Appearing in "The Keepers of the Crypt"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Captain Burgun ⏵ (First appearance) (Apparent death) (Main story and flashback)
- Jenna
Antagonists:
- Corinthian soldiers (First appearance; dies)
- Ari (First appearance; dies)
- Unnamed dragon (First appearance; dies)
- Keepers of the Treasure-Crypt of Lanjau ⏵ (First appearance) (Death)
- Corinthian magistrate (First appearance; dies)
Other Characters:
- Aquilonian Army (Only in flashback)
- Gundermen (Only in flashback)
- Cimmerians (Only in flashback)
- Conan's tribe (First appearance) (Only in flashback)
- Man-Serpent (Mentioned)
- Aztrias (Mentioned)
- Governor of Numalia (Mentioned)
- Demetrio (Mentioned)
Gods and Invocations:
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Dragons
- Rabbits (Mentioned)
- Rats (Mentioned)
- Buffalo (Mentioned)
- Gods (Invoked)
- Man-Serpents (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth
Items:
- Rion's Pendant
- Jade serpent
Events:
- Hyborian Age
- Battle of Venarium (Only in flashback)
Synopsis for "The Keepers of the Crypt"
After the events in CB 7, Conan fled to Nemedias neighbour country Corinthia, but is being tracked by Corinthian soldiers at the request of Nemedia. All but one of the soldiers are killed by an avalanche seemingly triggered by Conan, but the remaining soldier, Captain Burgun, a survivor of the Battle of Venarium, is quickly seemingly dispatched by Conan, who heads deeper into Corinthia. He finds the abandoned city Lanjau, guarded by a giant gila monster. Conan scrambles up a ruined building and pitches rocks down on the creature until he weakens it enough to plunge his sword into its soft belly. He begins to poke around the city but is surprised by the reappearance of Burgun. The two decide the treasure of the city, and the possibility of encountering more monsters, is more important than any feud they might have, so they explore the city together. They find a vast treasure room stocked high with gold and jewels. As they start to divide the horde, six mummified guardians step from their resting places and attack. The two men flee, and the midday sun destroys the undead guardians when they leave the room. But this starts a chain reaction that crumbles the entire city. Conan makes it out, but Burgun seems to be trapped inside the city as it falls. Conan makes his way to a village tavern and encounters Jenna, whom he is still mad at for stealing his gold in Shadizar, which she spent to buy the tavern. Conan is less angry with her than he normally would be, since he believes he has a whole bag of jewels to spend but is chagrined when he finds they have turned to dust. A jade serpent he also took has meanwhile turned into a true serpent, which is actually to Conan's advantage, as it kills the magistrate and distracts the Corinthian soldiers, who have finally caught up with him. Conan and Jenna flee the village on horseback.
Solicit Synopsis
Notes
- Cover art: modifications on woman by Romita.
- "The Keepers of the Crypt" is based on an "original synopsis" by Robert E. Howard, the unfinished fragment of "The Hall of the Dead".
- The synopsis was also completed as a story by L. Sprague de Camp.[1]
