Conan the Barbarian 137

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in CB-136; next appearance in CB-138).

Minor Characters

 * Bolo (First and only appearance to date). Gunderman giant.
 * Twillo (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Gunderman dwarf.
 * King Arvenger of Voldhom (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue).
 * Bernan Beloff and his brothers (First and only appearance to date). Gundermen
 * Grendl (First and only appearance to date). Gunderman trainer.

Locations

 * Gunderland
 * City-state of Voldhom

Time Frame

 * Several days

Synopsis
In Voldhom, The simple Gunderman giant Bolo plays with string as his manager, the dwarfish Twillo, arranges a fight with a savage bear for the pleasure of King Arvenger. When the bear is released, Twillo begins to plan a melody on his flute, which sends Bolo into a frenzy and he squeezes the bear to death. 200 miles away, Conan's carousing is interrupted by a bar fight with the Berloff brothers and easily dispatches them, impressing the fighter manager Grendl, who recruits Conan as his new champion. He tells Conan how King Arvenger forces towns to send fighters against Bolo, wagering their tribute against the giant, with the victor given the golden statue known as the Monika. Nobody has ever beaten Bolo, though. Conan takes on all challengers until he is matched with Bolo, and while the simpleton giant is friendly at first, when Twillo plays his flute he goes mad, remembering how soldiers killed his parents and burned his home, and savagely beats Conan until Conan manages to push him onto Twillo, breaking the flute. Bolo snaps out of his spell until Arvenger has his musicians play the tune, and the battle begins again. Bolo throws Conan through the treasure vault door and spots the Monika, which happens to be a sculpture of his mother made by his father. Bolo remembers how Arvenger's soldiers came and killed his family while Twillo played on his flute to calm the child, using the tune as a form of hypnosis. An truly enraged Bolo kills Twillo and Arvenger, freeing the people from Arvenger's tyrannical rule as they reclaim their treasure and belongings. Conan gives the Monika to Bolo and takes his leave.

Reprinted

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