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Sacrifices for the Gods in Hyboria
In the first Conan film Conan the Barbarian, sacrifices made to the gods are peppered throughout the film. In the very beginning of the film Conan's Father speaks to Conan as a young child. He explains that Crom who is the god of the earth possessed the secret of Steel. Titans who once roamed the Earth fool Crom into giving away the Riddle of Steel. Crom becomes angry and the gods of fire and wind aid Crom in destroying the Titans. Once battle is over "...in their rage, the Gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battle field. And we who found it are just men, not Gods not giants, just men." ( E. Howard, Robert, Stone, Oliver and Milius, John, Conan the Barbarian, 20th Century Fox, Hollywood, California, 1982) Conan's father also tells him that steel forged into a sword is the only thing in life he can trust. Conan is deeply effected by his fathers speech and he lives his life by the blade, wandering the land of Hyboria.
For most of the characters presented in Conan, making sacrifices to the Gods involves offerings of jewels or some kind of living sacrifice. The sacrifice Conan makes for Crom is simple. Conan must live his life fighting against the odds to show Crom that he is strong. If conan is strong enough Crom will let Conan on to his mountain of power in Valhala. When characters other than Conan call upon the gods they usually invoke some magic force or evil beast. Crom does nothing for Conan in the form of direct action, but Conan always seems to come out on top In combat. 
It is not just that Conan has sacrificed simple luxuries to be strong for Crom.Conan has been offered political and spiritual power again and again and he always refuses. "...destined to wear the Jewel of Aquilonia on a troubled brow."( E. Howard, Robert, Stone, Oliver and Milius, John, Conan the Barbarian, 20th Century Fox, Hollywood, California, 1982)
It is often said that Conan is destined to be king but he has refused Kingdom after Kingdom from beautiful princess's. In fact it is often explained that Conan will in fact become the king of Aquilonia but it is always said that... " that is a tale for another time."
In a story called Iron Lions of Kharamun a character called Akhmed invokes the power of a Goddess with a human sacrifice, in order to put a curse on Conan. The Goddess accepts his offering but warns him of Conan's great power. Not only do villains constantly sacrifice something to confront Conan, but by doing so they are sure to die by Conan's steel sword, a part of the sacrifice they don't often understand.
With nothing but human strength Conan is able to defeat the power of wizards and magic users and even destroy many spirits and gods with his divine blade of steel.
It would seem to be quite clear that Robert E. Howard advocates belief systems that don't ask Gods to interfere the mortal realm. While it's true that Conan is constantly repeating Crom's name, he is usually cursing it for forcing him to live a life of hardships.
There is only one instance in the Conan tales where Conan actually asks Crom for help in the real world. He does not bow before an altar or make an offering. Conan asks Crom to fight a battle.
"Crom. I have never prayed to you, I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you will remember if we were good men or bad, why we fought or why we died. No All that matters is that two stood against many. Battle pleases you Crom, so grant me one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then the hell with you!"
( E. Howard, Robert, Stone, Oliver and Milius, John, Conan the Barbarian, 20th Century Fox, Hollywood, California, 1982)It is not clear if Crom does help Conan or not, but what is clear is that he does receive supernatural help in the battle. When Conan's mighty sword finally breaks against the force of a steel war hammer belonging to a lord named Thorgrim. It looks like all hope is lost. Suddenly a shower of blood bursts from the villains eyes as if he were slashed by a sword and he falls to his knees. The barbarian sets his gaze upwards only to be blinded by white light and the sillhouette of his dead lover.
His lover Valaria has returned from the grave to save his life once again. She is dressed in white silks with a shinny gold helmet. She looks like a Valkyrie and she is holding a beautiful steel sword.The spirit of Valaria looks at Conan and asks him... " You wanna live forever?" Valaria says this line a number of times in the film. 
(Above: Conan and Valeria in battle)
She is suggesting that Conan's lifestyle is reckless yet sensible at the same time. Beacuse he lives recklessly, he is more likely to lead a full life in this world. The statement encourages Conan to pick up his sword and fight like never before. One could argue that this religious experience gives Conan a new lease on life.
Valaria's Sacrifice
Valaria does not merely appear to save Conan in combat because they were in love and now she is dead and a spirit. In fact it is Valaria who ressurects Conan from the dead after he has been crucified on the Tree of Woe by Thulsa Doom (For information on Thulsa Doom see the Religious Cults section.) Valaria asks the wizard (Conan's best friend) if he can revive him. There is a long ceremony where Conan is painted with magic symbols and covered in sacred robes. The spirits come to shephard Conan's soul into the next world but Valaria fends them off.
The wizard helps her in the ceremony with incantations but before all of this he warns that the gods will want somthing from her. He tells her she must make a sacrifice in order to bring him back. When Valaria is shot in the back with a poisonous serpent arrow she dies. Before she passes in =to death she tells Conan that this is the price she must pay to the gods for having him.
(Pictured: Sargon and Valeria at the tree of Woe)
It is interesting to think that the sacrifice she must make to save Conan's life is what in the end, allows her to return once more to save him again. If she had not paid the price of death then perhaps resurrecting Conan would be a futile act as he may die anyways.
Either saving Conan as a spirit was part of the reward for giving the gods what they asked for, or Crom and perhaps the other gods were pleased with the fighting spirits of the lovers so they let her help Conan. Knowing the reality of the situation does not matter. We still know that the sacrifice of living a difficult and lonely life to be strong, and of giving one's own life for another were both made by Valaria, and as a result of these sacrifices she has earned her place in Valhala, at Crom's side, with the rest of the honored dead.
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