Original subtitles

[ shattering ]

[ clanging and crackling ]

[ smashing ]

[ sizzling ]

Zad's knights are destroying All signs of king eldar's reign.

Everything we tried to protect.

We can't let zad get his hands On this.

The other relics?

Forget them -- Just save the tablet.

There's only one thing To do.

Take half -- If one of us is captured,

Zad won't get The whole tablet.

We won't Get captured.

Wonder what It means? Every day,

But that's for someone More educated than us.

We promised my grandfather To preserve it until they came.

Anything happens, We split up.

[ crackling ]

Guards!

[ footsteps thudding ]

Now, run!

Run, rhana!

Go!

Empty your pack And pockets.

I have nothing; I am a homeless traveller.

I search everyone On this road.

These men have less patience Than I.

They hunger for excuses To draw blood.

Lower your weapons.

Ugh!

[ gasping ]

[ grunting ]

Stay your hand!

This is a lonely place To be a wanderer.

I know where I'm going.

Out of my way.

Which is?

None of your business.

All passers are Zad's business.

There has been enough killing; Don't add to the butcher's bill.

You are being foolish.

Now,

Let's see what you fight So hard to protect.

It will see you rot in hell.

King zad Will be interested.

[ growling ]

[ chirping ]

[ soft thumping ]

Ruh?

[ soft growling ]

[ rustling ]

Frolo: Beastmaster.

Please -- Help me.

in an age when nature and magic ruled the world...

...There is an extraordinary legend --

the story of a warrior

who communicates with animals,

who fights sorcery and the unnatural.

his name is dar,

last of his tribe.

he is also called beastmaster.

Follow my finger.

Your eyes reveal a head injury; Were you beaten?

By zad's knights.

They're destroying every sign Of king eldar's kingdom.

Zad's trying to erase history.

That's why They attacked you:

You have something Of eldar's.

Maybe you should have given it To them.

No, it's too valuable.

I was told to seek your help If my cause was threatened.

My message is Only for the beastmaster.

Tao can be trusted.

I belong to an alliance Loyal to the murdered king.

We were sworn to restore His rightful heir to the throne.

How do you know Eldar had an heir?

That faith sustains us.

I carry part Of an ancient tablet

On which the eternal truth Is written.

[ chattering ]

Podo says you have nothing In your bag.

I hid it.

My companion has the other half.

She's been captured By zad's men.

With what she knows, Zad could smash us.

Do you know What the tablet says?

No -- We are only guardians,

Pledged to protect the knowledge For the one who can use it.

To restore eldar's line.

Eldar -- I will no longer Hear that name in my land!

Tell all; he may Dismiss you.

If not? Pray he does.

A new beginning, my reign -- We will wipe out

The old king's traces --

Old habits, old customs, Old ideas: gone!

It is Being done.

Nobody should remember any king Before zad!

What to do with you?

Are you sure you're man enough To do anything?

What is this?

Get rid of it!

You're a fool.

It's no wonder You still chase the beastmaster.

That -- Some cheap souvenir.

Is that Why she fought like a tiger?

She did, sire.

And your partner, Where is he?

I don't know. You don't know Much.

Perhaps I can jog her memory.

I saw him last With your knights.

Where is he?

He resisted. You killed him!

I'll deal with you later.

Go and destroy every trace Of the old king.

History...

Begins with zad.

Dar: We should have Stayed in arakann.

I'm fine -- Your friend is a mighty healer.

You're in no condition To travel or fight.

I couldn't stay While you fought.

You don't know The tablet's words?

When you're tortured, you can't Reveal what you don't know.

Why do you Bother me? Zad's orders.

You might need Your memory.

I have nothing!

[ screaming ]

Show some respect.

Beastmaster, This is not your affair.

Zad has a price On your head.

My men can send it to him On a pole.

Want to see this?

[ groaning ]

[ whooshing ]

[ shouting and grunting ]

[ poles clacking ]

Why are you here, Dartanus?

Keeping an eye on things.

Zad's new army.

He calls them "Knights",

As if the word alone Could carry the honour.

The world is changing.

New alliances are forming.

Some are for you, Many against.

Be sure You know the difference.

That's it?

Who was that?

He is an old... Friend.

We think -- Dar's spirit warrior,

Here to help him do What he must.

Oh, now, that's much better.

Leave us.

Here.

It's good, But it won't get you

What you want.

My wants are simple,

As yours should be.

I want to win.

So do I, So it's impossible.

Only if you're too stubborn

To change sides.

I will crush Your rag-tag band,

But you have a chance To save yourself.

I'm not afraid Of you.

My counsellor, slythius, He has ways

Of making people talk That scare me.

And I will make you...

Sing.

I'm losing patience.

The tablet is from the east; Nobody knows what it says.

Don't toy with me.

Some say its red clay Could be from the red desert.

You expect me to go halfway Across the known world

On a "Could be"?

They say an ancient temple Stands there.

I have also heard These rumours.

Eldar's temple?

Maybe it's worth a look

Before I level it -- Guards!

Where is zad Keeping her?

In his dungeons Or his chamber.

Zad: Aren't we ready yet?

Yes, sir.

Well, let's go -- Move out!

Rhana! Too late.

We have to stop him If she talks.

Everybody talks.

It's not Her fault.

How much does she know?

Breon, We must know.

There is a temple In the red desert,

Old as the beginning Of eldar's line,

The temple of the true king.

Maybe she's taking him there, To protect the tablet.

Maybe the temple Will distract him.

Let's get there Before zad does.

Halt!

Beastmaster.

Zad will be pleased.

Oh!

[ thumping and thudding ]

[ thudding ]

[ groaning ]

[ moaning and gasping ]

Forget me.

Save rhana. We can't Leave you.

Listen -- Find the other tablet.

Rhana only had half; I hid the other,

When we were attacked.

After we fled -- It is under a tree.

Here.

Xinca.

This is our home.

[ panting ]

And the tree.

You must find the pieces,

Put them together.

What about rhana?

Without my half, Her sacrifice is for nothing.

We'll save rhana And find the tablet.

Breon, Where is it?

[ gasping and panting ]

You will know your friends By this mark.

[ gasping ]

Beastmaster, You are the one we awaited.

You are the one.

Where is it -- We need to know.

Breon.

Breon!

Tao: I wish he'd told us Exactly where the tree is.

This line is a road,

But I have no idea Of distance.

He did his best:

Fought like a hero and died For what he believed in.

Are the friends he mentioned The ones dartanus meant?

I hope so. Hope There's lots.

We can't count on many people To stand up for what's right.

Even if they know?

Take heart that anyone Will fight by our side.

I don't know how we'll find This place: one tree.

Wait for morning: we'll start By retracing his steps.

Why are we not moving?

The men Must rest, sir.

We have no time.

Fast march.

To the red desert -- In this heat?

Am I not speaking clearly, Captain?

Fast march.

Eat and drink On the move.

Why drive them So hard?

Why are you Afraid?

There are forces At work here

That you know nothing about.

If you're keeping Anything from me,

I'll kill you.

I thought It was the other way around:

You'll kill me When I can give you no more.

Maybe you're worth keeping After all.

[ gloves slapping ]

We're still sitting here.

Knights, move out: Fast march.

Move!

[ footsteps clomping ]

Do you have anything else To say?

If I lose men On this expedition,

I assure you I will, sire.

There's always method In my madness, captain.

That woman may be leading me On a fool's errand.

She had half a tablet.

The other could be Where you killed her friend.

Is she leading me Away from that?

Until I know,

I'll let her think She's beguiled me.

I win either way.

Hmm?

Hmm.

No.

The tree breon drew Has another fallen beside it.

Dar, how will we find one tree When it could be that one

Or that one? Show me The map.

Dar: We may be looking at it wrong.

Maybe we need some height To recognize the geography.

Sharak.

[ twittering and fluttering ]

Show him the map.

[ fluttering ]

[ squawking ]

Good work, sharak: That's the place.

The perfect hiding place.

I'll say.

If breon's half is in here,

I can't see it.

I can't feel anything either.

This is a job For experts.

[ chattering ]

Podo.

Don't get distracted -- Just bring it out.

See, I told you: It's not here.

It was.

Tao, watch out.

Looking for this?

Take them!

You ready? Do I have A choice?

[ yelling and metal clanging ]

[ thudding ]

[ yelling ]

[ thudding ]

Argh!

[ thudding And swords clanging ]

We'll see how good You really are.

Get past me And it's yours.

[ whooshing ]

[ clanging ]

[ grunting ]

[ swords clanging ]

[ groaning ]

[ grunting ]

Argh!

[ panting ]

Leave!

Without your weapons.

[ whooshing ]

Tao: I've never seen anything Like this before.

I can't read it -- If this is so important,

You'd think your spirit guide Would come to help us.

Well, these are animals.

The tiger, goat, wolf.

This could be for anything.

A shopping list for a recipe: Take one tiger--

People are in trouble Because of that list.

That's the symbol for eldar: We know this.

Next to it, every time, Is the rising sun.

What if the rising sun Is the symbol for the true king?

Here it is here, At the beginning

And at the end -- Maybe the story

Has a happy Ending.

Not without the rest Of the tablet.

Five minutes, kelb.

Ah.

They're animals.

I know that.

But what does it mean?

I don't know.

Maybe I believe you.

You're too stupid To read this.

After we find that temple, I won't need you anymore.

We're not too far.

[ splashing ]

Where did it come from?

It's red clay.

Breon mentioned the red desert, But it could be from anywhere.

[ chattering ]

Show me.

Where's that From? It was wrapped up With the tablet.

Black ice -- This is only found

In a few locations.

I've heard of it Near the desert.

And this red clay -- A slim chance.

Our only chance -- Let's go.

Going somewhere?

The red desert.

It took you long enough.

Why didn't you tell us?

Some lessons are better

Discovered than told.

If you knew,

You'd know we're in a hurry: Zad's in front of us.

Then why stand here talking?

[ panting ]

It will take Days

To get through This forest.

Dartanus: There is a way through, If you can find it.

It's a shortcut: It will save you days.

After you. I'm not going.

Just follow the path.

Another test?

It's an opportunity To learn.

Sometimes I can Point the way.

For now, I stay here.

We'll find it.

I'll see you again.

[ stream splashing ]

[ rustling ]

[ rustling ]

Tao: Isn't this the same path?

We're going in circles.

How -- We never left the path.

[ birds twittering ]

We're back

Where we started.

Don't shout.

You sent us On the path to nowhere.

Did I -- I told you to seek it.

You set yourself On the path.

Believe me: It is the way.

It better be.

[ trickling ]

[ footsteps plodding ]

Uh.

[ whooshing ]

Dartanus,

What is this?

Don't ask me -- It's of your own making.

How can we be Coming and going?

When you take The wrong path,

You follow Your own footsteps.

Tell us the right one.

I should save you

Every time You make such mistakes?

You play games With me!

I'm trying to teach you -- You don't have time

For the easy road; The world is sinking into evil.

You won't always have me

To show you the path.

Could have given you A map.

[ sighing ]

He was right.

We took the easy way.

This was the way All along.

We didn't try hard enough To find it.

He could have Given you a map.

Dar!

Look -- black ice!

Lots of it.

Red clay.

This is the place.

Same colour As breon's tablet.

It all fits.

[ footsteps thumping ]

Stop!

Who are you?

Is it your business?

This makes it My business.

Tao.

Eldar's rune.

Like breon's. You know breon?

He was a good man.

He's dead?

Yes, Fighting to save rhana.

Where is she?

She's zad's prisoner.

We promised breon We'd save her.

He told us about you.

He believed dar is the one You are sworn to help.

Now, While we're still young.

Pull it down!

[ footsteps thudding ]

[ fires crackling And pillar thudding ]

[ cheering ]

Frolo: You can see the temple From the cliff's edge up ahead.

We thought It was a myth.

It goes back to the beginning Of eldar's life.

A storehouse Of old kingdom knowledge.

Dar: No wonder zad wants it.

Imagine what's in there -- The sum of human knowledge.

[ clanking ]

We're too late.

[ swords clanking ]

I'll stop him From destroying it.

We must act Now!

There aren't Enough of us.

[ clanking ]

Don't stop

Until you turn it Into sand.

[ pounding ]

Nothing will recall The old kingdom

Or the old ways -- There will be

Only zad!

Think!

This took centuries To build.

But only days to destroy; Who would have thought

Civilization was so... Fragile?

You say rhana has half Of eldar's tablet?

Zad has it now.

She led him here To save it.

How?

Zad thinks It's a map of the temple.

He won't look For its deeper meaning.

What is that meaning?

We find out By getting it back.

The loss of the temple is great; Loss of the tablet is greater.

Why does he do this?

He destroys everything and Everyone he doesn't understand.

Zad understands it All right.

It goes far beyond Celebrating eldar.

A tribute To the human spirit.

So he fears it.

He believes that making people Forget their own greatness

Will make them accept him

As a great leader; That's why he must destroy it.

And why we must stop him.

It's too late To change what's happened,

But we can change What's to come.

Aren't you curious About what it means?

When I find the rest Of your tablet,

My soothsayer Will divine its secrets.

Yes, I'm looking for it.

Meanwhile,

I'm leaving nothing behind For the beastmaster to find.

Hurry up!

Destroy it all!

[ pounding and thudding ]

[ pounding and thumping ]

This has been fun,

But it is pointless To resist further.

Bored with me?

I knew this would happen.

I have your damn tablet And your sacred temple.

What else do you have to give But your body?

That sounds So simple.

Any woman would kill To have all this

And to have me.

And yet--

Do you hope For something better?

[ laughing ]

You hope for rescue?

Ah!

You find that amusing?

[ choking ]

Zad: Beastmaster,

This is very brave of you.

I could have my knights here In a minute.

You'd be dead, Rhana and I gone.

You know me?

I'm a friend of breon's.

Zad: Guards!

Bad move.

I'll take my chance.

King zad! Kill him!

You will be the first To go.

Just do it!

He will never kill me.

I would.

We'll be going now.

Drop your sword.

Drop your weapons -- Rhana.

Zad: You're taking me As a hostage?

I'll fight you Every step of the way.

[ gasping and choking ]

Move!

Move!

You'll never get away With this!

I already have.

[ roaring ]

[ shouting and clattering ]

We were late for the temple And any knowledge inside.

Sorry about breon.

Dar: Tao!

Tao: A-ha!

Breon said to put the pieces Back together.

Rhana: Do you know what it means?

Frolo: No, only that

It's the most valuable Of eldar's relics.

Where is that?

[ tao laughing ]

When the sun sets Behind this mountain,

Its last rays will show us Where to go next.

That's the mountain.

If we hurry We'll make it in time.

[ birds crying ]

Watch for where this light Hits the rock.

This is the place.

I feel it.

Do you know What you are looking for?

I'll know it When I see it.

We'll ensure You're not interrupted.

[ roaring ]

[ gasping ]

Oh!

[ knocking ]

[ tapping ]

[ thudding ]

[ hard thumping ]

[ panting ]

[ thudding and panting ]

Uh.

[ birds chirping ]

Tao: What is it?

Dar: It's what we came here for.

Think of it As an ark,

A place to keep those things That are beyond value.

Dar.

Look.

The runes: Wolf, goat.

[ birds twittering ]

The same animals That are on the tablet.

More than animals.

Your father knew balcifer Was after him and his family.

To hide them From the evil ones,

With his dying breath, He changed them into animals,

Until the day You could find them

And restore them To their rightful place.

Tao: That's brilliant.

Only if you find them all, dar.

And this ark?

Bring the animals to the ark, Where they will be safe.

Once I've found them all?

Their powers Will be released,

They will regain Their human form

And they will help you To defeat balcifer

And restore peace and justice To the world.

Then the throne Will be yours:

Dar, Rightful king of arakann.

We will serve you.

To return the world To goodness.

That's when your real work Will begin.

Tao: It's all gone.

Everything.

Zad destroyed Everything.

No matter How hard he tries,

He will never destroy The human spirit.

Know that breon Was a hero.

He protected The tablet.

Without you two, I'd never have found the ark.

We are prepared to fight For you,

With other resistance fighters Throughout the land.

One day, I will need you. We'll Be ready.

For now, the final battle Is not yet at hand.

And zad Is not balcifer.

Go home

And live your life.

Keep your loyalty hidden; One day, I will call on you.

Closed captions produced by Alliance atlantis broadcasting