-
reers, and Relationships.
Your character also has a special Trait, Speed,
which is rated as a number rather than a die type.
Speed determines how many actions your character
can take per round in closely-timed situations, like
combat.
Finally, your character has Talents, which create
exceptions to the normal rules.
Basics
Actions
Basic actions are resolved by rolling a pool of dice
against an opposing pool belonging to another player or
the GM. To form your pool, first pick a Motivation (For
Honor, For Love, or For Self) and a Method (With Cun-
6
ning, With Force, or With Grace). Add these two dice to
your pool. Then, add one die each for any Trait which
would help you. The GM is the final arbiter of which
Traits apply.
Another player can help by describing a way his
character helps yours, then contributing his highest
relevant die to your pool.
The GM then picks two dice. If the opposition is
inanimate, then the GM picks two dice of the same
size to represent the difficulty (2d6, 2d8, 2d10, or
2d12). If the opposition is a non-player character or
creature, the GM takes the characters Resolve die,
and the die for the non-player characters most rele-
vant Trait (like Stubborn as a Steppes Bear d8). The
GM may also include one die for difficulty (d6, d8,
d10, or d12).
You and the GM each roll your dice, then each of
you add the two highest results. If your total is higher
than the GMs, your character succeeds, and the GM
narrates your success. If the GMs total is higher, the
opposition overcomes your character, and you narrate
the result.
Basic actions can be used for fighting instead of the
combat system, in order to speed things up. But to kill
(or inflict any other Condition on) a significant charac-
ter, you must call for a combat.
Lasting Consequences
Some actions have lingering consequences be-
yond their immediate effects. Examples include
astrological predictions, building or repairing
equipment, inspiring or tricking people, political
manipulations, and infiltrating a group or place.
The GM is the final arbiter of what actions may
have lasting consequences.
A successful action generates a Windfall die: a d4
added to a basic action or combat roll as a bonus die.
When a player earns Windfall, he holds it in reserve
until he chooses to use it. In basic actions, the Wind-
fall die is rolled and added to the players result after
he selects his top two dice. For combat actions, the
Windfall die is rolled and added to a single action die
of the players choice. This must be done after action
pools are rolled, but before the Clash of Steel phase
begins.
A failed action generates a Misfortune die, also
a d4. Usually the GM holds Misfortune in reserve
until she chooses to add it to a players pool for a
basic action or a non-player characters combat roll,
though some actions allow players to inflict Mis-
fortune instead. If the Misfortune die matches any
other die in a basic actions pool, the GM or player
introduces some complication reinforcements ar-
rive, a sandstorm sweeps the area, a character dis-
covers that her coin purse is missing, etc. If nothing
matches the Misfortune die, the GM keeps it for
future use.
In combat, Misfortune dice simply become Wind-
fall for the players opponent instead.
Most Windfall and Misfortune dice can be used
on any kind of action, although there are logical lim-
itations on some of them. For instance, players must
use consequences generated by astrology on actions
relevant to the prediction.
Only one Windfall or Misfortune die can apply to
any given roll. All unused Windfall and Misfortune
vanishes at the end of the session, unless otherwise
noted in a specific system.
Exerting and
Exhausting Traits
Some rules, such as basic and career Talents, re-
quire you to exert a Trait, stepping its die size down
by one until the end of a session. For example, a d8
Trait becomes a d6 when exerted. A Trait at d4 can
no longer be exerted.
A Trait can also be exhausted, meaning that it im-
mediately becomes a d4 for the rest of the session. A
Trait must currently be d8 or higher to be exhausted.
7
PLOT TWISTS
VERSUS JUST ASKING
Cavaliers of Mars is designed to
be a game where everyone cooper-
ates to experience an entertaining sto-
ry. A lot of the time, the GM may just
want to ask players what happens, or
take suggestions. For example, looking
around a murder scene, the GM might
ask a player what his characters look-
ing for, and go with that. The player
could say this guy was a champion pit
fighter; I probably know him from my
Entertainer days. Spending a Drama
Point, though, is for something weighti-
er or more unlikely, like I turn over the
body... and see my own brothers face
staring blankly back at me!
Talents
Talents give your character special abilities. Basic
Talents usually give you narrative effects without requir-
ing you to roll a basic action. Careers also offer Talents.
Drama Points
Drama Points are a player resource for influenc-
ing the flow of the game. They let players achieve
great deeds and insert plot twists, and compensate
them when the tables turn.
Spending Drama Points
There are five uses for Drama Points.
Exceptional Action: When rolling a basic action,
the player can add a third die to her total result.
Just a Scratch: After combat, the player may
remove half of her characters current Strain.
Lore: The character just happens to know an
obscure truth or rumor that helps in the current
situation. Her player can ask the GM, but its en-
couraged that the player make up the fact herself.
Plot Twist: Fate intervenes in the characters
favor. For example, an ally shows up just in
time to help her fend off assassins, or she stum-
bles across a piece of critical evidence. As with
 Lore, the player is encouraged to come up with
this themselves, subject to GM approval.
Rally: In combat, the player may roll a d4 and
add the result to any of her action dice.
Second Wind: In combat, after making a Re-
solve Roll, the player can roll a d4 and add it to
the result of her Motivation die.
Gaining Drama Points
Players start each session with 3 Drama Points.
The GM awards Drama Points, but players should
speak up when they think one of their peers ought
to earn points. Drama Points always reset to 3 at the
beginning of the next session.
There are four ways to gain Drama Points.
Disaster: When something deadly or tragic be-
falls the player characters, and they didnt have
a chance to prevent it, each affected characters
player should receive 1 or 2 Drama Points.
Memorable Roleplaying: Particularly great
dialogue, moving character interactions, or an
ingenious response to a problem should earn a
Drama Point.
Self-Sacrifice: When a character gives up some-
thing vital or puts themselves at great risk for oth-
ers, the player should earn 1 or 2 Drama Points.
Trouble: When a characters Trouble comes
back to haunt him, his player should earn a
Drama Point.
Strain
Strain represents the effects of injury and fatigue
on characters during and after combat.
After combat ends, a player can automatically re-
duce her characters Strain by half. After that, the
character needs a full nights rest to rid herself of the
rest of the Strain. Strain goes away completely at the
end of a session.
Conditions
A conflict can inflict Conditions on a character,
reflecting the emotional or physical consequences of
8
being Taken Out. When a Condition disadvantag-
es a player character significantly, or prevents them
from doing something theyd otherwise be able to,
the player gets a Drama Point.
As with Trouble, a player can only earn one Dra-
ma Point from Conditions per scene.
Conditions usually last until the end of a game
session, although a player can choose for her charac-
ter to suffer the Condition for longer. Occasionally,
it will make narrative sense to remove the Condi-
tion from play before the end of a session, such as
if enough in-character time passes for an injury to
heal on its own. Just go ahead and do that if you
need to.
The available Conditions are:
Exhausted
Injured
In Love
Presumed Dead
Trapped
Vengeful
When non-player characters suffer Conditions,
they grant an extra d6 to non-combat rolls against
them that exploit those Conditions. In combat, when
a player character exploits a non-player characters
Condition, the player chooses one of the non-player
characters action dice to discard, after rolling.
A character can only have one instance of a Con-
dition. If a player wants to choose Injured twice, then
he should take Presumed Dead, instead.
Conditions expire for non-player characters as for
player characters, but the GM is encouraged to only
very rarely clear a Condition for a non-player char-
acter before the end of a session, since that tends to
make players feel cheated of their victories.
Combat
In combat, your hero takes a number of actions
each round equal to her Speed rating. Each action
is represented by a single die. At the beginning of a
round, you decide which actions your character will
be performing, and gather a hand of dice to repre-
sent them.
 There are four types of action dice.
Red d10s: Strike dice, representing attacks and
aggressive actions.
Black d10s: Parry dice, representing blocks and
dodges.
White d10s: Stunt dice, representing maneu-
vering around the battlefield, and sometimes
other actions not specifically related to attack
or defense.
Blue d4s: Bonus dice from sources like Drama
Points and Scenery.
The Combat Round
Each round is divided into three phases: Taking
Up Dice, Clash of Steel, and Break.
Taking Up Dice
You and the other players decide your characters
tactics. Fill your hand with as many dice as your char-
acters Speed rating in any combination of Strike,
Parry, and Stunt dice. For example, a character with
a Speed rating of four might pick up two Strike dice,
one Parry die, and one Stunt die. All players take
up dice simultaneously, and dont need to announce
what dice theyre choosing.
Then, roll the dice in your hand. Sort your dice
by action type, and then from highest to lowest.
Clash of Steel
In this phase, Strikes are compared to Parries, and
Stunt dice are spent.
The GM counts down from 10 to 1.
When the GM calls a number that you have a
Strike or Stunt die equal to, its your characters turn
to act.
Strikes and Parries
For a Strike die, select a target within your weap-
on range. Compare your Strike die to the targets
highest Parry die.
If your Strike die is greater than his Parry die, the
hit lands, and the Parry die is discarded.
If your Strike die is equal to or lower than his
Parry die, both it and the Parry die are discarded,
and no hit lands.
9
DO YOU WANT TO
HAVE A FIGHT SCENE?
Physical conflicts can be resolved
as basic actions, which will speed
along the flow of the session. The com-
bat rules are intended for dramatic du-
els and melees, and are only mechan-
ically necessary to inflict the Injured
or Presumed Dead Conditions. If you
dont want to invest the time, or dont
need to inflict a Condition, use a basic
action instead.
When a Strike lands against a minion, the rolled
value of the Strike is compared to the minion groups
Strike Threshold. If the die is higher than the Thresh-
old, the minion is killed, knocked unconscious, or
otherwise removed from the conflict.
When a strike lands against a player character or
significant non-player character, it inflicts Strain on
that character based on your characters weapons
damage rating.
Stunts
For a Stunt die, you choose one of two effects. You
may move one space on the map for each die you have
that matches the current count. Alternatively, you may
change the scene to your advantage. For example, you
might knock a candelabra over on a foe, forcing them
to Parry your attacks between blazing candles!
Stunts are usually things your character does, but you
can use them to create events that benefit you, as well.
Your love might dash into the room to see you fighting
the Count, distracting him at a critical moment.
A Stunt gives you or an ally a +2 bonus to one
Strike or Parry die, in addition to the benefits of ma-
nipulating the scene. The bonus must be used before
the end of the round. (Using the Stunt in this way is
sometimes less advantageous than using it for move-
ment, since movement can allow you to withdraw
from striking range for the rest of the round.)
Stunts cant be Parried. The way to counter them
is to pull off a Stunt that counters the narrative ad-
vantage gained. The GM may disallow a Stunt that
doesnt make sense.
Break
The final phase of the combat round determines
whos too injured or exhausted to continue. Each
player makes a Resolve Roll, using their characters
most relevant Motivation die.
If the die comes up greater than or equal to your
characters Strain value, your character may partici-
pate in the next round.
If the die comes up less than your characters
Strain value, your character is Taken Out:She is
wounded, unconscious, or otherwise removed from
combat for the rest of the scene. At the end of the
fight, she receives a Condition.
Example
The Apprentice, young ward of a cavalier, is sur-
rounded by a gang of boys demanding her water. She
picks up a sharp rock and calls out their leader, who
responds by drawing a crude knife.
The Apprentice has a Speed of 3, and the boy
has a Speed of 2. Shes in an aggressive mood, so
her player picks two red Strike dice and one black
Parry. The boy is wary of her defiant attitude so the
GM splits his pool between one red Strike and one
black Parry.
The player and the GM roll. The player rolls 8
and 6 on the Apprentices Strikes, and 7 on her Par-
ry. The GM rolls 7 on the boys Strike, and 4 on his
Parry.
The Clash of Steel begins. The GM counts down
from 10.
On 8, the Apprentice lunges, making a savage
swing at the boys head with her rock. Since her
Strike die is higher than his only Parry, she connects,
sending him reeling. He takes 1 Strain. His Parry die
is discarded.
On 7, the boy regains his footing and slashes with
his knife. Since the Apprentice has a Parry of 7, she
leaps lightly out of the way. She takes no Strain. Her
Parry die is discarded.
On 6, the Apprentice Strikes again, this time
aiming to sweep the boys legs out from under him.
Since he has no more Parry dice, she succeeds, and
he lands unceremoniously on his backside. He takes
another 1 point of Strain.
At the Break, its time to make Resolve Rolls.
Since the Apprentice hasnt taken any Strain so far
10
in this fight, the player doesnt have to make one. If
she did, shed use the Apprentices For Self Motiva-
tion, at d8.
The boy, meanwhile, has a Resolve of d4. The
GM rolls the die and gets a 1, so the boy is Taken
Out. The boy stays on the ground, humiliated. He
still gets water in the form of the Apprentices spit
upon his cheek.
The player chooses to inflict the Injured Condi-
tion though after this defeat, she doesnt expect to
see the boy or his cronies again.
Ranged Weapons
Slightly different rules apply when a combatant is
using a flintlaser, sling, or other weapon intended for
attacking at a distance.
Most ranged weapons need to be reloaded be-
tween shots. This happens automatically in the Break
phase. Thus, they can only inflict a single successful
Strike. However, ranged weapons can also be aimed,
essentially combining Strikes. Each Strike die in the
players pool can be spent to add +1 to the value of
the highest Strike die in the pool.
Many ranged weapons cant be used to Parry,
meaning that the character must Parry as if unarmed.
Parry dice can still be used to dodge ranged Strikes.
Combat Maneuvers
Combat maneuvers are special moves that replace
the effects of your regular action dice. Anyone can use
any maneuver, provided they meet the requirements
and pay any costs.
You may use one maneuver per round. Except for
the basic Strike and Parry, you cant use the same ma-
neuver in two consecutive rounds.
The variety of maneuvers can create some decision
paralysis for new players. Feel free to stick to the basic
Strike, Parry, and Stunt until youre ready to experi-
ment with fancier moves.
STRIKE
You stab, slash, or bash your foe.
Action: Strike
PARRY
You deftly block or evade an attack.
Action: Parry
DISARM
You knock your opponents weapon from their hand.
Action: Stunt
Effect: Disarmed advantage; opponent cant use
maneuvers like Riposte or Moulinet until they Stunt to
retrieve a weapon.
DRAW CORPS-A-CORPS
You draw your opponent in, pressing body to body
as you grapple.
Action: Stunt
Effect: Corps-a-corps advantage; only fists and dag-
gers can be used while advantage is in play. You or
your foe may use a Stunt to break free.
FEINT
You make a false attack, and your enemys defense
gives you an opening.
Action: Stunt
Effect: Opponent is distracted until the end of the
round. One Strike against a distracted character
counts as +2 higher than normal.
LUNGE
You thrust forward with your entire body, putting
devastating force behind your weapon but leaving
yourself open to attack.
Action: Parry
Effect: The Parry becomes a Strike.
RIPOSTE
Your opponents assault leaves her open, and you
strike back.
Action: Parry
Effect: If your successful Parry is higher than the
Strike it counters, promote one Strike to the level of
the Parry and resolve it immediately.
SHOVE
You crash into your foe with great force, pushing
them into a less advantageous position.
Action: Stunt
Effect: Your foe is moved one space.
SWEEP ATTACK
You swing your weapon in a wide arc, sending your
enemies sprawling.
Action: Strike
Cost: Exert Force
Requirement: Using a heavy swinging weapon
Effect: Attack each enemy in space
Drawback: -2 to highest Parry
Mastery: No Parry penalty
MOULINET
Requirement: Using a heavy swinging weapon
Effect: Attack each enemy in space
Drawback: -2 to highest Parry
Minions
Since having the GM track a hand of dice for
each individual non-player character in a big fight
scene could get cumbersome, mobs of minor charac-
ters (minions) use a simplified set of rules.
Each minion group has a Strike Threshold: 2, 4, 6, or
8. When an individual minion gets hit with a Strike equal
to or greater than their groups Threshold, theyre killed,
knocked unconscious, or otherwise removed from action.
The GM rolls one pool of dice for an entire group, with
a Speed rating equal to the number of minions in the group
who havent yet been defeated. Minions shouldnt usually
Parry their dice should typically be Strikes and Stunt.
As the Clash of Steel resolves, the GM can use
any die for any minion in the group.
The Map
Maps are simple flow charts showing the different
places characters can move in the current scene. Map
spaces dont represent exact distances, but instead areas
which require an effort to move through. For example,
in a theater, the stage might be a single space, since
bounding from one side to another is trivial, while the
seating might be two or three spaces, representing the
challenge of pushing through the rowdy patrons.
Range
Two characters in the same space can attack each
other with close combat weapons, like swords. To attack
from further away, they would need ranged weapons.
Scenery Dice
Spaces on the map may have Scenery dice associ-
ated with them. These are d4s that represent features
like ropes to swing on, sandbags to knock over, cur-
tains to dodge behind, and so on. Once per turn, you
may describe how your character makes use of the
Scenery, and add the result to one of your action dice.

11
 Ksenyia Malaya
Killer of Thoughts
Motivations Methods
For Honor: d8 With Cunning: d10
For Love: d6 With Force: d6
For Self: d10 With Grace: d8

Traits
Slum Rat of Vance d8 I was a dock daughter, fishing for rich mens trash; too ambitious to stay.
Assassin d10 My sharp eyes won me a patron, who taught me her ways.
Scholar d8 My skill won me another, who taught me his reasons.
Patience d10 A good plan requires care and diligence to see it through. Im more careful
than most.
Member of a d6 Now and then I take a contract to kill knowledge, and not just its bearer.
Secret Society
Trouble Im patient, but not always silent.
Equipment Subtle poisons, books of forbidden lore, letters to be lost forever.

Combat
Speed: 3 (roll 3 dice per round)
Weapons: Small blades
Damage: 1

Talents
INVISIBLE BLADE
By taking advantage of distraction or the cover of
darkness, you can slip your blade through the best
of defenses.
Cost: Exert Cunning
Effect: This Talent can only be used when previ-
ously hidden, or after maneuvering behind your
opponent. When applying your Strike die to an
opponent, you choose which Parry die they use
against your attack.
SLIP THE KNIFE DEEPER
You use precision instead of force when striking,
able to find vulnerable areas or vital organs in a
swift strike.
Cost: Exert Grace
Effect: Deal 1 additional Strain with close combat
weapons.
WELL READ
You are able to remember obscure information
youve read previously.
Cost: Exert Scholar
Effect: You can ask the GM to give you a single
piece of information that your character would have
read pertaining to a particular situation or plot.
TASTE OF POISON
You know the tools of your trade well enough to
recognize poisons.
Cost: Exert Assassin
Effect: You are able to identify any poison, includ-
ing knowing where it came from and who is likely to
use such a poison.

12
 Zillah
The Rising Fifth
Motivations Methods
For Honor: d8 With Cunning: d8
For Love: d6 With Force: d6
For Self: d10 With Grace: d10

Traits
Merchant Class d8 I am the fifth daughter of a fecund but unremarkable accountant.
of Vance
Adept d10 And Ive had the gift as long as I can remember.
Astrologer d8 It wasnt long before I began using it to track the heavens.
Numerology d8 I know the best days, now. For starting a journey, for meeting a lover, for
ending a life. Each day is full of little threads, and I know just where to cut
each one.
Trouble Unreliable. So much time spent looking inward has left me less attentive
than others. Without a guiding hand, Im apt to get distracted.
Equipment Charts of the heavens, maps of the Princess Invincibles palace, a list of
names.

Combat
Speed: 3 (roll 3 dice per round)
Weapons: Debris, furniture, discarded weapons, and anything else my telekinesis can pick up
Damage: 1

Talents
TELEKINETIC CONTROL QUICK READ
Your mental strike is powerful enough to move oppo- After speaking with someone for a short amount
nents as well as deal damage. of time, you can do a quick reading, giving you an
Cost: None advantage over them.
Effect: When using telekinesis to strike in combat, Cost: Exert Astrologer
also move the opponent up to one space in any Effect: After having a conversation with someone,
direction. This is not limited to once per round, as the you can quickly consult the stars to gain a single
Shove maneuver is. piece of information about them.

PORTENTS
You predict someones doom.
Cost: Exert Astrologer
Effect: You make a prediction of doom about your
subject, which then comes true before the end of the
session.

13
 Sunny Lucio
Bitter Young Soldier
Motivations Methods
For Honor: d10 With Cunning: d6
For Love: d6 With Force: d10
For Self: d8 With Grace: d8

Traits
Tailors Son d8 I grew up in the terrible shadow of the great Cydonian tombs.
from Chiaro
Soldier d10 I fancied that so much majesty would make me brave and strong.
Thief d8 But not even a lords soldiers can make him pay his due.
Entertainer d8 His city will love your picture of glory, though, and stories are safer than battles.
Sharp Eyes d6 Spot the arrow with your number, or pick a mark; but youd best keep an eye
out.
Trouble My lord owes me money and I owe many others.
Equipment Soldiers greatcloak, lockpicks, a charming smile.

Combat
Speed: 3 (roll 3 dice per round)
Weapons: Stolen bastard sword of Deimos steel, forged with a foreign familys crest
Damage: 1

Talents
DEADLY FORCE DISTRACTION
Your training makes you a deadly combatant. You put on a performance that distracts those watch-
Cost: Exhaust Soldier ing you.
Effect: Gain a +1 bonus to all Strike dice this ac- Cost: Exhaust Entertainer
tion. This Talent is activated after the dice are rolled, Effect: You entertain a group of people, which
but before Clash of Steel begins. distracts them from noticing other actions. Allies
acting outside your performance gain a Windfall die
to their actions.
TACTICIAN
Your training allows you to direct others in combat. KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS
Cost: Exert Grace
Effect: You may lend a single Strike, Parry, or Stunt You are a source of news, and it finds its way to you
die to a nearby ally, or you may allow an ally to quickly.
donate any one of his dice to another ally. Cost: Exert Entertainer
Effect: You learn the latest and most up to date
news for the area you are in.

14
 Sisera Ipato
Desert Cavalier
Motivations Methods
For Honor: d10 With Cunning: d6
For Love: d8 With Force: d8
For Self: d6 With Grace: d10

Traits
Scion of the d8 I was born into a house of merchant lords, fat with water.
House of Ipato
Noble d8 And so I might have remained, a lawyer with a proper wife and a legion of
children.
Cavalier d10 Until I heard the call of the desert, and never stopped walking.
Perfect d6 All cavaliers can navigate the shifting sands; I have never lost my way.
Direction
Trouble Broken home. The sand has ground away my feelings for a life abandoned, but
I cannot say the same for the family I left behind.
Equipment An abandoned estate and tomb, a broad black hat, a faded childs drawing.

Combat
Speed: 3 (roll 3 dice per round) (4 while using Grand Entrance)
Weapons: Short sword and knife, nicked and stained with blood
Damage: 1

Talents
FAST FOOTWORK FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
You are able to move quickly across the battlefield You are a trusted confidant to important people.
Cost: Exert Grace Cost: Exert Noble
Effect: You can move up to two spaces on the map Effect: You can gain a single piece of information
for each Stunt die. pertaining to the nobility in the area.

GRAND ENTRANCE
You burst onto the scene riding a local beast, whose
loyalty you won by whispered promises and secret
means.
Cost: Exhaust Cavalier
Effect: You begin the scene with a mount, which
gives you +1 Speed until an opponent lands a Strike
and forces you to jump off.
Recommended Mount: An oleph, a sort of
six-legged cross between an elephant and a camel.
Its two heads whisper incessantly to each other in
a sibilant half-language. This one has, oddly, been
taught to climb.

15
 Adventure
The adventure begins at a Vancian festival. Assas-
sins strike at a visiting dignitary, prompting the heroes
to action, each for their own reasons. The defeated as-
sassins reveal that they were hired in the Dredge, a low-
er-class district in the depths of Vance. Investigating
the Dredge uncovers that they were in the employ of
llium and its goddess-queen, the Princess Invincible.
The heroes follow that trail up into Vances towers,
and face off against the leader of the assassins, Ruvar
the Blue, as he tries to make his escape.
The City of Vance
In the central portion of the land of Meridian,
Vance lies at the intersection of several canals. It is
thus rich in Mars most valuable commodity: water.
The city is actually built on top of the canals. At the
surface, this creates a network of sub-canals. These
carry freight and people like roads.
The city is monumental in scope, carved from
huge blocks of red and white rock. It reaches nearly a
dozen stories towards the sky. The locals enjoy shade,
sweet water, and the produce of the farms along
the canals. Trade also brings exotic goods and great
wealth by canal and caravan.
At night, the city is lit with many-colored lanterns,
according to a superstition deeply held but long since
forgotten. Windows are made of glass salvaged from the
Prismatic Wastes, fit together into intricate patterns.
Vance does not possess a sky-navy as such, though
its greatest scholars are working long and hard at the
problem, and have perfected other means of short-
16
term flight. The city does have several towers with
sky docks for visiting dignitaries from Zodiac and Il-
lium. A few merchant houses own sky-yachts, but so
far none have replicated the technology.
The Prince of Vance is chosen from among the
merchant houses. The city employs a regular and
professional fighting force, the Princes Hounds. The
master of this force is the Dog of Vance, who is nearly
as powerful as the Prince himself. In matters of war,
his power becomes supreme. However, since compa-
nies of Hounds are sponsored by the merchant hous-
es, their loyalty quickly returns to the commercial
establishment when peace returns.
Many con artists, mercenaries, and outright
thieves people the lower quarters of Vance; such peo-
ple flock to wealth. It is not unusual to see an urchin
loosening the pockets of a group of Red cavaliers
who are drinking alongside a Pale tribal chief.
The crypts in the city are in its highest towers.
Soldiers refer to watching from the towers as crypt-
watch, and civilians sometimes use the term to refer
to any tedious nocturnal task.
Poor or criminal dead are placed in the outgoing
canals to be swept away forever.
Festival in
the Plaza
During a festival, assassins make an attempt on
the life of a visiting dignitary. The heroes are spurred
to action.
The Plaza
The Plaza Arez is never quiet at night. The famous
songs of the gondoliers echo throughout the forest of
bronze statues, muffled slightly by the small, expen-
sively-maintained trees some of the last on Mars.
Never quiet, but always dark, The Plaza, built to
commemorate a long-forgotten achievement, is fa-
mously dangerous at night. It is ill-lit, as the buildings
that surround it tower ever upwards. It is a dark pit
at the heart of the city where only thieves and the
unwary walk...on any night but tonight.
Tonight, though, lanterns of every color fill the
Plaza to celebrate the Small Moon festival, when the
moon Deimos passes closest to the surface. On the
outskirts of the city, youths hang from kites to try
and reach the moon. They are lured by the thought
of easy riches waiting for the brave and strong in Dei-
moss mines. Not even the best sky-ships of Illium
and Zodiac can breach the atmosphere, but children
everywhere have heard of the Dawn Runners -- the
foolhardy pilots who fling rattletrap ships toward
Deimos tonight, bringing back precious metals, and
the men mad enough to mine them.
As the night deepens, the Plaza fills with people of
every description. Throngs of Red Martians of every so-
cial class, a drunken party of ape-like Zaius en route back
from Chiaro... and a lone plant woman from the Wyeth
rainforest who simply got caught up in the crowd.
All are gathered to witness the brightest night
of the year, and all are masked. Some wear simple
yummoc-leather domino masks, others ornate woven
facades covering all but the merest hint of the own-
ers form. At the end of the Small Moon festival, the
years slate is wiped clean, and no one need know
who you were last year. Tomorrow fresh star charts
will be drawn, and new treaties will be signed; but
tonight Vance says goodbye to last years secrets.
Among the richer attendees are the Lady Aldonza
Arez, whose old-blooded family sponsored construc-
tion of the statues and the Plaza itself, and her con-
sort, the Prince of Coronal. Coronal is a smaller city-
state to the north of Vance that controls a number of
radium mines. The affair between Lady Aldonza and
the Prince has potentially far-reaching consequences
for the balance of power among the Red Cities. But
like so many others in the plaza, Lady and Prince play
the part of young lovers tonight, intoxicated by the
freedom afforded them in the last hours of an old year.
17
The Action
Depending on your groups playstyle, the charac-
ters can either spend some time socializing and gen-
erally attending the party or you can skip straight to
the assassination attempt.
Enjoying the Party
Socially, the characters might do any of the fol-
lowing:
Join the drunken philosophical argument
among the Zaius.
Acquaint themselves with the Wyeth woman
and discover what brings her to Vance.
Hob-nob with the upper class. On this occa-
sion, even the highest aristocrats are likely
to talk to their lessers, particularly if they are
well-complimented.
Engage in one of the contests of skill be-
ing waged around the square, such as tight-
rope-walking between the statues.
Find a glass of cool wine and a perch from
which to people-watch and listen for gossip.
After everyones settled into their character,
abruptly move on to the assassination attempt.
The Assassination Attempt
Among all this color and festivity, there is a small
contingent of men in black cloaks embroidered with
fanciful golden designs. They sport black-and-gold
masks to match, and have casually integrated them-
selves into the mob around the Lady and the Prince.
Approaching the Prince of Coronal just as he
drains his glass, they shout Vance for Vance! and
draw their knives to attack him. As the Lady Aldon-
za fumbles for her sword (entangled in the elaborate
sash she wore over her gown), they stab him several
times and then move to escape.
There are cries of murder and general chaos erupts.
Within seconds, the Plaza is on the verge of a riot.
Character Hooks
Kseniya Malaya
I didnt know about this. An assassination that
Im not part of could mean Im getting edged out of
the business, or that other players are entering the
field. Either way, I have to know who they are.
Sunny Lucio
Theres no doubt that most royal types deserve as
much, but they didnt look like any soldiers I know.
And if the lady isnt grateful? I know men who could
use a cloak like that. Maybe a rich man can do a poor
man a service tonight after all.
Sisera Ipato
Theyre killing civilians; I cant stand for that. Its
terrible when a man dies for no reason; worse when
one dies simply for being in the way.
Zillah
The stars spell disaster if a Prince dies tonight.
And they werent thinking about Vance at all. Who
would benefit from altering the map of Vances heav-
ens?
The Assassins
Black masks cover their faces, while black cloaks
enshroud their bodies. Gold embroidery traces fanciful
patterns over both, while their daggers sport matching
golden hilts.
Minions
Resolve: None (a single Strike fells each minion)
Strike Threshold: 4
Damage: 1
Action Points: 1 (for entire group)
Each remaining assassin contributes 1 die to the GMs
pool, which can be spent on the actions of any of the
assassins.
The assassins begin at the Pavilion, with numbers
equal to the heroes. They spend their dice on Strikes
(to ward off the heroes) and Stunt (to escape towards
the Canal).
MINION TALENT: SPRING BACK
Cost: 1 Action Point
Effect: One assassin who would otherwise have
been eliminated by a successful Strike returns to
action.
The Map
The assassins start in the Pavilion. The heroes
start among the Statues or the Vendor Stalls.
Place one Scenery die among the Statues, another
among the Canal spaces, and the third in the Vendor
Stalls.
18
Dangers
The Prince is unconscious and dying. His shallow
wounds might be treatable with a supply of healing
gum from the Wyeth rainforest, but someone would
have to find it and get it to him. Worse, the knives
were poisoned. Unless someone finds out what was
on those blades, he could die at any time in the next
few minutes or hours.
The crowd is fighting and stampeding. People are
being crushed underfoot. Characters trying to make
their way across the scene might be better served
to run across the forest of statues, or even atop the
heads and shoulders of the crowd.
The assassins themselves are sparing no violence
in making their escape. Theyre headed for the widest
nearby canal, which is filled with boat traffic. Once
there, theyll leap across and crash through gondolas,
merchant boats, and pleasure barges on their way to-
wards the Dredge.
The characters can attempt to subdue the assas-
sins or kill them outright. If theyre captured, the
Lady Aldonza will have her personal guard come to
collect and interrogate them, and will be furious and
indiscreet enough to do it in public. Rattled by the
events, she wont be visibly grateful to the characters,
but will distractedly commend them for their loyalty
to the city.
If some of the assassins survive, they can be per-
suaded to reveal the poison used. Whether captured
or killed, one of them will, with his last words, reveal
that they were hired in the Dredge.
The Lady never directly requests assistance, but
she implies that someone who happened to uncover
a traitor would be well-rewarded.
Searching the
Dredge
Led by the words of one of the assassins, the he-
roes enter one of Vances more dangerous districts in
search of clues.
The Dredge
Through some quirk of the architecture of the
Vancian canals, the waters in the Dredge move slowly
and murkily. Boats float sluggishly through the mud-
dy waters, and the gondoliers here sing lower, more
ominous songs. The area rarely sees the sky, having
been covered over by other construction in the cen-
turies since the canals were built. In many ways, it
resembles a great, dark tunnel one with hundreds
of people packed inside.
The Dredge covers slightly more than a square
mile. Living in the area is considered less than desir-
able, so the population tends to be mostly laborers,
servants, and unestablished immigrants. The district
is near some of the citys major barracks, meaning
that off-duty soldiers come here to drink, and often
end up moonlighting as security officers. The result
is something between a depressed residential area
and a raucous red-light district, choked by the sting-
ing miasma of the filthy and slow-moving waters.
The Action
The heroes have their work cut out for them,
looking for someone who might have seen the as-
sassins be hired. The Dredge is always rowdy, but at
festival time, its downright chaotic.
This segment of the story is designed for inves-
tigation. Its a good opportunity for basic actions
using the heroes careers, as well as plain old ques-
tion-and-answer storytelling. There are also a number
of locations within the Dredge that stick out as places
to go for information.
Investigation Hooks
If your players are stuck for investigation tactics,
suggest some of the following.
Zillah and Kseniya are used to working as a unit.
They take up an inconspicuous position, arguing
over dice, while Kseniya picks out targets for Zillah
to read. Kseniya keeps Zillah on task by challenging
her to find the best moment to read a given target.
Zillah relies on Ksenyias familiarity with the Dredge
and superior grasp of their surroundings to keep her
out of harms way.
Sunny has friends in this neighborhood and a few
cloaks to sell. (Sunny can be moved by other former
soldiers, and will give up cloaks to those who look
like they could use something to keep off the chill of
night.) Sunny is not, by nature, subtle; he will show-
boat as much as the other characters let him, and is
prone to concocting stories that exaggerate his skill
or accomplishments. But his chummy bonhomie will
hold the attention of a shop owner long enough for
him to get a solid look around and pick out any de-
tails of interest.
19
Sisera has been away from Vance for a long time,
but a cavaliers broad, black hat is easy to spot from a
distance, and most people will assume he is looking
for work. If he indulges this assumption, he can find
out which noble houses have been hiring killers late-
ly and how well thats turned out for them. He may
also be called upon to calm down a dyspeptic beast
and learn more about its former owner.
The Truth
Ultimately, the heroes will find out that a man
called Ruvar the Blue recruited the assassins from the
area. Hes planning on going to a particular tower
crypt tonight in order to somehow make his escape.
They can find this out using their own methods,
such as those suggested above, or they might find in-
formation at the following establishments.
The Winking Lapis
Khaamat Istra knows what the body wants and
the soul fears. Her large, two-story house caters to
both. The front door is flanked by two blue torches:
In Khaamats native Chiaro, these are said to keep
ghosts and the dreaded tomb stalkers at bay. Blue
lights and paints appear throughout the house. They
play to the common fear of Earth, the blue star of
ill omen, and of the blue dust halo the sun shows at
dawn and dusk.
The Winking Lapis is a fortune tellers shop,
where all the fears of ancestors and looming mor-
tality can be conjured and put to rest. Most of the
first floor is devoted to Khaamats reading chambers,
where she slashes palms, leaves ash marks, and per-
forms the rituals of divination. Many a soldier dread-
ing his next campaign will stop the night before to
see Madame Khaamat.
Yet fortune telling is not the only service on offer.
The Winking Lapis is also a brothel. That same sol-
dier might stop to enjoy one last embrace with one of
Khaamats Chiaran prostitutes. The Winking Lapis
is a place of sex and death, a place where any kind of
catharsis can be had for a few obsidian chits.
Trouble: Madame Khaamat is gracious to visi-
tors, but not at the expense of her strange trade. If
the characters come looking for information too un-
subtly, or address her as a charlatan or whore, they
will find she is also a potent adept. Her calm demean-
or conceals a deadly temper and a storm of psychic
power.
 Conflict with Khaamat works best as a basic ac-
tion. She has a Resolve of d8 and a Hidden Adept
Trait of d8. If the heroes lose, theyre driven back
into the streets.
Information: An employee of Khaamat believed
that one of the assassins would marry him. He was
being taken advantage of, but he did learn that the
apparent revolutionaries were in the pay of the city-
state of Illium.
The Cavern
The Cavern is, literally, a hole in the wall. Cracked
masonry between two abandoned buildings allows
entrance into a small network of cloisters. These tiny
chambers, once open to the sky, are all that are left
of a star cult that flourished in the area a hundred
Princes ago.
Now the chapel and cloisters host devotees of a
different sort. The Cavern is a drug den, where a tall,
pudgy man named Azanza plays host to those who
find themselves in need of untroubled sleep or un-
ending wakefulness. He allows his customers to stay
20
on the premises out of an odd streak of mercy; he
knows that many of them have nowhere else to go.
At any given time, the cloisters are temporarily oc-
cupied by a dozen addicts. Some of these are destitute
and simply need a place to spend the night; others ply
illicit trades in a place where few would care to follow.
With the festival at its height tonight, nearly three
dozen people are packed into the Cavern, including
six soldiers. The air is thick with sweat. At least two
people are rutting somewhere in the cloisters.
Trouble: The addicts and revelers in the Cavern
just want to be left to enjoy their highs (or lows, as
the case may be). Theyll quickly turn rowdy if they
suspect the characters of being dangerous. Azanza
will incite them if he thinks hes being investigated by
authorities or suspects the heroes are there to muscle
in on his business.
As with Khamaat, treat conflict with Azanzas cus-
tomers as a basic action. The crowd has a Resolve of
2d6, and a Riotous trait of d8.
Information: A mysterious new customer showed
up just last week. He was most recently seen yester-
day, mentioning something about a meeting in the
sky crypts during the festival.
Barillas
When people are down on their luck, they come
to Barilla, and they bring the things they prize most.
His pawn shop is among the few buildings in the
Dredge that are well-kept. In fact, its immaculate.
Even most wealthy shopkeepers cant boast a shop
as clean as Barillas. The walls are lined with objects
that once meant everything to someone. Jewels,
swords, stone cameos of loved ones... theyre all here.
Barilla hires off-duty soldiers as security, and he
keeps three of them around at any given time. Hes
well aware that his valuable merchandise is in a dan-
gerous place. Still, the soldiers dont see too much
action. At least two usually play cards out front on
any given night. Tonight, however, they play inside,
and with the door barred.
Trouble: Barilla isnt seeing customers or any-
one else tonight. Unfriendly attempts to enter will
be met with force by his soldiers.
In a conflict, the soldiers roll Resolve at d8, and
Off Duty and Punchy at d6.
Information: Barilla recently accepted an object
even he had some reservations about: a bas relief
clearly chiseled off of a tower crypt. Enough of the
inscription was even left to make out that the crypt
belonged to Magister Marcellus Tertias Tegallianus.
Barillas had a lot of second thoughts about keeping
the item. Everyone knows that wealthy men leave
the most dangerous curses.
Cornering Ruvar
the Blue
The heroes ascend to the sky crypts to confront
the master of the assassins.
The Crypts
In the highest towers of the city rest the bodies
of Vances wealthiest citizens. To be interred close to
the sky is a sign of status.
The ornate tombs haunt the citys skyline. Their
architecture is intricate, by turns baroque and goth-
ic, chiseled with great and precarious care out of the
white rock from which so much of the city is built.
21
The crypts have also been put to practical use.
Most nights, soldiers keep watch from the towers
over the surrounding canals and desert, alert for any
danger. Particularly fleet-footed messengers have also
been known to leap across the crypts as shortcuts to
other high points in the city.
As a result of these activities, as well as ongoing
construction, the grand tombs are connected by
ropes, narrow bridges, and scaffolding. Traversing
the tombs is quite possible, if vertigo-inducing.
The Action
Tonight, the mausoleum-towers are almost empty
of lookouts. The Small Moon festival is a compelling
distraction, and the dutiful few who remain are easily
persuaded by Ruvars cruel reputation and his naked
efforts at bribery. A few truly honest soldiers have
crawled into the tombs of the wealthy, preferring to
share a dead mans bed rather than face the blade of
one of the traitors.
Ruvar is secretly in the employ of Illium, and a
personal agent of that citys Princess Invincible. He
plans to escape before the Hounds of Vance can be
mobilized to track him down. Knowing that Vances
few sky docks are more thoroughly guarded than the
crypts, his plan is to meet an Illium sky-ship atop the
crypt of the recently-dead Magister Marcellus Tertias
Tegallianus. From there, he will make his escape.
Ruvar is accompanied by a small group of trusted
agents. Their motivations range from Illiums coin to per-
sonal loyalty to Ruvar. These men and women have ac-
companied Ruvar as security only. Once he has made his
escape alone, they will fade back into the Vancian pop-
ulation, waiting to be activated again at some later date.
Ruvar and his agents are surprised by the heroes,
but they wouldnt have been traveling in force if they
werent ready for trouble. After any initial surprise
attacks, they rally and take on the heroes.
When Ruvars Strain reaches 4, his sky-ship arrives.
While it appears to be one of the yachts sometimes sold
to rich Vancian merchants, it is actually a military craft,
appropriately armed and armored. Unable to board via
the usual gangway, Ruvar will attempt to leap atop the
craft. One of the heroes might follow him and continue
the duel on a sky-ship thousands of feet above the ground.
If Ruvar is killed or captured, most of his hired
help scatters and runs.
Ruvar the Blue
A handsome man, almost young, with unsettlingly blue eyes.
Resolve: d10
Speed: 4
Damage: 2
Action Points: 2
Weapons: A single-shot flintlaser (+1 damage on
first Strike), a rapier of the finest Deimos steel
Ruvar begins on the crypt of Magister Tertius,
marked with his name on the map. Since thats where
hes planning to escape from, hell initially favor
Strikes and Parries. After hes taken 4 Strain, the sky-
ship from Illium arrives, and he uses a Stunt die to
leap onto its open deck, where the fight can continue.
ANTAGONIST TALENT:
EVASIVE FOOTWORK
Ruvars grace allows him to dance between your
strikes, denying you the advantage of numbers.
Cost: 1 Action Point
Effect: Ruvar gains 1 additional Parry die for every
enemy attacking him past the first.
Ruvars Agents
The agents are dressed as a group of common ruffians, but
are actually highly-trained soldiers and assassins. All carry mili-
tary-issue rapiers, which glint wickedly in the light of the moons.
Resolve: None (a single Strike fells each minion)
Strike Threshold: 4
Damage: 1
Action Points: 2 (for entire group)
Each remaining agent contributes 1 die to the GMs
pool, which can be spent on the actions of any of the
agents.
There is one agent for each of the heroes.
MINION TALENT: MOB VIOLENCE
The agents close in around you, promising violence
from every direction.
Cost: 1 Action Point
Effect: When the agents resolve multiple Strikes on
the same hero this round, the GM may activate this
talent to increase the value of the Parry result needed
to cancel Strikes by 1 for each Strike the agents have
already landed on that character.
Colonel Brennius
The Zaius ape-like silhouette looms ominously over the
crypt on which he perches. He carries a large, repeating
projectile weapon.
22
Resolve: d4
Speed: 1
Damage: 1
Action Points: 2
Weapons: A repeating gun
Brennius uses ranged Strikes to discourage the
heroes, and he uses his Hail of Bullets Talent to slow
their advance. All of the outdoor areas on the map
are within his range of fire, but heroes can avoid
them
ANTAGONIST TALENT: HAIL OF BULLETS
Bullets from Brennius weapon pound the stonework
ahead of you, chipping it and forcing you to choose
your steps carefully.
Cost: 1 Action Point
Effect: One space that Brennius targets requires 2
Stunt dice, rather than 1, to move out of.
The Map
The heroes start on the Large Tower. The agents
start spread among the Crypts and Bridges. Colonel
Brennius also starts on a Crypt. Ruvar starts on the
crypt marked with his name.
Place Scenery dice on the Skyship (when it ar-
rives), on two of the Crypts, on one of the Bridges,
and on each of the Ropes.
Characters can move from the Crypts to Ruvar us-
ing the Ropes with a single Stunt die, unless the Ropes
are being affected by Brennius Hail of Bullets Talent.
Dangers
The agents fight as a group. While one might en-
gage a single foe, her fellows will be ready to trip or
backstab that enemy.
The fight takes place high above the city. Char-
acters must utilize all their agility to stay atop the
crypts and bridges, though they may also use the
great heights and precarious positioning to their ad-
vantage.
More agents might spring from within the crypts
or drag their enemies inside to fight among the
brown bones and funerary jewels.
Each agent has spent time climbing the crypts,
and each is ready to fence on the narrow bridges or
kick enemies down from towers.
Even carrying his massive weapon, Brennius is
capable of leaping from tower to tower without us-
ing the intervening bridges and ropes. The bullets he heroes trusted agents in future endeavors...including
fires can shatter the very stone on which the heroes in possible covert retaliation against Illium.

Customizing
(or his fellow agents) stand.
the
Resolution Adventure
The sun rises with its eerie blue halo, and the
city begins to put itself back together. Hangovers are We expect youll tailor this adventure to your group;
nursed. Masons and other crafters go to work repair- none of us ever runs a published adventure just as
ing the results of the nights excesses. written. This particular story focuses mainly on swash-
buckling action, with a dash of investigation. The web
The heroes have thwarted a plot aimed at the very
of intrigues that occupy the Red Cities are only hinted
heart of Vancian power, and they have rescued (or
at, but could be expanded. Particularly, consider what
avenged) the Prince of a smaller state. While the mer-
the Lady Aldonzas family might think of her dalliance
chant houses arent going to be throwing any parades
with a foreign prince, and whether some factions might
in their honor, the characters are likely to receive
ally themselves with actual revolutionaries, such as the
quiet offers of lucrative employment, and not a few
Mongrels or the Twelve Dead Men.
admiring glances.
Its also a relatively linear story. This works well
With the traitor identified, the Lady Aldonza
for a crash course in the setting, but you might want
seems more confident and openly grateful. She of-
to try something a little broader. In this case, we rec-
fers honorary commissions with the Hounds spon-
ommend expanding the portion of the adventure
sored by her house. While these are little more than
that begins in the Dredge. Give the players freedom
titles now, they carry potential pensions and property
in their investigation, and give them the chance to
rights in the future. Shes also likely to consider the

24
catch Ruvar the Blue and his henchmen in ways oth-
er than the set piece finale we provide. With the full
game, you might take the action to the Hangmans
Garden or chase them across Mars and into the Lab-
yrinth of Night.
You could also consider different ways of tying
the heroes into the adventure. Perhaps the Prince of
Coronal has important diplomatic business under
the cover of the party, and being left indisposed has
jeopardized it. Now, one of the characters must don
his mask and take on his persona.
Or maybe youd like to play it from the other side.
The characters could very well be the assassins them-
selves, facing off against the guards and soldiers of
Houses Arez and Coronal. Are they true revolution-
aries, or are they, too, in the pay of Illium?
However you choose to run it, we hope you have
an evenings fun getting to know our Mars.
25
Wed love to hear what you think; you can e-mail
rose@fantasyheartbreaker.com with your thoughts.
Well see you again atop Chiaros pyramids, or per-
haps Illiums perch on the Radium Plateau. In the
meantime, hold your sword close, your flask closer,
and keep an eye out for the full game!
Links
You can always find the latest on Cavaliers of
Mars at http://www.cavaliersofmars.com. And while
youre at it, why not read The Apprentices Tale,
an in-character setting exploration at http://blog.
fantasyheartbreaker.com/2012/03/04/the-appren-
tices-tale/?
Check out Cavaliers and other projects on the
Onyx Path site at http://www.theonyxpath.com.
 Return now to dying Mars in its last age of glory. A planet of flashing
swords and choking sands, of winking courtesans and lantern-lit canal cities.
Mars, where fortune and death are two sides of the same obsidian chit, where
lost cities and dry oceans stretch between the last bastions of civilization.
Where the First Martians, the monument-builders, are but a haunted memo-
ry. Where the Red Martians become decadent and reckless in their last days.
Where the Pale Martians rule the wastes, remembering a history whose weight
would crush a lesser people.

In this adventure, youll find yourself in Vance at festival time. When

revolutionaries strike a visiting prince, youll need to explore the citys dark
underbelly, before racing across its towered tombs!

Live, fight, and love on Mars, a world of red death and strange mystery, a
world of savagery and romance.
Includes:

A complete adventure set in one of dying Mars greatest remaining cities.

The innovative DEIMOS rules, for high-flying, swashbuckling adventure.

Four pre-generated player characters, ready to get into the heart of the
action.