Savage Sword of Conan 120

=Star of Thamazhu=

Creators
Writer: Larry Yakata

Artist: Pablo Marcos

Letterer: Diana Albers

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous chronological appearance in CB-13; next chronological appearance in CB-14).

Minor Characters

 * Ghamu (First appearance; dies in this issue). Hunchback.
 * Sheetaya (First and only appearance to date). Princess Tiama of Ghapul.
 * Kinatu (First and only appearance to date). Zhofra, ruler of Ghapul.
 * Manu-Kaleem (First appearance; dies in this issue). Serpent-man wizard.

Location

 * Koth.

Time Frame

 * A week.

Synopsis
Conan has taken a job in iron mines, but soon finds himself in the middle of a brawl and ends up being fired. He wanders off and winds up in the city of Kadath, despite the warnings of an old woman he meets on the way. He bets on the underdog in a pit fighting contest and has to defend his newfound wealth against thieves with the help of Ghamu, a hunchback he met in the mines. Later that night he is attacked in his room by a disciple of the evil Manu-Kaleem, and when he investigates, he ends up rescuing a dancer from two more disciples. The girl, Sheetaya, tells Conan that her beloved, Kinatu, has been driven mad by Manu-Kaleem, and Conan agrees to help her. They find Kinatu, drooling and insane, so Conan knocks him out and ties him up. Deciding his work is done, Conan prepares to leave, but Sheetaya convinces him that if he slays Manu-Kaleem, he will be rewarded. Conan, Sheetaya, and Ghamu head towards Manu-Kaleem's castle, which is suspiciously unguarded. Sheetaya falls into a trap door and Conan is confronted by a demon who frustrates Conan with hallucinations. Conan finally gets the better of the creature while Sheetaya is taken to Manu-Kaleem, a man-serpent. As Conan watches, hidden behind a pillar, it is revealed that Sheetaya had recently stolen a gem known as the Star of Thamazhu. A distraction by Ghamu allows Conan to kill Manu-Kaleem, and Sheetaya finds a phial of antidote for Kinatu's madness. The girl finally reveals the truth, that Kinata is in fact Zhofra, the ruler of Ghapul and she is in fact Princess Tiama. She thought that Kinata had the Star of Thamazhu, but she was mistaken. The next day Conan leaves, having recognized the two of them the first moment he saw them, and having already taken the opportunity to steal the gem off the madman, which he figures will bring him a nice profit.