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 featured

 * 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 whereever 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