CAS

CAS

Friday, August 31, 2012

Clark Ashton Smith - Some Ideas and Descriptions from his Stories 2



SPOILER WARNING!

If you have not read this story TURN BACK NOW! or risk losing forever the unspoiled appreciation of Clark Ashton Smith's prose.

Inspired by the rules and setting of the Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyberborea boxed set and the discussion of the same on the OD&D Forum I have started sifting through my collection of Clark Ashton Smith for ideas.


2). SADASTOR

Charnadis (Demon) - [MON]

Lyspial (Siren) - [MON]

Sadastor (Planet) - [PLC]

Charnadis

Sadastor

"...I found a vast and winding valley that plunged even deeplier into the abysses of this dreadful world. It was walled with perpendicular cliffs and buttresses and pinnacles of rusty-red stone, that were fretted into a million bizarrely sinister forms by the sinking of the olden seas. I flew slowly among these cliffs as the wound ever downward in tortuous spirals for mile on mile of utter and irredeemable desolation, and the light grew dimmer above me as ledge on ledge and battlement on battlement of that strange red stone upreared themselves between my wings and the heavens. Here, when I rounded a sudden turn of the precipice, in the profoundest depth where the rays of the sun fell only for a brief while at noon, and the rocks were purple with everlasting shadow, I found a pool of dark-green water - the last remnant of the former ocean, ebbing still amid steep, insuperable walls. And from this pool there cried a voice, in accents that were subtly sweet as the mortal wine of the mandragora, and faint as the murmuring of shells."

Lyspial

"...I am a siren, and my name is Lyspial. Of the seas wherein I swam and sported at leisure many centuries ago, and whose gallant mariners I drew to an enchanted death on the shores of my disastrous isle, there remains only this fallen pool. Alas! For the pool dwindles daily, and when it wholly gone I too must perish."

ADVENTURE IDEA

The Treasure of Sadastor

In a deep valley the demon Charnadis hides his treasure hoard on an isle at the center of a red lake. Each new moon the demon sacrifices a beautiful maiden so that he may remain on this plane of existence. Prevent the sacrifice and Charnadis will be dispelled and his treasure will be for the taking.

If only it were that simple.

At the center of a small lake of accursed water in the valley of Sadastor lies the isle of Lyspial, a vampiress-siren. She is bound to her lake and isle and must feed from the blood-red waters. It is she who sacrifices any that can be brought or lured to her isle. At its center is a small manor house and behind the manor a tall ash-tree. From this tree she hangs her victims by their heels while their blood and life essence flow from their slashed throats. A channel runs from the tree down to the waters of her lake.

Charnadis is the willing paramour and servant of Lyspial. The great winged demon has servants of his own, both human and demonic. The humans, members of a cult which worship Charnadis, spread rumors of the treasure of Charnadis and gather slaves to be sacrificed to Lyspial. But Lyspial hungers for men and women of strength and power as well as the blood of slaves, so that the rumors that bring treasure hunters and adventurers are as desired as a steady flow of life and blood of lesser men and women. Charnadis also steals a few succulent maidens for his own desires and for Lyspial to sacrifice.

The valley of Sadastor is home to a tribe of wild-men who worship Lyspial. They live in a series of caves that honeycomb the valley. They are armed with poisoned blow-pipes and arrows, nets, jars of enchanted smoke that make men sleep, etc... to aid in the capture of anyone entering the valley. They do not attack the human cultists and the slave caravans which they recognize by certain signs and emblems that the cultists use and wear within the valley.

Charnadis has at his command lesser demons and his human cultists.

Lyspial has at her command Charnadis, his servants, the tribe of wild-men and all within the valley. Within the lake there are many lacedon ghouls, the tree and the top of the manor is home to several harpys, and Lyspial has charmed several adventurers (future sacrifices) who attend her within her small manor-house and will fight for her.

The manor has many small luxuries and treasures but in a chamber beneath her bedroom is a treasure vault containing a respectable amount of gold and jewels and a number of magic items, weapons and armor gathered from slain adventurers. A greater gorgon guards this treasure.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

REH's Conan stories list of names and ethnicities


(Hopefully I haven't missed to many names or gotten the ethnicities wrong)


Abbreviations of Ethnicities

Acheron = Ach

Aesir = Aesir

Afghul = Afg

Aquilonian = Aq

Argossean = Arg

Bakalah = Bak

Brythunian = Bry

Corinthian = Cor

Dagonian = Dag

Hyrkanian = Hyr

Keshan = Kes

Khauran = Kha

Kothian = Kot

Kozaki = Koz

Kshatriyan = Ksh

Kushite = Kus

Kutchemesian = Kut

Messantian = Mes

Nemedian = Nem

Ophirean = Op

Pelishtim = Pel

Pict = Pict

Shemite = Shem

Stygian = Sty

Tlazitlans = Tla

Turanian = Tur

Vanir = Vanir

Xuchotlan = Xu

Yimsha = Yim

Zamboulan = Zamb

Zamoran = Zam

Zingaran = Zin

Zuagir = Zu


Acheron

Xaltotun - Ach


Aesir

Gorm - Aesir

Horsa - Aesir

Niord - Aesir

Wulfhere - Aesir


Afghul

Yar Afzal - Afg


Aquilonian

Albiona - Aq

Altaro - Aq

Arpello - Aq

Ascalante - Aq

Athemides - Aq

Balthus - Aq

Dion - Aq

Epemitreus - Aq

Gromel - Aq

Hadrathus - Aq

Namedides - Aq

Numedides - Aq

Orastes - Aq

Pallantides - Aq

Prosepero - Aq

Publius - Aq

Rinaldo - Aq

Servius Galannus - Aq

Soractus - Aq

Thespius - Aq

Tiberias - Aq

Trocero - Aq

Valannus - Aq

Valeria - Aq

Valerius - Aq

Volmana - Aq

Zelata - Aq


Argossean

Bracus - Arg

Demetrio - Arg

Galacus - Arg

Strom - Arg

Tito - Arg


Bakalah

Aja - Bak

Bajujh - Bak


Brythunian

Aratus - Bry

Natala - Bry


Corinthian

Ivanos - Cor

Muriela - Cor


Dagonian

Khosatral Khel - Dag

Yateli - Dag


Hyrkanian

Amurath - Hyr


Keshan

Gorulga - Kes

Gwarunga - Kes


Khauran

Ivga - Kha

Krallides - Kha

Salome - Kha

Taramis - Kha

Valrius - Kha


Kothian

Almuric - Kot

Arbanus - Kot

Constantius - Kot

Khossus - Kot

Sergius - Kot

Shupras - Kot

Strabonus - Kot

Taurus - Kot

Thespides - Kot

Tsotha-Lanti - Kot

Vateesa - Kot

Yasmela - Kot

Zorathus - Kot


Kozaki

Olgerd Vladislav - Koz


Kshatriyan

Bunda Chand - Ksh

Chunder Shan - Ksh

Devi Yasmina - Ksh

Gitara - Ksh


Kushite

Ajaga - Kus

Ajonga - Kus

Laranga - Kus

Shukeli - Kus

Yasunga - Kus


Kutchemesian

Thugra Kohotan (Nathok) - Kut


Messantian

Publio - Mes


Nemedian

Alcemides - Nem

Amalric - Nem

Arideus - Nem

Arus - Nem

Aztrias Petanius - Nem

Demetrio - Nem

Dionus - Nem

Enaro - Nem

Kalanthes - Nem

Kallian Publico - Nem

Nimed - Nem

Numa - Nem

Octavia - Nem

Posthumo - Nem

Promero - Nem

Tarascus - Nem

Taurus - Nem

Zenobia - Nem


Ophirean

Akkutho - Op

Amalrus - Op

Khossus - Op

Livia - Op

Olivia - Op

Theteles - Op

Tina - Op


Pelishtim

Bit-Yakin - Pel


Pict

Zogar Sag - Pict


Shemite

Belit - Shem

Gebal - Shem

Gilzan - Shem

Khumbanigasa - Shem

Servio - Shem

Zargheba - Shem


Stygian

Ctesphon - Sty

Kutamun - Sty

Rammon - Sty?

Tascela - Sty

Thalis - Sty

Thoth-Amon - Sty

Thothmekri - Sty

Thothmes - Sty

Thutmekri - Sty

Tuthamon - Sty

Yara - Sty?


Tlazitlan

Chicmec - Tla

Olmec - Tla

Tachic - Tla

Techotl - Tla

Tecuhltli - Tla

Topal - Tla

Xamec - Tla

Xecelan - Tla

Xotalanc - Tla

Yanath - Tla

Yasala - Tla

Zlanath - Tla


Turanian

Alafdhal - Tur

Ghaznavi - Tur

Jehungir Agha - Tur

Jelal - Tur

Jungir Khan - Tur

Kerim Shah - Tur

Khosru Khan - Tur

Yildiz - Tur

Yezdiderd - Tur


Vanir

Bragi - Vanir

Heimdul - Vanir


Xuchotlan

Tolkemec - Xu

Yimsha

Khemsa - Yim


Zamboulan

Aram Baksha - Zamb

Ghanara - Zamb

Nafertari - Zamb

Totrasmek - Zamb

Zabibi - Zamb


Zamoran

Shevatas - Zam


Zingaran

Belesa - Zin

Beloso - Zin

Galbro - Zin

Gebbrelo - Zin

Sancha - Zin

Tranicos - Zin

Valbroso - Zin

Valenso - Zin

Zaporavo - Zin

Zarono - Zin

Zingelito - Zin


Zuagir

Djebal - Zu


Misc. and Unkown

Akivasha - ?

Astreas - ?

Athicus - ?

Joka - ?

Murilo - ?

N'Gora - Island Kingdoms?

N'Yaga - Island Kingdoms

Nabonidus - ?

Ortho - ?

Pelias - ?

Petreus - ?

Satha - Giant Snake

Thak - Ape-Man

Tiberio - ?

Vathelos - ?

Yag-Kosha (or Hogah) - from the green planet Yag

Yelaya - ?

Zang - ?

Zarallo - ?


Compiled from Del Rey's The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian


The Phoenix in the Sword

Ascalante - Aq

Ctesphon - Sty

Dion - Aq

Epemitreus - Aq

Gromel - Aq

Numa - Nem

Numedides - Aq

Pallantides - Aq

Prosepero - Aq

Publius - Aq

Rammon - Sty?

Rinaldo - Aq

Thoth-Amon - Sty

Trocero - Aq

Volmana - Aq


Frost-Giant's Daughter

Bragi - Vanir

Gorm - Aesir

Heimdul - Vanir

Horsa - Aesir

Niord - Aesir

Wulfhere - Aesir


The God in the Bowl

Arus - Nem

Aztrias Petanius - Nem

Demetrio - Nem

Dionus - Nem

Enaro - Nem

Kalanthes - Nem

Kallian Publico - Nem

Posthumo - Nem

Promero - Nem


The Tower of the Elephant

Taurus - Nem

Yag-Kosha (or Hogah) - from the green planet Yag

Yara - Sty?


The Scarlet Citadel

Ajaga - Kus

Akkutho - Op

Amalrus - Op

Arbanus - Kot

Arpello - Aq

Athemides - Aq

Khossus - Op

Namedides - Aq

Pelias - ?

Satha - Giant Snake

Shukeli - Kus

Strabonus - Kot

Tsotha-Lanti - Kot


Queen of the Black Coast

Belit - Shem

N'Gora - Island Kingdoms?

N'Yaga - Island Kingdoms

Tito - Arg


Black Colossus

Amalric - Nem

Khossus - Kot

Kutamun - Sty

Shevatas - Zam

Shupras - Kot

Taurus - Kot

Thespides - Kot

Thugra Kohotan (Nathok) - Kut

Vateesa - Kot

Vathelos - ?

Yasmela - Kot


Iron Shadows In The Moon

Amurath - Hyr

Aratus - Bry

Ivanos - Cor

Olivia - Op

Sergius - Kot

Yildiz - Tur


Xuthal of the Dusk

Almuric - Kot

Natala - Bry

Thalis - Sty


The Pool of the Black One

Sancha - Zin

Zaporavo - Zin


Rogues in the House

Athicus - ?

Joka - ?

Murilo - ?

Nabonidus - ?

Petreus - ?

Thak - Ape-Man


The Vale of Lost Women

Aja - Bak

Bajujh - Bak

Livia - Op

Theteles - Op


The Devil in Iron

Ghaznavi - Tur

Gilzan - Shem

Jehungir Agha - Tur

Jelal - Tur

Khosatral Khel - Dag

Octavia - Nem

Yateli - Dag

Yezdiderd - Tur


Compiled from Del Rey's The Bloody Crown of Conan


The People of the Black Circle

Bunda Chand - Ksh

Chunder Shan - Ksh

Devi Yasmina - Ksh

Gitara - Ksh

Kerim Shah - Tur

Khemsa - Yim

Khosru Khan - Tur

Yar Afzal - Afg


The Hour of the Dragon

Akivasha - ?

Ajonga - Kus

Albiona - Aq

Altaro - Aq

Amalric - Nem

Arideus - Nem

Beloso - Zin

Demetrio - Arg

Gebal - Shem

Hadrathus - Aq

Laranga - Kus

Nimed - Nem

Orastes - Aq

Publio - Mes

Servio - Shem

Servius Galannus - Aq

Tarascus - Nem

Thespius - Aq

Thothmekri - Sty

Thothmes - Sty

Tiberias - Aq

Tiberio - ?

Tuthamon - Sty

Valannus - Aq

Valbroso - Zin

Valerius - Aq

Xaltotun - Ach

Yasunga - Kus

Zelata - Aq

Zenobia - Nem

Zorathus - Kot


A Witch Shall Be Born

Alcemides - Nem

Astreas - ?

Constantius - Kot

Djebal - Zu

Ivga - Kha

Khumbanigasa - Shem

Krallides - Kha

Olgerd Vladislav - Koz

Salome - Kha

Taramis - Kha

Valrius - Kha

Zang - ?


Compiled from Del Rey's The Conquering Sword of Conan


The Servants of Bit-Yakin

Bit-Yakin - Pel

Gorulga - Kes

Gwarunga - Kes

Muriela - Cor

Thutmekri - Sty

Yelaya - ?

Zargheba - Shem


Beyond the Black River

Balthus - Aq

Soractus - Aq

Tiberias - Aq

Valannus - Aq

Valerius - Aq

Zogar Sag - Pict


The Black Stranger

Belesa - Zin

Bracus - Arg

Galacus - Arg

Galbro - Zin

Gebbrelo - Zin

Strom - Arg

Thothmekri - Sty

Tina - Op

Tranicos - Zin

Valenso - Zin

Zarono - Zin

Zingelito - Zin


The Man-Eaters of Zamboula

Alafdhal - Tur

Aram Baksha - Zamb

Ghanara - Zamb

Jungir Khan - Tur

Nafertari - Zamb

Totrasmek - Zamb

Zabibi - Zamb


Red Nails

Chicmec - Tla

Tascela - Sty

Techotl - Tla

Tecuhltli - Tla

Tolkemec - Xu

Olmec - Tla

Ortho - ?

Tachic - Tla

Topal - Tla

Valeria - Aq

Xamec - Tla

Xecelan - Tla

Xotalanc - Tla

Yanath - Tla

Yasala - Tla

Zarallo - ?

Zlanath - Tla