Condemned by a Demon | The Merchant and the Three Old Men (arc 1)

Enter the world of One Thousand and One Nights with this complete cinematic retelling of Arc I: The Merchant and the Three Old Men — a feature-length compilation that unifies the first four nights of Scheherazade’s storytelling into one continuous film. This edition delivers an immersive long-form experience with atmospheric narration, cohesive pacing, and seamless transitions for viewers who prefer watching an entire arc in one sitting.

The story begins when a merchant, caught in a moment of misfortune, is condemned by a powerful demon. As he prepares to meet his fate beneath the desert sun, three old men arrive one by one, each leading a strange companion: a gazelle, two black dogs, and a gray mule. Each man offers a tale that may persuade the demon to spare the merchant’s life. Their stories form the backbone of Arc I, exploring themes of envy, betrayal, mercy, transformation, and the mysterious influence of jinn.

This compilation presents the arc as a single narrative:
• The merchant’s confrontation with the demon
• The tale of the old man and the gazelle
• The story of the brothers turned into two black dogs
• The healer’s account of the gray mule
Re-edited into a unified cinematic structure with enhanced flow and long-form storytelling in mind.

Across these stories, human emotion intersects with supernatural justice. A boy becomes a gazelle through jealousy. Two brothers lose everything through deceit. A wife becomes a gray mule through envy and learns humility over ten long years. In each tale, forgiveness competes with anger, and transformation becomes a bridge between wrongdoing and redemption.

This feature-length version emphasizes the emotional continuity between the four tales and the overarching frame story of Scheherazade. By presenting the arc without episodic breaks, the compilation highlights the narrative rhythm, the rising tension, and the gradual shift in the king’s heart as he becomes captivated by the world of the Nights.

WHY ARC I MATTERS
“The Merchant and the Three Old Men” introduces the core narrative structure that defines One Thousand and One Nights: stories within stories, each revealing a different moral lens on human behavior. These tales explore how envy corrupts, how compassion heals, and how even the guilty may find redemption through patience, wisdom, and time. The arc also demonstrates Scheherazade’s brilliance as a storyteller — using suspense, morality, and wonder to delay death and reshape the king’s perspective.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN THIS COMPILATION
• Full cinematic narration of Arc I
• Atmospheric music and sound design
• Themes of justice, fate, forgiveness, and transformation
• Encounters with jinn and magical beings
• A long-form “movie-style” presentation
• A cohesive retelling ideal for binge viewing

ABOUT THIS CHANNEL
Tales of the Silk Road presents cinematic retellings of classic legends, mythology, folklore, and ancient epics. Our productions include long-form narrations, episodic arcs, short fantasy films, and music-driven stories inspired by world traditions. Our goal is to preserve timeless tales through high-quality narration and modern cinematic style.

WHO THIS FULL ARC IS FOR
• Viewers who enjoy Arabian Nights adaptations
• Fans of global folklore and mythology
• Audiences who prefer full movies over episodic releases
• Listeners seeking atmospheric storytelling and fantasy narration
• Followers of channels like Mythology Explained, Grimm Stories, and cinematic lore narrators

SUPPORT THE SERIES
Subscribe to continue the journey into Arc II: The Fisherman and the Jinni, along with new cinematic adaptations and original stories. Your support helps keep these ancient narratives alive.

MUSIC CREDIT
“Ibn Al-Noor” by Kevin MacLeod – Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Source: incompetech.com
Artist: Kevin MacLeod

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