The path of the King; the epic story behind one of this year’s biggest games and a tribute to the author, Robert E. Howard, master of fantasy and father to both the Hyborian age and the genre known as sword and sorcery.

Set in the lands of Hyboria, Robert E. Howard’s epic series documents the many adventures of Conan the barbarian as he ventures across the lands in search of battle, fame and glory. As if as natural as the changing of the seasons, the vast lands and many kingdoms in which the stories take place are born of the ruins described in his previous series, Kull, the exile of Atlantis.

In creating the series, rather than fashion a world devoid of all reality, Howard, instead sought to re-write history and creates what he saw to be the ancient races predating those which would later dominate much of Europe and others of more exotic lands, including those of Egypt, Africa, South America, Arabia and the exotic lands of the far-eastern orient. Though, in reflection to the times of the Atlantian and Pictish wars, the Hyborian age was a relatively civilized one, with many of the great nations constructing  grand cities of towering castles and seeking advancement in the realms of philosophy, craft, poetry, art, culture and language. Nevertheless, the shadows of history are not so easily forgotten and memories of blood, battle and conquest have seeped deep into the heart of the ancient lands, still rallying men to take up arms and venture for in search of fame and above all else, honour and glory. Arcane rights and forgotten lore are also elements attributing to the this ancient world, most apparent in those lands of Hyboria, the dreamy planes of Stygia, whose people worship the dark god Set and those regions throughout Koth and the lowlands. Primal and savage practices of mysticism and Shamanism are still prevalent throughout those Pictish tribes whom have stayed pure-blooded and true to their ancestral heritage. Indeed, though the age of the Hyborians was of greater peace than that which came before it, war and bloodshed remained an un-ending reality.

Born of the barbarian tribe whom dwelt upon the looming mountain regions of Cimmeria, Conan was conceived upon the battlefield and spent those years of his early life learning the ways of the wild terrain which surrounded him and the ways of the blade, battle and bloodshed. Hardened and given strength by the great mountain, Conan, like all those of his barbaric tribe, was a warrior bred for battle and war and throughout the years of his life, his sword would drink the blood of countless foes. Strange is the fate of men and perhaps strangest of all, was the fate of Conan, the barbarian, whose path would see him rising from the life of a slave to later be crowned king of the most powerful kingdom of all, the Kingdom of Aquilonia.

Though it was always Conan’s destiny to be crowed king, this does not mean those years he spent upon the path leading to his crown were without glory. Upon his long journey, Conan’s path saw him take up many roles including a man-at-arms, a solider for several royal forces, personal guard, thief, assassin, buccaneer, pirate, rouge and a woodsman. Yet, beyond these fantastic careers and occupations possessed by the barbarian, Conan was at once, and above all else, a man with flaws and weaknesses the same as any other. An adventurer he was, Conan understood and held little love for what he saw as the civilized world, which seemed quick to hold the crude barbarian at arms length. Nevertheless, when required, he worked hard, leapt into action with little concern for his own safety, ate heartily, drank deeply, lusted freely and was always quick to laugh, yet even quicker to violent retribution, if shown even the slightest notion of disrespect. Conan, as the moody barbarian he was, lived from one day to the next and beyond his sword or the women by his side, he was little concerned with the ways of the world or of civilized men.

Though Conan travelled great distances through both the lands of Hyboria and beyond, perhaps some of his best adventures took place during his time as a pirate aboard the serpentine galley of Belit, the tigress whom was one of the only women to love and lust for battle and glory as the barbarian did or those long, bloody days he spent doing battle with the Pictish tribes along Thunder River.

Though Conan was one of Robert E. Howard’s later characters, he was without doubt, the author’s personal favourite and in taking the place left by Kull, the warrior exiled from his kingdom of Atlantis, carried on the tradition of pride and battle. Essentially, the very many adventures of Conan the barbarian first began with the story ‘The phoenix on the sword’ and unfortunately came to an un-timely ending in ‘Red nails’ which was the last piece Howard.

In the tradition of fantastic fiction, as written by previous masters such as Lord Byron, Robert, E. Howard had a clear love for fantasy which was clearly expressed in his works. However, this was only to be equalled with his love of glory, history and those ancient times buried deep within the shadows of the past. In giving rise to Kull and then Conan, Howard not only managed to write brilliant fantasy fiction, but provided the foundation for the genre which is today known as sword and sorcery and has gone on to inspire countless authors and young writers, myself included.

Robert, E Howard, the brilliant mind behind the adventures of Conan and not to mention the foundation of the years most anticipated gaming title, Conan; the Hyborian age – lived a life which was both short and tragic. Born January 22, 1906, Howard had written his first piece of fiction by the age of 10 and was writing professionally by the age of 17. However, with concern for his terminally ill mother, ongoing financial burdens and tormented by depression, his life, in a series of tragic circumstances, came to an end when he committed suicide on June 11, 1936. Sadly, Robert E. Howard was but 30 years old when he took his own life, leaving behind a legacy of fantasy none shall ever forget. In writing this article, I seek to provide those interested with the story of Conan the barbarian and the brilliant writer from whose mind he was birthed and to provide tribute to one of the greatest fantasy authors to have ever lived. Though he is sadly missed, Robert E. Howard will continue to live on through his works and in the hearts of fantasy lovers and writers the world over. In closing, I can only hope that he has been able to find the peace which he could not in life.