Acolytes of the Black Seers (Earth-616)

Acolytes of the Black Seers
Name	Acolytes of the Black Seers, Acolytes of the Black Circle, or Acolytes of Yimsha
Aliases	Acolytes, Disciples of the Black Circle, Adepts of the Black Circle,
Members
Former Member(s)	Khemsa
Affiliation and Identity
Identity	Public
Affiliation	Black Seers of Yimsha
Enemies	Conan, Kerim Shah
Origin and Status
Origin	Lesser wizards serving the Black Seers of Yimsha
Status	Defunct
Reality	Earth-616
Base of Operations	Yimsha, Vendhya, Hyboria; Turan, Hyboria
Place of Formation	Presumably Yimsha, Vendhya
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Robert E. Howard, Roy Thomas, John Buscema
First	Savage Sword of Conan #16 (October, 1976)
First	Savage Sword of Conan #16 (October, 1976)

History

Orgins

The Acolytes were a group of lesser wizards that served the Black Seers (or Black Circle) of Yimsha, led by the Master, and learned from them. They also served in the temple of Turan, controlling the priests of Tarim. They dwelt in the first tower on the road to Yimsha's pinnacle.

Against the King of Vendhya

The Acolytes in the temple of Turan urged the Master to help King Yezdigerd of Turan.

Among the Acolytes was Khemsa, who served -his true allegiance remaining secret- at the court of the king of Vendhya, Bhunda Chand, at Ayodhya, the capital. There, he plotted with Kerim Shah (who plotted for the king of Turan), obtained a lock of hair of Bhunda Chand, then sent it to his masters, who used it to mystically cause the illness of the king, whom his sister Yasmina slew on his command.

The slave-girl Gitara convinced Khemsa into leaving the serving of the Black Seers, and fled Ayodhya with him. Unbeknownst to them, Kerim Shah heard their plotting. The Four Seers later appeared Khemsa as he approached Yimsha, and one caused Gitara to throw herself down to her death. Conan soon met with the agonizing Khemsa, who swore to destroy the Acolytes, the Four Seers and the Master. Unable to fulfil his wish, he gave Conan advices and his waist-belt given to him by a Stygian priest, before expiring.

Later that day, Conan met with Kerim Shah and his Irakzai mercenaries, and united with them. They approached the tower of the Acolytes and slaughtered them all, leaving only Conan, Kerim Shah, and four Irakzai. The party went on to confront the Black Seers.

The Idol

At another point, Conan was sent by a Messantian collector to obtain the Idol from the Acolytes of Yimsha who fought fiercely to keep it.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

The Idol

Notes

• The Acolytes of the Black Seers were created by Robert E. Howard in "The People of the Black Circle" (Weird Tales; September, October and November 1934), adapted in Savage Sword of Conan #16 to Savage Sword of Conan #19 (December, 1976 to June, 1977).

See Also

• 2 appearance(s) of Acolytes of the Black Seers (Earth-616)
• 1 minor appearance(s) of Acolytes of the Black Seers (Earth-616)
• 1 mention(s) of Acolytes of the Black Seers (Earth-616)