Questions and Answers from the Grim, Grey God (#3)
1. Dunlang Removing His Armor
- Why in the world did Dunlang remove the golden mail?! Dunlang removing his armor could be interpreted as an act of fatalistic resignation or honor. He may have felt that no physical protection could save him from the prophecy, choosing instead to meet his fate with dignity and vulnerability. It also underscores the futility of material defenses against the supernatural inevitability of death.
3. Why Borri Chooses Conan
- Borri, a supernatural being appears to Conan to tell him it is the time of the passing of kings and more. Perhaps this is because Conan is destined to become a king himself? Why does this deity choose to relay this to Conan? Especially since the gods of this time appear to be indifferent to men. Could it be that Conan simply possesses an awareness of the supernatural that others don't have? Is it because he percieves that Borri interacts with him?
- Borri’s choice to speak to Conan reflects Conan’s unique role in Howard’s mythos as a man deeply connected to the primal and supernatural. Conan's awareness of the unseen world sets him apart from other mortals, allowing him to perceive gods and spirits where others cannot. Borri’s interaction might stem from Conan's destiny to rise as a king, implying that Borri acknowledges Conan's future significance in shaping history.
5. The Valkyries and the Worthy Dead
- Why the nod to the Valkyries? What does this tell us about the author's intent?
- The Choosers of the Slain, akin to Norse Valkyries, reflect the story's mythological underpinnings. Their presence highlights the importance of dying with honor, a value central to both Viking and Howardian worlds. The reference reinforces Howard's intent to weave cultural and mythological threads into the narrative, imbuing the Hyborian Age with a sense of universality and timelessness.
6. Hyperborea’s Decline -How do we know?
- Evidence of Hyperborea’s decline includes its reliance on slaves, treacherous court politics, and a lack of strong, honorable leadership. Malachi’s cowardice and Kormlada’s scheming illustrate moral decay, while the crumbling power of Borri reflects the diminishing spiritual vitality of the kingdom. These factors suggest a society moving away from its former greatness into barbarism.
7. Why This Battle Ends Borri
- Borri’s demise coincides with the culmination of Hyperborea's spiritual and moral collapse. Without worshippers to sustain him and altars to uphold his presence, Borri fades into irrelevance. The battle, a final desperate act of a dying civilization, serves as the last spark of his waning power.
8. Borri’s Motivation- What is he after?
- Borri’s demand for souls likely stems from his nature as a war god, who draws strength and sustenance from sacrifice and conflict. His satisfaction from the harvest of kings suggests a cosmic balance, where the death of rulers signals the end of an era and the beginning of another.
9. Conan’s Growing Understanding of Leadership- What is he learning?
- Across the first three issues, Conan encounters leaders whose failings highlight the qualities he will later embody as a king:
- The Beast-Men King: Tyranny and cruelty.
- Malachi and Tomar: Cowardice and deceit.
- These experiences contrast with Conan’s ideals of bravery, personal responsibility, and the barbarian ethic of leading by example. They shape his vision of kingship, preparing him to rule as a leader who fights alongside his people.
10. Conan’s Silence Toward Malachi - Why not confront him?
- Conan’s decision not to confront Malachi might stem from pragmatic restraint. As a slave in unfamiliar territory, Conan likely prioritizes his survival and escape over settling moral scores. Alternatively, he might view Malachi’s cowardice with disdain, deeming him unworthy of confrontation.
11. Dreamlike Spiritual Experiences- Why doesn't he remember?
- Conan’s recurring doubt about his supernatural encounters reflects the fleeting and ambiguous nature of spiritual experiences in Howard’s world. These visions often blur the line between the tangible and the ethereal, emphasizing Conan's role as a bridge between the mortal and supernatural realms.
12. The Barbarian’s Nobility
- Conan’s remark about Cimmerian kings fighting alongside their warriors reinforces the idea that barbarism embodies a raw, noble purity absent in “civilized” societies. The Hyborian Age continually juxtaposes the barbarian’s authenticity and honor against the decadence and cowardice of civilization.
13. The Death of Gods
- Borri’s statement that “even the gods must die when their altars crumble” underscores the symbiotic relationship between gods and their worshippers. In Howard’s world, deities derive their power from belief and devotion. Without followers to sustain them, gods like Borri fade into obscurity, mirroring the decline of the civilizations they represent.Borri’s fading power implies that he was once revered and sustained by a flourishing society. Gods in Howard's mythos often reflect the vitality of the cultures that worship them, so Borri's decline suggests that Hyperborea’s strength has waned alongside its spiritual devotion.
Evidence of Decay in the Hyborian Age- How do we know?
Architectural and Cultural Decay
- While not explicitly detailed in this story, Hyperborea is frequently described in Howard's broader works as possessing ancient and impressive structures, now in ruin or disrepair. This decline in infrastructure symbolizes a broader societal degeneration from a more advanced past.
Reliance on Slavery
- Slavery in Hyperborea can be interpreted as a marker of decline. Advanced civilizations in Howard's world often devolve into dependence on servitude, abandoning the industriousness and ingenuity that once elevated them. The heavy use of slaves suggests stagnation and the loss of self-sufficiency.
Court Intrigue and Corruption
- The scheming of figures like Kormlada indicates a shift from noble governance to petty power struggles. In its heyday, Hyperborea likely had more unified and visionary leadership, as evidenced by its ability to rise to prominence in the first place.
Military Weakness and Overconfidence
- Hyperborea’s reliance on manipulation and deception, as well as its lack of competent leaders like Malachi, points to a civilization that once thrived through strength but now clings to power through cunning and exploitation.
Reputation and History
- Hyperborea's reputation in the Hyborian world as a historically powerful and influential kingdom suggests that it was once a center of strength and culture. Its decline is framed as a fall from grace, consistent with Howard's theme of cyclical rise and decay.
By drawing from these elements, the narrative implies that Hyperborea, like many of Howard’s fictional civilizations, reached great heights before succumbing to the inevitable forces of corruption and entropy. This framework reflects Howard's broader philosophy that no civilization remains invincible; all are destined to crumble under the weight of their own excesses.
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