Original subtitles

[ buzzing ]

Tao: This was carved By very clever stonecutters.

This is part of a staircase -- I wonder who built it.

Dar: It's hard to tell -- There's not that much left.

A part of a great city?

Once, maybe.

Now the forest's Reclaimed it.

[ growling ] [ sighing ]

[ shrilling ]

We should be getting close To eldar's city.

How do you know -- there's No markings on these stones.

I can feel it. I hope so.

We could use more information -- A stone tablet or a scroll.

I don't know if we'll find All your family, but...

The closer we get, The harder it gets.

[ puffing ]

Ahh!

Ow!

Ahh!

[ grunting ]

[ grunting ]

Ow!

[ moaning ]

[ chuckling ]

[ panting ]

[ moaning ]

[ groaning ] [ grunting ]

I'll kill her.

[ moaning ] Let her go.

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.

Back off!

Good.

Now, go.

I'm going to count to five, Then I'll pick it up.

You do and she dies.

I don't think so.

One, two...

Three, four...

[ moaning ]

[ grunting ]

[ moaning ]

[ moaning ]

[ panting ]

Are you All right?

No -- It's my arm.

Can you take Care of her?

Go, go.

Let's have a look.

[ panting ]

[ panting ]

[ panting ]

[ moaning ]

[ hissing ]

I can't move My arm.

Hmm, your shoulder's out.

You're going to be okay, But this is going to hurt.

Sisters.

I'm ready.

Ow!

[ all moaning ]

There, You should be fine now.

[ giggling ]

It doesn't even Hurt.

What Did you do? My grandmother Taught me that.

Anything else?

She taught me many things.

I've learned more since then.

I like To experiment. You're A scholar.

Yes.

Yes, I am.

We don't meet many like you.

Will you teach us What you know?

[ panting ]

Ugh -- Ohh!

[ groaning ]

[ growling ]

Thanks.

I don't think He'll bother her again.

[ grunting ]

Go!

[ grunting ]

[ grunting ]

Get in there!

[ grunting ]

Come on, fight!

Any of you want To test my blade?

Come on.

I barely got my sword wet.

[ grunting ]

You want What your friends got?

[ muttering ]

I didn't start Anything.

Nice blade.

They asked For trouble.

A costly mistake.

Only six against one.

What do they call you?

Kerik.

I've been looking For a man like you...

...Kerik.

Why would I want To do business

With a man Like you?

Let's say there are... Opportunities, odd jobs.

But if you're not interested...

I didn't say That.

I already work For king zad.

If you're happy being A paid knight in zad's army.

In my service, You'll be a general.

If I live.

I knew you weren't just good With a sword.

Slythius, Please, sire.

Tarbok.

Why is a knight of xinca Disturbing me?

There's something I must ask you.

What happened to you?

I spotted the beastmaster.

It appears He spotted you too.

What about my reward?

What about it, kerik?

Should we reward this knight

For reporting To his betters?

We could let him live.

And what reward Could be sweeter?

If you want to keep breathing Through that ugly mouth,

Tell me what you saw.

I'll decide if your news Is worth bothering the king.

By the towers Of elor,

There was This girl.

Isn't there always?

The beastmaster To the rescue.

She didn't say anything, Didn't scream.

How would anyone know She needed help?

The beastmaster has friends.

I suppose a little bird saw you, Or a tiger, a rat.

No, not him.

The other girls. What are you Saying?

What...Girls?

They came running.

They knew I was there, But she never screamed.

What did these...Girls Look like?

Dressed in white.

Fancy bracelets.

Bracelets?

[ choking ]

This one.

So, it's true.

You recognize it?

Oh, yes.

But I thought It was only a legend.

Then it's worth something To king zad.

By the towers Of elor, you say.

This information

Is most valuable,

Wouldn't you say, kerik?

Ahh!

Too bad he died before Telling us anything useful.

[ chattering ]

This is our cloister, where We learn and live together.

And Your families?

We are a family.

We serve the vella.

Who's that?

Vella is wisdom.

My sisters and I study and Preserve what knowledge we can.

The world is sliding Into darkness.

I've noticed.

People have forgotten much.

Zad's armies leave behind Only fear and ignorance.

Tao: Not only zad.

Many have followed The terron armies

And wiped out countless Civilizations, including my own.

Eiron.

[ all gasping ]

Ilira: Eiron knowledge is legend.

Most of what they knew Is lost.

You're among the last Of your kind.

Tao is definitely One of a kind.

Ilira: You must teach us Everything you know.

We'll preserve that knowledge.

We're sworn to protect it At any cost.

There's a ruin near here.

Was it a temple Or a palace?

[ gasping ]

Do you know anything About eldar?

The old king? [ gasping ]

Why do you seek to know About eldar?

We've been searching for--

We've heard Stories,

How things were Before his family was killed.

I love to learn -- Curious always.

Maybe there's something In your archives

That could clarify the past.

All: Hmm.

Stay with us tonight.

In the morning, We will look.

In the meantime, you can tell me More about the eiron ways.

Tao: Ahh, eiron ways.

[ chattering ]

Kerik: You want me To find this bunch of women?

The sisters of vella Are a sacred order.

They were thought lost, Destroyed.

By king zad?

There are dark forces At work these days, kerik.

Many of them more powerful Even than king zad.

This bracelet alone I might have dismissed,

But that dead fool said He saw them come running

And no one called.

That's the vella.

You'd do well To be on your guard.

Against girls With bracelets?

Don't underestimate them.

They're not prone

To letting anything or anyone Escape their grasp.

I'll be back.

That's why I'm sending you.

What am I Looking for?

A map, oltram's map.

Why is it important?

When I was a young man,

The name of oltram struck fear And awe in every breast.

That's before I was born.

Just get me The map.

And if the beastmaster's there?

He's not your problem now.

Once I have that map,

He won't be anyone's problem Anymore.

These women Are strange.

Yeah, they're strange; They're like me.

They're nothing Like you.

They want to know How the world works,

How to preserve civilization.

They have an archive Of everything they've saved.

Have you Seen it?

No, not yet,

But I will.

Maybe today.

Can you imagine What I could learn?

Pack rats Don't like to share.

Not even with Other pack rats?

If eldar's soothsayer survived,

He could have hidden here.

He would have taught the vella Everything.

They can teach me.

[ squealing ]

[ chattering ]

[ angry buzzing ]

[ squealing ]

Podo, podo, podo.

He loves the honey But forgets about the stingers.

Can't you tell the bees That podo meant no harm?

Bees don't think

The same way That we do.

They're connected To each other,

Like your toes and fingers Are connected to you.

Which one Is the brain?

The queen.

She doesn't leave The hive.

You're him.

The beastmaster.

The beastmaster has come.

I must have what he knows.

The vella wishes to learn From you.

I'd like to ask her A few things.

Tao: About oltram, Eldar's soothsayer.

You know Of oltram?

Dar: Yes.

Did he come to you for shelter?

He had much knowledge To share.

Really?

Did he say anything About eldar's family?

Eldar's entire household Was destroyed.

Oltram was the only one Who escaped.

Vella: What he knew Will never be lost.

What did you Learn?

Let us learn from you, Beastmaster.

Let us protect What you know.

[ panting ]

[ groaning ]

[ screaming ]

[ all screaming ]

Dar: What is it?

Our sister is in danger.

How do You know?

[ screaming ]

Where is she?

[ screaming ]

She can't see.

[ screaming ]

He's very strong.

Branches hitting her.

Where?

We can't tell You in words.

It's as if they share A single mind.

Sharak!

[ shrilling ]

[ screaming ]

[ shrilling ]

Follow me.

Go.

[ panting ]

[ girl wailing ]

Beastmaster.

How did you call for help?

We're in each Other's minds.

The vella.

Slythius was telling The truth.

Let her go.

It's too bad You surprised me.

I need a bit more time.

Sorry I can't stay.

No!

[ panting ]

Do what you can.

[ panting ]

[ panting ]

Beastmaster,

How could you Know I was here?

There are toads That look like stones.

Snakes that look like leaves.

You just have to know How to see them.

Don't make this A fight

You can't win.

Why did you kill her?

Did zad send you?

She was snooping around.

Don't make the same mistake.

Stay alive, go.

This isn't between us.

You've made it between us.

When I finish, I'll leave -- I have a job to do.

So do I. To protect Everyone?

[ screeching ]

You're not the only one

Who knows How to find hidden things.

Weren't you supposed To protect these?

[ gasping ]

A little twist, a snap...

One less creature To worry about.

You cannot enter.

Unless you belong To the order.

This isn't working out.

I thought the sisters Were scholars like me.

I thought I wouldn't be alone,

Trying to understand this world, By sharing our knowledge.

But I'm still alone.

Whatever knowledge The sisters have,

They don't want to share it -- I'm not one of them.

I'm telling this to a ferret -- You probably don't understand.

Where have you been?

What have you got there?

Here, give it.

Where did you find this?

Look at this.

It's just sitting here.

Hey, hey -- Uh-uh-uh.

This is an artifact.

It needs to be studied, Translated.

What's this?

A wolf, a horse, a tiger.

This is dar's family.

That's where he put The crystal ark.

Ohh, I didn't want to know that.

[ sighing ]

Dar's brother.

The elusive goat.

How did you get All the way up there?

I have to show this to dar.

Tao, come with me.

I can't Right now.

It's time for you To join us,

To become part Of the vella.

To share with us What you know.

I must find dar.

Please.

You must teach us.

I can't right now.

The vella needs you now.

Ugh!

[ choking ]

Welcome to the order.

I have to find dar.

[ groaning ]

What's that stuff You gave me?

An ancient formula Known only to us.

I don't understand -- I've seen your library.

There's so much there, So much science,

So much history.

Preserved for the future.

Lost, untouched, unstudied.

The barbarians would burn Every word we've saved.

If you keep it locked away, It may as well be burned.

It's not doing Anyone any good. It is safe.

For who?

[ moaning ]

Look.

I found a map in there.

I can help dar find his family

And bring the world back From darkness.

I must keep what I have.

We can live in a world

Where people care About knowledge and its uses.

I care.

The sisters collect knowledge For me.

Azoll gave me the knowledge

Of ancient laws.

Diletto knew the secrets Of stone and metal.

Azoll, diletto.

Their knowledge was legendary Amongst the eirons.

Oltram taught me The magics of arakann.

They're all men.

What did you do to them?

I learned from them...

[ panting ]

...As I will now learn from you.

Ahh!

Aghh!

[ women droning ]

[ groaning ]

[ panting ]

Sorry about Your sister.

No need for sorrow -- She's still with us.

It's good to believe.

It's not something I believe;

It's something I know.

Did you find the stranger?

He's a deadly swordsman In zad's army.

He'll stop at nothing To get what he wants.

Where's tao?

He's not with you?

He was to stay here.

He said he was going To find you.

We'll look for him.

Where did they take him?

Uhh!

[ exhaling ]

[ quick panting ]

You missed.

Could I learn that?

What do you want?

I was born to find those That have mastered a skill

And learn From them.

Are you crazy?

You'll get yourself killed Surprising strangers.

Was it you...

Who killed my sister?

If you're here for revenge, Forget it.

You don't have a chance.

Ilira: Our bodies don't matter;

Only our knowledge.

What my sisters have learned Will live on with us.

What I learn Will live on with them.

We use our bodies To learn what we can.

I can teach you, but there's Something you can show me.

[ panting ]

I'm looking for my friend.

He may be here.

Excuse me, please.

[ humming ]

Just shift off to the side -- The guy coming at you must move.

Now your legs Aren't under you anymore.

You're easy.

Ugh!

[ grunting ]

Come for me.

Don't worry.

[ grunting ]

That was clever.

Now it's your turn To teach me something.

[ grunting ]

Tell me Where to find oltram's map.

We never tell Our secrets.

This is a great time To change that.

You don't want to die For some old map.

It doesn't matter If you kill my body.

What you taught me, The vella will have forever.

Tell me Where it is! I'm not telling You anything!

[ grunting ]

[ humming ]

Tao, tao.

Tao.

What have you done to him?

Tao had much To teach me.

And this is What he gets in return?

Change him back.

Kill me and we all die.

Everything I've learned Goes with me.

Ilira and oltram

And tao -- It's all me now.

This is How you gain your knowledge?

Tao is more Than just what he knows.

He has a smile, A spirit, a life force.

His knowledge is one small part Of who he is.

You of all people, beastmaster, Should know

One day the world will emerge From this age of darkness.

People will need the knowledge We've saved.

They need the knowledge now.

[ growling ]

Kill me and it's all lost, Including tao.

Then, Let him go

And learn From me instead.

[ humming ]

[ humming ]

[ humming stops ]

Ha!

Now you see.

Is that really the world?

It's my world.

Everyone who has come before me Has been afraid.

But you are not afraid.

You can't let fear Shape the way you live.

The knowledge we have So carefully gathered--

You can't hide it away, Waiting for the darkness to end.

All I have ever known Is to learn,

And to protect what I learn.

I understand, but everything Has a reason for being.

I can't expect a fish To live in a tree.

I can't expect a leopard Not to hunt.

And tao?

He has his reasons too.

The price is too high.

Destroying something To learn from it.

Tao would have Told you

Anything you Wanted to know.

That's what he does -- He's a teacher.

The way you taught me,

No one has ever done that Before.

The things that you know Aren't like anything else

I've ever learned.

You don't want tao to die.

No, I don't.

[ crackling ]

Show me where you keep the map Or she dies.

[ panting ]

Dar.

Where-- am I okay?

You're fine.

The vella gave you Everything back.

Everything, Right?

Maybe even a little bit extra.

I have to show you this map.

It shows Where dar's family is:

A goat, three other animals And even dar himself.

Oltram's map.

Oltram Was my father's soothsayer.

Eldar was Your father? Yes.

Oltram couldn't see his Own destiny, but he knew yours.

And where is that?

You can't hide everything.

If oltram knew my future, Shouldn't I have it?

You're right.

If I keep my knowledge secret, It may as well not exist.

Go to the archive -- You'll find the map there.

The sisters won't stop you.

Here's your map.

No one will stop you now.

You won't Believe it. Thank you.

[ grunting ]

[ kerik chuckling ]

Ilira: The scrolls, save them!

[ all shouting ]

Ilira: Save them -- hurry!

[ panting ]

[ panting ]

[ growling ]

Now it's between us.

Stick with what you're best at.

Live a while longer.

Everybody has to die.

[ yelling ]

[ grunting ]

The only difference is why.

[ grunting ]

You should have quit When you had the chance.

[ panting ]

Too bad, beastmaster.

You're a worthy opponent.

Go on, kill me.

What are you waiting for?

You don't want me alive And on your trail.

As much as I hate to admit it, He's right.

Is he?

He's seen oltram's map; He knows where they live.

If he returns to xinca,

How long before zad's army Destroys it all?

Dar: If he doesn't return to xinca,

How long before zad and slythius Send someone to find him?

Tao: I don't see Any other option.

Dar: He has to visit the vella.

Tao: Oh, just A simple little procedure.

We won't take everything He knows,

Just what we can't let Him keep.

Uh.

This won't hurt a bit.

[ panting ]

I said I'd come back.

I remember I said I'd come back.

Did you find them -- Were they there?

No, nothing.

You looked everywhere?

No one lives out there.

You're sure?

I was there -- There was no one.

What about that knight -- Tarbok?

The bracelet?

Face it, slythius.

He was trying to cheat you Out of a reward.

He got what he deserved.

Imagine if it were true...

...Instead of some

Damned peasant legend.

You should Be safe now.

If anyone threatens you,

You've learned to fight From the best.

Ilira: We will protect ourselves.

Vella: After what you showed me, I almost got you killed.

I wanted to share everything With everybody.

You've learned something new.

It's hard to decide Ahead of time what you'll do.

If king zad had that map, He could hunt you down anywhere.

It should be destroyed

For your safety.

I can take care of myself.

When my work is done I'll return for your knowledge.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

Tao: It looks like your brother is In the foothills.

Let's be ready To climb.

With this map, We'll find your family quickly.

If we can't find them Right away,

At least we know they're safe.

Closed captions produced by Alliance atlantis broadcasting