Conan the Barbarian 49

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-48; next appearance in CB-50).

Minor Characters

 * Stefanya (Last appearance in CB-48; next appearance in CB-50).
 * Torkal Moh (Last appearance in CB-48; no further appearances to date).
 * Lupalina the Wolf Mistress (First appearance; next appearance in CB-50). Border Kingdom sorceress.
 * Gwineer (First appearance; next appearance in CB-50). Ravengard serving girl.

Location

 * The province of Ravengard in the Border Kingdoms.

Time Frame

 * A day.

Synopsis
Conan, in danger of being eaten by rats, screams in frustration, which causes one of the rats to knock over a clay mug that Torkal Moh had cruelly left just out of reach. The cup now in his reach, Conan grabs and shatters it, using the jagged edges to cut through his bindings. He begins to chase after Torkal Moh but runs afoul of a herd of wolves. He is saved at the last minute by their mistress, Lupalina, who decides to help Conan retrieve the amulet he has been tasked to deliver. Lupalina has her own reasons for helping Conan, and she seems to be familiar with Stefanya. The two of them reach Torkal Moh's castle, and wait to ambush a small raiding party carrying defeated slaves. The slaves join with Conan and, disguising themselvs as soldiers, the group gains entrance to the castle and open the doors wide open for the small army. Inside the castle, Conan finds and hamstrings Torkal Moh, who reveals that Stefanya is in the dungeon and the amulet has been given to the Gifting Tree. A servant, Gwineer, leads Conan to Stefanya, then to the tree, which is deep in a magical garden next to a large pool. littered with gold, gems, and treasure as offerings to Torkal Moh's dark god. Unfortunately, as Conan retrieves his amulet, the giagantic, octopod, monstrous god Pthassiass rises from the pool...

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga 81
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Seven: The Dweller in the Pool and Other Stories