Men speaks of a city, milord... A collection of buildings and towers unlike ant mankind had seen in a thousand years... ...A city which crumbled... ...but which left its foundations intact ! 
History
Ancient Valusia[]
Qar was a lost city in ancient Valusia, when Thuria was young and Atlantis a volcano. The people of lost Qar, a race of which little is known, were destroyed by Poison Flowers, though this explanation was lost to the modern Valusians.
The city eventually crumbled, though its foundations remained intact, under the City of Wonders. At some point, a monstrous worm or demon known as the Lurker Beneath the Earth came to inhabit Qar, poisoning waters in his trail. Qar became stuff of myth and legend.
In the days of Tu's grandfather (allegedly in the earlist days of Valusia), a nameless mage was exiled. Soon after, the waters of the city were poisoned by a subterranean well. A party of men, including Tu's grandfather's brother, went beneath the city. Only two returned, carrying tales of undescriptible horror. The exiled sorcerer was sought and executed by Valusia's king, brining soon afterwards an end to the poisoning of the waters.[1]
Age of Kull[]
Growing in Thule, the scholar Malakar sought to unravel that legend.[1]
Kull's rule[]
During the rule of Kull over Valusia, Malakar, now the palace librarian, finally received proof of Qar's existence, thanks to scrolls brought to him by Zarkus, an adventurer of Zarfhaana. Malakar urged Kull to search for the knowledge and wealth of Qar, but was scolded by Tu who recounted his grandfather's tale, which convinced Kull to reject Malakar's plea.
In the following days, water turned fetid in seven precincts of the city. While Kull, Brule and Zarkus investigated a woman who had slipped into a fouled fountain, killing her, the Lurker Beneath the Earth (summoned by the pipping of a flute used by Malakar for that purpose) passed beneath the street, shattering it.
After this event, Kull summoned Malakar, announcing they would go to Qar, but Malakar would be led there as a captive, suspecting his treachery. Along with Brule, the Black Legion (including newly-recruited Zarkus), and the Red Slayers carrying oil and wood to burn Qar to stop the poisoning. Upon finding the Vault of Tamorr, Malakar was thrilled but learned of Kull's intent. Drugging his Black Legion guard, Malakar used the flute to summon the Lurker. Zarkus found and slew Malakar, stopping the Lurker in his battle with Kull. The oil and wood were used to destroy the monster. However, Zarkus was distracted from the task by Poison Flowers, and succumbed to their poisonous fragrance had the race of Qar did.[1] The City Beneath wasn't seemingly destroyed as intended.
The disciples of Kodatha, the Monkey God, used aqueducts beneath the city, sewers that served a city long before Valusia. There, pursuing murderous Kodatha disciples, Kull battled them and Kodatha himself, who was summoned by his worshipers but slain instants later.[3]Points of Interest
Residents
- Lurker Beneath the Earth
Notes
- Qar is possibly inspired by Quar, one of the ancient cities of Men in Lin Carter's Thongor stories.
See Also
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Kull the Conqueror #6
- ↑ Conan Saga #97 ; The Kull Comics Chronology: The Evil Beyond - The Horror Below
- ↑ Savage Sword of Conan #120 Night of the Monkey