Overview
Hal, his Brotherband crew, and the Ranger Gilan have freed the twelve Araluens sold into slavery. After reaching the Royal Palace, the group is given a mission none of them expect. Princess Cassandra has recently survived an assassination. Now whispers of a second attempt have reached the kingdom, and the deadly sect known as the Scorpion Cult is believed to be the culprit. An assassin who tries to take Cassandra's life gives up vital information on the cult during interrogation. The cult worships the goddess Imrika, and whenever somebody pays them, they make a compact called the tolfah, to kill the person the customer wants.
The crew of the Heron leaves to find the man who paid for the tolfah, Iqbal, brother of Yusal, the Tualaghi chieftain who had held Erak prisoner years ago in Erak's Ransom , but gained permanent mental damage from a head injury delivered by Cassandra and been incarcerated, an event Iqbal is determined to avenge. They bring along the Ranger Gilan to help negotiate with the cult and ensure Cassandra's safety. While sailing they meet an old friend of Gilan's, the wakir Selethen. He tells the crew that Iqbal has taken over a city called Tabork along with a Hellenese man Philip Bloodyhand. Using a surprise takeover of an attack vessel of Philip's, the Herons takeover the city after a bloody fight. They mortally wound Iqbal but find out the tolfah cannot be removed without the death of the Shurmel, the leader of the Scorpion cult. Ulf gets injured and has to stay in the port as the crew moves on to confront the cult.
They sail to the old Toscan colony of Ephesa so Hal and Gilan can go inland to Scorpion Mountain, the headquarters of the cult. There they go inland and find the remnants of an old Roman-style city. Hal notices the constant wind and makes a land-sailer to travel across the desert without a horse. He takes Gilan, himself, and Stig inland to go and see the Shurmel to remove the tolfah. The remaining crew stays to defend against the Ishti, a group of fighters owned by the Scorpion cult. At the mountain the trio is let in with the Scorpions believing that they have come to buy a tolfah. Gilan is upfront and tries to get it removed. The Shurmel is offended and challenges Gilan to a sword fight where the Shurmel is defeated and killed. The trio moves to go back and meets Umar, a leader of the Bedullins who helped to free Erak in Erak's Ransom. He wants to defeat the Scorpion cults and helps defeat the Ishti who were attacking the remaining Heron crew. The Heron crew leave after the battle to Araluen where they are relieved from duty to the kingdom. They sail back to Hallasholm where they meet a feast and are welcomed back into their country.
Sinbad of the Seven Seas is a 1989 Italian fantasy film produced and directed by Enzo G. Castellari from a story by Luigi Cozzi, revolving around the adventures of Sinbad the Sailor. Sinbad must recover five magical stones to free the city of Basra from the evil spell cast by a wizard, which his journey takes him to mysterious islands and he must battle magical creatures in order to save the world.
Alexander Senki, released in North America as Reign: The Conqueror and in Europe as Alexander the Great, is a Korean-Japanese anime first released in 1999. A re-imagination of the life of Alexander the Great based on the novel of the same name by Hiroshi Aramata, the series was produced by an international crew that drew from the resources of the worldwide animation community. Character and setting design for the show was conceived by Peter Chung. Most of the production work was handled by Korean animators.
The Scorpion King is a 2002 American sword and sorcery action adventure film directed by Chuck Russell, starring Dwayne Johnson, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov and Michael Clarke Duncan. It is both a prequel and spin-off of The Mummy franchise and launched The Scorpion King film series. The film marks Johnson's first lead role. It received mixed reviews and grossed $180 million worldwide against the production budget of $60 million.
Nadja is a 1994 American horror film written and directed by Michael Almereyda, and starring Elina Löwensohn in the title role and Peter Fonda as Abraham Van Helsing. As the characters' names suggest, Nadja is a vampire film, but it treats genre elements in an understated arthouse style. It received mixed reviews from critics.
John Anthony Flanagan is an Australian fantasy author best known for his medieval fantasy series, the Ranger's Apprentice series, and its sister series, the Brotherband Chronicles. Some of his other works include his Storm Peak duology, as well as the adult novel The Grey Raider.
The Ruins of Gorlan is the first novel in the Ranger's Apprentice series written by Australian author John Flanagan. It was first released in Australia on 1 November 2004, and in the United States on 16 June 2005. Flanagan first conceived the world of the novel in a series of short stories he wrote for his son to incite his interest in reading. Ten years later, he decided to turn them into The Ruins of Gorlan, the first book in the Ranger's Apprentice series.
Ranger's Apprentice is a series written by Australian author John Flanagan. The first novel in the series, The Ruins of Gorlan, was released in Australia on 1 November 2004. The books were initially released in Australia and New Zealand, though have since been released in 14 other countries. The series follows the adventures of Will, an orphan who is chosen as an apprentice Ranger, one of the skilled trackers, archers and warriors in the service of the King of Araluen. Will strives to keep the Kingdom of Araluen safe from invaders, traitors, and threats. He is joined on his adventures by his mentor Halt and his best friend Horace.
The Burning Bridge is the second book of the Ranger's Apprentice series written by Australian author John Flanagan. It was released in Australia on 5 May 2005.
The Icebound Land is the third book in the Ranger's Apprentice book series written by Australian author John Flanagan. The book was released on 30 November 2005 in Australia.
Voyage of the Basset is a fantasy novel published in 1996. It was written and illustrated by James C. Christensen in collaboration with Renwick St. James and Alan Dean Foster. It is about a widowed Victorian era professor, Algernon Aisling, his two daughters, Miranda and Cassandra, and their adventure on a ship called the Basset.
Oakleaf Bearers, or The Battle for Skandia in the United States, is the fourth novel in the Ranger's Apprentice book series, which was written by Australian author John Flanagan. Its story continues from where the previous book, The Icebound Land, ended.
Erak's Ransom is the seventh novel in the continuing Ranger's Apprentice series by Australian author John Flanagan. The book was released in Australia on 1 November 2007 and in the United States on 5 January 2010. It is set between book four in the series, Oakleaf Bearers, and book five, The Sorcerer of the North.
The Gods Return is the ninth and final book in the Lord of the Isles Saga by David Drake. It was published in 2008 by Tor Books; the third books of the Crown of the Isles. It follows the stories of Garric, Sharina, Cashel and Ilna in the newly changed world that was once the Isles and is now a great continent: the Land.
The Lost Stories is the eleventh and penultimate book in the series Ranger's Apprentice by Australian author John Flanagan. It is a collection of "lost" tales that fill in the gaps between novels.
The Outcasts is the first in a series of novels called Brotherband by Australian author John Flanagan. The book was released in Australia and the United States on 1 November 2011 and in New Zealand on 4 November 2011.
The Invaders is the second in a series of novels called Brotherband by Australian author John Flanagan. The book was released in Australia on 1 May 2012.
The Hunters is the third instalment in the Brotherband novel series by Australian author John Flanagan. It was released on 30 October 2012 in the United States, 1 November 2012 in Australia and 2 November 2012 in New Zealand.
Ranger's Apprentice: The Early Years is a book series by John Flanagan. It is a prequel to the original Ranger's Apprentice series. The series follows Halt and Crowley and is preceded by the short story "The Hibernian" in the book The Lost Stories, which is the 11th installment to the Ranger's Apprentice series.
The Ghostfaces is the sixth installment in the Brotherband novel series by Australian author John Flanagan. It was released on 14 June 2016 in the United States. In this sixth book in the action-packed Brotherband Chronicles, the Herons find themselves in unfamiliar lands and prepare for battle with a ruthless, unknown enemy.
Australia