Original subtitles

[ hooting ]

[ thundering ]

[ thundering ]

Nadeea: A little storm wouldn't keep

A man like king zad away.

Not from all--

Zad: No warm welcome?

No sympathy for your king

After a hard day, huh?

The thrill of the new.

Remind me to reward

Whoever found you.

You're not afraid To look me in the eye?

The eyes are the windows To the soul.

Really?

And what do you See there?

A man with the courage To appreciate

What I have to offer.

Away, away.

Oh.

It's a little too late To be shy, isn't it?

Don't worry.

We both want The same thing.

I certainly hope so.

I meant the beastmaster.

How did you get in here?

Who are you?

Someone who can help you.

Everyone wants to be a friend With a powerful man.

You want beastmaster defeated.

I can do that.

You?

How?

The beastmaster's family Still lives, in hiding.

Before you dispense with him,

I must find out where they are,

And where he's hidden The crystal ark.

What do you need from me?

I need to get inside His tight-knit little group

Without rousing his suspicions, Especially

From tao And arina.

What do you get Out of it?

You let me worry about that.

For the sake of discussion, When could you begin?

I've already started.

Really?

[ thundering ]

[ voices screaming ]

[ exploding ]

[ voices wailing ]

[ tormented wailing ]

Voices: arina!

help us!

[ voices wailing ]

[ pounding ]

[ pounding and wailing ]

[ wailing hysterically ]

[ whooshing ]

[ wailing ]

[ whooshing ]

What's that?

[ wailing ]

Arina, what was that?

My grandfather.

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.

This will save you carrying Buckets to water your crops.

[ giggling ]

[ screaming ]

Warriors: Over there!

Someone, help, please -- King zad will have my head.

You must save me, please!

I won't let them harm you.

Run.

Uhhh!

[ grunting ]

[ groaning ]

[ grunting ]

[ panting ]

No!

[ grunting ]

[ gagging ]

Pick on a man for a change?

It's nice to see chivalry Isn't dead.

Bring him.

I have To do this.

I understand -- that's Why I can't let you do it alone.

Dar, this is my battle To fight.

My sacred duty To my people.

Arina, you're the last Of your people.

Some dark force has opened The graves of my ancestors.

Their souls have been scattered To the four winds.

[ voices wailing ]

Is balcifer getting strength By feeding on their torment?

Whatever the reason, I must gather these souls

By the next moon.

I have three days To return them

To their resting-place.

How?

My people have a powerful ritual Called the j'farr.

We use it to summon the spirits Of our dead warriors.

We use it to call For their help in battle.

Can you use it

To lay them To rest?

I think so.

I don't know if anyone's Performed the j'farr alone.

This time you Won't be alone.

Ha.

[ bird calling ]

What is it? It's tao -- Zad's men

Are taking him To xinca. Now?

Go ahead -- I'll catch up with you.

No, I'll come With you.

It may be a trap.

It'll be quicker.

We'll get tao out and be back On the trail by dawn.

All right, come on.

[ yelling insults ]

[ grunting ]

Heroism is a contagious disease, My friend.

You must have learned it From the beastmaster.

There's only one cure For this affliction --

Exquisitely

Painful death.

Nadeea: Please, sire, Show him mercy.

He was only trying To help me.

Mercy is a rare commodity.

Save it for yourself.

Sire, what have I done?

Sedition, treason.

Trying to convince my girls To run off.

Forget my feelings.

[ chuckling ]

How would they get by In this cruel world

Without my generosity

And understanding?

Do you have An appropriate penalty for that?

Oh, we're wasting time.

Tell me -- I know the beastmaster

Has the crystal ark -- Where is it?

Nadeea: Say something

Or he'll Kill you! [ panting ]

No.

Ugh!

[ choking ]

This is useless.

Tell me!

[ thudding ]

Release him.

You...

Look what you've done.

You're to scare him, Not knock him senseless.

Have A better idea?

I do.

I must know Where

The beastmaster Is hiding

His family.

You let me work on him, My way.

You'd better Find out.

My jackals Haven't been fed

For two days -- In two days,

They'll be Ravenous.

You have That long.

What did you find?

It's bad.

Is he hurt?

Zad tortured him In the town square.

I don't think Tao said anything.

They've taken him to the cells.

Can you forgive me?

If it wasn't for me You wouldn't be here.

I've been in Worse situations.

You have?

Not Much worse.

But Don't worry.

Help is On its way.

How can you be so sure?

I just am.

Trust me.

I don't even Know your name.

I'm tao.

I am nadeea.

[ lips smacking ]

Zad captured me And threw me in his harem.

This ark zad asked about.

Why is he so interested In it?

The fate Of the world

Depends on it.

And you know where it is?

I didn't Tell zad.

No, no.

No, you were very brave, Very brave.

It must be A terrible responsibility,

Knowing something like that.

[ footsteps ]

Tao: What do you want?

What do you want? No!

[ thudding ]

Tao!

Nadeea: Tao!

[ clanging ]

[ sizzling ]

Where's king zad?

Ahh, yes.

His highness seems Rather taken with you.

The usual punishment For escaping

The harem is rather More swift,

More gruesome.

Are you disappointed?

Hmm.

The signs are obscure,

Murky,

But this nose can detect The odour of brimstone.

You're no ordinary Harem wench.

How perceptive.

King zad is lucky To have you.

From my divination, I believe you

To be a succubus, A demon who feeds

On innocent human souls.

If I am,

Then you're In no danger.

Who sent you -- Balcifer?

Not everyone

Serves a master as you do, Slythius.

You'd do well to remember Who my master is.

And so would you!

I can give balcifer The tormented souls

Of a thousand namib warriors

To feed His appetite. Unless...

The beastmaster

Stops you.

My gift of his soul to balcifer Will be the crowning touch.

But you cannot just take it, Can you?

Before you steal Someone's soul,

He must ask you for help.

And if you're so powerful,

Why do you need King zad's help?

Don't you have Any imagination?

Think

How much sweeter it is For them to think

They're saving my life.

Tao will never suspect.

Hm.

[ door creaking ]

[ gate rumbling ]

Arina!

Ugh!

Arina!

[ straining ]

Hurry!

The jar -- I need it for the j'farr!

Ugh!

Dar: Arina, hurry!

Ugh!

I can't hold it.

Slide through.

I can't. Quickly.

Hurry!

[ gate rumbling ]

Can't hold it.

Whew.

That was close.

Without this, Everything would have been lost.

It might be If we don't

Find tao And get out.

[ keys rattling ]

Are you all right?

What did zad do to you?

Nothing he hasn't Done before.

Whatever you had to do for him, It's not your fault.

Sorry we had To meet like this.

You've been So kind to me.

Your family must Be worried.

I have no family.

No wife, No children?

I've been too busy.

Too busy For everything?

Studying and learning Takes up a lot of my time.

You must be So lonely.

Not really.

Everything about the world Fascinates me.

And me?

Do I fascinate You, tao?

[ pounding ]

Open up.

Zad wants the woman.

[ thudding ]

Nadeea: Someone's coming.

You should make a run for it.

No, I'm not Leaving you.

Dar: Tao.

Tao: I told you help was on the way.

[ keys rattling ]

Glad to see you. Shhh.

Who is this?

Nadeea -- She's coming.

She'll slow Us down.

Can't leave her here.

Tao, she's right, go.

I'm not leaving Without you.

Zad will Kill her.

If she stays, I stay.

Bring her.

Ahh.

They've given the alarm.

This should Be fun.

In your cups as usual, zad.

[ panting ]

The guards tell me The beastmaster has found

His way inside your dungeons.

I know.

I thought I left orders

Not to be disturbed.

If he succeeds In freeing his friend,

You will lose your chance To find the crystal ark.

I can find The proper enchantment

To get it out of him, But not if he escapes.

You know what I think?

Sitting here, Enjoying my wine

Is going to work More magic

Than any Of your incantations

And evil-smelling potions Will ever do.

Slythius!

Any member of my court Who refers to me only as zad

Finds their tongue Nailed to the gate.

[ laughing ]

Argh!

Tao, take her And find cover.

Now what?

Do it your way.

It's about time.

[ roaring ]

Still glad you came?

What do you Think?

They're getting Away, sire.

Of course they are.

That's the idea.

Just follow your orders.

Tao: And that potion

Will help The scratches.

You're A healer, too.

Why aren't they after us?

You want them To chase us?

Dar: Zad went to a lot Of trouble to catch you.

Why did he let you go So easily?

Easily?

We were Almost killed.

Maybe.

Even zad's Knights know

When they've Met their match.

And you, I never knew a woman Could battle so fiercely.

Where did you learn To fight like that?

Sorry it took me so long.

You should be.

Yeah, okay.

I didn't tell him anything.

I know.

Zad would have to do worse Than that to break me.

That's what I'm afraid of.

[ sizzling ]

How do you expect To control the situation

With the girl Out of your grasp?

Nobody's out Of my grasp,

Not even you.

[ chuckling ]

This nadeea has her own plan.

Of course She does,

But she won't Betray me.

A man has said that About a woman

For each grain of sand

In the hourglass Of eternity.

Are you so sure She is a woman?

You really must get out Of that dank den of yours

More often, slythius.

She's a succubus.

Nobody's perfect.

Can you tell me Where to find the crystal ark?

I've seen it in a vision.

The beastmaster Has hidden it.

Nadeea Can bring me

Everything I want to know... And more.

But At what price? Ohh.

[ chuckling ]

We need to get moving.

we aren't going anywhere -- We're going to my homeland.

I don't need Any baggage.

Shouldn't we stay together?

We can't let zad Find you again.

Take nadeea back to arakann.

You'll be safer there.

Be careful.

You do The same.

Let's go.

Tao, take this.

[ growling ]

Dar: Ruh, keep an eye on tao.

[ ruh growling ]

There are many ways to die In the swamp of yomak.

Our elders used To abandon us there

When we came of age, To learn survival.

[ chirping ]

[ rattling ] [ hissing ]

Every child

Or a chosen Few?

The namib are warriors -- Everyone was given a chance.

That explains a lot.

I need mud from the swamp.

Shouldn't be too hard.

The mud is sacred And protected by the r'ohtan.

They're from the swamp.

Some say they're monsters.

Wasn't it Something

Your elders Made up

To scare The children?

It takes more than a story

To scare a namib, Even a namib child.

[ growling ]

Nadeea: I wish you'd tell me more About this crystal ark,

Unless, of course, You don't trust me.

It's not a question of trust.

What are you Afraid of?

[ growling ]

It's okay -- It's ruh, a friend.

[ growling ]

Tigers can be So demanding.

[ laughing Nervously ]

Arakann's over the next rise.

[ growling ]

Nadeea: Tell me About the beastmaster.

Dar?

He's a legend of this land.

As a team, We're unstoppable.

And what about us?

Could we be a team?

[ sighing ]

Do you want something, tao?

Let me hear you say it.

You.

[ whooshing ]

You belong to me now, tao.

[ snapping ]

Tell me about the crystal ark.

[ roaring ]

There's something here.

Arina: Many have died in this place.

No -- This is something else.

What is it?

[ whooshing ]

I thought I saw something.

Probably The r'ohtan.

I'll hurry.

[ gurgling ]

[ gurgling ]

Arina, get back!

Arina: What are you doing?

It's okay.

volem borab namib.

volem borab namib.

[ gurgling ]

The namib Thank you.

That was the r'ohtan?

The r'ohtan?

You mean that fairy tale We used to scare namib children?

What did you Say to it?

volem borab namib.

"A child of namib calls you."

It grants you safe passage In the face of evil.

I trust your mission Was successful.

Nadeea: See for yourself.

[ clapping ]

[ footsteps ]

Zad: This pup?

I can take him anytime I like.

He's useless to me.

Not anymore.

And why is that?

Tao, tell us About the crystal ark.

The crystal ark is a vessel Designed to protect

Dar's lost family Who are in animal form.

Dar's quest is to reunite

And restore them to their Rightful place in the world.

Where is it? Always in Such a hurry.

Tao will take us to it.

Are you sure?

He will do anything I ask.

Watch -- Tao, kill.

Don't make me laugh.

Finish him.

Slythius: No -- a parlour trick.

You think so?

Tao, kill...

Him.

No, stop him!

Ugh!

Nadeea: Hold.

Oh, just when it was getting Interesting.

Call him off!

Tao, off.

Ahhh.

He will do anything for me.

Even kill the beastmaster.

Why not?

Now that we can find The ark.

Uhh.

If we don't reach The burial ground

By the dark of the moon, The souls of my people

Will be lost forever.

What else Do you need?

The skull of our greatest enemy From the malla stones.

A fire egg from under The waterfall at t'gwan.

I gave the last of my crystals To the r'ohtan.

I know the waterfall.

Can you retrieve The skull?

If our luck holds.

I'll get the fire egg and Meet you at the burial ground.

Dar.

Thank you for your help.

I know I'm keeping you From your quest.

If I can't help my friends, My quest is already lost.

[ waterfalls thundering ]

[ exhaling ]

[ squeaking ]

I'm not worried About the swim.

I'm more concerned About the fall.

[ squeaking urgently ]

Don't worry -- I'll make it.

[ insects buzzing ]

[ arina grunting ]

I should have gone For the fire egg.

[ insects buzzing ]

Forgive me -- I have no choice.

Ahhh!

[ grunting ]

[ grunting ]

Arina?

Nadeea, help me, I'm stuck.

I thought you'd never ask.

[ whooshing ]

Arina?

Zad: I'm afraid there's been

A slight change of plan.

This is sacred ground, zad.

Even you should Understand that.

It's a graveyard, Beastmaster.

There's always room For one more.

Ow!

All right.

Let's end this.

What's your hurry?

You've yet to meet My new champion.

Tao, are you all right?

Can you hear me? Uhh!

Tao, do you know What you're doing?

Do you know who I am?

That's the best Part about it.

He doesn't.

Ow!

[ panting ]

Tao,

You don't want to do this.

Argh!

Go to sleep, Go to sleep.

What kept you?

It's over.

Finally.

Something We can all agree on.

Ahhh!

What have you done to them?

Their souls are in my keeping,

Their bodies at my service.

Better than dead,

So much worse than alive.

Tao's very essence Is in here.

Shall I smash it so you can Watch him scatter

On the breeze?

[ heaving ]

Night is coming.

We should get on with it.

With what?

Arina's indisposed,

So it's up to you To collect all the souls

Of her ancestors.

So I may present them To balcifer.

Hmm.

You know all about collecting

Family members, don't you?

[ zad chuckling ]

We know All about your crystal ark.

Tao will lead us Right to it.

First, You will perform the j'farr.

No, I won't do it.

Arina,

Kill tao.

Arina! Ahhh!

[ moaning ]

Tao.

Still alive.

Not for long.

Not without his soul.

[ gasping ]

Do as we ask And I may restore it.

[ dar grunting ]

Nadeea: Prepare him.

Arina, the j'farr markings Must be

Exact.

We should kill her.

No, no yet.

Let her harvest the souls Of the namib,

And I'll present them To balcifer.

And I'll get the credit.

Once you've gathered The spirits,

Seal the vessel And give it to me.

Arina: Spirits of the namib, Hear me.

Spirits of the namib, Hear me.

By all That is

Sacred And holy.

By all that is sacred And holy.

I call you Home

To the land Of your fathers.

I call you home To the land of your fathers.

[ shattering ]

volem borab namib!

By the j'farr, Help me defeat those

Who defile Your sacred resting-place.

[ angry voices ]

[ voices wailing ]

No!

[ screeching ]

Stop or I'll smash them!

Nadeea: No, no!

[ voices screaming ]

No, no!

[ voices wailing ]

[ whooshing ]

Ahhh.

Great, my shirt.

[ snickering ]

It's not funny.

What's this -- blood?

What happened to you?

Tao: What happened to her?

Nadeea stole Her soul.

Nadeea -- But she is a--

Demon.

Yes.

Can we bring her back?

Her soul is in one of these.

What's the rush?

I quite like her like this.

[ chuckling ]

Nah.

Zad: What's the point

In having a soothsayer Who says nothing?

I should have your tongue, Boiled, on a plate.

If you're Unhappy

With my Services--

Oh, no -- you're not getting off That easy.

Get out of my sight!

I'll deal with you later.

Argh.

It's been A very disappointing day.

[ panting ]

Up to now.

[ giggling ]

[ calling ]

[ growling playfully ]

I warned you About nadeea. I should Have listened.

It's about time You realized that.

[ chuckling ]

She was using me To get to you.

Once she released The souls of your ancestors,

She'd use their pain to add

To the suffering In the world.

A gift to balcifer.

She didn't count On our strength.

Not as individuals.

But together.

[ purring ]

Closed captions produced by Alliance atlantis broadcasting