Conan and the Grim Grey God

Plot

In the prelude, taking place three thousand years before Conan's time, a raiding force from the evil Empire of Acheron descends on the Holy City of Nithia, located at an oasis deep in the desert, inhabited by devotees of the peaceful, benevolent god Ibis. The attackers systematically massacre the entire population, their goal being to gain possession of the Grim Grey God - an extremely powerful and extremely evil magical artifact, which the Ibis priests have guarded for many centuries - not to use, but to prevent it from being used. The Acheronian general, having killed all the priests, holds the Grim Grey God and gloats - but then a magic loosed by the dead Arch-Priest of Ibis drowns him, his soldiers and the entire city in sand.

Nithia remains buried under the desert for three thousand years, a fabled City of Brass whose location no one knows. But eventually winds uncover it, it is seen by a passing smuggler - and a map drawn by the smuggler falls into the hands of the pirate captain Conan. To him, the statue of the Grim Grey God reputedly buried in Nithia's ruins represents treasure - he is not initially aware of its dark magical antecedents. But rivals also seek the plunder of Nithia, including Jade, empress of the thieves' guild, Toj the assassin, and two necromancers convinced that the statue will give them the power to restore the reign of darkness over the world, as in the days of ancient Acheron.