Drums of Tombalku

Introduction

Featuring Conan the Cimmerian. Howard left both an untitled synopsis and an unfinished draft that was not published in his lifetime. The tale was finalized by L. Sprague de Camp and in this form first published in the collection Conan the Adventurer (1966). It has first been published in its original form in the collection The Pool of the Black One (Donald M. Grant, 1986) and later in The Conan Chronicles Volume 1: The People of the Black Circle (Gollancz, 2000) and Conan of Cimmeria: Volume Two (1934) (Del Rey, 2005).

Fragment/draft and a synopsis. The fragment in The Pool of the Black One was bowdlerized when it appeared.

“Drums of Tombalku” begins with Amalric, a wandering Aquilonian, entangled in a treacherous desert encounter that leads him to confront perilous foes and grapple with mysterious forces. The unfinished draft weaves themes of survival, betrayal, and the supernatural as Amalric and Lissa, a mysterious girl from the enigmatic city of Gazal, strive to escape from both human and otherworldly threats.

See also: Drums of Tombalku (synopsis).

Summary

The story opens with Amalric and two Ghanatas, Gobir and Saidu, at a desert water hole. Their tense camaraderie is disrupted when Tilutan, a towering and formidable black warrior, arrives carrying an unconscious white girl, Lissa, across his saddle. Tensions rise as Tilutan’s dominance looms over the group. Amalric remains outwardly indifferent but calculates his next move as the Ghanatas argue over who will claim Lissa after Tilutan.

Amalric uses the chaos to launch a deadly assault, killing Gobir and engaging in a brutal fight with Saidu. The conflict escalates as Tilutan intervenes, nearly overpowering Amalric. By a twist of fate, Tilutan trips on his unwound girdle, allowing Amalric to seize the scimitar and kill him.

Amalric tends to the revived Lissa, who reveals she escaped the city of Gazal, a decrepit oasis settlement steeped in mystery and isolation. The two journey to Gazal, where Amalric discovers a decaying city inhabited by dreamlike, listless people and dominated by a sinister red tower. Lissa warns Amalric about the “Horror” that resides within the tower, a being that devours human lives.

As night falls, Lissa disappears, and Amalric, driven by rage and fear, storms the red tower to rescue her. Inside, he confronts Ollam-onga, a supernatural being with the guise of a man but the essence of a god. Using a magical incantation learned from a distant land, Amalric binds the entity into a mortal form and defeats it in a desperate fight.

Amalric and Lissa flee Gazal, but their escape is shadowed by seven black riders emerging from the ruins. Just as they seem doomed, they are rescued by a band of Tombalku riders led by Amalric’s old companion, Conan the Cimmerian. Conan explains how he survived a previous defeat and rose to power in the chaotic, war-torn kingdom of Tombalku.

Amalric is reluctant to join Conan’s life of intrigue, now focused on protecting Lissa. The story ends with the two men reuniting under uneasy circumstances, as Amalric weighs his loyalty to Conan against his commitment to Lissa.

Characters

  • Amalric: The protagonist, a wandering Aquilonian swordsman. He is resourceful, skilled in combat, and deeply protective of Lissa.
  • Tilutan: A massive and powerful Ghanata warrior, known for his brutality and skill with the scimitar. He is ultimately defeated by Amalric in a desperate struggle.
  • Gobir: One of the two Ghanata companions of Amalric, opportunistic and treacherous. He is killed during Amalric’s ambush.
  • Saidu: Gobir’s companion, a wiry and ruthless Ghanata. He fights Amalric fiercely but is killed by Tilutan’s misplaced attack.
  • Lissa: A mysterious girl from Gazal with violet eyes and an innocent demeanor. She is haunted by her city’s decay and seeks to escape its horrors.
  • Conan the Cimmerian: A barbarian warrior and Amalric’s former companion. Now a leader among the Tombalku riders, he offers Amalric refuge and camaraderie.
  • Ollam-onga: A supernatural entity residing in Gazal’s red tower. It is depicted as a terrifying godlike being that Amalric defeats through cunning and sheer determination.
  • Sakumbe: A black king of Tombalku and Conan’s ally, who rises to power with the help of the sorcerer Askia.
  • Zehbeh: An Aphaki king of Tombalku, rival to Sakumbe and a representation of the divided factions in the city.
  • Askia: A powerful sorcerer and ally of Sakumbe, who solidifies his influence over the kingdom with black magic.
  • Tombalku Riders: A mixed group of desert nomads and warriors who serve as Conan’s army, showcasing the chaotic and multicultural nature of Tombalku.

Published in:

L. Sprague de Camp completed an entire story based on these which appears in the following places: