Man Eaters of Zamboula

"Man-Eaters of Zamboula" (a.k.a. "Shadows in Zamboula") is a Conan the Barbarian story written by Robert E. Howard. First published in November, 1935.

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Tropes included

• Badass Boast: Conan gets one when faced by the professional strangler.
• The Dulcinea Effect: Conan aids a random woman he meets on the street.
• The Gambling Addict: Conan gets his room in advance so he doesn't gamble the money away
• Human Sacrifice: One man goes to break Conan's neck for this
• If I Can't Have You: The intended love potion drives her lover mad so that he attacks her, because she got it from a man she repulsed.
• Infallible Babble: Warns about the Inn of No Return.
• Inn of No Return
• Love Makes You Crazy: Conan flattes Zabibi with this.
• The Man Behind the Man: The prince, it is said, is ruled by his mistress
• Master of Illusion: Conan realizes he's fighting these
• Moral Myopia: Since the slaves murder only strangers, the townsfolk don't care.
• Neck Snap: Used for human sacrifice
• Pillow Pistol: Conan sleeps with his steel
• The Power of Blood: Why no blood can be shed during the sacrifice
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: The Evil Sorcerer has 'em
• Ring of Power: the Star of Khorala
• The Reveal: Zabibi is the mistress of the town's ruler
• Sacred Hospitality: Conan is warned about the inn by a man he had traveled with for many month, and stayed in his tent.
• Tampering with Food and Drink: Zabibi slips her lover something
• Town with a Dark Secret: cannibals.