Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures
Prestige class: The literate

Enthusiast players of the Age of Conan - Hyborian Adventures MMORPG should appreciate it's lore. Sure, you may enjoy the 3D graphics, sound and musical score, but there is more to it than that. There is much to know to become a literate of the game.

Also, the gaming experience is boosted and enriched by knowing the details. I encourage every player to go beyond mindless grinding and to enjoy the reading. It will be worth your time! The game is based on the Conan stories written by many different authors, but I recommend to read the books by Robert E. Howard, the creator of the genre.

Here are his first 17 Conan stories. Click synopsis>> to read a tiny synopsis. Inside the tiny synopsis you may click more>> to read a short synopsis that contains spoilers.

1. The Phoenix on the Sword (1932) synopsis>>
   
   Conan, king of Aquilonia, has enemies hidden inside his capital who want to assassinate him. more>>

   Conan is King of Aquilonia. Ascalante, together with Thoth-amon (outcast dreaded stygian mage), Volmana (dwarfish count of Karaban), Gromel (commander of the Black Legion), Dion (baron of Attalus) and Rinaldo (ministrel fo the king) organizes the assassination of the king.
2. The Scarlet Citadel (1933) synopsis>>
   Conan, king of Aquilonia, is lured into an ambush by two other kings. more>>

   Conan the King is lured into an ambush by King Amalrus of Ophir who mated with Strabonus, king of Koth. Tsotha-lanti, a dreaded Kothian wizard, succeeds in catching Conan alive and to throw him into the dungeons below Khorshemish, the scarlet citadel.
3. The Tower of the Elephant (1933) synopsis>>
   In a pub full of thieves a rumour about a great jewel in a secure tower is divulged. more>>

   In a pub in the Maul of Zamora Conan hears the rumour about Yara's Jewel, the heart of the elephant, hidden in the tower of the elephant. To steal it, he enters Yara's gardens where he encounters Taurus of Nemedia, the prince of thieves.
4. Black Colossus (1933) synopsis>>
   A grave robber opens a tomb at the ruins of Kuthchemes. more>>

   Shevatas, master-thief of Zamora, discovers the ancient ruins of Kuthchemes. When he opens a tomb, Thugra Khotan is released. This black spirit seeks revenge and wants to possess princess Yasmela of Khoraja, descendant of his enemies.
5. The Slithering Shadow (1933) synopsis>>
   Conan and his companion are lost in the desert without water. more>>

   Conan and his Brythunian girl slave Natala are lost in the desert after fleeing from the damned horde of Almuric. Without water, they seek shelter and find Xuthal, a forgotten city. There, the people drug themselves with the black lotus. Thalis of Luxur survived there for many years despite the presence of Thog.
6. The Pool of the Black One (1933) synopsis>>
   Conan swims aboard an unknown galley to get away from a lost isle. more>>

   On the Wastrel, Zaporavo's galley, Conan arrives by swimming through the ocean. He was trapped on the Barachan Isles. With the crew they explore an isle. Sancha, Zaporavo's girl slave from Kordava, follows Conan into the djungle and they discover an ancient city where goblin-like apes sacrifice humans to a mysterious pool.
7. Rogues in the House (1934) synopsis>>
   An aristocrat needs help to get out of a difficult situation. more>>

   The Maze is a slum district where Conan was hiding from the guards when a wench let him arrest. To escape prison, Conan accepts Murilo's offer to assassinate Nabonidus, the Red Priest. When Conan arrives at Nabonidus' house, Thak, a goblin-like ape, wrecks havoc.
8. Shadows in the Moonlight (1934) synopsis>>
   Conan accidently helps a girl chased by an evil man in the tall reeds. more>>

   Shah Amurath is a warlord of Akif who slayed the kozaki while Conan was plundering Turan with them. Olivia, Shah's girl slave, tries to escape him. By chance, Conan happens to be next and kills Shah. To evade the warlord's warriors they seek shelter on the Isle of the Iron Statues.
9. Queen of the Black Coast (1934) synopsis>>
   To escape his chasers a rider jumps on a galley, forcing the captain to depart immediately. more>>

   Conan is chased by the guards of Argos for political reasons. With his steed he jumps on Tito's galley, a peaceful trader who departs to the south. On the Kushite coast they are boarded by pirates who adore queen Belit.
10. The Devil in Iron (1934) synopsis>>
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11. The People of the Black Circle (1934) synopsis>>
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12. A Witch Shall be Born (1934) synopsis>>
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13. Jewels of Gwahlur (1935) synopsis>>
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14. Beyond the Black River (1935) synopsis>>
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15. Shadows in Zamboula (1935) synopsis>>
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16. The Hour of the Dragon (1936) synopsis>>
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17. Red Nails (1936) synopsis>>
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The complete bibliography of Robert E. Howard's books may be found at The Official Robert E. Howard Website. All books are available for free at the Project Gutenberg Australia website.

Have fun reading and going back to play!