OSR Sword & Sorcery Campaign Commentary On Clark Aston Smith's The Isle of the Torturers

 Isle of the Torturers By Clark Aston Smith is one of those stories that get's under my skin. It's been awhile since I've worked on our Zothique campaign setting. And this afternoon it was time to crack the Clark Aston Smith books & we came to one of his best in my humble opinion. According to the Wiki entry; ""The Isle of the Torturers" is a short story by American author Clark Ashton Smith as part of his Zothique cycle, and first published in the March 1933 issue of Weird Tales." 
There are couple of questions that hit my mind right off the bat with a rereading of The Isle of the Torturers By Clark Aston Smith. For instance what the Hell is the Silver Death & why is the star Achernar coming so close to Earth's Zothique? The star Achenar is real and according to it's wiki entry; , also known as Alpha Eridani,The system bears the traditional name of  Achernar  (sometimes spelled Achenar), derived from the Arabic khir an-nahr, meaning "The End of the River". Which is interesting because the story almost implies that the universe is contracting enabling this star to appear in the night sky to rain down  the metallic debris known as the Silver Death. Or is it that he star Achenar has become a wanderer in this far future millions of years down the line. 
And what about this magic ring that was prepared by the  sorcerer Vemdeez?! This magic ring protects it's wearer from the effects of the Sliver Death but at what cost? Nothing is explained about the origin of this ring?! According to the text of Isle of the Torturers; "Now Vemdeez had cast the horoscope of Fulbra; and though he found therein certain ambiguities that his science could not resolve, it was nevertheless written plainly that the king would not die in Yoros. Where he would die, and in what manner, were alike doubtful. But Vemdeez, who had served Altath the father of Fulbra, and was no less devoted to the new ruler, had wrought by means of his magical art an enchanted ring that would protect Fulbra from the Silver Death in all times and places. The ring was made of a strange. red metal, darker than ruddy gold or copper, and was set with a black and oblong gem, not known to terrestrial lapidaries, that gave forth eternally a strong aromatic perfume. The sorcerer told Fulbra never to remove the ring from the middle finger on which he wore it — not even in lands afar from Yoros and in days after the passing of the Silver Death: for if once the plague had breathed upon Fulbra, he would bear its subtle contagion always in his flesh; and the contagion would assume its wonted virulence with the ring's removal. But Vemdeez did not tell the origin of the red metal and the dark gem, nor the price at which the protective magic had been purchased." This could be a prime hook for a DM to get the player's PC's to be sent on a series of quests to get the ingredients for what will become the ring of Vemdeez.
And what of the Silver Death it'self?! There seems to be no way to escape it. Yet, the coming of it was foretold in horoscopes, dreams, prophecies, and more. Was there anyway to prepare for this cosmic disaster!? 
What is it with the Isle of Uccastrog?! They have more then a fever for the art of torture and pain. They remind me of Clive Barker's Cenobites from the Hellraiser films in which the people are absolutely insane and the Silver Death is definitely warranted to exterminate them. However how many adventurers and victims had fallen into their twisted hands over the centuries. And could the PC's save some fool from this kingdom's tender mercies?! 
Then there's the fate of the magic ring of Vemdeez?! What happens when and if it surfaces again as relic magic items often seem to? Will the Silver Death follow it's magical trail? Could the adventurers be on a quest doom to failure to save the world from the on coming threat?!
Isle of the Torturers is one of CAS's finest stories but for me it opens many,many, doors for adventures and campaigns set on Zothique itself.