Osric's Court and the Cult's Intrusion
Conan the BarbarianThe decay of the Zamoran court as the cult of Set gains power, ending in Osric's murder and the rise of his daughter.
increasing
Bearing strength in each event
decreasing
The Rotting Palace

The Rotting Palace
Subotai notices cracked arches and damp stains in the king's supposedly luxurious palace.
The Empty Throne Room
Dust lies thick on the tiles. The wealth of the Far East cannot hide an inner rot eating at Zamora's confidence.
The Summoned King
Osric appears as a warrior long lost to wine and hopelessness, a man who cannot trust even his own guards.
The King's Toast

The King's Toast
Osric rises from his despondency to salute the thieves who robbed the Tower of the Serpent.
The Black Priest's Humiliation
Yaro had come to the throne room to threaten the king. The robbery wiped the fury from his face, and Osric savors the memory.
Wine Before the Throne
The king shares wine with gutter-sweepings and tells them how the priests steal children and turn them into serpents of Set.
The Night of the Wassail

The Night of the Wassail
Far from the Mountain, Osric throws a glittering celebration, trusting seers who promise his daughter will return.
The Guarded Doors
Even at the feast, pairs of grim soldiers stand at every portal, for the king knows Doom's assassins move in the dark.
The Shadow of Yaro
A chamberlain whispers that Yaro has returned and begs a private audience. The king's joy curdles.
The Murder of the King

The Murder of the King
Osric empties the room, leaving only two bodyguards, and receives Yaro.
The Marriage Ultimatum
Yaro announces that Thulsa Doom wishes to marry Yasimina, and Zamora will become the kingdom of Set.
The Guard's Apostasy
When Osric calls his guards, Yaro asks them if they would kill the king for their master dooms. As if dreaming, they draw their swords and butcher him.
The Wind of Change

The Wind of Change
With Osric dead and Doom beheaded, the court and cult alike face a sudden emptiness.
The Queen's Inheritance
Yasimina is told she must rule a troubled land. She has lost both her father and her master in one season.
The Throne Rebuilt
Her return does not undo the killing, but it gives Zamora a sunrise after a night of false paradise.
when the thieves are led before Osric
after the thieves kneel before Osric
while Conan recovers at the shaman's hut
when Yaro visits the throne room at night
after Doom's death and the queen's restoration