Set in mythical Hyborian versions of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan (Vendhya and Afghulistan respectively), “The People of the Black Circle” opens with the death of the emperor of Vendhya, leading to the ascension of his sister, Devi Yasmina, who vows to exact vengeance on his killers, the Black Seers of Yimsha. Meanwhile, Conan has become chief of a tribe of Afghuli hillmen. Seven of his warriors have been captured by the Vendhyans and Yasmina intends on using the hillmen as collateral to force Conan into killing her enemies. Conan infiltrates the fortress where his men are imprisoned and kidnaps Yasmina instead, with the intent of exchanging her for his seven men. Khemsa, an acolyte of the Black Seers, in love with the devi’s maid Gitara, executes the captured hillmen and pursues Queen Yasmina to kill her as well. Conan escapes into an Afghuli village. Yar Afzal, chief of the village, is murdered by Khemsa and the natives accuse Conan. Conan manages to escape with Yasmina. Khemsa and Gitara catch up with Conan and Yasmina, but they are interrupted by four rakshasas in service of Yimsha. The rakshasas kill Gitara, throw Khemsa down a cliff, stun Conan with an ancient spell, and capture Yasmina. Yasmina is mentally tortured by the head Black Seer. Khemsa survives his fall off the cliffside long enough to give Conan a magic girdle. Kerim Shah and a tribe of Irakzais encounter Conan. They join forces to rescue Yasmina and approach the lair of Yimsha. Following Khemsa’s advice, Conan succeeds in killing the Black Seers and rescuing Yasmina. As they escape, the two encounter a Turanian army in battle with Conan’s tribe of hillmen. A Vendhyan army, invading the mountains to rescue their queen, hoins the fight. They defeat the Turanian army. Conan leaves with the hillmen and Yasmina returns to her country.
Description Set in mythical Hyborian versions of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan (Vendhya and Afghulistan respectively), “The People of the Black Circle” opens with the death of the emperor of Vendhya, leading to the ascension of his sister, Devi Yasmina, who vows to exact vengeance on his killers, the Black Seers of Yimsha. Meanwhile, Conan has become chief of a tribe of Afghuli hillmen. Seven of his warriors have been captured by the Vendhyans and Yasmina intends on using the hillmen as collateral to force Conan into killing her enemies. Conan infiltrates the fortress where his men are imprisoned and kidnaps Yasmina instead, with the intent of exchanging her for his seven men. Khemsa, an acolyte of the Black Seers, in love with the devi’s maid Gitara, executes the captured hillmen and pursues Queen Yasmina to kill her as well. Conan escapes into an Afghuli village. Yar Afzal, chief of the village, is murdered by Khemsa and the natives accuse Conan. Conan manages to escape with Yasmina. Khemsa and Gitara catch up with Conan and Yasmina, but they are interrupted by four rakshasas in service of Yimsha. The rakshasas kill Gitara, throw Khemsa down a cliff, stun Conan with an ancient spell, and capture Yasmina. Yasmina is mentally tortured by the head Black Seer. Khemsa survives his fall off the cliffside long enough to give Conan a magic girdle. Kerim Shah and a tribe of Irakzais encounter Conan. They join forces to rescue Yasmina and approach the lair of Yimsha. Following Khemsa’s advice, Conan succeeds in killing the Black Seers and rescuing Yasmina. As they escape, the two encounter a Turanian army in battle with Conan’s tribe of hillmen. A Vendhyan army, invading the mountains to rescue their queen, hoins the fight. They defeat the Turanian army. Conan leaves with the hillmen and Yasmina returns to her country.
