Death is sometimes expected, but at other times death arrives with little to no warning. Humans are killed at the touch of Celesta the goddess of death. However, this episode sees tricky king Sisyphus seeking to avoid death by capturing Celesta and chaining her out of reach of her magic candle. It's up to Xena and Gabrielle to help return order to the human race by freeing death in chains.
SYNOPSIS
All people are immortal now that death is locked up away from her candle. This becomes clear when some hooligans attack Xena and their leader, a wretched man named Toxeus, fails to die after being impaled by Xena's sword. Now Toxeus and his gang of thieves and troublemakers are more than a little emboldened. Later down the road Xena and Gabrielle encounter victims of a rockslide. Even though they cannot die, their pain and suffering is very clear and cannot easily be subsided. While giving victims aid, Gabrielle encounters a nice young man by the name of Talus. He's also helping the injured that he encountered on his travels to his hometown of Corinth. He impressed Gabrielle with his compassion as well as knowledge about the gods and medicine.
Hades, the god of the underworld, appears to Xena in the countryside. He has informed her that King Sisyphus has trapped his sister Celesta. Her candle does not burn out while in her hands, but Hades lets Xena know that it is beyond her grasp while locked up in chains, and soon it will be gone as so will all possibility of humans experiencing death. Xena knows that this would leave the world unbalanced, and pain and suffering would only spread. While Xena travels to free Celesta, Gabrielle continues to give aid to wounded people in a hospital. An old lady informs her that any human like Xena will die if coming into physical contact with Celesta. Gabrielle knows that she must travel to warn her friend, and of course Talus accompanies her to find Xena.
Xena confronts King Sisyphus, but she falls down a trap door and is stuck in a dungeon. Sisyphus only needs to stall Xena until Celesta's candle burns out, and then he will be immortal and can live with his beloved Queen Karis forever. Gabrielle and Talus make to to the castle, but they're separated when attacked by Toxeus' undead thugs. Xena and Talus encounter each other, and he informs her that he knows a lot about the castle since he grew up here when his mom worked for the king years ago. He can help Xena navigate the grounds, but it becomes clear to Xena that Talus is suffering from a painful ailment that would result in his death under normal conditions. He tells Xena that he has not informed Gabrielle of this, but it is true that he's suffering greatly. Queen Karis had secretly been observing this conversation, and she understands that only death can end the pain that some people experience. She confronts Xena, makes clear that she recognizes Talus from his childhood at the castle, and informs them that she wants to help them free Celesta goddess of death.
Alongside Xena and Talus, Queen Karis confronts the king and tells him that his plan to cheat death is wrong. Yes it will let them live together forever, but humans suffer and eventually need death to be at peace. The king recognizes Talus and realizes his misguided ways. The group go to free Celesta when they are suddenly attacked by Toxeus and his gang. They have Gabrielle hostage! A battle ensues, and Xena fights them off long enough for Celesta to be freed by the others. Death being restored, Toxeus and his men pass away. Celesta tells the king that it's not quite his turn, but it is time for Talus to pass to the other side. This stuns Gabrielle who didn't know he was ill. She pleads but Talus lets her know it's ok; he needs peace, and maybe they'll one day meet again.
NOTES
Gabrielle is drawn to other genuinely good people, but sometimes she underestimates Xena's knowledge regarding topics such as war and the gods.
Enter: Celesta goddess of death, Talus, Hades god of the underworld, King Sisyphus, Queen Karis
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