Category: Xena: Warrior Princess

Xena leaves Gabrielle behind in a village while she scouts ahead to see if they can ford a river. Sometime later she comes upon some villagers being attacked by warriors. She fights them off and rescues a boy that was almost crushed under the frame of a barn the villagers had been working on. But before the warriors leave, their leader orders arrows fired at Xena. She catches two, but a third strikes her in the left side and she falls from her horse. The man whose son she saved earlier, Darius, takes her to his home and helps her to remove the arrow. While she is resting, another of the villagers comes to see him. He’s upset that Xena is still there, but Darius is adament that she remain until she has recovered. He turns to check on the warrior, but she is gone. He goes to find her in the stables with Argo and tells her she should wait until she is better. While they are talking, the warriors have returned and burned the silo with the village food stores. Gabrielle is getting impatient for Xena’s return and getting unwanted advances. In an effort to stop them, she pretends a young warrior, Sphaerus, is her suitor. She talks with him about his father, and then mentions Xena. Sphaerus is startled when he realizes that Xena is the woman he thought he had killed earlier. But he mentions nothing of this to the bard and leaves.

Sphaerus learns from his father, Cycnus, that he must meet with the villagers from before and offer them a peace settlement. Then he and the other warriors are to take the villagers by surprise and kill them. Darius tells Xena of the meeting, and she insists on going. Darius reluctantly agrees, but asks her not to wear her warrior’s clothes. Instead he gives her a dress that belonged to his late wife. At the meeting, other villagers are upset to see Xena is there. Sphaerus, on the other hand, is slightly relieved to see that Xena is still alive. Xena moves toward the back of the room and listens as Sphaerus welcomes the villagers and begins to tell them of Cycnus’s plans for peace. She notices the end of a sword trying to raise the latch on a door at the side of the building. She goes outside and surprises the warriors waiting to ambush the villagers. Sphaerus and the warriors retreat, and the villagers are upset because they believe she’s ruined their chances of a peace settlement. Darius is also upset about what she did, but when he realizes she’s going to leave he tries to stop her.

Xena knows that there is no way that Cycnus will let the village have peace, and since they won’t defend themselves she plans on stopping him herself. Gabrielle has finally given up her vigil and has set out to find the warrior princess. When she finds Xena, she’s angry with her. But to her surprise Xena appologizes and tells her that she has to stop a warlord. She wants Gabrielle to go and stay with Darius and his family, but the bard refuses. As they are walking by the river, Xena hears chariots approaching. She puts Gabrielle onto Argo and sends her down the nearly dry riverbed, while she waits to ambush one of the chariots. Once Xena has control of the chariot, she sets off in pursuit of Cycnus and Sphaerus, who are chasing Gabrielle.

teleplay by Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
story by Josh Becker
directed by Harley Cokeliss
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Nick Kokotakis (Darius), Stuart Turner (Sphaerus), Jeff Thomas (Cycnus), Nigel Godfrey (Tynus), Morgan Palmer Hubbard (Argolis), Patrick Morrison (Lykus), Ruth Morrison (Sarita)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

Gabrielle asks Xena to teach her how to use her sword, but the warrior refuses. Instead she gives her rules for survival. As they are talking, a group of highwaymen approach them. They demand that the women give up all of their valuables. Xena refuses and fights the highwaymen. In the scuffle, her sword is knocked out of her hand. Gabrielle picks it up, and two of the thugs approach her. Xena comes to her aid, and the young woman throws the sword back to the ground. The leader of the gang picks up Xena’s sword. When he realizes who he is fighting, he’s determined to make a reputation for himself by killing the warrior princess. But he is the one who ends up dead by Xena’s hand, and the other highwaymen run off. A few yards away, two men in robes have watched the fight with great interest.

In the village nearby, Gabrielle goes to buy a weapon. After some talk with the arms merchant, she chooses a breast dagger. Xena is at another merchant buying a sharpening stone and oil, when an a blind man comes in to buy a halter for his horse. The shop owner runs him off, complaining about him being an ex-mystic. Xena changes her purchase to a halter instead. When Gabrielle meets Xena to leave, her dagger falls from it’s hiding place to the ground. Xena is disappointed in her, and takes the dagger. Before they can leave, they notice the villagers are running and hiding. Xena makes Gabrielle get on Argo just as a group of soldiers appear. She fights them off, but when she turns back to Gabrielle, her friend is gone.

The warrior returns to the shop she had visited earlier, and learns that a group of mystics are behind the bard’s disappearance. She decides to find the ex-mystic to help her rescue Gabrielle. Elkton tells her that the mystics plan on sacrificing the young woman to the dream god, Morpheaus. As part of the ritual, she will be sent through a test and forced to kill. He also tells her that it would take her to long to fight her way through the fortress. But he can send her there through a dreamscape. Elkton warns Xena that Morpheaus will use her dreams against her in an effort to stop her.

At the fortress, Manus gives Gabrielle a sword and sends her into a passageway for her first test. Two soldiers are also in the passageway. Remembering what Xena told her about what to do when she was outnumbered, the bard lures the men to one spot and ducks out of the way as they kill each other. In Xena’s dreamscape she encounters her victims and her army. She realizes that it’s part of Morpheaus’s way to stop her, and continues on. To her surprise, she also runs into Gabrielle. Manus has given the young woman a chance to rest, and she fell asleep. But the warrior is suspicious, and finds a way for the bard to prove who she is. Xena tells Gabrielle why the mystics want her and advises that she use what she knows until Xena can reach her at the fortress. Manus arms Gabrielle again, and sends her into a chamber of a cave with a firepit in the floor. Three warriors enter, and again thinking of what Xena said manages to talk the men into fighting each other. Finally there is only one left. He throws a dagger at Gabrielle, but she ducks and it becomes lodged in a stalagmite. He then grabs her, but as she is struggling with him, the dagger is forced out of the rock behind him because of built up steam. Manus is upset and tells Gabrielle that she has one more challange and she will have no choice but to kill. Xena finally reaches the end of her dreamscape, but her path is blocked by the dark image of the former warlord.

written by Steven L. Sears
directed by Bruce Seth Green
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Nathaniel Lees (Manus), Desmond Kelly (Elkton), Michael Daly (Mesmer), Colin Francis (Swordsmith), Bruce Hopkins (Termin), Sydney Jackson (Storekeeper), Matthew Jeffs (Gothos), John Palmer (Baruch), Patrick Smith (Dolas), Lawernce Wharerau (Mystic Warrior), Polly Baigent (Doppelganger), Grant Boucher (2nd Xena Warrior)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

King Gregor learns from a seer that a baby recently born in his kingdom will one day take his throne. He orders his advisor, Nemos, to find the infant. Unnoticed by the king and Nemos, a servant has overheard. She takes the baby that was just born to another servant and places him in a basket. She carries him to a river and puts the basket in it. The next morning, the child is discovered by Xena and Gabrielle. The warrior is determined to find who the baby belongs to. They encounter a mob in the process of hanging a woman. When they refuse to reveal what crime she has committed, Xena disperses the crowd and frees the woman. She is Pandora, the granddaughter of the Pandora that opened the box, freeing all of mankind’s desires except hope. As part of the family’s curse, Pandora must keep the box with her at all times to keep the lock set on it. That was the reason for the mob’s behavior. The trio make their way to a tavern in order to feed the baby. Xena notices the bartender talking to a young boy. A shortly after the boy leaves, Nemos and his men arrive. He demands that Xena hand over the baby to him. She refuses and fights off the soldiers. During the scuffle, Nemos sees the box and grabs it then runs out of the tavern.

Nemos informs the king that Xena has the child in her custody. He warns that she may use the child against him. A note arrives from the warrior saying that she wants to meet with Gregor. At their hiding place, Pandora tells Xena and Gabrielle that she must get the box back soon to reset the lock. If she doesn’t, hope will be freed. Xena meets with Gregor and Nemos in the tavern. He doesn’t have the box with him, but says he will trade it for the baby. Gabrielle brings the servant who placed the baby in the river to thier hideout. Ophelia tells Xena of the festival that evening. The warrior decides to use that to gain entrance to the castle. Disguised as a dancer, she learns that Gregor has the box in his chambers. When she finally locates the box, she overhears the king talking to himself. She then realizes what the true prophecy is, and is determined to fulfill it.

written by Terrance Winter
directed by Michael Levine
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Pandora), Edward Newborn (Gregor), Kirstie O’Sullivan (Ophelia), Simon Prast (Nemos), Carl Straker (Young man), Beryl Te Wiata (Cynara), Susan Winter (woman), Tony Bishop (Weasel), Lathan Gains (Kastor), Paul Minifie (Innkeeper), Alan De Malmanche (Old man)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

A young princess is kidnapped, and her fiance seeks out Xena’s help in rescuing her. He tells the warrior that she was taken to Traikus and is being held by the arms dealer Mezentius. When Xena arrives in Traikus, other warriors are suspicious of her. They’ve heard the stories about how she has changed. She tells them that her “help” is just a way of gaining people’s trust. Marcus, an ex-lover, is happy to see Xena. He introduces her to Mezentius. The arms dealer is wary of Xena until he hears her plans. She tells him she knows that he has the princess, and that he hopes that her family will go to war against her fiance’s family. She says that her army could extend the battle by fighting first for one side and then the other in exchange for half of his profits and ransom. Before he can answer, there is a commotion outside. The princess is on a ledge with a knife. She plans on killing herself because she’s afraid of what Mezentius has planned for her. Xena goes to the balcony and tells the princess that her fiance sent her. She’s unwilling to believe until Xena shows her proof. The warrior tells her to meet her later and she will get her out of Traikus. Mezentius finally agrees to Xena’s proposal. Xena meets the princess, but before they can leave Mezentius arrives. Xena hides the girl, and talks to the arms dealer. He finally goes away, and Xena sneaks the princess into a storage room. She has removed weapons from one of the crates, and hides the princess in it. But before she can get the crate outside, Marcus arrives.

written by Julie Sherman
directed by Stephen L. Posey
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Bobby Hosea (Marcus), Stephen Tozer (Mezentius), Nicola Cliff (Jana), Jimi Liversidge (Agranon), John O’Leary (Antonius), Iain Rea (Brisus), Christine Bartlett (Philana), Peter Saena-Brown (Soldier #1), Paul Norell (Street Vendor)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

While searching for a path through a forest, Xena hears the sounds of an attack in progress. She arrives on the scene and discovers the bodies of three men. A fourth is about to be killed by a man in a black hooded cloak. She fights the man until he leaps into the air and disappears. She tends to the survivor of the attack, but he is delirious and pushes her away just as villagers appear. Seeing the blood on her hands and sword, they are convinced that she is the one who attacked the farmers. They try to grab her, but she lets out her war cry and waves her sword before running off toward Argo. She races back through the wilderness looking for Gabrielle. Xena doesn’t have time to explain for the villagers are not too far behind.

Back in the village, the people are upset and want revenge for the deaths of their friends and loved ones. But Benitar thinks they should have a trial. Xena has found a place in the mountains for them to hide and has told Gabrielle about what happened. She knows she will have a hard time getting out of this. The next morning, the several of the villagers are waiting as Xena and Gabrielle make their way back down the mountain. Gabrielle is thrown from the horse, and the men grab her. Xena tells them to release her or else. Finally they agree and Xena surrenders. In her cell, the hooded man reappears. Xena has figured out who he is – Ares, the god of war. He tells Xena that he wants her to be his warrior queen and ruler of the world. He can make all of that happen, if she will call for him.

Gabrielle begs Benitar to let her be Xena’s advocate. He says he can’t, but before they can discuss it further there is a comotion outside. The villagers have just demonstrated how they execute criminals, by dragging a dummy through the streets from a wagon. They plan on doing the same to Xena. Ares allows Xena to see him, hoping she’ll call for him, but she doesn’t. Benitar tells the people there will be a trial, and finally agrees to let Gabrielle to speak on behalf of her friend. Gabrielle decides to return to the scene of the crime for a look around. She discovers that there are footprints made by a warrior’s boots different from Xena’s. But before she get get Benitar there to see them, Ares has wiped them away. The trial gets under way, with Benitar as judge. Gabrielle has her work cut out for her in defending Xena. Things go fairly well, until the survivor is brought in. He doesn’t remember much about the attack, but he does remember Xena.

Later that night, one of the villagers enters Xena’s cell and begins to beat on her. Ares appears to her and tries again to convince Xena to agree to his plan. He encourages her to use her superhuman strength and she does. The man and the guards are surprised when she yells and breaks the chains. She knocks the man to the ground and the guards hurry out of the cell and close the door. But that doesn’t stop the warrior princess. She breaks the door down and attacks the guards. She has just taken the last guard when Gabrielle enters. Before she realizes what she is doing, Xena has hit her friend and knocked her into the stairs. Only when she sees the look on Gabrielle’s face does she stop. The young woman rushes out.

Benitar comes to the prison. Xena is tending the men she has just beaten. Benitar is puzzled by her actions. Xena realizes that it doesn’t matter what has happened here. She has done worse in her past and could be capable of doing it again. Benitar says the judgement will be in the morning. Later, Xena is surpised when Gabrielle appears outside her cell. The bard has found Argo and plans on having the horse help her break Xena out of the prison. Xena appriciates the gesture, but tells her no. She has another way out of this.

written by Peter Allan Fields
directed by Charles Siebert
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Kevin Smith (Ares), Bill Johnson (Benitar), Ross Harper (Polinios), Christian Hodge (Teracles), Sam Holland (Teen Son), Phaedra Hurst (Teresia), Danny Lineham (Grathios), Meryl Main (Areolis’ Widow), Christopher Mayer (Peranis)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

Xena is in pursuit of the bandit Hesiot. She has cornered him and his men. They try to take her, but she easily subdues all of them except Hesiot. He steals a horse from a man that has entered the area. Xena takes off after him, leaving Gabrielle behind. Hearing voices from a cave, Gabrielle decides to investigate. Several priests have gathered and they are having a young woman read a chant from a scroll. They are about to give up on the chant, when Gabrielle tells them that the girl is using the wrong rhythm. She takes the scroll and reads it aloud. When she has finished reading, the ground shakes. She has just freed three Titans – Hyperion, Thea, and Crius. Xena has caught up with Hesiot at a tavern in the village. Before she can take him away, warriors appear in the tavern. Surrounded, Xena will have to let Hesiot go to fight them. Gabrielle suddenly appears, and she has brought the Titans with her. Believing that she is a goddess, they will obey her commands. When she orders it, Crius scatters the warriors easily. Gabrielle then orders the Titans to make repairs to the dam and other things that the villagers need taken care of. When they return, Hyperion demands that she uses her powers as a goddess to create a feast for the Titans. Gabrielle makes excuses as to why she doesn’t want to do that. Hyperion blows the young woman down. He’s annoyed to learn that he has been taking orders from a mortal. The Titan wants to take Gabrielle with them, but Xena stops him. He laughs when she says that she’s the “goddess’s” protector, until she stabs him in the foot when he tries to crush her and Gabrielle. Xena tries to find a place to hide Gabrielle, but Hyperion is demolishing all of the buildings in the village.

Finally a young preist leads the to women to the temple of Cronus. The Titans will leave that temple alone since it honors a fellow Titan. Hyperion threatens to kill any mortals he finds unless the villagers hand over Xena and Gabrielle. But the villagers are just as afraid of the warrior princess as they are the Titans. Some villagers realize that several of the children are missing. They had set out on an excursion earlier in the day and haven’t returned. Xena leaves the temple to search for them. Hyperion has heard the children and manages to send them into the cave that the Titans are staying in. Crius doesn’t like the what Hyperion is doing, and the two soon get into a fight. While they are fighting, Xena sneaks in and rescues the children. When she brings them back to the temple, Hesiot has convinced the villagers to free him and help him capture Xena. Hesiot and one of the villagers take Xena to the Titans. But while he and the other man aren’t paying attention, Xena has freed herself and escaped. Hyperion is angry and crushes the two men.

Xena returns to the Titans cave and overhears what Hyperion is planning. There are hundreds of Titans imprisioned in the cave and he wants Gabrielle to read the chant that will free them. When Xena goes back to the temple, she tells the villagers of Hyperion’s plans. She has an idea of her own and puts the villagers to work on it. Later Xena gets into an arguement with Gabrielle. And when no one else is looking, the young woman sneaks out of the temple.

written by R.J. Stewart
directed by Eric Brevig
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Andy Anderson (Hesiot), Edward Campbell (Crius), Jack Dacey (Creon), David Mackie (Rhodos), Syd Mannion (Calchas), Mark Raffety (Hyperion), Paolo Rotondo (Philius), Amanda Tollemache (Thea), Simon Cameron (Villager #2), Julianne Evans (Second Woman), Sian Hughes (Young Woman), Peter Morgan (Barkeep), Maggie Tarver (Villager #1)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

A group of bounty hunters attempt to kill Xena, but fail. One is hit in the throat with a dagger and Xena removes it and treats his wound. Later at an inn where she and Gabrielle have taken the man, loud screams are heard. The gods have chained Prometheus. Immediately mankind looses the gift of healing that they recieved from the great Titan. The next morning, Xena and Gabrielle head to a temple. Inside Xena recieves instructions from the oracle about how to free Prometheous. When she returns to Gabrielle, she asks what her friend would do if anything were to happen to her. Gab says she could become a bard, but doesn’t really want to discuss it further. They stop at a merchant’s tent to ask directions to Vulcan mountain. Xena asks Gabrielle to wait there for her. At the cave of Hephestus, Hera’s warriors chase after Xena. She finally loses all of them and finds the sword she has been looking for.

Returning to Argo, she is greeted by Hercules. He insists that she hand over the sword. She fights him briefly, and then leaps onto Argo and races off. While Gabrielle is waiting for Xena, Iolous arrives. The two talk briefly until Xena shows up. She warns Iolous not to follow them. They stop for a rest at a barn, and more of Hera’s warriors appear. Hercules and Iolous are also there and soon they have defeated the warriors. But one is still determined to stop them and he grabs the sword that Xena retrieved earlier. When he swings it at her, Hercules blocks the blow with his guantlet and the soldier disentigrates. The chains of Prometheus were made by Hephestus, just like Hercules’ guantlets, so whoever breaks the chains will meet with the same fate as the soldier.

The foursome have reached the mountain that Prometheous is chained upon and enter a cave. Zeus had once shown the caves to his son and he knows that it will be a shortcut to freeing the Titan. Not far into the cave, Gabrielle discovers that Iolous was wounded during the fight in the barn. At his insistance, she agrees not to tell the others. As they continue on, there is a cave-in. During the commotion, Gabrielle bumps into Iolous and aggravates his injury. She decides to break their agreement and tells Xena and Hercules about what happened to Iolous. They decide it would be best if he stayed behind and rest. Gabrielle agrees to stay with him. Xena and Hercules continue on, but soon the gift of fire is lost. Fortunately they have found the opening they will need to reach Prometheus. Hercules starts to climb up to it, but Xena knocks him out and takes the sword, and then begins to climb out of the cave.

written by R.J. Stewart
directed by Stephen L. Posey
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Michael Hurst (Iolous), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Jody Dorday (Io), John Freeman (Prometheus), Russell Gowers (Demophon), David Mitchell (Innkeeper), Paul Norell (Statius), Sarah Wiseman (Young Woman)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

In Corinth, King Sisyphus is preparing for a visitor. That visitor is Celesta, otherwise known as Death. Sisyphus manages to trap Death and separate her from her eternal flame. As Gabrielle and Xena are walking through an orchard, they are confronted by a warrior named Toxeus and his men. He wants Xena to join him. She tells him she’s not interested, but he won’t take no for an answer. They have a brief struggle and Xena kills him. Or so she thinks. As she and Gabrielle walk away, Toxeus opens his eyes and sits up. With Celesta being held captive, no one will die. Xena and Gabrielle are traveling down a road when they hear a thunderous noise that shakes the ground. Xena tells the bard to take cover, and a menacing chariot approaches from a fog that has appeared. The driver removes his helmet and the warrior recognizes him immediately. It’s Hades and he has come to ask Xena to free his sister from Sisyphus’ castle. Further down the road, Xena and Gabrielle encounter a group of people, many of them injured. While Xena tries to ease the wounded’s suffering, Gabrielle goes to get water. Toxeus appears and grabs the young woman. The warrior shows up and fights Toxeus again. She manages to trap him with a tree limb she cuts with her chakrum. Gabrielle has made friends with a young man, Talus, who was traveling to Corinth and stopped to help the injured people. He joins the warrior and the bard on the road. He also gives Xena more information about Sisyphus’ castle since he grew up there. The warrior sends them on to the hospital near Corinth and tells them to wait there. Toxeus has found where his friends are. They are surprised to see him still alive. He stabs all of them, making a small army of the undead. Toxeus wants to find out where death is being held and he sends men to follow Xena as well as Gabrielle and Talus.

When Gabrielle and Talus reach the hospital, an old woman is asking for water. The bard goes to talk to her while Talus gets the water. The woman tells her that she died this morning, but before she crossed over she got sent back to the living. She warns Gabrielle that if Xena touches Death or if Death touches her, she will die. Gabrielle is upset and decides to head for the castle. Talus agrees to go with her. Xena easily takes care of the two men that have been following her, and makes her way to the castle. Once inside, she is met by Sisyphus. She asks him to free death, but he won’t. Instead he opens a trap door that the warrior is standing on and she falls into the dungeon of the castle. Talus shows Gabrielle a hidden entrance to the castle. As they are walking through the hallways, some of Toxeus’ men show up and chase them. They go up a flight of stairs, but before Talus can reach the top they colapse and he slides into a trap door. The stairs return to the way they were and Toxeus’ men run up after Gabrielle. She manages to find a hiding place in a recess behind a curtain. Xena has regained consciousness and is searching for a way out of her prison, when Talus appears out of a chute nearby. Together they find a passage out of the dungeon. Finally they make their way up into the main part of the castle. But Talus is in pain. He explains to Xena that he has been ill for sometime and is about to die. He reassures Xena that she is doing the right thing. Neither see that Karas, Sisyphus’ wife, has been listening. She returns to her husband and pleads for him to release Death but he won’t. Instead he goes off in search of Xena. Karas finds her before he does and tells the warrior she can help her to find Celesta before her eternal flame is extinguished.

teleplay by Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
story by Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster and Babs Greyhosky
directed by Charles Siebert
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Ray Henwood (Sisyphus), Leslie Wing (Karas), Erik Thomson (Hades), Chris Graham (Toxeus), Gordon Hatfield (Seerus), Kieren Hutchison (Talus), Kate Hodge (Celesta), Paul McLaren (Streptus), Wayne England (Wounded Man), Kelly Greene (Guard), Beryl Te Wiata (Old Woman), Allan Wilkins (Thug)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

As Xena and Gabrielle are making their way through the forest, they are met by four Amazons on patrol. Xena asks them for safe passage through their territory. The Amazons take them to see Queen Melosa. Along the way, they are attacked and the Amazon, Terreis is hit by an arrow. Without thinking, Gabrielle moves to sheild the fallen Amazon as more arrows are fired their way. Suddenly the attack ends, and Xena goes to find who was responsible. Terreis dies, but not before asking Gabrielle to take her rite of caste. At the Amazon village, Terreis is given her funeral and Melosa grants safe passage to Xena and Gabrielle. Before they can leave, Ephiny and several Amazons return with a Centaur they captured. He is Phantes, the son of Tyldus who leads the Centaurs. The Amazons plan on executing Phantes for the murder of Terreis. Krykus the warlord arrives in the village. He assures Melosa that if the Amazons and Centaurs go to war that his army will stay out of it. After talking to Phantes, Xena tells Melosa that she doesn’t believe that he killed her sister. She tells the queen that she’s going to go speak to Tyldus. Xena tells Gabrielle to stay with the Amazons because they will protect her. Tyldus is wary of his former enemy. He informs Xena that his army will attack the Amazons if his son is executed. While Xena is gone, the Amazons prepare their new princess, Gabrielle. As part of her training as an Amazon, they teach her how to fight with a staff. Later, Melosa tells Gabrielle that because she accepted Terreis’ rite of caste, she must be the one to carry out the execution of Phantes.

Xena returns to the scene of the attack. Ephiny appears and tries to fight the warrior in the trees. But Xena cuts the branch that Ephiny is standing on and she falls to the ground. A Centaur was also in the area, and moves to kill the Amazon. Xena stops his attack, as well as the arrow that Ephiny fires at him. The two women retreat to the trees before the Centaur can attack again. When the Centaur is gone, Xena shows Ephiny proof that Phantes’ wasn’t the one who murdered Terreis. The warrior realizes that Krykus was the one behind the attack and the two women make their way to his camp to investigate further. With their suspiscions confirmed, the two warriors return to the Amazon village in time to stop the execution. Xena encourages Gabrielle to demand the royal challange. As her champion, Xena will fight Melosa to the death.

written by Steven L. Sears
directed by Jace Alexander
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Danielle Cormack (Ephiny), Alison Bruce (Melosa), Mark Ferguson (Krykus), David Aston (Tyldus), Chris Bailey (Celano), Tanya Dignan (Eponin), Andrew Kovacevich (Tor), Rebekah Mercer (Terreis), Colin Moy (Phantes), Aurora Philips (Magdelus), Antony Starr (Mesas), John Watson (Arben)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

The tyrant Xerxes is angry. A band of renegades keep attacking his army as they try to collect taxes. He demands that the villagers hand over the leader, the Black Wolf. Many people step forward claiming to be the Black Wolf and he has them all thrown in a dungeon. Xena arrives and learns that a friend of hers, Flora, was one of the people imprisoned. She tells Flora’s mother that she will help her daughter to escape. The warrior princess goes to Xerxes and offers to help him find the leader of the Black Wolf. All he needs to do is stage her arrest in front of sympathizers. Once inside his dungeon she will find out who the leader is and turn that person over to him. Once inside the prison, many of the renegades are wary of Xena. But Flora reassures them that Xena is her friend and will be their ally. Xena takes the younger woman aside and tells her she will help her escape. Flora won’t go without the others.

Gabrielle arrives in the village. She learns from the blacksmith about Xena being in the dungeon. She immediately tries to find a way to join her friend. While working out her plan, Gabrielle accidentally bumps into Salmoneous who is there selling Black Wolf merchandise. But when the bard executes her plan, the guards arrest Salmoneous instead of her. The head of Xerxes’ guard, Koulos, decides to threaten the prisoners in order to learn who the Black Wolf is. He puts Xena into a pit that fills with water. But the warrior easily escapes. When Salmoneous is thrown into the dungeon, she decides on a plan that will free all of the prisoners. Taking all the belts they can find, they hang them in the grating along the ceiling, and hide. When the guards realize the cell is empty, the rush in. The prisoners jump from their hiding places and make their escape. They make it out to the square and are confronted by Koulos and the rest of the guard. Seems Kouslos had someone on the inside who told him of the escape plan. The renegades are now very suspicious of Xena, especially Flora’s boyfriend, Diomedes. He fights with Xena. The warrior ends the fight saying she wasn’t the traitor. The next morning, Gabrielle finally manages to get arrested by dumping a bowl of gruel on one of the guards. Xena is upset to see her there, but she’s also surprised that Gabrielle managed to sneak her chakrum and whip into the dungeon. At Xena’s direction, Gabrielle and Salmoneous set a trap for Koulos’ spy. When he tries to deliver a message to the guards, Xena catches him. The guards place a staff in the ground inside the prison, saying that the renegades had until the sun reached the staff to hand over the Black Wolf.

written by Allan Jay Glueckman
directed by Mario DiLeo
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Robert Trebor (Salmoneous), Nigel Harbrow (Koulos), Ian Hughes (Diomedes), Ross Duncan (Parnassus), Maggie Tarver (Hermia), Emma Turner (Flora), Kevin J. Wilson (Xerxes), Jonathan Bell-Booth (Chief Guard), John Dybvig (Brigand), Colin Francis (The Grump), Tim Hosking (Blacksmith), Adam Middleton (Black Wolf Sympathizer), John Pemberton (Arresting Guard), Jimmy Rawdon (Father)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

Queen Helen has disturbing nightmares that show a man in shadows killing the soldiers trying to protect her. She sends her personal guard Miltides to find Xena. Before he can reach the warrior princess, he is attacked. Xena and Gabrielle are close by and fight off his attackers. But Miltides has been stabbed and he is dying. He barely manages to give Helen’s message to Xena in time. Xena and Gabrielle fight their way through the Greek forces and into Troy. They are greeted by Gabrielle’s ex-fiance’ Perdicas. The warrior leaves the two friends to find Helen. The queen tells her that she wants Xena to take her to Menelaus, hoping that will end the war. But Xena doesn’t agree. She tells Helen that Paris would just come after her. Deophobus, Paris’ brother, is upset that Xena managed to get in to see the queen. He insists that the warrior princess be taken to see Paris. As Xena is trying to convince Paris that she is there to help, one of Deophobus’ personal guards appears. He was one of the men who attacked Miltides. He has a scar on his face where Xena cut him with her sword. She fights him again briefly, before Deophobus stabs him. Paris then accepts Xena’s offer. The warrior returns to Gabrielle and tells her why Helen asked to see her. She tells her to stay with Perdicas while she checks things out. She then spots Helen trying to sneak out of the city. As they are talking, Xena notices Deophobus exiting the city through a secret doorway. She follows him to the Greek army’s camp and watches as he talks to Menelaus.

Xena returns to the castle to tell Paris and Helen about what she saw. But Deophobus shows up and tells them that he and Menelaus were discussing the Greek army’s surrender. He convinces his brother that Xena cannot be trusted, and the king has her thrown into prison. Before leaving, the Greeks left a large wooden horse outside the gates. The Trojans bring it into the city and begin their celebrations.

written by Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
directed by Roy Thomas and Janis Hendler
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Gayln Gorg (Helen), Scott Garrison (Perdicas), Ken Blackburn (Menelaus), Warren Carl (Paris), Cameron Rhodes (Deophobus), Adrian Keeling (Miltiades), Peter Ford (Trojan Soldier #2), Matthew Jeffs (Trojan Soldier #1), Geoffrey Knight (Trojan Guard), John Manning (Greek Scout), Aidan MacBride Stewart (Greek Soldier)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

After telling stories in a tavern, Gabrielle meets a young man who tells her about a bard competition. The top four finishers in the competition will be accepted into the Athens City Academy For Performing Bards. The young man’s father tells Gabrielle that the competition isn’t for girls. Xena enters the tavern and informs her young friend about the people of Caramis having trouble with a cyclops. She’s surprised when Gabrielle wants to go to Athens. When the bard explains, the warrior offers her encouragement and leaves for Caramis. In Athens, Gabrielle runs into the young man she met at the tavern. He’s happy to see that she made it in time. Gabrielle introduces herself. But he hates his name and wants to be called Draco. But his new friend tells him about Xena fighting Draco. She thinks he should call himself Orion. At the first gathering of the competitors, a man suddenly runs forward and stabs the instructor, before leaping out a window. But the teacher isn’t dead. He had staged the attack as part of his lesson. But Gabrielle has ideas of her own about lessons and tells the story of Celesta’s capture by Sisyphus. The next day Gabrielle is giving pointers to Orion when one of the officials interrupts. They’ve discovered, with help from Orion’s father, that the young woman snuck into the competition and she is told to leave. Her new friends are unhappy about her having to go. Twickenam has an idea and tells the others about it. They ask Gabrielle to stay until the next day’s competition. To her surprise and that of the officials, the others refuse to compete unless she is allowed to stay. The great bard Gastacius is there for the judging and he wants to hear her tell a story. After her story, he insists that she remain in the competition.

Later when Orion has finished telling a story, his father appears backstage. He is disappointed in his son’s performance and demands that he start the story again for him. Orion becomes and angry and leaves. His father blames Gabrielle for his departure. She sets off to find her new friend to convince him to return.

written by R.J. Stewart and Steven L. Sears
directed by Jace Alexander
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Dean O’Gorman (Orion), Patrick Brunton (Stallonus), Alan De Malmanche (Docenius), Lori Dungey (Kellos), Joseph Manning (Euripedes), Grahame Moore (Polonius), Andrew Thurtell (Twickenham), David Weatherley (Gastacius), Bernard Moody (Drunk)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

A friend of Xena’s that the warrior had been trying to catch up with is attacked. His attacker takes a pouch and runs away from Xena. Her friend, Lycus, manages to tell Xena that she needs to get the pouch back because it contains a clue to finding the lost treasure of the Sumerians. The warrior tells Gabrielle to stay with him and takes off in pursuit of the thug. Xena catches up to him and they are fighting when suddenly he stops and falls to the ground dead. An assassin, Thersites, stabbed him in the back. He wants the pouch that Xena now has in her possession. But she quickly memorizes the clue and eats the parchment it was on. Thersites follows her back to Gabrielle and Lycus. The bard tells Xena that Lycus died just after she left. The warrior tells Thersites that she will go to Petracles to get the fourth clue. When he is gone, she tells Gabrielle about the treasure. She also tells her that with the treasure is the Titan’s key which opens a fortress that holds ambrosia. On the way to Petracles’ camp, Xena tells her friend that she doesn’t trust the warlord and that she used to be engaged to him.

Petracles is greatly interested in locating the treasure. The trio rejoin Thersites and they head off in search for the treasure. One of the clues mentions retrieving a large ruby from the temple of Demeter. Gabrielle and Thersites go to the temple, while Xena and Petracles prepare a distraction. The bard and assassin are caught when he knocks over the statue that the ruby was resting on. But Xena and Petracles take care of the guards and the group gets away. Finally they locate three large stone heads and from the clues figure out that the ruby must be placed in the right eye of the middle statue. But they will have to wait until sunrise to find the treasure.

written by Steven L. Sears and R.J. Stewart
directed by Josh Becker
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Peter Daube (Petracles), Jeremy Roberts (Thersites), John Smith (Marleus), Lawrence Wharerau (Klonig), Huntly Eliott (Calicus), Richard Foulkes (Lycus), Merv Smith (Head Villager)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell

Xena is summoned to Treaus to see the king. His daughter, Diana, is about to marry Minius of Liberium. But assassins are out to stop the wedding. If the marriage takes place, it will unite the two kingdoms under the Treaus constitution which forbids slavery. Lias wants Xena to pretend to be Diana since she looks exactly like his daughter, and stop the assassins. The warrior agrees and has him send Diana to meet Gabrielle so the princess will be safe. Philemon, Minius’ brother, arrives to take “Diana” on a walk. A group of masked assassins appear and Philemon with Xena’s help fights them off. As Gabrielle waits for Xena to return, a man approaches and demands that she hand over her bag. The bard refuses and the man grabs her. “Xena” appears on Argo and starts to offer her assistance until the man turns around. To Gabrielle’s surprise, she runs away and the younger woman is left to deal with the man. When he is gone, Diana comes out of her hiding place and gives Xena’s note to Gabrielle. The bard just thinks its some sort of test until Diana starts crying.

Xena is investigating the scene of the attack at the castle when a servant comes and tells her that Minius has arrived. She didn’t notice that Philemon has been watching her. At dinner, Xena learns more about the men that work for Lias. Her cover is almost blown when her fiance asks to hear her play the harp. Xena gets out of it when she breaks the strings. Philemon has figured out that the princess isn’t who she pretends to be. He’s stunned to learn that imposter is Xena. She explains that Diana was sent away for her own safety. As they are talking, there is another attempt on the princess’s life, but this time Xena catches the would be assassin. She learns from him that he was hired by the king’s general. But when they reach his chambers, they find that the man has been hanged. Believing that the threat is over, Lias goes after his daughter to bring her home.

written by Brenda Lily
directed by Michael Levine
music by Joseph LoDuca

Guest Cast: Lucy Lawless (Diana), Norman Forsey (Lias), Iain Rea (Philemon), Latham Gaines (Minius), Jonathan Acorn (Mirus), Jason Hoyte (Timus), Michele Huirama (Tesa), Patrick Smith (Glauce), Mia Koning (Waif), Ian Miller (Low Life), Chris Bohm (Guard)

LogBook entry by Mary Terrell