Pathfinder 2007

The boy who would come to be known as Ghost was part of a group of Viking colonizers intent on eradicating the local population. Tragedy struck when their dragon ship was mysteriously destroyed, resulting in the brutal deaths of the passengers, leaving Ghost as the lone, traumatized survivor. Fortunately, a native woman discovered Ghost amid the wreckage and took him in as her own son.

Haunted by his past, Ghost’s dreams force him to relive the horrific scene where the Vikings slaughter Native Americans. In one haunting recollection, he desperately attempts to stop his father from murdering an infant but is met with violence himself, resulting in his father’s disownment and cruel beatings. The scars on his back serve as a painful reminder of these memories.

Years pass, and Ghost remains tormented by these vivid dreams, which coupled with his unique appearance, hinder his ability to fully integrate into his community. He develops feelings for a young woman named Starfire, the daughter of Pathfinder, a respected leader in search of a worthy successor.

While out hunting with his tribe, a young girl from Ghost’s community strays too far and encounters Vikings, leading to a terrifying attack. Though she escapes back to the village, the Vikings soon follow and decimate the community, leaving behind only a few survivors whom they wish to challenge in individual duels. Tragically, Ghost arrives too late to save his home, and the Vikings force him into a duel, where he severely injures his opponent before fleeing. As he escapes, he seeks refuge in a cave, where a hunting party from Pathfinder’s tribe finds and rescues him. During their discussions, Ghost cautions that their primitive wood and stone weapons stand no chance against the Vikings’ metal armor and weaponry. He demonstrates this by effortlessly slicing a bow in half with his sword, advising his people that the only way to survive is to flee, while he prepares to confront the Vikings alone. Pathfinder, wise in his leadership, instructs the villagers on a safe route out.

Unbeknownst to him, Ghost is silently accompanied by a mute admirer. In an abandoned village, they set an array of clever traps. Meanwhile, Starfire makes the brave decision to leave her tribe, eventually reuniting with Ghost and his companion. Together, they cleverly exploit the traps to eliminate Vikings one by one, looting armor and weapons as they go. Pathfinder, like his daughter, finds his way to Ghost, joining the burgeoning resistance against the invaders. When the tribe notices Pathfinder’s absence, a group decides it’s time to fight back, but they fall into a massive trap set by Ghost’s group, tumbling into a deadly pit.

As fate would have it, the mute admirer is killed, and both Pathfinder and Starfire, along with Ghost, are captured by the Vikings. Recognizing Ghost as the son of a Viking, they discover he can communicate in their language. The Vikings, cruelly torturing Pathfinder to extract information, meet resistance when he refuses to disclose his tribe’s location, leading to his execution. Turning their attention to Starfire, they threaten her life, compelling Ghost to agree to betray his people.

Initially, Ghost leads the Vikings to a recently abandoned campsite, where he skillfully retrieves an abandoned doll while feigning compliance. He promises to guide them to the location of his tribe. At a critical crossroads, he plants the doll as evidence along the suggested path. When they reach a large lake, Ghost suggests a mountain route, but some Vikings insist on crossing the thin ice. The ice soon betrays them, collapsing under the weight of men and horses.

Guiding them through the mountains on a perilous cliffside path, Ghost insists the Vikings be tied together for safety. Craftily, he engineers a domino effect, sending the entire chain of Vikings plummeting off the cliff, all tied together. The Viking leader survives the fall, leading to a fierce duel between him and Ghost. With bravery and cunning, Ghost shouts to trigger an avalanche, ultimately casting the invader off the cliff to his demise.

In the aftermath, Ghost returns to Starfire bearing Pathfinder’s necklace, marking her as the new Pathfinder after her father’s legacy. With newfound purpose, Ghost embraces his role as the Coast Watcher, the bravest protector of his tribe.