The ancient hierarchs of the desert city of Qjara fear the one called Conan. They do not want to let the strange northlander, who does not worship the One True Goddess, within their walls. But in the ding city of Sark, a soulless high priest wields the legendary Sword of Onothimantos and schemes for the return of the ancient gods. His schemes include sacrificing the city of Qjara to the Tree of Mouths--and only the dreaded Conan can save them.

When Conan puts Roganthus the Strongman out of commission in a street brawl he soon finds himself drawn in by the slender Sathilda and her pet panther as part of a travelling troupe. What starts as an innocent pastime turns into a deadly game when the circus is called to the Arena of the Stygian capital of Luxor. There they are forced to fight for their lives against exotic warriors and all manner of wild beasts. no one has yet survived the whims of the tyrannical Emperor Commodorus. And then there are the foul sorceries of the black-robed priests of the snake-god Set...

In the Ibar Mountains the necromancer Eremius is raising a demon-spawned army, using in of the fabled Jewels of Kurag. Snared in the court intrigues of Aghrapur, trapped by Lord Misrak, the King's deadly master of spies, Conan of Cimmeria must ride to comfort Ermius, accompanies against his will by the sorceress Illyanan. But Illyana herself carries the second Jewel, and whoever possesses both will gain power to challenge the gods. Plots and treachery loom at Conan's back, but those who seek to catch him in their web do not know that they face Conan of Cimmeria, Conan the Valiant.

In the ancient land of Nemedia, Conan of Cimmeria agrees to impersonate Baron Einharson's son to escape a foul prison cell--at least until he can escape completely with a pouch full of gold. But the Baron's daughter and a voluptuous rebel maiden have other plans for him.

In the jungles of Venji, Conan fights a war against the drug-crazed minions of the wizard Mojourna. But these are not his only enemies. Even the conjurings of Conan's own mind will be turned against him.

While traveling through the Border Kingdom, Conan meets a swordswoman who serves King Eloikas and learns that the dreaded Star Brothers have renewed their ancient, forbidden magical feats and summoned an insatiable creature from the depths of time.