The Barbarians

Once upon a time, long long ago

there existed a world of savage splendor.

An age made for adventure.

A time of darkness, of demons, of sorcery.

It was a time when man, woman and child were ruled by the sword.

But one tribe, the Ragnicks,

have the right of safe passage throughout this world.

In the dawn of time, their ancient king

had traded a mountain of gold for a single sparkling ruby.

The stone was magic and contained the secrets of music,

of joyful laughter, of human kindness.

A wise and good man

the king knew these things were far more precious than any earthly treasure.

And so the Ragnicks became the world's entertainers,

storytellers, musicians.

They were joyfully welcomed everywhere.

They adopted the orphan twins Kutchek and Gore,

and a little girl, Kara

and they gave them the Ragnick mark of the open road.

To show they now too belonged to the tribe.

And the ruby passed from hand to hand.

From generation to generation.

And in time a young and radient queen, Canary,

became the sacred guardian of its legend.

How much farther to the border?

Not far, just beyond those hills.

- Problems! - Faster!

Faster!

Greyshaft.

Here.

You know where to hide it.

- No, I cannot leave you. - We have no choice.

Go!

Stand aside!

My people are jugglers, musicians, storytellers!

We have the right of free passage! This is written!

No.

This is written:

It is time for you to learn the pleasures of surrender.

No!

Stop it please!

Now do you understand?

You...

...and your magic, are mine.

Where is the ruby?

Put her in chains.

No!

No! No!

No!

- Kill him! - No! I beg you!

Why?

- Are they magic? - No!

They are orphans I found on the road.

Please, they are only children!

If you let them live I promise... I'll let you do whatever you want.

You promise to obey me?

Yes.

As long as I live these two will never die by my hands...

...or by the hands of my men.

If you keep your promise.

Kadar!

The women are yours!

Congratulations my lord.

You've captured a most valuble prize.

An expensive one.

Where's the ruby?

Don't worry. The magic stone will be ours.

Take her to my harem.

These fingers must be burned and the ashes scattered.

Or it can be used against you.

Then see to it, sorceress.

Which one of you did this?

- Me. - Me.

It isn't wise my lord to allow these scorpions to live.

I made a pledge, sorceress.

They're not to die by my hand or that of my subjects.

Then they shall die by their own hands.

They're yours, dirtmaster.

Throw them in the pit and begin their training.

The brothers were separated

and put to work in a prison called "The Pit".

Hey!

Their schooling consisted of a single lesson.

Kill it!

But they refused to obey and rebelled.

For his disobedience Kutchek

was systematically punished by a giant in a black helmet.

Bastard!

And Gore by a giant in a brass helmet.

In this way they were trained to hate whoever wore that helmet.

Never the less they remained rebellious and unbroken.

And they grew until they were men.

But not ordinary men.

Barbarians.

The animal within them had taken over.

No one could tell if either twin remembered

or cared about his brother.

Too much time had passed, and too much anger.

Pathetic dog! Pathetic dog! Defend yourself!

Defend yourself!

Few women in the world have worn jewels such as these.

Precious jewels.

More than a jewel

it looks like a chain for a slave.

Why do you do this to me?

I fill you with gifts

I give you all of my time, my thoughts.

But you keep me in a cage!

You've bewitched me.

My lord, the moment has come.

Get out.

- Get out! Leave us! - No my lord..

You've grown reckless, sorceress.

With reason, master.

There's much trouble in the land.

And the power of the ruby may already be in the hands of your enemies.

You've grown weak.

I...

...am still master here.

Kadar.

Yes, but what power have you if your heart is her prisoner?

There is still one chance we may loosen her tongue.

- The twins are ready. - They're alive?

Yes.

And ready to die.

At your command, my lord.

So be it.

No, you can't!

You promised you wouldn't harm them.

Yes, and I'll keep my promise.

The bastards will kill each other.

Holy Ishtar, what is this?

That's it, take a good look, you lump of hog piss!

- I'm looking! - Yeah?

Then suppose you tell me what you're doing with my face?

Gore, you bloody idiot! It's me, Kutchek! Your brother!

You lying turd, my brother is dead!

They told me the same thing about you!

Stop! Stop it please!

Stop it! Please! Stop!

- Canary! She's alive! - That's right bonehead.

And we have to get outta here if were're gonna save her.

Pull!

Stop those men! I want their heads!

- Now what? - Hey, over here!

Over here!

Here!

Hey! Come here!

Look at the size of you two.

This is Ismenes lucky day.

Why don't you come and nibble on this cage and let Ismene out of here?

Where are you going?

Where are you going?

Oh, great!

There's nobody.

No music, no colors, nothing.

It's impossible.

Holy Ishtar.

- This is China's doing. - Hey, come on! Let me outta here!

Come on! Let me outta here!

If the Ragnicks locked you up in there then there must be a good reason.

Just a little missunderstanding.

Careful, they've changed.

That's what's making me mad.

Hey, Ibar! What the hell is going on?

Stay where you are, fatty.

Fatty?

- Me? - You.

Fatty? Who do you call "fatty", moosehead?

We caught them! Yay!

Hey Ibar! Enough fun and games!

It's us! Kutchek and Gore. We've escaped.

You're lying.

The twins died long ago.

Get the outlaw girl, we'll have a little entertaiment.

Hang all three of them.

Hey wait! I don't even know these guys!

Let 'em hang! Let 'em hang!

Wait! Where's Kara?? She'll recognize us.

Yeah, Kara.

Kara? Who's Kara?

There's no Kara here. She left many years ago.

- Come on, let the show begin. - Wait husband!

How do they know of Kara? Perhaps...

My brother. Watch this.

Hey, how did I do?

Almost as good as me.

No wait! What do you want to do?

I want to find out who they are.

Husband, come here!

It's the open road, the mark of the open road!

Right where nanny put it.

Come on, maybe now we can get to work.

We need some real weapons to rescue Canary.

It's no use. We have no weapons.

Besides, no one is strong enough to oppose Kadar.

Are you kidding?

Look at us, we're huge!

Hey! Hey! I know where you can find the weapons you want.

If someone wouldn't mind loosening these ropes, perhaps I wouldn't mind loosening my tongue.