Serpent's Kiss

Beastmaster Episode Review

In which Tao has crap taste in women and Arina needs new family.

What Happened

A succubus named Nadeea appears and starts playing all sorts of games with our Heroes and Villains. She convinces Zad that she can find out where Dar has hidden his family, then hand them and Dar over to the King. While that going on, Nadeea also has something to do with the release of the Namib souls from their peaceful rest.

If Arina does not call her people's souls back to their burial ground within three days, they will suffer eternal torment. On the way to do that, Arina does take the time to help Dar break Tao out of Xinca after he is captured. Nadeea, who has befriended Tao in their jail cell, tags along as they escape.

Nadeea possesses the ability to suck out a person's soul and she uses it to trap Tao and Arina. When Dar gets to the Namib burial ground with the materials what Arina needs for the Namib J'farr ritual, he finds Zad and a bespelled Tao waiting for him. Dar knocks out Tao, but Arina attacks from behind.

Nadeea tells Dar that if he does not gather the Namib souls for her to give to Balcifer, she will kill them both. The Namib aren't in the mood to be called home, however, and start howling. Sharak grabs the bottles holding Arina and Tao's souls and flies away with them. As Dar revives his friends, the Namib attack and kill Nadeea. Zad sighs and goes back to his harem.

What We Learned

• The eyes are the windows to the soul.
• It's nice to see chivalry isn't dead.
• It will be quicker with two of them.
• Heroism is a contagious disease.
• There is only one cure: a quick and painful death.
• If she feeds on innocent souls, Slythius is in no danger.
• Not everyone serves a master.
• Of course they are getting away. That's the idea. This time.
• Tigers can be so demanding.
• What's the point of having a soothsayer who never says anything?

Best Line

Dar: "I'm sorry it took me so long to find you."
Tao: "You should be."

What Did I Think?

Do I have to care? The information about Arina's people could have been better developed, but we had to spend time with Nadeea climbing all over Tao. And then the whole thing kind of fell apart into conflicting demands. Why is Nadeea telling Dar to do the spell to gather the souls? She has Arina.