A NETFLIX SERIES
[brooding music playing]
[goading horse]
O Gods, show me your power.
For I will sacrifice what is my most precious.
My firstborn.
[blade rasps]
[brooding music continues]
Runa?
Runa!
[Runa] What's so urgent?
[munching]
The oath. Before the great battle.
[pants]
I begged the gods to help me avenge my family and to free my tribe.
That's good. So they answered you.
I promised them I would, um,
sacrifice my firstborn.
[Runa laughing]
Tell me now what I have to do to revoke this oath, please!
Runa!
Anything. I'm prepared to do anything at all.
Anything?
To retract your oath?
[breathing heavily]
You want to negotiate,
but the gods don't settle for less than they're owed.
Anything?
The gods get what they want, one way or another.
[theme music playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[Odarike] Ari is not to be trusted.
You know why he kneeled down before you, don't you?
It was a trick. A dirty plot to get your troops.
He's using the power you already possess to do it.
Convincing you to solve the problems with the tribes.
I can't abandon the tribes now.
[Odarike] Let's go home.
Let's not put our good relationship with Rome at risk.
[Odarike sighs]
[brooding music continues]
You kneel before the man who sold you out to the Romans?
[man] Stick together.
It was our best option.
And now we're supposed to celebrate with them too?
At our home, in our village?
I had no other choice.
There's always a choice.
[indistinct chattering]
- [blade rasps] - [Flavus gasps]
- [thuds] - [groans]
- [Odvulf chuckles] - [indistinct chattering]
[clamoring]
You Romans killed my brother!
I'm Segimer's son, Reik Ari's brother! I demand respect.
[Gaius in Latin] Flavus! Uncle! Uncle!
[Flavus] Gaius.
You're okay.
[Marbod in English] Get out of the way!
- What are you doing here? - I'm here on a diplomatic mission.
Can we talk in private?
[Marbod chuckles]
A gift from General Tiberius.
As a token of his loyalty and... trust
in our new pact.
[Marbod] Hmm.
[Flavus] And a message.
For you. It's private.
[pensive music playing]
- [blade rasps] - [Ari] What are you doing here?
[Marbod] He's under my protection.
Flavus is here as an envoy of Rome.
[chuckles]
[Ari chuckles]
[pensive music continues]
[Thusnelda grunts]
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
I don't want us to keep fighting.
[breathing heavily]
Then what do you want?
I don't know anymore. What do you want?
A war with the Marcomanni? That's what they want. The Romans.
They want us to destroy each other.
And that's why you kneel before Marbod?
- He thinks he can have peace with Rome. - There is no peace with Rome.
And he'll realize that eventually.
[Thusnelda] And in the meantime, what will it cost us?
What else needs to happen before he realizes?
You're putting our future in Marbod's hands.
I know what peace with Rome looks like.
I remember when your soldiers crucified Folkwin's family in front of our tribe.
And when they crippled my brother as I watched them!
And not far from here,
Dido is dying because of you.
And your brother's in that tent, your traitor of a brother? As a guest?
Marbod as king of all tribes?
Peace with Rome? Are you listening to yourself?
Give me a better solution, then.
Give me a better solution
instead of complaining about everything.
I'm sorry I don't have a better solution.
Of course you don't have a solution.
Because you have no idea what it means to be the reik.
To be held responsible!
I'm a reik.
And when I have decisions to make, I decide, and that's it!
I sacrificed everything, everything I had.
I left my son behind, and I did that to liberate our tribe.
I don't think you have a problem abandoning people.
Come again?
So you abandoned your son.
Just like you abandoned your tribe, and just like you abandoned me as well!
Because you're a traitor!
Be careful what you say.
You betrayed your foster father!
And you led thousands of people who trusted you to their deaths.
And who did you do that for? For the people you betrayed today.
[shouts] Be careful what you say!
[breathing heavily]
[shuddered breathing]
[melancholy music playing]
I... I don't know who you are anymore.
[breathing heavily]
[floor creaks]
Mother?
[sniffles]
Thusnelda. Nice to see you.
So you're thieves now, apparently?
Yes. This is what I've become. A thief.
Thusnelda, please. Let us rejoin the tribe.
Forgive us. Show you have a heart.
We're rotting in that cave, and winter's coming.
Think of your brother. He's starving.
Then bring him here to me.
I can look after him.
I'll care for my brother
the way he deserves.
And you can come back to the village too.
The two of you don't need to starve.
Or steal.
And Segestes?
He's your father.
That's why I know him so well.
So I don't want him tarnishing this village with his poison.
Your father will never allow
your brother and I to live here while he remains in exile.
Then so be it.
It's your decision.
[Irmina sighs]
[melancholy music continues]
You know where to find me.
[melancholy music continues]
I didn't expect to see you again so soon.
Well, I'm glad you're doing all right.
Tiberius is smart enough to know how important an alliance with you is.
I'm safe as long as I'm under your protection.
Please get some rest.
My men will watch over you.
Thank you.
I'll be back soon.
Don't let anyone in or out.
[brooding music playing]
They want you to kill Flavus
as a sign of your loyalty.
They'll agree to all of your demands in return.
Tiberius knows that Flavus is a friend.
One sacrifice
for the future of your clan?
Our future, Marbod.
You'll make the right choice.
[brooding music continues]
[Dido breathing shakily]
[whispering indistinctly]
[Dido moaning]
Dido.
[moans]
[Runa] Her spirit is on a journey so that her body can heal.
[moaning]
Should I...
should I make a... a sacrifice?
[Runa] Better to settle your old debts
before you go to the gods with new promises.
[thunder rumbling]
[ethereal music playing]
[Folkwin] O Gods,
I thank you for the victory over the Romans
and the revenge for my family.
But what use is the life of a small child to you
on your journeys through the forests and the dark night sky?
Or the mere life of a nonbeliever?
I choose to renounce...
the life of my firstborn.
I banish him...
from my life
and...
from my heart.
[sobs softly]
And if it's a human life that you require...
then take mine.
- [skin sizzling] - [groaning loudly]
[moans]
Then take mine!
Mine!
- [skin sizzling] - [screams]
[shouts] Take mine!
[skin sizzling]
[ethereal music continues]
Take mine.
[thunder rumbling]
[rhythmic drums playing]
[indistinct chattering]
United in peace. United in battle.
[Marbod] Thanks to our alliance with Rome, we'll all be rich.
All of us.
War is expensive
and bad for business.
Where there's wealth, there's war.
[Marbod] My dear,
eventually, you too will realize
that not everything Rome has to offer is dreadful.
Your husband, for example.
[laughing]
Rome isn't looking for friends.
Rome finds subordinates.
Because why should they share
what they can take by force?
Meat, anyone?
No, thanks.
This dagger is good.
A lovely gift from Tiberius.
For Flavus.
[brooding music playing]
[thunder rumbling]
What does Tiberius want?
Come with me to the east.
I'll give you land.
You won't have to take orders from anyone.
Everything as we had hoped for back then.
I'm a Roman, Marbod.
And an officer too.
I want to get back from battle and drink wine in taverns.
I want to walk along the streets
we used to walk along together.
Not just sit alone in a hut
as lord of a thousand swineherds.
[clattering]
[brooding music playing]
So, that's how you see it?
Swineherds.
Everyone has a place where they belong, Marbod.
Right.
[grunts]
[door opens]
[grunts]
Don't touch me, you barbarian swine!
[both grunting]
I'm an envoy of Rome!
[grunting]
[groaning]
- [rain pattering] - [thunder rumbling]
[Ari] Try to have some fun.
The pork is good.
Well, I'm not hungry.
Then at least take this chance to get drunk on mead for the first time.
I hate alcohol.
[in Latin] Flavus will take me to Rome.
[in English] You can go. You're free.
But before you decide that...
come with me to the Thing.
And what happens at this Thing?
We choose the bravest of our young warriors.
Someone like yourself.
And we sacrifice him to Woden.
[laughing]
No, we...
We'll elect Marbod as king of all the tribes.
And what would I do there?
I'd like you to light the Cheruscan torch.
It's a great honor.
Honor?
[in Latin] You hold your brother captive like a beast
and speak of honor?
[in English] Rome tells us lies.
They tell us we're stupid and primitive.
And nothing better can happen to us than to be subjugated.
Just like the Britons, the Gauls, the Pannonians.
Rome is the wild beast that needs to be brought down.
[gentle music playing]
What is this?
[Ari] It's a wolf's tooth.
A souvenir from my childhood.
Life is hard here, unadorned.
But I had a happy childhood.
And I also
want you to be happy.
Think about it.
[gentle music continues]
[Folkwin breathing heavily]
Folkwin.
You... you asked me to protect my so...
Look after Thumelicus if anything happened to you in the future.
I... I can't do that anymore.
Before the battle with Varus, eh...
everyone was ready to give everything up, and, uh...
I was too.
What have you done?
I promised the gods I'd sacrifice my firstborn.
I couldn't have known that... that you...
- If you so much as look at my son... - I'll never see him again.
I've renounced him.
And offered my life to the gods.
[Thusnelda breathing heavily]
[melancholy music playing]
I'm leaving all of this behind.
[Thusnelda whimpers]
This isn't a threat, or this...
is, um, a good... goodbye.
[Thusnelda sobs, kisses]
- [Thusnelda sobs] - [sighs]
This is goodbye.
[sobs]
[melancholy music continues]
[breathing heavily]
[sniffles]
[sobs]
- [rhythmic drums playing] - [indistinct chattering]
[in Latin] Enjoying yourself?
[laughs]
I know the frustration
of finding yourself in inferior company.
[Odarike moans]
Don't worry.
You're still young.
- You'll find your rightful place. - Hmm.
My rightful place is in Rome.
- Flavus will take me there. - Hmm.
I'm sure you'll make it back to Rome someday.
You're a smart boy.
[chuckles]
[in English] But I wouldn't be so sure about your uncle.
What? Why would you say that?
Empty.
I'll grab another drink.
[Odarike laughs]
[brooding music playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[Gaius in Latin] Flavus? Flavus!
- You have to leave. - [Flavus] Gaius.
[indistinct chattering]
[rhythmic drums playing]
[in English] Our scouts see no signs of larger troop movements.
And no Roman legions for miles around.
[sniffs]
Yeah.
What might that mean, my great prefect Arminius?
Hmm?
Come on.
Tell us.
[shouts] Tell us!
- [drums stop] - [chattering stops]
Where are we supposed to fight the Romans?
In the village?
[crowd murmuring]
In the hut?
Or out there in the shit pit?
Oh no, wait. I've got it.
Here.
Under the table.
- [clattering] - [chuckles]
[chuckles]
He laughs.
No.
We will never fight the Romans again.
Thanks to me.
[laughs]
I know what to do.
Music!
- [crowd cheering] - [rhythmic drums resume]
[brooding music playing]
[breathing heavily]
Why did you lock me in here, Marbod?
Tiberius is not gonna like...
[chuckles]
...the way you're treating his envoy.
Tiberius.
[clanking]
Here.
Read it.
[shouts] Read it!
He wants me to kill you.
Yeah, that's what he wants.
[blade rasps]
[both breathing heavily]
But you wouldn't do that.
Think about us.
Hmm?
When will you realize you're throwing your life away?
The Romans are playing with you.
[chuckles]
They're laughing at you.
They despise you.
Because you are one of us.
[chuckles]
You're so foolish.
And so stubborn.
Rome...
doesn't want you.
Rome doesn't love you.
[Marbod grunts]
- [rhythmic drums playing] - [indistinct chattering]
[men laughing]
[brooding music playing]
[Odarike gasps]
Marbod! Marbod! [echoes]
[tense music playing]
[Marbod groans]
What happened?
Flavus escaped.
[sniffs, sighs]
Someone helped him.
Someone?
Who would have a reason to do that other than you?
[in Latin] Divide and conquer.
[in English] Tiberius wants to sow discord.
Get some rest.
Tomorrow is a big day.
We'll meet at the Thing.
[sentimental music playing]
[Thumelicus cooing]
[sentimental music continues]
Gaius.
- Come. - [Gaius moans]
I'll take you to bed.
I'll...
I'll come along to the Thing tomorrow.
[chuckles]
[Ari pats Gaius]
[chuckles] Come on.
[suspenseful music playing]
[indistinct chattering, laughter]
[woman] I see a stud right here.
Can I follow him?
[man, woman moaning]
[woman, man] Yes!
[moaning continues]
- Let me show you a good time, honey. - [Flavus] No.
I said no.
[moaning continues]
[woman moaning]
[panting]
[man in Latin] Hey! Who are you?
- Made a mistake. - [man] Get lost.
I apologize.
[man laughing]
[brooding music playing]
[loud laughter]
[man coughing]
[woman coughs, clears throat]
[sniffs]
[urinating]
What the hell are you doing here?
And why is that head still on your shoulders?
Because it will be more useful to Rome on my shoulders than on a pike.
I'm here to make you an offer.
I will bring Tiberius the heads of the reiks.
Tonight at the Thing, Marbod will be named king.
All the reiks will be there. Unarmed.
And I can take you there.
[pensive music playing]
And how do you know all this?
I got help from a true Roman.
[Ari in English] Don't be nervous.
I'm not nervous.
I'm happy.
[Ari chuckles]
[moans]
- [moans] - [laughs]
[Folkwin] You're awake?
How... how are you?
Better. Still, no need to smack me in the face.
Let's get out of here today.
[grunts softly]
Ansgar, that's enough.
[grunting continues]
Maybe everything will turn out fine.
Ari will proclaim Marbod king at the Thing today.
What? Who told you that?
He laid his sword at his feet, in front of his warriors.
[sighs]
What are you going to do?
We'll go to the Thing. I'll talk to Marbod there.
He's a friend of Rome's.
He'll need leaders who know how to talk to the Romans and negotiate.
Let's move.
[panting]
- Come on, faster! - [Ansgar grunts]
- Ansgar, wait. - I'm sick of this damn kid.
- Ansgar! - [Ansgar grunting]
Ansgar. What are you doing?
Let's...
- Oh! You're bleeding. - [Segestes] Get up!
- Let's go! - Leave him alone!
- Get up! - [horse neighs]
- Get up! - [shushes]
[soldier in Latin] Faster!
[gasping]
[soldier] Faster! Don't slack off!
[English] Let's go. Come on!
He can't go on like this.
We don't have time.
You go on.
And you?
[Irmina breathing heavily]
I'll take him to the Cheruscan village. It's nearby.
Quick, go!
[brooding music playing]
[indistinct chattering]
[music fades]
[baby crying]
[Folkwin] Hey!
What happened?
We saw Romans, so we came here to hide.
[Folkwin] Did you defend your mother?
Dead men.
They were... The troops were heading west.
[brooding music playing]
The Thing.
[horse whinnying]
[goads horse] Ha!
[ominous music playing]
- [rhythmic drums playing] - [chanting]
[crowd cheering]
[Brandolf] Sometimes a bad peace
is better than a good war.
Reik Marbod, as a king,
will show us what good peace with Rome looks like.
[crowd cheering]
[cheering subsides]
I don't believe in peace with Rome.
[Brandolf] You hypocrite.
You went before Reik Marbod and kneeled, Ari!
You've all experienced what peace with Rome means.
And yet you still believe in it.
Marbod believes in it.
I don't.
I do stand by Marbod as king.
I stand by Marbod!
Not because I believe in the Romans...
but because I believe in us, that's why.
With Marbod,
we'll no longer just be Cherusci.
Or Marcomanni.
Or Marsi.
From today,
we'll stand side by side
as united tribesmen.
[crowd cheering]
[rhythmic drums playing]
And the gods,
they shall support us.
And the Romans
will piss their armors to rust out of fear.
[crowd laughs]
Because from today,
we'll be like one great nation against them.
The chains that they have shackled us with have been broken.
And now, a mighty sword is being forged.
And Rome will tremble before our sword.
In war and in peace!
[crowd cheering]
[chanting]
[sentimental music playing]
[chanting stops]
[sentimental music fades]
[melancholy music playing]
[music fades]