The Eye of Kratos

[Kriss]

Summary:
Sinbad and his crew arrive in the land of Linopia on the "Day of Punishment" just as the magistrate, Lermon, and the fanatical priests of the "Temple of the Eye of Kratos," are about to carry out an execution. Sinbad and Doubar are shocked when they recognize the prisoner as the beautiful pirate-queen Talia, Sinbad's ex-lover. Lunging into battle with the guards, Sinbad and crew free Talia.

Sinbad agrees to help Talia uncover the priest's treachery and liberate the people of Linopia. They disguise themselves as pilgrims and enter the priest's temple. Once inside, the High Priest announces that they may return in the morning to leave their offerings and to view the "Eye" and, in the meantime, they may witness the gods' punishment of a thief who tried to steal the "Eye of Kratos." A giant spider descends into the cage and devours the thief. Realizing that the "Eye" is the instrument of fear the priests use to keep their power, Sinbad and the others vow to destroy it.

At the temple the next day, Sinbad and the others are lead to the room housing the "Eye." The High Priest announces that only the perfectly pure of spirit can open the door and calls for the Temple Virgin. With her gentle touch, the doors swing open and the others enter the room. The Priest warns them not to look directly into the "Eye." In the middle of the chamber, there is a huge statue of a god holding over his head what appears to be a large blinding light source. With a colored glass supplied by Firouz, Sinbad is able to see that the "Eye" is a melon-sized diamond that is reflecting the morning light through a slit in the ceiling. As they are led out of the temple, Talia stays behind. Returning for her, Sinbad slips into the room just before the doors bolt behind them.

While trying to grab a jeweled sword, Talia immediately is swept up in a booby-trap that leaves her dangling by her foot from the roof. Under attack by the guards, Sinbad and Talia (still dangling from the roof) fight them off. Sinbad finally cuts her down, but not before a huge net descends upon them. The Priest condemns them to death by the giant spider. They are caged above the pit and left until morning. Dermott, who has witnessed the entire event, flies in through the roof. Talia gives Dermott a map to the temple and Sinbad tells him to get the crew.

Late that night, Doubar and the rest of the crew follow the map, avoiding several traps along the way, and reach the room where Talia and Sinbad are held. Rongar expertly throws a rope to the cage, and is able to move the cage close enough for Doubar to toss Sinbad a crowbar to pry open the door. As the spider descends towards the cage, Sinbad feverishly tries to open the door. Once opened, Talia and Sinbad slide down the rope with the spider in close pursuit. Just as Sinbad touches the ground, Maeve throws a fireball at the rope holding the cage. As the cage tumbles into the pit, the spider lands on a spike. Rongar launches an arrow with a grappling hook and rope into position above the altar. Sinbad swings on the rope and grabs the diamond from the statue's hand just as the rays of the sun penetrate the room.

Lermon learns what has happened and rushes to the High Priest's bed chamber, interrupting a tryst between between the "holy man" and his "temple virgin." They quickly form an army of acolytes to capture the thieves. Back at the temple, Talia, Sinbad and the crew fight back the guards to the outer doors. On the temple steps, Talia suddenly holds her sword to Sinbad's throat, demanding the diamond. Lermon, the High Priest, the Temple Virgin, and the acolytes all arrive. Sinbad and Talia put their differences aside to defeat Lermon and the acolytes. When Talia and the High Priest engage in a stuggle over the "Eye", it breaks into pieces, none of which are real diamonds. Later, as she bids the crew fraewell, Talia contemplates starting an "honest" life.


Starring:
Zen Gesner (Sinbad), George Buza (Doubar), Tim Progosh (Firouz), Oris Erhuero (Rongar), Dermott (Himself), Jacqueline Collen (Maeve)


Guest Stars:
Lisa Howard (Talia), Greg Latter (Lermon), Marius Weyers (High Priest), Lisa Higgs (Temple Virgin)


Curiosity:
In some of the syndicated airings of this episode, the title was misspelled as The Eyes of Kratos. The error was fixed for the region 1 DVD release.



Scripts:
members.tripod.com/~aos_scripts/teok.html