The Dungeons and Dragons

This movie talk about the Empire of Izmir has long been a divided land, ruled by the Mages, an elite group of magic users, who oppress the lower Commoners. The antagonist of the film, an evil mage named Profion (Jeremy Irons), creates a scepter that allows him to control golden dragons. He tries it out on a captured one, but the dragon breaks the spell of the sceptre, and Profion is forced to kill the dragon, which bleeds into the river, causing it to catch fire. Many of the inhabitants notice, among them the protagonists of the film, a pair of thieves named Ridley (Justin Whalin) and Snails (Marlon Wayans). Ridley has always hated the mages, seeing them as greedy and uncaring. He conspires with Snails to break into the Magic School, the elite learning place of the Mages, and steal magic items.

Later, Profion and the Council talk about the controversial views of Empress Savina (Thora Birch); who wants to stop Profion and free the 'non-magic' commoners. Meanwhile, Ridley and Snails break into the Magic School but are caught by a young mage named Marina (Zoe McLellan) who casts a spell on them which ties them together with an invisible rope. She gets distracted, though, when the library wizard is held hostage and interrogated by Profion's henchman, Damodar (Bruce Payne), to force him to reveal a map to a magic scepter, the 'Rod of Saville', that can control red dragons. He refuses to talk and sends the map to Marina, and is at once killed by Damodar. Marina gets the map and travels through a magic portal to escape, dragging Ridley and Snails with her. After crashing into a pile of garbage, they meet a dwarf named Elwood, who ends up escaping with them through a sewer.

Damodar puts a price on Marina, Ridley, Snails and Elwood's heads. After learning that the protagonists got away with the map, Profion places a tentacled monster inside Damodar's head as punishment. The protagonists hide in a tavern and, while reading the map, Ridley and Marina get sucked into it. Damodar and his henchmen arrive and attempt to capture Snails and Elwood and the map, but they manage to get away. Outside the inn, Ridley and Marina exit the map and they all agree to work together to find the 'Rod of Saville'. They have to find a red ruby called the 'Eye of the Dragon' that can open the door to a tomb where the Rod rests. The ruby is located inside a hazardous maze that is owned by a thief named Xilus (Richard O'Brien) who will give them the 'Eye' if Ridley can obtain the ruby and survive the maze. Ridley manages to get the 'Eye of the Dragon', but Xilus attempts to take it by force when Damodar shows up. Marina gets captured while Ridley, Snails and Elwood escape, meeting an elf named Norda (Kristen Wilson). Norda works as a tracker for the Empress and informs her about Profion's plans to get the 'Rod of Saville'. Meanwhile, Damodar tries interrogating Marina. When she refuses to talk, he uses the tentacles of the monster in his head to gain the knowledge he seeks.

Ridley and Snails break into the castle where Marina is imprisoned to rescue her, while Norda and Elwood stay behind. They split up and Ridley finds Marina. Snails falls into a quicksand trap in Damodar's room after finding the map and some magical powder. Snails is then chased through the castle by Damodar, while Ridley and Marina fight to get back out. They follow Snails and Damodar to the roof where Snails is killed by Damodar when he throws the map to Ridley. Ridley becomes enraged at Damodar and attacks him, but Damodar disarms him and stabs him in the shoulder with his own sword. In the confusion Marina grabs some of the magic dust that Snails pilfered and casts a spell to knock down Damodar. She and Ridley then escape through a portal, leaving the corpse of Snails behind.

Back at the council chambers, Profion and Empress Savina battle over the future of Izmir. Meanwhile, an elf named Halvarth (Tom Baker) heals Norda's soldiers and Ridley. Ridley has a dream of a dragon being born, and learns that if Profion and Savina go to war, it will tip the balance of magic in the world.

Later, Ridley accuses Marina of being an "evil mage", because of the Mages' oppressions of the Commoners. Marina tells Ridley that he is wrong, and that the Empress is trying to resolve all of the things that Ridley hates. Eventually, they become love interests and Ridley uses the 'Eye of the Dragon' to finally get the 'Rod of Saville', which is held by the skeleton of Saville in the tomb. The skeleton comes to life and warns Ridley that "anyone who wields the power of the rod shall suffer a horrible fate". Meanwhile, Damodar arrives outside and captures the other three. When Ridley comes out, Damodar requests the Rod in exchange for his companions. Ridley gives the Rod to Damodar, who orders his execution along with his friends and then turns to leave to complete his mission. Norda and her soldier Elwood (Lee Arenberg) break free from their guards and free Marina from hers, and they all follow Ridley to the capital city of Sumdall.

Meanwhile, in Sumdall, Profion uses mages to fight the Empress. Savina calls forth golden dragons and they fight the mages. Damodar arrives with the Rod, and Profion reluctantly frees Damodar from the creature in his head (this is addressed in "Wrath of the Dragon God"). Profion then climbs to a high platform to summon red dragons to fight the golden ones. Ridley arrives and battles Damodar, stabbing him and throwing him from the ledge, avenging Snails. He then attacks Profion, who disarms him and shoves him back. Ridley's companions arrive and fight Profion one at a time. Ridley picks up the fallen Rod of Saville, and uses it to stop the red dragons. Marina encourages Ridley to use the Rod to bring Profion down, but Ridley realizes the Rod's power is corrupting him and destroys it. Empress Savina arrives and condemns Profion, who fights her with powerful magic, but she succeeds in summoning a golden dragon to devour him. She praises all of the adventurers, hailing them as heroes.

Ridley later visits Snails' grave (with a voiceover of Savina telling the people of Izmer that they are now all equal), where he tells Snails that he is now "Ridley the Savior", echoing Snails' claim at the beginning of the film. Snails' engraved name then disappears and Norda tells Ridley not to question his abilities. Ridley, Norda, Marina and Elwood then touch the 'Eye of the Dragon' and magically disappear, ending the film.