Conan the Barbarian 65

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-63; next appearance in CB-66).
 * Belit (Last appearance in CB-63; next appearance in CB-66).

Minor Characters

 * N'Yaga (Last appearance in CB-61; next appearance in CB-70).
 * Belit's crew (Last appearance in CB-63; next appearance in CB-66). Onahu, Baktu and Kuwaku are named. Baktu is killed.
 * Pygmy tribe members (First and only appearance to date).
 * Tezcatlipoca (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Immortal pygmy leader.

Location

 * Black Coast and island.

Time Frame

 * Two days.

Synopsis
The Tigress is attacked by a group of Stygians, forcing Belit to sail further out into the ocean, into waters her crew considers cursed. At dawn, the ship sails into the coast of a mysterious island, causing even Conan to wonder if perhaps the curse is real. The island is inhabited, and in a century-old shack they find the preserved body of the fierce pirate Ahmaan the Merciless, sitting in a wooden chair with his axe at his side. Only Conan can lift the axe, cementing his mystique as Amra, the chosen one, but as the crew returns to the ship, they encounter a band of pygmies who use a magic gong to knock the crew out. Conan, Belit and Baktu are brought to the pygmy leader, Tezcatlipoca, who reveals that he slew Ahmaan years ago but couldn't take the axe. Conan is incredulous that the man could be so old, but Tezcatlipoca claims he is not like other men. He sends Conan to the dungeons, kills Baktu for the fun of it, and plans to sacrifice Belit. Conan breaks free of his bonds, but is still trapped behind bars when Belit escapes and fatally stabs Tezcatlipoca. She searches for Conan, who discovers a feathered serpent in the dungeon with him, and Belit finds him just in time to toss him a sword to kill the monster. Suddenly, Tezcatlipoca appears, no worse for wear, and as the immortal king beats and chokes Conan to near-death, N'Yaga arrives with the body of Ahmaan, distracting Tezcatlipoca long enough for Conan to use the magic axe to cut off his head, killing him for good. The crew quickly return to their ship.

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga 85
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Nine: Riders of the River-Dragons and Other Stories