Funcom has announced the Loyal Crocodile, a social pet designed to follow you as you venture through the game up until the Rise of the Godlsayer expansion, a free, exclusive AoC item.

In partnership with MMORPG.com, they are releasing a limited number of keys which will be needed to claim the pet. 5,681 keys are left as of this writing so claim yours right now to make sure you get one.

Mark your calendars, Age of Conan fans! Rise of the Godslayer, the first expansion for the game, goes live on May 11.

Set in the new empire of Khitai, Rise of the Godslayer will feature a new advancement system, more dungeons and a new playable race―the Khitan.

As announced by Funcom on April 22, the expansion will be available through digital and retail distribution, with the retail version bundled with the expansion and the core game for North American territories.

Newly opened six to ten PvP levels, Tier 2 PvP gear and PvP tokens are also introduced in this patch. Even more additional content can be seen in the in-game event called “The Silver Atrium” featuring quests located in Stygia and Aquilonia.

Exclusively for characters level 40 and up, players are set to encounter wicked assassins and dangerous spies while taking part in The Silver Atrium quest series.

Ever wondered what it takes to bring Robert E. Howard’s world to life? Well there are teams who specialize in various content areas like storylines, graphics, and game play. These come together as a cohesive whole in the form of updates and expansions. Striking a balance between challenging and fun encounters are also a major consideration for the Funcom team. Not surprising given the traditional mix of hardcore and casual gamers found in MMOs.

It’s a bit of a fluff piece, but some of you that’s interested in learning the workings of a real gaming company can pick up an insight or two—plus it’s somewhat awesome to see those magical “elves” who render our virtual adventures in Hyboria. Read the full article here.