Kerlait tribe

The Kerlait tribe is a Hyrkanian people of the steppes, known in the Hyborian Age as a clan of archers, assassins, and thieves. Their most famous son, Subotai, introduces himself to Conan with a dignity that belies his rags and misery, declaring, "I am Subotai, a Hyrkanian of the Kerlait tribe. In happier days, an archer, an assassin, and a thief." This self-description captures the tribe's martial and cunning nature, as well as its members' adaptability to the harsh realities of a world where survival often depends on stealth and skill rather than brute force. The Kerlait identity is further marked by a distinctive clan ensign: nine yak tails and a horse's skull, a symbol that Subotai seeks out in the bustling streets of Shadizar, hoping to find news of his people. This emblem, both pastoral and martial, reflects the tribe's nomadic heritage and its close bond with the horses and herds of the steppe, a connection that shapes their way of life and their values.

Identity and Background

The Kerlait tribe's identity is rooted in the Hyrkanian steppes, a vast and unforgiving landscape that demands resilience and resourcefulness. Subotai's description of himself as an archer, assassin, and thief in happier days suggests a people who, while skilled in the arts of war and deception, have fallen on hard times, perhaps due to the upheavals of the age. The tribe's ensign—nine yak tails and a horse's skull—serves as a powerful symbol of their pastoral origins and their martial prowess, combining the animals that sustain their nomadic life with the stark reminder of death that accompanies any warrior's path. This emblem is not merely decorative; it is a point of pride and identity, one that Subotai actively seeks to reconnect with, indicating a deep sense of loyalty and belonging to his people even when separated from them. The Kerlaits' reputation for stealth and cunning, as noted by Conan when he studies Subotai, is a defining trait, one that allows them to thrive in the shadows of civilization while maintaining a code of honesty that sets them apart from the treacherous world around them.

Subotai as the Tribe's Representative

Subotai embodies the Kerlait spirit throughout the narrative, serving as the tribe's most visible representative and the lens through which its values are understood. His introduction to Conan, where he rises with dignity despite his shackles and rags, immediately establishes his character: small and lean as a ferret, with a set of head and shoulders that reflects stealth and cunning, hard-bitten courage, and an honesty that Conan finds to his liking. This honesty is a key Kerlait trait, one that allows Conan to trust him implicitly, thinking, "Here is a man who might throw a lie in your face but would never stab you in the back." Subotai's skills as an archer, assassin, and thief are put to use in the service of his friendship with Conan, from navigating the back alleys of Shadizar to infiltrating the Tower of the Black Serpent and the Mountain of Power. His Kerlait heritage also informs his practical wisdom, as when he teaches Conan to ride, admonishing him with the proverb, "We Kerlaits say a man is not a horseman until he has had seven falls." This saying encapsulates the tribe's philosophy of perseverance and learning through hardship, a value that resonates with Conan's own Cimmerian code of suffering and strength.

The Kerlait Ensign and the Search for Kin

Subotai's quest to find his tribe's standard—the nine yak tails and a horse's skull—is a recurring motif that underscores his connection to his people. In the caravanserai of Shadizar, he questions a shopkeeper about the ensign, only to receive a bored denial, though the shopkeeper mentions having heard travellers speak of such a thing. This brief exchange reveals the Kerlaits' presence in the wider world, even if their exact whereabouts remain unknown. Subotai's interest in standards is not merely nostalgic; it is a practical matter of identity and survival, as he later inquires about another standard—two black snakes face to face, upholding a black sun with their knotted tails—which turns out to be the emblem of the Cult of Set, the very enemy he and Conan will confront. This juxtaposition of the Kerlait ensign with the cult's sinister symbol highlights the contrast between the tribe's honest, pastoral heritage and the corrupt, serpent-worshipping civilization that threatens to consume the Hyborian world. Subotai's search for his people, though never resolved in the narrative, serves as a reminder of the larger Hyrkanian community from which he comes and the bonds that tie him to his roots.

The Kerlait Code and Its Contrast with the Cult of Set

The Kerlait tribe's values stand in stark opposition to the practices of the Cult of Set, a contrast that the narrative draws with increasing clarity. While the Kerlaits are characterized by stealth, cunning, and an honesty that Conan admires, the cult is defined by deception, ritual sacrifice, and a fanatical devotion to a serpent god. The cult's ceremonies, as witnessed by Conan and Subotai, involve the sacrifice of young women into a pit of corpses, a practice that horrifies the two adventurers and underscores the cult's disregard for human life. In contrast, the Kerlait code, as embodied by Subotai, values loyalty, courage, and a pragmatic approach to survival that does not require the subjugation or destruction of others. This moral dichotomy is further emphasized by the cult's rhetoric of a "Great Cleansing," as proclaimed by Thulsa Doom, which calls for the destruction of all who stand against them—parents, teachers, judges—in a night of blood and fire. The Kerlaits, by contrast, seek only to live by their own skills and to maintain their honor, a difference that positions them as a more noble, if less powerful, force in the Hyborian world.

The Kerlait Legacy and Its Significance

The Kerlait tribe, though a minor presence in the narrative, leaves a lasting impression through Subotai's actions and the values he represents. His friendship with Conan, forged in the crucible of shared danger, is a testament to the tribe's capacity for loyalty and camaraderie, traits that transcend the boundaries of clan and nation. The Kerlait proverb about the seven falls, and Subotai's patient tutelage in horsemanship, reflect a culture that values resilience and the mastery of practical skills, qualities that Conan himself comes to embody. Moreover, the tribe's ensign—nine yak tails and a horse's skull—serves as a symbol of a way of life that is both ancient and honorable, a stark contrast to the decadent and corrupt civilizations that dominate the Hyborian Age. In this sense, the Kerlait tribe represents a form of barbaric virtue that the narrative implicitly celebrates, aligning with the sword-and-sorcery genre's preference for the rugged, honest hero over the effete, scheming villain. Subotai's survival and his role in the final battle against Thulsa Doom, where he stands beside Conan and Valeria, ensure that the Kerlait spirit endures, even as the tribe itself remains a distant, half-remembered homeland.