Rites of Passage -- Episode #320

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS:

Dar (Daniel Goddard) leads Tao (Jackson Raine) and Arina (Marjean Holden) through the jungle in search of the Golden Auryx, while Sharak scouts the area from above. Spotting Zad (Steven Grives) and his men in the distance, Sharak alerts Dar just as Dartanus (Marc Singer) appears. He asks Dar if he is ready to face the biggest test of his life. After setting up traps in preparation for Zad's army, the four take up their posts and wait. On Sharak's signal, Dar races through the forest leading two of Zad's men straight into a pit, while Arina and Tao battle the other Knights. Moments later, Dar finds himself face to face with Zad, and a sword fight ensues. When Dar sees that Dartanus has pushed a massive boulder their way which will surely crush them both, he shoves Zad to safety at the last moment, sparing his life. As Dar rises, Zad kicks him into the pit, knocking the Sword of Eldar out of his hand in the process.

Dar awakens in a chamber in Zad's palace and is confused by his surroundings. Dartanus appears and tells Dar that he has become Zad's symbol of victory. Believing this to be one of Dartanus' games, Dar leaves to investigate. When Zad finds Dar sneaking around the palace, he surprisingly puts his arm around him and leads him to the throne room. Utterly baffled, Dar demands to know where his sword, bag and friends are. Zad informs him that Podo, Kodo and Sharak are being groomed as usual in preparation for the BeastMaster's show later that afternoon. He then leads Dar to see Sharak, but when Dar reaches to open the cage door, Zad reminds him that a spell has been cast on the cage and if anyone other than Zad touches it, Sharak will die. As Dar heads back to his chambers, Dartanus appears and informs Dar that because he hesitated in his one chance to defeat Zad, his quest is over. The king has emerged victorious, and Dar has become merely an entertainment legend throughout the land. Just then, Dar spots Arina and calls out to her, but she coldly replies that she made a mistake believing that Dar stood a chance against Zad. Determined, Dar orders Dartanus to take him to Tao. Expecting his faithful friend to welcome him with open arms, Dar is stunned when Tao spits at Dar's feet and orders him to leave.

Back at Zad's palace, Dar promises Sharak he'll find a way to free him. Sharak reveals to Dar that Zad has hidden Oltram's Map in a locked box across the room. When Arina enters and catches Dar trying to steal the map, she tells him that everything belongs
to Zad. She lunges at him with her sword, he ducks and the blade knocks off the top of Sharak's cage, freeing the bird. Arina takes another swipe at Dar, but he knocks
her out and grabs the map. On the map, he sees that the Golden Auryx is
still alive, and also the whereabouts of his sword, which he lost in his battle. Knowing there is not much time before Zad and his men realize they are missing,
Dar sends Sharak to locate Ruh, while he sets out to find the Golden Auryx.

With Sharak's guidance, Dar finds the Golden Auryx and even catches a glimpse of his mother in human form. Within moments, Zad, Arina and a group of Knights close in on them, capture Ruh and demand that Dar hand over the Golden Auryx. When Dar refuses, Zad gives him a choice - the bird or the tiger. Refusing again, Arina stabs Ruh with her sword. When Dar rushes in to protect Ruh, Zad takes the opportunity to nab the bird and orders that Ruh be killed. Dar escapes, but is grief-stricken that he's lost both the Auryx and Ruh.

Dar knows his only hope to defeat Balcifer relies on a team of freedom fighters still loyal to the House of Eldar. Zad, however, remains a step ahead of Dar, burning their village and killing everyone still loyal to Eldar. When Dar arrives, the very few survivors include a woman named Rhana (Brooke Satchwell). She too, mistrusts Dar since he saved Zad's life. When she tells Dar that Zad would not have done the same for him, Dar explains that that's the difference between good and evil. Rhana finally relents and takes him to Tao, the new leader of the rebels whose hostility towards Dar is obvious. Tao, who has the Sword of Eldar in his possession, now believes it's up to him to defeat Zad and Balcifer.

As Tao and the rebel fighters head for Xinca, they are surrounded by Zad's men. Believing himself invincible, Tao charges in, but Arina raises her sword to him. As Dar blocks Arina, Tao is killed by one of Zad's Knights. The rest of the rebels abandon Dar, and Arina scoffs at him for constantly making the wrong decisions. As soon as Arina leaves him, Dartanus appears and tells Dar that his weakness is that he always has to save life. He reminds him that Tao's death would not have happened if Dar had killed Zad when he had the chance. Still, Dar maintains that saving Zad's life was the right thing to do. He even refuses the opportunity to slay the Knight who killed Tao, claiming it would make him no better than Zad. Proud of Dar, Dartanus tells him that he passed the final test. What he had just experienced was a glimpse into a dark future of what could have been. Dar stayed true to his convictions, trusted his instincts and refused to stop trying to help his friends. While the fate of the world is still on his shoulders, Dar has chosen a difficult path. The Lord of Darkness watches him closely, and Dar's toughest battle is yet to come.