Episodes 9-13

Episodes 9-13

    The mighty clash between the forces of Marmo and the Flaim/Valis Coalition leaves the Island of Lodoss in a state of confusion. With both King Beld of Marmo and King Farn of Valis dead, the two fractions are in desperate need of new heroes to take their place. Now Ashram, his dead leader Beld's cursed sword SoulCrusher in hand, takes command of the Marmo army, while and honored Parn takes his place as leader at King Kashew's side.

  But war is not Lodoss' only concern. In the King of Flaim, the evil, fire-breathing dragon Shooting Star has awakened, leaving his home in Fire Dragon Mountain and going on a fearsome rampage across the countryside. Equipped only with three dragon-slaying spears, King Kashew, Parn, Deedlit, and the mercenaries Olson and Shiris venture out to confront the beast.
  A far greater evil is brewing in Marmo as Bugnard continues his preparations to revive the chaos goddess Cardis. Now he needs only two components of his spell; a victim for sacrifice and Duke Salbarn's ancient Scepter of Domination, a staff said to control any living creature -- even a goddess. However, since the vicious dragon Shooting Star protects the staff, Bugnard suggests to Ashram that the staff could used to defeat Kashew the rule Lodoss as well as raise the goddess. And as for the victim, Bugnard slyly suggests to the dark elf Piroteus that sacrificing Deedlit would be the ideal way to raise Cardis and help Piroteus' beloved Ashram achieve Beld's dreams for Marmo.

  Bugnard gloats about the success of his plan as Ashram and his men leave for Fire Dragon Mountain to retrieve the staff and Piroteus attempts to kidnap Deedlit. But when confronted by Shiris and Olson, Piroteus realizes that Olson is a berserker and wisely retreats. As she joins Ashram on his journey to the Fire Dragon Mountain, Kashew, Parn, Deedlit, Olson, and Shiris make their own way to tame the malicious Shooting Star.
  When Shooting Star arrives at his hair to find Ashram and Parn's battle parties, the encounter becomes a three-way confrontation. But when Parn, Olson and King Kashew are distracted by the enraged beast, Ashram manages to grab hold of the Scepter -- only to have Shooting Star realize that its dearest treasure is gone and turn its fiery attention to Ashram and Piroteus. Seizing their chance, Parn, Olson, and Kashew critically wound Shooting Star with their dragon-slaying spears. With its last breath Shooting Star blasts fire at Ashram, trying valiantly to protect the treasure Duke Salbarn bound it to guard so many years before. But Piroteus leaps in front of Ashram, exchanging his death for her own. As Ashram bends over the dying elf, Bugnard's spy steals the Scepter of Domination and teleports back to Marmo.

  With the dragon dead, Fire Dragon Mountain begins to collapse. Parn and his group scramble desperately for safety, but Ashram stays in the disintegrating cavern cradling Piroteus' body.
  Now, Ashram presumably dead in the monstrous cave-in at Fire Dragon Mountain. Kashew and Parn Make preparation to crush Marmo once and for all. But Ashram is not dead -- Karla ever watchful of the events on Lodoss Island, came to his rescue. Bugnard's attempts to raise Cardis threaten the security of Lodoss and now Karla needs pawns to help her keep the balance of power unstable. She informs Ashram that the wizard's attempts to raise Cardis are not to help Marmo but to make Bugnard himself a god. Enraged at Bugnard's duplicity, Ashram immediately returns to Marmo intent on killing the traitor.

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