In the kingdom of Aruk, witches tell high priest Maax [ ] a prophecy that he will die at the hands of King Zed's unborn son. Maax sends one of his witches to kidnap and kill the child. The witch magically transports the child from his mother's womb and into a cow. Later she cuts the baby out of the cow and brands it with the mark of Ar, and is about to sacrifice him when a villager kills the witch and rescues the child and raises him as his own son in the village of Emur. Named Dar, the child learns how to fight and, having been brought into the world by an animal through magic, he develops the ability to telepathically communicate with animals. Years later, a fully grown Dar witnesses his people being slaughtered by the Juns, a horde of fanatic barbarians allied with Maax. Dar, the only survivor of the attack, journeys to Aruk to avenge his people. In time, Dar is joined by a
golden eagle he names Sharak, a pair of thieving ferrets he names Kodo and Podo, and a
black "panther" he names Ruh. Dar meets a slave girl called Kiri before getting lost and ending up surrounded by an eerie half-bird, half-human race who externally dissolve their prey for nourishment. As the bird-men worship eagles, they spare Dar when he summons Sharak and give him an amulet. Dar soon arrives at Aruk where Maax had assumed total control with the Juns' support. Maax has taken the children of the townspeople to sacrifice to his god, Ar. After Dar compels Sharak to save the child of a townsman named Sacco, he learns that Kiri is to be sacrificed. On his way to save her, Dar is joined by Zed's younger son Tal and his bodyguard Seth, and learns that Kiri is Zed's niece as the three work to save her. While Seth gathers their forces, Dar helps Kiri and Tal infiltrate the temple and rescue King Zed. An obstinate Zed leads his forces to attack the city, despite the prudent warnings of Dar, who leaves the group in anger. They all are easily defeated and captured, and Dar decides to return to save them from being sacrificed. In the ensuing conflict, Maax reveals Dar's relationship to Zed before slitting Zed's throat and facing the Beastmaster. Despite being stabbed, Maax is revived by a witch and, when he attempts to kill Dar, Kodo sacrifices himself to cause the high priest to fall into the sacrificial flames. The victory is short-lived as the Jun horde approaches Aruk, arriving by nightfall to face the trap Dar and the people set for them. Tal is wounded as Dar succeeds in burning most of the Juns alive while defeating their chieftain before the bird-men arrive to consume those remaining. The following day, Seth invites Dar to be the new king, but Dar explains that Tal would make a better king, and he leaves Aruk. Dar sets off into the wild with Kiri, Ruh, Sharak, and Podo, who has given birth to two baby ferrets. ==Cast==