Olgerd Vladislav
(circa "A Witch Shall Be Born")

Human Fighter
13th Level

Hit Dice: 13d10 + 26 (98 Hit Points)
Initiative: +2 (dex)
Speed: 30 ft
AC: 12 (+2 Dex)
Attacks: Scimitar (Chaldees Knife) +17/+12/+7 melee
Damage: Scimitar (Chaldees Knife)1d8+4
Face/Reach: 10 ft by 5 ft/15ft
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +4
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 15
Skills: Listen +8, Spot +8, Search +7, Ride +19
Feats: Power Combat, Combat Reflexes, Power Lunge, Cleave, Mounted Combat, Mounted Archery, Trample, Ride-By Attack, Spirited Charge, Dodge, Expertise, Skill Focus (Ride)

Climate/Terrain: Khauran
Challenge Rating: 13
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Advancement: by Character class

The other was dressed like the Zuagirs in a white, girdled khalat and a flowing head-dress which, banded about the temples with a triple circlet of braided camel-hair, fell to his shoulders.  He was as tall as Conan, though not so heavy limbed.  His shoulders were broad and his supple figure was hard as steel and whalebone.  A short black beard did not altogether mask the aggressive jut of his lean jaw, and gray eyes cold and piercing as a sword gleamed from the shadow of the kafieh.

Olgerd Vladislav is a former hetman of the Zaporoskan kozaki turned chief of a Zuagir tribe.  He is a hard man, and toughness is the only quality he respects in a man.  He misjudges Conan, however, and Conan removes him from his position.  Olgerd lives, however, and may return later to harass Conan in a search for vengeance.

Combat

Olgerd Vladislav fights with his Chaldees Knife, a type of scimitar.

Published in the December 1934 issue of Weird Tales, this story has probably the most famous scene in the entire Conan series.  It is probably the most famous scene in all of Howard's writing, and perhaps even in the entire genre of fantasy.    Anyone who has read "A Witch Shall Be Born", while perhaps forgetting the characters and/or plot, will never forget Conan's crucifixion.  

As Karl Edward Wagner put it, "Conan in agony, helpless, close to death-crushing the vulture's neck in his teeth-enduring the ordeal of the felling of the cross- impatiently ripping the nails out of his feet with his mangled hands- holding onto the saddle on a frenzied mount... the episode dominates the story and the series.  Better than any other scene, it underscores Conan's barbaric vitality and indomitable soul.  The scene overshadows the remainder of the story- and "A Witch Shall Be Born" is an excellent story.  It is Conan at his best- defeated and condemned to a hideous death, fighting back through his barbaric strength and iron-willed determination, ultimately triumphant in the final battle, dooming his enemies to a just vengeance."

Karl Edward Wagner also said this of the story: "It is a measure of Howard's confidence in his mastery of the narrative that he no longer felt it necessary to waste pages describing various anatomy Conan can hack apart.  After the crucifixion scene, we know Conan is tough."

The story was given a Margaret Brundage cover featuring Salome torturing her sister Taramis with a cat-o-nine-tails,  and a Hugh Rankin interior illustration (if anyone out there has a scan of this interior illustration, I would appreciate being emailed a copy).

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