Robert E. Howard's Conan From "The Tower of the Elephant" and "Rogues in the House" AS NPC For Sword of Cepheus 2nd Edition

 In Robert E. Howard’s original stories—specifically "The Tower of the Elephant" and "Rogues in the House"—Conan’s time as a thief in the cities of Zamora and Corinthia features a distinct version of the character. He isn't yet the seasoned general or king; he is a raw, hot-blooded, powerful teenager (around 17–18 years old) navigating the decadent, civilized "Maul" of Arenjun.

He lacks the refined street-smarts of a master rogue, but he completely makes up for it with peerless, cat-like barbarian reflexes, unmatched climbing ability, and an instinctual hatred for magic.

The following build details Conan during his Thieving Phase tailored specifically for the 2d6 OGL mechanics of The Sword of Cepheus (2nd Edition).

Gary Nord 2007 artwork 

Character Profile: Conan of Cimmeria (The Thief)

Age: 18

Species: Human

Career History: Barbarian (1 Term), Thief (1 Term)

Characteristics

Attribute	Score	Modifier	Notes
STR (Strength)	11	+2	Massive, muscular frame; devastating melee damage.
DEX (Dexterity)	10	+1	Cat-like, pantherish speed and climbing ability.
END (Endurance)	10	+1	Hardened by a brutal childhood in Cimmeria.
INT (Intelligence)	7	+0	Shrewd and observant, but unfamiliar with complex civilization.
EDU (Education)	4	-1	Illiterate at this stage; relies entirely on street wisdom.
SOC (Social Status)	3	-1	An outlander and a common rogue living in the slums.

• Stamina: 21 (END 10 + STR 11)

• Lifeblood: 10 (Equal to END)

---

Skills

In Sword of Cepheus 2e, skills are tight and impactful. Conan’s skill list reflects his survival instincts from his homeland layered over his new urban thievery.

• Athletics-2 (Running, leaping, and scaling sheer walls like the Tower of the Elephant)

• Combat (Blades)-2 (Wielding broadswords, hunting knives, and cutlasses with lethal force)

• Stealth-2 (Moving silently in the shadows of the Maul)

• Survival-1 (Tracking, hunting, and enduring elements)

• Recon-1 (Danger sense, spotting traps, noticing ambushes)

• Streetwise-1 (Navigating fences, taverns, and city scum)

• Carouse-0 (Spending every single piece of stolen silver on wine and women immediately)

---

Character Traits (2e Selection)

Under the 2nd Edition rules, characters earn Traits to specialize their capabilities. For a 2-term young Conan, the following two traits represent his iconic Howardian strengths:

Cat-like Reflexes

Conan possesses the uncanny agility of a mountain panther.

Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to all Dexterity checks involving balance, dodging, or leaping. When determining initiative, you may roll twice and take the better result.

Barbaric Will

A fierce, unpolluted mind that actively rejects and resists the unnatural pull of sorcery.

Benefit: You gain a +2 DM to all saving throws or task checks made to resist psychic attacks, sorcerous illusions, or mind-controlling spells.

---

Equipment & Combat Stats

At this stage in his life, Conan travels light. He despises heavy armor because it restricts the silent, fluid movements he relies on for survival.

• Armor: Leather Jerkin or Loincloth (Armor 1). Note: He often strips entirely naked or down to a loincloth when executing a major heist to ensure maximum silence.

• Primary Weapon: Broadsword (Damage: $3d6 + 2$ from STR modifier).

• Secondary Weapon: Hunting Knife / Dagger (Damage: $1d6 + 2$, easily concealed, can be thrown).

• Gear: Sturdy hemp rope, grappling hook, a pouch containing a few stolen silver coins (if he hasn't drank them away yet).

---

Playing "Thief-Phase" Conan in Cepheus 2e

When roleplaying or running this version of Conan as an NPC, keep these core behaviors in mind to stay true to Howard's writing:

1. The Overconfident Outsider: He openly mocks civilized thieves. In The Tower of the Elephant, he laughs at the "master thieves" of Zamora because they are too afraid to climb a tower. He relies on raw muscle and daring over intricate tools.

2. The "Spendthrift" Economy: Conan should almost never have money on his character sheet between adventures. He is driven by a cycle of: Get a massive hoard of gold $\rightarrow$ spend it all in a magnificent week of drinking and carousing $\rightarrow$ wake up broke $\rightarrow$ plot a new heist.

3. Instinctive Magic Hatred: He does not look at a sorcerer and think "what an interesting magical encounter." He looks at a sorcerer with visceral disgust and attempts to put a blade through them before they can finish chanting.