Rejecting the proposal of Arshak, the successor of Qobad Shah, to return to service in Iranistan and defend the kingdom against invasions by Yazdigerd, king of Turan, Conan heads east—to the foot of the Khimelians? Mountains in the northwest border of Vendia. There he becomes the war leader of the wild Afghuli tribe. Conan is a little over thirty years old (more precisely, thirty-three); he is in the prime of his physical strength. His fame has spread throughout the civilized and barbarian world, from Pictish lands to Khitai.