Conan's wanderings take him to Charnina and he catches his first glimpse of a city. True to form, he immediately gets in a brawl. He escapes to the rooftops as two opposing factions in the city carry on the fight. Conan then watches a fancily dressed rapier wielding Zingaran fight a spear wielding Pict in another corner of the city and decides to back up the outclassed Zingaran. Their battle ends with no victor as the soldiers chasing Conan catch up to him. Conan is saved by the Zingaran, Andamo, who explains that after the deaths of the kings of Hyperborea and Brythunia, a power struggle took place between Lords Pollus and Ludox, with most men choosing sides, causing endless street brawls. The two go to a local tavern where a truce is strictly enforced to talk, but the tavern is invaded b