Xinca

Beastmaster Episode Review

In which Tao goes home and Zad gets his butt kicked.

What Happened

Tao leads Dar back to the city of Xinca where he was raised, but they find it changed from what Tao remembers. There is a group of priests in charge who have chased the Eirons out of the city. When the High Priest Maloc learns Tao is an Eiron, he tosses Tao in jail and decides to have him executed in a couple of days.

Dar is helped by another Eiron named Caro, who shows him how to sneak in and out of Xinca. They rescue Tao and make their escape. While Caro decides to join her people in the mountains, Tao chooses to stay with Dar and figure out a way to liberate his home.

Elsewhere, the Ancient One teases the Sorceress that a great change is coming to the Mydlands. Arina shows the warrior Nords, led by King Voden, the way into King Zad's Terron camp and takes Zad prisoner. First order of business is for Voden to demand that Zad tell him where the Beastmaster can be found, but Zad is able to help with that.

The Sorceress frees Zad from his cell, telling him that the time of tyrants and vicious bullies is over. If he wants to survive in the future, he should learn a lesson from these events.

What We Learned

• The Terrons have no legacy. They were here, they brought nothing with them when they came, they take nothing when they go.
• Ideas can be forever.
• Sinister Holy Men usually wear too much eye make-up.
• King Zad is getting laid. We got the idea, you know, about three minutes ago.
• The ocean is where ships are usually seen.
• Maloc's priests can peel the skin off a man and keep him screaming for twenty days.
• Maloc's priests need new hobbies.
• Getting Tao out tonight is a good idea, as Maloc intends to kill him tomorrow.
• It's a good time for revelations. Thunder and lightening would be appropriate, but why gild the lily?
• Zad killed his father when he was a boy. His mother when she found out. His wife because she bored him.
• When in doubt, offer to have sex with someone.

Best Lines

Sorceress: "You always tease me. I don't know why I bother to ask."
Ancient One: "Neither do I."

What Did I Think?

Big changes for King Zad. Madoc is something of a joke, however, making Tao's dilemma less intriguing than it could have been.