Conan the Barbarian Synopsis
In a setting which is parallel to the Middle Ages lives a young Prince Lukas. Lukas is royalty of an unnamed Empire but is the youngest of many sons and thus not important to his father or his court. Lukas is sent to a remote province of the Empire to govern but he becomes bored and resentful of his duties. Chosing to instead explore the lands, Lukas stumbles upon and discovers the Tomb of Conan. The Prince is mystified and enraptured by the sight, wondering what kind of great warrior inhabits the tomb. The Prince shares the discovery with his court with only his Vizier knowing of the truth of what he has found. The two go through the tomb with the Vizier sharing with Lukas the legend of Conan, one of the greatest stories ever told that has been long forgotten, narrating the story to both Lukas and the audience.
Centuries past in the Hyborean Age, A sword is forged by a blacksmith, who then shows it to his young son, Conan, as he tells him of the "Riddle of Steel", an aphorism on the importance of steel to their people, the Cimmerians. The Cimmerians are later massacred by a band of raiders led by Thulsa Doom; Conan's father is killed by dogs, and his sword is taken by Doom to decapitate Conan's mother, aided by Doom's entrancing gaze. The children are taken into slavery and chained to work a large mill, the Wheel of Pain. Conan survives into adulthood, becoming a massive, muscular man. His master eventually trains him to be a gladiator; after winning countless fights and receiving training and education in the East, Conan leads a slave revolt, killing his captors and freeing hundreds of slaves in his first great act of heroism. He is soon chased by wild dogs and seeks refuge in an Atlantean warrior's tomb, where he retrieves an ancient sword. Conan wanders the world, befriending Subotai, a cheerful Hyrkanian thief and archer, and Amon Thoth a bumbling and nervous wizard who has been shunned by his peers for his lack of magical talents, but is embraced by Conan as a friend.
The trio form a band of adventurers and roam the lands taking on quests and challenges. In the Zamorian city of Arenjun, also known as the "City of Thieves," Conan drinks in a tavern. He overhears a Kothic rogue describe a fabulous jewel known as the "Heart of the Elephant," which is kept in a tower by an evil sorcerer named Yara. While Conan is at first ambivalent, he hears that Yara has recently aligned herself with Doom as one of his favored sorcerers. Remembering his trauma, Conan then becomes motivated to go after Doom andventures to Yara's estate with Subotai and Amon.
Conan ventures into Yara's garden to steal the jewel and encounters Taurus of Nemedia, known as the "Prince of Thieves," who has the same agenda. Taurus is wily and fat, but amazingly agile. Impressed by Conan's daring, Taurus agrees to work together with the group. After battling lions in the tower gardens, the thieves ascend Yara's spire. Upon reaching the top, Taurus enters a treasure vault and is killed by the venomous bite of a giant spider. Conan crushes the spider with a chest of gems, then continues his search for the Heart of the Elephant. The trio then continue further into the tower, reaching an enchanted hall full of protective magics which Amon after some great struggle is able to counter and defuse, with the group entering the Heart.
In the heart, Conan discovers a strange being with the body of a man and the head of an elephant. The creature, Yag-kosha, is a blind and tortured prisoner of Yara. Yag-kosha reveals to Conan through a ballad the pre-cataclysmic saga of his people, their arrival on Earth, and how he taught Yara the art of magic only to have his apprentice betray him. At Yag-kosha's request, Conan grabs the fabled jewel, kills the being, extracts the heart from his corpse, and drips its blood over the Heart of the Elephant with Amon performing a ritual of Yag-kosha's design. When Conan sets the blood-infused relic in front of Yara in his sleeping-chamber, the gem's magic shrinks and draws the sorcerer into the jewel. Inside, a revived Yag-kosha, limbs and wings restored, pursues the screaming Yara, and the Heart vanishes. The trio then escape the tower after battling Yara's cult, leaving just as the tower collapses with no treasure having been gained.
Conan then sets out on a quest, seeking to grow stronger and find all the powers he can to defeat Doom. After some time, the group journeys into the south far beyond the civilized lands. They stumble across a thief named Valeria who is searching for the fabled city of Xuchotl which is said to be made of emeralds. Valeria and Conan grow close together and start to form a bond. As the two share an intimate moment, Conan and Valeria are attacked by a dinosaur like creature (a plated Allosaurus) which mauls their horses. Conan and Valeria escape the dragon by climbing onto a rocky outcropping. Though they are trapped there without food or water, Conan recognizes some poisonous fruit growing nearby. Acting quickly, he coats the tip of a spear in poison and pierces the dragon's lower jaw with a well-aimed throw. Although blinded, the enraged beast pursues the two fugitives by their scent, but dies from the poison seconds before devouring Conan.
The couple after reuniting with Subotai and Amon emerge from their shelter and journey towards a mysterious walled city, which Conan sighted from the hill. Without grazing livestock or cultivated fields, the city appears deserted. Conan pries open a gate, long since rusted shut, and they enter a bizarre twilight world. The city, which is known as Xuchotl, is a massive structure completely enclosed by an emerald dome. A single great hallway runs across the entire city, without other streets or open courtyards. The structure consists entirely of four levels of rooms, chambers, and passageways. Xuchotl itself is carved from jade and other exotic materials.
The four separate and search the city's empty corridors with Conan and Valeria traveling together. Valeria encounters a man named Techotl, who she joins in his feud between the two factions which are all that remain of the once large population. Soon, Techotl invites Conan and Valeria into the stronghold of his tribe, the Tecuhltli, where are welcomed by the king and queen, Olmec and Tascela. Subotai and Amon find an elderly man and rescue him from Xotalanc's soldiers. The man thanks the pair and is greatful for their arrival along with Conan and Valeria, saying cryptically for with new blood shall come two more red nails and his vengance shall be complete before descending into the catacombs. Subotai and Amon then join Conan and Valeria as they are welcomed by Techulti reoyalty.
Olmec recounts that the city was built centuries before its current inhabitants arrived. One day, a slave — Tolkemec — betrayed his master and guided the newly arrived invaders into the city while slaying the original inhabitants. The conquerors were led by two brothers, Tecuhltli and Xotalanc, who ruled peacefully over their city until Tecuhltli stole Xotalanc's bride. Meanwhile, Tolkemec betrayed both sides for his own reasons and was exiled to the catacombs. Nails driven into a pillar inside of Olmec's stronghold keeps count the number of slain rivals, and provides the title for this story.
Tascela develops an interest in Valeria, and has a slave try to drug her with a narcotic plant. Valeria manages to capture the slave and interrogates her into revealing her mistress' treachery, but the slave escapes into the catacombs. Valeria's pursuit is interrupted when Xotalanc's army breaches the stronghold. Eventually, all of Xotalanc's troops are exterminated while Conan, Valeria, Subotai, Amon Olmec, Tascela, and fifteen Tecuhltli warriors remain alive with Techotl having died by taking a blade meant for Conan. When Conan along with Subotai and Amon begins an expedition towards Xotalanc's stronghold, Valeria is left behind while her wounds are treated.
While Conan is away, Olmec tries to rape Valeria, but Valeria fights him off and then he is thwarted by Tascela. She reveals herself as a sorceress and the stolen bride who originally started the feud. Vampire-like, Tascela plans to sacrifice Valeria to restore her own youth. Olmec has secretly ordered his guards to execute Conan, but Conan kills the two warriors and hurries back for Valeria. Returning to Tecuhltli, Conan finds a bruised Olmec in a trap inside Tascela's dungeon. After rescuing him, Olmec attempts to betray Conan and is killed.
Conan faces off against Tascela, who has Valeria chained on an altar. Caught in a steel trap, Conan watches helplessly as Tascela proceeds with her ritual. Suddenly she is interrupted by Tolkemec, returned from his exile and wielding an ancient sceptre shooting lightning bolts. Amon and Subotai arrive with Subotai handling Tascela's guards while Amon protects both Conan and Valeria from the lightning with his magic. After freeing herself, Valeria impales a fleeing and electrocuted Tascela with a dagger through her heart, declaring, "I had to do that much for my self-respect!" Recognizing Subotai and Amon, Tolkemec lets them live and bids them farewell, asking they never return and let this city be forgotten to time.
Some more time passes and the group is wealthy and happy, achieving great fame and fortune through their exploits. Valeria wishes for Conan to settle down and for them to raise a family but Conan is restless and still greatly uneased for Doom's continued living. In the morning the group is confronted by city guards bring them to King Osric with other adventurers in audience, who requests they rescue his daughter, Princess Yasimina, now a zealot in Doom's cult, for a handsome reward. Almost all refuse due to lack of interest or fear of Doom, but Conan in his hatred of Doom and desire for vengeance boldly proclaims he shall bring Doom's head. Conan's confidence and charisma unit the many mercenaries and adventurers to follow him in his quest, although Valeria is ill at ease, fearing that Conan is digging his grave.
Conan in his arrogance leads a large band to the Temple of Doom where he believes he can just smash in and kill Doom, though Valeria advises caution and believes the plan is reckless, Conan in his blind hatred continues on. The Band attacks Doom and despite valiant fighting, against superior magics and the strength of Doom's Army are no match and they get destroyed with only Conan's friends escaping while Conan is captured after rushing to Doom and managing to grievously wound the sorcerer. Doom lectures him on the power of flesh, which he demonstrates by hypnotically enticing a girl to leap to her death. He then orders for Conan to be crucified on the Tree of Woe. The barbarian is on the verge of death when he is discovered by his friends and brought to ancient ruins for rest. Amon says he may be able to bring Conan back with the aid of spirits but warns that there is a heavy price that must be paid, one that Valeria says she shall be willing to bear. These spirits also try to abduct Conan, but he is restored to health after Valeria and Subotai fend them off.
Subotai, Amon and Valeria agree to help Conan complete Osric's quest and infiltrate the Temple of Set. As the cult indulges in ritualism the thieves attack and flee with the princess, but Conan is unable to engage Doom, who has magically transformed into a large snake and slithered away. Valeria is mortally wounded by Doom after he shoots a stiffened snake at her with his bow. She dies in Conan's arms, acknowledging the price of the "toll" forewarned by the wizard in exchange for Conan's life; she is cremated at the Mounds, where Conan prepares with Subotai and Amon to battle Doom. Conan asks Crom, the god of his people, to grant him revenge. By using booby traps and exploiting their terrain, they manage to slay Doom's warriors when they attack. Just when Rexor is about to overcome Conan, Valeria reappears for a brief moment as a Valkyrie to save him from the mortal blow. After losing his men, Doom shoots a stiffened snake at the princess. Subotai blocks the shot with his shield, and stabs his Atlantean sword through Doom's heart, ending his reign of evil and avenging his parents but at the sorrowful cost of Valeria.
Conan then returns the princess to Osiric and rides off somberly into the sunset with Subotai and Amon at his side. The film then ends with a return to Lukas and the Vizier, with the Prince begging for more stories of Conan. The Vizier promises to share more at another day. As the two prepare to leave, Lukas discovers Conan's sword and poses with it in a motion similar to Conan at the beginning of the film.
