Mars
Mars has been altered by the Ancients to support life but it is
less of a success than Venus. It is a chilly, arid place that needs
irrigation to make it habitable. Water is brought down from the poles
by canals that distribute it to the fields and cities. In the desert
live creatures unlike those of Earth: huge lizards that run in packs and
feed off cactus amongst others. Whether they are native to Mars or
brought in by the Ancients, none can say. The most formidable of these
are the sand worms that burrow under the surface. Great care must be
taken while crossing the deep desert or you could find yourself becoming
a meal for the horrid things. (But I must say that sand-worms are
particularly tasty).Paradoxically, the cities of Mars are built on the water, even in the midst of the desert. The canals that bring in the precious, life-giving fluid also cover the streets with water. Perhaps the water barrier was a way the Ancients kept out some desert pest. The fields around the cities primarily grow rice and an edible water lily. (Pickled and steamed it really goes well with sand-worm) The canals are also well stocked with fish both from Earth and elsewhere. The primary means of travel is by water and ships, sailing ships, ply the canals between the cities.
The heart of life on Mars has to be the Church of Fire. No major decision is made without first consulting the priests or priestesses of their religion. This tends to make Martians a rather conservative and cautious lot very resistant to new ideas. If, however, some change receives the stamp of approval of the church, it is accepted without a second thought. I guess when someone can hand you an accurate prediction about the future, you take their word very seriously. The trouble is, fire readings are not always clear in their meaning. Where interpretation is called for, usually the safer of two paths are recommended to the supplicant.
Because of its power and prestige, it is little wonder that the church governs the planet. The royal house of Mars has blended with the theocracy so that almost all the nobles hold some church offices of one sort or another. That being the case, it is hard for them to take orders or even recognize power and authority outside themselves. Their belief in their code, founded in accurate readings of the Fire of the Ancients, leads them into confrontation with any who do not accept their authority. If it were not for Earth's very visible power, I think the Martians would find reason to quarrel with the Moon. As it stands now, Serenity is able to steer their behavior while looking like she is intervening on their behalf. We get to play the foil while she the hero.
Wonder: The Fire of Mars
Most mysterious of the great artifacts of the Ancients is the Fire
of Mars. It is a three meter diameter sphere of glowing energy. Flames
rise from the outside of the sphere, but no fuel is consumed. Any
living, or once living thing placed in the fire is consumed as any
regular fire would. The really strange thing is, the fire will not
affect anything else. Metal and stone do not become heated, nor will
water. I know, I have faced the fire and felt it warm me, but the
buttons on my jacket retained the chill from outside.
I spoke with a Sailor-senshi Mercury, Hope (Cognizance's aunt) and she explained it this way: The flames are caused by the air contacting the sphere, if the Fire were located in the void between planets that would cease. She said that the sphere itself is an instability in the reality of this universe held in stasis by unknown means. By concentrating upon the instability, one projects their conscious mind into it and is able to perceive the universe outside normal constraints. Because the mind fills in gaps in the senses, this comes to us as surrealistic visions. While the Fire never lies, the visions can sometimes be unclear.
Appropriate adjective and collective noun: Martian, Martians
Mars is the most Earth-like of the planets and the loss of life support would take the longest to affect it. There was not dramatic end, as there was on Venus, just a slow leaking away of heat and air. This gave the Martians more time than any other people to react.
Fate of the people at the time of the Fall: Since they had the most time to deal with events, they organized and began a mass exodus to Earth. Since they were limited in their vessels to stone barges many died on the way as air-stones ran out. Still, unlike Venus where only a handful escaped, many Martians did and settled around the Nile river valley.
Name of the Younger Senshi at the time of the Fall: Rei (Her soul is very constant.)
Fate of the Younger Senshi: Died on the Moon during the Fall of the Silver Millennium.
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Moon Cat: Aries (male) Just as irrepressible as Puck, but in a totally different way. Aries is harsh, abrasive, and just generally pushy. Fate of the Moon Cat: Emigrated to Earth with the people. May still survive today but at this time it is unknown. It is believed that he may be the source of the ancient Egyptians veneration of cats and the cult of Bast.
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