Kamula was one of the "vanished elder cities" of Pre-Cataclysmic Age Valusia, located north of the kingdom's capital,[1] on the Northern Shore[3] and amid the hills of Zalgara.[4]
While an ancient map showed it in the Hyborian Age region of Shem-Stygia, that location is to doubtful.[1]
History
During the Age of Kull (circa 18,500 BC), Kamula was the seat of power of the province, residence of Ergon, baron of the Northern Shore.[3] It was also a resort city,[5] known as the "city of pleasure".[2]
The giant slug-like creature known as Zugthuu the Slitherer was held in the undergrounds of Kamula, Valusia, where the decadent court of Kamula (including the girl Zareta and Taligaro the poet) held twisted rites.[3]
On a visit of King Kull accompanied by Brule and a few Pict, the delegation was received by Ergon. After Ergon retired from Kull's presence, he went on to held another decadent ceremony, snatching one of the Picts, Grogar, for the ceremony. Kull interrupted the rite, slaughtering his hosts, then attacked the sluggish creature. While slashing it in vain, Kull recognized in its eyes a pain originated from the sadness of an intelligent mind locked in a primeval form. He stopped and instead set the monster aflame, as an act of inspiration or compassion. Before fleeing with Grogar, Kull saw gratitude in the eyes of the creature.[3]
Later, the warrior-queen Veria of Zarfhaana moved her troops on Kamula, after she had been told by traitorious Baron Kaanuub that Kull had slain her lover Zarkus in the subterannean city of Qar. Drugged, Kull was captured by Veria, but managed to eventually defeat Veria, and dethroned her.[6]
At some point, the Lord of Kamula sent assassins to kill Kull, intending to rule without intervention from the Topaz Throne, and have Kamula become the seat of power in Valusia. The attempt was thwarted notably due to the unexpected presence of the "Prince of Thieves".[7]Residents
- Court of Kamula
- Prince Mandara
- Baron Ergon - Baron of the Northern Shore
- Zareta
- Taligaro the poet
- Zugthuu the Slitherer - God cast into demonic form
- Laria of Kamula - King Kull's favorite consort
Notes
- Kamula was created in "Black Abyss"[8] (1967), a story completed by Lin Carter from an unfinished manuscript by Robert E. Howard[9] The story was adapted in "Beast from the Abyss" (Savage Sword of Conan #2; October, 1974) by Steve Englehart and Howard Chaykin.
See Also
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Savage Sword of Conan #35 ; A Gazetteer of the Hyborian Age, Part IV: Kamula's entry
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Savage Sword of Conan #199 ; The Pit
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Savage Sword of Conan #2 ; Black Abyss
- ↑ Kull the Conqueror (Vol. 3) #4 ; A Season of Black Death: Ridondo's story
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #14 ; A Kull Glossary, Kamula's entry
- ↑ Conan Saga #97 ; The Kull Comics Chronology: Battles Lost and Won
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #131 ; The Prince of Thieves
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #14 ; A King Kull Glossary, Kamula's profile
- ↑ Kull (short story collection) at Wikipedia