Spring of 1794, Poland is in turmoil. General Tadeusz ‘Kos’ Kościuszko (Jacek Braciak) returns to the country and plans to start an uprising against the Russians, mobilising the Polish nobility and peasants. He is accompanied by his faithful friend and former slave, Domingo (Jason Mitchell). He is followed by a ruthless Russian rittmeister, Dunin (Robert Więckiewicz), who wants to capture the general at all costs before he triggers a national rebellion. At the same time, a young peasant, Ignac (Bartosz Bielenia), a noble bastard, dreams of being granted a coat of arms and an estate by his illegitimate parent, Duchnowski (Andrzej Seweryn), who includes him in his will just before his death. When his father dies, the boy has to run away from his half-brother Stanislaw (Piotr Pacek), who refuses to let his father's will be executed.