⚔️ The Devil in Iron – A Classic Conan Tale

Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan the Barbarian, wrote some of the most vivid tales of sword and sorcery. Among them stands The Devil in Iron, first published in Weird Tales magazine in August 1934. It combines lost civilizations, dark sorcery, and Conan’s raw strength in a struggle against the supernatural.

Below, I retell this story in a condensed form for readers of my blog.

🌊 The Isle of Xapur and the Awakening of Iron

The tale begins on the remote isle of Xapur, in the Vilayet Sea. A storm drives a Yuetshi fisherman to its shores. Exploring the ruins of a strange dome shattered by lightning, he finds a golden block with a gigantic man lying upon it, a jeweled dagger across his chest.

Greed overcomes fear. The fisherman takes the dagger, but the body stirs. The man is no corpse—he is Khosatral Khel, an ancient demon-god, whose body is living iron. Once slain and bound by sorcery, he is now revived. The fisherman is crushed instantly. The Devil in Iron has returned.

👑 Jehungir Agha’s Deadly Scheme

Meanwhile, on the mainland, Jehungir Agha, lord of Khawarizm, faces raids from the wild Kozaks. Their leader is none other than Conan. Unable to defeat him in battle, Jehungir conspires with his advisor Ghaznavi.

They plan to lure Conan into a trap by using a captive: the proud and beautiful Octavia. If Conan can be drawn to Xapur, Jehungir believes he can finally destroy him.

⚔️ Conan in the Ghostly City

When Conan hears that Octavia is on the isle, he ventures to Xapur. But the ruins are no longer ruins. Through the power of Khosatral Khel, the lost city of Dagon rises once more, its towers and walls gleaming green against the sky.

Inside, Conan finds strange inhabitants—men and women who move by night, but fall into lifeless slumber by day. In the heart of the city, seated upon a copper throne, waits Khosatral Khel, the giant of living iron, against whom no mortal blade can prevail.

🐍 The Serpent Guardian

In his search for Octavia, Conan battles a monstrous serpent coiled before the copper throne. The struggle is brutal, but with sheer strength he splits the beast. Bloodied yet unbroken, he presses deeper into the city’s mysteries.

🌌 The Meteor Blade and the Fall of Iron

Conan discovers a secret chamber containing the meteor-knife—a blade forged from a fallen star. Ages ago, the Yuetshi priesthood used this very weapon to defeat Khosatral Khel. Only such star-forged steel can pierce iron flesh.

Armed with this weapon, Conan confronts the towering demon. The battle shakes the ruins. Ordinary swords rebound uselessly, but the meteor blade bites deep. Black ichor spills, and Khosatral roars like tortured metal.

Finally, with one last stroke, Conan strikes the heart of iron. Khosatral Khel falls—and with him, the city of Dagon crumbles back into dust.

🌅 Dawn and Departure

Conan rescues Octavia, and together they flee the isle. As dawn rises over the Vilayet, the ruins fade into silence. The Devil in Iron has been vanquished, and the tale of Xapur sinks back into legend.

Howard’s story reminds us why Conan endures: his indomitable will, his brutal courage, and his survival against horrors both human and inhuman.

🎶 To capture the spirit of this tale in music, here is my new video inspired by the legend:

👉 Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/smxeJSRwDyk

📖 For more stories and creative works, visit my blog: www.sasteriaworld.com

Click here - Sasteria's Music Jukebox

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