The Beastmaster

Show us the face.

King Zed's wife.

Maax, high priest of the city of Aruk.

The God Ar has spoken.

The truth is known to us.

The truth is hungry.

The truth is horrible.

The prophecy dooms you.

I must know.

You will die at the hands of Zed's unborn son.

Zed's unborn son will die!

The truth cannot be changed.

He will die tonight!

Rise for King Zed.

I have been told you are planning a child sacrifice.

Ar demands the life of an unborn.

I will not allow the sacrifice of an innocent.

You are banished for life.

In Aruk, no one will remember your name.

Go practice your heathen religion

in the out lands with the barbarian Juns.

The unborn child is yours.

Stand fast.

It must be cut from its mother.

Branded with the sign of Ar, and sacrificed.

I could have you put to death.

Fanatic.

Take him away.

God Ar.

It must be cut from its mother.

Branded with the sign of Ar, and sacrificed.

Your unborn child is ours now.

Thirsty Ar.

Holy Ar.

Jealous Ar.

Holy Ar.

Thirsty Ar.

Ah, good.

Your kapa.

Show me.

Tiis!

You old fool!

Father!

Father, run!

My leg.

Run.

Dar?

Dar?

Run!

Run!

Dar!

Ah, it'll be all right.

Tiis is dead.

What happened here today must never be known.

Never.

You have powers unlike anyone in the village.

To touch a beast up here.

The gods have put their mark on you.

And someday you'll find out why.

But till then, this mark will be your guide.

Till then,

you're my beloved.

Now, you run ahead.

Tell the village, poor Tiis.

Go.

Todo.

Todo.

Dar?

It's fixed.

Father.

Juns.

Dar, the gods have put their mark on you

and someday you will find out why.

Till then, this mark will be your guide.

My sword and my kapa will be your trusted companions.

Protect Emir, your home.

And if anything should happen to me,

look for our enemies, the Juns.

And you may search for your destiny in the valley of Aruk.

Hey!

Come back here.

Well, how about a little help?

Come on.

You two got me into this, now get me out.

Thanks.

Well,

I'm gonna name you Kodo.

You'll get a name too.

Podo.

Kodo

and Podo.

My friends.

The Juns.

We'll help him.

I have my eyes.

I have my cunning.

And now I have strength.

Ruh.

Your name is Ruh.

Don't move.

The beast is fierce.

But if we show no fear,

we might escape.

You've just gotta show them who's in command.

You owe me your life.

But I'll accept this as payment.

Who are you?

I'm Dar.

I'm no threat to you.

Who sent you?

I wasn't sent.

My village, Emir, was destroyed by the Jun horde.

I've sworn revenge

and I'm following.

You?

Alone?

Now,

who are you?

I am Kiri.

Slave to the priests of the temple of Ar.

They whip you like a beast.

I am a slave.

What would you have me do?

Run away.

I'll protect you.

You don't understand.

I must go back.

If I don't, my family will be put to death.

Then let me go with you.

You would do well to forget me, and follow the Juns.

With them, you can die like a man.

Not so with the priests of Ar.

Goodbye, Dar.

Be careful.

Come.

What do you think?

Should we go after her?

Kiri.

Where'd she go?

Keep hidden.

Keeper of Aruk,

I, your high priest, demand your children

obey my command,

and Ar will continue to protect you.

May Ar receive this child

as a gift from your devoted servant.

Ar is not yet satisfied.

Hold back from Ar what is his,

and you will all perish by his hand!

Will you dare this fate?

- No! - No, not her!

No!

No!

Not her!

No, stop!

No, don't harm my child!

No!

Please!

Only the blood of this child

will make Ar look upon you with compassion again.

Only the blood of this child

can make Ar look upon you as his children again.

No!

Ar.

I offer this humble sacrifice to you.

From your servant.

Ar, Ar, Ar.

You see?

Ar has spoken.

He wants your children.

I have something for you.

- My little light is alive. - Daddy.

- Ha, ha, alive. - Daddy.

Oh, snatched from death by... Oh, baby.

Master, master.

I am Sacco.

I will be forever in your debt.

What is mine, is yours.

Just ask me for anything.

There was a girl on the pyramid.

She's a friend.

Come.

Inside.

At least let me offer you a meal.

The Jun horde slaughtered most of the young men in Aruk.

Zed, our king, is imprisoned in the pyramid.

His son disappeared.

The Juns put their demon high priest, Maax, in power,

along with the fiendish witch women.

Now he breeds us-

For the blood of our children.

What about the girl?

Hmm, the slave girls.

They've been taken back to the temple

to prepare them for their deaths.

I must find her.

Wait, the bridge is the only way out.

We are surrounded by that damnable tar sludge.

Which way did the Jun horde go?

To the north.