The Scorpion King: Book of Souls

In Ancient Egypt,

before the time of the pharaohs,

legend tells of King Memtep, who made a covenant with Anubis,

Lord of the Underworld,

to create a cursed sword so powerful

that whoever possessed it could rule the world.

Fueled by taking the souls of its enemies,

the sword was forged in the fires of hell

by the Lord of the Underworld,

who gave this sword his very name,

The Fang of Anubis.

The names of those slain by the sword

were forever etched in the Book of Souls,

where they remained imprisoned for all eternity,

condemned to never-ending darkness.

But if evil can be so easily created in a fiery forge,

then surely, there must be a way to destroy the sword

and release the souls.

These hieroglyphs are ancient.

- It looks like they are from... - Mesopotamia.

Sumerian.

What do they say, priestess?

Here lies the treasure you seek.

King Memtep?

Before you plunder the antiquities of this tomb, you must know,

unleashing this evil that once was,

will come with a great price.

Power is not given, priestess.

It must be taken.

The Fang of Anubis, forgotten to time.

But the ages have not dulled your cutting edge, have they?

Nebserek went forth, sweeping across the barren lands

with the Fang of Anubis at his command.

Driven by its dark magic,

he conquered his enemies and raised a powerful, jackal army

proclaiming himself their god-king.

We will cleanse this land!

With death and fire!

But one enemy eluded him,

the last Akkadian, the sole heir to the great free tribe

who destroyed his people in a war waged long ago.

Branded by vengeance, Nebserek became obsessed with finding his enemy.

Have your bird find the Scorpion King, priestess.

The gods will grant you your vengeance in time.

The time for vengeance is now.

Send the bird.

But some sleeping giants are better left to their slumber.

It's beautiful.

No, it's strong.

That's what counts.

With this, you can harvest the winter wheat, reap the summer grain,

feed your family and livestock.

Not much left in this world you can put your faith in,

but forged metal pounded into shape.

This, you can trust.

When will you make a sword?

Done with swords.

I could learn to use one to become a great warrior.

Abel?

Listen to me, Abel.

Being a warrior is not what you think.

Swinging a sword in war is a hard burden to bear.

No priests or gods can save you from the savagery of battle.

You understand?

Abel!

Go to your father.

Come on!

I seek the Scorpion King.

We have no king here.

He calls himself Mathayus.

We know of no such man.

Burn it to the ground and find him.

Please! We're just farm...

Kill him first.

No!

Please!

On your knees, insect!

Where is Mathayus?

Here I am.

Go!

Draw!

- No! Come back! - Mathayus!

- No! Mathayus! - Got you!

No! No!

Please.

Let the boy go.

Not one more step.

All right.

Spare the boy, take me.

I'll take both.

No! No! No!

No.

Abel.

Abel.

Here. Drink this.

What is it?

A medicinal tonic mixed with lithops for pain.

You're welcome.

You need food.

The Scorpion King escaped.

Bend your knee when you speak to me.

- Escaped? - Yes.

He had help, my god-king.

I need his soul.

You have the...

No.

Only when I plunge this blade into his heart will I have my vengeance.

Find me this Akkadian!

Cover yourself.

Where'd you dig that up?

Burial mound. The man who wore it did not need it anymore.

I am Tala, warrior of Nubia.

What do you want from me?

A legendary king to come back to life.

I'm just a blacksmith.

Blacksmith?

That is your story?

How did a legendary Scorpion King,

last of the Akkadians, demigod,

become a blacksmith?

Civilization became too uncivilized for me.

I have searched for you for a long time.

Your name inspires.

It is a rallying cry.

My people need a hero to bring peace, a warrior hero.

Like I said, you got the wrong guy.

My father was Balthazar, King of Nubia.

Balthazar?

He lived well,

but not long enough.

Sorry he's gone.

My father told me that you two had a great bond,

that if Nubia ever needed an ally,

the Scorpion King would ride from the east with his armies and fight with us.

I have no army.

You have your strength, and you have me.

A princess?

A warrior.

Do you know Nebserek the warlord sweeps across Egypt,

with his hordes, enslaving, burning?

He wields a cursed sword, the Fang of Anubis.

No one can stand against him while he possesses it.

But legend tells of a way to defeat the sword.

The secret is contained in the Book of Souls.

It is a hidden text, and I know where to find it.

Sounds like a bedtime story.

Nebserek marches on Nubia, on my people.

With the Book of Souls, we can stop him.

You're on a quest?

Yes.

Good luck.

You are coming with me!

I don't quest.

Why?

They're always 1,000 times more difficult than you think,

and someone won't make it back alive.

The jackal is Nebserek's symbol.

We share the same enemy.

Help me find the Book of Souls,

and I will help you kill the owner of the dagger.

I'll take both.

No!

You were born a warrior.

It is your fate to fight for those less fortunate souls.

Stand or fall, I will fight by your side.

I implore you, remember who you are.

This man you seek, the Scorpion King,

travels with a Nubian.

And they are close.

Close to what?

Legend tells of a gateway in the Valley of the 13th Moon,

where it is said the Book of Souls rests,

hidden away from all mankind.

He who possesses the Book of Souls

has the power to destroy the Fang of Anubis.

These sands have been searched by many hands for many years.

Searched, yes, but not by the Scorpion King.

We should go around.

The Valley of the 13th Moon is a half-day's ride away.

Going around is a day out of our way.

- You don't wanna go in there. - I must.

- We can't be late. - Late for what?

The final day of this lunar cycle.

The moon can wait.

I've waited 56 moons for this rising.

Hyah! Hyah!

Why are we stopping here, blacksmith?

- Put your weapons down. - There's nobody here.

Yes, there is. Drop your weapons, now.

Forgive her. She can't see!

Who are you talking to?

The Black Arrows.

They weren't trying to hit us. If they were, we'd be dead.

Told you we should've gone around.

You trespass on our sacred lands,

and for this you must die.

We meant no insult.

The territory is marked.

You chose to ignore the warning.

How did woman, very beautiful woman,