Amethea

Context

After the success of Conan the Barbarian in 1982 many C- and D-grade movies were bound to follow. Barbarian Queen, released in 1985, was one of them.

Produced by Roger Corman, it was typical of the titsploitation schlock movies of the 1970s and 1980s. But *we* read it for the articles, of course.

Lana Clarkson’s character is a hard-fighting fantasy heroine, which isn’t a particularly common figure (so to speak). Her name is often listed as “Amathea”, though it is spelled Amethea in the movie’s credits.

She played a nearly identical character, Princess Athalia, in the otherwise unrelated Barbarian Queen II. Kaira in the 1983 Deathstalker might also have similar game stats. Furthermore, the movie Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II stole scenes from Barbarian Queen, so Amethea is in this movie.

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Background

Powers & Abilities

Amethea is one tough lady. Her strength often surprises men who think she will be an easy victim.

Amethea can kill by stealth with a well placed attack. She also can stand up to trained soldiers one on one. She has also defended against more but in the end usually needs to retreat.

Amethea is resourceful, and good at using what is around her to her advantage.

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When outnumbered or outmatched she will surrender instead of throwing away her life. She prefers to live for the chance at revenge later.

Amethea’s choice weapon is a sword but she is also skilled with the bow. She knows how to ride and most always takes the lead. She’s the planner and the decision maker.

If her village is intact Amethea could raise an army of barbarians numbering around 100.

Video

The official (and totally schlocky) trailer is available in acceptable 480p.

Howbeit it has topless scenes (unsurprisingly) and advertisers won’t pay our bills anymore if there’s such content on our site, so please watch it on YouTube  instead.

History

Amethea was the young Queen of a thriving barbarian village. This soon garnered the attention of more advanced cities that sought to prevent her from becoming a threat.

Several of Arrakur’s men went to the barbarian village to rape and pillage. Perhaps that particular day was chosen for the attack because the village was having a wedding for Queen Amethea and Prince Argo.

The raid

Taramis, the queen’s sister, went to the river to gather more flowers for the wedding. She was the first to encounter their enemy and was captured and raped. Estrild went looking for Taramis and so, was away when the attack on her village began.

Arrakur led the ambush himself; the village was busy with wedding preparations. The better-equipped mounted soldiers had little problem killing the villagers who resisted, and taking the rest as prisoners. The entire battle only lasted about 15 minutes.

Queen Amethea fought back but was overwhelmed by numbers. Escaping back inside, Amethea set fire to her own hut appearing to kill herself in the blaze.

Estrild searched for survivors. Corpses lay throughout the village and the Queen’s hut was burned down to its base. When she approached, a portion of the flooring lifted up and Amethea emerged from her hiding place.

The two women set off on their mission of revenge with only a few weapons, a canoe, and little other equipment. Tiniara, another warrior from their village, then joined them after she broke free.

It’s not much of an army is it ? Three against the world.

The three travelled by water through the night. When they saw the enemy’s sigil the next day, they set up an ambush. A quick battle and four dead men revealed Amethea’s sister, Taramis, and another female villager. Taramis joined the trio but the other woman died from the wounds she had received from her captors.

Now a group of four and with horses they traveled faster and all got sleep that night. The next day however they were surrounded by a group wielding weapons and aiming arrows at them. After a brief discussion, they realized both groups had been displaced from their village by Arrakur.

The new larger group aided Amethea and her group by lending them their guide, a young messenger girl named Dariac. She had made the trip to Arrakur’s city unscathed.

Fellow rebels

Taramis seemed to continue to carry damage from the torture she endured. When some soldiers rode by, Taramis cried out “No!” as if re-living some past event. Their new guide rushed out and revealed herself. She fooled the soldiers into believing she was alone. Dariac showed Amethea a safe passage through the catacombs into the city.

They met with the rebels hiding in the catacombs under the city. They donned disguises to enter the city above. Amethea searched for people captured from her village. She learned that Prince Argan was to be trained as a gladiator.

Meanwhile Taramis was getting into trouble again. Tiniara searched for Taramis but being barbarians they stood out and soon attracted the attention of some guards. When the guardsmen cornered Estrild they realized she was from the village, or perhaps a rebel, and raped her.

Captured

Amethea sent Dariac back to her father. Estrild was spotted by Amethea being taken into the castle by guards. She and Tiniara intervened and killed the two guards. More guards joined the fighting. Eventually Amethea and Tiniara were overwhelmed and had to surrender.

Tiniara withstood torture at Arrakur’s hands, and did not give up the rebels’ secrets. When an opportunity presented itself she made a run for it. However, she was run through at the point of a sword for her effort.

Amethea was also questioned and when she proved to be just as unyielding as her companion was sent to the torturer. The torturer began raping her while she was still on the rack. Amethea escaped and pushed her captor into a conveniently placed acid pit.

A rebel army!

Dariac went back to her father, the leader of the rebellion and told him of Amethea’s fate. This spurred him into action. At the same time word reached Argan and he rallied the other gladiators. The attack on Arrakur’s forces would occur on Sunday.

Amethea retrieved her sword and moved about the castle silently until she re-united with Estrild. The guards went on high alert and ran through the castle trying to discover the women. Amethea and Estrild proved to be quite good at the cat and mouse game they were playing with the guards, killing them one by one.

The two finally escaped the castle and joined up with the rebels. The next morning, they attacked with the gladiators alongside them. Even though they had been betrayed by one of the gladiators, Amethea would not be denied!

Description

Amethea is a stunning, beautiful woman with curly blonde hair. She is also a barbarian, so picture a leather bikini or corset. She wears leather bracers and boots. All are brown in color.

Over this she sometimes wears white furs. She carries a quiver on her back and normally carries her bow in hand. She’s also got a huge bastard sword.

Personality

Amethea is planted firmly in this world. She knows what men are capable of and has no illusions that things could be different. She is blunt and to the point saying just what is on her mind.

Amethea is strong minded and even torture and rape doesn’t seem to have a lasting effect on her psyche. She is even annoyed by her sister Taramis, who was tortured and raped for more than a day, because of the negative way it had affected her.

In other words, she is the sort of barbarian that believes in perseverance and stoicism, and accepts nothing that could be seen as weakness.

Amethea has a strong sense of loyalty and love for the people of her village and will risk her life to save them.

Quotes

“Today was my wedding day. Now the only thing I have left is what might have been. I’m going to get it back !”

“I’ll be no man’s slave and no man’s whore, and if I can’t kill them all, by the gods they’ll know I’ve tried.”

(They are at the campfire planning to sleep for the night. A wolfpack is howling hard nearby.)
Amethea: “It’s safe.” (Amethea goes directly to sleep.)

“We honor your cause, but our battle can’t wait.”

(Amethea looks for her fiancé among the slaves)
Dariac: “No one you know ?”
Amethea: “No.”
Rebel leader: “Their freedom doesn’t matter then.”
Amethea: “Freedom always matters.”

Arrakur: “Well, well, they told me you were very beautiful. My warriors always seem to have trouble with beautiful women. One way or another.”
Amethea: “If you’ve come to kill me then just kill me. I don’t need to listen to you talk.”
Arrakur: “To kill a woman like you would be such a waste.”

“There are some people in this world who will never be your slaves.”

DC Universe History

None of these movies are… really very good but if you need a warrior woman, or Queen of barbarians for your game Amethea can fill the role.

Marvel Universe History

The story fits very well in the Hyborean world of Conan.

Barbarian Queen History

Barbarian Queen II was presented as a sequel to Barbarian Queen. However, the two certainly don’t seem to have any link. None of the characters from the first film feature in the second.

This will be an attempt to reconcile the two movies so that Barbarian Queen II is in fact a sequel to Barbarian Queen.

At the end of Barbarian Queen, Amethea and Argan are triumphant over the tyrant Arrakur and his minions. The rebels, the displaced villagers, and her own people cheer for them. Amethea was charismatic and loved by the people, her family would rule.

Amethea’s father Icon and brother Ankaris arrived joining her and Taramis. Her father would become the new ruler, King Icon. King Icon was a good man and tried hard to run his kingdom with great concern for the common people, impressing this trait on his children.

But all was not at ease in the land. Arrakur’s allies did not take his defeat quietly and started open war. They began attacking King Icon’s soldiers and accosting the common people, looking for Amethea and Argan. In an attempt to protect his daughter and soon to be son-in-law, King Icon changed their names.

Amethea would now be Athalia while Argan would go by Aurion. Taramis’ name was not known by the enemy – but her mental state deteriorated more and more. King Icon sent her to a family member who might be able to cure her through magic. She was never well enough to return home however.

King Icon revealed a secret he had uncovered while searching the lower sections of the kingdom. A magic tome revealed that the kingdom’s strength resided in a Magic Scepter and could be controlled by it. He sought to retain control of the kingdom and secure his children’s future so, only he and Athalia would know the secret.

The tome was destroyed but the words to releasing and using the scepter would be kept by himself and his daughter. Out of all his children, Princess Athalia was trusted to be his heir.

By Ethan Roe.

Source of Character: The 1985 film Barbarian Queen aka Queen of the naked steel character played by Lana Clarkson.

Helper(s): Wikipedia, imdb.com, Dr. Peter Piispanen, Darci, Sébastien Andrivet.

Writeup completed on the 7^th of September, 2013.