King Tarascas of Nemedia

Tarascas
(circa "The Hour of the Dragon")

Medium Human
15th Level
Fighter

Hit Dice: 15d10 (25 Hit Points)
Initiative: +7 (+3 dex, +4 imp. initiative)
Speed: 30 ft
AC: 20 (+2 Dex, +8 masterwork full plate)
Attacks: Longsword +19/+14/+9 melee
Damage: Longsword 1d8 + 6 melee
Face/Reach: 5 ft by 5 ft/5ft
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +8, Will +7
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 15
Skills: Bluff +11, Diplomacy +11, Ride +18, Knowledge (War) +10
Feats: Weapon Specialization (Longsword), Weapon Focus (Longsword), Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Combat Reflexes,
Mounted Combat, Improved Critical, Power Lunge, Expert Tactician, Leadership, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Initiative

Climate/Terrain: Nemedia
Challenge Rating: 15
Treasure: None
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Advancement: by Character class

Zenobia
Princess Akivasha
Publio
Valerius
Thutothmes
Demetrio

Tarascas, the younger brother of the king of Nemedia, threw in with Orastes, Valerius, and Amalric to resurrect Xaltotun in a bid to remove Conan from the throne of Aquilonia. Tarascas wanted to be king of Nemedia. Xaltotun made sure, via magic, that this happened.

Tarascas is famed in all the western nations as a swordsman. He managed to steal the Heart of Ahriman from Xaltotun, ultimately sending Conan on his quest to retreive it. He has a henchman named Arideus (5th level rogue).

Howard wrote The Hour of the Dragon in four months at the behest of a British publishing house, in hopes he could finally become a full fledged novelist. Unfortunately, as described in the afterword, the publisher went under and Howard ended up selling the story to Weird Tales instead. The magazine published it in five issues, the last issue coming out only two months before Howard died. It was thus the last Conan story which he saw published.

Robert E. Howard's story, "The Hour of the Dragon," was first published in Weird Tales as a five part serial, beginning in December of 1935 and ending in April 1936. It is Robert E. Howard's only Conan full length novel. The story can also be found in the Ace/Lancer paperback "Conan the Conquerer"; and the Gnome Press collection "Conan the Conquerer". It is also available in the Burkley/Putnam edition, "The Hour of the Dragon". This is easily my second favorite Conan tale of all time (following "The People of the Black Circle")

Karl Edward Wagner called it "one of the best novels ever written in the epic fantasy genre" and I certainly agree.

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