# Conan Stories — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Conan Stories by Robert E. Howard.

- [Shadows in the Moonlight](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/shadows-in-the-moonlight.md): Conan, now a pirate captain, navigates treacherous waters and confronts supernatural horrors in a ruined city, facing both human and otherworldly enemies.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i.md): Conan and Olivia explore a mysterious island after being attacked by a thrown stone. They climb to the highest point, spot a distant sail, and decide to spend the night in the ruins. Conan demonstrates his physical stren
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii.md): Conan encounters a pirate band on the island, challenges and kills their leader Sergius in single combat, but is then struck down by a sling stone from Aratus. Though stunned, he survives and is taken captive by the pira
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii.md): Conan battles and kills a gray man-ape that had been stalking Olivia, then escapes with her from the pirate camp after she frees him from his bonds. They flee across the plateau as the moon rises, with the ape's corpse a
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv.md): At dawn, the surviving pirates stagger to the beach after a night of demonic attacks. Conan, standing aboard the galley, refuses them passage until they swear allegiance to him as their new captain. After they comply, he
- [Queen of the Black Coast](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/queen-of-the-black-coast.md): Conan, a Cimmerian warrior, joins a pirate crew and meets the fierce pirate queen Bêlit. Together, they embark on a voyage to the Accursed City, facing supernatural horrors and attacks from the air. Their bond deepens am
- [I: Conan Joins the Pirates](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-conan-joins-the-pirates.md): Conan flees from guardsmen in Argos and leaps aboard a merchant galley bound for Kush, forcing the master Tito to take him aboard. During the voyage, they encounter the pirate queen Bêlit and her ship the Tigress. After 
- [II: The Black Lotus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-the-black-lotus.md): Conan and Bêlit share a philosophical conversation about gods, death, and love aboard their ship. A giant serpent attacks, killing a warrior before Conan slays it. They arrive at a ruined, haunted city where Bêlit orders
- [III: The Horror in the Jungle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-the-horror-in-the-jungle.md): Conan awakens from a lotus-induced dream that reveals the ancient history of a fallen winged race and their transformation into bestial horrors. He finds N'Gora driven mad and attacks him, forcing Conan to kill him in se
- [IV: The Attack from the Air](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-the-attack-from-the-air.md): Conan, alone on a pyramid amid the ruins of the accursed city, waits for his unseen foes after the death of Bêlit. He is attacked by a pack of supernatural hyenas, which he fights off with his bow and sword. The pyramid 
- [V: The Funeral Pyre](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/v-the-funeral-pyre.md): Conan sends Bêlit's body out to sea on a burning ship, the Tigress, as a funeral pyre. He reflects on the loss of the queen who gave the sea its splendor and now must face a desolate world without her, turning his gaze t
- [The Devil in Iron](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/the-devil-in-iron.md): Conan, now a pirate captain, encounters a mysterious island where an ancient evil, Khosatral Khel, a demonic entity bound in iron, has been awakened. He rescues a captive woman, Octavia, from the clutches of the Stygian 
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i.md): A Yuetshi fisherman, stranded on the mysterious island of Xapur after a storm, discovers a ruined dome and a seemingly preserved corpse lying on a golden block. Driven by greed, he takes a jeweled dagger from the body, w
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii.md): Jehungir Agha, lord of Khawarizm, and his counsellor Ghaznavi devise a plot to lure the kozak chief Conan away from his men and trap him alone on the island of Xapur. They plan to use the captive Nemedian girl Octavia as
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii.md): Octavia escapes captivity from Jelal Khan's castle by climbing down a rope made of torn tapestries, riding a horse through the night, and swimming to an island. She climbs steps carved in the cliff, hears a drum, and is 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv.md): Conan, now a kozak leader, returns to the island of Xapur seeking the golden-haired woman he saw in Jehungir Agha's pavilion. He discovers that the ruins he visited a month ago have been replaced by a massive, intact cit
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/v.md): Conan explores the dark tunnels and chambers of the accursed city, discovering a living serpent on a throne and overhearing the inhuman voice of Khosatral Khel recounting his origin from the Abyss. He learns of the ancie
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vi.md): Conan and Octavia are trapped in the palace of Dagon by the demonic Khosatral Khel. After a desperate struggle, Conan manages to kill Khosatral with the Yuetshi knife, causing the magical city to crumble back into ruins.
- [The People of the Black Circle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/the-people-of-the-black-circle.md): Conan becomes entangled in a plot involving the Devi Yasmina, the Black Seers of Yimsha, and the power struggles of the Hyborian kingdoms. He abducts Yasmina to protect her from a magical assassination attempt, leading t
- [I: Death Strikes a King](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-death-strikes-a-king.md): King Bhunda Chand of Vendhya is dying from sorcery, not poison. His sister, the Devi Yasmina, is helpless as he suffers. Meanwhile, Kerim Shah and Khemsa discuss the magical means of the king's death, involving a lock of
- [II: A Barbarian from the Hills](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-a-barbarian-from-the-hills.md): Governor Chunder Shan of Peshkhauri is visited by the Devi Yasmina, who reveals her plan to destroy the Black Seers of Mount Yimsha, who murdered her brother. She seeks the aid of the hill chief Conan, who has seven trib
- [III: Khemsa Uses Magic](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-khemsa-uses-magic.md): The Devi's maid betrays her mistress by reporting Conan's abduction to Khemsa and Kerim Shah. She persuades Khemsa to use his magic for their own gain, leading him to kill the seven Afghuli prisoners and break free from 
- [IV: An Encounter in the Pass](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-an-encounter-in-the-pass.md): Conan abducts Yasmina Devi from her fortress and flees into the Zhaibar Pass. Their horse is killed by a javelin thrown by Wazuli tribesmen, but Conan recognizes the attacker as Yar Afzal, an old ally. After a brief skir
- [V: The Black Stallion](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/v-the-black-stallion.md): Conan navigates political intrigue among the Wazuli tribe, where Chief Yar Afzal is killed by a magical jade spider. Conan is blamed and attacked, but he fights his way into a hut with Yasmina. After a brutal struggle, C
- [VI: The Mountain of the Black Seers](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vi-the-mountain-of-the-black-seers.md): Khemsa confronts four Black Seers in a psychic battle, but they exploit his love for Gitara to defeat him. Conan and Yasmina encounter Khemsa, who attempts to hypnotize Conan but fails; Conan fights back. A crimson cloud
- [VII: On to Yimsha](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vii-on-to-yimsha.md): Conan, freed from Khemsa's spell, rides to gather his Afghuli warriors but is falsely accused of betraying their captive chiefs to the governor. Repudiated, he turns back alone toward Yimsha to rescue the Devi Yasmina. H
- [VIII: Yasmina Knows Stark Terror](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/viii-yasmina-knows-stark-terror.md): Yasmina is captured and brought before the Master of Yimsha, a powerful sorcerer who reveals his role in her brother's death and his manipulation of Yezdigerd. She attempts to stab him with a dagger, but the weapon trans
- [IX: The Castle of the Wizards](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ix-the-castle-of-the-wizards.md): Conan and his party, including Kerim Shah and Irakzai warriors, ascend Mount Yimsha to confront the Black Seers. They face supernatural attacks—a rabid dog, a steel-beaked hawk, and rolling clouds of smoke—before reachin
- [X: Yasmina and Conan](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/x-yasmina-and-conan.md): Conan and Yasmina escape the castle of the Black Seers and cross the gorge of horrors. After reuniting with the Afghulis, they face a joint attack by Turanian forces. Yasmina rallies the Vendhyan riders to ambush the Tur
- [A Witch Shall Be Born](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/a-witch-shall-be-born.md): Conan, now a captain of the Zuagir nomads, becomes entangled in the political intrigue of Khauran when the evil witch Salome, who bears a striking resemblance to Queen Taramis, usurps the throne. Conan is captured and cr
- [I: The Bloodred Crescent](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-the-bloodred-crescent.md): Queen Taramis of Khauran awakens to find her twin sister Salome, thought dead at birth, has returned with the mercenary Constantius to usurp the throne. Salome reveals her survival and magical upbringing, and together th
- [II: The Tree of Death](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-the-tree-of-death.md): Conan is crucified by Constantius outside the walls of Khauran after being betrayed and captured during a coup. He endures torture and thirst, but is eventually rescued by Olgerd Vladislav and his nomads, who cut him dow
- [III: A Letter to Nemedia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-a-letter-to-nemedia.md): The savant Astreas writes to his friend Alcemides in Nemedia, detailing the dire conditions in Khauran under Queen Taramis and her consort Constantius. He describes the oppression of the people, the debauchery of the cou
- [IV: Wolves of the Desert](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-wolves-of-the-desert.md): Conan and Olgerd Vladislav, the Zuagir chief, clash over leadership and strategy. Conan reveals he has secretly gathered three thousand Khauran exiles at the oasis of Akrel, ready to attack Constantius. Olgerd, feeling h
- [V: The Voice from the Crystal](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/v-the-voice-from-the-crystal.md): A group of conspirators in Khauran, led by a man who has discovered the truth, plan to rescue Queen Taramis from the dungeons while Constantius and his mercenaries march out to battle Conan and the Zuagir nomads. Salome,
- [VI: The Vulture’s Wings](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vi-the-vulture-s-wings.md): Taramis is rescued from her dungeon by Valerius and his men, but Salome intervenes with sorcery, killing the rescuers and recapturing the queen. Valerius pursues Salome to the temple, where he kills the priest and wounds
- [Jewels of Gwahlur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/jewels-of-gwahlur.md): Conan ventures into the forbidden city of Alkmeenon to steal the legendary Teeth of Gwahlur, a treasure guarded by ancient traps and supernatural forces. He encounters a rival thief, a treacherous priestess, and a living
- [I: Paths of Intrigue](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-paths-of-intrigue.md): Conan, drawn by legends of the Teeth of Gwahlur treasure, arrives in the barbaric kingdom of Keshan. He offers his services as a mercenary to gain time to locate the treasure, but his plans are complicated by the arrival
- [II: Goddess Awakens](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-goddess-awakens.md): Conan discovers that Muriela, a slave girl, has been impersonating the goddess Yelaya on behalf of Zargheba and Thutmekri to manipulate the priests of Keshan. After Conan exposes her, she pleads for his protection. Conan
- [III: The Return of the Oracle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-the-return-of-the-oracle.md): Conan investigates the murder in the valley, returns to the palace to find the priests of Keshan arriving for a ritual. He hides and watches as Muriela, posing as the goddess Yelaya, delivers a message ordering the pries
- [IV: The Teeth of Gwahlur](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-the-teeth-of-gwahlur.md): Conan follows the Keshani priests through a cavernous complex beneath the cliffs, witnessing their ritual worship before a mysterious figure claiming to be the goddess Yelaya commands them to hand the Teeth of Gwahlur to
- [Beyond the Black River](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/beyond-the-black-river.md): Conan and Balthus defend a frontier fort against the savage Picts, who are led by the shaman Zogar Sag and his demonic allies. The chapter explores the clash between civilization and the wild, culminating in a desperate 
- [I: Conan Loses His Ax](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-conan-loses-his-ax.md): Conan and Balthus encounter a Pict ambush on a forest trail, discover a mysterious swamp demon that mimics a woman's cry to lure them away, and find the decapitated body of the merchant Tiberias. They fashion a litter to
- [II: The Wizard of Gwawela](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-the-wizard-of-gwawela.md): Conan and Balthus return to Fort Tuscelan with the headless body of Tiberias, another victim of the wizard Zogar Sag's dark magic. Governor Valannus, desperate and fearful of the plague and desertion, implores Conan to l
- [III: The Crawlers in the Dark](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-the-crawlers-in-the-dark.md): Conan leads a small raiding party of Aquilonian frontiersmen across a river under cover of darkness to scout Zogar Sag's village. Balthus, a young recruit, is left to guard the canoe with another man. In the oppressive s
- [IV: The Beasts of Zogar Sag](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-the-beasts-of-zogar-sag.md): Balthus regains consciousness to find himself bound to a stake in a Pictish village, surrounded by the severed heads of his fallen comrades. He learns from a wounded fellow woodsman that they walked into a trap set by a 
- [V: The Children of Jhebbal Sag](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/v-the-children-of-jhebbal-sag.md): Conan and Balthus evade Pictish pursuers after escaping the village of Gwawela. Conan uses an ancient symbol sacred to Jhebbal Sag to ward off a stalking panther, demonstrating his deep connection to primal forces. They 
- [Red Axes of the Border](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vi-red-axes-of-the-border.md): Conan and Balthus attempt to reach the fort to warn of the Pictish attack, but they arrive too late as the assault has already begun. They decide to warn the settlers instead, encountering a lone Pict canoeist whom Conan
- [VII: The Devil in the Fire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vii-the-devil-in-the-fire.md): Conan, having left the Velitrium road, encounters a group of settlers fleeing the Pictish invasion. He guides them southeast through the timber, but is then confronted by a supernatural entity—a demonic fire-being summon
- [VIII: Conajohara No More](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/viii-conajohara-no-more.md): After the fall of Fort Tuscelan and the death of the Pictish shaman Zogar Sag, the frontier of Aquilonia is pushed back to Thunder River. Conan learns from the sole survivor of the fort about the final battle, the myster
- [Shadows in Zamboula](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/shadows-in-zamboula.md): Conan arrives in the city of Zamboula and becomes entangled in a plot involving a mad priest, a beautiful woman, and a dark secret lurking in the shadows.
- [I: A Drum Begins](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-a-drum-begins.md): Conan, a Cimmerian warrior, is warned by a Zuagir nomad about the dangers of staying at the house of Aram Baksh in Zamboula, where travelers have mysteriously vanished. Despite the warning, Conan proceeds to the tavern, 
- [II: The Night Skulkers](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-the-night-skulkers.md): Conan, seeking to settle a score with Aram Baksh, witnesses a group of cannibalistic black men abducting a naked young woman. He intervenes, killing three of the cannibals and rescuing the woman, Zabibi. She explains tha
- [III: Black Hands Gripping](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-black-hands-gripping.md): Conan battles the Kosalan strangler Baal-pteor in a chamber of illusions. After a brutal struggle of raw strength, Conan breaks Baal-pteor's neck. He then retrieves his sword from a magnetic table and proceeds down a cor
- [IV: Dance, Girl, Dance!](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-dance-girl-dance.md): Conan escapes Zamboula after killing Totrasmek and rescuing Zabibi, who reveals herself as Nafertari, mistress of the satrap Jungir Khan. He tricks the innkeeper Aram Baksh into being delivered to waiting negroes, then r
- [Red Nails](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/red-nails.md): Conan and Valeria, fleeing from enemies, discover a lost city inhabited by two warring clans, the Tecuhltli and the Xotalancas, and become entangled in their ancient feud. Amidst supernatural horrors and savage conflicts
- [I: The Skull on the Crag](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/i-the-skull-on-the-crag.md): Conan and Valeria are trapped on a crag by a dragon. They descend and flee through the forest, with the dragon pursuing them. Conan slashes at the dragon, which crashes into a tree and dies. They escape onto the plain, b
- [II: By the Blaze of the Fire-Jewels](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-by-the-blaze-of-the-fire-jewels.md): Conan and Valeria explore the silent, deserted city, moving through eerie chambers lit by fire-jewels. They find no signs of life or treasure, only ancient friezes depicting a peaceful Eastern people. Valeria grows weary
- [III: The People of the Feud](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iii-the-people-of-the-feud.md): Conan and Valeria are brought by Techotl into the Tecuhltli stronghold within the cursed city of Xuchotl. They meet Prince Olmec and the enigmatic princess Tascela, who seems fixated on Valeria. After a tense audience, t
- [IV: Scent of Black Lotus](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/iv-scent-of-black-lotus.md): Valeria retires to her chamber in Xuchotl, securing the doors and preparing for sleep. She awakens to find Yasala, Tascela's maid, attempting to drug her with a black lotus blossom. Valeria captures and interrogates Yasa
- [V: Twenty Red Nails](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/v-twenty-red-nails.md): After the battle, Conan learns from the dying Techotl that Olmec has taken Valeria to the Chamber of the... He sets out to rescue her, navigating the deadly halls of Xuchotl. He discovers Olmec himself trapped in a tortu
- [VI: The Eyes of Tascela](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vi-the-eyes-of-tascela.md): Olmec abducts Valeria, knocking her unconscious and killing Techotl when he intervenes. He takes her to a chamber, but Tascela intervenes, using her hypnotic power to paralyze Olmec and force him to drink a potion. Tasce
- [VII: He Comes from the Dark](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/vii-he-comes-from-the-dark.md): Conan confronts Olmec, who reveals that Tascela plans to sacrifice Valeria to renew her own youth. Olmec leads Conan through a secret passage into Tecuhltli, but betrays him. Conan kills Olmec in the struggle and bursts 
- [The Hyborian Age](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/the-hyborian-age.md): This chapter provides a fictional historical background for the Conan stories, detailing the rise and fall of civilizations from the Pre-Cataclysmic Age through the Hyborian Age. It describes the cataclysm that sank Atla

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