From the mountains overlooking Luxur, walled capital of Stygia, Conan and Zulu surreptitiously approach, noting a seemingly unfinished pyramidal structure outside the city. Conan climbs a side wall, but is discovered by a guard, who he swiftly kills. He disguises himself in the guard's outfit, and has Zula act as his slave. They enter a tavern for information, and witness a large funerary procession pass by. A tavern wench explains to Conan that when an important citizen dies, the coffin is accompanied into the burial tomb outside the city by soldiers, priests, and slaves. Conan decides the best way to get into the palace is to disguise themselves as soldiers or priests and join the procession. Zula "liberates" the robes of some acolytes who had taunted him earlier, and, disguised, they sl