"The Blood-Stained God" is a Conan novelette by L. Sprague de Camp based on an unpublished Kirby O'Donnell story, "The Curse of the Crimson God," by Robert E. Howard and first published in the collection Tales of Conan in 1955.
Plot Summary[]
Conan searches for a hidden temple in the Kezankian Mountains and the fabled golden statue that lies within.
Detailed Synopsis[]
Conan skulks through the alleyways of Arenjun and stumbles upon a small group of men torturing a Kezankian prisoner. In need of a Kezankian scout, Conan intervenes, rescuing the man. However, just as they're about to escape, Conan takes a blow to the head and collapses.
Conan awakens in the company of Sassan, an Iranistani, who is on the trail of the same treasure Conan seeks. Conan had recently come into possession of a map leadimg to an ancient temple in the Kezankian Mounatins, but it was stolen from him. He had tracked the thieves to that alley, and Sassan reveals the men he fought were, in fact, the men who he's looking for - the disinherited Prince Arshak of Turan and his companion Zyras. After a thrown stool knocked Conan unconscious, both thieves chased the Kezankian, Rustum, off before Conan was found by Sassan. The two men decide to work together and set off into the mountains, wary of Keraspa, the Kezankian chief, for whom Rustum spies for.
Conan tracks Rustum's trail through the mountains. Suddenly, their search is halted by a Kezankian ambush. They frantically race forward past the trap, summarising Rustum returned to his chief with news that their temple was soon to be raided. A mile of thunderous charging later, Sassan's horse is brought down by arrows from ahead - Arshak, Zyras, and their band of men have set up down the road. Now, Sassan and Conan find themselves trapped. However, when Zyras realizes a horde of angry Kezankians are coming up the pass, he allows the two men to dive into their cover to face the tribesmen together. The Kezankians swarm over the rocks and the bloody battle claims the lives of all except for Conan, Sassan, and Zyras, although Kerspa had fled during the battle back to his tribe to gather more men. The three men decide to split the treasure three ways and quickly head off.
Eventually, they reach a small valley and find a temple carved out of the stone itself. Sassan greedily races for the entrance, but the massive bronze door is booby trapped and it falls, crushing him. Zyras and Conan enter the temple, finding the treasure inside - a gem-encrusted golden statue, which stands before a deep chasm. As Conan is distracted by the statue, Zyras attempts to murder him, but Conan prevails and Zyras dies instead. Conan contemplates how to remove the statue when Kerspa calls from the entrance - he hadn't returned to his people; he had followed the three men with the only other survivor of the battle - Rustum. When Rustum recognizes Conan as the one who rescued him in Arenjun, he tries to stop his chief from killing the barbarian. Kerspa kills Rustum instead, but before he can turn his bow back to Conan, the statue comes to life and grabs the Kezankian. It lumbers towards the chasm and tosses him in. Conan, realizing he's next, rips a throne from the ground and slams it into the statue, which loses its balance and tumbles into the bottomless pit below. Conan gathers what he can and leaves.
Characters[]
- Conan
- Rustum, Kezankian spy
- Arshak, disinherited Turanian prince
- Zyras, a Corinthian
- Sassan, an Iranistani
- Kerspa, Kezankian chief
Locations[]
- Arenjun
- The Kezankian Mountains between Koth and Zamora
Continuity Notes[]
| Miller/Clark/deCamp Chronology | ||
| Previous Story: Conan and the Spider God |
"The Blood-Stained God" | Next Story: "The Frost Giant's Daughter" |
| Robert Jordan Chronology | ||
| Previous Story: Conan the Valiant |
"The Blood-Stained God" | Next Story: "The Frost Giant's Daughter" |
| William Galen Gray Chronology | ||
| Previous Story: Conan the Valiant |
"The Blood-Stained God" | Next Story: Conan the Valorous |
Adaptations[]
- Marvel Super Special #9
- Reprinted in Conan Saga #80
Publication history[]
- Tales of Conan (collection) • Robert E. Howard and L. Sprague de Camp • Gnome Press 1955
- Conan of Cimmeria (collection) • Robert E. Hoard, L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter • Lancer 1969