Conan the Barbarian 70

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last appearance in CB-69; next appearance in CB-71).
 * Belit (Last appearance in CB-69; next appearance in CB-71).

Minor Characters

 * N'Yaga (Last appearance in CB-65; next appearance in CB-72).
 * Belit's crew (Many appeared last in CB-66; many appear next in CB-71). M'Gora and Kawaku named.
 * Akkheba (First appearance; next appearance in CB-71). Priest of Ashtoreth.
 * Aluna (First appearance; next appearance in CB-71). Handmaiden of Ashtoreth.
 * Auro and his pirates (First appearance; next appearance in CB-71).

Location

 * The island city of Kelka.

Time Frame

 * A day

Synopsis
A storm tests the endurance of The Tigress and her crew, and as the boat makes way for safe harbor on a supposedly uninhabited island, they are shocked to see a great city near the shore. N'Yaga is injured in the storm, and Belit and Conan take some men ashore to look for healing herbs. The city's gates burst open and a horde of savage caveman-like brutes burst forth to attack the crew. The brutes are not fighters, though, and Conan and his crew make short work of them. The battle is halted by a beautiful woman who offers gifts in exchange for peace. Belit agrees and the crew meets the portly Akkehba, priest of Ashtoreth, goddess of the city of Kelka. The priest explains they need help defending their shores from Barachan pirates, who raid their city yearly. Belit agrees to help for a substantial payout, although she is suspicious of the girl Aluna's intentions toward Conan. Soon, the pirates come, expecting easy pickings, and are shocked when Conan and his men fight back harder than the Kelkans ever did. The pirates flee, and during the celebration, Akkehba secretly poisons the wine and renders Conan, Belit, and their men unconscious, as he plans to sacrifice all of them, plus Aluna, to his goddess...

Reprinted

 * Conan Saga #87
 * The Chronicles of Conan Volume Nine: Riders of the River-Dragons and Other Stories