Page 3: Martian Flora and Fauna

Environment: Martian Flora

Calot Tree; Gloresta; Grass; Lawns; Man-Flower; Mantalia; Man-Tree; Moss; Pimalia; Skeel; Somp; Sompus; Sorapus; Subterranean Plants; Trees; Usa

Wildlife: Martian Fauna

Apt

Apts are large (6-8 feet at the shoulders), fur-bearing creatures of the far northern regions of Barsoom similar in some repects to polar bears. They appear to be able to walk on either all four feet or to stand on two and use the upper ones as arms, since the upper limbs end in hand- like appendages which are used for grabbing their prey. Their heads are shaped like those of hippapotomi, large and with oversized mouths, and they have downward-thrusting tusks similar to those of walruses. The eyes are large and faceted like those of a dragonfly, although each facet is individually lidded, allowing the apt to adjust how many are open to the ambient light conditons. Thus, they are not blinded by the glare of the snow, but maintain excellent night vision for their cavernous lairs. They are highly valued for their stunning white fur, which is both excellent camouflage in their winter environment, and also quite warm.

Banth

Banths are Barsoom's answer to the Terrestrial lion, and bear a resemblance to those animals. Banths are ten-legged beasts with hairless, yellow hides and tawny manes around their necks. Their mouths have several rows of sharp teeth, and extend around the head to just behind the ears. Their enormous, protruding green eyes can be dimly seen in the dark, and provide the Banth with excellent night vision. They roam the dead sea bottoms, where they hunt at night, emitting a low moaning noise once they have found a scent to follow. They roar when they are about to charge, in order to paralyze their prey with fear before they pounce.

Birds

Birds are mentioned occasionally in Burroughs's tales of Barsoom, but are never described in any detail (the exception is the Malagor, below), and seem not to sing. They are noted for their brilliant plumage, and feathers are noted as having been prominent in the head-dress of ancient peoples, but most modern men no longer use such adornments.

Calot

If Banths are Barsoomian lions, Calots are Barsoomian dogs, although there is less physical resemblance to their terrestrial counterpart. Calots might even be related to Banths in some way, since they also possess ten legs, and have a frog-like mouth filled with three rows of fearsome teeth. They are reputed to be the fastest land animals on Barsoom, and are ferocious fighters, with great endurance and tenacity.

Darseen

The Darseen is described only as a chameleon-like reptile, and is envisioned here as being about the size of an iguana. It changes color automatically to match the nearest color it can see.

Fish

As with birds, John Carter's accounts of his adventures on Barsoom mention fish, but never really describe them in any detail. Given that Barsoom is largely waterless, they can be assumed to be quite rare, but perhaps not unknown. There might even be some sort of sea monster (see Silians, below), but it would need to be pretty rare or pretty dangerous for it not to be extinct already.

Insects

Here again it is the case that insects as a class are said to exist upon Barsoom, and we are even told of one or two examples, such as the Sith, listed below. They can be assumed to generally follow the size and characteristics of their Terrestrial cousins, or else Carter might not have recognized them as such.

Lizards

There is only ever one lizard to appear in John Carter's accounts of his (and others') adventures upon Barsoom, and that one was large enough to consume a human in a single bite. There might well be others, however, and they should probably be similar to Terrestrial equivalents.

Malagor

ST: 80-130 DX: 13 IQ: 4 HT: 15/55-70

Move/Dodge: 15/7 PD/DR: 1/1 Damage: 5d+2 Cutting Reach: C,1

Size: 4 (Body) + 32 (Wingspan) Weight: 1,500-2,000 lbs. Habitats: S

This enormous bird was thought to be extinct until discovered in the Great Toonolian Marshes. It most nearly resembles the mythical Roc of Earthly legends or the giant eagles of Tolkien's Middle Earth. They can indeed carry human passengers, although their stamina diminishes quite rapidly if more than one rider is present. In game terms, its maximum load is light encumbrance, and this reduces its Move to 11. On the ground, it has a Move of 6.

Orluk

The Orluk is another predator of the North Polar regions, having a highly prized black and yellow striped coat. It is never explicitly described in the narrative, and so this version is more subject to interpretation than most.

Plant Men

Plant Men are encountered only in the Southern Polar region of Barsoom, in the Valley of Dor where the famous river Iss terminates. Here they survive on the pilgrims who have chosen to end their lives in the ancient way, and are commanded by the Holy Therns. They are said to be one of the original four life-forms which fell from the Tree of Life, and they still reproduce through budding rather than any variety of procreation. Their young hang from buds under the arm-pits until they are about a foot long, at which point they drop off and must survive on their own.

Physically, they are bipedal in structure, although their arms are more sinuous and tentacular than human arms, ending in clawed hands (1d+1 Cutting) with mouths in each of the palms. They are large, standing some 10-12 feet in height at maturity, and are a "ghoulish" blue color except for a white band which encircles their single all-white eye in the center of their foreheads. Their noses are ragged, inflamed holes in the centers of their faces, and their hair is a tangled mess of thick black strands like those of the Greek Medusa. Their feet are about three feet long, and they use them to jump through the air like giant kangaroos. This is their preferred method of attack, as they jump over their targets and lash down at them with their powerful clubbed tails (this is the 3d Crushing attack listed above). They have been known to clear 30 feet at a single jump and are utterly fearless.

Reptiles

Reptiles are rare on Barsoom since the recession of the seas, but they still exist, and seem to be uniformly repulsive to behold and venemous in nature. Actual species are rarely discussed, and thus are generally left to the discretion of the individual GMs, although the Silian (see below) is described.

Rykor

ST: 10-16 DX: 2 IQ: 1 HT: 12-16

Move/Dodge: 3/0 PD/DR: 0/0 Damage: as per ST Reach: C,1

Size: 1 Weight: 100-200 lbs. Habitats:

Rykors are the headless, unintelligent servants of the Kaldanes. They appear to be decapitated bodies of Red Martians, and are uniformly healthy and physically attractive. They have virtually no incentive or thought of their own, since this has been bred out of them by the Kaldanes. They are capable of only the most minimal self-directed activities, and only survive because the Kaldanes provide for them.

Silian

ST: 20 DX: 14 IQ: 4 HT: 14

Move/Dodge: 7/7 PD/DR: 2/2 Damage: 1d+1 imp. Reach: C,1

Size: 5 Weight: 500 lbs. Habitats: SW

Silians are reptiian sea monsters found in the Lost Sea of korus, and are reputed to be the last reincarnation of a man who has died before his allotted 1,000 years. They are not well described, but I am assuming them to be medium predators similar to prehistoric sea animals.

Sith

ST: 40 DX: 15 IQ: 2 HT: 14/30-35

Move/Dodge: 20/10 PD/DR: 2/2 Damage: 2d Cut./2d Imp. Reach: C

Size: 3 + wings Weight: 700-800 lbs. Habitats: F

The Sith is a giant hornet-like insect found in the Kaolian Forest. It is said to be nearly extinct, but can still occassionally be found on deserted roads. It attacks with either its powerful jaws or its even more dangerous tail, which injects a deadly poison (Type F, doing 4d damage) into the victim if the stinger attack does damage. Interestingly enough, the Sith is vulnerable to its own poison, and the nobles who patrol the Kaolian Forest carry spears dipped in Sith poison to use on the Siths themselves.

Snakes

Snakes fall into the same category as reptiles generally, being poorly described yet repulsive in the extreme. These creatures also are left to the discretion of the GM.

Sorak

ST: 2-4 DX: 14 IQ: 5 HT: 13/2-3

Move/Dodge: 15/7 PD/DR: 0/0 Damage:1d-4 Cut Reach: C

Size: <1 Weight: 5-15 lbs. Habitats:

This is a small domesticated animal analogous to the terrestrial house cat, although it has six legs instead of the traditional four.

The Spiders from Mars

Barsoomian spiders are large arthropods which hang from their webs on 12 legs which grow out from their backs. They weave webs of a magnificently strong material which can be made into a strong, waterproof fabric similar to silk. They are presumed to be poisonous (Type H for 1d6), but are quite helpless on the ground, unable to do more than flail about with their legs.

Thoat (Greater)

ST: 150 DX: 9 IQ: 4 HT: 14-16/30-45

Move/Dodge: 14/7 PD/DR: 2/3 Damage: 4d-1 Cr. Reach: C

Size: 15+ Weight: 7-10 tons Habitats: P

This is the type of thoat ridden by the Green Martians of the Martian wilds. It is huge, standing some 10 feet at the shoulder, with eight legs and a broad, flat tail which is held straight out behind the animal when it runs. It is somewhat reptilian in appearance, having no hair on its body, and a large, fierce-looking mouth. It is an herbivore, however, and gains all of its nutrition from the moss which covers nearly all of the Martian surface, and can go for months without water. It is quite temperamental, but is controlled through telepathy like most domesticated Martian animals, with no bit or bridle being used.

Thoat (Lesser)

ST: 50-60 DX: 9 IQ: 4 HT: 14-16

Move/Dodge: 14/7 PD/DR: 1/1 Damage: 1d+2 Cr. Reach: C

Size: 4 Weight: 2,000-3,000 lbs. Habitats: P

This is the type of thoat bred for use by the smaller (man-sized) Red Martians, both as mounts and occassionally as meat. It is smaller than its wild cousin, being about the same size as a large horse, but is otherwise virtually identical.

Ulsio

ST: 6-9 DX: 13 IQ: 4 HT: 17/6-9

Move/Dodge: 7/6 PD/DR: 1/1 Damage: 1d-2 Cutting Reach: C

Size: 1 Weight: 35-69 lbs. Habitats:

This is the Barsoomian equivalent of the Terran rat, and is a nasty creature indeed. It is roughly the size of a dog, and has many legs, as do most of the lesser animals of Barsoom. It tunnels through the ground with its massive front teeth, which seem to take up the majority of its head, and can often be found burrowing underground in cities and catacombs.

White Ape

ST: 30-35 DX: 13 IQ: 7 HT: 14/20-25

Move/Dodge: 6(9)/6 PD/DR: 1/1 Damage: 2d-1 Cutting Reach: C,1

Size: 2 Weight: 300-900 lbs. Habitats:

The fierce white ape of Barsoom is a ferocius creature, towering some 10-15 feet when they stand up, and possessing an extra set of arms similarly arrayed to those of the Green Martians, in that they can be used as either arms or legs. The white ape is hairless, except for a great shock of hair on the top of its head, and its face is greatly reminiscent of the African Gorilla. White apes are semi-intelligent, possessing their own rudimentary language, and are capable of using primitive (TL 0) weapons and armor. They make their homes in caves and deserted cities, and even the fearsome Green Men are wary of an enraged ape.

Zitidar

ST: 225-275 DX: 9 IQ: 4 HT: 14-16/40-50

Move/Dodge: 8/0 PD/DR: 3/4 Damage: 5d-1 Cr. Reach: C

Size: 18+ Weight: 10-15 tons Habitats: P

Zitidars are never explicitly decribed as anything other than "mastadonian," but are likely larger relatives of the thoats, since they seem to be similarly handled, fed, and of similar tempers. They are used as draft animals by both the Green and the Red Men of Barsoom, and their hides are used as boot/sandal soles due to the great resilience of the material.

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