The Gods of Bal-Sagoth

Introduction

Featuring Turlogh Dubh O’Brien, “once a chief of Clan na O’Brien”. It was accepted for Strange Stories in May, but published in Weird Tales in October 1931.

We learn this from a letter (#129) Howard wrote to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa May 1931.

I got back from Mineral Wells yesterday and was somewhat gratified to find a letter waiting me from Farnsworth accepting “The Gods of Bal-Sagoth” — a Turlogh O’Brien tale — for Strange Stories — $140.00.

In a letter (#180) to Lovecraft, Howard just makes a short mention of it:

I hope you liked the “Bal-Sagoth” yarn. As for “The Black Stone” my story appearing in the current Weird Tales, since reading it over in print, I feel rather absurd. The story sounds as if I were trying, in my feeble and blunderingly crude way, to deliberately copy your style.

Alternate title:

THE BLOND GODDESS OF BAL-SAGOTH.

Synopsis

After a savage battle with Vikings and a subsequent shipwreck after being blown far off course, Turlogh O’Brien the Gael and his friend-enemy Athelstane the Saxon wash ashore on a mysterious island. Swiftly embroiled in rescuing a scantily clad blonde girl from a giant dinosaurian bird, they discover that the girl is actually a Viking princess, Brunhild. She explains to them that they have washed up on the Isle of the Gods, the “oldest land in the world”. It transpires that the devil-bird the men killed was Groth-golka the bird god, the last of an ancient race that preyed upon the local people of the island’s city-state for innumerable generations.

Having had the worst of it in the palace takeover she had plotted, Brunhild now enlists the aid of Turlogh and Athelstane to help her try and take power once more. Their main enemy is Gothan, an ancient priest who has enjoyed an unnaturally long life. Together with the menace of Gol-goroth the god of darkness, this is the countervailing political force the girl intends to overthrow.

In a tumultuous battle of champions, the Mesoamerican society of the island is conquered and Brunhild becomes their queen.

Gothan strikes from hiding, using his own hypnotic powers, ape-men assassins and a nameless Thing, a black-skinned demonic giant which is only killed with great difficulty. Then, whether from supernatural causes or sheer coincidence, Brunhild is crushed to death beneath the peculiar enormous statue of Gol-goroth and the local people rise up against the two fighting men. Turlogh and Athelstane slaughter their way to safety as the city burns around them and take to a boat, sailing from the lost island and on to new adventures.

Characters

  • Turlogh O’Brien: The main protagonist, a skilled warrior.
  • Athelstane: Turlogh’s comrade, a formidable fighter.
  • Brunhild: A woman claiming to be a goddess, seeking to reclaim her throne.
  • Gothan: A powerful and ancient priest of the dark god Golgoroth.
  • Ska: A king ruling Bal-Sagoth, opposed by Brunhild.
  • Gelka: An acolyte who plays a pivotal role in the story’s climax.
  • Zomar: A chief and guard commander loyal to Brunhild.

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