TEM
Real Name: Tem
Identity/Class: Magic user; Cimmerian (Hyborian Era)
Occupation: Bodyguard, adventurer, master assassin
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Conan,
his servants
formerly Xotai;
formerly a Zamoran Baron
Enemies: Xotai, Beast-Men, Ghouls, the wizards of the Temple of the Rat
Known Relatives: Amardin (wife)
Aliases: Master of the Assassins
Base of Operations: Mobile in the Hyborian world
First Appearance: Savage
Sword of Conan#128
(September, 1986)
{prima apparizione Italiana: Conan la Spada Selvaggia#72 Comic Art}
Powers/Abilities: Tem
was an exceptional assassin. He used all sort of weapons, from steel to
magic items, from lackeys to sorcery. His knowledge in black magic
enabled him to transform his body,
like a monstrous huge, hoary, hairy snake, an Ice Worm, or a human torch, a
deadly flaming wall. He could also command the winds of the desert to
create a sandstorm. He knew how to use magic objects, such as globes to
record his image and voice for some days, or to disrupt a magic
configuration of power gems.
His control over spells depended upon his
concentration and mental status.
History:
(Savage Sword of Conan#128 (fb) - BTS) - Tem was born in Cimmeria in the same village as Conan. The two shared their childhood and became good friends.
Becoming a man, Tem left Cimmeria and made his name in the taking of human life, becoming a great assassin, known as the Master of the Assassins. His fame attracted followers and henchmen.
After having killed the rival of a Zamoran baron, Tem received as partial payment ownership of Amardin, a young, beautiful girl. Tem fell in love with her and married her against her will. Amardin tried to run away several times, but Tem always found her and forced her to stay with him.
One day, the dread sorceror Xotai hired Tem to accompany his caravan to a dead city in the desert. Tem knew Xotai, accepted and hired Conan among his men, knowing well his value as warrior and man.
(Savage Sword of Conan#128)
- During the crossing of the Kezankian mountain, the caravan escorting
Xotai was attacked by armed men masked as Ghouls. Conan
and Tem, who magically transformed himself into an Ice Worm,
slew
lots of them. After Tem terrorized the attackers, he reverted to his
human form and the two Cimmerians and the rest of the bodyguards killed all the enemies.
Meanwhile, news about the
kidnapping of Amardin reached Tem. He was worried, but choose to send
Conan for a mission against the Temple of the Rat, and only sent some
ordinary lackeys in search for Amardin.
After 5 days without news, Tem was more
worried about
Conan than about Amardin. Finally, his men brought back Amardin and he
realized that she had already met Conan and had fallen in love with him.
He gave her 10 lashes for each time she and Conan had made love.
The
dawn after, at the Oasis of
Aphka, a host of sorcerous Beast-Men attacked the caravan. Tem used his
black arts to create a violent sandstorm. Out of Tem's control, the
storm surprised the beasts but Tem's men and Conan, too.
That night Tem was drunk, and learnt from Conan that he
wanted to leave. Struggling between his friendship for Conan and his
love for Amardin, Tem forced Conan to remain with the caravan. He
challenged his friend in a duel. If Conan had won then he could have
gone away undisturbed. But Conan could not raise his sword against his
good friend and lost the duel. Tem, however, also forced his wife to
sleep with Conan.
His insane behaviour was noticed by
Xotai, who
lost his trust in him and proposed to Conan to take Tem's place as
leader, after his death. Tem guessed Xotai's
intentions and planned to kill Xotai
and steal his power in the Temple of the dead city.
Arrived at the dead city, an army of monstrous creatures was waiting for them. The battle started and Tem tranformed his body into a wall of flame which incinerated the enemies who crossed his path.
(Savage Sword of Conan#128 (fb) - BTS) - At the Temple, Tem and Xotai fought their magic battle.
(Savage Sword of Conan#128 (fb)) - Tem had stored a magic globe he could use to disrupt Xotai's configuration of power gems, but choose to use it to record his testament for Conan. With his last breath, he confessed to Conan that he had all the power, adventure and fame he could think of, but what he really wanted was a loyal friend like only Conan was.
(Savage Sword of Conan#128 (fb) - BTS) - Far weaker than the ageless one, Tem was killed by Xotai.
(Savage Sword of Conan#128) - Conan found his body and the message on the globe. Angry, he assaulted Xotai and managed to use the globe to have Xotai's power source explode, then succeded in killing the old sorcerer and avenge Tem.
Comments: Created by Jim Owsley (writer), Mike Docherty (pencils), Fraja Bator (inks).
I guess Amardin was Zamoran. She was sold to a Zamoran Baron, and when she fled was captured in Zamora, so I think she tried to get back home.
Profile by Spidermay.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Tem has no known connections to
When Amardin was twelve, she was given to a Zamoran baron as a political favor.
The baron had Tem assasinate a rival and, as partial payment, gave Amardin to Tem.
Tem married Amardin even though she didn't love him. She tried to run away several times, but Tem always found her and forced her to stay with him.
The
last time she fled, Amardin was kidnapped
by a bunch of rogues led by Vlad. Fortunately, the band
crossed
Conan's path, who killed many of them and freed Amardin.
Amardin recognized Tem's symbol on Conan
and
initially believed he had come to retrieve her, but she soon learnt
thet Conan had no idea about who she was. She fell in love with Conan
and the two spent some days together till some servants of Tem found
Amardin alone and brought her back to their master.
Tem punished her for the betrayal ,
then fought
Conan to force him to accompany the caravan, also forcing Amardin to sleep with Conan. Even when Conan yelled at her
that he cared more about Tem as friend than her as lover, Amardin didn't care
and still loved Conan.
During the battle in Xotai's city, Amardin saw Tem leaving for the Temple and Xotai chasing him. Amardin tried to convince Conan to flee with her. Instead Conan followed his friend, but only arrived in time to avenge his death.
Amardin was free.--Savage Sword of Conan#128
images:
(without ads)
Savage Sword of Conan#128, p35, pan3 (alien)
Savage Sword of Conan#128, p14, pan2 (Tem, head shot)
Savage Sword of Conan#128, p9, pan7 (Tem as an Ice Worm)
Savage Sword of Conan#128, p25, pan7 (Amardin, head shot)
Appearances:
Savage Sword of Conan#128 (September, 1986) - Jim Owsley (Christopher Priest, writer), Mike Docherty (pencils), Fraja Bator (inks), Larry Hama (editor)
Last updated: 05/22/08
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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