I'll live while I'm alive and sleep...

CONAN discusses the afterlife with Belit, the pirate queen and his lover. he says of the afterlife,

"I seek not beyond death. It may be the blackness averred by the Nemedian skeptics, or CROM's realm of ice and cloud, or the snowy plains and vaulted halls of the Nordheimer's Valhalla. I know not, nor do I care. Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content"

From "Queen of the Black Coast"
Page 246. The Complete Chronicles of CONAN.

CONAN on the afterlife as offered by CROM, and religion in general

CONAN discusses religion and the afterlife with Belit, the pirate queen who is his lover, she asks him, "But what of the worlds beyond the river of death?"

"There is no hope here or hereafter in the cult of my people," answered CONAN. "In this world men struggle and suffer vainly, finding pleasure only in the bright madness of battle; dying, their souls enter a gray misty realm of clouds and icy winds, to wander cheerlessly throughout eternity"
Belit shuddered. "Life, bad as it is, is better than such a destiny. What do you believe, CONAN."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply."

From "Queen of the Black Coast"
Page 246. The Complete Chronicles of CONAN.

Again...

CROM, not offering much, but at least not asking much in return

CONAN talks about CROM

CONAN is discussing religion and belief with Belit, the Pirate Queen and his lover. She asks him about his own gods,

"Their chief is CROM. He dwells on a great mountain. What use to call on him? Little he cares if men live or die. Better to be silent than to call his attention to you; he will send dooms, not fortune. He is grim and loveless, but at birth he breathes power to strive and slay into a man's soul. What else shall men ask of gods?"

From "Queen of the Black Coast"
Page 246. The Complete Chronicles of CONAN.

CROM, doesn't seem to offer much, even to the devoutest follower, but since all he seems to asks in return is that you don't bother him, it seems like a reasonable exchange.

CROM: An introduction.

After CONAN has spent some time considering the complexities of the religions of the civilized men, he takes solace in CROM,

His gods were simple and understandable; CROM was their chief, and he lived on a great mountain, whence he sent forth dooms and death. It was useless to call on CROM, because he was a gloomy, savage god, and he hated weaklings. But he gave a man courage at birth, and the will and might to kill his enemies, which, in the Cimmerian's mind was all any god should be expected to do.

From "The Tower of the Elephant"
Page 83. "The Complete Chronicles of CONAN"

The First mention of CROM

King CONAN of Aquilonia is discussing the people of the north with his adviser Prospero, he says of them,

Their gods are CROM and his dark race, who rule over a sunless place of everlasting mist, which is the world of the dead.

I'm curious to see how CROM evolves through the stories, since apart from his use as an expletive, he's not getting mentioned very much so far.
But hey, now I play a waiting game!

From "The Phoenix on the Sword"
Page 29 "The complete Chronicles of CONAN"