A ruthless 15th century pirate Captain Alaric Rayne takes no prisoners, robs and sinks the ships he encounters. In a tavern he hears two Portuguese naval officers talk about a maiden voyage of a ship from the coast of Guinea with treasure taken from African tribes. Alaric Rayne robs and burns the ship in a remote location.
Some time later he finds out that the ship was carrying a treasure far beyond any the world has ever heard of and that the treasure had not been found.

He returns, only to find his bitter end, as the treasure had been cursed.

Modern day treasure hunter Samuel Greaves learns of a possible lost treasure and sets out, determined to find it, clueless to the of any curse being laid upon the treasure.