Conan the Barbarian 103

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-102; next appearance in CB-104).

Minor Characters

 * Bramula tribemembers (Last appearance in CB-102; next appearance in CB-104). Tumara named.
 * Basotu (Last appearance in CB-102; no further appearances to date).
 * Felida (Last appearance in CB-102; no further appearances to date).
 * K'Chama, King of the Drelliks (Last appearance in CB-102; dies in this issue.
 * Eesee (First appearance; dies in this issue). K'Chama's bride.

Locations

 * The Black Kingdoms

Time Frame

 * One day

Synopsis
While the Bramulans are placed in a cell, Conan is lain, unconscious, upon a rock slab, by the Drellik King. Conan awakens and punches the vampire, who merely shrugs it off and tells Conan his story - he was originally from a tribe to the east who was attacked by a vampire. He managed to slay the creature, but not before being infected himself. He took over another tribe with his hypnotic powers and had them file their teeth and reshape their bodies, becoming vampire-like, but he withheld transforming any until he found one worthy of the power...he intends to turn Conan! Conan refuses and is thrown into another cell, this one containing Eesee, the only woman and bride of K'Chama. The woman has had her life extended by the vampire king but she grows old. She loves the monster, though, in her own way, even though he has no feelings for her. Conan attempts to move the boulder blocking the entrance but fails. The next day, he is taken again before K'Chama, who slays one of the Bramula in front of him. To save the others, Conan agrees to join the Drellik, on the condition the Bramula are released, which they are. But when K'Chama gives Eesee to Conan to be his first victim, she stabs him with a spear. The metal spearhead barely affects him and he swats the woman away, fatally injuring her. Conan, though chained, uses the distraction to run away. The Drelliks give chase and while Conan takes cover in the rocks, as the Bramula, led by Bosatu, return in force. K'Chama follows Conan up the hill, the spear still sticking from his back. Conan, remembering how K'Chama claimed he killed the original vampire by piercing its hard with a wooden stake, knocks K'Chama off the side of the hill and the staff of the spear goes through the vampire's body. The creature still isn't quite dead, until Conan cuts off its head. Conan is impressed Basotu returned for him and makes him sub-chief, giving him Felida in appreciation as the group returns home.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #96
 * The Chronicles of Conan 13 - Whispering Shadows and Other Stories