"The Altar and the Scorpion" by Robert E. Howard (1929)

Originally appeared in King Kull 1967.

Plot: Two lovers, flee Thuron, priest of the Black Shadow, for he plans to sacrifice them to his elder gods. The duo end up in the deserted temple of the Great Scorpion, to beg for divine intervention from the huge statue of a scorpion. Long ago, the boy's people had worshipped the scorpion god. Thuron captures the pair easily, tying them up. He cries out in pain as he realizes he has been stung to death by a scorpion. The pair pray in thanks to the scorpion altar as they wait for Kull to take the city and save them.

Monsters:

The Black Shadow - is not so much a god as a realm of evil, elder gods worshipped by Thuron and his cult.

The Great Scorpion - once worshipped it has since fallen from grace.

History: This story doesn't even feature Kull except off stage. The comic book adaptation was used as part of a Conan storyline. The story was faithfully rendered though it becomes only a scene in a much longer tale.

Comic adaption from Conan the Barbarian #52 (July 1975)

Adapted by Roy Thomas/Drawn by John Buscema and Tom Palmer

A little of this story seems to have found its way into the adaptation of "Swords of the Purple Kingdom" from Kull the Conqueror #9 July 1973 (Gerry Conway/Marie & John Severin)

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