Serpent's Kiss -- Episode #309

EXTENDED SYNOPSIS:

In his determination to defeat the BeastMaster (Daniel Goddard), King Zad (Steven Grives) recruits Nadeea (Inga Hornstra), a beautiful newcomer to his harem. Using her feminine wiles, Nadeea lures Tao (Jackson Raine) to Xinca by pretending to be captured along with him by Zad's men. Together in a dungeon cell, she waits for the BeastMaster to come to his rescue.

Meanwhile, Dar has set out with Arina (Marjean Holden) on a quest to save the souls of her Namib ancestors, who were scattered to the four winds when a dark force opened their graves. These souls must be returned to their sacred resting place within three days or else they will be destined to wander for all eternity.

When Sharak brings Dar word of Tao's dilemma, Arina valiantly offers to help him free his friend. Dar and Arina storm the Xinca dungeon and release Tao and Nadeea from their cell. Just when Nadeea thinks she has the BeastMaster where she wants him, Dar orders her and Tao to seek refuge in Arakann while he continues his journey with Arina. This leaves Nadeea no choice but to change her tactics.

Unbeknownst to Tao, the beautiful temptress, Nadeea, is actually a succubus sent by Balcifer, who feeds on innocent human souls. When Nadeea kisses him, she literally sucks the life out of his body and blows his glowing essence into a bottle. Now that Tao belongs to her, he will carry out her will, even if it means killing the BeastMaster.

Meanwhile, as Dar and Arina continue on their treacherous journey, they decide to split up to fulfill the final task, and plan to meet up again at the Namib burial ground. At the same time, Tao unwittingly leads Nadeea, Zad and his soothsayer, Slythius (Ivar Kants), along a jungle trail in search of their prey. When they cross paths with Arina, Nadeea steals her spirit as well and seals it in a jar. With Tao and Arina now under Nadeea's control, they proceed to the burial ground and wait for Dar to walk into their trap.

As planned, Dar arrives at the burial ground and is caught completely off guard when he finds that his two friends have been transformed into killing machines, with him as their target. Tao, responding to Zad's order, suddenly takes a mighty swing at Dar with his sword. Dar renders his friend unconscious, and Arina comes at him as well. As she holds her blade to his throat, Nadeea reveals that she holds the souls of both his friends in two fragile bottles, which she could destroy in an instant.

Dar realizes that his only chance to save his friends is to perform J'Farr, the ritual required to collect the souls of Arina's ancestors. Those souls will now be gathered for Balcifer, however, so when Dar refuses, Nadeea orders Arina to kill Tao. Without hesitation, Arina drives her blade into Tao's belly and he collapses at Dar's feet. When Dar still resists, Nadeea raises the bottle containing Arina's soul and threatens to smash it. As Tao's life drains away, Dar sees no choice but to relent. Arina guides him through the incantations, and soon the spirits of Namib appear, swirling like a glowing fog.

Dar foils Nadeea's plans once again when he adds his own incantation to the ritual, calling forth the spirits to "cast their vengeance on those who defile their resting place." The swirling spirits descend upon their enemies, and Zad and Slythius try to escape while Nadeea swipes at the attacking wraiths. Nadeea raises the bottles over her head, threatening to smash them, but Sharak suddenly swoops from the sky, snatching the bottles from her just before she disappears in a flash of light.

Dar finishes the ceremony and the spirits re-enter their graves, where they can finally rest in peace. Dar then retrieves the bottles from Sharak and revives his friends. Meanwhile, Zad storms back to Xinca in a vitriolic rage that he was beaten by the BeastMaster yet again.