Savage Sword of Conan 186

=Horror Out of Time=

Creators

 * Writer: Chuck Dixon
 * Pencils: Steve Carr
 * Inks: Al Williamson

Major Characters

 * Conan (Previous appearance in SSOC-177; next appearance in SSOC-171).
 * Kull (Flashback)

Minor Characters

 * Ohris Dehjmal (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Valusian sorceror
 * Shato (First and only appearance to date). Ophirean scholar
 * Quintus (First and only appearance to date). Ophirean noble of the House of Scaria
 * Taliman (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Zamoran thief
 * Elophistus (First and only appearance to date; dies in this issue). Zamoran thief king

Location

 * Ophir
 * Zamora
 * Larsha

Time Frame

 * Several weeks

Synopsis
Ages ago, during the rule of Kull of Valusia, the sorcerer Ohris Dehjmal is executed and beheaded, with the head thrown into the sea. During the cataclysm that sunk Atlantis, the box containing the head was thrust onto land and buried by the sands. Thousands of years later, in Ophir, an archaeological dig uncovers the box and it is taken by a young noble named Quintus, who is fascinated by it and sends his adviser Shato to the library in Nemedia to research information. In Corinthia, Conan, currently a sellsword for a mercenary army, finds himself in disagreement with his captain who wants him to burn an innocent farmer's land, which ends with the captain dead, the army fleeing, and Conan taking two bags of gold as spoils, giving one to the family to start a new life elsewhere. Shanto arrives in the Library at Belverus to begin his research, and soon discovers the history of the skull in the box. Back at Quintus's encampment, the young noble has begun to talk the skull, even purchasing a set of armor for it. When word comes from Shato, Quintus believes the skull is looking for the parts of his body to reunite with. Meanwhile, Conan has made his way to Larsha in Zamora, and is recruited by the thief Taliman to work for the local king of thieves, Elophistus (who has heard of Conan's exploits in Arenjun from years ago), although Conan blanches a bit at the idea of guilds and rules for thieves. He is not aware that Elophistus's treasure vault contains a mummified hand belonging to Ohris Dehjmal. Soon, Quintus tracks down the headless skeletal remains of Ohris at the sanctuary at Hrishtam. When the head is placed with the body and Quintus completes a ritual spell, Ohris comes back to life, and devours the heart of a soldier to sustain him. However, without his hand his powers are incomplete, though Quintus finds records of the hand being traded away. Ohris dons the black armor provided, though distraught at how much time has passed, and lays waste to the village of Shamiru that traded for his hand. They track the hand to Larsha, where Quintus offers the lord of the city a large bribe to look the other way while his men attack Elophistus. The plan is overheard by an urchin who reports it to Elophistus and the thieves are able to ambush the Aquilonian army. Despite devastating losses, Quintus keeps pushing his troops, which makes Conan question why they would fight so hard for seemingly no reason. Ohris and a small contingent break through the walls of the treasure room, inadvertently lighting it on fire, and when Elophistus realizes what Ohris is after he throws the hand into the flames, robbing Ohris of his chance to become whole and regain his power. Furious, he slays Elophistus and Quintus, then takes his anger to Conan, deciding if he can't have his revenge on Kull another barbarian will do. Conan is unable to kill the undead Ohris, but a companion beheads the sorcerer before she herself expires. As the flames consume the thieves' crypts, Conan climbs his way out to the sounds of Ohris's head screaming behind him.