The action takes place in a village in Ossetia in the XVII century. Being a bastard by birth, Chermen is struggling to assert his human dignity. He is quarreling with Dhaka, the elder of the Aldar family, who owns the village of Chermen. Dhaka for selfish reasons enters into an agreement with Prince Tara. Together, they rob people and then share the loot. Chermen accidentally learns of this conspiracy and tells his friends about it. At first he thinks that nobody in the village of Aldar will bel...