SERPENT SCEPTER

Classification: Talisman of Mystic Power

Creator: The Worm

First Appearance: (Vaguely referenced) Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#2 (May, 2020);
    (as Scepter of Set) Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3 (June, 2020);
    (as Serpent Scepter) Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4 (November, 2020)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Serpent Scepter allowed a mortal to wield the power of the Serpent Crown while resisting Set's will. 

    The Serpent Scepter by itself allows its user to incapacitate others, even ones as powerful as the underwater Namor the Sub-Mariner (who can lift around 100 tons). 

    Combined with the Serpent Crown, the Serpent Scepter provides vast power (presumably greater than the sum of the power of the two), including transporting foes across the planet.

    However, the combined power of the two mystic items is generally too much for a mortal form to survive. 

    Even beings with mystic powers such as the Sect of the Red Serpent would find their forms consumed by the energies of the gods powering the weapons, leaving behind only a skeleton.

    The 9' tall, apparently superhumanly strong and durable, extremely intelligent, and highly-educated Imus Champion could briefly utilize the power of the two items, but not without extreme pain. Continued use of both items apparently proved fatal even to him. 

    The "Ring of the Sect of the Red Serpent," when contacted by one who had been exposed to the blood of priests of Set, would transport that being and at least one ally to the land nearby the Serpent Scepter. The Ring could also levitate and force itself onto the finger of said being and then guide that being to the Scepter. 

History:
(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4 (fb)) <Many millennia ago (presumably in the Hyborian era)> - The followers of the serpentine Elder God Set spread death and tyranny across Earth. Every sacrifice empowered Set, but for the most zealous followers, this was not enough. In their eyes, the priests of Set had grown fat and complacent, and so they formed their own secret faction, the Sect of the Red Serpent. Basking in the bloodbath as the sect slaughtered temple after temple, Set's rival the Wyrm sought to sow further discord among Set's followers.

    The Worm began to whisper to the Sect of the Red Serpent. He planted in their minds the notion the notion that a treacherous god such as Set was most truly worshipped by treachery -- by being defied. 

    The Worm presented Set's traitorous priests with the Serpent Scepter, an artifact that allowed a mortal to unlock untapped powers of the Serpent Crown while still resisting Set's will. 

    Together, the Serpent Crown and the Serpent Scepter should have been unstoppable. But when the Sect of the Red Serpent tried to use their combined power, they found it too much for the frail human frame.     

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4 (fb) - BTS) - The Serpent Scepter was hidden by the ragged remnants of the Red Serpent. It was to be discovered only by one who had proven himself by bathing in the blood of Set's priests.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3 (fb) - BTS) - Apparently the "Ring of the Sect of the Red Serpent" was created to guide such a person to the Serpent Scepter. 

(Savage Sword of Conan I#8 (fb) - BTS) - Circa 8000 B.C., another Cataclysm occurred, further shifting the landmasses.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4 (fb) - BTS) - In the modern era, Hell-lord Mephisto sought to escape from Las Vegas' Hotel Inferno, in which he had been mystically bound. He appreciated that time-displaced Hyborian warrior Conan of Cimmeria, who had slaughtered many priests of Set, would be able to locate the Serpent Scepter. In combination with the Serpent Crown, Mephisto believed its power could free him. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#1 (fb) - BTS) - Mephisto allied with multi-billionaire megalomaniac Imus Champion to free himself from Hotel Inferno, although he provided limited information to Champion.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#1 (fb) - BTS / Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3 (fb) - BTS) - To facilitate Conan's discovery of the Serpent Scepter, Mephisto had Champion (presumably use his agents to) kill Max, the possessor of the "Ring of the Sect of the Red Serpent," and steal the ring.
    Mephisto presumably knew that Max's ally the thief Nyla Skin would want revenge and wish to claim the ring, and he also presumably arranged for Skin to enlist Conan's aid in these matters.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#1 - BTS) - Nyla allied with Conan to rob Imus Champion at the Hotel Inferno, only to discover the Black Cat there, having already robbed the safe.

     Mephisto countered Champion's notation of the Black Cat stealing the ring, noting that it was not luck but inevitability.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#2 - BTS) -  Mephisto advised Champion that things must be done in the proper order: The ring, the scepter, and then the crown. And, ultimately Mephisto would walk free again. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#2 - BTS) - The chest containing the ring they sought fell from the Black Cat's helicopter. When Conan opened the chest and grasped the ring, it transported him and Nyla to Wakanda. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3 - BTS) - Mephisto noted that Conan would lead them to the scepter and then  instructed Champion to go there himself as soon as Conan found the location.

    Although Conan and Nyla were stealthy, they were nonetheless spotted by a Hatut Zeraze patrol outside of an ancient site previously undiscovered by the Wakandans.

    The ring took possession of Conan and led him to a cavern containing the Serpent Scepter, at which point Conan rallied to shatter the ring, although he still recalled where it was showing him to go. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3) - As they descended down a cavern, Conan sensed wind blowing through a crack in the wall, which should not be happening at that depth. After smashing into a hidden cavern behind a thin rock wall, they found an altar to Set and the scepter, at which point they confronted by and fought with the Black Panther and a pair of Hatut Zeraze warriors. 

    Champion then teleported in, used stun bombs to drive the others back, and claimed the Serpent Scepter, swatting away Conan and then teleporting back to Hotel Inferno. Mephisto then advised Champion that he could use the Scepter of Set to claim their true prize, the Serpent Crown, from Atlantis.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4) - Demanding more answers from Mephisto before risking his life against Namor, Champion learned of the origins of Serpent Scepter, which explained that only Conan -- who had been covered in the blood of Setian priests -- could have discovered the Serpent Scepter. Mephisto then told Champion he would teach him how to survive the combined power of the two items, but only after he had been freed from his prison in Hotel Inferno. Although Champion suspected Mephisto had numerous secret plots, he accepted Mephisto's instruction to -- after claiming the Serpent Crown -- bring Conan and his associate to him so he could claim their souls. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4 (fb) - BTS) - Traveling to a hidden temple/cave near Atlantis in an armored aquatic suit and wielding the Serpent Scepter, Champion claimed the Serpent Crown and slew the Atlantean guards who attempted to interfere with him. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4) - Having taken a Wakandan chemical provided by Shuri, Conan and Nyla swam to the ocean floor and approached the temple where they encountered both Champion and Namor. Champion used the Serpent Crown to force Namor and Conan to battle until Nyla assaulted Champion from behind, knocking away the Serpent Crown and allowing Conan and Namor to regain their wits. 

    However, still possessing the Serpent Scepter, Champion halted his challengers, reclaimed the Serpent Crown, and then banished Namor to an unspecified desert before informing Conan and Nyla that they were going to die slowly in Las Vegas.

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#5 (fb) - BTS) - Champion spent hours studying the power of the Serpent Crown and Serpent Scepter, after which he decided that he no longer needed Mephisto to safely wield the two items. 

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#5) - Holding the Scepter and wearing the Crown, Champion mockingly released Conan and Nyla from their chains and forced them to their knees, noting that chained or not, they were still his thralls. However, he found that the combined efforts of using the items' power and protecting himself from their influence was too much, and as he announced his intention to tear them apart with his mind, he instead cried out in pain. Mocking this limitation and thusly further distracting Champion with anger, Conan regained his own will and took advantage of the brief distraction to punch Champion, knocking the Scepter from his hand and the Crown from his head. 

    Mephisto then pulled Conan into some astral plane and offered him to wield the weapons to liberate him from Hotel Inferno in exchange for being sent back to his own time (or whatever else he wished). After Conan refused, Mephisto urged Champion to reclaim the weapons and attempted to guide Champion to use them together safely. Instead, Champion arrogantly refused to serve Mephisto any further, although re-donning the Crown again filled him with pain. When Champion attempted to remove the Crown, however, Conan leapt on his back and held the Crown on Champion's head  and forced his Serpent Scepter-wielding hand to push the two items into contact. 

    The evil energies of two foul god-things flowed through Champion's brain and bone, burning him from within. Conan could feel their unholy hunger, and then, in a flash that smelled of snake blood and the tomb, the two god-things fed.

    The two weapons apparently consumed Champion, and both vanished in the process, although Conan and Nyla were left unharmed.

Comments: Created by Saladin Ahmed and Luke Ross.

    The Serpent Crown was completed just before the Great Cataclysm, and it was apparently buried until being found by Atlanteans serving Naga approximately 600 years ago. It's not clear how the Sect of the Red Serpent would have had it during the Hyborian era, but that's really the only time they could have had it.

    Stygia was obviously the land in which Set-worship was most prominent in the Hyborian era, and it was something of a predecessor of Egypt. A number of cataclysmic events that caused restructuring of the landmasses and migration, etc. explains why Stygia was on the West coast of the landmass that is now Africa, while Egypt is much farther east. The same explanation could explain why the Sect of the Red Serpent hid the Serpent Scepter in the Hyborian era and it was present in Wakanda (also closer to the East Coast of Africa, and a little farther south than Egypt) in the modern era. Additionally, the Sect may have traveled far from Stygia to hide the Scepter.

    This profile was completed 03/11/2023 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25thanniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Serpent Scepter should be distinguished from:

• unidentified scepter for which Adolf Hitler had plans--Invaders I#32
• SCEPTRE of Earth-9105 ("Forever Yesterday") - counterpart of Monica Rambeau (Photon), member of her world's Avengers--New Warriors I#11
• SCEPTRE of BAST - portion of the Claw of Bast used by Khafre, given to Reed Richards by Prince Bayan as gratitude for saving him from the military--Before the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards#1
• SCEPTRE of OSIRIS of Earth-6799 - mystic artifact held by Blackwell the Magician--Spider-Man cartoon, "The Witching Hour"
• SCEPTRE of SHADOW - weapon of Darkcrawler/Nightcrawler--Incredible Hulk II#126
• AMULET of SET - brought back from the realm of Ishiti, formerly held by Eshe Lon, used to kill him by his daughter, Pelija--Conan the Barbarian I#138
• COBRA CROWN - precursor to Serpent Crown, pre-Cataclysmic and Hyborian era, Set-powered item, used by Thoth-Amon--Conan the Buccaneer; Savage Sword of Conan#43
• CRYSTAL CONCLAVE - housed spirits of Priests of Set (including Kha Semblor) drowned by Nitocris; reanimated by Sabbatha in the Temple of Nitocris hundreds of years later, shattered during final battle between Nitocris and Kha Semblor--Savage Sword of Conan I#216
• EYES of SET - twin jewels traded between Attalus and Harakht. Bleed when holder slew a priest of Set--Conan the Barbarian I#79
• GOLDEN SERPENT - magic item, used by Set in attempt to enslave Atlanteans, imprisoned in magic sphere by Neptune--Spectacular Spider-Man Annual#9/5
• JADE SERPENT - found in lost Lanjau, north of Corinthia, turned into poison snake, formerly protected and sought by the Keepers of the Treasure-Crypt of Lanjau--Conan the Barbarian I#8
• SERPENT BRACELETS - pair of Set-powered artifacts, one of which was held by the Set-priestess Satyne--Conan: Serpent War#2
• SERPENT CROWN - creation of Set and his spawn the Serpent Men + human alchemists of Deviant Lemuria)--(as Helmet of Power) Tales to Astonish I#101; (as Serpent Crown) Sub-Mariner I#9
• SERPENT CROWN - immense golden crown used by Ghaur + others to bring Set to Earth--Avengers Annual#18
• SERPENT RING of SET - at least former power source of Thoth-Amon--Conan Annual#2
• SERPENT-TIARA - transformed into giant serpent, slain by Conan + Red Sonja, restored to tiara, returned to King Ghannif--Conan the Barbarian I#24
• SNAKE-HEADED STATUE - stolen from Serpent Men by Spider-People--Marvel Team-Up I#111
• other Scepters, Sceptres, "Serpent," "Snake," or Set-powered items, characters, groups, events, races, or places...

(Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#4 (fb) - BTS) - The Serpent Scepter was hidden by the ragged remnants of the Red Serpent.      It was to be discovered only by one who had proven himself by bathing in the blood of Set's priests. (Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3 (fb) - BTS) - Apparently the "Ring of the Sect of the Red Serpent" was created to guide such a person to the Serpent Scepter. (Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#2 - BTS) - After Conan  touched the ring, it transported him and his ally Nyla Skin ti Wakanda.      Although Conan and Nyla were stealthy, they were nonetheless spotted by a Hatut Zeraze patrol outside of an ancient site previously undiscovered by the Wakandans.     The ring took possession of Conan and led him to the cavern containing the Serpent Scepter, at which point Conan rallied to shatter the ring, although he still recalled where it was showing him to go.  (Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3) - As they descended down a cavern, Conan sensed wind blowing through a crack in the wall, which should not be happening at that depth.       After smashing into a hidden cavern behind a thin rock wall, they found an altar to Set and the scepter, at which point they confronted by and fought with the Black Panther and a pair of Hatut Zeraze warriors.      Champion then teleported in, used stun bombs to drive the others back, and claimed the Serpent Scepter, swatting away Conan and then teleporting back to Hotel Inferno.      Mephisto then advised Champion that he could use the Scepter of Set to claim their true prize, the Serpent Crown, from Atlantis. --Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3

images: (without ads):
Conan: Battle for the Serpent Crown#3, pg. 8, panel 1 (hidden cavern);
        pg. 11, panel 1 (altar of Set);
            panel 2 (Scepter in altar);
        pg. 16, panel 2 (Champion in teleportation suit wielding the Scepter);
    #4, pg. 2, panel 1 (Priests of Set, sacrifice);
            panel 2-3 (Sect of Red Serpent, forming, slaughtering Priests of Set);
            panel 4 (Wyrm with Sect members);
            panel 5 (Serpent Scepter given to Sect);
            panel 6 (Sect member wielding the Serpent Scepter and Serpent Crown together);
            panel 7 (Sect member perishes from combined power);
    #5, pg. 5, panel 1 (Champion in business suit wearing crown and holding scepter);
        pg. 6, panel 1 (Champion in business suit wearing crown and using scepter);
            panel 5 (pained by combined use);
        pg. 15, panel 1 (free-floating);
       

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First posted: 09/08/2026
Last updated: 03/11/2023

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