Artaban of Shapur, general of King Yildiz's army, in debt because of his gambling addiction, attacks a ship of his country to repay his debt. Discovered, he accepts a suicide mission to avoid being hanged. The King Yildiz ordered him to eliminate the pirates of the Vilayet sea led by Conan the Cimmerian, Artaban finds them but fails in his brutal attempt. After winning a naval battle against the pirates, Artaban fled with his men, so Conan and his crew were able to survive. Unable to return to Turan, Artaban sought to put the rejected oldest brother of the King, Teyaspa, on the throne.

Map of the Hyborian age :