# Turan — The Chessmen of Mars character guide

> Turan in The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Turan the panthan

**First appearance:** 0003-ii-at-the-gale-s-mercy

## Snapshot

A nameless panthan, a soldier of fortune for hire, whose skill with a sword and stubborn loyalty conceal the identity of a prince traveling in disguise.

## Who they are

Turan the panthan is a mercenary with no land and no lord, which makes him invisible to the highborn — exactly what he needs. He attaches himself to Tara's fate with a devotion that seems inexplicable for a hired blade, enduring her scorn and the perils of Bantoom and Manator at her side. His hidden identity creates the central tension of the romance: whether Tara can love the man rather than the title.

## Relationships

### [Tara of Helium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/tara_of_helium)

_romantic_

Tara is initially attracted to Turan, unaware he is Gahan in disguise, creating romantic tension.

### [O-Tar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/o_tar)

_rivalry_

O-Tar views Turan (Gahan in disguise) as a rebellious threat and seeks to execute him.

### [A-Kor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/a_kor)

_friendship_

A-Kor, a noble Manatorian, befriends Turan (Gahan) and aids him in his escape plans.

### [Tara of Helium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/tara_of_helium)

_romantic_

Tara is initially attracted to Turan, unaware he is Gahan in disguise, creating romantic tension.

### [O-Tar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/o_tar)

_rivalry_

O-Tar views Turan (Gahan in disguise) as a rebellious threat and seeks to execute him.

### [O-Tar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/o_tar)

_rivalry_

O-Tar views Turan (Gahan in disguise) as a rebellious threat and seeks to execute him.

### [Tara of Helium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/tara_of_helium)

_romantic_

Tara is initially attracted to Turan, unaware he is Gahan in disguise, creating romantic tension.

### [A-Kor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/a_kor)

_friendship_

A-Kor, a noble Manatorian, befriends Turan (Gahan) and aids him in his escape plans.

### [A-Kor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/a_kor)

_friendship_

A-Kor, a noble Manatorian, befriends Turan (Gahan) and aids him in his escape plans.

## In the story

### [X: Entrapped](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/x-entrapped)

Enters Manator through an open gate, is tricked and imprisoned in an underground dungeon.

### [XII: Ghek Plays Pranks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/xii-ghek-plays-pranks)

Awakens in the pits to find a Martian rat gnawing on his arm; disarmed and chained, he struggles to defend himself.

### [XIII: A Desperate Deed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/xiii-a-desperate-deed)

Tara asks about him, but the officer ignores her question.

### [XIV: At Ghek's Command](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/xiv-at-ghek-s-command)

Chained in a cell, chafing in his chains and anxious for Tara's fate; learns from A-Kor that Tara is held in the Towers of Jetan.

### [Another Change of Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/xvi-another-change-of-name)

Adopts the alias U-Kal from Manataj to enter the Jetan games and win Tara.

### [XIX: The Menace of the Dead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/chapters/xix-the-menace-of-the-dead)

Alias used by Gahan; he is the panthan who accompanies Tara and receives her love confession.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters/turan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_chessmen_of_mars_se/characters