Conan lore is probably the most contentious thing about the franchise, and Funcom today has clarified the focus of that lore in Conan Exiles when it hits early access later this month. The game is set specifically between Xuthal of the Dusk (The Slithering Shadow) and A Witch Shall be Born, a pair of stories written in 1933 and 1934. You’re not playing Conan himself, of course; you’re playing a character rescued from certain death by Conan.
“An enigmatic serpent bracelet has been placed around your wrist. It will kill you if you try to escape by crossing the huge Cursewall surrounding the Exiled Lands. The Cursewall is a powerful magical barrier which cuts you off from the outside world. Who has placed the bracelet around your arm? Why have you been exiled to this place for your alleged crimes and not just executed on the spot by those who brought you here?”
Excellent questions! We don’t know yet, but that’s the point. Funcom is building out the lore and focusing on its strengths: ancient civilizations, thieves and pirates, relic hunters, hidden treasure, buried secrets, abandoned temples, statues imbued with glyphs, decaying shrines, mystical cities, ghosts of the past — it’s all in the synopsis Funcom is spinning, and if you want to whip out your favorite “ALIENS” gif, we say be our guest.
“Conan Exiles does not only offer harsh survival and brutal combat, but also lets you explore a beautiful world filled with unique locations and a deep history,” Funcom concludes. “It is the rich world of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian brought to life by some of his greatest fans.” Check out the whole dev blog for the details.
