The Prize -- Episode #305

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS:

What was once a rich and fertile land is now an arid landscape due to Balcifer's evil hand. With no food left, the Barbarians have been driven to ransack and loot entire villages. Dar (Daniel Goddard) and Tao (Jackson Raine) promise to help their friend J'Sandra (Claudia Buttazzoni) against the pending attack on her village of Kwaiza. While Chuima (Rod Mullinar), the village chief, believes they have come to kill the Barbarians, Dar only promises to teach the villagers how to stand up for themselves.

Meanwhile, the Apparition (Leah Purcell) and the Sorceress (Monika Schnarre) compete for Balcifer's favor by trying to corrupt the BeastMaster, the one source of good that still challenges him. Knowing that the one who fails will lose her powers, each devises an intricate and devious plan that will target Dar's weaknesses in hopes of making him choose his own interest over helping the villagers of Kwaiza. Although both present him with tempting offers, Dar remains steadfast in his promise.

Warning cries sound as the Barbarians approach, led by the fearless Gannuk (Joe Petruzzi), chief of the Rogen. While several villagers flee, Dar encourages the rest to stand their ground and let the Barbarians in. Instead of reacting with mayhem and panic, the villagers follow Dar's lead by remaining stone-faced and silent. The enraged Barbarians temporarily retreat after Dar administers a jab to Gannuk's throat, but the chief assures them that he and his men will return.

Meanwhile, the Apparition and the Sorceress gloat over each other's failed attempts to lure Dar away from Kwaiza. Each still determined to win, the Sorceress promises to help Dar find his family if he leaves the village, while the Apparition appeals to the Barbarians to do her bidding for her in return for wealth and power. Finally, in a last desperate attempt, the Sorceress captures Kodo and Podo and turns them into humans in order to communicate with them. She tells the now human creatures that Dar will die if he doesn't leave Kwaiza. Knowing Dar would never abandon people to save himself, they decide to tell him that Kodo and Podo are in danger. Surely, he would leave Kwaiza to save their lives. But no sooner do they deliver the message than the Barbarians return. The human ferrets are ordered into safe hiding until the Barbarians are once again forced to retreat.

From her vantage point, the Apparition sees her opponent's last attempt to trick Dar. With unwavering determination, she kidnaps Tao under the watchful eyes of Kodo and Podo. Certain that Dar will come to the aid of his best friend, she ties Tao's wrists, stuffs him into the trunk of an old dead tree and lights a match. When Dar hears that Tao was last seen with a "scary woman," he instinctively knows that the Apparition is holding him.

Overcome with guilt and embarrassment, the Sorceress warns Dar about Tao's plight. When she finally confesses her deal with the devil, Dar tells her the power bestowed by Balcifer will only enslave her. Knowing he's right, she tricks the Apparition into believing that Dar has gone after Tao, when in fact, Arina (Marjean Holden) and the ferrets have gone to his rescue. When the Apparition catches on to her opponent's clever ruse, she whirls and raises her arms in anger, only to realize she's lost her powers. Meanwhile, the villagers of Kwaiza extend their gratitude to Dar, Tao and Arina for teaching them how to defend themselves against the Barbarians so they'll never be threatened again.