Deathstalker

Deathstalker combs through the fallen after a brutal battle, stealing jewellery and a golden amulet from a dying man. The act shows his ruthless streak and seeds the amulet's central role in the journey. This plunder foreshadows the trouble the amulet will bring.

In a tavern near the battlefield, a two-headed troll attacks Deathstalker in search of the amulet. He kills the troll, but in an attempt to rid himself of the burden, tosses the amulet into a river. To his surprise, the amulet reappears in his pocket.

Deathstalker visits the witch Toralva; she cannot read the language on the amulet but explains it is bound to him until his death. She tells him he must seek a wizard who can decipher the writing and warns of a rising great evil. Her seriousness unsettles him, though he remains skeptical.

Following Toralva's directions, Deathstalker enters a treacherous cave system in search of the wizard who can translate the amulet. He is attacked by man-eating serpents but escapes with a chest containing Doodad, the imprisoned wizard. Doodad is reluctant at first but agrees to help.

Doodad is released and joins the quest; he cannot read the amulet's writing but agrees to help raid the crypt of a dead wizard for a scroll to translate it. During their journey they learn that the ancient necromancer Necromemnon has returned and is after the amulet. The knowledge of this threat raises the stakes for their mission.

The group is ambushed by dreadites serving Necromemnon, and their commander is revealed to be Jotak, Deathstalker's old friend whom he thought dead. Deathstalker fights him and manages to cut off Jotak's arm, forcing a retreat. The confrontation deepens the personal conflict and the danger they face.

When they reach the crypt, Necronemnon's minions beat them to it. They sneak in disguised as dead bodies to slip past the guards. There they encounter Brisbayne, a thief who decides to ally with them for a share of the amulet's power.

Escaping with the scroll they need, the group sets up camp in the Moaning Woods to rest and plan their next move. The scroll offers a path to translate the amulet, and the group grows more confident in their quest. They sense that Necromemnon's power is growing.

Deathstalker endures further danger as a stone titan and a blade-wielding mummy attack them, injuring him. During the night, Doodad breaks the amulet's bond to Deathstalker and reads a prophecy from the amulet describing a magical sword that can defeat Necromemnon. The prophecy raises the stakes and presents a potential turning point.

While they sleep, Brisbayne betrays them and Deathstalker and Doodad are taken prisoner by thief queen Grendul, who intends to sell the amulet back to the prince. Grendul's interrogation reveals the danger of the amulet and the desperation of those seeking it. The plan seems to falter as the captors tighten their grip.

Grendul's interrogation accidentally awakens swamp monsters who threaten her people. Doodad plays music to befriend the creatures, allowing Deathstalker to escape. The unlikely alliance with the swamp beings shifts the balance of power in their favor.

Deathstalker takes Brisbayne's place to meet Prince Baldur and attempts to sell him the amulet. Baldur betrays him as the Dreadites attack, slaughtering the prince's knights. Jotak ambushes Deathstalker, whose arm is replaced with a monstrous one; Brisbayne reappears to help, but Jotak prevails and kills Deathstalker and the prince, seizing the amulet.

The swamp monsters heal Deathstalker, who then attacks Necromemnon's fortress to rescue his friends. Deathstalker and Doodad duel Necromemnon and Jotak; a rock fall caused by Doodad injures Necromemnon. Brisbayne is transformed into a vessel of the demon Citor.

Deathstalker retrieves the prophesied sword and uses it to destroy Citor and defeat the Dreadites. Brisbayne is resurrected, and Deathstalker achieves a hard-won victory over the necromantic threat. The climactic moment hinges on the power of the weapon.

In the wake of victory, Deathstalker contemplates destroying the prophesied sword, believing it too dangerous for mortals to wield. Doodad, though well-meaning, struggles with his aim as he tries to help, underscoring the fragile balance between power and responsibility.