Queen Taramis

Queen Taramis
(circa "A Witch Shall Be Born")

Medium Female Human
5th Level Aristocrat

Hit Dice: 5d8 + 10 (34 Hit Points)
Initiative: +3 (dex)
Speed: 30 ft
AC: 14 (+3 Dex, +1 Dodge)
Attacks: Dagger +2 melee
Damage: Dagger 1d4 -1
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5ft
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +6
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 16
Skills: Diplomacy +12, Gather Information +12, Innuendo +9, Perform +12, Sense Motive +9
Feats: Dodge, Great Fortitude, Iron Will

Climate/Terrain: Khauran
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Lawful Good
Advancement: by Character class

Taramis was still beautiful, in spite of her rags and the imprisonment and abuse of seven weary months. She did not reply to her sister's taunts, but bent her head as one grown accustomed to mockery.

"You shall wring no more tears from me," said Taramis. "Too often have you reveled in the spectacle of the queen of Khauran sobbing for mercy on her knees. I know you have spared me only to torment me; that is why you have limited your tortures to such torments as neither slay nor permanently disfigure. But I fear you no longer; you have strained out the last vestige of hope, fright and shame from me. Slay me and be done with it, for I have shed my last tear for your enjoyment, you she-devil from hell!"

~Robert E. Howard, "A Witch Shall Be Born"

Taramis is the rightful queen of Khauran, until her throne is usurped by her twin sister Salome. Taramis is a kind and good queen to her people, and even offered Salome a special place when she discovered her sister was alive. The people of Khauran loved her and she had the loyalty of the people. She was famed for her virtue, justice and tranquility.

Combat

Taramis, like most court-raised women, can fight with a dagger. For the most part she depends on her royal guard to defend her.

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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