Conan the Adventurer 1

Major Characters

 * Conan (Last chronological appearance in first story of SSOC-227; next chronological appearance in second story of SSOC-6).

Minor Characters

 * Rion (First appearance; last chronological appearance in first story of SSOC-227; dies in this issue). Cimmerian.
 * Shawan, Fenrik (First appearance for both; die in this issue). Cimmerians.
 * Metrius (First appearance; dies in this issue). Aquilonian commander of Venarium.
 * Tamera (First chronological appearance; next chronological appearance in second story of SSOC-6). Daughter of Metrius.
 * Gaeric (First chronological appearance; next chronological appearance in second story of SSOC-6). Daughter of Metrius.
 * Gaeric Gunderman soldier.
 * Dalmus (First appearance; dies in this issue). Gunderman.
 * Sodatus (First appearance; presumably dies in this issue). Aquilonian.
 * Shimata-Kawan (First appearance; Previous chronological appearance in backup story of CA-12; next appearance CA-11). Blind Yamatain sooth-sayer (sometimes confused as a Khitain).

Location

 * Cimmeria at the fortress of Venarium.

Time Frame

 * A few hours

Synopsis
Several Cimmerian tribes savagely attack the Aquilonian fortress of Venarium. Among the barbarians is young Conan, who recalls walking through the streets of Venarium weeks before and encountering a group of Gundermen, led by a brute named Dalmus, spoiling for a fight. Conan is helped by his friend Rion and ultimately rescued by Metrius, commander of Venarium, who tells his men to back off the fight. Some time later, the Cimmerian tribs meet and Rion, with Conan's help, convinces his men to bring down the fortress to stop the intrusion of other peoples into Cimmerian territory. At the battle, Conan kills Dalmus and sees Rion killed by Metrius. Conan, in a fury, butchers Metrius. As the battle ends in the Cimmerian's favor the tribes begin fighting amongst themselves and Conan places his friend Rion on a pyre.