Conan the Barbarian 138

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-137; next appearance in CB-139).

Minor Characters

 * Pelija Lon (Previous appearance in CB-134; next appearance in CB-139).
 * Revelle (First appearance)
 * Eshe Lon (Previous appearance in CB-134; next appearance in CB-139).

Locations

 * Southern Cimmeria, near the Bossonian Marches-Border Kingdoms border

Time Frame

 * A day

Synopsis
As Conan rides toward the Bossonian Marches, he hears the sounds of a struggle - a giant crab has emerged from the swamp to drag down a horse and rider. Conan rescues the girl, and finds it is Pelija Lon, who he had encountered some weeks ago. Suddenly, a giant octopus pulls them into the waters, and, after defeating the monster, they find themselves transported and trapped in a fishbowl. Conan breaks the glass and the two tumble out, awakening in a cave, and congratulated by a wizard for their escape. Conan immediately puts a knife to the wizard's throat, but Pelija recognizes him as her uncle, Revelle. Revelle explains that her father, Eshe Lon, was corrupted by a pendant when he betrayed the snake goddess Ishiti, and he is currently trapped on an island of punishment. Conan wants no part, but Revelle transports Conan and Pelija to the island to retrieve the pendant. The two find a fortress, but it is guarded by armored snake men. Conan hold sthem off and crushes them under a giant statue and they enter the keep. A pit trap causes them to plummet onto a carpet of snakes that leads into a tunnel of green mist. Pelija is pulled upwards by an unseen force and Conan climbs the wall to find a sacrificial chamber, with Pelija hanging above an altar having her blood drained. Conan kills the snake men there and pulls Pelija down. Her wound is only superficial, and they continue their hunt. Soon, they find Eshe and some other prisoners and Conan pulls apart the bars. None of the men move, however, until Conan takes the pendant from Eshe Lon's neck. With that, Eshe's eyes snap open and he turns into a snake man, lunging to attack!

Reprinted

 * The Chronicles of Conan 18 - Isle of the Dead and Other Stories