Conan the Barbarian 37

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in second story of SSOC-113; next appearance in fifth story of SSOC-3).
 * Kull (In flashback).

Minor Characters

 * Several Turanian soldiers (First and only appearance for all). All die in this issue.
 * Juma (First appearance; next appearance ??). Kushite soldier for hire.
 * Yolinda (First appearance; next appearance ??). Princess; daughter of Yezdigerd.
 * Rotath (First and only appearance; dies in this issue). Ancient Atlantian sorcerer made of gold.

Location

 * The hills north of Aghrapur

Time Frame

 * A week.

Synopsis
Thousands of years ago, after a defeat by Kull, the wizard Rotath dies in his temple, but not before he casts a final spell. More recently, an explorer discovers the templs, and, rather foolishly, touches the golden skeletal remains of Rotath. In modern times, Conan, riding with a company of soldiers on a mission to clear out the hill tribes, grows suspicious of the recent brazenness and updated weapons and armor of the tribesmen. He is also suspicious of an unguarded pass, which is soon revealed to be a trap that only Conan and the Kushite Juma the Black survive, as does their charge, the Princess Yolinda. The two are marched through the hills to a hidden city, where a powerful fountain carries a hollowed ball to the top of a tower. Inside, the newly resurrected, gold-plated Rotath reveals that he plans to marry Yolinda and produce an heir. Conan breaks free and defeats Rotath's monkey guard, but is brought low by Rotath's magic and tranquilizer darts. Conan and Juma are brought to the mines, where they notice that fully half the gold mined does not go to pay for new weapons and equipment, but is instead taken deeper into the caverns. Escaping their guards, they follow the gold, and are attacked by a gigantic lizard, who is in turn digested by an even larger slug-like creature. Conan grabs some bags of gold and runs, but the slug follow him and Conan realizes the creature feeds on gold and has zeroed in on the bags he carries. Conan flees the mine and hurls the bags toward the golden Rotath, and the slug absorbs the wizard and shambles away. Conan, Juma, and Yolinda ride away.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #8
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Six: The Curse of the Golden Skull and Other Stories