Warrior Princess 101 - Lesson 17: Recognizing that People Can Change
with Professor of Fangeekonomics, Ms. Melissa Voelker
Reference Materials for today’s class:
Xena: Warrior Princess, Episode 1.14 – A Fistful of Dinars
As everyone knows, Xena did not live the life of a saint before her meeting up with Hercules set her on the path of goodness. Instead she lived the life of a mercenary warlord who was out to conquer everything in her path, no matter what it took to do it. And while she lived this bloodthirsty existence, she socialized with people who lived similar existences. Eventually she was able to change, because deep down she was not a bad person. Yet it seemed difficult for her to see that other people were able to change too. Even those that had wronged her in her previous life, who seemed just as if not more ruthless and bloodthirsty as she, could start on their own path to goodness.
 
A summary of today’s reference material:
A dirty man flees through the woods and is attacked by an even dirtier ruffian. Xena saves the first man from having his throat slit and learns that what he was being chased for has to do with the “Titan’s Key.” This must mean something to warrior woman, as she takes it upon herself to retrieve his treasure pouch when the dirty ruffian runs off with it. Xena fights him but when he drops dead it is because someone else, Xerxides, stabs him in the back. Xerxides has two clues already to the Treasure of the Sumerians, and now he wants the clue that Xena nabbed. But she isn’t about to let him have all the fun. She reads over the clue in her possession and then eats it, so now she is the only one who can know it. Then she and Xerxides make plans to get the last clue go after the treasure themselves. When she explains all this to Gabrielle, Xena also throws in a mention of the fact that with the treasure comes Ambrosia, the food of the Gods. Any mortal that eats this tasty stuff will become a god themselves.
To get the last clue to the treasure, Xena and Gabrielle go to see the warlord Petricles, who happens to have a bit of history with the warrior princess. Smoochy history, as they were once engaged. He comes willingly when he learns that they are going after the big score. Xena warns Gabrielle not to trust him, but the younger woman finds him fascinating. This could mean trouble down the line. The trio meets back up with Xerxcides and the whole merry band sets off on a treasure hunt. (Well first Xerxides kills his previous employer. He is an assassin, after all, and that is just what assassins do.)
 
Apparently what warlords do is try to seduce naive Amazon princesses who don’t seem to know any better. Petricles works his seductive magic on Gabrielle, much to Xena’s dismay. She just doesn’t trust him after what happened between them in the past. Not that anyone in this group can really be trusted. Especially Xerxides. He manages to almost get Gabrielle killed when the group is trying to flee one-by-one across a rickety bridge (very Indiana Jones like) and he won’t wait his turn. He pushes on behind Gabby and ends up making the rope bridge fall apart. Xena and Petricles manage to save Gabrielle’s life, and no one is too happy with the assassin after that. (Not that they should be surprised by his behavior or his lack of remorse. I mean come on, he has been killing people since the episode began.)
Still willing to try and work together, the group plans to rob a Temple of Demeter for a jewel that will help show them the way to the treasure. Gabrielle and Xerxides enter the temple pretending to be believers, while Xena and Petricles create a diversion. All seems to be going pretty well, until Xerxides topples the altar and statue of the goddess, bringing in the temple guards. Its a close one, but they manage to escape and continue on. Finally the group arrives at three statues that are supposed to point the way to the treasure once the jewel from Demeter’s Temple is joined with them somehow. It is time to reveal the clues Xerxides and Petricles have, but neither is quick to start talking. (Ya, there is really no trust between these people.) Eventually Xena forces them to spill and after a few minutes they work out the riddles to figure out what they need to do. The jewel is placed in the right eye of one of the statues, and when the sun rises the next day it points them in the direction of the treasure.
After some running through the trees, moving large boulders, and pulling a lever that activates a booby trap, eventually the hits the mother-load. But as Petricles and Xerxides fill their pockets with gold, Xena and Gabrielle try to find the Titan’s Key. Unfortunately the assassin lucks upon it first and recognizes it immediately for what it is. He takes Gabby hostage and runs off for the cave with the sweet, sweet Ambrosia. Xena and Petricles take the scenic route to get there through the ominous Cave of Silence. Petricles tries to convinces Xena that he has changed and wants to see Gabrielle safe (and not eat the Ambrosia himself), but she doesn’t believe him.
Xena and Petricles make it to the cave just moments before Xerxides and Gabrielle. Xerxides tries to sway Petricles onto his side, and at first the warlord seems to be considering it. Then he jumps in to rescue Gabrielle from Xerxides’ clutches. For his trouble he is mortally wounded. Xena muscles her way into the excitement next and, you guessed it, fighting ensues. Eventually the warrior princess manages to kill the no-good assassin, before he can eat Ambrosia and become a god. She is too late to save Petricles, however. She does admit to him, before he burbles his last breath, that she was wrong about him. Afterward she and Gabrielle take the Ambrosia and dump it in a live volcano so no one else will be tempted to eat it in the future.
 
Discussion from today’s reference material:
Though it took Petricles making the ultimate sacrifice before Xena could believe in him, he was finally able to convince her that he was no longer the man she remembered. This is an important moment for the warrior princess, as it proves that just about anyone can really change their attitudes and lives if they want to. It means alot for her personally, as it is just more proof that she has a chance at being a good guy from now on. And it also means that she may not have to give up all of the friends and comrades from her past now that she is no longer a bad guy. First Marcus gave his life to do the right thing, and now Petricles has as well. Of course they both ended up dead, which isn’t a terribly good thing for them, but at least they died on the side of good. (Though I wonder how much of a comfort that really is for them?)
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About Melissa: By day a mild-mannered tv station receptionist, by night a fighter of crime and corruption in the dirty streets of Spokane, WA . . . or maybe not so much. More like a hyperactive, anal-retentive daytime receptionist and a melodramatic, hyperactive nighttime fangirl who only wishes she could be a fighter of crime and champion of justice (except that would lead to getting my super costume all dirty and I hate doing laundry.) Though my intent has always been to write bestselling novels and live a life of wealth and luxury, putting my talents for snarkiness and word doodling together while letting my geek flag fly suits me just fine - for now.
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