The Hall Of The Dead

[MGBM]

Here's a question for Vincent.

In the synopsis that Howard wrote for The Hall Of The Dead, a story he never got to write, Howard mentions that Conan goes to an ancient abandoned city and go into a palace, into the the treasure chamber.

The thing I'm curious about is the "warriors of a by-gone age [that] lay about in life-like positions."

Then Howard writes that when Conan lifted a jaded serpent form an altar the warriors came back to life. Conan flees and when the warriors follow him to the outside, they crumple to dust because of the sun.

My question: Are these warriors some kind of undead? (I presume so because of the title of the story) How decomposed were the warriors, were they like the day they were put there or are they mere skeletons?

Thanks.

 

[VincentDarlage]

Since Howard did not describe them further, I would say it is up to your imagination.

They could be preserved, mummified, skeletal or even statues.

 

[thulsa]

Are these warriors some kind of undead? (I presume so because of the title of the story) How decomposed were the warriors, were they like the day they were put there or are they mere skeletons?

Dark Horse featured this story in Conan #31. Here, the undead are skeletal but some have dried pieces of flesh still in place. When they are struck by weapons, body parts fall off accompanied by clouds of ancient dust.

- thulsa

 

[VincentDarlage]

In addition, L. Sprague de Camp described them as seven foot tall mummies in his written version.

They were also shown in Marvel's Conan the Barbarian #7 as being somewhat mummified.

So it is really up to you how you want them presented.

 

[Mythos]

I'd take the mummy image a step further.
When seen inside the hall the warriors have the look of ancient bodies that have been dried and left to mummify naturally. In addition, they are covered in the acculated dust and detrus of a thousand years.
As they start to revive the first thing anyone would notice is the sound. Not the sound of dried undead coming back to life but instead the sound of dried flesh creeking and cracking as the withered muscles expand and take on new life.

Look as the shrunken forms expand to once again fill out the armour they so proudly wore eons ago. Gasp in horror as these ancient guardians now have the ability to once more move in defense of their holy temple. The true horror occurs, however, when the realization comes that these guards are not returning to life but an un-natural half life. For the skin has not returned to the flexibility of human flesh. Instead it has split to allow the new growth underneath. Hollow sockets in the skull do not grow new eyes. Lambet flames of green, red and amber have taken the place of those long decayed orbs.

What seemed an eternity of horror has passed in mere moments only to give birth to new terrors. For now these abominations of the past start to move. Not only move but to show awareness of there surroundings. And the weather blown gathered coverings of dust and leaves does not just fall away. It desolves into nothing as the armour and weapons sparkle and gleam in the half light. these are now longer the rust encased relics of centuries past. Before you now stand the half living temple guards bearing their new shined weapons and oiled armour from those ancient days.

The trick is not in saying "mummy". We've all seen mummies in other rpgs, films and TV. What is needed to give that extra jolt is to come up with a new way to describe mummies.
Instead of a withered corpse in ancient dust covered armour, you now have fresh gleaming muscle showing out through dried decaying skin. Rust and weather wear of the equipment gives way to weapons and armour that have the apperance of coming fresh from the forge.

Even if the stats behind your screen are for stock mummies, these are things your players have not seen before. To them your throwing some sort of new monster. you've forced them to rethink their plans. And all you've done is change the flavor text.

 

[MGBM]

I'd take the mummy image a step further.

Good one!

Thanks!

 

[Krushnak]

mythos thats a really nice idea, and ill be shamelessly borrowing from it for a haunted island encounter during my pirate campaign. thanks.