Conan the Barbarian (Circa The Hand of Nergal) Medium-sized Human, 20 years  old Barbarian/Rogue/Fighter Level 1/3/1 Hit Dice: 1d12+3d6+1d10+20 (50 hp) Initiative: +4 (Dex) Speed: 40 ft. AC: 14 (Dex) Attacks: Longsword +7 melee Damage: Longsword  1d8+4 Face/Reach: 5 ft x 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks:   Rage, sneak attack +2d6 Special Qualities: Fast movement, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge Saves: Fort +9, Ref +9, Will +1        Abilities: Str 19, Dex 18, Con 18, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 17 Skills: Climb +12, Craft (blacksmithing) +5, Hide +6,  Intuit Direction +7,  Jump +10, Listen +7, Move Silently +12, Ride +5,  Search  +8, Wilderness Lore +6 Feats: Track,  Lightning Reflexes, Combat Reflexes, Power Attack Climate/Terrain:Corinthia Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 5 Treasure: Standard Alignment: Chaotic  Neutral Advancement: By Character Class.

Conan has enjoyed his taste of Hyborian intrigue.  With his own horse under him, the Cimmerian sets out to look over the civilized world, with an eye to making it his oyster.  He travels eastward into Turan, where he takes service in the armies of King Yildiz.  He does not at first find military services congenial, being too self-willed and hot-tempered to submit easily to discipline.  Moreover, being at this time an indifferent horseman and archer, in a force of which the mounted bowman is the mainstay, he is relegated to a low-paid, irregular unit.  Soon, however, a chance arises to show his true mettle. Combat Conan's fighting style is gaining structure at this period of time.  He is beginning to use the bow while mounted. Rage: Once per day, Conan can go into a rage and   increase his Strength and Constitution by +4, and gains a +2 morale bonus  to Will saves.  He suffers a -2 penalty to AC. Fast movement: Conan's speed is increased by +10 feet when wearing no armor, light armor, and shields. Sneak Attack: Canan strikes a vital spot for extra damage  whenever he catches an opponent flat footed or when he flanks an  opponent. Evasion: If exposed to an effect that allows a Reflex save  for half damage Conan takes no damage if that save is successful. Uncanny Dodge: Conan retains his dexterity bonus to his AC even when caught flatfooted or surprised.  He can sense danger before it even becomes apparent.

Note: although this story exists in pure form as a fragment, it doesn't really indicate what Conan was up to (just stating that he was on a battle field).  Due to this, I have opted to use the L. Sprague de Camp posthumous completion of this story.  It indicates Conan was in the military.  The military, even in Hyborian times, tends to impose training and other skills.  I opted to move Conan up in Fighter instead of Barbarian to reflect this more "civilized" training he would now be receiving at this period in his life... if the traditional chronology is used.  Of course, if one changes the chronology, then this whole exercise is moot - or else I would have to offer three or four variant Conans!  (which I might do sometime just for the heck of it, but don't expect it anytime soon.) Keep in mind that I am using the Miller-de Camp chronology for this version of Conan.  There are some problems with that chronology, but it is easy to use.

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"The Hand of Nergal" was a story that was begun by Robert E. Howard but was left unfinished.  L. Sprague de Camp finished the tale in the Lancer/Ace collection, "Conan".  The unfinished fragment (for you purists out there) can be found in "Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle", a new collection of Howard's Conan story - without pastiches and posthumous collaborations.

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