Conan e la spada di Skelos

The setting adds a unique flavor to Conan's usual world, but I'm curious whether the author crafted Skelos from scratch or adapted from existing lore.

I loved the action, but the detailed political machinations made me lose a bit of momentum. Was that intentional to build tension or just part of the story's depth?

Conan often relies on both brawn and brains, but I wonder what the author aimed to highlight about his character through this story.