Xuthal of the Dusk

"Xuthal of the Dusk" (a.k.a. "The Slithering Shadow") is a Conan the Barbarian story written by Robert E. Howard. First published in September, 1933.

Tropes used in Xuthal of the Dusk include:

• Bedsheet Ladder: Well, tapestries
• Chivalrous Pervert: When Thalis glomps on him before Natala, he's embarrassed
• Damsel in Distress: Natala
• Diamonds in the Buff: Conan stumbles on such a woman
• Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: Armed only with a normal sword Conan inflicts so much damage on Thog that it retreats back to wherever it is that it lives when not stalking the halls of Xuthal.
  • Broke Your Arm Punching Out Cthulhu: On the other hand Conan takes so much damage himself that he probably would have died if Natala hadn't given him a healing potion
• The Fatalist: In the city.
• Healing Potion: The golden wine
• Hollywood Mirage: Conan fears that he sees this and not a refuge
• Human Sacrifice: Thalis's society, in the Backstory
• It's a Small World After All: Conan is dropped on where Natala needs rescue
• Just in Time:
• Living Shadow: It slithers
• Look Behind You!: How Thalis escapes
• Magitek: Xuthal's seems to run on it.
• Murder the Hypotenuse: Thalis attempts it
• Not So Different: Is Thog so different from Human Sacrifice? (As if Conan's or Natala's people practiced it.)
• Schmuck Banquet: Natala fears it. Conan figures they are dying anyway
• Trap Door: A woman uses this on Conan
• The Underworld: Natala thinks they died and went to one
• Unwilling Suspension: Thalis to Natala
• You Can't Fight Fate: Thalis's advice
• Zerg Rush: Conan is nearly overcome