# II: Goddess Awakens explained — Conan Stories

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

## What happens

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 devises a plan to use her impersonation to his own advantage, instructing her to tell the priests to give him control of the Teeth of Gwahlur and the army. He then goes to find Zargheba, only to discover Zargheba's severed head hanging from a tree.

## Themes in this chapter

### Power and Corruption

Thutmekri and Zargheba's scheme to manipulate the oracle and seize the Teeth of Gwahlur illustrates the corrupting influence of power and greed.

### Survival and Individualism

Muriela's desperate plea for protection and Conan's self-serving plan to use the impersonation for his own gain highlight themes of survival and individualism.

## Character check-ins

### Conan

Discovers Muriela's deception, devises a plan to use her impersonation to gain control of the Teeth of Gwahlur, and later finds Zargheba's severed head.

### Muriela

A slave girl forced by Zargheba to impersonate the goddess Yelaya; she pleads for Conan's protection and agrees to follow his instructions.

### Zargheba

The schemer who brought Muriela to impersonate Yelaya; his severed head is found by Conan, indicating he has been killed.

### Thutmekri

The Stygian who planned the deception with Zargheba to manipulate the priests and obtain the Teeth of Gwahlur.

### Gwarunga

The priest who revealed the secret way into the valley to Zargheba and Thutmekri.

## Key lines

> ‘It is the will of the gods that the Stygian and his Shemitish dogs be driven from Keshan. They are thieves and traitors who plot to rob the gods. Let the Teeth of Gwahlur be placed in the care of the general Conan. Let him lead the armies of Keshan. He is beloved of the gods.’

Conan instructs Muriela to tell the priests that the gods command them to expel Thutmekri and his allies, entrust the Teeth of Gwahlur to Conan, and make him the leader of Keshan's armies.

_Conan's plan to manipulate the oracle for his own benefit._

> He looked on Zargheba’s severed head, suspended from the branch of the tree by its own long black hair.

Conan finds Zargheba's head hanging by its hair from a tree branch, indicating he has been killed.

_The discovery of Zargheba's death adds mystery and danger to the situation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters/ii-goddess-awakens
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/conan_stories_se/chapters