Original Art that accompanied the Weird Tales presentationThoth Amon's Demon of the Ring
(circa "The Phoenix on the Sword")

Large Outsider (Chaos, Evil)

Hit Dice: 15d8+45 (112 Hit Points)
Initiative: +2 (dex)
Speed: 30 ft
AC: 19 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural)
Attacks: Claw (2) +20 melee; Bite +20 Melee
Damage: Claw 1d6 + 5 melee, Bite 1d8 +5 melee
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Slam +25 melee (1d8), Rend 2d6+11
Special Qualities: Spell Resistance 19, Damage Reduction 25/+1, Scent
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +7
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 5, Wis 11, Cha 2
Skills: Move Silently +20, Listen +10, Spot +10, Search +19, Hide +4
Feats: Power Attack, Multiattack, Track

Climate/Terrain: Any
Challenge Rating: 14
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Advancement: by Character class

Above is the original Weird Tales artwork for "The Phoenix on the Sword."   As this was the first published Conan story, that makes this picture the first published drawing of our favorite Cimmerian.  the artist's name was Joyem Wilcox.

The caption reads "He reeled away from the wall and met the leaping horror with a cast of his axe."

Cover to the Marvel Comics adaptationSummoned by the power of Thoth-Amon's ring of Set, this shadowy creature is vaguely ape-like in appearance.  With a low broad forehead and glistening fangs, it walks with a simian gait.

Covered in wire-like black fur and wielding black claws, this terror can track like a ranger, doing so through scent.   Thoth-Amon sent the creature after Ascalante to kill him and all who were with him.  Unfortunately for Conan, the demon found Ascalante as that lord was trying to assassinate the Barbarian King in his sleep, so that made Conan one of the ones with Ascalante.   Luckily for Conan, Epimetrius had enchanted Conan's blade, allowing Conan to strike the demon.

It is single-minded in purpose, cannot be reasoned with, and shows no mercy whatsoever.  When slain upon the Material Plane, the creature's outline is permanently etched in black, dried, blood upon whatever surface it fell on.

Combat
It's typical attack method is to charge in among its foes and count on its damage reduction to ward off most attacks while it deals death.

Rend (Ex): If the demon hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This automatically deals an additional 2d6+12 points of damage.

This adaptation was by T. Patrick Rooney.  Please let him know what you thought of it, and I would like to thank him for working on it and sending it in for my website.  Another version of this critter can be found at the Hyborian Age d20 Site.

Robert E. Howard's story, "Phoenix on the Sword," was first published in Weird Tales in December of 1932.  It was the first published Conan story and was a rewrite of an unsellable King Kull story, "By this Axe I rule".  The story can also be found in the Ace/Lancer paperback "Conan the Usurper"; the Arkham "Skull Face and Others" and the Gnome Press collection "King Conan".  Thoth Amon appears in this tale, but he is not after Conan.  Conan just happens to be in the vicinity of Thoth Amon's real victim when the demon appeared.

 

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