King CONAN is captured by a sorcerer.

The sorcerer Tsotha approaches King CONAN after a battle.

The black armoured figure loomed in terrible menace over the lean, silk-robed shape, the notched, dripping sword hovering on high.
"I offer you life, CONAN," said Tsotha, a cruel mirth bubbling at the back of his voice.
"I give you death wizard," snarled the king, and backed by the iron muscles and ferocious hate the great sword swung in a stroke meant to shear Tsotha's lean torso in half. But even as the host cried out, the wizard stepped in, too quick for the eye to follow, and apparently merely laid an open hand on CONAN's left forearm, from the rigid muscles of which the mail had been hacked away. The whistling blade veered from its arc and the mailed giant crashed heavily to earth, to lie motionless. Tsotha laughed silently.
"Take him up and fear him not; the lion's fangs are drawn."

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 46. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

King CONAN feels responsible for his subjects

King CONAN has been defeated and captured by a mix of sorcery and treachery, yet he refuses to sell out his people for the chance of his own survival.

He would not sell his subjects to the butcher. And yet it had been with no thought of any one's gain but his own that he had seized the kingdom originally. Thus subtly does the instinct of sovereign responsibility enter even a red-handed plunderer sometimes.

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 53. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

CONAN in black plate mail.

King CONAN stands as the lone survivor of an ambush that saw his host of 5,000 men slaughtered by 30,000. As the victors move in to capture King CONAN, we see a,

...grim iron-clad figure looming among the dead. Before the savage blue eyes blazing murderously from beneath the crested, dented helmet, the boldest shrank. CONAN's dark scarred face was darker yet with passion; his black armour was hacked to tatters and splashed blood; his great sword red to the cross piece.

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 46. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

Splendour is no match for vitality

CONAN is taken prisoner through a combination of ambush, deception and sorcery. He is brought before his gloating, enemies, Tsotha the evil sorcerer, and the silk wearing, divan lounging Kings, Strabonus and Amalrus. They try and impress him with their wealth and opulence, but it is to no avail.

In strong contrast stood CONAN, grim, blood-stained, naked but for a loin-cloth, shackles on his mighty limbs, his blue eyes blazing beneath the tangled black mane that fell over his low broad forehead. He dominated the scene, turning to tinsel the pomp of the conquerors by the sheer vitality of his elemental personality, and the kings in their pride and splendour were aware of it each in his secret heart.

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 49. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

Villains, with naked slave-boys...

CONAN is taken prisoner through a combination of ambush, deception and sorcery. He is brought before his gloating, enemies, Tsotha the evil sorcerer, and the  silk wearing, divan lounging Kings, Strabonus and Amalrus.

In front of him stood Tsotha, and on divans lounged Strabonus and Amalrus in their silks and golds, gleaming with jewels, naked slave-boys beside them pouring wine into cups carved of a single sapphire.

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 49. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

So far in,(About 500 pages) this reference to "naked slave-boys" is the only reference to imply homosexual activity that I've picked up on. There was some lesbian S. and M, but references to homosexuality, other than the subtle one here seem pretty much non-existent so far*.

I think this an instance that brings home how long ago the stories were written, when you read an implication of homosexuality being used to emphasise negative traits in the villains.
 

*Obviously I'm not counting the unavoidable homoerotic aspects of a series of books based entirely on the adventures of a largely shirtless, sun tanned guy that works out a lot! :-)

The evils of drink...

CONAN rescues Pelias who has been held captive by Tsotha an evil wizard for ten years. After their escape they stop to rest next to a table,

He caugth me helpless with drink, Wine is a curse- by the ivory bosom of Ishtar, even as I speak of it, the traitor is here! Friend, please pour me a goblet

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 64. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

Wine... it's evil, but ever so morish...

Where was CONAN from?

CONAN King of Aquilonia faces defeat after being lured into a trap,

In this stress all the venner of civilazation had faded; it was a barbarian who faced his conquerors. CONAN was a Cimmerian by birth, one of those fierce moody hillmen who dwelt in their gloomy, cloudy land in the north. His saga which led him to the throne of Aquilonia, was the basis for a whole cycle of hero-tales.

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 46. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

A vote for CONAN is a vote for low taxes!

After being defeated in a particularly sneaky way underhanded way, CONAN King of Aquilonia is taunted by his captors. He goads his captors by pointing out what a better job he had done looking after things than the hereditary monarch he killed to capture the kingdom had.

The land was torn with wars of the barons, and the people cried out under suppression and taxation. Today no Aquilonian noble dares maltreat the humblest of my subjects, and the taxes of the people are lighter than anywhere else in the world.

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 50. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

 Artwork displayed with the kind permission of the artist, Loopydave .
Please check out his web page HERE for more of his work.

A sorcerer threatens to make a scroll from the skin of CONAN's women.

After having been lured into a trap and defeated, CONAN has been captured Tsotha, an evil sorcerer. Before leaving CONAN to be fed to a giant snake in his dungeons, Tsotha asks,

What word from you shall I say to your women, before I flay their dainty skins for scrolls whereon to chronicle the triumphs of Tsotha-Lanti?

From "The Scarlet Citadel"
Page 52. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

As threats/brags go that's pretty hardcore, "I have defeated you, and now I'm going to flay your concubines to make a scroll to write about how I beat you on."
Bloody sorcerers!