After the Warlord's disappearance in
Peret 2730,
Zodanga, still officially a vassal kingdom of the
Heliumetic Empire, becomes emboldened by the new vacuum of power opened in his absence. Zodanga begins to slowly position itself as a cultural leader on Barsoom, ostensibly championing social justice causes while using its networks of organized crime to sow seeds of discontent and onerous networks of
usury. It has united loosely with
Phundahl and
Kaol, instigating a social movement to reinstate the
Cult of Issus in Kaol and the cult of Tur in Phundahl. Many suspect the involvement of the Holy Therns.
Carthoris and his grandfather
Mors Kajak, in an attempt to quell discontent in the warlord's absence and to maintain the imperial ambitions of Helium, begin a forceful campaign to persuade other
Red Martian nations to abandon slavery.